 In April 1996, Harry Blundred, the proprietor of Thames Transit in the United Kingdom, commenced operating the route services in Cairns.As part of the deal, Sunbus was also responsible for the operation of school bus services in the region, however these were sold in 1997 to fellow British bus operator Stagecoach.In April 2008, Blundred sold Marlin Coast Sunbus along with the other Sunbus operations to Transit Australia Group.