5445 at King's Hill

[Derek Jones]

With all the attention given to Arriva's specially-liveried hybrid Volvo B5LH deckers on the 71, and to Nu-Venture's heavily-promoted service 123 between West Malling Rail Station and King's Hill, the half-hourly sister of the 71 numbered 72 tends to be rather ignored, but follows an identical route to 71 as far as New Hythe Lane, then diverts off via East Malling, West Malling Rail Station and West Malling town centre before performing a fairly thorough tour of King's Hill, then retracing its steps (one-way systems permitting) from that settlement's ASDA superstore back to Maidstone.

In fine but cold weather, AKS 5445, one of a pair of ALX400-bodied Tridents that were acquired from TGM Group, Heathrow in 2013 but new to Arriva Northumbria, was captured taking a short break at King's Hill ASDA on 30th January 2016.

Derek J