Current fleet list

Alexander-Dennis Enviro 200MMC The first brand new vehicles for Central Connect were a pair of this class, which entered service in May 2021. A further pair then entered service in December 2021. With personalised registrations (CC21GAL, CE21GAL, CE21GAL, CE71GAL) these stayed until January 2024 when they transferred to operate with Vectare on services in Nottingham. That first experience with the class was obviously a positive one, as a fleet of 5 (YX22OKA-E, numbered 1605-9) then joined at the end of June 2022. Soon after, 5 further short examples entered service in October 2022. All 10 were removed from the fleet, returned off-lease, in Spring 2024. Following the purchase of Central Connect by Vectare, the class began to be significantly bolstered. First to arrive was YX22OJJ, followed shortly afterwards by 2 transfers from the main Vectare fleet in 316 and 317 (YX16OBO and YX16OBS) which still carry Vectare branding. Next to join was former Red Rose GW16BUS in manly silver. There then followed in late 2023 and early 2024 another 3 batches in the number ranges 322-5 and 348 to 356, as follows: 322 to 325 are 10.8m examples in full fleet livery 348 to 351 are also 10.8m examples, so far in white. 352-356 are shorter 9m examples, also so far in white. 349 (SK73CNO) did arrive and see service in Harlow but was moved to operation outside the area after a few days. Later arrival in March 2024 was 342 (SF66ARW) which carries the new logo. Then, June saw the first brand new '24 registered buses enter service in the form of 363 (YY24HBG) and 371 (YY24HBU). 364 (YY24HBH) followed shortly afterwards. Full CC blue livery and logos are carried. Finally, July brought 345 (WH66BUS) from Redline, previously Whitelaws of Stonehouse in white. Where fleet numbers are in brackets, they are not displayed on the vehicles themselves at this time.
316 317 (326) (346) (342) (343) (344) (322) (323) (324) (325) (345) (348) (349) (350) (351) (352) (353) (354) (355) (356) 361 362 363 364 371	YX16OBO YX16OBS YX22OJJ SW16BUS SF66ARW GW16BUS JW16BUS YY73OVM YY73OVN YY73OVO YY73OVP WH66BUS SK73COJ SK73COU YY73TGU YY73TGV YY73RGX YY73RGZ YY73RHA YY73RHE YY73RHF YY24HBB YY24HBC YY24HBG YY24HBH YY24HBU		316 was former Abellio London 8138. It came to Vectare in Autumn 2021, initially entering service in red, it later gained Vectare fleet blues. It is seen here operating on Vectare route 61 but had moved to the Central Connect fleet by January 2024. It was always single door and is a short (9.0m, B24F) example.  (R Hudson)
			317, former Abellio London 8141, has followed the same journey as 316. It is seen here on the Central Connect 420, although before destination displays were programmed. (R Hudson)
			YX22OJJ was the first new arrival to the Central Connect fleet in the Vectare livery, although with no name at this stage. (R Hudson)
			Full new Central Connect get-up, although no fleet number, for SW16BUS. (R Hudson)
			Following on, this time coming from Red Rose, GW16BUS, which still carries red and silver livery. (R Hudson)
			The first of the 3 brand new batches is represented by 322 (YX73OVM), one of 4  liveried 10.8m examples, seen on the 420 at Harlow Bus Station. (R Hudson)
			And the same setting for the last of the first batch of 4, 325 (YX73OVP). (R Hudson)
			The next batch of 4, 348 to 351, is also 10.8m but in white livery so far. 348 (SK73COJ) is seen here. Note the Minstral display. (R Hudson)
			349 (SK73COU) has a full working dispaly, as seen on route 25 on 2nd February 2024. (R Hudson)
			The final batch, for the time being at least. are five 9m examples and are allocated numbers 352 to 356, although as with all other vehicles in the new number series, these are not yet displayed. (R Hudson)
			353 (YY73RGZ) is shown here in a new black livery for the Hertford town network. The vehicle displayed "on hire to Galleon Travel " notices when seen in December 2023. It carries legal lettering for Vectare Ltd in Loughborough. (R Hudson)
			And, similar 354 (YY73RHA), noted from January 2024. (R Hudson)

Mercedes Benz Sprinter/EVM Cityline A type not exactly liked by much of the bus world. The first example, CC04GAL, previously GU19KKE, arrived with Central Connect in late 2020 and operated alongside the since-departed Solos on the HCC contract services H1/3/4. It showed that with the right livery treatment and a decent destination display, these vehicles can be quite passable as a bus. Vectare have long been fans of the type and also present them well. A number from their fleet have operated on Central Connect services since the acquisition, to the point where a number are now considered part of this operational fleet, for the time being at least.
(223) 201 202 204 215 219 221	CC04GAL RX20RJV  WV20VDG RX70SKZ RX23TFJ RX23TUY RX23TVE		The vehicle in service in the original livery in the early days of Central Connect ownership on a Hertford local service. (R Hudson)
			Following the "H is for Hertford" brand for local services launch, with its associated black livery, the vehicle received a repaint and had branding applied. The same vehicle is seen at Hertford Bus Station. (R Hudson)
			Fleet number 201 shown operating with Vectare in the days when the service was still numbered 381 showing the full offside image. (R Hudson)
			Fleet number 202 shows the nearside including proper bus entrance doors and destination displays, a major step forward from the Ugobus days. (R Hudson)
			Fleet number 204, again in service with Vectare. (R Hudson).
			Fleet number 221 is another that has moved since this picture was taken. (R Hudson)

Optare Metrodecker A sighting of this vehicle is rare indeed. Built for Reading Buses and originally painted in Green Line livery for use on route 702, the order was cancelled, probably due to very protracted delivery. It has been with Central Connect since 2022.
CT21GAL	Previously YJ21FDD		School duites and rail replacements seemed to offer the best chance of a sighting of this vehicle at first, but on Friday 14th October 2022 it was in regular service on the 420. It has since been a regular operator. (R Hudson).

Wright Streetlite DF 10.8m Reported as acquired in September 2020 and arriving in Central Connect livery and with branding for route 386 were 2 vehicles formally of Tower Transit, where they operated a variety of London routes. Colour LED displays feature. CC11BUS was absent and for sale for most of 2022, but has now returned to service. Conversely, CC10BUS (previously SN64CVR) has not seen service and has been removed from the operational fleet list.
Present reg. CC11BUS	previously SN64CVF		Hertfordshire CC contract service 386 was  upgraded with 2 liveried Streetlites. The route, sponsor and operator are all clearly shown here on CC11BUS. (R Hudson)
			Rear view. (R. Hudson)

Scania Omniciti N230UD Arriving in April 2019, former London United SP146 (YP59OEE) entered service in all-red, dual-doored and with no working destination display. This, it transpires, was a trial which led to an order of 12 being placed, 10 of which arrived and came to be used the 420/420A, which were rebranded Central Connect as part of the change. Sister vehicle YP59OET was the first of the owned batch on 3rd June 2019 but the entry into service of YP59OES and then YP59OEV showed the future image. All 10 came to carry the new colours. Post pandemic quite a number were stood down with as few as 4 left operational. A number did gradually return to service but we are back down to 2 stalwarts. The end is clearly in sight.
2008 2005	YP59OEO YP59OEV		First of the purchased batch, YP59OET, is seen in service on route 420 in June 2019. This vehicle has long since been repainted. (R Hudson).
			The new image with Central Connect (and no Trustybus) name, with more blue and no yellow and somewhat illegible route branding above the upper-deck windows, shown here on 2004.  (R Hudson)
			The offside view. (R Hudson)
			Note that dual doors are retained and that the colour LEDs use white for destinations but a different colour for each of the 420 and 420A. (R Hudson)
			You can just make out the scrolling text on the rear display, which really doesn't work on a display that wasn't designed for it. (R Hudson)
			Finally, an advert for the Central Connect services has now been added to YP59OES at least, promoting more directly the link to London. (R. Hudson)

Alexander-Dennis Enviro200 Arriving in Spring 2021, three former London vehicles. Two refurbished, re-registered and looking smart CC54/55BUS). One (LJ58AVE) retained "as acquired" livery. These were joined in summer by a fourth example (ex Arriva EN3, LJ57USU), also in London livery and entering service with Arriva blinds still fitted. Four more, now 1401-4, arrived starting in February 2022. Then acquired from Ensign, a further 8 examples arrived in June 2022. These arrived in full fleet livery, carry colour LED displays and fleet numbers. One has since suffered accident damage and is not shown. Finally, in August 2022, 2 more in white with Xelabus personalised registrations. The fleet appears now to be in quick decline with a good number having departed in 2024, leaving just those shown below as operational.
1413 1414 1415 1416 1417 (1418) (1420)	YX60DXY YX12FPY YX12DHM YX12DHO ML62OGY L8XEL MX12DZE		Bishops Stortford area routes 7/7A were once run by Central Connect but have since been passed to Stephensons. 1413 (YX60DXY) is seen at the interchange looking smart just after repaint. (R Hudson)
			The 301 is a long-established former Eastern National route running via the main roads to Saffron Walden. It has seen a variety of operators in recent years. Central Connect took over from Stephensons on 1st August 2022 but very recently surrendered in again after a dispute with ECC. 1414 (YX12FPY) stands ready to depart. Note the STN garage code. (R Hudson)
			Next up numerically is 1415 (YX12DHM). This bus spent most of its working life in Newport, where it wouldn't have looked much different to a Stephensons 301! It arrived, however, like the rest of the batch of 8, fully treated to Central Connect livery. 1416 (YX12DHO) follows suit. (R Hudson)
			The highest numbered in the fleet of the 8 was 1417 (ML62OGY) see waiting to take up service in Bishop's Stortford. (R Hudson)
			Awaiting livery, logos and fleet numbers, L8XEL  (previously CN11FBC) is one of a pair pressed into service at the end of August 2022. The other was L9XEL (previously CN11FBD), since departed. (R Hudson)
			Also awaiting becoming CC'd is one time CT Plus fleet member MX12DZE. No destination display facility was available when pictured. (R Hudson)

Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander Pointer This 2021 acquisition is clearly dedicated to driver training. It has been noted around and about. Previously a London vehicle operated latterly by Tower Transit.
	KP02PVO		Full latest Central Connect livery for this dedicated training vehicle, even at 19 years old. (R Hudson).

Route List

Within Harlow:
25/25B Harlow to Brookfield Centre - commercial service, hourly, Mon-Sat . PVR = 2
418B Harlow to Loughton, hourly, evenings only, Mon-Sat. PVR = 0
420/420A Harlow to Epping, North Weald and Ongar. Every 20 minutes Mon-Fri peaks, every 30 minutes off-peak and Saturdays, every 2 hours Sundays. Alternate buses only between North Weald and Ongar.  Commercial service  PVR = 7

Outside Harlow:
9/9A - Braintree (Great Notley) to Great Bardfield. Mon-Sat, hourly, PVR = 2.
35 (previously 351) - Bishops Stortford to Hertford via Hunsden and Ware. Hourly peaks, 2-hourly off-peaks, HCC contract service. PVR = 2
66A - Waltham Cross to Debden, HCC contract service, Sundays.
306 - Wicken Bonhunt to Bisphops Stortford (St Mary's Catholic School). HCC contract service, schooldays only.
315 - Bishops Stortford to Great Halligbury. Mon-Sat, 7 return journeys.
322 - Bishops Stortford to Lindsell via Takeley and Great Dunmow. Tuesdays. 2 return journeys furing off-peaks.
323/324 - Bishops Stortford to Great Dunmow via Takeley. Mon-Sat, hourly combined service with additional 2-hourly journeys within Great Dunmow on 323 (not evenly spaced for a combined hourly 323 service). PVR = 2
325 - Bishops Stortford to Little Hallingbury. Mon-Sat, 7 return journeys.
383/384 - Hertford to Stevenage. PVR = 2
386 Bishops Stortford to Stevenage - Mondays to Saturdays, PVR = 2
418 - Epping (St Margaret's Hospital) to Loughton. Mon-Sat, every 2 hours. PVR = 1.
542/542A - Harlow to Debden circulars. ECC contract service, Mon-Sat, PVR = 1.
H1 - Hertford Town Service, Pinehurst to Hertford North. HCC contract service.
H3/H4 - Hertford to Horns Mill. HCC contract service.
H5/H6 - Hertford Town Service - Bengeo to Hertford. HCC contract service.

Other pages

Bus route maps
Enthusiasts Main Index
[HarlowRide Main Index]



Last update 29th June 2024