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Epping Forest |
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Brief history
Current fleet list
Route List
Brief History
Epping Forest Community Transport (EFCT) are a registered charity specialising in minibus transport for those who have difficulty with mobility. They are in the voluntary sector. Much of what they do is with volunteer drivers. Their website covers this in more detail.
EFCT had been involved in bus service provision on the fringe of our area for a good while with a small network of mainly isolated occasional but scheduled links in the Hoddesdon and Epping area. They came to mainstream operation when they successfully won the ECC contract to operate the 347 (Harlow to Hatfield Broad Oak) on 4th November 2014. The 347 always had a very high "per passenger support cost" meaning that when funding cuts were being considered it was always a strong candidate for a cut, and it is likely that this would have taken place in April 2016, except that EFCT altered the service to a 3 days per week operation. This coincided with the introduction of route HSB01 which replaced part of Arriva local route 7 from Churchgate Street.
A subsequent addition was that of the C392 service, which replaced the 392 and now runs from Harlow to Hoddesdon. The most recent addition is DaRT 87, which replaced the Arriva service, which in turn replaced the original initiative by EOS.
Post-Covid, all services have seen a degree of reduction and the fleet has also shrunk. Inly those seen recently are shown below.
Vehicles are typical of what you might expect in the welfare sector and are of course all accessible. Unfortunately none carry any route or destination displays to speak of. EFCT now incorporates what was once the separate Harlow Community Transport. Usefully for the local bus operations, this name is still carried on a number of the vehicles.
EFCT are a separate entity to Essex Community Transport (ECT), whose vehicles can be seen around the town operating under the ugobus name. ECT previously ran the 381.
WEBSITE: www.efcommunitytransport.co.uk/
EFCT fleet
| Minibus Fleet | |||||
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The Mercedes Sprinter 514CDi is a popular choice in many welfare fleets and EFCT is no exception. Bluetec bodywork is carried. The yellow livery and branding for Chigwell Parish Council wasn't expected. VDE is seen on the 392 (or actually C392) but it is not (as at February 2022) the regular route vehicle. (R Hudson) | |||
| LJ15FGX |
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Another Sprinter/Bluetec but this time the shorter 513CDi, also a few years older. White base and EFCT logos. This time on the HSB01. Similarly to above, this is not the regular route vehicle. (R Hudson) | |||
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Essentially identical, right down to location, route and having a Stansted bus next to it. This vehicle is the present regular on the HSB01. (R Hudson) | |||
| FJ13CVH |
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The fifth and eldest of the Sprinters is in silver base, parked up with a slightly improved route/destination display, including on the side. This vehicle is the regualar operational vehicle on the C392. This is also the 513CDi model. (R Hudson) | |||
| YY16YXS |
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Next the VW Crafter CR50TDi with Excel conversion. The blue lvery brings a fourth base coloir to the fleet. (R Hudson) | |||
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DX12OMK |
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Another VW Crafter in silver base and again with the Harlow Community Transport name. This is the regular operational vehicle on the D87. (R Hudson) | |||
| DX09KWD |
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Another Crafter in similar colour and livery. (R Hudson) | |||
| DX61CZL |
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And a another similar example. (R Hudson) | |||
| WX13LFW |
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Any finally something slightly different, a Peugeot Boxer. (R Hudson) | |||
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The oldest operational vehicle is this lone Fort Transit with large bold sign-writing. (R Hudson) | |||
ECT Fleet
Minibus Fleet
At one time there was quite a variety of
operational types, however, since the covid service reductions, we
understand that only the Mercedes-Benz are used and hence shown below.
It's not clear whether the others are still owned or not. All bodywork
is by Bluetec in base silver with Ugobus branding.
EA70OSF
LN69OAV
The newest vehicles in the operational fleet are this pair of 514CDi's.
OSF is shown here.
(R. Hudson)
KE19ZSY
A number of
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 514CDi vehicles have '19 registrations. (R. Hudson)
KE19ZTC
KE19ZTD KE19ZTM
Part of one batch are these 3 identical vehicles. (R Hudson)
EO16OFB
EA16ACU
These two Sprinters are the 513CDi variety.
EO16OFB shows a white base livery. (R. Hudson)
Route List -
EFCT
Within Harlow:
347 Harlow to Harfield Broad Oak - 3 return journeys on Thursdays only.
HSB01 Harlow to Toot Hill - 2 return journeys on Monday,
Wednesday, Friday.
C392 Harlow to Rye Park - 6 return journeys on
Monday to Friday.
DaRT87 - Harlow to Debden - hourly, Monday to
Saturday.
Outside Harlow:
(See timetables page on EFCT
website).
ECT
No scheduled services
at present.
Other pages
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Last update 1st March
2022
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