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Post by N230UD on Feb 27, 2018 23:31:34 GMT
Many of you probably know EOS Buses, who operate in the Harlow/Epping/Loughton area. IMO, a good company, and I think have improved buses in this difficult operating territory. They have a good Twitter presence, and I noticed this tweet recently: NEW ROUTE S1 from 2nd May!! Harlow, Staple Tye, Bush Fair, Potter Street then DIRECT to STRATFORD CITY bus station. Journey time from just 50 minutes with great value fares starting at £5.00 single and £8.00 return ....... keep your eyes open for more information coming soon 👍 An interesting development! I can see potential in this route, as it is relatively easy to get to Stratford using the M11 and A12 (traffic permitting!!), and Stratford is a big employment centre - there might be quite a few Harlow residents working at Stratford. However, I think the target might be more for leisure. It will probably depend on the timetable when it is revealed. My guess is that it won't be frequent, but some people may want to give up an expensive overcrowded train for the bus, especially as it will take about the same time (and more likely to stop nearer the passenger's house). But is Harlow a big enough area to create enough potential for this route? We shall see! I also like the number they have given this route as it was of course the number of a London bus route in the Stratford area. Comparing to the trains: From Harlow Town to Stratford is about 45 mins (not including time to get to the station), and costs £13.60 single. In other EOS news, they are extending their 87 route (Harlow - Epping) to Loughton, Debden and the new Epping Forest Shopping Centre. It replaces Loughton/Debden local route 542. Quite a 'round the houses' route, but quite enterprising to see them operate to this new shopping centre.
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Post by vjaska on Feb 27, 2018 23:39:16 GMT
Many of you probably know EOS Buses, who operate in the Harlow/Epping/Loughton area. IMO, a good company, and I think have improved buses in this difficult operating territory. They have a good Twitter presence, and I noticed this tweet recently: NEW ROUTE S1 from 2nd May!! Harlow, Staple Tye, Bush Fair, Potter Street then DIRECT to STRATFORD CITY bus station. Journey time from just 50 minutes with great value fares starting at £5.00 single and £8.00 return ....... keep your eyes open for more information coming soon 👍 An interesting development! I can see potential in this route, as it is relatively easy to get to Stratford using the M11 and A12 (traffic permitting!!), and Stratford is a big employment centre - there might be quite a few Harlow residents working at Stratford. However, I think the target might be more for leisure. It will probably depend on the timetable when it is revealed. My guess is that it won't be frequent, but some people may want to give up an expensive overcrowded train for the bus, especially as it will take about the same time (and more likely to stop nearer the passenger's house). But is Harlow a big enough area to create enough potential for this route? We shall see! I also like the number they have given this route as it was of course the number of a London bus route in the Stratford area. Comparing to the trains: From Harlow Town to Stratford is about 45 mins (not including time to get to the station), and costs £13.60 single. In other EOS news, they are extending their 87 route (Harlow - Epping) to Loughton, Debden and the new Epping Forest Shopping Centre. It replaces Loughton/Debden local route 542. Quite a 'round the houses' route, but quite enterprising to see them operate to this new shopping centre. tangytango.proboards.com/thread/8629/upcoming-changes?page=129 - it was mentioned here the other day, apparently it will run every 2 hours. Of course, this was done before with the E20 route which followed a similar premise a few years back but didn't last long
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Post by N230UD on Feb 28, 2018 0:07:20 GMT
Many of you probably know EOS Buses, who operate in the Harlow/Epping/Loughton area. IMO, a good company, and I think have improved buses in this difficult operating territory. They have a good Twitter presence, and I noticed this tweet recently: NEW ROUTE S1 from 2nd May!! Harlow, Staple Tye, Bush Fair, Potter Street then DIRECT to STRATFORD CITY bus station. Journey time from just 50 minutes with great value fares starting at £5.00 single and £8.00 return ....... keep your eyes open for more information coming soon 👍
An interesting development! I can see potential in this route, as it is relatively easy to get to Stratford using the M11 and A12 (traffic permitting!!), and Stratford is a big employment centre - there might be quite a few Harlow residents working at Stratford. However, I think the target might be more for leisure. It will probably depend on the timetable when it is revealed. My guess is that it won't be frequent, but some people may want to give up an expensive overcrowded train for the bus, especially as it will take about the same time (and more likely to stop nearer the passenger's house). But is Harlow a big enough area to create enough potential for this route? We shall see! I also like the number they have given this route as it was of course the number of a London bus route in the Stratford area. Comparing to the trains: From Harlow Town to Stratford is about 45 mins (not including time to get to the station), and costs £13.60 single. In other EOS news, they are extending their 87 route (Harlow - Epping) to Loughton, Debden and the new Epping Forest Shopping Centre. It replaces Loughton/Debden local route 542. Quite a 'round the houses' route, but quite enterprising to see them operate to this new shopping centre. tangytango.proboards.com/thread/8629/upcoming-changes?page=129 - it was mentioned here the other day, apparently it will run every 2 hours. Of course, this was done before with the E20 route which followed a similar premise a few years back but didn't last long I didn't notice that, thank you. Yes, the E20 was operated by TWH (same proprietor). I seem to remember the service was doing relatively well. The E20 also stopped in Epping and Loughton as well, I believe. EOS seems a much more stable operator than TWH was, so they are probably in a better position now for such a service.
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Post by wirewiper on Feb 28, 2018 12:03:28 GMT
I expect a lot of the custom for the new S1 to come from ENCTS pass holders.
The E20 didn't actually serve Stratford City, but used a layby in Great Eastern Road, Stratford.
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Post by N230UD on Mar 19, 2018 17:42:38 GMT
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Post by N230UD on Mar 30, 2018 10:43:35 GMT
Sadly the start date for the S1 has been pushed back to 4th June due to ‘licensing conditions’.
It is also expected that they will use one of their 2 ex-GHA Coaches Scania single deckers on the route, a type rather rare within the London area! Probably the best vehicles they have in their fleet as well.
It is also believed their recently acquired ex-Docklands/Go Ahead London E200/MCVs will be allocated to the revised 87 (which start date remains the same), for those of you who like tracking down ex-London vehicles.
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Post by redexpress on Mar 30, 2018 12:00:38 GMT
Sadly the start date for the S1 has been pushed back to 4th June due to ‘licensing conditions’. It is also expected that they will use one of their 2 ex-GHA Coaches Scania single deckers on the route, a type rather rare within the London area! Probably the best vehicles they have in their fleet as well. Indeed, a type that will be extinguished completely from TfL services once the 293 changes hands. The two EOS buses did spend the first 5 years of their lives in London, working for Menzies on staff shuttles at Heathrow.
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Post by N230UD on Jul 9, 2018 23:02:09 GMT
Sadly, it has been confirmed from EOS themselves that the S1 will be withdrawn at the end of August! Such a shame.
Considering it only began on 4th June, I don't think 3 months of operation is enough to establish the route. But, they are quite a small independent operator, so it must be a challenge to balance costs. It was a good idea with potential, but obviously looks like it didn't work out.
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Post by N230UD on Jul 19, 2018 0:09:53 GMT
It looks like its not just the S1 being withdrawn, but all their commercial bus routes from the end of August. This is the 66, 86 and 87.
Routes 13, 61 and 133 will remain, but operated by parent company Swallow Coaches.
A real shame, as this was a decent operator trying hard in difficult operating territory, with good customer service using Twitter. My experience of their network has been good, and with good reliability, good drivers etc.
It is understood Arriva will be registering some replacement routes (This being the operator which withdraw from most of this area a few years back). Oh joy
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Post by planesandtrains on Jul 19, 2018 22:39:36 GMT
It looks like its not just the S1 being withdrawn, but all their commercial bus routes from the end of August. This is the 66, 86 and 87. Routes 13, 61 and 133 will remain, but operated by parent company Swallow Coaches. A real shame, as this was a decent operator trying hard in difficult operating territory, with good customer service using Twitter. My experience of their network has been good, and with good reliability, good drivers etc. It is understood Arriva will be registering some replacement routes (This being the operator which withdraw from most of this area a few years back). Oh joy I am not surprised, every time I see them in Epping the bus is empty. I can't really say any operator in the region surrounding Harlow (including Arriva) is any good.
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Post by tony4387 on Jul 20, 2018 19:33:25 GMT
Arriva seem to be up to there old tricks again in Harlow
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Post by N230UD on Jul 21, 2018 0:18:27 GMT
I am not surprised, every time I see them in Epping the bus is empty. I can't really say any operator in the region surrounding Harlow (including Arriva) is any good. Well Epping is perhaps not the best place to see a busy EOS bus. With the 87, most people travelling to Harlow would use the Trustybus or Arriva routes as they are more frequent. Their other route in Epping is the 13 to Waltham Cross is a council contract and has never been a busy route. The 66 is a much better established route, and is often busy. I’m surprised they didn’t keep this route, as it is a busy route in comparison to other routes in SW Essex, but I don’t know anything about business. EOS appeared to be doing a much better job than Arriva and Trustybus, and now that’s pretty much all passengers are left with in Harlow/Waltham Abbey/Epping.
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Post by twobellstogo on Jul 27, 2018 10:24:47 GMT
I am not surprised, every time I see them in Epping the bus is empty. I can't really say any operator in the region surrounding Harlow (including Arriva) is any good. Well Epping is perhaps not the best place to see a busy EOS bus. With the 87, most people travelling to Harlow would use the Trustybus or Arriva routes as they are more frequent. Their other route in Epping is the 13 to Waltham Cross is a council contract and has never been a busy route. The 66 is a much better established route, and is often busy. I’m surprised they didn’t keep this route, as it is a busy route in comparison to other routes in SW Essex, but I don’t know anything about business. EOS appeared to be doing a much better job than Arriva and Trustybus, and now that’s pretty much all passengers are left with in Harlow/Waltham Abbey/Epping. Not a good enough job though to survive : EOS cease trading after 31st July with majority of work passing to Arriva.
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Post by snoggle on Jul 28, 2018 11:07:36 GMT
An Ensignbus RM is going to operate a series of trips on 31 August 2018 starting with a S1 journey from Stratford. Note also the comment from the owner of EOS in this message about Arriva taking on some services. "It is very tiresome running buses" Sounds like someone really has had enough.
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Post by N230UD on Jul 28, 2018 23:03:16 GMT
Well Epping is perhaps not the best place to see a busy EOS bus. With the 87, most people travelling to Harlow would use the Trustybus or Arriva routes as they are more frequent. Their other route in Epping is the 13 to Waltham Cross is a council contract and has never been a busy route. The 66 is a much better established route, and is often busy. I’m surprised they didn’t keep this route, as it is a busy route in comparison to other routes in SW Essex, but I don’t know anything about business. EOS appeared to be doing a much better job than Arriva and Trustybus, and now that’s pretty much all passengers are left with in Harlow/Waltham Abbey/Epping. Not a good enough job though to survive : EOS cease trading after 31st July with majority of work passing to Arriva. I think you're being unfair. At the moment, even decent well-established operators are struggling. If even major operators such as Stagecoach are making cutbacks, then its no surprise that independents are rapidly declining.
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