Excel (fully Excel Passenger Logistics Ltd) largely took over the former First (once Eastern National) operation at Stansted on 7th July 2003. Excel were a spin-off from Stephensons Coaches of Rochford, Essex, who have recently been purchased and now sit, independently under the TGM wing of Arriva. 

The route network includes the 333 service, one of the first competitive services in the former London Country area, and the only one to have remained in that status for over 21 years. Also operated are Bishops Stortford locals 308/9, which largely remain unchanged from EN days. Many more services, particularly for schools and airport transfers have been added. 

The initial fleet comprised six Mercedes L709D minibuses with Alexander Sprint bodywork, as detailed below, and one of these these remains. Unusual visitors are regular occurrences, and some are illustrated below.

Support from Essex County Council and BAA has seen a significant influx of new vehicles in the last year. The next expected innovation will be new service X5, Stansted to Ipswich, expected to use leather-seated, wi-fi enabled, brand new Scania/Irizars on a 24/7 operation.

Alexander Dennis Dart It took until 2006 for Excel to acquire a brand new service bus, and two more examples quickly followed. The primary allocation for these is on the 47/147 and 322 in Harlow, and, along with the vehicles below, on other associated Essex County Council Services. After that, they are allocated to the 333.
	EU56FTO EU56CVG		Seen when new and like most other Excel vehicles at the time, carrying former Eastern national blinds which obviously didn't feature the 47. Looking rather like the Stansted Transit vehicle behind, it is seen at Harlow Bus Station. (R Hudson)

Mini Pointer Dart Also for 2006 Essex County Council gains, one is new, whilst the registration number here gives away the former owner, Reg's of Hertford, of the other. Coincidentally, the vehicle was mainly used on a service numbered 333.
	BU51REG EU07FRN		The large logo on BU51REG is a sensible addition to the new livery. (R Hudson)
			Real blinds still feature on the very latest ex-dealer stock MPD. (R Hudson)

Mercedes L709D/Alexandra Sprint The most plentiful vehicle in the initial fleet was this early 90's combination, in two distinct liveries. The inspiration for the livery of some, besides being a modification of the new Stagecoach livery, is unknown. Others were BAA inspired. Once numbering six, they are now in the process of moving on.
	L316YDU		The livery did offer quite a striking effect, as shown by 313 seen on the 333, as it left Harlow Bus Station. The blind shows how it has been modified after use by First when the route ran to Stansted Airport (North).  R Hudson

MAN/MCV Evolution The replacements for the above on the 308/9 Bishops Stortford locals are these, having arrived in October 2006. We are advised that the Grey and Green livery is BAA sponsored.
561 562 563	AE56MDV AE56MDX AE56MDY		A picturesque setting on the edge of Bishops Stortford town centre shows off the LED displays on route 308. R Hudson

Dennis Dart/Northern Counties Paladin A November 2006 arrival is this ex-Arriva Kent Thameside vehicle. It carries the new white livery with blue skirt, and has been seen on the 308 and 333.
606	L113YVK		Swinging into the bus station shortly after entering service. (R Hudson)

 

Volvo B10M/Alexander PS Two of these vehicles now feature at Excel, but they're not expected to stay for long. Fully working dot matrix displays are featured.
M231TBV M232TBV			M232TBV is seen leaving Harlow Bus Station, unusually displaying 'BISHOPS STORTFORD' as a destination. (R Hudson)

 

Leyland Olympian/East Lancs Assumed to have been acquired for school work, the 333 has played host again to a vehicle well over the capacity requirements of the service. Two similar vehicles were acquired, one remains and that may now be de-licensed.
	KTL43Y		Recently repainted, but with destination blind still absent, the vehicle is seen leaving the bus station. (R Hudson)

Leyland Olympian/ECW A pair of ex-London Buses L class vehicles are now in the Excel fleet. These are used on schools services, but can appear on recently introduced 'between the peaks' 333 extras now on the timetable.
	C122CHM D126FYM		Rather over providing capacity on the Excel 333 is C122CHM. Note the blind box conversion since London days (R Hudson)

 

Scania N113/Northern Counties Palatine Another of the school and railway replacement fleet is this example, seen on a duty for which it was intended, covering for one railway at Harlow Town Station
	G34HKY		Rail replacements these days mean a wide variety of operators and types, three very different offerings are represented in this image alone.  (R Hudson)

 

Scania N113/East Lancs East Lancs went through a period of building "Nottingham" style fronted bodies, which started appearing far and wide. Many appeared in London, and Brighton and Hove, from where these originate, was a strong haunt also.
	F712LFG G725RYJ G726RYJ G727RYJ G728RYJ G729RYJ		The new blue and mainly white livery is now spreading fast throughout the fleet, which on double deckers includes some color above the upper deck windows. "726" is seen here on the 333 between school trips.  (R Hudson)

 

Mercedes/Plaxton Beaver Performing a variety of airside and local service work, three of the well renowned workhorses of the minibus era sit alongside the rest of the fleet. The older two of the three are primarily allocated to airport crew work.
	K397GHJ K398GHJ N70TGM		N70TGM seen at Harlow  bus station on the 333. (R Hudson)

 

Scania L94/Irizar Century In addition to the bus fleet, Excel are also involved with coaching. These flagship vehicles are primarily intended for airline and train company contract work. Other coaches are owned also.
	RL04EXL XL04EXL		A rally shot here of a vehicles that unusually, as far as we know, has not worked the 333. (R Hudson)

 

Other vehicles
	YN53GDV
	WX06OSW		Seen inside the Stansted yard, and looking more than a bit striking is this prototype Ayats bBravo1 (R Hudson)

Commercial route H1 started on 3rd September 2001, mainly using two Titans (T379 and T573) and a Metrobus (M802) in dedicated livery, all ex-London. Double deck operation has continued to dominate, although there are appearances from other vehicle types, and the typical allocation today is drawn from the broader fleet. Three Northern Counties Olympians are now the standard offering.

High operational standards, a hint of tradition, and good quality front blind displays are all features of the typical offering. A heritage fleet is also owned, and has featured on "running days" on the H1 and other services. Some are pictured on our sister fotopic site. Imperial recently purchased the rather oddly named "Travel with Hunny" business.

An increasing operation in the Thurrock area is where a some of the fleet can be seen in operation, but watch out for Imperial on TV advertisements too!

MCW Metrobus  Metrobuses once dominated the Imperial fleet, declined, and are now back in favour with number of recent additions. M's 3, 802, 1434 and 1440 are ex-London,  others are from further a field. M116 carries an original Manchester blind layout, whilst GBU2V's has been modified a little. M802 carries dedicated branding for the H1.
M3 M116 HM520 M802 M1434 GM2 M1440	THX103X SND116X SAG520W KYX802X C629VMX GBU2V C440BUV		Pride of the fleet has to be M3, complete with white on black blinds, to the original 3-piece layout. A side destination blind is carried, but only ever used by one driver! (R Hudson).
			The Manchester equivalent is recent arrival GBU2V. Note the rather unusual treatment of the blind box. (R Hudson).

MCW Metrobus MkII A number of these vehicles have comer and gone, some have had, unusually for Imperial, quite a provincial look and heritage. Conversely, the remaining one operated in London under Harrow Buses, but had London-style front blind boxes added by Ensignbus. A number of similar but unconverted examples operate in Reading and Newbury.
M1453	E453SON		The provincial look, which is how the vehicle operated with London Buses in Harrow, was reduced whilst at Ensignbus by the fitment of LT blind layouts, which have been retained at Imperial. (R Hudson).

Leyland Olympian/ECW Recently placed into service, and featuring a new variation of the livery. The latter vehicle is ex-Lothian Regional Transport.
	A321YWJ B760GSC		A regular on the H1, having replaced the MKII metros, is impressive looking A321YWJ. (R Hudson)
			The blind layout and long wheelbase betray the Caledonian heritage of B760GSC. The vehicle also features high-back seats and dual doors. (R Hudson)

Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer A number of these Darts are owned. They are regularly featured in TV commercials, but appearances on the H1 do occur.
. D431 DL261	K417MGN K431ORH N261PJR		An example of a Dart on the H1 is represented by D822 (no longer in the fleet) seen here leaving the Harlow bus station. (R Hudson).
			A recent repaint has seen DL261 appear in a much lighter, almost lime green livery. (R Hudson).

Perhaps Harlow's smallest contribution to stage carriage services comes from Myalls. Featuring on Saturdays only, the once daily 354 is in the hands of Myalls on this day only, and this together with feeder service 5 is the extent of their Harlow operation. Amongst the regular vehicles are Mercedes/Alexandra Sprint minibus M577VSF in all-over white, Vario/Marshall S853SNM and, more recently, Vario/Cheetah AK02LSO. The DAF/Wright Crusader Y466HUA has also been used.

	The vehicle which has been most used in the last few years is this Mercedes Vario with Marshall Master bodywork. It awaits it's departure time one Saturday in the bus station. The 'SERVICE' destination display has sufficed for a significant time  (R Hudson).
Illustrating Myalls most recent  contribution to the 5 and 354 is what seems now to be the regular vehicle. No blinds are carried at all on this vehicle! (R Hudson).
	The previous regular vehicles is seen leaving Harlow Bus Station. This has blinds, but no fleet-name.  (R Hudson).
Almost at the other end of the scale as far as vehicles are concerned is this DAF/Wright low floor full size single-decker. This has featured on a number of Saturdays and introduces the name "MYALL BUS". (R. Hudson)

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