Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the May 2015 edition of Busmopolitan.
Transport for London took control of the inner suburban routes out of Liverpool Street from 31st May. What had been part of the Abellio Greater Anglia franchise is now with two concessionaires; London Overground (LOROL) for the West Anglia lines and the Romford to Upminster branch, and TfL Rail, a shadow company for MTR in advance of Crossrail, for the Shenfield ‘Metro’ route. When ‘Busmopolitan’ visited Emerson Park on 30th May, the Abellio posters were being replaced by new LOROL ones, while similar work was observed at Harold Wood; but for TfL Rail.
There has been an influx of new buses into First Essex; in the shape of more Wright Streetlites. Most have appeared in south Essex, around Basildon and Southend; but two have gone to Colchester – as a prelude for further fleet modernisation there later in 2015.
Meanwhile, further late model Scania Omnidekkas continue to upgrade the Hedingham and Chambers fleets – and further introduce the new livery.
Finally, slightly out of the area but still in south east England; history was made on 19th of May when Reading Buses successfully “raced” its bio waste powered Scania K270UB/Enviro 300 around the Littlebrook test track in Bedfordshire – attaining a top speed of 80 miles per hour. Still 20 mph short of what the CMT Midland Red coaches used to achieve on motorways, back in the unrestricted days of the early to mid 1960s !

ABELLIO GREATER ANGLIA.

The first refreshed MkIII coach set (NC10), performed an inaugural run on 1/5/15. Running as the scheduled 1P31 1100 Norwich-London, it was in the care of  90001+82143 and carried press as well as normal customers. The MkIII carriage consist is TSOB 10401; FOs 11067/99; TSOs 12009/13/5/46/91, 12126. The picture above, shows it at Ingatestone on 4th May. DVT82126 is back in the NC64 ‘Pretendalino’ set, replacing 82112 but then was replaced by 82139, while loco 90015 was swapped for 90011 by the end of the month. Now in TfL Rail colours are 315842/53/7/60. To LOROL livery are 315817, 317708/29. 90004 and DVT 82114 have been repainted into the latest AGA colours, along with FOs 11066/95, TSOs 12064/73, 12125/41 and EMU 317505.

Above: 82126 leads the ‘Pretendalino’ set through Kelvedon, on the 0830 London Liverpool Street to Norwich, on 12/5/15.

Above: 90004 heads the 0800 Norwich-London Liverpool Street through Kelvedon in April 2015.

Above: Freshly repainted into the new Abellio scheme; 90004 tackles Belstead Bank near Ipswich on 18/5/15, on the 1030 Norwich to London Liverpool Street service.

Above: 313848 in TfL livery at Brentwood on 16/5/15.

The Shenfield- Liverpool Street Metro route passed to TfL Rail (on behalf of MTR Crossrail) from 31/5/15.  This excludes the Romford to Upminster branch. It includes traincrew depots/stabling points at Gidea Park, Ilford and Shenfield. EMUs 315818-61 passed to the new operator. The ‘315s no longer work beyond Shenfield, so thus no longer stable at Southend Victoria or run up the Southminster branch.

Above: 315817 ‘Transport for London’ enters Brentwood on a London Liverpool Street to Shenfield service on 16/5/15. This is one of the type to have passed to LOROL.

From the same date, the West Anglia Metro network and the Romford to Upminster branch passed to London Overground (LOROL), along with a traincrew depot/stabling point at Chingford, and an outbase at Cheshunt. EMUs 315801-17, 317708-10/4/9/23/9/32, 317887-92 moved over to LOROL.
AGA continues to provide staff for the Romford-Upminster. The last AGA train over this route was 317884 on 30/5/15. The pictures below shows it approaching and departing Emerson Park Halt on the final day.



Above: LOROL poster heralding change at Emerson Park on 30/5/15.

Above: Back in West Anglia Great Northern (WAGN) days; 315844 at Highams Park, on the Chingford branch, in June 2003.

Maintenance of the Class 315 EMU fleet will continue to be done at Ilford, for both operations.

ACME BUS, MOLEHILL GREEN.
Contrasting arrivals (size wise) are of Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 V130 MEV, from Weaver of Newbury and LDV Convoy EP04 URY.
Withdrawn is Dart SLF/Caetano R558 UOT.
Cannibalised Mercedes 0814D/Plaxton Beaver T300 CBC has gone for scrap.

AMBER, RAYLEIGH.
Dart SLF/Caetano HV52 WTG has appeared with new ‘Ambus’ logos; in the form of a white ‘A’ in an orange circle.
Dart SLF/Mini Pointers X595 FBB and X506 WRG have been resold via Ensign, to Axe Vale Coaches of Biddisham, Somerset.

ANITAS, STANSTED.
Bova Futura FHD RY05 ERN, has passed to Kingdom of Tiverton, Devon.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (NETWORK COLCHESTER).
On loan from Network Harlow are Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 3413 (SN54 HWY) and Dennis Trident/EL 5443 (T406 LMV).

Above: Both the aforementioned vehicles have worked at Colchester before. SLF 3413 was new to Colchester depot in November 2004, (with fleet number 360). It was pictured at Horkesley Heath in April 2005, when service 8 still regularly reached that location. The 8 now terminates northbound at Highwoods, with the 2 reaching Horkesley instead, (except evenings, Sundays and holidays).

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (NETWORK HARLOW).
A second ex Dartford VDL 200/Wright Pulsar2 is 3755 (YJ08 DZE).

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (SOUTHEND).

The latest DAF SB220/Plaxton Prestige to be withdrawn is 3918 (T918 KKM). This leaves 3912/3/4/6 still active; from a batch which came from Northfleet in 2009. The picture shows 3914 in its original haunts; at Dartford in October 2003.

ARRIVA LONDON NORTH.
TfL135 (Crossharbour-Old Street) was lost to Docklands Buses on re-tender from 23/5/15. Arriva had operated this route since its inception in May 2008. The T class ADL/Enviro 400s from the 135 (T14-16/8/9, 20/2/3) have transferred from Barking (DX) to Arriva London South, to replace the last revenue DLA class DAF DB250LF/Alexander ALX400s at Thornton Heath (TH).

Above: ADL/E400 T23 on the 135 at Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf in June 2012. The Shard can be seen in the distance, to the left.

Above: The first day of TfL135; in May 2008. T21 heads away from Westferry, onto the Isle of Dogs.

BLUE TRIANGLE.
From 23/5/15, TfL541 (Canning Town-Kier Hardy Estate shuttle) was transferred from Docklands, with Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini WVL95 (LF52 ZNH) and Scania Omnidekkas 946 (YN56 FEG), SO1-5 (BV55 UCT/U/W/X/Y). The SOs have thus returned “home”.
Ex First Dart SLF/Marshall DMN11 (LT02 NUV) has been noted running in plain red with no fleet names.
Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President PVL67 (W467 WGH), has been resold via Ensign to Sullivan Buses at South Mymms.

Above: Ex London General Dart SLF/Pointer LDP194 at Dagenham East on 30/5/15.

BRENTWOOD COACHES.

Above: In the new livery, unusual Irisbus 397/Plaxton Paragon 5189 RU at Hornchurch on 30/5/15.

Bus4Us, STANSTED AIRPORT. (JONES OF BRAINTREE).
New for hotel shuttles are 8.9m ADL/Enviro200s YX15 XRO/P.

CARTERS OF CAPEL ST MARY.
Ex Metroline former Armchair Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander ALX200 T152 AUA has gone for scrap.

CENTREBUS.
The Ware town services were revised from 14th May.
M1 became a complete circular. Evening peak journeys have been renumbered M2. M4/M5 (Wareside) have been increased in frequency.

CHAMBERS.
Ex Plymouth Citybus Volvo B7TL/Plaxton Presidents Y731 TGH, X507 EGK, have been renumbered to 583/2 respectively, from 1449/50.
Metrobus Scania Omnidekkas 1500 (YN53 RYP) and 1509 (YN55 PZM) are now here.
Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 575 (W516 WGH) has gone to Hedingham.
Accident damaged Optare Solo 962 (MX58 XDB) has passed to Barham (Panther Travel as dealer) for spares.

CHELMSFORD TAXIBUS.
Acquired is Ford Transit 16 seater BJ12 XYM.
Sold are Mercedes Sprinter 411CDi/Stanford 117 (WA55 OFV) and Ford Transit 11 seater 135 (EA55 LPZ).

CT PLUS.
Scania Omnicity ‘deckers SD6-10 (YR59 NPJ/N/E/K/O), surplus following the loss of TfL contract 212 to Tower Transit, have moved to the Jersey, Channel Islands fleet.
They are now registered J127199-203.

DBS.
A downturn in coal traffic, and loss of other contracts has led to 93 Class 66 diesel locomotives being declared surplus and being either stored (19) or used in Europe (74). The operations affected are generally in the Midlands and North, although in the ‘Busmopolitan area’, the traincrew depots at Barking and Ipswich are to close, leaving Hither Green as the main base for the London area.
The loss of coal haulage has been caused by the impending closure of the last deep mines in the United Kingdom, at Hatfield (Doncaster), Thoresby (Nottinghamshire) and Kellingley (North Yorkshire).
DBS, has however gained new contracts for the Thames Gateway port.

Above: The DBS fleet has a “free range” across the UK, with the locomotives being “common user”; meaning they can turn up virtually anywhere on the system. Back in EWS days, 66072 was pictured at Bow Midland Goods in December 2000. This part of east London has now changed considerably; thanks to the 2012 Olympics and gentrification. The railway location is now known as Bow Olympic.

DE VERE TRAVEL, SIBLE HEDINGHAM.
New commercial service 333 (Great Yeldham-Sible Hedingham-Sudbury) commenced on 5/5/14, running M-F.  A “popular” newspaper recorded this as being “the first public transport link between Sible Hedingham and Sudbury in 262 years”(!).  The last service was by horse and cart in 1753. However, this is not technically true, as much more recently, there was the once a week service 5, worked by Hedingham.
The 333 is operated by new 14 seat accessible Mercedes Sprinter BD15 CWJ.

DOCKLANDS BUSES.
Gained TfL135 (Crossharbour-Old Street) from Arriva London North on re-tender, from 23/5/15.  Initially 16 E class ADL/Enviro 400s loaned from London Central (E208-223) – were used on this new contract. They appeared on other Docklands routes too, such as the D7.

Above: ADL/Enviro 400 E210 at Crossharbour on 30/5/15.

Meanwhile, Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini WVL90 (LF52 ZNY) has moved to London Central.

DONS OF DUNMOW.
Volvo B13R/VH YJ12 KFE has been re-registered to DN12 DON.

DRS.
Class 47 loco 47790 is “stopped”.

ENSIGNBUS.
Ex Metroline Dennis Trident/Plaxton President LK03 GHY has been converted to open top, and joined the fleet as no 301. It is in red/silver livery.
Ex Brighton and Hove Trident/EL open topper T808 RFG is now 392 MBF. (Pictured below).

Volvo B7R/Plaxton Profile 603 (YN 54 DCY) has been re-registered ULL 933.
Dart SLF/Caetano 784 (784 EYB) has reverted to its original mark of HV52 WTK.
Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 192 (T192 CLO) has returned, off loan from Renown of Bexhill.
Trident/ALX400s 105 (V115 MEV), 109 (T87 KLD), 192 (T192 CLO) have lost their fleet names.
ADL/Enviro 400 SN56 AWW has been reacquired from Aintree Coachline at Bootle; but is for sales stock only.
Names commemorating fallen local soldiers from World War 1 are beginning to appear on the service bus fleet. This was launched with a ceremony at Purfleet Heritage Centre on 4th May, where Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini2 no 130 was named ‘Private Archibald Snaich’. A full list will be published later. The name carried by ADL/Enviro 200 no 703 (PX12 BSY) is pictured below.

Traffic news is that on 28/5/15, a large sinkhole appeared on the A126 Hogg Lane in Grays. Caused by old chalk mine workings, it closed the southern half of this busy thoroughfare and directly affected service 66 (Lakeside-Tilbury-Chadwell). It is not known when the road will reopen, and an emergency timetable has been put in place, with 66 running between Grays and Chadwell only.

EOS LONDON.
Optare Excels 700 (R300 PAR), 761/2 (JFZ 8261/2) have all gone for scrap. 700 had previously been cannibalised.
Route HC1 (Harlow-Epping) ceased from 1/5/15.

EPPING FOREST COMMUNITY TRANSPORT.
New are Mercedes Sprinter 513/Bluetec welfare buses LJ15 FGX, FHB.

EXECUTIVE MINIBUSES, AVELEY.
Mercedes Sprinter 516CDi/Stanford DK11 BVY is ex Amersham and Windsor, Wooburn Green.
Sprinter 413CDi/Plaxton welfare bus EM56 BUS has passed to Scottish operator Yule of Mioniaive. Mb Sprinter 515/Ferqui UU57 BOY is also sold – to Hopkiss of Stalham, Norfolk.

FIRST EASTERN COUNTIES (IPSWICH).
Fully accessible Volvo B12M/Plaxton Paragon 20514 (WV02 EUP) has been outshopped in Excel style livery of dark blue with gold lining.

FIRST ESSEX.

New Wright Streetlite DFs are 47643-9 (SN15 AEZ, AFA/E/F/J/K, AEL) at Hadleigh (HH) and 47650-6 (SN15 AEM/O/P/T/U/V/W) at Basildon (BN). BN examples are appearing on route 9 (Basildon-Billericay-Brentwood). 47646 is pictured above, at the Clacton Rally on 31/5/15. Streetlites 47657/8 (SN15 AEX/Y) are at Colchester (CR), and were noted on road test and staff training in late May. Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 43480 (R680 DPW) has been transferred from Basildon (BN) to Colchester (CR). This is the first SLF allocated to CR for some years. It is pictured below, at Shrub End, on an evening journey on the 15 North Station to Prettygate commuter service, on 15/5/15.

Trident/Presidents 32818 (T818 LLC), 32859 (V859 HBY), 32883 (T883 KLF) have gone to First Devon and Cornwall.  Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 66805/20 (MX05 CCU, CEJ) have moved to First Leicester. From First Leicester is Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 32087 (KP51 WPZ).

Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere 20463 (X193 HFB) has received a purple/pink driver training colour scheme.
Optare Solo 53112 is now in Refreshed livery with ‘Chelmsford City’ fleet names.
Volvo B7RLE/Wright 66828 (MX05 CFE) now has grey leather seats. Sister 66798 (MX05 CCA) is the latest to undergo the ‘CLEG’ exhaust trap conversion, and has appeared in the green stripe livery. Volvo B7TL/ALX400 30903 (W758 DWX) is now in Refreshed livery.
Colchester local route 63 (Roman Way-Tufnell Way) reverted to saloons at the end of May; after a brief spell of double deck operation, following its revision at the start of April.

Withdrawn Scania L94/Wright 65576 (T576 JNG) has been further cannibalised at CR.

Dart SLF/Pointer 43719 (R719 DJN) has been replaced at Clacton (CN) by 42923 (EU05 AUP) from HH. Withdrawn is SLF/Pointer 43735 (S735 TWC) at HH.

Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 43715 (R715 DJN) has gone to Alpha for scrap, after cannibalisation. Parts were used to rejuvenate 43480. The picture shows 43715 in its “heyday”, in April 2005 at North Station Road, Colchester. During its career, 43715 served at Basildon, Colchester and Hadleigh depots.

Also passing to Alpha, for breaking were SLF/Pointers 43732/6 (S732/6 TWC) and Scania 113L/Wright 65538 (R138 GSF).

FLAVIN, STANFORD LE HOPE.
Ex Chariots Mercedes 709D/Plaxton Beaver welfare bus P331 TGS is sold.

FORDS OF ALTHORNE.
Scania K410EB6/Higer demonstrator YN64 XPP has moved on to SBC of Basildon, for continued trials.

FREIGHTLINER.

Above: 70013 heads through Brentwood, on the “down electric line”, on 16/5/15; bound for Felixstowe. Note that is shares the same number as a well know steam locomotive – ‘Oliver Cromwell’.

66418 is now in ‘Powerhaul’ livery, ex DRS blue.
On loan to Intermodal from Heavy Haul are 66419 and 66544.
A number of Heavy Haul Class 66s have been temporarily stored, due to a downturn in coal traffic, which equates to around 50% of FLHH’s total business. This has been offset by some small contract gains, but there is a surplus of resources. It looks like some FLHH locos and staff will be redeployed to Intermodal; as mentioned above.

GALLOWAY OF MENDLESHAM.
Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante 341 (FJ61 EYG), is ex Edinburgh Coachlines. It is in National Express livery.
Mercedes Citaro demonstrator BP14 FJZ has been on loan from Evobus.

GB RAILFREIGHT.
Some Class 66s have been stood down due to a decline in the traffic on which they were used.

Above: GBRf 66715 ‘Valour’, stabled at Ilford Car Sheds with an engineering train, in February 2005.

GALLEON TRAVEL, HARLOW.
Has ex Stagecoach East London Trident/ALX400 LX03 BVW – via Ensign.
It has been converted to single door and fitted with a led destination display.

GRAHAM’S, KELVEDON.

Above: Mercedes 811D/Plaxton Beaver dual purpose N376 EAK, unusually at Maldon Morrisons on 15/5/15; having just arrived on the run from Colchester High School. It was deputising for the failed regular vehicle, Mercedes 0814D/Euro AE54 FMG.

HEDINGHAM.
Ex Anglian Bus is Dennis Trident/EL 725 (W825 NNJ). From London General is former Metrobus Scania Omnidekka 1513 (YN55 PZU).
From 11/5/15, the Kelvedon allocation was down to 7 buses, ex 8, and was later reduced further to 6 vehicles. However, up to 2 buses from TY may park up at KN during weekdays in school terms, to free up space at TY.
Volvo Olympian/NC 63 (K107 JWJ) is withdrawn.

Above: Hedingham ex Anglian Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 no 743; at Maldon Road, Colchester on 14/5/15. It is on the 0745 92 working from Tollesbury.

IPSWICH BUSES.

Dart SLF/EL Spryte 98 (X98 LBJ) has been refurbished by Hants and Dorset Trim, and outshopped in the new livery. It is pictured above at the Clacton Rally on 31st May. Acquired from Lothian Buses are Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Super Pointers SN53 AVG/K/M/P, which have been numbered 134-7. These will replace X reg EL bodied SLFs not considered suitable for refurb.

There were service revisions from 24/5/15. 4 (Martlesham-Broke Hall-Tower Ramparts) no longer runs to/from Ipswich rail station off peak. X5 has been replaced by 5 with better frequency, while 6 and 11 (Tower Ramparts-Ipswich Hospital) are now linked, with frequency increases to the 6.

KEANE OF LINFORD.
This has the former operations of Roomes (AVRO77), Stanford Le Hope.
Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President LK51 XGG has been re-registered KIG 1263.

Volvo Olympian/NC R284 LGH is reinstated.

KINGS TOURS, COLCHESTER.
The latest new coach is 12.9m VDL Futura 2 KC15 ABC.
Bova Futura FHD KC10 ABC, has passed to Edwards Coaches of Hailsham, East Sussex.

KIRBY, HOCKLEY.
(Not to be confused with Kirbys of Rayleigh).
Setra S215 B81 RLO is withdrawn.

L and R TRAVEL, BASILDON.
Leyland National Greenaway/EL HLZ 4439 is ex Velvet of Eastleigh.

LACEYS OF EAST HAM.
The latest vehicle to carry the cherished UHM 79 registration mark, of this one coach operator, is a Setra S315.

LONDON OVERGROUND.
Took over the West Anglia Metro routes and Romford to Upminster branch line from Abellio Greater Anglia, from 31/5/15. Initially, existing Class 315 and Class 317 EMUs will continue to be used.
315801-17; 317708/9/10/4/9/23/9/32, 317887-92 have come from Abellio (qv).
More new Class 378 trailer cars are 38418-20/3.

LONDON UNDERGROUND.
New are S7 Stock units 21457/8, 21459/60.
D78 stock 7045 + 17045 + 8045 and 7116 + 17116 + 8116 are withdrawn.
7045/17045, 7116/17116 have pased to Vivarail.
8045/116 have gone to Booth Roe at Rotherham for scrap.
Vivarail has used 7056 for crash tests.

MTR/TfL RAIL.
Took over the London Liverpool Street-Shenfield Metro service from Abellio from 31/5/15. MTR is initially operating as TfL Rail, using ex Abellio Class 315 EMUs. These will run until the new Class 345 EMUs come on stream in 2017. The ‘315s and stations along the route are all being refreshed. 315818-861 have come from Abellio.

NIBS, WICKFORD.
Service 48 (Laindon-Wickford) was withdrawn from 13/5/15.

ORIGINAL LONDON SIGHTSEEING TOUR.
Rainham (Ferry Lane) depot now has an allocation of its own, rather than being an outbase of Wandsworth. The code is RN. DAF DB250L/Plaxton Presidents DLP205/16 (T205/16 XBV) have been allocated there.

OSBORNES OF TOLLESBURY.
This name makes a return, to record the death of one time joint proprietor George Osborne, who was in his eighties. He is survived by his brother Barry Osborne.
Osbornes of course sold out to Hedingham Omnibuses in 1997. The depot at New Road is still in use today.

PANTHER TRAVEL.
Volvo B12B/Plaxton Panther LK53 KWF has been re-registered DC53 PAN, while sister YU04 XFC is now DC04 PAN. (DC are the initials of Finance Manager Diane Challis).
Plaxton Primo SB07 PAN is now named ‘Paul’, having previously been ‘Stephen’.
Ex Hedingham Dart SLF/Mini Pointer W339 VGX has been overhauled and repainted white.
Leyland Olympian/ECW BIG 9210, Optare Excel BIG 9861 and SLF/Mini Pointer SIL 6719 are delicensed.

REGAL BUSWAYS.
On hire from Ensign is ex Western Greyhound Dart SLF/Pointer NA52 AWF.
Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 607 (W136 WGT) is delicensed.

RICHARDS TRAVEL, CHELMSFORD.
Former National Express Scania K114/Irizar PB YN55 PZB, is now with Go North East.
Also sold is Setra S415 BK08 XYG.

ROADRUNNER, HARLOW.
SLF/Mini Pointer X507 WRG has been destroyed by fire.

STAGECOACH CAMBUS.
Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 34580 (PX04 DSE) came to Cambridge from Huntingdon, and subsequently went on to Stagecoach Norfolk.
ADL/Enviro 400s 19619/20 (AE10 BYK/L) have returned off loan to Stagecoach Yorkshire; where they had been used on a Sheffield Supertram replacement.
Former Huntingdon and District Volvo B10BLE/Wrights 21161-4 (R121-4 HNK) are stored at Cowley Road depot.
Ancillary vehicles: Two Ford Mondeo estate cars have appeared at Cowley Road, one being AK02 ZFC. Both are in partially dismantled condition.

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON.

Above: ADL/Enviro 400 no 19734 at Dagnam Park Drive terminus, Harold Hill on 30/5/15.

ADL/Enviro 400s 19734-7 have moved from North Street (NS) to Rainham (RM). Trident 17572 (LV52 HFD) has come from Selkent, and is Reserve at West Ham (WH). Now driver trainers are ex Selkent Dart SLF/Pointers 34353/5/7/8 (LV52 HKE/G/J/K).

ADL/E40H 12137 (LX61 DPF) now carries an overall advert for World Environment Day.

Above: Trident 17804 in original condition, at Farringdon in September 2004.

Sales are of Tridents 17441/66 (Y441 NHK, LX51 FLC), 17505/6 (LX51 FNH/J) to Lister, Bolton (dealer); 17803/4/6 (LX03 BWW/Y, BXA) to Ensign, Purfleet (dealer) and sisters 17573 (LV52 HFE), 17801 (LX03 BWU) to Metal Waste Recycling for scrap.
Trident 17755 (LX03 BTZ) has been resold by Ensign, to Brylaine of Boston, Lincolnshire.
Scania Omnicity ‘deckers 15155/8 (LX59 CPK/U), are now with Coach Services of Thetford, Norfolk.

STEPHENSONS OF ESSEX.
ADL/Enviro 200 demonstrator 204 (YX14 RXB), has returned to Alexander Dennis, off loan.
During May 2015, service 80 (Boxted-Colchester-Fordham) ceased to cross work with 676 (Little Waltham-Chelmsford-Colchester) in school terms, and did so with 702 (Frinton-Colchester) instead.

Above: Scania Omnicity no 506 on a Boxted bound 80, at Head Street, Colchester on 8/5/15.

Above: 506 on the 702, at Southway, Colchester on 11/5/15.

SUPREME COACHES, RETTENDON.
Iveco Eurorider/Beaulas YN07 EBC has passed to Vale of Henstridge, Somerset.
Scania K114/Irizar YN53 OZO is now with Armstrong of Castle Douglas, Scotland.

SWIFT TRAVEL, NORTH WEALD.
Mercedes Sprinter 311CDi 15 seat minicoach KF56 DZG, is now here. It has been re-registered S28 WFT.

TOWNLINK, HARLOW.
From 3/5/15, a Sunday service was introduced on commercial  routes 19 (Harlow-Epping), 20 (Harlow-Ongar).

TRUSTYBUS, HARLOW.
Aquired through Ensign are ex Metrobus Dart SLF/Caetano Nimbus 11m Y364/6/74 HMY.
Commercial service 505 (Harlow-Chingford) was taken over from Arriva from 11/5/15. From the same date, route 392 (Harlow-Hoddesdon) became circulars 392/3. The picture below shows the 505 in Arriva days – back in May 2010, with ex Wests of Woodford Dart/Wright Handybus 3366 departing Chingford station.

UNO.
One time Premiere of Nottingham Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer DP130 (KP54 BYK) , is now here via Ensign.
Similar KP02 YUJ, is plain white and a permanent driver training vehicle.
Mercedes Citaro bendy no 324 caught fire in Hitchin on 9/5/15. There was outwardly no serious damage. However, it was quickly dispatched to PVS (dealer), Barnsley, suggesting significant internal/technical damage.
Service 695 (Hatfield Rail Station-UH Forum) ceased after 25th May.

VICEROY OF ESSEX, SAFFRON WALDEN.
Previously withdrawn Iveco 59/Marshall P29 KOP has been sold.

WARD’S OF ALRESFORD.
Volvo Olympian/NC M923 PKN has passed to Temple Hill School at Dartford, thus returning it to its native Kent.

WHIPPET.
The new Scania K440EB4/Caetano Levante National Express coaches have arrived, NX8-10 (BK15 AHV/X/Y) noted so far. This has allowed the borrowed Scania K340EB4/Levantes to return to South Gloucestershire Bus and Coach; NX05-7 (NX06 AAA, NX56 AAA, L555 SGB) being sent back.