WINCHESTER-based Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB) has confirmed details of the services it will operate on New Year’s Day.

In keeping with recent years, the main running day will be on the much-warmer May Day Holiday, Monday May 7, but a smaller operation involving several vehicles will again take place on January 1.

This will maintain a popular tradition and provide a service for the many supporters who would still like to travel on these historic buses on this day.

As usual, the bus services will be centred on The Broadway in Winchester and will operate broadly between 9am and 4.30pm.

There will also be a free vintage bus service to/from Southampton to mark the 50th anniversary of Hants & Dorset Bristol Lodekka 1577.

The bus departs at 9.45am and 2.45pm from Winchester Broadway to Southampton Civic Centre Road, returning from Southampton at 10.45am and 3.45pm.

A full timetable is available and copies may be obtained in advance by post from FoKAB chairman: David Morgan, 34 High Street, Nutfield, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 4HQ, cost £2 (Cheques payable to ‘Friends of King Alfred Buses’).

Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB) is a registered charity dedicated to preserving King Alfred buses and coaches and the memory of King Alfred Motor Services which provided Winchester’s local bus services between 1920 and its closure in 1973.

It has 30 years’ experience of giving nostalgic rides on its fleet of 14 restored heritage buses.

The annual Winchester Buses Running Day has attracted over 20,000 passenger trips and been supported by over 70 active volunteers from within FoKAB’s membership, plus the bus crews of around thirty visiting heritage buses and coaches.

FoKAB provides heritage transport for a number of community and charity events.

Such journeys are all provided by volunteers at no charge to the users.