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Eastern National became part of the National Bus Company, owned by the Government
following the Transport Act 1969.
Services in Thurrock were operated from Eastern National’s Basildon, Chelmsford
and Southend garage’s, and mainly concentrated on the East of the borough, up to
Grays. Places served included Fobbing, Corringham, Stanford le Hope, Orsett (Hospital)
and Stifford Clays using route numbers 152, 153, 154, 155, 156 and 157. Eastern
National also operated express services to Dartford via Grays and West Thurrock (route
400/2) as well as the 2 (Grays to Southend). Eastern National also operated some journeys
jointly with Green Line on route 722.
Upon privatisation in 1986, Eastern National was bought out by it’s management and
continued to operate under the Eastern National name.
In 1990, Eastern National was acquired by the Badgerline group and the garages in South
Essex formed a new company - Thamesway. Garages in North Essex continued under
the Eastern National name, though both companies were still ultimately under the same
common ownership/management structure.
In 1995 Badgerline group merged with GRT LTD (Grampian Regional Transport) and
from 1998 this company was known as First group. First, like Arriva, started to adopt
local company identities though they never carried on the vehicles - Thamesway thus
became First Essex, along with Eastern National.........and so the story goes full circle!
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