Essex bus routes 240 and 250

Essex routes 240 and 250 are contracted bus routes in Essex on the outskirts of London, United Kingdom. The Monday to Saturday 250 is contracted to Arriva Shires & Essex. The Sunday 250 and Sunday only 240 are contracted to Regal Busways of Chelmsford using Slimline Optare Solos.

{| class="wikitable"
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Route Number
Route
Operated by
Garage
Vehicle
Peak vehicle requirement
Level
Frequency
Journey time
Night
-
240/250
Debden Broadway to Waltham Cross via Loughton
Arriva Shires & Essex
Harlow
Dennis Dart
3
Daily (06:00 to 23:30)
Monday to Saturday (every 30 minutes), Sunday (every 60 minutes)
40-45 minutes
No night service
-

History

The 250 route began in 1979 as a London Transport route operating from Waltham Cross to Grange Hill via Waltham Abbey, Loughton Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell operating out of Loughton bus garage. In 1981 the route was withdrawn between Buckhurst Hill and Grange Hill and then extended to South Woodford. In 1986, route 250 was transferred to Eastern National under the Essex tendering scheme. In the 90s, route 250 was then operated by County Bus (Cowie Group) and shortened Debden to Waltham Cross. Cowie Group then re-vitalised their bus company with a new name - Arriva. The route has been with Arriva Shires & Essex ever since originally operating out of Langston Road garage until it was built on, since then it has operated from Harlow garage. The Sunday only 240 was a recent variation, operating via Oakwood Hill instead of Borders Lane. The Sunday 240/250 service was operated by Arriva Optare Solos until Regal Busways took over the 240/250 Sunday service with newer Slimline Optare Solos.

Vehicles

Arriva Shires & Essex

The most common type of bus to work this route is the Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer, but other types sometimes stray onto the service.

* Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer
* Optare Solo
* Dennis Dart/Wright Handybus
* Volvo B6LE/Wright Crusader 2

Regal Busways

* Optare Solo slimline
* Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer

Route information

* Evening and Sunday services under contract to Essex County Council.
* 240 only operates on Sundays
* Oyster cards and travelcards are not accepted.
* Essex Sunday Saver accepted on both routes on Sundays only
* Route liable to traffic at Honey Lane M25 junction.

Route detail

WALTHAM CROSS BUS STATION - Waltham Cross Station - Eleanor Cross Road - Waltham Abbey "Quaker Lane" - Ninefields - Waltham Abbey "Honey Lane" - Upshire "Skillet Hill" - Wake Arms - Loughton "Goldings Hill" - Loughton "Homebase" - Loughton "High Road" - (240 & 250) Loughton Station - (250) Loughton "Alderton Hill" - (250) Loughton "Epping Forest College" - (240) Loughton "Oakwood Hill" - (240 & 250) DEBDEN STATION

ee also

*List of bus routes in Essex
*Arriva Shires & Essex
*Regal Busways

External links

* [http://www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk Traveline South East]
* [http://www.busmap.org/tt4/240C.pdf Route 240/250 timetable]