East Anglia Bus Scene

Slighty late to the party, but does anyone know the fleet count at Colcester for arriva and what the types that run their are? trying to figure what first might draft in haha

I guess you could look at Bustimes for Colchester. Looks to be Enviro 200/200MMC and VDLs

Trainman40083 said:

I guess you could look at Bustimes for Colchester. Looks to be Enviro 200/200MMC and VDLs

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Duh of course haha, their is no buses transfering?

Fletcj10 said:

Slighty late to the party, but does anyone know the fleet count at Colcester for arriva and what the types that run their are? trying to figure what first might draft in haha

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Dennis Dart (1)
1563

VDL SB200 Wright Pulsar/2 (7)
2986, 3032, 3761, 3763, 3775, 3777, 3781

Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2 (1)
3888

ADL Enviro200 (11)
4011, 4013, 4014, 4044, 4049, 4057, 4059, 4061, 4063, 4065, 4066

ADL Enviro200 MMC (4)
4122, 4123, 4124, 4125 All ex Park and Ride still in Black livery

Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini (1)
6143

ADL Enviro400 (2)
6458, 6461

There were several of VDL DB300 Wright Gemini 2 buses based at Colchester but those have all left recently. In summary, not many buses are based there and almost all of the buses are unwanted hands down buses from other depots.

Busoccultation said:

Dennis Dart (1)
1563

VDL SB200 Wright Pulsar/2 (7)
2986, 3032, 3761, 3763, 3775, 3777, 3781

Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2 (1)
3888

ADL Enviro200 (11)
4011, 4013, 4014, 4044, 4049, 4057, 4059, 4061, 4063, 4065, 4066

ADL Enviro200 MMC (4)
4122, 4123, 4124, 4125 All ex Park and Ride still in Black livery

Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini (1)
6143

ADL Enviro400 (2)
6458, 6461

There were several of VDL DB300 Wright Gemini 2 buses based at Colchester but those have all left recently. In summary, not many buses are based there and almost all of the buses are unwanted hands down buses from other depots.

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I think last time I went to Colchester Arriva had ECW Atlanteans and Volvo Citybus. But I do remember getting off a train to take a picture of the First Gemini in Eastern National green and yellow livery

Lynford1976 said:

It will be interesting to see if the CMA allow the acquisition and what may happen if they don't.

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A Barnstaple style situation would be likely?

Are Go Ahead still in that area? Can't remember what happened to the likes of the former Hedingham operation.

TheGrandWazoo said:

A Barnstaple style situation would be likely?

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Exactly. Arriva would inevitably just close down and have to incur the redundancy costs.

TheGrandWazoo said:

A Barnstaple style situation would be likely?

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Agreed!

Trainman40083 said:

Are Go Ahead still in that area? Can't remember what happened to the likes of the former Hedingham operation.

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The former Go East Anglia were all sold to Transport Made Simple and are starting a slow turnaround with Central Connect branded vehicles now.

As with others, the closure of Arriva Colchester is unwanted, but not a surprise given it's now lack of any tendered work following the loss of the Colchester P&R. The final nail in the coffin.

Evening and Sunday tenders on Arriva daytime commercial routes are all with First, and have been for some years. Arriva lost the Colchester weekday daytime tenders on the 11 and 84 (nee 14 / 4) maybe 5 or 6 years ago. The Stansted route was funded at one point but I believe that stopped and then the route fell by the wayside.

It's a sad end (again) to what was the former Colchester Borough Transport. But if Southampton couldn't sustain two big national operators...it's speaks volumes about other areas.

Pyromaniac said:

The former Go East Anglia were all sold to Transport Made Simple and are starting a slow turnaround with Central Connect branded vehicles now.

As with others, the closure of Arriva Colchester is unwanted, but not a surprise given it's now lack of any tendered work following the loss of the Colchester P&R. The final nail in the coffin.

Evening and Sunday tenders on Arriva daytime commercial routes are all with First, and have been for some years. Arriva lost the Colchester weekday daytime tenders on the 11 and 84 (nee 14 / 4) maybe 5 or 6 years ago. The Stansted route was funded at one point but I believe that stopped and then the route fell by the wayside.

It's a sad end (again) to what was the former Colchester Borough Transport. But if Southampton couldn't sustain two big national operators...it's speaks volumes about other areas.

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Thank you for that comprehensive reply. Your last paragraph suggests what may happen elsewhere. We see some operators cutting back quoting less passengers using buses. That will see lower profits and we know where that leads

overthewater said:

I'm surprised they never tried to sell it to central connect, mind you maybe they tried to and they said no.

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Arrivas run down fleet in Colchester would fit right in with Central Connect!

Busoccultation said:

There were several of VDL DB300 Wright Gemini 2 buses based at Colchester but those have all left recently.

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Hadn't noticed these had gone, do you know where they have ended up?

Russel said:

Arrivas run down fleet in Colchester would fit right in with Central Connect!

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Perhaps that’s the point; they have enough to sort out with the inheritance from Go Ahead.

In fairness, their Harlow area fleet has been transformed.

Russel said:

Hadn't noticed these had gone, do you know where they have ended up?

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Southend or Tunbridge Wells

So here's a thing. The current 14 StreetDeck Electroliners at First Eastern Counties (36799-712) are entering service at Roundtree Way.

Here's a clip of the original press release (source: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/...estment-brings-more-electric-buses-to-Norfolk - the First press release at the time is the same):

Meanwhile, the Vulcan Road depot in Norwich will accommodate 14 electric buses for routes 28, 36, 37, and 38, linking communities in Thorpe Marriott, Horsford, Mulbarton, and Ives Road with Norwich city centre.

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Is this just a temporary thing - i.e. they are awaiting chargers to be completed at Vulcan Road - or did plans change, and they have gone to Roundtree Way after all?

aswilliamsuk said:

So here's a thing. The current 14 StreetDeck Electroliners at First Eastern Counties (36799-712) are entering service at Roundtree Way.

Here's a clip of the original press release (source: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/...estment-brings-more-electric-buses-to-Norfolk - the First press release at the time is the same):



Is this just a temporary thing - i.e. they are awaiting chargers to be completed at Vulcan Road - or did plans change, and they have gone to Roundtree Way after all?

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I think there's been a change since the last batch of service changes:

14 (Dussingdale - Norwich - Wymondham, now extended to Attleborough to replace the 13) - was at Roundtree Way using Electroliners but now at Vulcan Road using B9TL's / StreetDecks
15 / 16 (Blofield or Lingwood - Norwich - Silfield, includes the section of withdrawn 17 via Broadland Gate) - I think 15 was at Roundtree Way using Kite's at the 16 at Vulcan Road using Streetlites, both at now Vulcan Road using Kite's
28 (Norwich - Thorpe Marriott) - was at Vulcan Road using B9TL's / Streetdecks, now interworks with the 37 and at Roundtree Way using Electroliners
37 (Norwich - Hellesdon) was at Vulcan Road using B9TL's / Streetdecks, now interworks with the 28 and at Roundtree Way using Electroliners
38 (Norwich - Mulbarton) was at Vulcan Road using B7RLE's / Streetlies, still at Vulcan Road but using Kite's interworked with the 15 / 16

It looks like the new Electroliners are on the PR1 (Thickthorn P&R - Norwich - Hellesdon P&R) "first" with the rest being used on any other Roundtree Way route and all the Kite's have moved to Vulcan Road