Essex County Buses - Bury St. Edmunds 2009/2010

Essex County Buses began operating two town bus services in Bury St Edmunds on 2 September 2009. The services were in direct competition with First Eastern Counties services 81 and 82, in fact the new operator used the same route numbers and ran their buses 10 minutes in front of those of FEC on exactly the same route pattern. The front page of the Bury St Edmunds local newspaper, the ‘Bury Free Press’, carried this item in the Friday 4 September issue. (Unfortunately the item carried what I saw as two errors – it stated that the ECB buses ‘are new vehicles’. It also stated that the ECB service ‘was designed to run five minutes ahead of First buses’ – it was actually ten minutes ahead). Within six months the company had gone.

Wednesday 2 September 2009 (0923) – Essex County Buses began operating two town bus services in Bury St Edmunds today. The legal lettering as carried by T75 WWV (Plaxton Pointer/Dennis Dart) through the glass of the bus shelter in St Andrew’s Street South. (The yellow/green dots were on the glass of the bus shelter rather than on the bus). Henham is a village just north of Stansted Airport. CM22 6JL postcode does relate to Old Mead Road which links Elsenham and Henham. Definitely not Hertfordshire though.

Thursday 7 January 2010 - Lettering on Eseex County Buses Optare Excel in Bury St. Edmunds. Not moving the people of Essex today though.

Wednesday 2 September 2009 (0922) – Essex County Buses Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart SLF T75 WWV seen in St Andrew’s Street South when working service 81 to Mildenhall Road Estate. This bus was new in March 1999 to Airlinks as their number 75.

Wednesday 2 September 2009 (0922) – Essex County Buses Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart SLF T75 WWV seen in St Andrew’s Street South when working service 81 to Mildenhall Road Estate. This bus was new in March 1999 to Airlinks as their number 75.

Wednesday 2 September 2009 (0938) – Essex County Buses Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart SLF T74 WWV seen in St Andrew’s Street North, about to swing left into the Bus Station, when working service 82. This bus was new in March 1999 to Airlinks as their number 74. On the right is the Mulleys Motorways ticket office with the bright orange signs.

Wednesday 2 September 2009 (0938) – Essex County Buses Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart SLF T74 WWV seen in the Bus Station when working service 82. This bus was new in March 1999 to Airlinks as their number 74. The small sized service number aperture manages to contain a static service number with scrolling text showing destination information. ECB ran their buses 10 minutes in front of those of First Eastern Counties on exactly the same route pattern using the same service numbers. The buses carried question marks and the public were invited to enter a competition to name the new operation, the prize being a 'season ticket' of some kind. The Bury St. Edmunds operation ceased before getting a name.

Wednesday 6 January 2010 (1251) – Snow started to fall in Bury St Edmunds around mid-day and within a short time the roads were covered. Essex County Buses Caetano Compass bodied Dennis Dart T402 LGP heading up St Andrew’s Street North. New April 1999 to Independent Way, Battersea.

Wednesday 2 September 2009 (0924) – Essex County Buses SCC/Caetano bodied Dennis Dart SLF T414 LGP seen in St Andrew’s Street South working service 81 to Rembrant Way. This bus was new in May 1999 to Independent Way Ltd, Battersea, London.

Wednesday 2 September 2009 (0923) – Essex County Buses on their first day in Bury St. Edmunds. The question marks carried on the buses were part of a competition to find a fleetname for the services where the public were invited to submit suggestions. However, the company only operated in Bury St. Edmunds for six months. The local newspaper (Bury Free Press dated Friday 12 March 2010) reported that the company ceased operating earlier that week. Left: SCC/Caetano bodied T414 LGP (new in May 1999 to Independent Way Ltd, Battersea, London) working to Rembrant Way. Right: Plaxton Pointer bodied T75 WWV (new in March 1999 to Airlinks as their number 75) working to Mildenhall Road Estate.

Wednesday 2 September 2009 (0923) – Essex County Buses SCC/Caetano bodied Dennis Dart SLF T414 LGP seen in St Andrew’s Street South working service 81 to Rembrant Way. This bus was new in May 1999 to Independent Way Ltd, Battersea, London.

Wednesday 2 September 2009 (0924) – Essex County Buses SCC/Caetano bodied Dennis Dart SLF T414 LGP seen in St Andrew’s Street South working service 81 to Rembrant Way. This bus was new in May 1999 to Independent Way Ltd, Battersea, London. Standing behind is a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart of First Eastern Counties. ECB ran their buses 10 minutes in front of those of FEC on exactly the same route pattern using the same service numbers.

Wednesday 2 September 2009 (0925) – Essex County Buses SCC/Caetano bodied Dennis Dart SLF T414 LGP seen in St Andrew’s Street South when working service 81 to Rembrant Way. This bus was new in May 1999 to Independent Way Ltd, Battersea, London.

Thursday 3 September 2009 (1131) – The first day that Essex County Buses began operating two town bus services in Bury St. Edmunds. Their services were in direct competition with First Eastern Counties services 81 and 82, in fact the new operator used the same route numbers and ran their buses 10 minutes in front of those of FEC on exactly the same route pattern. The services operated every 30 minutes taking one hour for the round trip thus employing two buses on each service. The public were invited to enter a competition to name the new operation hence the question marks on the bus. The company lasted just six months in Bury St. Edmunds. A report about their demise appeared in the ‘Bury Free Press’ on Friday 12 March 2010. SCC/Caetano bodied Dennis Dart SLF T414 LGP seen in St. Andrew’s Street South when working service 82. This bus was new in May 1999 to Independent Way Ltd, Battersea, London.

Wednesday 6 January 2010 (1243) – Snow started to fall in Bury St Edmunds around mid-day and within a short time the roads were covered. Essex County Buses Optare Solo T415 OUB turning into the bus station from in St Andrew’s Street North. New August 1999 to Meteor.

Wednesday 6 January 2010 (1215) – Snow started to fall in Bury St Edmunds around mid-day and within a short time the roads were covered. Essex County Buses Optare Solo T415 OUB in St Andrew’s Street North. New August 1999 to Meteor.

Wednesday 6 January 2010 (1225) – Snow started to fall in Bury St Edmunds around mid-day and within a short time the roads were covered. Essex County Buses Optare Excel V937 VUB (new in October 1999 to Meteor) heading up St Andrew’s Street North between two First Eastern Counties Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Darts (43485 was the one in the background. Is it 43480 leading?).

Wednesday 6 January 2010 (1225) – Snow started to fall in Bury St Edmunds around mid-day and within a short time the roads were covered. Essex County Buses V119 LVH in St Andrew’s Street North about to turn into the bus station. An Optare Excel new in December 1999 to Meteor.