Colchester - 8 Apr 2016

Friday 8 April 2016 (0950) – Highwoods Square, in a northern suburb of Colchester, we see Arriva Kent Thameside 3516 (LF52 USZ), a Wright Cadet bodied DAF SB120 in Arriva corporate livery. Behind that is another Arriva vehicle, 6132 (LJ03 MHV), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL which carries Network Colchester livery. In the background is a First Essex Wright Streetlite DF.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1335) – Buses at Highwoods Square, in a northern suburb of Colchester. There are two buses operated by First Essex and two operated by Arriva Kent Thameside (that carry Network Colchester livery).

Friday 8 April 2016 (1026) - High Street, Colchester. First Essex 66828 (MX05 CFE) (a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in April 2005 to First Manchester) and Stephensons of Essex 465 (EU62 FBO) (an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 new in October 2012). The building forming the backcloth, now apartments, was constructed in 1820 as a Corn Exchange and later became the offices of Essex and Suffolk Equitable Fire Insurance Society.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1156) – High Street, Colchester. Left is First Essex 63341 (SM65 EEZ), a Wright Streetlite DF new in November 2015. Right is Arriva Kent Thameside 4075 (SK15 GXV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 new in April 2015, which carries Park and Ride livery. Coming up behind is Arriva Kent Thameside 6132 (LJ03 MHV), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL in Network Colchester livery.

Friday 8 April 2015 (1027) – Arriva Kent Thameside (Network Colchester) 1564 (HX04 HUH), a Caetano Nimbus bodied Dennis Dart seen in High Street, Colchester. The colour scheme originated from the TGM Group. Being followed by First Essex 33001 (LK51 UZO), a Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident.

Friday 8 April 2015 (1141) – Arriva Network Colchester 1564 (HX04 HUH), a Caetano Nimbus bodied Dennis Dart seen in High Street, Colchester. The colour scheme originated from the TGM Group. It was following two First Essex Plaxton President bodied Dennis Tridents.

Friday 8 April 2015 (0958) – On board Arriva Kent Thameside 3516 (LF52 USZ), a Wright Cadet bodied DAF SB120 new to Arriva London (fleet number DWL54) in September 2002, as it worked Network Colchester service 8 from Highwoods Square via the town centre (and on to Monkwick). The bus in front was First Essex 65687 (YS03 ZKG) working their competing service 65 between Highwoods and the town centre (then on to Stanway).

Friday 8 April 2015 (1029) – Arriva Kent Thameside 3534 (LF02 PNU), a Wright Cadet bodied DAF SB120 new to Arriva London (fleet number DWL38) in July 2002, seen in High Street, Colchester. Followed by First Essex 65673 (SN51 UYG), a Wright Eclipse bodied Scania L94UB. The building forming the backcloth, now apartments, was constructed in 1820 as a Corn Exchange and later became the offices of Essex and Suffolk Equitable Fire Insurance Society.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1152) – Arriva Kent Thameside 3534 (LF02 PNU), a Wright Cadet bodied DAF SB120 new in July 2002 to Arriva London North (fleet number DWL38), seen in High Street, Colchester passing the row of market stalls. The town’s famous water tower (opened 1883) dominates the background.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1152) – Arriva Kent Thameside 3534 (LF02 PNU), a Wright Cadet bodied DAF SB120 new in July 2002 to Arriva London North (fleet number DWL38), seen in Colchester passing the stalls of the Market on the High Street. The town’s famous water tower (opened 1883) dominates the background.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1140) – Arriva Kent Thameside 3941 (GK52 YVF) seen in High Street, Colchester. A Wright Cadet bodied DAF SB120 new in December 2002 to Arriva Guildford and West Surrey. First Essex 66810 (MX05 CDF) is coming up behind.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1139) – Arriva Kent Thameside 3941 (GK52 YVF) seen in High Street, Colchester. A Wright Cadet bodied DAF SB120 new in December 2002 to Arriva Guildford and West Surrey.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1241) – Arriva Kent Thameside (Network Colchester) 1559 (EU56 GVG), a Plaxton Pointer style bodied Dennis Dart, new in November 2006 to Excel, Stansted Airport. It was seen parked in Osborne Street, Colchester. The kerbside parking on this side of the street is opposite the bus stops forming Colchester ‘bus station’ and is used for layovers of buses. It still carries the name of Tellings Golden Miller a group acquired by Arriva in December 2007.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1115) – Arriva Kent Thameside 3330 (X522 GGO), a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart, seen in Queen Street, Colchester. It was new to Arriva London South as their PDL22 in November 2000.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1204) - Arriva Kent Thameside (Network Colchester) 3333 (W465 XKX), an Alexander ALX200 bodied Dennis Dart, seen in High Street, Colchester. The town’s famous water tower (opened 1883) dominates the background. The building with the colonade on the right, now apartments, was constructed in 1820 as a Corn Exchange and later became the offices of Essex and Suffolk Equitable Fire Insurance Society.

Friday 8 April 2016 – Arriva Kent Thameside (Network Colchester) 3333 (W465 XKX), an Alexander ALX200 bodied Dennis Dart. It was seen on stand Ab of Colchester ‘bus station’, actually Osborne Street. The ‘bus station’ is actually a collection of kerbside stops along two sides of a multi-storey car park building. Along Stanwell Street there are some individual, traditional style, bus shelters. These were added some time after the stops along Osborne Street came into use, the latter partially covered by a long canopy supported from the building which, on the ground floor, is a bingo hall/electronic gaming centre. On the corner of the two streets is a rather small waiting room building.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1142) – Arriva Kent Thameside (Network Colchester) 3314 (S312 JUA), a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart new in August 1998 to Arriva London South (fleet number DDL12). Seen in High Street, Colchester.

Friday 8 April 2016 (1314) – Arriva (Network Colchester) 3314 (S312 JUA), a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart new in August 1998 to Arriva London South (fleet number DDL12). Seen in High Street, Colchester.