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Regal Busways, Essex

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DragonEast

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6 Sep 2016
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Some good news (well sort of, at least for the locals). East Hanningfield PC are reporting that ECC have committed significant funds to commission an Essex and Suffolk DART (16 seat) minibus replacement service 3 daytime M-F only (via Hyde Hall) to run two hourly via same route between Chelmsford and Southend: xx20 odd hours from each (Hyde Hall return to Chelmsford normally xx32 even hours though 1551 then 1851) until July 2020. No start date yet as all subject to usual call-in, licensing, staff and vehicle acquisition.
 
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alex397

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Some good news (well sort of, at least for the locals). East Hanningfield PC are reporting that ECC have committed significant funds to commission an Essex and Suffolk DART (16 seat) minibus replacement service 3 daytime M-F only (via Hyde Hall) to run two hourly via same route between Chelmsford and Southend: xx20 odd hours from each (Hyde Hall return to Chelmsford normally xx32 even hours though 1551 then 1851) until July 2020. No start date yet as all subject to usual call-in, licensing, staff and vehicle acquisition.

Its good to hear Essex CC sorting this out, with what limited funds they presumably have.
Unfortunately I don't think demand-responsive minibuses do anything to increase patronage, but its certainly better than nothing at all!
 

Bryan Andrews

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15 Feb 2018
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I worked for Regal Busways part time on and off for 11 years. They were the best company a PSV driver could ever work for. If you could overcome the complete disorganisation. In the time I was there I drove buses and coaches that were red,white, silver,green,blue and cream,maroon and cream, and purple and white. You would never get ticket checked. Once out of the depot they would never bother you. They just expected you to get on with it.No problem there. The problem was that they had two different kinds of ticket machine(one module operated and one smart card operated) so most of the time I was on emergency tickets issued by ECC. The fare chart was on the ticket machine so every one travelled for £1.00. Comming off of Canvey Island with `up the albion` on the destination, your mobile phone constantly ringing when they know you cannot legally answer it, the cab door comming open every time you turned right-I could go on and on.
One of the final straws was getting a decker out of the yard for a school run on a Monday afternoon.As I headed for the depot exit I hit a pot hole and about three pints of rain water that had accumulated through the hole in the roof soaked my right side. I carried on regardless wondering why I was bothering but got through it. Other touches of perfection are putting my bag on the entrance wheel chair ramp because it was clogged up with s""t and the bus would not move otherwise.
In the end I started to have problems getting wages out of them. Having a full time job as well I took the decision to part company with Regal Busways.
I really hope every one at Regals found alternative employment. But I have to say that the bus industry in central Essex is probably better off without the complete mess that was Regal Busways.
Adrian,(the ex MD) I hope you are OK and doing well and your family too.
 

Mr Manager

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23 Jul 2013
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197
Good old Regal Rustways. I thought you said they never bothered you but they were constantly calling you ?. I did a audit on the company once. I declined a 2nd time as i did not want to be seen to be politely saying "How have these got a o licence" by the then called Vosa.
 

Bryan Andrews

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15 Feb 2018
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Good old Regal Rustways. I thought you said they never bothered you but they were constantly calling you ?. I did a audit on the company once. I declined a 2nd time as i did not want to be seen to be politely saying "How have these got a o licence" by the then called Vosa.

If everything was fine they would leave you alone. I was comming back from Canvey one afternoon when a number 3 in Southend had conked out. They phoned me 15 times in the hope I would return to Southend (I was at Howe Green with passengers on) to rescue the passengers off of the broken down bus. Like that was going to happen!
 

Lezlee

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16 Nov 2017
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It was a real shame to see the rot set in at Regal, at one point, they were investing in new buses and the ones they had already were kept immaculate, putting other operators to shame. Regal seemed to have lost their identity and pride, it would seem, a few years back when buses of all colours and conditions seemed to have been thrown into service.

I imagine the 2 bridge strikes, bus fire and, from what I understand, some internal staff issues hit the company hard.

I respect that Regal wound the company down in an orderly manner, rather than go down the route that some recently demised operators have around the country.
 

Bryan Andrews

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15 Feb 2018
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I was completely surprised that they have packed up completely. Yes the bus side of the company became a mess as time went on but the coach side was really quite good. I thought that Regal Busways would disappear but Regal Explorer would continue. I am very sorry to see them call it a day, but it is what it is. When I first started at Regals they were very innovative. As time went on the same bus would change colour very gradually. They introduced a new livery and I really thought that it was a good idea. (I did like the maroon and cream because it`s application reminded me of Tilling/NBC). I have no evidence but I think the new livery was difficult to keep up when a panel needed replacing. They were always short of drivers (that is why part time me was there), but they also had some long serving full time drivers who were completely dedicated.
I have read somewhere that the company went into administration at the end of December 2017. I hope this is not so. I would like to think that everyone who was part of Regal Busways (from the top to the bottom),can leave with their heads held high on the basis of `at least we tried`.
 

DragonEast

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6 Sep 2016
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266
There's no justice . . . most passengers will probably feel that in an ideal world we would have kept Regal and got rid of First Essex. One that tried . . . and the other that can't be bothered, where the needs of the passengers are concerned.
 

Cesarcollie

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5 Jun 2016
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524
There's no justice . . . most passengers will probably feel that in an ideal world we would have kept Regal and got rid of First Essex. One that tried . . . and the other that can't be bothered, where the needs of the passengers are concerned.


I somehow doubt that.....even First aren't that unreliable!!
 

essexjohn

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2 Jan 2014
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70
Some good news (well sort of, at least for the locals). East Hanningfield PC are reporting that ECC have committed significant funds to commission an Essex and Suffolk DART (16 seat) minibus replacement service 3 daytime M-F only (via Hyde Hall) to run two hourly via same route between Chelmsford and Southend: xx20 odd hours from each (Hyde Hall return to Chelmsford normally xx32 even hours though 1551 then 1851) until July 2020. No start date yet as all subject to usual call-in, licensing, staff and vehicle acquisition.
I saw this DART service today, about 14:55 at Chichester Road Southend heading to Chelmsford. Could anyone point me to an online tometable please?
 

Kojo87

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16 Jan 2019
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Sorry to bring up a old thread but had to make a journey from Chelmsford to Benfleet today pretty quickly and had to use GA to Romford then LO Upminster and then on the c2c which would of ended up costing me £18 something for a off peak return but luckily was £13 due to me having a Railcard and just made me think how the 1 with the nice Optares and a reasonable price would of came in handy , Such a shame they faded out they even tried a Night bus in and around 2010 for the Festival Leisure park and I remember riding a Leyland National around about that time aswell they had a very mixed random fleet at times it's a shame they went but it's very hard in this day and age to compete against the big boys but does raise the question about cross Essex travel seems to be very hit and miss and expensive if you don't drive or have time to go around the houses .
 
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