Last update
 19th May 2017

The major "big group" operator in the town, and still the largest player, the local Arriva operation has its roots in the old London Transport country bus network. Its garage lies close to the town centre, and is one of only two original former London Country garages remaining operational. After being London Country North East, County Bus was formed where Harlow was the head office. A short spell under West Midlands Travel ownership, then onto being part of the Cowie group, which transformed into Arriva. In 2010 management responsibility within Arriva changed to the TGM group, which was accompanied by the and introduction of the Network Harlow name and blue livery for local services together with the SX Connect name for out of town services 59 and 509/510 (along with the 133 at Stansted). In 2016 this reversed with the transfer of management responsibility to the Arriva Kent Thameside part of the business and the Network Harlow and SX Connect names have been dropped and more usual Arriva liveries are returned once again with only a couple of exceptions.

The services operated, much reduced in recent times, include a mixture of both town and country routes. Most services are operated commercially during Monday to Saturday daytime, although most evening journeys and Sunday services operate under contract to Essex County Council or receive other financial support. Good efforts have always been made to market the network. Service leaflets are available from the travel office in the bus station and a website with route diagrams and local timetable information is available at  www.harlowbus.com 

After a long period where there was a wide-range of fleet types and some fluidity almost each month, in 2016 this became much more settled with just 4 types now remaining in service and an expectation of reasonable stability is foreseen.

Fleet

FULL SIZE BUS FLEET

MINIBUS FLEET

ROUTE ALLOCATIONS

Optare Versa An upgrade for the 59 in November 2008 brought 2 brand new vehicles to a service that was hitherto run using a pair of Solos that were just 4 years old. The arrival of this new class of vehicle meant that brand new fleet investment had taken place at Arriva for 5 consecutive years, although there has been none since. In September 2013 SX connect branding replaced the previous Arriva inter-urban livery that had originally been carried, in both cases route 59 branding was applied to the livery. This was reversed in April 2016. The vehicles were numbered 2406/7 until the end of 2013. In January 2015 6 further examples arrived from the Medway area (4230/1/6/7/8/9) to replace the remaining fleet of Volvo B6LE's. These are the primary allocation on town services 2 and 3. During summer 2015 a number of loans appeared including 4203, 4204, 4210 and 4213. None remained operational into October 2015. The fleet strength was expanded to 10 by the addition of 4228 and 4232, also from within the Kent Thameside fleet.
4198 4199 4228 4230 4231 4232 4236 4237 4238 4239	YJ58PFY YJ58PFZ KX62JTV KX62JVW KX62JWF KX62JWG KX13DHF  KX13DHG  KX13DHJ KX13DHK		Recently arrived at Harlow is a pair including 4232, showing Maidstone to Faversham route 333 branding. (R Hudson)
			The new intake in service on town route 4 just ahead of the full conversion of the 2 and 3 routes. The arrival of these vehicles heralded the rebirth of the full Arriva branding for the Harlow network.  (StevoJ3026)

Mercedes Citaro A fleet of 9 vehicles were introduced new in 2006 and allocated to Green Line 724. All have Green line 724 branding. A further additional vehicle was added in 2008, but since then three of the fleet have departed. The vehicles were numbered 3901-7/10 until the end of 2013. Of late, substitute vehicles on the 724 have been a regular occurrence. Conversely it's common to see Citaro's on local route 10. All entered service in Green Line livery, but in June 2016 3895 received a repaint to standard livery, followed by all of the other "06" registered vehicles during the rest of the year. All still have Green Line 724 branding.
3891 3892 3893 3894 3895 3896 3897	BU06HSD BU06HSE BU06HSF BU06HSG BU06HSJ BU06HSK BU06HSL
Two images taken during the first week of service, and showing all four aspects of the vehicles. (R Hudson)
The first example from the fleet in Arriva livery, but still with Green Line branding. At this time we're not aware of whether this signifies an impending move away from Harlow of the two so far dealt with, whether it's just for route flexibility, or whether the others will follow. (R Hudson)

Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban These vehicles are largely dedicated to the 508/509/510, the 510 having been converted to the type on 6th December 2004 in a dedicated branded livery. Gradual frequency increases have seen more vehicles joining the fleet, some new, others not. For a while the original livery was replaced by SX Connect deep blue but standard inter-urban without branding is now the norm. The most recent vehicles to join the fleet are the "11" registered examples which transferred from Ware in August 2016 where they had previously operated on the 310 (Herford to Waltham Cross). These entered service with 310 branding, which 3880 retains. Fleet examples visit the 10 and 724 services frequently.
3856 3858 3857 3859 3860 3873 3874 3875 3876 3877 3878 3879 3880 3881 3882 3883	KE54LNR KE54LPF KE54LPC KE54LPJ KE54HHF KE57EPA KE57EPC KX11PVN KX11PUK KX11PUJ KX11PVL KX11PUY KX11PVA KX11PZY KX11PVD  KX11PVE		A dedicated livery for the 510 was introduced many years ago when two Optare Deltas and two standard (high-floor) Darts were the dedicated fleet. This was elaborated with the arrival of this fleet in 2004, but has now been swept away with the repaints of 2016. 3874 sits in the bus station showing the present offering, including the warning about falling prices. (R Hudson)
			The 2016 intake of 2011 former 310 batch is represented here by 3876. The 310 branding was still in place when seen here on the 510. (R Hudson).

   
Minibus Fleet

Optare Solo It took from the very earliest intake until November 2009 for Harlow to have a fully standard minibus, but the Optare Solo finally conquered all, even if there area lot less minibuses than there once were. A number of batches entered service progressively from June 2004. A reduction in the number of Solos in the fleet took place with the transfer of the 251 (and 250) to Ware in September 2009. In May 2011 the first two vehicles received Network Harlow livery, completion of this exercise taking until September 2012. This process started to be reversed in June 2015 with 1474 and then 1453 in August returning to Arriva livery. The pace of this change seems to have stepped up in 2016 with just two now remaining in blue at Harlow, being 1454 and 1466, whilst 1455 is operating at Watford with this livery. All of the Harlow-based Solos had their fleet numbers changed from the equivalent number in the 2xxx series during December 2013 or January 2014. 1457/8, 1466/7 and 1474 are M880's, whilst the others are M950's except 1508 which is an M920.
1454 1456 1457 1458 1459 1460 1466 1467 1507 1508 1517 1518	YJ06FXT YJ06FXV KE04PZF KE04PZG KE54OSU KE54OSV KE55KTD KE55KTC YJ57EJN YN03NCF YJ07VPY YJ07VRC		Freshly repainted back to Arriva livery, 1474 is seen on a version of route 6 which operated until 10th April 2016. (R Hudson) 2455 was the first Solo to receive Network Harlow livery, as it was the first and only Solo at Harlow to receive inter-urban livery prior to the repaint above. It is seen here on a since-discontinued version of route 6.  (R Hudson)
			The nearside aspect  is shown on 1453 at the bus station.  (R Hudson)
			T15 replacement route 9 is illustrated by relatively recent incoming vehicle 1507. (R Hudson)

Routes

Please note that this is an unofficial site, and whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, no claims can be entertained for losses caused by any errors or omissions here, or through any shortcomings on the part of the operators themselves. We would be grateful if any errors could be notified to us, in order that we can make a prompt correction. Any suggestions, comments or other forms of feedback are most welcome by e-mail. This site acknowledges the support provided by local operators, but is not directly linked with any operator.

[Top of Page] | [HarlowRide Main Index] | [enquiries]