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| First Essex | |
|---|---|
| Name | First Essex |
| Type | Bus operator |
| Industry | Transport |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Chelmsford, Essex |
| Area served | Essex, Southend-on-Sea, Colchester, Basildon, Harlow |
| Key people | FirstGroup executives |
| Parent | FirstGroup |
First Essex First Essex is a regional bus operator serving Essex and surrounding areas with local and interurban services. It forms part of the FirstGroup network and operates routes linking towns such as Chelmsford, Colchester, Southend-on-Sea, and Basildon while interfacing with national rail hubs like London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport. The company provides scheduled bus services, park-and-ride operations, and contracted school and tendered routes for local authorities including Essex County Council.
The operator originated during the post-deregulation era following the Transport Act 1985 and subsequent privatisations that reshaped companies such as Eastern National and London Country Bus Services. In the 1990s consolidation within the UK bus industry saw acquisitions by groups including Stagecoach Group, Arriva, and FirstGroup, with FirstGroup acquiring regional operations that formed the basis of the present operator. Over time the company absorbed operations from rivals like Tellings-Golden Miller and integrated services previously run by municipal operators in towns such as Colchester Corporation. Strategic changes included responses to initiatives such as the Greenways project and transport planning from bodies like Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. The operator adapted to national developments including the introduction of Low Emission Zones and the expansion of Stansted Airport connectivity.
Services include urban routes in Chelmsford and Colchester, interurban links to Harlow and Basildon, and longer corridors to London Stratford and Stansted Airport. Contracted services are delivered under agreements with authorities such as Essex County Council and Basildon Borough Council, and partnership contracts with agencies like Transport for London for specific routes historically. The company operates park-and-ride schemes linking sites like Chelmsford Park and Ride with town centres and interchanges at stations including Chelmsford railway station and Colchester station. Specialised services have connected to events at venues such as Old Chelmsford Hospital, Colchester Castle, and seasonal services serving Southend Pier and Cressing Temple Farm. Fareing systems have evolved to include smartcard and mobile ticketing compatible with schemes promoted by organisations like Greater Anglia and local enterprise partnerships.
The fleet historically comprised models from manufacturers including Volvo B7TL, Alexander Dennis Enviro200, Alexander Dennis Enviro400, and Optare Solo. Accessibility and emissions upgrades have been implemented to meet standards set by bodies such as the Department for Transport and legislation like the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. Recent procurements emphasised low-emission technology with hybrid and Euro VI diesel vehicles to comply with Low Emission Zone criteria and local air quality plans developed by authorities including Essex County Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. Maintenance and vehicle overhauls are carried out to manufacturer specifications from companies such as Volvo Group and Alexander Dennis Limited.
Operational depots are located in towns including Chelmsford depot, Colchester depot, Basildon depot, and Southend depot, positioned near transport interchanges and strategic roads such as the A12 and A127. Facilities include fueling stations, maintenance workshops, and driver training centres; training sometimes references standards from agencies like the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Integration with rail interchanges such as Chelmsford railway station and Colchester station supports multimodal travel. Depot investments have coincided with regional transport schemes funded by entities like the Department for Transport and local councils to improve passenger waiting facilities and real-time information displays.
The company operates as a subsidiary within FirstGroup, a transport conglomerate listed on stock exchanges and formed through mergers and acquisitions in the 1990s and 2000s. Corporate governance aligns with investor and regulatory expectations from institutions such as the Financial Conduct Authority and the Office of Rail and Road for reporting and compliance. Senior management liaises with regional transport authorities like Essex County Council and commercial partners including National Express for integrated ticketing and service planning. Procurement and fleet strategy are influenced by broader FirstGroup initiatives alongside national energy and sustainability policies such as those promoted by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
The operator has faced operational challenges typical of the sector, including service punctuality disputes raised by local MPs from constituencies like Chelmsford (UK Parliament constituency) and Colchester (UK Parliament constituency), and regulatory investigations related to vehicle maintenance standards overseen by the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain. Industrial relations issues have involved trade unions such as the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association and Unite the Union in negotiations over pay and working conditions. Specific incidents have prompted reviews by local authorities and emergency services including Essex Police and East of England Ambulance Service where service disruptions or collisions required investigation under traffic collision reporting systems.
Community engagement includes partnerships with organisations such as Age UK and Citizens Advice for concession schemes and social mobility outreach. Environmental initiatives align with regional plans from bodies like Essex County Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, promoting low-emission vehicles, idling reduction campaigns near sites like Southend Airport, and participation in air quality projects with agencies such as Public Health England. The operator has supported educational programmes with institutions like University of Essex and Anglia Ruskin University on transport planning and apprenticeships, and worked with local charities and event organisers at venues such as Colchester Zoo and Southend Pier.
Category:Bus operators of England