New Ensignbus X1 to Basildon

[Deleted]

From 3rd September 2012, Ensignbus will start new route X1 between Lakeside and Basildon via Grays and Chadwell St Mary (express via A13). It will run every 30 mins Mon-Sat, from 0630 until 1930. End to end journeys will be 43 minutes, so some competition for First's 100!

Leaflet PDF: www.ensignbus.com/Timetable-2012/X1%20timetable%2012.pdf

Also, from the same date, they will take over the Tilbury Ferry service 99 (Tilbury Town Station-Tilbury Ferry) from Clintona Minicoaches. Clintona currently only operate the 99 and also the evening contract for the 5 in Basildon, and the evening 5 will be passing to First in late August. In the past few years, Clintona have been scaling back their operations.

[joefrombow]

Seems like it will be a good route they should of went the extra bit I think though and made it limited stop to Chelmsford give First some real competition on the 100 !! And Clintona used to have quite a load of Essex county council routes I remember when blue triangle when it was blue triangle gained a route or two of them the 11 from Purfleet to Basildon and another one .

[romfordbuses]

I'm sure I read in the local newspaper that Clintona's owner is retiring and is slowly scaling down the operation before closing it...

Best of luck to Ensign, Sure to be a winner especially if the timetable's anything to go by!

[onthebuses]

Ensign really are a success story. There is a really good article in last week’s Coach Bus Weekly.

It is a shame they are not interested in tendering for TFL work.

[romfordbuses]

Yeah, Ensign would do well with TfL work but as Ross Newman has said before they make more money with Commercial routes. Shame really