Well.... I hadn't bargained on a trip report so early in 2022. However, an unexpected call to visit a site in Essex and an early finish meant that I could fit in a short second trip on First Essex to either revise or consolidate my experiences from just 6 weeks earlier; odd that I don't travel on a firm for years and then twice so quickly.
I decided to stick with a First Essex day ticket though I think the multi-operator one will be one to sample for later in 2022. I therefore parked up and waited at Black Notley (I think) near Braintree for my 70 to Chelmsford. I would have liked to have gone to Braintree to see the new bus interchange but not this time. Noted the bus stop RTPI screens weren't working but there was a roadside timetable case that was up to date; Essex CC do at least care a bit about publicity. Instead, I got a venerable ex Leicester B7TL Gemini. It was showing all its 17 years and as shown, the seats were very faded. Oddly, rather than going upstairs, I thought I'd sample the lower saloon for a change. Probably a mistake as it was quite a nice run out as we diverted through various small villages and then into Broomfield Hospital, where I elected to get off. Broomfield is a sort of de facto hub and I weighed up my options. I could've gone for the direct 42 (but why do that - I could've stayed on the 70) and I was tempted by the infrequent 45.
However, I decided to go with the 54 which I had done last albeit in the dark. No such issues this time and I could see the delights of Melbourne and North Melbourne in all their glory. Now, whilst I like a scenic classic (like the Yorkshire Coastliner to Whitby or the Jurassic Coaster), I also enjoy seeing some urban delights at times as I have an interest in human geography and also how these urban routes (that used to be so strong) get on in these times. The vehicle was a former Premiere of Nottingham (remember them?) long e200 that First got from Ensign. Therefore, unlike native vehicles, it has Urban 90 seats though, in fairness, the padding on these wasn't as bad as most. The wheelbase of this one made it a bit of a challenge round the residential roads. One highlight was passing a standard estate rank of shops and seeing it had a shop dedicated to the sale of Biltong..... is there a big South African community in northern Chelmsford? Certainly, it was an eventful run and surprisingly busy - we must have been half to 2/3 full on reaching the centre which was a surprise in these days and going into town in the mid-afternoon.
We got to the bus station and I decamped. Last time I was here, it was in the evening rush rather than daylight and I could see the bus station in all its majesty. Even at this time, it is remarkably cramped and that is why I think First persists with cross-town routes rather than splitting them. The bus station is relatively modern but it's not a great place to wait for a bus. Most of the concourse is open air albeit with barriers and screens to segregate from the roadway; the only covered area really is a small waiting room that was providing a warm place for a guy to sit and drink several bottles of strong Polish lager. Such an advert for public transport - note, there is a security presence but only for the Tesco express. The travel centre is closed and so are the shops adjacent - it looks quite depressing for a newish faciility.
My next trip was to Brentwood on the 351, and another quite mature machine with one of the sizeable number of ageing Volvo/Wright Eclipses that First Essex possesses. I sometimes wonder if part of FE's ills is a reliance on older, thirsty, and expensive machines albeit with a lower book value. Whilst a number have recently arrived, this was a long-standing Essex example albeit new to Manchester and cascaded to the provinces when relatively new. With only a couple of passengers on leaving, we picked up more in the centre and then out of town so by the time we exited the city limits, we had a healthy load and so it continued through Ingatestone when we then began to attract some schools traffic. It's a barrelling trip along the road through various places and the scenery isn't generally too bad. We arrived on time into Brentwood. You forget this was home to an Eastern National depot and so should be First territory but it is now served by numerous other firms including Stagecoach on TfL service 498. First do maintain some local services, operated by Chelmsford, and as well as the 351, they also run in every half hour from Basildon. I had a chance for a comfort break before my next journey and it was to Basildon.
Bang on time, my steed appeared and it was one of the more modern members of the aging First Essex fleet with a 15 plate Streetlite. Darkness had now fallen and we had a load of schoolkids being boisterous (or just like kids really) and again, it was a well patronized run. It does take over an hour to get to Basildon and I did think about bailing at Billericay but elected to stay on. I often get irked by the number of notices on Arriva vehicles; First Essex has virtually nothing internally and this Streetlite was really minimalist given the large cove panels on these. Naturally, the vehicle rattled by the emergency door, the ride wasn't brilliant but it was fine though I couldn't help think that these should be on services such as Colchester town routes, or to replace the Darts still plodding away in Chelmsford? Approaching Basildon, we caught up with a First Trident - a 51 plate that looked on its last legs and is apparently due to be ousted by e400s arriving from First West of England.
We then arrived at Basildon; don't think I've ever arrived at the bus station before. Clearly, I have now completed the unholy trinity of significant yet appalling Southern England bus stations in recent months. Basildon bus station isn't as bad as Harlow and is on a par with Guildford. In fairness to First, they have tried to smarten it a little but it's truly awful. Oh, and the X10 publicity relates to the old image - it is generally terrible. That got me focused on leaving, and I was looking forward to something a bit more interesting as the 100 to Chelmsford is generally operated by Volvo 7900s that still have a slight novelty about them. However, the decline of the 100, now severed into separate parts at Basildon, was summed up by the elderly Eclipse that was allocated. A former Halifax and York example, it was terrible. Not the worst bus I've ever experienced, as there's some competition for that accolade, but certainly not good. Terrible ride, banging and clattering with all types of strange sounds like a juvenile jazz band; the other examples of a similar age that I've enjoyed in this and the previous visit were so much better than this nail. Again, it was a decent load that had to tolerate it as we headed into Chelmsford where I was shocked to see some bus lanes albeit temporary ones; another observation, why do they make them temporary and from 1630 to 1900 when the rush hour begins at 1500 with the yummy mummies trundling around in their Qashqais? One other observation.... I had noted that Ashford had a preponderance of Shisha bars during the summer; for Basildon, try Kebab vans. There seemed to be one near every roundabout - healthy!
We arrived into Chelmsford bus station and the homeless drunk had sauntered off, the waiting room now closed and locked up. It was still mayhem in the bus station with vehicles laying over and having to manoeuvre. I waited for my bus back to Black Notley and it was another Eclipse, albeit a slightly newer one that had gained the new livery. For this, we should be grateful as many of the vehicles I saw looked very grubby externally, and clearly had not been given a deep external clean for a while. The livery....well, it's not exactly one of Ray Stenning's classics or maybe it is. It just seems a bit average or bog standard. I think there's an opportunity for First Essex to reset things. In Chelmsford, simplification and a local Chelmsford identity for the network seems a logical step. More difficult in South Essex but with the network they have and the loadings, I don't think it's a lost cause. However, the fleet needs surgery with a lot of 2004/5 tat in attendance - I know they're replacing the worst fleet but 15 year old B7TLs and e400s to replace 19/20 year old Tridents....it's a challenge.
Sorry the photos aren't idyllic shots as per
@RELL6L but hope they convey a bit of this part of the world.