Fears that the annual event would cease after the take-over by First Bus have proved unfounded, reports Nick Larkin
An Ensignbus running day ‘in the best traditions’ is promised for Saturday 2 December. The event is being organised by the team at Ensignbus following the takeover by First Bus last February.
Reports initially circulated following the news of the corporate take-over that the highly popular running day, which sees heritage buses operating on a network of routes in Essex and north Kent, might not happen. But fear not, there are in fact 23 heritage vehicles from the 1930s to the 2000s scheduled to appear.
Four routes are planned, all running through the Lakeside Shopping Centre bus station. There are also connections with the Tilbury to Gravesend Ferry.
Services to operate will be the X21 from Upminster station to Brentwood, X54 Lakeside-Purfleet-Rainham-RAF Hornchurch, X55 Upminster to Gravesend and X81 Shenfield-Grays-Tilbury Ferry. The first service will be the X55, leaving Lakeside at 0851hrs and the last journey terminates there at 1917hrs.
[wlm_nonmember][…]By subscribing you will benefit from:
- Operator & Supplier Profiles
- Face-to-Face Interviews
- Lastest News
- Test Drives and Reviews
- Legal Updates
- Route Focus
- Industry Insider Opinions
- Passenger Perspective
- Vehicle Launches
- and much more!
AEC Routemasters and RTs plus more modern vehicles will be among those operated. Tickets, which can be bought on the day, are £10 for adults, being valid on the across the Ensignbus service network. A £2 ticket only valid on the heritage services is also available. Concessionary passes cannot be used.
Ensignbus Customer Services Manager Paul Dickson said: “We’re very much looking forward to this event and it will be an Ensignbus Running Day in the best traditions!”
