Essex bus route 213
Essex bus route 213 is a contracted bus route in Essex and Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. It is currently operated by Regal Busways out of Chelmsford garage under contract to Essex County Council. It serves as the only link between Epping and the towns of Waltham Abbey and Waltham Cross. It is also the only bus service to service the village of Upshire.
History
The route evolved out of old routes 213 (Waltham Cross to Upshire) and 254 (Waltham Abbey to Epping) in the late 80s/early 90s. Route 254 began in 1984 as a London Transport route between Waltham Cross and Epping Hospital, but then became a route under the Essex tendering scheme operted by Wests Coaches between Waltham Abbey and Epping with only a few return journeys. Today, route 213 follows more or less the same route as the original 254. It has been operated by Arriva Shires & Essex, but passed to Regal Busways in AbOUT 2003.
Vehicles
The main allocation these days is the Optare Solo slimline and Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer. Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer 2s are sometimes used.
In the past, other bus types have been used such as the Mercedes Benz Hoppa and Leyland Olympian. Despite very small roads around Upshire and Waltham Abbey long bus types were and still are used. Strangely, just one bus is used which at Waltham Cross is used on route 212 (Waltham Cross to Roundhills via Waltham Abbey) before returning to Epping on route 213.
Route information
- No Sunday or public holiday service
- Intalink Explorer tickets can be purchased and accepted on this route.
Current route
Route departing Epping
- Epping St Margarets Hospital
- Epping High Street/Church
- Epping Tesco
- Epping New Road
- Crown Hill
- Upshire Horseshoe Hill
- Upshire Upshire Road
- Upshire Princesfield Road
- Upshire Amesbury/Pick Hill
- Waltham Abbey Parklands
- Waltham Abbey Quaker Lane
- Waltham Cross Eleanor Cross Road
- Waltham Cross Station
- Waltham Cross Bus Station
Route departing Waltham Cross
- Waltham Cross Bus Station
- Waltham Cross Station
- Waltham Cross Eleanor Cross Road
- Waltham Abbey Quaker Lane
- Waltham Abbey Parklands
- Upshire Amesbury/Pick Hill
- Upshire Princesfield Road
- Upshire Upshire Road
- Upshire Horseshoe Hill
- Crown Hill
- Epping New Road
- Epping Tesco
- Epping High Street/Church
- Epping St Margarets Hospital
See also
- List of bus routes in Essex
- Regal Busways
- Essex bus routes 240 and 250