Arriva Colchester

Arriva Colchester
Parent Arriva
Founded 2004
Headquarters Whitehall Industrial Estate, Colchester
Service area Essex
Service type Bus services
Routes 1/1A, 2, 4, 8, 11, 77/77A, 133
Fuel type Diesel
Operator Arriva Southern Counties
Website Arriva Colchester

Arriva Colchester[1] is a bus company operating services around Colchester. It is a subsidiary of Arriva. The company was, until March 2015, part of the Tellings-Golden Miller company, which was owned by Arriva at the time,[2] under the name of Network Colchester.

History

Network Colchester logo used until March 2015

Network Colchester's origins can be traced to 1904 with the establishment of Colchester Corporation Tramways, operating at its peak, four routes and 18 trams. Bus operation commenced in 1928 as Colchester Corporation Transport to replace the trams. To comply with the Transport Act 1985 in 1986 the assets were transferred to a new legal entity, Colchester Borough Transport.[3]

In 1993, during a bus war with Eastern National, the company was sold to British Bus for £1, but the new owners took on considerable debts. After discussions the bus war ended in 1994 with a share out of routes between the two companies. In August 1996 British Bus was purchased by the Cowie Group, which in November 1997 was renamed Arriva, with Colchester Borough Transport being rebranded as Arriva Colchester. The tuscan red and cream livery was replaced by Arriva corporate colours. Profits did not improve and in 2004 the company was sold to Tellings-Golden Miller, placed under the control of Burton's Coaches[1] and rebranded as Network Colchester.[4]

In 2008 Tellings-Golden Miller was sold to Arriva resulting in it once again owning the Colchester services.[5] It continues to trade as Network Colchester. In early 2010 the Burton's Coaches business was sold to Yellow Star Travel Services[6] in a management buy out but ownership of Network Colchester remained with Tellings-Golden Miller.

Routes

As of September 2017, Network Colchester operates Colchester Park & Ride and routes 1 (up to every 10 minutes), 2 (up to every 15 minutes), 4 (Hourly buses on Monday to Friday), 8 (up to every 10 minutes), 11 (Monday to Friday commuter Link), 77/77A (Monday to Friday Essex County Council Service) and 133 (up to every two hours). Network Colchester lost many routes during the 2016 ECC Tenders, with major changes to contracted Sunday and evening services being made. First Essex has gained many of the lost services.

Depots

First route 65 (Stanway - Highwoods)
Arriva Dennis Dart at route the terminus of route 8 (Monkwick - Highwoods Sqaure), alongside local competitor First.

The depot was at Magdalen Street, Colchester until March 2008 when relocated to expanded premises at Heath Business Park, Grange Way in the Old Heath district of Colchester. The Magdalen Street depot was later used by First Essex, but has now been sold for redevelopment.

References

  1. 1 2 Companies House extract company no 3506989 Arriva Colchester Limited formerly Burton's Coaches Limited
  2. ↑ "About Us". TGM. 18 December 2016. Returning to family ownership in 2016, Tellings-Golden Miller is now run by Richard Telling, who has taken inspiration from his parents to focus on a simple notion – to provide the best luxury VIP coach service available in the UK today.
  3. ↑ Companies House extract company no 1996370 Arriva Colchester Limited formerly Colchester Borough Transport Limited
  4. ↑ Arriva to acquire Tellings Bus & Coach Professional 20 December 2007
  5. ↑ Arriva plc offer for TGM Group plc Arriva 20 December 2007
  6. ↑ Companies House extract company no 7019106 Yellow Star Travel Services Limited

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