Last update
29th December 2011

 Arriva/TGM/Network Harlow 
 Centre

 

  LCB Travel

  Olympian/Roadrunner/SM Coaches
 Regal 

 TWH Bus & Coach

 2009 and 2010

  2007 and 2008
 2004 to 2006

 

  For bus operators only

December 2011

October 2011



TWH Dart/Marshall R621VEG has gained TWH blue and gold livery. A second similar vehicle (R619VEG) is due to join soon, and will replace the former London Dart/Pointer II mentioned below.

September 2011



The fleet at Centrebus Harlow has been undergoing some re-modeling. We understand that the Scania/Wrights are in the process of leaving, whilst further Dart/ALX200's have and are continuing to join. Quite a number of other vehicles have been moving out in recent times too, please see the updated fleet page. Just 4 vehicles retain the old Trustline livery.

LCB Travel has placed it's first full size bus in service. Mini Pointer Dart W928PTS has become the regular vehicle on the LCB1. It is in all-over yellow with a white fleet name, and has fully functioning dot-matrix destination displays. An Iveco minibus, C14LCB, has been on new route LCB2, following the first days using a people carrier.

SM Coaches Scolarbus FD54EOO, which was delivered new in yellow, has received the private hire livery of blue and silver.

At TGM, the attempt to colour-brand routes is clearly now abandoned. Following the withdrawal of red routes 1 and 1A, all three yellow 10 branded vehicles (Dart/Ponters 401,404 and 405) have gained the smart new two-tone Network Harlow livery, being the first full size vehicles to do so. Additionally, the most recently issued Network Guide has used different colours on the route map to those used in June.

A third aged double decker has joined the fleet in the form of Volvo B10M/Northern Counties 243 (G643BPH). It carries TGM standard white/blue/yellow livery, and with no working LED when seen on the recently introduced 20 service, it rather stood out like a bit of a sore thumb.

Following the service reductions and consolidation of the garage allocation on the 724, a couple of the dedicated Mercedes Citaro's have been released. Vehicles 3908 and 3909 have been redeployed onto the Luton - Watford service 321, after losing their Green Line livery.

TWH bus and coach have been using Dart/Marshall R621VEG in service. The vehicle is presently in full Ensignbus colours.

August 2011

A third Dart/ALX200 to join the local Centrebus fleet is LX51FHE.

New arrivals at Roadrunner are Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointers P758FOD, P301AYJ and P324EFL. All seen in service in corporate colours.

At TWH, the smart blue and gold livery has returned, this time on Dart/UVG Urbanstar R83GNW, which has also gained some branding and a fixed route display for the X5. Meanwhile, going the other way, part open-top Olympian G551VVB has gained a red-based livery for sightseeing work in London. Noted in service on the 555 has been former London Dart SLF/Pointer II R447LGH, still in red. 


July 2011



The main news is that recently established Lea Valley Buses went into administration, with routes and vehicles transferred out. The six Volvo B6's/ALX200's would seem to have moved quickly to Roadrunner, together with the 255 (Brookfield Centre to Loughton via Waltham Cross). Because the 255 only requires 4 buses, appearances of these buses, which are branded for either the 255 or 555, on Roadrunner services 511 and R1, have been frequent. The 555 has moved back to TWH, where a one-bus reduced route is in operation. TWH's own vehicles have been used for this. 

At TGM, we can confirm the departure of the route 4 (green) liveried Dart SLF's, typically now replaced by former route 10 (Arriva liveried) vehicles.
MAN/MCV Evolution AE55VGK joins it's sister (see below) and is also in all white and frequently on the 392. Finally, whether a visitor or not, Transbus Enviro 300 KV03ZGK is another white bus seen in service on the 392.

At Centrebus, a second Dart/ALX200 has arrived, this time Y254FJN.

Roadrunners' Volvo/Presidents, according to the promotional materials the normal vehicles for the 511, have a third (out of 4) now in corporate colours. Only one (W473BCW) remains in red.

June 2011




The changes to the network at TGM have brought with them some vehicle changes too. Most unexpected is the entry into service of two white double deckers. Elderly and dated step-entrance Scania/East Lancs M161GRY and M162GRY have been regulars on the 1 and 1A.

The take up of the 392, which could quite easily have been accommodated with native vehicles rendered surplus by the changes, was initiated with MAN/MCV Evolution AE55VGL in all white and Dennis Dart SLF/Caetano Compass HX51LRJ in TGM standard blue/yellow/white livery. The vehicles have seen service on other routes since.

Most bizarre perhaps, is the removal of all of the quite recently applied route branding, even where the service wasn't changed (such as the 10). Is this to make way for an updated version? Not all of the branded vehicles have been seen in service at all since the changes.

Further vehicles into Network Harlow livery are Solo 2459 and 2460 (KE54OSU/V)

Dennis Dart/Alexander Dash vehicle P103HNH (which was red and with dedicated 555 route details), once with Hunny, used by LVB after the separation, has resurfaced recently in all-over white with Roadrunner, seen on the R1. A second of the ex-London United Volvo/Presidents to receive corporate colours is W468BCW (joining W462BCW). Both have been operating the R1 during June.  

The new network

The new Network Harlow network was launched on 13th June, and represented some significant departures from the a pattern of services that has been in place for more than 30 years in some cases. Some moves are quite innovative, and others will evidently not be so well received. Looking at the positives first:

The services to Sumners and Katherines (1/1A) are separated from one another, giving residents of one area the ability to get to and from town without the need to take a tour of the other (although they could have done this to a degree before by selecting the right bus at certain times).

The Staple Tye circle (2/3) has been redrawn and is now a one way loop (3), meaning that passengers will no longer need to dash across the road if they see the other bus coming. It will mean that the whole service is perceived as more frequent whilst less vehicles are required to provide it.

Sumners Farm gains a vast improvement in service. From what was really a shopping hours hourly link to town, it now has a mostly half-hourly service including a morning peak, and connections to the station, hospital, and Pinnacles.

Edinburgh Way Tesco advances from no service at all on Mondays to Saturdays to every 20 minutes between the peaks.

Residents of Three Horseshoes Road will have a slightly broader coverage in terms of hours with the 505 rather than the previous 7.

On the other hand:-

Given that there is almost no difference in timetabled journey time between peak and off-peak over the common section of route 8, it's a pity that the opportunity wasn't taken to standardise the service and have a peak extension to Tesco as well. Tesco is situated well for walking to many parts of Templefields industrial area in a matter of minutes.

The diversion of the 8 away from Maddox Road (Netteswell) and Momples Road (Mark Hall South) has left both with a poorer service. In the case of the former it's the loss of the link to The Stow and Old Harlow. Many of the elderly residents in the area choose these less busy but still popular locations, which also have health centres and the like, over Harlow town centre, as a place to visit. In the case of the latter, the replacement 7/7A is viewed as a poor substitute.

The long standing links from the South and South East of Harlow to Pinnacles (4) have been lost. Doubtless the number of passengers was quite low. More concerning is the loss of link to the station.

The most unfortunate aspect of the changes is that there is now an almost totally separate evening network, as well as a separate Sunday network. Whilst it's been sensible to renumber the old services to similar but different numbers (1B/3A/6A/8A) no doubt to try to reduce confusion on the road, it does make the whole network more difficult to understand, and whilst the industry and enthusiast movement know how this arises, the public will be mystified. A real pity that some joined up thinking was not employed here. Let's hope some sense prevails in the not too distant future.


May 2011



Network Harlow has at last gained a livery. Optare Solo YJ06FXU has appeared in two-tone blue with a red oval containing the local fleet-name. Ironically this was the only inter-urban liveried vehicle previously in the fleet. We will follow developments closely to see whether this livery will be confined to town routes, or whether the 59, 505 and 510 receive similar treatment.

A bit of a change in the fleet profile of Lea Valley Buses is underway. The inherited fleet is in the process of being replaced by one comprised of Volvo B6LE's with ALX200 bodies. They are gradually entering service now, initially in all-white, branding for both the 255 and 555 has since been noted. Pleasee see the LVB page for details. Mercedes Vario R187DNM has moved to SM Coaches, whilst the Dart SLF/Pointer II's, will be return to the Roadrunner fleet. Given this expected influx, it was perhaps surprising to record the arrival of Dart/Pointer Y862TGH, seen in service on the 392 in all-over white.

The C3/C3X changes at Centrebus have seen the two dedicated C3X Solos (396 and 397) disappear, but a replacement in the form of Dart SLF/Alexander ALX200 HJZ9929 arrive.

Whilst we're setting up the HarlowRide flickr site, we'd like to suggest a very good source of high quality images to view, focused on Harlow. http://www.flickr.com/photos/keith-v/sets/72157625377116949/ 


April 2011



SM coaches continue to surprise with their choice of purchases. Two Mercedes Vario/Plaxton Beaver 2's, R112GNW and R450PRH, having been noted in service.

At LVB, joining the vehicle mentioned last month is sister RDZ1711.

FOTOPIC SITE
On this site we have always published pictures of the recently bygone Harlow scene on a fotopic site. It is now evident that fotopic has disappeared and so the images that were stored there will need to be progressively recreated. This will be done at flickr.com but it will take some to complete. Whilst this is in progress, we regret that many images will not be available. We hope to recover the situation progressively in the coming weeks and months. 

March 2011



Following the comments last month on LVB & TWH, the two fleets have now been separated on this site. A further acquisition from Roadrunner is Scania/Wright RDZ1709.

Over at Roadrunner, two new arrivals are Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander Pointers BU05HDO and BU05HDV. These are in all-over red and intended for Bishops Stortford area route 7 between Bishops Stortford, Elsenham and Stansted Village, once part of the ECC village-link branded services.

A new acquisition at Regal is MAN14.240/Alexander Dennis Enviro 200, registration EU10OJE

February 2011


The main news this month is at TWH. Firstly the X5 has been launched, restoring the link between Harlow and Romford. Volvo/Plaxton Expressliner has been a regular performer, but in true TWH style variety has been as extreme as the striking pink Bingo bus liveried Mini Pointer Dart on the first day, and hired Ensignbus Olympian S124RLE just days later. Assuming the service is successful, we are informed that open-top double decks are likely to feature in the summer.

At the same stable, recently re-launched "network 55" routes 255/355/555 along with the company name Gemma Smith Ltd and a number of the vehicles were sold off, and are expected to re-emerge as Lea Valley Buses under their new management. They will be shown here together until we can establish exactly which vehicles are with whom. A total of four former SM or Roadrunner Dart SLFs would seem to be part of the new regime, 
P684RWU and R479LGH joining the two vehicles noted last month. Other regulars include the Vario and Dart/Alexander Dash P103HNH, and members of the Roadrunner fleet of Volvo/Presidents. A good number of vehicles have yet to appear with either operator in service, and a number have been returned off hire or sold including the Routemasters, BMC Falcons ad former London Trident. On the routes front, the 355 barely got going before difficulties in gaining access to Waltham Cross Bus Station led to a very early demise. The 255 and 555 continue.
 
The service reductions of 7th February have meant that a number of recently operational vehicles are no longer being seen in service with Arriva/TGM. These included the Mini Pointer Darts 3295 and 3483, and all of the white-based vehicles, including Dart SLF Pointer II's, East Lancs Europeans and the solitary white Solo 2511 (although 3483 was later seen having returned). The identity to be used for those vehicles which are not in one of the Network Harlow town route colours seems less than clear. Whilst most Solos have had their Arriva fleet names removed, Volvo/Wright 3874 has recently had a rear all over advert changed, and the new easyjet advert has the word added within it! Of late a couple of elderly double deckers have been seen at the depot in relation to a contract service. F640LMJ is a Leyland Olympian with Alexander bodywork, M162GRY is a Scania with East Lancs "Alexander lookalike" bodywork. In days of old these would see occasional town service, but this has not happened so far.  

You can never predict what the next arrival will be at SM. Just when it seemed that the last of the old step-entrance minibuses had finally disappeared, vintage Mercedes L709D with Alexandra Sprint bodywork N632VSS arrives. Fleet livery carried and it is most often to be found on the 524 so far.

Another not-so-new arrival at Centrebus is step-Dart/Pointer M821RCP.


January 2011



A sign of change with from TGM management of the Harlow operation is a change in the type of fleet numbers used. The recently residented Darts on the 4 and the 10, S301-5JUA, carry fleet numbers 401 to 405, a departure from the Arriva 3xxx series. A rather surprising repaint, given the progressive change that is underway is that of Optare Solo 2455 (YJ06FXU), which has emerged in Arriva inter-urban livery. Arriva cool bus would seem to have moved on, meaning that the Harlow fleet is now all low-floor, with just one exception, being Dart 3414 (P334HVX).

At Centrebus, Lance/Pathfinder 268 is reported as being stripped, as is Scania/Pathfinder RDZ1714 at Roadrunner.

Another two Optare Solos are reported as having entered service with Regal, and registered YJ60KHA and KHB. A third, KHC, is on the way.

Just outside our area, TGM Stansted came to the rescue when First gave up on the Stansted Airport to Colchester X22 (previously 222, and operated long before as an unnumbered service). So far Scania/Berkhoff Axiel YN54ANL has been reported in service.

Some expansion in the fleet has taken place at TWH, coincident with the expansion of the 555 into three routes. The new arrivals all have a local history, with former Arriva Shires & Essex Mercedes Vario R187DNM, and Dart SLF/Pointer IIs P677RWU & P684RWU, until very recently with SM Coaches. The Vario is in all over white, whilst the Darts have had the blue skirt replaced with red.  

Review of the year 2010
Despite deregulation having taken place almost a quarter of a century ago, and the recession of the last couple of years leading to frugality and market down-turns in general, 2010 has been the year which has seen the most intensive competition in the town so far. In terms of numbers of departures from the Bus Station, more services were run than since 1986 at least.

SM/Roadrunner re-doubled their offensive, providing competition on almost every major corridor, not only to Arriva, but also to Centrebus and indirectly to TWH. TWH moved their commercial competition, away from Epping & North Weald to the 505/250 corridor. Centrebus retaliated with a bolster to the Lea Valley services and a strike back to Ware and Hertford. In-town battles between SM/Roadrunner and Arriva were as intensive as ever. The biggest reaction, no doubt in an effort to end 25 years of competition, was by Arriva. The Harlow operation was transferred to TGM, and an 'overground' type network launched with a major rebranding effort initiated under the 'Network Harlow' brand name. Some significant frequency increases were implemented. Then there was a return by Arriva/TGM to Sumners & Katherines, a part of town that has been left to independents in most of recent history, in what seems to have been an attempt to provide a role for them, and thereby reduce what was presumably seen as otherwise wasteful competition. SM/Roadrunner initiated route branding, some glossy printed timetables, a since-discontinued facebook page, as well as the Townlink name. Fares fell too, with Epping becoming part of Harlow for fares and passes purposes for both operators, and town fares reducing significantly.

This unsustainable and intensive period of competition seems at last to be ending with significant de-registrations and changes of services booked for the December 2010 to February 2011 period, and the outcome seems to be that some dividing up is taking place, as it did in 2006.

On the contracted services front, Regal have largely cleaned-up, gaining schools, rural, and Sunday services, rather in the way that LocalLink did some years back.     

Looking to the fleets, the expansion at SM/Roadrunner was matched with vehicle increases, and some characteristically interesting choices made, including 7 former London Scania/Wright Pathfinder early low floor buses, more Irisbus Agoralines, 4 ex-London Presidents, DAF/Plaxton Prestige's, and East Lancs Mylleniums. All were very well turned out and in fleet livery (forgiving some yellow base colours on some AgoraLines). Quite how many/much of this will remain following the forthcoming contraction remains to be seen, but many must surely go. 

At Arriva, the TGM link has started to be established, with TGM standard Blue/yellow/white livery vehicles appearing in number, and exchanges of vehicles between Colchecter, Excel, and Harlow being quite frequent. The key change taking place is the emergence of the local colour routes. Not a stripe or band or list of places served above the window line, but a 100% full single colour repaint! Doing this always presents two problems, being what colour should the spares be, and how do you maintain the brand family. Allocation of route to vehicle discipline seems good so far.

TWH settled on a livery, all red, this being applied almost overnight for the launch of the 555. Centrebus livery continues to march on, aided by the investment of a fleet of new Solars, but Trustybus colours remain to be seen on some vehicles. Regal have initiated a new more contemporary livery, which attracts mixed response from commentators. Your writer is in favour, even though it may mean that passengers may struggle to distinguish between TWH, Regal, and Network Harlow Red Route 1 vehicles. The Excel name has vanished from the town in 2010, whilst LCB and First continue with a small presence.

Two operator names that were eliminated from the Harlow scene in 2010; Myalls, who lost the Saturday only 5/354 contract, and Excel, who besides losing their contracts, also will in future be known as TGM Stansted.

On the routes front, to see the impact of the competitive era, Epping has enjoyed 8 buses an hour for most of the day, and the Lea Valley corridor to Waltham Cross up to 5, a corridor which not so long ago had only an hourly Saturday service and nothing more from Harlow. Hertford and Ware too have 3 at present, against a long-standing 1, and even the 505 corridor has 2, which looks set to increase to 3 when just post deregulation it was a supported service. At the other end of the scale Templefields for the first time has no service to speak of, and the new Harlow Business Park remains a significant untapped opportunity, as do links to Epping from the west side of town. Another gap is any link to South East of Harlow and East London, although the forthcoming X5 might well bridge this to a degree, and we wish it well.

 
December 2010



At Arriva, Dart SLF/Pointer S302JUA has joined sister S302 in receiving lime green livery, and both now have branding for Route 4. Meanwhile, confirming the new colours of the network map (rather than the original timetable colours), S301/4 & 5JUA have received all-over yellow livery and branding for Route 10. This means that, after that service being largely in the hands of the same vehicles (3230/1) for more than 10 years, they have now been replaced, by marginally older vehicles. 3230, along with 3229, which had often been the additional vehicle required on the 10, have re-emerged in Arriva inter-urban livery.

Over at TWH, Dennis Dart MPD SJ53AXB has been gained pink Mecca Bingo branding including window contravision. A similar livery was previously carried by Dart/UVG Urbanstar R83GNW, which is now in red.

November 2010



The 1st November saw a new phase in the continuingly turbulent and competitive Harlow bus scene. Details have emerged of the full branding colours for Network Harlow. These at first would seem to have been as below:-

Route 1/1A (Sumners & Katherines) - Red
Routes 2 & 3 (Staple Tye circular) - Blue
Route 4 (Latton Bush) - Green
Route 6  (Brays Grove & Potter Street) - Yellow
Route 7 - (Churchgate Street & Sumners Farm) - Grey
Route 8 - (Mark Hall South & Old Harlow circular) - Purple
Route  10 - (Church Langley) - Pink.

Since timetables were printed, the network map on the harlowbus website shows 6 as pink, 8 a purple and 10 as yellow!

Of greater significance is the more dominant presence being shown with frequency increases on the 1/1A, 2/3, 4, 6 and 10. The 6 increases the most from half hourly to every 10 minutes over the Bus Station to Brays Grove section, and with an added extension at this frequency to Potter Street.

On the vehicle front, it's evident that the new TGM ties will bring some degree of flexibility of vehicles between Harlow and Colchester. Seen in service on 3rd was Dart SLF/Pointer II SN54HXA in Network Colchester livery. Another new arrival, in Arriva standard livery is similar vehicle P180SRO.

A further four of the Volvo B6/Wright crusaders have emerged in blue route 2/3 livery with 3253/4/5/6 joining 3250/1. The very first lime green liveried vehicle has emerged. It is Dart SLF/Pointer S303JUA. This is presumably destined for route 4, but as yet is unbranded. Sister vehicles S310/1/2/3JUA from the same batch have all seen service in the town.

Plain white Optare Solo CE52UWW has appeared and seen service on a number of routes. We are not certain whether this is permanent. All other Solo's
operating in the town were bought new to Harlow.

SM Coaches would seem to have retracted a little, with a frequency reduction on the 14, and on the Ongar section of the 20, and withdrawal of links to the industrial parks. Vehicles wise, a sixth Irisbus Agoraline has arrived. SN06AFK is all white at present.

Regal Busways has completed the trio of new Solos. YJ60KBY & YJ60KBZ have joined the example mentioned last month. 

At Roadrunner, Dart SLF/Marshall P809OYS has been noted being stripped, and so is removed from the fleet list.

At Centrebus, a not-so-new arrival joining the Solo's is duel-door Dart/Pointer L712JUD.

The rebirth of the VR turned out to be short-lived, with the departure of the sole example, PWY39W, from the TWH fleet

October 2010



Brand new Optare Solo's now feature in the Centrebus Harlow fleet. YJ60LRA and LRE, as fleet numbers 396 and 397, have entered service

Regal Busways also ordered new Optare Solo SE's to support their recent ECC tendering successes. YJ60KBX has seen service in the town.

RoadRunner have out-shopped one of their Presidents in fleet colours. W462BCW is now in all-over white with a blue skirt. The only fleet name carried when first sighted was the TownLink one. These double deckers have ventured out onto SM's 19/20 service on occasions of late. Another arrival is a further Scania N113/Wright Pathfinder from the same former London Buses batch. RDZ1707 brings the fleet total up to 7 

SM Coaches have got another ex-Norse Irisbus Agoraline, this time being AU05FKC, and bringing the fleet total to 5. 


September 2010



The Network Harlow branding has reached the second phase with Volvo/Wright 3250 (V250HBH) appearing in all-over blue, promoting blue route 2 for Staple Tye early in the month. Interestingly there is no mention of similar reverse-direction service 3. This seems to have been corrected on 3251 (V251HBH) which has appeared mid-month in similar livery, but with routes 2 and 3 both featuring. Also noteworthy is that route 4 has until been the blue route, with at least a couple of vehicles from the same batch still carrying that branding. Drivers are now wearing new uniforms, with yellow and blue shirts replacing white and aquamarine. 

For many years, Waltham Cross and Loughton/Debden services 250 and Hammond Street to Upshire service 251 have been managed as Harlow operations, even though in the earlier days buses were outstationed at Debden. This changed from 4th September, when they became the responsibility of Arriva Shires and Essex operations at Ware. Included in the departures out, perhaps surprisingly for a vehicle that has spent much of the last 5 years or more on the 505, is the last Wright-bodied Dart, 3366.

Roadrunner took over route 392 (and odd morning 14 journey) from TWH staring 1st September. Early operations were with ex-Transdev (formerly London United) Volvo/Plaxton Presidents, four of which have been acquired -  W461/2/8/73BCW. These are in all-over red, seem to have been smartly refurbished inside, and fitted with front LEDs. We don't know if these will be the permanent allocation, and in fact the first Saturday evidenced MAN/EL Myllenium's working.

The remaining TWH operations are in the form of an expanded route 555. There has been a frequency increase, all vehicles are now in all-over red, and there are some fleet changes. Scania N113/Northern Counties H465GVM is a  double deck new arrival. Some single decks have been observed to be carrying permanent displays over the blind box, including Dart/Caetana R83 GNM, which has lost its previous hideous pink livery, and another new arrival, Dart/Alexandra Dash P103HNH.

LCB travel have placed a bus (rather than a people carrier) onto the Milwards service in the form of Optare Alero YN04XZR. Given that this service has recently been introduced commercially on Saturdays, and that the bus has a blind, this appears to reflect some desire to evolve the route.

August 2010

  
The developments at SM and RoadRunner continue at a pace. The 16th August seeing significant route improvements. The latest observations include numbers for the SM fleet, glossy printed timetables, adoption of the Townlink name for the services of both, and some modest route colour schemes and associated vehicle branding. 

The size of the fleet of Scania N113CRL/Wright Pathfinders has now reached six, the two additions being RDZ1709 and 1712. They would seem destined to be the mainstay of the R3 service and are branded RoadRunner. Four have been noted with route branding.

The 16th August also saw a very significant development and change of direction for Arriva. All of the Harlow-based services now come under the management of TGM, who will use the brand Network Harlow. The first incarnation of this, and some further evidence of a retaliatory move back against the competitors, is the re-launch of a high-frequency Sumners/Katherines service. Darts/Wright Crusaders 3417, 3439 and 3440 have been given all-over red and appropriate branding for the purpose. Arriva logo's would seem to have been removed from some of the Solos in the Harlow fleet, and a website, www.harlowbus.com, would seem has been launched, principally at this time detailing new Red Route 1.

Regal started their new Sunday services using 3 Optare Solo M710s, YJ06YSK, YJ56AOU & newer fleet addition YJ58CDF. The following day, their weekday local services commenced with MPD 601 (YN04PZZ) and on the 381 group, Dart/Pointer N424MBW  on the 391 & Dart SLF/Pointer 2 R510SJM on 47.

July 2010

 

The closer ties between TGM, parent of Excel, and Arriva, are beginning to make themselves known. A number of white blue and yellow have been sighted on Harlow-based Arriva services of late, including Dart/Pointer S312JUA and Scania/East Lancs N430XRC, N169PUT and N176PUT, all of which have seen service at Excel. 

The latest ECC tender results will see Regal Busways return to the area in a significant way from the end of August. The contracts for school-day 322 and weekday rural services 47/146/147 have been taken over from Excel, meanwhile Arriva is the loser of weekday 381/2 and 391, and Sunday 4/10/11/12, again all to Regal. The contracts are stated as being for 7 years. The 381 was of course where it all stated for Regal. How fortunes have changed for them since then! A small quirk of this change is that the appearance of Ware-based vehicles on the Sunday network should end.

Over at RoadRunner, four former London Buses Scania N113CRL/Wright Pathfinders have been noted, being RDZ1708, 1710, 1711 and 1714. Another arrival is an additional Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall capital P809OYS.

Another arrival to see service with TWH is Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer S609HGD, seen on the 392.

The blind box on a recent arrival at Centrebus gives away the London origin of step entrance Dart/Pointer XIL6081, even if the registration number doesn't. 

June 2010



SM Coaches fleet of full-size single decks had expanded with some more less than every day vehicles. DAFSB220/Northern Counties Prestige R396 and R397XDA are the first for SM, but were of course the mainstay on Arriva's 724 for some years. Joining then are Irisbus AgoraLines OY53 RDU, RDX, RFE which have until now operated a Park & Ride service in Norwich.

More new material sighted in service with TWH includes NIL9875 (J814HMC), a Scania N113DRB/Alexander RH which is on loan. Also noted is Dennis Dart/Alexander Dash P103HNH in Stagecoach livery. The two B10M-55's noted below, we are advised are loans. Meanwhile, Olympian G551VBB is being converted to half open top.

May 2010
TWH have placed two "new" arrivals into service on the 555 in the form of Volvo B10M-55 / Northern Counties M547SPY and M550SPY. Both are still in Stagecoach livery.

April 2010

April saw the second attempt in recent years at a high-frequency competitive service being launched along the 4 corridor to Tye Green, Bush Fair and Latton Bush. It's from the SM/Olympian stable, re-using (after an absence) the Road Runner brand. The M4 is essentially a repeat of the earlier R4 which used the same branding. The 10 minute frequency competes well with Arriva's 12 minute daytime frequency. Vehicles noted so far are as follows:

RX53LFH - MAN 14.220/ East Lancs Myllennium (Roadrunner livery)
RX53LNH - MAN 14.220/ East Lancs Myllennium (Roadrunner livery)
R477LGH - Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointers (red livery)
R479LGH - Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointers (Roadrunner livery)
T408AGP - Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall Capital C39s (red livery)
T418AGP - Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall Capital C39s (Roadrunner livery)

Staying at SM Coaches, three vehicles have gained branding for new service 18, and so presumably will be the regular vehicles on the service. These are new arrival DAF SB220/Northern Counties Prestige R396XDA, together with existing fleet vehicles Irisbus Agora Line/Irisbus EU06KHK and Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer R481LGH.

Over at Arriva, step-entrance Dennis Dart/Marshall 3833 (M503VJO) has arrived, not too long after sister vehicle 3834 departed. Additionally, Volvo B10B-58/Plaxton Verde N624FJO joins the similar arrival last month.

Centrebus have expanded a little, having secured some local contract routes in the Herford area. To facilitate this two Optare Solos, YJ10EYO & EYP, have been acquired.

At TWH Scania Omnilink demonstrator YN08HXZ has been observed, but not yet in service.


March 2010

A few very unexpected arrivals in Harlow this months:-

Firstly at Arriva, moved in from High Wycombe, rather tired Volvo B10B-58/Plaxton Verde N622FJO. The vehicle, which is not low floor, has seen service on the 510, as well as on the 500. Whilst at Arriva, route 59 has been something of a premium operation for a few years, but unusually Dart 3828 (KE03 UKK) was sighted on the route on 15th March.
 
Moving next to TWH where there is now a Bristol VR. PWY39W has been seen in service on the 55. Also sighted in plain white on the 392 is Dart SLF/Pointer KP54BYK.

Over at SM, a most unusual arrival is of MAN/East Lancs Myllennium RX53LFH.

February 2010

The Centrebus fleet name and livery is spreading fast. Dennis Lance 267, a relatively recent arrival and carrier of the latest Trustybus colours, being one example.

Excel have used all-white Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer II KU52RXT in service on the 47. Whether it it owned or loaned is not known. Believed acquired is Dart/Pointer M722CGO. This carries TGM standard group livery and fleet number 802.

At TWH, another ex-Lothian Olympian with Alexander RH bodywork has been seen on the 55, this time F369WSC.


January 2010



At Arriva, the last of the original batch of Darts, Plaxton Pointers then numbered DPL406-414, more recently 3356-64, has ceased service. One of the two ex-Wests Wright Handybuses has been awaiting repair long enough to suggest it it also now finished. The number of step-entrance vehicles remaining at Harlow is now in single figures.

Further new intake from within group at Excel include Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxon Pointer 2 S310JUA, and less usual Scania L113/East Lancs European single deck.

SM Coaches have increased the fleet in readiness for the expansion of the 19, expected to start on 18th January. Four ex-London General Dart SLF/Pointer IIs, understood to be P741RYL and R476 / 481 / 485LGH and Dennis Dart/East Lancs M223AKB are the new additions. 

The main news of the month is the reintroduction (actually late in December 2009) of TWH's 55 service. The service was first introduced as a competitor to the H1 in 2008, only to face a vigorous response from Imperial. After surviving that battle and finding themselves with the corridor to themselves, Imperial subsequently gave up the ghost. The revised 55 picks up the challenge; we understand that the two BMC falcons that initiated the 392 will be the regular vehicles, but in the early days, something of a more traditional feel was apparent, with the appearance of a Routemaster and a Metrobus.

Staying with TWH, two Mini Pointer Darts have been acquired, and have taken over as the mainstay of the 392. Other recent sightings include Dennis Dart/UVG UrbanStar R83GNW in an all over advertising livery for Mecca Bingo, including contravision on most windows and based on a bubble-gum pink base. On the 55, Dennis Trident/ALX400 KN52NDY, in more conventional London red.

A major upgrade is apparent on the Trustybus C3. No less than four brand new Scania/Wright Solars are ordered, with two kicking off the new timetable on 4th January. Not only is the latest Centrebus livery carried, but the fleet-name is also changed, to Centrebus Value. Will the Trustybus name survive 2010?

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