REGAL BUSWAYS

  

Last update
18th October 2008


Regal started stage carriage services on 2nd April 2002. One of their first two Essex County Council contract services was the one-bus 381/2 service, which was taken over from Arriva, and all bar one morning journey, recently passed back to them. Since then there has been considerable expansion across Essex, including nearby Waltham Abbey area services 211-3 and evening and Sunday 240/250/251.   

The early fleet consisted of Mercedes minibuses, but ex-Cambridge Volvo B6/Marshalls and ex-London United Darts/Plaxton Pointers amongst others have come with growth of the network. Latest additions have been more modern and all turned out to a very high standard. Clear and fully DDA compliant blinds feature, although there has been a recent shift to LED displays.

Finally, a useful and comprehensive
WEBSITE featuring timetables, news and an illustrated fleet list can be found at  www.regalbusways.com

Alexander Dennis Dart/MCV eVolution
Bought new, and at the time the first of it's kind in service in the UK, the vehicle features LED destination displays.
701
AE55EHM

Route 506 was a one-time fill-in for time otherwise unused between journeys on the Saturday 381 service. 701 performs such a duty (Richard Hudson). 


Transbus Mini Pointer Dart
Also acquired new are these two extremely presentable low floor buses. Purchased for Chelmsford local services, for a good while they featured regularly on the Sunday 200 and 201, before those services passed back to Arriva. 
601
602
YN04PZY
YN04PZZ

Regal Busways Transbus Mini Pointer Dart 601

In picturesque rural setting, 601 shows it's normal haunt, and dedicated "village link" branding. (Regal Busways).   

 

Dennis/Plaxton Mini Pointer Dart
..a similar but slightly older vehicle. 
  W772URP

Regal Busways Mini Pointer Dart W772URP

A short-lived venture was service X2 from Harlow to Chelmsford, made from otherwise lost positioning journeys. Despite the X, the journey time was actually longer than the all-day 59. It didn't last long, nor carry any passengers, at least when I saw it.  (R. Hudson). 


Optare Solo Slimline 7.1m
The vehicle that in many ways saw off the last of the very small and narrow minibuses, is now available in a rather small and narrow variety. Regal have purchased three, one of which is know to travel to Harlow on a school operation. 
201
202
203
YJ06YSK
YJ56AOT
YJ56AOU

Seen at Duxford 2007 is Regal 203. (R Hudson).   

 

Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer II
The longer version of the Dart SLF is represented in the Regal, but only by this one example. It's relatively unusual in being relatively recently acquired and not being 'brand new'.  
611 X211ONH

Regal Busways Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer II 611 (X211ONH)

Also unusual, the vehicle entered service in a silver based livery, as seen on a dead run that sits within the 381/2 schedule. (R. Hudson).   

 

Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer 8.5m
The availability of ex-London step entrance Darts, and experience of the vehicles from the hire market, has prompted Regal to replace early minibuses and support some expansion with these standard vehicles. There is some livery variation detectable, Full front and nearside blinds are carried and used. 503 carries former Diamond Bus livery.
503
504
505
532
540
J605XHL
J104DUV
J105DUV
J132DUV
J140DUV

Former London United DR132 is seen at North Weald rally in 2003, showing an interim livery of red and cream. (R.Hudson)

 

Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer 9.8m
A few more standard Darts have been obtained more recently, principally for schools work. 
  K955PBG
K877UDB
M69CYJ

Regal Busways Dennis Dart K955PBG

Unlike their ex-London cousine, these features LED displays (R.Hudson)

 

Other vehicles
Regal are also involved in private hires, rail replacements and schools services. Some other vehicles known to exist in the fleet for these purposes are shown below, but others that will never see service in the vicinity are excluded. 
1203 B203DTU

Regal Leyland Olympian/ECW 1203

Leyland Olympian/ECW 1203 is seen at North Weald Rally (R Hudson) 



Stansted Transit
Last update 9th April 2007

What is today's Stansted Transit had a small presence in Harlow under the name London Transit when they operated the once a day 354 service on Mondays to Fridays. After exiting work for Herts CC, and surrendering that service to Trustline, there was a gap. Todays operations are on the 347 (one bus) and 14/392 (two buses).

Stansted Transit have a base within the airport, but are mainly relocated further into Essex. Near services include the 133 (Stansted Airport - Braintree), Village Link services 5 and 7, and weekday 301 (Bishops Stortford - Saffron Walden). 

Some known fleet information is produced below, although clearly, many vehicles will not see service in Harlow. Having said that, the variety provided by the 347 is quite breath-taking for the nature of service.

Alexander-Dennis Enviro200Dart
The very latest arrivals, and in some numbers too. These vehicles have made reasonably regular appearances on the 392.
.
.
1011
1013
.
.
KX57FMA
KX57FMC
KX57FMD
KX57FME
KX57FMF
KX57FMG

Seen at the Stansted Airport Depot, KX57FMF, still to receive fleet names, as it remains. (R Hudson)

 

Mini Pointer Dart SLF
Modern vehicles are the normal fare on the 392. Fleet livery of white with a lilac/blue skirt is carried, enhanced on two examples by 133 route branding.
  KV03ZGP
KV03ZGR
KV53VDP
KV53VDY
EU06KPA
EU06KOW
EU06KOX
YT51EAK
YT51EAN
KM51BFZ
KP51SXU

Stansted Transit exhibited KV03ZGR at North Weald in 2004. This vehicle features BAA sponsored sign-writing for the 133, a service which has seen considerable improvements in recent years courtesy of the sponsor.
(R Hudson)
    Stansted Transit EU06KOW LED Displays feature on the latest intake. The display is 392 Harlow Rail Stn, which alternates with a comprehensive list of via points (R Hudson)

 

Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer II
This batch of modern vehicles has served time in London as part of either the Armchair or Metroline fleets. One vehicle at least has had its conventional blinds replaced by an LED front unit. Another has been repainted in a dedicated livery for Village Link 5. T75WWV at least retains duel doors and also has LED displays.
  P689RWU
P105OLX
P106OLX
T74WWV
T75WWV

T223SAS

One of the longer breed is seen at Harlow Bus Station, on the 347 during the first week of Stansted Transit's operation. 
(R Hudson)
   

A revised livery has just recently appeared, and if nothing else distinguishes the vehicles from those of Excel to a degree. (R Hudson)

 

Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer II
Similar to above, but the shorter version.
  R739TMO

Also on the 347 during the first week of Stansted Transit's operation, leaving Harlow Bus Station, and rather indicating the overcapacity this size of vehicle affords.
(R Hudson)

 

Mini Pointer Dart
...and smaller still
  V898DNB

Stansted Transit V898DNB

Perhaps a better size vehicle, again awaiting the taking up of service on the 347.
(R Hudson)

 

Dennis Dart SLF/Caetano Compass
  W483OUF
V682FPO
T402LGP
T414LGP

.
(R Hudson)

 

Optare Excel
A vehicles that has been with Stansted Transit for long enough to have seen service in the days that London Transit (as was) operated the 354. 
  R817WJA

..and another 347, this time on Velizy Avenue. (R Hudson)

 

DAF SB220/Optare Delta
Both of these vehicles carry slightly unusual liveries. 957 has a very high blue skirt, to just below the windows, whilst 202 carries the recently inspired livery similar to Dart T74WWV. 
  G957KJX
J202VHN

Stansted Transit DAF SB220/Optare Delta G957KJX

 


Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer
Step-entrance Darts also feature in the Stansted Transit fleet, although whether owned or rented is not known. 
  J302WHJ
J307WHJ
J368GKH
WLT946
K710KGU

Not much disguises the Arriva London origins of J307WHY, seen departing Harlow Bus Station on the 347. Sister vehicle J302 is now unrelieved white.
(R Hudson)

 

Optare Metrorider
A perhaps more appropriate vehicle type to be the regular on the 347.
  P427VRG
V237LWU
N410NTN

In livery on the 347, and with LED display set for Hatfield Broad Oak. 
(R Hudson)

 

Leyland National II
What would appear to be the training vehicle is this machine of 25 years standing. Refreshingly, the vehicle has been treated to a full repaint. 
  WPT691V

On training duties in Harlow on a bit of a dismal day. (R Hudson)







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