Whenever I visit Chelmsford and Colchester I am always left with the feeling "you could do so much with this"
They operate a decent network of city services, places like Clacton and Basildon could have worse services compared to other parts of the UK, they have interesting Interurban services (100, X10, X30) which could act as a spine for the rest of the network. They actually have travelshops which are well supplied and you can buy tickets from.
To me, they have the basis of what could be a healthy outfit. First impressions are important and the presentation of the vehicles is awful. If they could do a Cornwall, Bristol or Norwich with the branding then I think it could be turned round.
I suspect that in addition to the nationwide "First" issues, in Essex they have been distracted by two things:
1. Trying to run London-style frequencies. It sounds great, especially with increasing number of London exiles saying "Why can't we have more buses like London" and "we'd use them more if they were". We don't always do what we say, but equally importantly you need the resources - in terms of fleet, staff and, not least, management. You can't just transpose a model from one area to another.
2. A couple of years ago they had their collars felt by the Transport Commissioner, and presented a recovery plan. Not that hard to imagine what it was, I suspect - more buses on the network and "better" frequencies. It looks good on paper - but in practice it's much harder to deliver in the real world. I still think the activist Traffic Commissioners are living proof that the road to hell often lies through good intentions.
Both have meant running the network really hot - and mixed with the terrible congestion, reliability has plummeted as a consequence, as engineering, drivers and local management have been stretched beyond the limit. They have by a mix of history (adhering to historic routes for fear of political backlash) and their own actions (through the single answer of throwing everything they can lay their hands on out into the network), made the impact of the local congestion worse. If you have to have a single answer it has to be try not to magnify the impact of the congestion. You need to be creative as well as persistent.
If, and it's a big IF, First have the patience, and yes, can do a bit for the resources - there is perhaps some hope on the horizon. The MD (a former Essex man if I'm right) now in charge at Eastern Counties, has taken over (I believe, after the last of the ex First London exiles left). I believe, maybe more in hope than expectation, he understands the network (being Commercial Manager when the spinal 100, 70 and X30 routes were created), and there are signs appearing of it - the axing of the 72 and 41 for a start (though the 72 might be starting to perform so it depends on other changes too), and there is a cheap makeover for the 100 (those darned Volvo hybrids still give one of the most uncomfortable rides I've ever had, though) - which worked in Norwich, as well as tailoring the X services to meet the demand - something he may have done with the nearest equivalent the X1 at Eastern Counties. They claim to be in listening mode - to both passengers and the drivers. We'll see. Other people on here have told me what difference a good MD with practical experience might make - so I remain to be convinced!
And, yes, I do actually think they have the basis of a good network - if they can stop ruining it by their own actions.
