Network Colchester

Network Colchester

A Network Colchester Scania OmniDekka, branded for route 2, at the London Bus Preservation Trust 2008 Cobham bus rally.
Parent	Tellings-Golden Miller
Founded	2004
Service area	Essex
Service type	Bus
Routes	36
Fleet	42
Web site	Network Colchester Website

Network Colchester is a Tellings-Golden Miller bus operating company. TGM have upgraded the fleet, and it is no longer the second from bottom bus company, profit wise. Its main operations are Colchester town services in competition with First Essex, Essex County Council and Suffolk County Council contract services.

The company has its roots in 1904 with the establishment of Colchester Corporation Tramways, operating, at its peak, 4 routes and 18 trams. Bus operation started up in 1928 as Colchester Corporation Transport to replace the trams, the first route to be axed being High Street - East Gates followed by Lexden - North Station, North Station - Hythe and North Station - Recreation Ground. With bus deregulation in 1986 the company was renamed Colchester Borough Transport and became an arms length division of the council. In 1993, during a bus war with Eastern National (later First Essex), the company was sold to British Bus for the sum of £1, but the new owners took on considerable debts. After discussions the bus war ended in 1994 with a share out of routes between the two companies. In 1996 British Bus was taken over by the Cowie Group, which in 1997 became Arriva, the company being rebranded as Arriva Colchester, the Tuscan red & cream livery being replaced by Arriva corporate colours. Profits did not improve and the company was sold to Tellings Golden Miller (TGM) in 2004, placed under the control of Burton's Coaches and rebranded as Network Colchester. The introduction of a pair of Scania N230UD chassied East Lancs Olympus double-deckers in 2008 saw the first appearance of the Network Colchester.com fleetname.

Ironically, in 2008, Arriva bought Tellings, bringing ownership full circle. The Network Colchester name has continued however. In early 2010 the Burton's Coaches operations were sold to their management by TGM but ownership of Network Colchester remained with the TGM Group.

Depots

The depot was at Magdalen Street, Colchester until March 2008.

It was then relocated to expanded premises, previously Supreme Coaches, at Heath Business Park, Grange Way in the Old Heath district of Colchester. This depot was taken on by Network Colchester long before the closure of Magdalen Street. The Magdalen street depot is now used by First Essex.

Registered routes

Correct as of 29 August 2010'

• 1: Colchester Town Service: Greenstead Elm Cresent or Hamlet Drive - Town Centre - Ambrose Ave - Prettygate
• 2: Colchester Town Service: Horkesley Heath - Town Centre - High Woods - Severalls Business Park
• 2B: Colchester Town Service: Boxted - Horkesley Heath - Town Centre - High Woods - Severalls Business Park
• 5: Colchester Town Service: Lexden (Poets Estate) - Town Centre - General Hospital
• 6: Colchester Town Service: Old Heath(Grange Way) - Town Centre
• 8/8A: - Colchester Town Service: Monkwick - Town Centre - North Station - General Hospital- High Woods
• 9: Colchester Town Service: Head Street - Gilberd School (Schooldays)
• 78: Colchester - Brightlingsea (early morning/evenings Mon to Sat, all day Suns/B Hols)ECC
• 105: Colchester - Walton-on-the-Naze via Thorpe-le-Soken, Tendring, Great Bromley ECC
• 107: Colchester - Walton-on-the-Naze via Thorpe-le-Soken, Tendring, Great Bromley ECC
• 109: Colchester - Walton on-the-Naze via Thorpe-le-Soken, Frating, Elmstead Market ECC
• 115 Weeley - Tendring Technology College (Lower School) via Little Clacton (Schooldays) ECC
• 701: Harwich (Lighthouse) - Colchester (Norman Way Schools) (Schooldays)
• 703: Jaywick (Tamarisk Way) - Colchester (Norman Way Schools) (Schooldays)
• 704: Great Holland (Baptist Church) - Colchester (Norman Way Schools) (Schooldays)

School Contracts:

• JM1011: Tollesbury - Tiptree Thurstable School (operates as service 611)
• JM1009: Rowhedge - Colchester Charles Lucas School (operates as service 609)
• NM0065: Frinton on Sea (Rail Gates) - Tendring Technology College(Lower) (operates as service 665)
• NM0067: Frinton on Sea (Esplanade) - Tendring Technology College (Lower) (operates as service 667)
• NM0668: Kirby le Soken - Tendring Technology College (Lower) (operates as service 668)

Works Contracts:

• 801 Ipswich - Grampian Country Foods Witham
• 802 Harwich - Grampian Country Foods Witham
• 803 Clacton - Grampian Country Foods Witham

See also

• List of bus operators of the United Kingdom

References

External links

• Network Colchester Website
• Ipswich bus page fleetlist