Stephensons of Essex

Stephensons of Essex
Plaxton Premiere bodied Volvo B10M
in April 2008
Parent Bill Hiron
Founded 1975
Headquarters Rochford
Service area Essex
Suffolk
Service type Bus & coach services
Routes 104 (October 2013)
Depots 4
Fleet 95 (September 2013)
Annual ridership 1.8 million (2012)
Chief executive Bill Hiron
Website Stephensons Website

Stephensons of Essex[1] is a privately owned bus company based in Rochford, Essex.

It also runs a bus and coach dealership and sales service.

History

Alexander RH bodied Volvo Olympian in July 2010

Stephensons was founded in Rochford in 1975, and has since expanded by gaining contracts for bus routes.[2]

In 2001 after Arriva Southend decided to withdraw their route 721 service, Stephensons commenced operating routes X1 and X10 from Rochford to London under the London Link Express brand. X1 was the original number of the service when it was first launched in 1980.[3] Stephensons withdrew the service on 11 July 2008.[4] Swallow Coach Company revived the service on 14 August 2008[5][6] but it again ceased on 29 May 2009.

In 2005 Stephensons won a contract to operate the Dengie Connections services from Arriva Southend, which it operated for five years from April 2007.[7] In 2012 this was extended for a further four years.[8]

In 2008 it won the contract to run Withamlink services 38 and 39.

In November 2016, Stephensons of Essex owner Bill Hiron will purchase Galloway European. The two businesses will operate independently.[9][10][11]

Services

Stephensons operate 88 services in Essex and 16 in Suffolk.[12]

Fleet

As at September 2013 the fleet consisted of 95 buses and coaches.[13]

Depots

Stephensons operate four depots in Haverhill, Maldon, Rochford and their new facility in Boreham.[2]

References

  1. Companies House extract company no 1815977 Stephensons of Essex Limited
  2. 1 2 About Us Stephensons of Essex
  3. Southend Transport - The X1 Story SCT61 2 January 2004
  4. Withdrawal of Commuter Services X1 & X10 Stephensons of Essex 12 May 2008
  5. Commuter bus service revived Essex Echo 8 August 2008
  6. Coach route returns by popular demand Essex Echo 11 August 2008
  7. "Essex County Council Highways and Transportation – Executive Decision – Dengie Peninsula Passenger Transport Network" (PDF). 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  8. Buses to continue to serve the Dengie despite threat to services Maldon Chronicle 25 June 2012
  9. Stephensons owners take on Galloway Bus & Coach Buyer 6 April 2016
  10. Galloway bought by Eastern Transport Holdings Route One 7 April 2016
  11. Galloways sold to Stephensons of Essex Ipswich Star 19 April 2016
  12. Local Buses Stephensons of Essex
  13. Fleet List Stephensons of Essex 24 September 2013
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