Ensignbus
Encyclopedia
Purfleet
Purfleet is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England. It is situated south of the A13 road on the River Thames and within the easterly bounds of the M25 motorway but just outside the Greater London boundary. It was within the traditional Church of England parish of West Thurrock...
-based bus and coach dealer, open top bus tour operator and bus service operator. Ensignbus has amassed 20 ex-London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
vehicles of various ages and conditions in a transport museum.
Ensignbus owns parts of the City Sightseeing
City Sightseeing
City Sightseeing is a global sightseeing bus brand, started by Ensignbus and the Spanish , which operates tour bus rides worldwide.Typically the tours consist of an open top double-decker bus. As the bus travels around the town or city, pre-recorded or live commentary is provided. City Sightseeing...
worldwide sightseeing tour operator. Ensignbus sells used buses from several major UK operators, and boasts "the largest stock of used double-deck buses in the world, with anywhere from 100-500 buses in stock". Ensignbus also hires out an unusual range of buses from service buses, open top buses and vintage vehicles.
Ensignbus has twice previously been a former London tendered service operator, and developed London Pride Sightseeing
London Pride Sightseeing
-History:In 1983, the state owned London Transport ceased operating their Round London Sightseeing Tour operation as the market was opened up to competition by the government. This had been run since March 1973....
. It retains a small bus service network centred on Lakeside Shopping Centre
Lakeside Shopping Centre
The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London...
and Grays
Grays
Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes...
Bus station.
Origin
Ensignbus was formed in 1972, with a small number of bus contracts. It went on to establish commercial services in EssexEssex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, and providing buses for specialist contracts such as rail replacement and temporary hire. Ensignbus has a blue and silver livery, with buses carrying the Ensignbus company name.
Bus sales
The company came to prominence in the UK bus scene when London TransportLondon Regional Transport
London Regional Transport was the organisation responsible for the public transport network in Greater London, UK from 1984-2000. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.The organisation was...
decided to dispose of its unpopular and poor performing Daimler Fleetline
Daimler Fleetline
The Daimler Fleetline is a rear-engined double-decker bus chassis built between 1960 and 1973 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, and from 1973 until 1980 in Farington, Lancashire, England. However, the last complete vehicle did not enter service until 1983...
DM and DMS class buses from 1979. Ensignbus was the only company willing to bid for all these buses as one batch, numbering over 2000 buses, as preferred by London Transport.
As the vehicles arrived, Ensignbus moved to new premises in Purfleet
Purfleet
Purfleet is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England. It is situated south of the A13 road on the River Thames and within the easterly bounds of the M25 motorway but just outside the Greater London boundary. It was within the traditional Church of England parish of West Thurrock...
, which became known as the 'DMS graveyards'. While the sheer numbers involved meant several vehicles just rotted away, Ensign made a success of selling on many of these buses to operators around the country and abroad, with many ex-municipal companies and new operators requiring cheap re-inforcements for enhanced competition due to deregulation of bus services
Bus deregulation
Bus deregulation in Great Britain came into force on 26 October 1986, as part of the Transport Act 1985.The 'Buses' White Paper was the basis of the Transport Act 1985, which provided for the deregulation of local bus services in the whole of the United Kingdom except for Northern Ireland and...
in 1986. The standard London specification (e.g. centre exit doors) was modified to various degrees to suit each buyer's needs, for regular bus work or open top tours.
During the London Pride operation Ensignbus continued selling buses in smaller numbers from a site in Rainham. With the sale of London Pride, Ensignbus moved to a new site in Purfleet, a short distance from the DMS graveyard, and accelerated its sales business.
Open top tour operations
Ensignbus operated several open top tour buses in London. Originally the tour buses ran in their standard blue/silver livery, with buses frequently passing between the tours, services and hires allocations. Ensignbus later expanded this operation (see London Pride SightseeingLondon Pride Sightseeing
-History:In 1983, the state owned London Transport ceased operating their Round London Sightseeing Tour operation as the market was opened up to competition by the government. This had been run since March 1973....
).
Through links gained through selling open top buses to other operators around the world, Ensignbus, through London Pride, expanded the concept to other cities setting up new tours.
Starting in 1998 with an operation in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, Ensignbus launched a global sightseeing bus brand City Sightseeing
City Sightseeing
City Sightseeing is a global sightseeing bus brand, started by Ensignbus and the Spanish , which operates tour bus rides worldwide.Typically the tours consist of an open top double-decker bus. As the bus travels around the town or city, pre-recorded or live commentary is provided. City Sightseeing...
at the World Travel Market in 1999 along a worldwide franchise model, and proceeded to rapidly expand into several cities. In May 2002 City Sightseeing bought out its main rival, Guide Friday
Guide Friday
Guide Friday was a company specialising in open top bus tours. It has since been bought out by the City Sightseeing group but continues to operate semi-autonomously....
.
London tendered services
- 8 1989-built AlexanderWalter Alexander CoachbuildersWalter Alexander Coachbuilders was a Scottish bus coachbuilder and operater based in Falkirk.-History:Walter Alexander, notice a lack expasion by the Falkirk and District Tramways Company's especially in to Grangemouth which never hdd a tram line. In 1913 Alexander's Motor Service was created to...
-bodied Leyland OlympianLeyland OlympianThe Leyland Olympian was a double-decker bus built by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production before the demise of Leyland Bus.-Construction:...
double-deckers. - 5 1989-built Northern Counties-bodied Leyland OlympianLeyland OlympianThe Leyland Olympian was a double-decker bus built by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production before the demise of Leyland Bus.-Construction:...
double-deckers. - 16 1988-built MCW MetrobusMCW MetrobusThe MCW Metrobus is a double decker bus model manufactured by MCW from 1977 until 1989, with over 4,000 examples built. The original MkI model was superseded by the MkII model in 1981/1982, although production of the original MkI continued for London Transport until 1985...
double-deckers.
Ensignbus also inherited a batch of 1991-built Frontrunner South East sold to Ensign Bus Services in 1989.
In 1990 Ensignbus sold its London tendered bus services to Hong Kong company Citybus
Citybus (Hong Kong)
Citybus Limited is one of the three major bus operators in Hong Kong. It provides both franchised and non-franchised bus service. The franchised route network serves mainly Hong Kong Island, cross-harbour routes , Ocean Park, North Lantau and Hong Kong International Airport...
, which rebranded the operations as Ensign Citybus and then Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus was a major bus operator for London Buses in North and East London. The company was eventually sold to First in 1998. Capital Citybus is not to be confused with the other former London bus and coach operator Capital Logistics, for whom in 1999 it provided amongst others relief buses...
(now part of First London
First London
.First London is one of many operators of London Buses and owned by First Group. They did also run the Tramlink network, in a partnership with Tramtrack Croydon before June 2008. Their registered office is at Paddington station in London...
).
Ensignbus briefly re-entered London tendered service, taking over some of its original routes from First Capital who had bought Capital Citybus, before once again selling its London services in December 1999, this time to Town and Country buses.
Current bus services
Ensignbus currently operate a number of routes in the ThurrockThurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
area, which are listed below.
| Route Number | Route | Operation |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Aveley Aveley Aveley is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England and one of the traditional parishes in Thurrock. It is a suburban development located 16.3 miles east of Charing Cross in London and within the eastern bounds of the M25 motorway.-Location:Aveley is roughly bounded to the north... Usk Road - Derent Parade - Belhus Belhus, Essex thumb|right|A fallen tree in Belhus Wood by Glyn BakerBelhus is a golf course, country park and former stately home in Aveley, Essex, England, and an integral part of the new Thames Chase woodland planned for the area.-Origin:... - Lakeside Shopping Centre Lakeside Shopping Centre The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London... - Grays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... - Stifford Clays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... |
Mon-Sat |
| 22 | Aveley Aveley Aveley is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England and one of the traditional parishes in Thurrock. It is a suburban development located 16.3 miles east of Charing Cross in London and within the eastern bounds of the M25 motorway.-Location:Aveley is roughly bounded to the north... Usk Road - Derent Parade - Belhus Belhus, Essex thumb|right|A fallen tree in Belhus Wood by Glyn BakerBelhus is a golf course, country park and former stately home in Aveley, Essex, England, and an integral part of the new Thames Chase woodland planned for the area.-Origin:... - Lakeside Shopping Centre Lakeside Shopping Centre The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London... - Grays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... (extended to Tilbury Tilbury Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry... and renumbered 22A from 13th November) |
Sunday |
| 33 | Lakeside Shopping Centre Lakeside Shopping Centre The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London... - Chafford Hundred Chafford Hundred Chafford Hundred is a recent UK housing brownfield just outside Greater London between Grays and South Ockendon in the Borough of Thurrock. It is immediately adjacent to Lakeside Shopping Centre and West Thurrock... - Grays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... |
Mon-Sat |
| 44 | Lakeside Shopping Centre Lakeside Shopping Centre The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London... - Purfleet Purfleet Purfleet is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England. It is situated south of the A13 road on the River Thames and within the easterly bounds of the M25 motorway but just outside the Greater London boundary. It was within the traditional Church of England parish of West Thurrock... - Grays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... |
Daily |
| 66 | Lakeside Shopping Centre Lakeside Shopping Centre The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London... - Grays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... - Tilbury Tilbury Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry... (Journeys continue to Chadwell-St-Mary Chadwell St Mary Chadwell-St-Mary is a dispersed settlement in the unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex, England. It is one of the traditional parishes in Thurrock and former civil parish. It is a few miles east of the town of Grays and is located north of the modern town of Tilbury which was part of the parish... on weekdays) |
Mon-Sat |
| 73 | Lakeside Shopping Centre Lakeside Shopping Centre The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London... - Grays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... - Tilbury Tilbury Tilbury is a town in the borough of Thurrock, Essex, England. As a settlement it is of relatively recent existence, although it has important historical connections, being the location of a 16th century fort and an ancient cross-river ferry... (Evenings and Sundays operates as 73a additionally serving Chadwell-St-Mary) |
Daily |
| X80 | Chafford Hundred Station Chafford Hundred railway station Chafford Hundred railway station is a National Rail station located in Chafford Hundred in the borough of Thurrock in Essex, England. The station is owned by Network Rail and is managed by the c2c train operating company... - Lakeside Shopping Centre Lakeside Shopping Centre The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London... - Bluewater Shopping Centre |
Mon-Sat |
| 81 | Hutton, Essex Hutton, Essex Hutton is a former country village in south Essex. Today, it acts more as a commuter suburb of Brentwood. It has good links to Central London via Shenfield train station which is just from Hutton... - Shenfield Shenfield Shenfield is a former village and now an outer suburb of Brentwood in the borough of the same name in Essex, England.-History:The name originates from the Anglo-Saxon Chenefield, meaning 'good lands'.... - Brentwood Brentwood, Essex Brentwood is a town and the principal settlement of the Borough of Brentwood, in the county of Essex in the east of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, 20 miles east north-east of Charing Cross in London, and near the M25 motorway.... (Mon- Fri - One return journey continuing to Lakeside Shopping Centre Lakeside Shopping Centre The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London... as X81) |
Mon-Sat |
| 83 | Lakeside Shopping Centre Lakeside Shopping Centre The Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large out-of-town shopping centre located in West Thurrock, in the borough of Thurrock, Essex just beyond the eastern boundary of Greater London... - Grays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... - Chadwell-St-Mary Chadwell St Mary Chadwell-St-Mary is a dispersed settlement in the unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex, England. It is one of the traditional parishes in Thurrock and former civil parish. It is a few miles east of the town of Grays and is located north of the modern town of Tilbury which was part of the parish... |
Mon-Sat |
| 373 | Grays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... - Stifford Clays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... - Orsett Orsett Orsett is a village and ecclesiastical parish located within Thurrock unitary district in Essex, England, situated around 5 km north-east of Grays... - Horndon-on-the-Hill Horndon-on-the-Hill Horndon-on-the-Hill is a village and Church of England parish in the unitary authority of Thurrock. It is about a mile northwest of Stanford le Hope and about two miles northeast of Orsett - from 1894, it was part of the Orsett Rural District.... - Stanford-le-Hope Stanford-le-Hope Stanford-le-Hope is a town and Church of England parish situated in the county of Essex, England. The town is within the unitary authority of Thurrock and located 23.8 miles east of Charing Cross in London... (Thurrock Council Thurrock Council Thurrock Council is the local authority for the borough of Thurrock in Essex, England. Since 1997, Thurrock has been a unitary authority, combining the functions of a non-metropolitan county with that of a non-metropolitan district.... service) |
Mon-Sat |
| 374 | Grays Grays Grays is the largest town in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex and one of the Thurrock's traditional parishes... - Chadwell-St-Mary - East Tilbury East Tilbury East Tilbury is a village in the unitary authority of Thurrock borough, England and one of the traditional parishes in Thurrock.-History:In Saxon times, the location on which the church now stands was surrounded by tidal marshland... - Stanford-le-Hope Stanford-le-Hope Stanford-le-Hope is a town and Church of England parish situated in the county of Essex, England. The town is within the unitary authority of Thurrock and located 23.8 miles east of Charing Cross in London... - Fobbing Fobbing Fobbing is a small village in Thurrock, Essex, England and one of Thurrock's traditional parishes. It is located between Basildon and Corringham, and is also close to Stanford-le-Hope.... - Basildon Basildon Basildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford... (Thurrock Council Thurrock Council Thurrock Council is the local authority for the borough of Thurrock in Essex, England. Since 1997, Thurrock has been a unitary authority, combining the functions of a non-metropolitan county with that of a non-metropolitan district.... service) |
Mon-Sat |
See also
- Capital CitybusCapital CitybusCapital Citybus was a major bus operator for London Buses in North and East London. The company was eventually sold to First in 1998. Capital Citybus is not to be confused with the other former London bus and coach operator Capital Logistics, for whom in 1999 it provided amongst others relief buses...
- City SightseeingCity SightseeingCity Sightseeing is a global sightseeing bus brand, started by Ensignbus and the Spanish , which operates tour bus rides worldwide.Typically the tours consist of an open top double-decker bus. As the bus travels around the town or city, pre-recorded or live commentary is provided. City Sightseeing...
- Guide FridayGuide FridayGuide Friday was a company specialising in open top bus tours. It has since been bought out by the City Sightseeing group but continues to operate semi-autonomously....
- List of bus routes in Essex