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Arriva is a privately owned national bus company created in 1998. It was formed following
the purchase of the British Bus Group by Cowie PLC - owners of Thurrock bus operator
Thameside. At first, Arriva kept the same arrangements as Cowie with Grays garage
being part of the former County Bus group of garages; Arriva introduced ‘local identities’
and Grays garage became part of ‘Arriva serving East Herts & Essex’. The now familiar
Arriva livery soon started to appear, however the local identities didn’t last long on the
vehicles as inter company transfers made it hard to keep things updated.
In 200?, Arriva restructured it’s operations and Grays garage became linked with
Arriva Southend - two buses even came from Southend to Thurrock on Monday to
Saturdays and operated on route 383. Passengers were not generally aware though,
thanks to Arriva dropping the policy of carrying the local identities on the vehicles.
Further restructuring of operations in 2002 saw Grays, Southend (and Arriva Colchester)
become part of Arriva Southern Counties. By now, such was the growth that Arriva
effectively own all of the former London Country operations including the Green Line
brand, as well as National Express.
Arriva have continued to bid for, and still operate TfL routes 256 & 346 from Grays
garage, and have now added the 498 too (Romford - Brentwood). At the time of
writing, Arriva have lost the 498 contract but have gained the 499 (Gallows Corner -
Becontee Heath) **the 498/499 changes formerly took place in July 2008** Route 370 became A TfL contracted route from 3/11/07, with just routes 373 (Grays to Upminster)
and 383 (Ockendon to Basildon) remaining as commercially operated routes in the
Thurrock area.
**UPDATE**: The 373 & 383 were withdrawn in March 2008, and only the 383 was
partially replaced - by extending Southend route 5 from Basildon to Lakeside via
Chadwell St Mary & Grays - quite a turnaround from being Thurrock’s biggest operator
under London Country!!!
Currently, the only routes operated in the Thurrock area are the 5 and sunday
Thurrock Council contract routes 44 & 150 - all operated from Southend garage!
Arriva still has a garage in Grays.....providing vehicles solely for TfL contract routes
256, 346, 370 and 499. Click Here for the current Grays garage fleet list.
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