Harris Bus

Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = Harris Bus
company_
slogan =
fate = Receivership
successor = East Thames Buses
foundation = 1997
defunct = 2000
location = West Thurrock, Essex
industry = Bus transport

Harris Bus is a former bus company based in West Thurrock. It was a subsidiary of Harris Coaches, and operated a small fleet of buses. On deregulation of bus services it was one of the early operators of tendered services for London Buses.

Harris Bus went into receivership in 2000, with its London operations and assets transferred to East Thames Buses.

Company history

Early Harris buses carried a blue and white livery [ [http://flickr.com/photos/11510805@N02/1845381463/in/set-72157602884920659/ Photo - Harris bus livery] ] [ [http://simonslondonpictures.fotopic.net/p24452710.html Photo - Harris bus livery] ] [ [http://simonslondonpictures.fotopic.net/p24452716.html Photo - Harris bus livery] ] for services in Essex. Harris also owned an ex-Southdown Queen Mary [ [http://busgallery2.fotopic.net/p9210797.html Photo - Harris bus Queen Mary] ] . In 1997 London route 108 was awarded from Kentish Bus to Harris Bus, a newcomer to London bus operations.

London bus services were initially operated from the firm's far-away base in West Thurrock, although the subsequent win of routes 180 and 132 saw operation transferred to a new base in Belvedere london bus garage, purchased in 1998.

Harris buses could also be seen on services to Lakeside Shopping Centre [ [http://bobmargan.fotopic.net/p492136.html Photo - Harris bus vehicle at Lakeside] ] . Revenues were also boosted through employing the Pyoneer double-deckers to carry clubbers to and from Amadeus nightclub in Rochester, from surrounding Kent towns, under the brand "Club and Bus" ticket.

Harris Bus got into serious financial difficulties late in 1999, and went into receivership in 2000. Its routes and garage were taken over by London Buses under the guise of East Thames Buses, a subsidiary of London Transport itself rather than another private company. Harris's colourful, albeit latterly rather scruffy livery was sacrificed in favour of all-over red, with new tendering regulations requiring mainly red liveries for LT contracts coming into force later.

Fleet

For its London and other operations, from 1996 to 1998, Harris Bus purchased a modern fleet of 23 Optare Excel integral single-deck buses [ [http://chris91271a.fotopic.net/p19347273.html Photo - Harris bus Optare Excel] ] , and 35 East Lancs Pyoneer-bodied Volvo Olympians [ [http://chris91271a.fotopic.net/p18980301.html Photo - Harris bus Volvo/Pyoneer] ] . Services were supplemented by 5 Northern Counties Palatine-bodied DAF DB250 double-deckers [ [http://chris91271a.fotopic.net/p18790226.html Photo - Harris bus DAF/Palatine] ] , and 2 East Lancs Spryte-bodied Dennis Dart SLF single-deckers.

Harris Bus introduced a striking blue and lime green livery, contrasting its modern buses with the eldery red buses on some of London routes that they replaced, or bringing new colours to already changed routes. Buses were branded variously as "Lewisham Link", "Eltham Link", "Ilford Link" or "Lakeside Link" with route branding, incorporating Harris Bus fleetnames on the front.

London routes

The following London bus routes had been operated by Harris bus:

* 108 [ [http://londonbusesbyadam.fotopic.net/c960034.html Photos - route 108] ]
* 128 [ [http://londonbusesbyadam.fotopic.net/c963370.html Photos - route 128] ]
* 129 [ [http://londonbusesbyadam.fotopic.net/c977140.html Photos - route 129] ]
* 132 [ [http://londonbusesbyadam.fotopic.net/c986046.html Photos - route 132] ]
* 150 [ [http://londonbusesbyadam.fotopic.net/c998320.html Photos - route 150] ]
* 180 [ [http://londonbusesbyadam.fotopic.net/c963364.html Photos - route 180] ]

ee also

* East Thames Buses
* List of bus routes in London

References

External links

* [http://flickr.com/photos/11510805@N02/sets/72157602884920659/ Harris Bus Flickr photostream]
* [http://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/ Bus lists on the web] a searchable bus purchase database