Seamarks was an old established coach company based in Dunstable Road, Luton, though its original
premises at Westoning remained unused with the company in recent years. MIJ8660 is typical of the
fleet in its declining years, an elderly Volvo B10M/Plaxton Paramount 3500, seen here in the yard at
the Dunstable Road premises.
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At the peak of its strength, Seamarks reflected the owning family's German heritage by purchasing
powerful, expensive and uncommon - in those days - machines like this Setra. It is seen here in Hemel
Bus Station on Seamark's commercial bus service!
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At deregulation, when Seamarks was still a strong company, it diversified into bus services taking on
a number of Hertfordshire contracts, operated initially with a fleet of ex-Chester Massey bodied PSU4
Leopards in red and cream with Seamarks fleetnames. The company soon started to acquire its own fleet,
starting with some of the first Optare Deltas in the country. This resulted in a strong relationship with
Optare and subsequent delveries included a Metro Rider and Vectas, like J367BNW here in Hemel -
a second hand City Pacer was also operated.
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Towards the end, some attempt was made at reinvestment in the coach fleet with this Plaxton bodied
Dennis Javelin, ex Oxford Citylink. The company got into financial difficulties as family disagreement
over ownership and direction, coupled with a disciplinary hearing before the Traffic Commissioners
over maintenance and service reliability led to the withdrawal of licences and the suspension of
registered services. Ultimately the firm was sold to the expanding Nottingham based Dunn-Line empire.
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