Arriva Southern Counties

A Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer, a type common to Arriva Southern Counties.
Parent	Arriva
Founded	Various
Headquarters	Invicta House Maidstone Kent
Service area	London Surrey West Sussex East Sussex Kent Essex
Service type	Bus
Routes	16 (London Buses) 99 (non-London Buses) Total: 109
Fleet	Over 700
Fuel type	Diesel
Web site	Arriva bus UK website

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Arriva Southern Counties is a bus operator in London, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent and Essex in England. It is a regional division of Arriva.

Contents 1 History 2 Routes 3 Operation Overdrive 4 Maidstone Park & Ride 5 Fastrack 6 Livery 7 Depots 8 Fleet 9 See also 10 References 11 External links

[edit] History

The company was originally founded in 1986 when the National Bus Company sold Maidstone & District (M&D) to its management through a holding company called Einkorn. On 14 April 1995, Einkorn Ltd (with M&D, M&D Advertising and New Enterprise) was bought by the British Bus Group^[1], which had bought Kentish Bus (one of the successor companies of London Country Bus Services) the year before and Londonlinks in 1988. British Bus renamed Einkorn Invictaway, and used it as the management services company for all three businesses. Invictaway was previously the name of the Maidstone & District commuter services to London, which were renamed Green Line at the same time.

In July 1996 British Bus was taken over by the Cowie Group, which was renamed Arriva on 1 January 1998. Invictaway was renamed Arriva Southern Counties on 2 April 1998, and Arriva transferred London & Country (also owned by British Bus) to it. The subsidiary operating companies therefore became:

• Maidstone & District:
  • Mainly became Arriva Kent & Sussex
  • Medway area became Arriva Medway Towns

• Kentish Bus:
  • Mainly became Arriva Kent Thameside
  • Partly became Arriva Kent & Sussex

• London & Country:
  • Became Arriva Guildford & West Surrey

• LondonLinks:
  • Became Arriva Croydon & North Surrey

Current operations in the Southern Counties area are:

• Arriva Kent & Sussex
• Arriva Kent Thameside
• Arriva Medway Towns
• Arriva Guildford & West Surrey
• Arriva Southend

Many reorganisations of Arriva operations in South East England have followed since, and today the company also controls Arriva Guildford & West Surrey, Arriva West Sussex, and Arriva Southend. The Croydon & North Surrey subsidiary was largely transferred to Arriva London.

Arriva Colchester was sold in August 2004 to Tellings-Golden Miller, although with Arriva's recent purchase of the Tellings operations, Colchester has now returned to the group. The coaching subsidiary, New Enterprise Coaches (Tonbridge), inherited from Maidstone & District, remains in operation.

The company offices have been based since its founding at "Invicta House" in Maidstone.

[edit] Routes

Arriva's bus routes are generally identified by a route number. Many of the routes serve Maidstone, the Medway Towns, or Tunbridge Wells. The routes include:

This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

No.	From	To	Via	Notes
1	Shoeburyness, Renown	Rayleigh rail station	North Shoebury, Thorpe Bay, Bournes Green, Southchurch, Southend, Leigh, Hadleigh, Thundersley	This route is operated with low-floor buses.
4	Southend Travel Centre	Landwick Police Lodge	Southchurch, Bournes Green, North Shoebury, Great Wakering	The 4 does not run on Sundays as service 4A runs instead (see below).
4A	Southend Travel Centre	Landwick Police Lodge or Shoeburyness East Beach	Southchurch, Bournes Green, Great Wakering	The last journey Monday to Saturday, and all Sunday journeys, go to Shoeburyness East Beach as a 4A service instead of Landwick.
5 "Basildon direct"	Southend Travel Centre	Lakeside bus station	Leigh-on-Sea, Hadleigh, Thundersley, New Thundersley, Pitsea, Basildon, Basildon Hospital, Chadwell St Mary, Grays, South Stifford, West Thurrock	One bus every 30 minutes goes to Basildon bus station, whilst one bus every hour goes to Lakeside via Basildon. No service on Sundays.
5	Maidstone	Sandhurst	Linton, Staplehurst, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst	This route previously continued from Hawkhurst to Battle and Hastings.
6	Maidstone	Tunbridge Wells	Paddock Wood, Pembury
6/7	Grain	Hoo School		Schooldays only.
6A	Belfairs, Woodcutters	Leigh rail station	North Leigh	Service operated during peak hours and Tuesdays only.
7	Shoeburyness, Renown	Rayleigh rail station	North Shoebury, Thorpe Bay, Southchurch, Southend, Prittlewell, Southend Hospital, Rochford, Golden Cross, Ashingdon, Hockley	Runs past Shoeburyness Renown to Great Wakering Church and Little Wakering Corner on Mondays to Saturdays. Due to be operated by Low floor buses in August 2009.
7	Maidstone	Tunbridge Wells	Hadlow, Tonbridge
8	Downswood	Maidstone Hospital	Maidstone, Gatland Lane
8	Shoeburyness, Renown	Rayleigh rail station	North Shoebury, Thorpe Bay, Southchurch, Southend, Prittlewell, Southend Hospital, Rochford, Golden Cross, Hawkwell, Hockley	Due to be operated by Low floor buses in August 2009.
8	Maidstone Hospital	Downswood	Barming, Fant, Maidstone, Madingford
9	Shoeburyness, East Beach	Rayleigh rail station	North Shoebury, Cambridge Town, Thorpe Esplanade, Southend, Prittlewell, Nobles Green, Eastwood
9	Maidstone	Bearsted	Vinters Park, Grove Green
9	Allhallows	Hoo School		Schooldays only.
10	Paglesham Eastend, Plough and Sail Pub	Rayleigh High Street	Canewdon, Ashingdon, Lower Hockley, Hullbridge	Service runs on Wednesdays only. (Hail and ride throughout.)
10	High Halstow	Hoo School		Schooldays only.
11	Lower Stoke	Hoo School		Schooldays only.
12	Maidstone	Tenterden	Langley Heath, Sutton Valence, Headcorn, Biddenden	Only Maidstone - Headcorn on Sundays.
13 "...the sutton shuttle..."	Southend Travel Centre	Temple Sutton, Cokefield Avenue	Sutton Road	Smaller Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer II single-decker low-floor buses are used on this service.
17	Maidstone	Armstrong Road	Forest Hill
17	Southend Travel Centre	Eastwood, Tesco	Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff, Southend Hospital, Prittlewell	Service runs on Thursdays only.
18	Eastwood Woodcutters Pub	Eastwood Woodcutters Pub	Stroud Green, Hawkwell, Hockley, Ashingdon, Golden Cross, Stroud Green	Circular service, runs on Fridays only.
18	Palace Wood/Allington	Grove Green	Mid-Kent Shopping Centre, Maidstone	Mondays to Fridays only.
19	Maidstone	Bearsted	Grove Green	Mondays to Fridays only.
23	Maidstone	Benover	Tovil, East Farleigh, West Farleigh, Yalding
26	Maodstone	Goudhurst	Tovil, Hunton, Yalding, Laddingford, Collier Street, Marden
27	Maidstone	Goudhurst	Loose, Marden	Positioning journeys for route 26.
28	Guildford	Knsphill	Stoughton, Worplesdon, Pirbright, Brookwood
29 "the twenty-nine"	Southend Travel Centre	Belfairs, Belgrave Road	Prittlewell, North Leigh
33	Shoeburyness, Blackgate Road	Southend, Fossets Park	North Shoebury, Bournes Green, Southchurch	Service runs on Mondays only.
34/35	Guildford	Camberley	Woking, Bagshot or Frimley
42	Guildford	Cranleigh	Godaling, Dunsfold
44	Guildford	Cranleigh	Godaling, Dunsfold, Plaistow
44	Lakeside bus station	Grays bus station	Uplands Estate, Garrison Estate, Purfleet, West Thurrock	Service runs on Sundays only, weekday and Saturday service provided by Ensignbus. Operated under contract to Thurrock Council.
50	Horsham	Cranleigh
59	Maidstone	Grafty Green	Boughton Monchelsea, Chart Sutton, Kingswood, Ulcombe	Saturday service operated by Nu-Venture Coaches.
64	Madingford	Cornwallis Academy	Downswood, Loose	Schooldays only.
66	Headcorn	Cornwallis Academy	Grafty Green, Kingswood, Chart Sutton, Boughton Monchelsea	Schooldays only.
70	Borough Green	Maidstone	Wrotham Heath, West Malling, East Malling, Larkfield	Schooldays only.
71	Maidstone	Lunsford Park/Leybourne Lakes/Snodland	Allington, Larkfield
72	Maidstone	Kings Hill	Larkfield, West Malling
77	Tunbridge Wells	Kings Hill	Tonbridge, Hadlow	On Sundays, route 77 extends to Maidstone and includes a modified route 72 service.
79	Penenden Heath	Maidstone
82	Maidstone	Park Wood		Some journeys operate to/from Maidstone Hospital. Some journeys operated by Nu-Venture Coaches.
84	Maidstone	Senacre Wood	Shepway
85	Maidstone Hospital	Senacre Wood	Maidstone, Shepway	Some journeys operated by Nu-Venture Coaches.
89	Maidstone	Coxheath/East Farleigh	Loose	Some journeys extended to/from Maidstone Hospital. Some journeys operated by Nu-Venture Coaches.
91	Woking	Knaphill	Goldsworth Park	On Sundays extends over route of service 28 to Guildford and evenings to Pirbright.
100	Chatham Rail Station	St. Mary's Island	Dockside Outlet, Universities
101	Maidstone	Gillingham	Chatham	Extends to Twydall via 182 on Monday to Saturday Evenings and Sundays.
105	Chatham	Davis Estate
113	Chatham	Chatham	Gillingham, Darland Estate, Wigmore, Hempstead, Luton
114	Chatham	Chaatham	Luton, Hempstead, Wigmore, Darland Estate, Gillingham
116	Chatham	Hempstead Valley	Gillingham, Wigmore, Parkwood
120	Chatham	Rainham, Otterham Park	Chatham Hill	Mondays to Fridays only.
121	Chatham	Rainham, Otterham Park	Gillingham, Medway Maritime Hospital	Mondays to Fridays only
132	Chatham	Hempstead Valley	Jezreels, Rainham Mark, Rainham, Parkwood
133	Cliffe	Chatham	Cliffe Woods, Strood, Rochester
136	Chatham	Gravesend	Rochester, Strood, Higham, Chalk	Some peak and evening journeys start and finish at Medway Maritime Hospital.
140	Chatham	Earl Estate	Rochester, Strood, Marlowe Park
141	Dockside Outlet	Marlowe Park	Chatham, Rochester, Strood, Earl Estate
142	Chatham	Blue Bell Hill	Rochester
145	Chatham	Warren Wood	Rochester
147	Tunbridge Wells	West Malling	Southborough, Tonbridge, Hadlow, Mereworth, Kings Hill
150	Lakeside bus station	Basildon bus station	West Thurrock, South Stifford, Grays, Socketts Heath, Stifford Clays, Orsett Hospital, Stanford-le-Hope, Corringham	Service runs on Sundays only. Operated under contract to Thurrock Council.
151	St Mary's Island	Halling	Chatham, Rochester, Strood	Monday to Saturday evenings only
155	Maidstone	Chatham	Aylesford, Wouldham, Rochester
164	Chatham	White Road Estate
165	Chatham	Princes Park	Luton
166	Chatham	Lords Wood	Luton
167	Chatham	Lords Wood	Luton, Princes Park	Monday to Saturday evenings and Sundays only.
172/173	Chatham	Earl Estate	Rochester, Strood, Salters Cross
176	Lower Gillingham	Walderslade	Gillingham, Medway Maritime Hospital, Chatham, Weeds Wood	Operates between Lower Gillingham and Chatham only and by Nu-Venture Coaches on Sundays.
181	Chatham	Weeds Wood	Luton, Wayfield	Operated by Nu-Venture Coaches on Sundays and extended to Walderslade.
182	Chatham	Twydall	Brompton, Gillingham
184	Chatham	Alexandra Hospital	Weeds Wood, Walderslade	Mondays to Fridays peak times only.
185	Chatham	Princes Avenue	Walderslade, Lords Wood	Monday to Friday peak hours only.
191	Chatham	Grain	Rochester, Strood, Wainscott Hoo, High Halstow, Allhallows, Lower Stoke
193	Chatham	Cliffe	Rochester, Strood, Hoo, Cliffe Woods	Sundays only.
196	Chatham	Grain	Dockside Outlet, Neptune Estate, Wainscott, Chattenden, Hoo, Allhallows, Lower Stoke	Mondays to Fridays only.
200	Hildenborough	Hildenborough Station		Monday to Friday peak hours only.
204	Tonbridge	Underriver	Hildenborough	Saturday service only. On Mondays to Fridays operated by Autocar.
207	Horsmonden	Tunbridge Wells, Bennett Memorial School	Yalding, East Peckham, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge	Schooldays only.
210	Tonbridge	Charcott	Hildenborough, Leigh	Saturdays only. On Mondays to Fridays operated by Autocar.
211	Tonbridge, Cottage Hospital	Barden Park	Molescroft Way
218/219	Tonbridge	Higham Wood	Trench Wood, Willow Lea
220	Addington	Tunbridge Wells, Culverden Down	Ightham, Tonbridge	Schooldays only
221	Vigo	Tunbridge Wells, Culverden Down	Ightham, Tonbridge	Schooldays only
225	Knights Park	Heathfield	Tunbridge Wells, Eridge Green, Crowborough Cross, Mayfield	1 journey on Friday and Saturday nights only.
228	Tunbridge Wells	Crowborough	Showfields, Eridge Green, Boarshead, Crowborough Cross, Jarvis Brook	(clockwise).
229	Tunbridge Wells	Crowborough	Showfields, Eridge Green, Boarshead, Crowborough Cross, Jarvis Brook	(Anti-clockwise).
231/233/237	Tunbridge Wells	Edenbridge	Penshurst, Bough Beech
233	Swanley	Eltham	Sidcup	Transport for London service.
234	Tunbridge Wells	Edenbridge	Fordcombe Green, Cowden	Mondays to Fridays only. Other journeys operated by Kent County Council Passenger Services.
256	Noak Hill, Tees Drive	Hornchurch, St. George's Hospital	Harold Wood, Ardleigh Green	Service operated under contract to Transport for London using buses from Grays garage.
257	Hawkenbury	Tunbridge Wells, South Park	Culverden Down School, Tunbridge Wells Boys Grammar School	Schooldays only.
267	Hawkhurst	Bennett Memorial School	Benenden, Cranbrook, Goudhurst, Horsmonden, Tonbridge, Southborough	School days only.
277	Tunbridge Wells	Sherwood		Some Monday to Friday morning journeys extended to/from Knights Park.
281	High Brooms	Rusthall	Town Centre
287	Tunbridge Wells	Pembury	Sherwood, North Farm, Knights Park
297	Goudhurst	Tunbridge Wells	Brenchley, Pembury	1 journey Mondays to Fridays only.
306/308	Bluewater	Sevenoaks	Gravesend, Meopham, Vigo, Borough Green	On Sundays operates Bluewater to Vigo only.
333	Maidstone	Oare	Detling, Sittingbourne, Teynham, Faversham
334	Maidstone	Sheerness	Detling, Sittingbourne, Iwade, The Meads, Minster
336	Leysdown	Maidstone	Warden Bay, Eastchurch, Minster, Milton Regis	Tuesdays and Fridays only.
337	Leysdown	Lakeside	Warden Bay, Eastchurch, Minster, Milton Regis, Bluewater	Certain Saturdays only.
338	Leysdown	Chatham	Warden Bay, Eastchurch, Minster, Milton Regis	Mondays only.
339	Leysdown	Hempstead Valley	Warden Bay, Eastchurch, Minster, Milton Regis	Thursdays only.
341/351	Sheerness	Sittingbourne	Minster, Iwade, Milton Regis
346	Upminster Station	Upminster Park Estate, Waycross Road	Cranham	Service operated under contract to Transport for London using buses from Grays garage.
347	Sittingbourne	Kemsley	Milton Regis, Newman Drive
349	Sittingbourne	Great Easthall	Snipeshill, Murston
352	Rushenden	Sheerness	Queenborough	Schooldays only.
360	Rushenden	Minster	Queenborough, Halfway, Sheerness, Halfway
361	Sheerness	Queensway
362	Rushenden	Leysdown	Queenborough, Halfway, Sheerness, Halfway, Sheppey Hospital, Minster, Eastchurch	Operated by Kent Top Travel on Sundays.
365	Rushenden	Sheerness	Queenborough, Minster College, Halfway	Schooldays only.
366	Leysdown	Sheerness	Eastchurch, Minster, Cheyne Middle School	Schooldays only.
368	Leysdown	Minster, St George's School	Warden Bay, Eastchurch	Schooldays only.
370	Lakeside bus station	Romford rail station	Chafford Hundred, South Ockendon, North Ockendon, Corbets Tay, Upminster, Hornchurch, Gidea Park	Service operated under contract to Transport for London using buses from Grays garage.
375	Romford	Passingford Bridge		This is a London Buses route, contracted to Transport for London.
401	Sevenoaks	Westerham	Riverhead, Chipstead, Brasted	School journey extended from Sevenoaks to Tonbridge, Weald of Kent School. Extended from Tunbridge Wells to Chartwell House on Sundays.
401	Hullbridge, The Anchor Pub	Southend Travel Centre	Rayleigh rail station, Thundersley Woodman's Arms Pub, SEEVIC College, Hadleigh Church	School bus service, runs along part of route 1 once a day in the morning on college days only.
402	Belfairs School	Bournes Green	Leigh Elms, Westcliff Plough, Victoria Circus Queensway, Southchurch White Horse	School bus service, runs along part of route 1 once a day in the afternoon on schooldays only.
402	Tunbridge Wells	Bromley	Tonbridge, Sevenoaks	This route accepts TfL passes between Knockholt Pound and Bromley.
404	Edenbridge/Ide Hill	Plaxtol	Sevenoaks, Godden Green, Ivy Hatch, Shipbourne	Mondays to Fridays only.
405	West Kingsdown	Sevenoaks	Otford	Wednesdays only.
407	Greensward College, Hockley	Shoeburyness, East Beach	Ashingdon Schools, Golden Cross Post Office, Rochford East Street, Southend Airport Warners Bridge, Hobleythick Lane (for Southend Hospital), Civic Centre Victoria Avenue, Southend Travel Centre, Shoeburyness High School, Asda North Shoebury, Shoeburyness Renown	School bus service, runs along part of route 7 once a day in the afternoon on schooldays only.
408	Thorpe Bay rail station	Shoeburyness, East Beach	Morning: Bournes Green, Southchurch White Horse, Woodgrange Drive Lifstan Way, Southend Travel Centre. Afternoon: Shoeburyness High School, Asda North Shoebury, Shoeburyness Renown	School bus service, runs along part of route 7/8 once a day in the morning (first half) and afternoon (second half) on schooldays only.
414	Dartford	Horton Kirby	Wilmington, South Darenth	School journey extended to Wilmington Hall School.
421	Sevenoaks	Swanley	Otford, Eynsford
423	Swanley	New Ash Green	Dartford, Fleet Estate, Longfield
424	Temple Hill	Wilmington Hall School	Dartford	Schooldays only.
428	Bluewater	Erith	Dartford	Transport for London service.
431	Otford	Kemsing	Dunton Green, Riverhead, Sevenoaks
432	Kemsing	Otford	Sevenoaks, Riverhead, Dunton Green
433	Bluewater	New Ash Green	Darent Valley Hospital, Longfield
452	Sevenoaks	Chipstead	Riverhead Rail Link (Monday to Friday peak).
453	Dartford	West Dartford	Temple Hill
455	Dartford	Valley Drive	Greenhithe, Gravesend
477	Bluewater	Orpington	Dartford, Wilmington, Swanley, Crockenhill	This Route accepts TfL passes between Crockenhill, Crouch Farm and Orpington.
480	Valley Drive	Dartford	Denton, Gravesend, Northfleet, Swanscombe, Stone
485	Riverview Park	Wilmington Hall School	Denton, Gravesend, Northfleet, Swanscombe, Horns Cross, Dartford, Dartford Heath	Schooldays only.
489	Gravesend	New Ash Green	Pepper Hill, Longfield
490	Valley Drive	Fleet Estate	Denton, Gravesend, Northfleet, Swanscombe, Bluewater, Darent Valley Hospital	Peak journeys extended to Dartford.
492	Bluewater	Sidcup	Dartford	Transport for LOndon service.
495	Pepper Hill	Kings Farm	Painters Ash, Coldharbour, Perry Hill, Gravesend, Christianfields
497	Dartford	Swan Valley Community School/St. George's School	Stone, Horne Cross, Swanscombe	Schooldays only.
498	Bluewater	Kings Farm	Waterdales, Perry Hill, Gravesend, Christianfields
499	Bluewater	Riverview Park	Coldharbour, Perry Street, Gravesend, Denton
499	Gallows Corner, Tesco	Rush Green, Dagenham Road	Harold Hill, Noak Hill, Romford, Becontree Heath	Service operated under contract to Transport for London using buses from Grays garage.
501	Maidstone	London Road		Park and Ride. Monday to Friday peak hours only.
502	Riverhead	Culverden Down School	Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Southborough	Schooldays only.
503	Maidstone	Willington Street		Park and Ride.
505	Maidstone	Maidstone Market		Tuesdays only. Maidstone Market Free Bus.
506	Maidstone	Sittingbourne Road		Park and Ride.
522	Seal	Tonbridge, Weald of Kent School	Greatness, Sevenoaks	Schooldays only.
532	Kemsing	Tonbridge, Weald of Kent School	Sevenoaks	Schooldays only.
544	Sevenoaks	Hugh Christie Technology School		Schooldays only.
562	Dunton Green	Weald of Kent School	Riverhead, Sevenoaks, Hildenborough, Tonbridge	Schooldays only.
570	Wrotham	Maidstone	Borough Green, Wrotham Heath, West Malling, East Malling, Larkfield	Schooldays only.
571	Oakwood Park Schools	Snodland	British Legion Village, Larkfield, Lunsford Park	Schooldays only (2 afternoon journeys).
572	Hildenborough	Tonbridge (morning)/Weald of Kent School (afternoon return)	Brook Street	Schooldays only.
572	Kings Hill	Maidstone Boys Grammar School	West Malling, Larkfield, Aylesford, Allington, Maidstone Town Centre	Schooldays only (mornings only).
575	Snodland	Maidstone	Lunsford Park, Larkfield, Maidstone Hospital, Barming, Oakwood Park Schools	Schooldays Only (4 morning journeys).
576	West Malling (morning)/Kings Hill (afternoon)	Vinters Park, Invicta Girls Grammar School (morning)/Maidstone (afternoon)	Leybourne, Larkfield, Aylesford, Allington, Maidstone	Schooldays only.
615	Higham Lane	Southborough, Cross Keys Schools	Willow Lea, Tonbridge	Schooldays only.
632	Hempstead Valley	Hoo Marina	Parkwood, Rainham, Chatham, Strood, Wainscott	Schoolday mornings only.
633	Cliffe	Rochester Grammar Schools	Cliffe Woods, Strood, Rochester	Schooldays only.
638	Borstal	Thomas Aveling School		Schooldays only.
647	Iwade	Sittingbourne Community College	Milton Regis, Chalkwell, Sittingbourne, Snipeshill	Schooldays only.
653	Halling	Rochester and Chatham Schools	Cuxton	Schooldays only.
657	Gillingham	Rochester Schools	Parkwood, Hempstead Valley, Lords Wood	Schooldays only.
658	Lords Wood	Rochester Schools	Princes Avenue	Schooldays only.
659	Wigmore, Queens Head	Rochester Schools	Parkwood, Hempstead Valley, Luton, Princes Park	Schooldays only.
660	Walderslade	Rochester Schools	Lords Wood	Schooldays only.
661	Rochester Grammer School	Walderslade Village		Schooldays only.
668	Chalk	Rochester Grammar Schools	Shorne, Higham, Strood, Rochester	Schooldays only.
670	Strood	Thomas Aveling School	Earl Estate, Strood, Rochester Grammar School	Schooldays only.
675	Lords Wood	Chatham	Princes Avenue	Schooldays only.
676	Chatham	Lords Wood	Weeds Wood, Walderslade	Schoolday afternoons only.
689	Chatham	Hoo School	Rochester, Strood	Schooldays only.
692	Lower Stoke	Rochester Schools	Allhallows, Hoo, Strood	Schooldays only.
700	Rainham	Bluewater	Parkwood, Wigmore, Chatham, Rochester, Strood, Earl Estate
701	Luton	Bluewater	Wayfield, Lords Wood, Princes Park, Chatham, Rochester, Strood, Earl Estate
703	Maidstone	Bluewater	Lunsford Park, Snodland
704	Tunbridge Wells	Tonbridge	Southborough	Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
705	Tonbridge, Rail Station	Bluewater	Sevenoaks	Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
707	Coxheath	Romford Market	Loose, Park Wood, Maidstone, Larkfield, Snodland, Lakeside Shopping Centre	First Saturday of month only.
711	Hempstead	Romford	Parkwood, Rainham, Twydall, Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester, Strood, Earl Estate, Lakeside Shopping Centre	First and third Saturday of each month only.
796	Chatham	Grain	Dockside Outlet, High Halstow, Allhallows	Mondays to Fridays only.
A Fastrack	Dartford	Bluewater	Joyce Green, The Bridge, Crossways, Greenhithe
B Fastrack	Dartford, Temple Hill	Gravesend, Garrick Street	Darent Valley Hospital, Bluewater, Ebbsfleet

[edit] Operation Overdrive

The Medway Towns network was upgraded in a £10 million investment marketed as Operation Overdrive.

[edit] Maidstone Park & Ride

Arriva also operates Maidstone Park & Ride under contract to Maidstone Borough Council. The buses are yellow with a green stripe swooping down from the top of the back of the bus to the bottom of the front. The fleet comprises two DAF SB120 10.8m/Wright Cadets and 9 DAF SB200 11.8m/Wright Commanders. In September 2007 the Coombe Quarry Park & Ride site (route 504) was closed due to apparent budget difficulties. As a result, some of the buses were absorbed into the main fleet. This leaves no Park & Ride service for South Maidstone for at least 4 years.

[edit] Fastrack

Arriva Southern Counties operate the Fastrack busway scheme in the Thames Gateway area of Kent on behalf of the Kent County Council and ProLogis. This network currently consists of two routes: Route A runs between Dartford and the Bluewater Shopping Centre, while Route B runs from Temple Hill near Dartford to Gravesend via Dartford. Since November 2007, Route B has connected with Eurostar at the new Ebbsfleet International railway station, and Eurostar passengers are allowed to use the route for free.^[2] On February 11, 2008, Arriva started a new "m-tickets" scheme, where passengers are able to pay for bus tickets using their mobile phones. Initially, this will only be available on Route B, but if successful could be extended to other Fastrack routes and possibly even conventional Arriva bus routes.^[3]

[edit] Livery

The main corporate Arriva livery is aquamarine for the body, with a cream "swoop" at the front and a white separator line in between, blue Arriva “circles” logos, and a thin yellow line at skirt level. There are many variations of the livery, such as:

• Interurban livery – Aquamarine, with dark blue band to skirt level and cream “cow-horns” (a thined version of the champagne "swoop").

• London livery - The original London livery was red, with champagne “cow-horns” as in the interurban livery, orange Arriva “circles” logo and a thin yellow line at skirt level. The new London livery is completely red, with the thin yellow line at skirt level and the Arriva “circles” in plain white.

• Bluewater livery - No longer used, the Bluewater livery was allover blue, with a water shimmer effect. The services using this livery were replaced by Fastrack in 2006.

As well as this, many vehicles operating under different schemes run in different liveries, for example Fastrack and Maidstone Park and Ride.

[edit] Depots

The locations of Arriva Southern Counties's depots and the divisions which operate them are:

• Cranleigh - Arriva Guildford & West Surrey
• Dartford - Arriva Kent Thameside
• Gatwick (Copthorne) - easyBus (New Enterprise Coaches)
• Gillingham - Arriva Medway Towns
• Grays - Arriva Southend
• Guildford - Arriva Guildford & West Surrey
• Horsham - Arriva Guildford & West Surrey
• Maidstone - Arriva Maidstone / Arriva Kent & Sussex / New Enterprise Coaches
• Northfleet - Arriva Kent Thameside
• Sheerness - Arriva Medway Towns
• Southend - Arriva Southend
• Tonbridge - New Enterprise Coaches
• Royal Tunbridge Wells - Arriva Kent & Sussex

Former depots of Arriva Southern Counties were:

• Hawkhurst - Arriva Kent & Sussex (closed on 17 February 2008)
• Sittingbourne - Arriva Medway Towns (closed on 2 July 2006)
• Tenterden - Arriva Kent & Sussex (closed on 9 May 2009)

Dartford and Grays garages are the only Arriva Southern Counties depots which do not have commercial services and only handle services contracted by TfL. Therefore, all the buses in the Dartford and Grays fleets have the London red Arriva livery rather than the traditional cream and aquamarine livery Arriva uses elsewhere in the United Kingdom and other countries.

Commercial routes previously operated from Dartford depot before the change to all TfL services are now operated from the closest depot at Northfleet. Grays depot switched to all TfL services after Arriva Southend withdrew both commercial routes 373 and 383 in the Grays area, partially replacing them by extending service 5 from Southend-on-Sea. Services 44 and 150, the remaining services in the Grays area, are operated under contract to Thurrock Council. The buses used for these routes were transferred to the closest garage at Southend, where they are now run from.

Dartford garage currently handles TfL routes 126, 160, 162, 233, 286, 428, 492, B12, B13 and B15. Grays garage currently handles TfL routes 256, 346, 370, 375 and 499.

[edit] Fleet

There are over 700 vehicles in the Southern Counties fleet. The non low-floor buses are gradually being withdrawn from service. Below is a list of some of the most interesting vehicles, and sole survivors from previous fleets:

• 1450 (GX55 LNF) Optare Solo M920 9.2m (Horsham depot) is a hybrid bus.
• 1455 (YN53 ELU) Optare Solo M850 8.5m (Tunbridge Wells depot) is used for ESCC route 256.
• 3018 (M520 KPA) Dennis Lance SLF 11SDA / Wright Pathfinder 320 (Tunbridge Wells depot) is the only remaining ex-London & Country Lance SLF in the Southern Counties fleet.
• 3045 (F45 ENF) Leyland Lynx LX112L10ZR1R (Tunbridge Wells depot) is the only remaining Lynx, as 3041/3/49/65 (E885/7 KYW, H256 YLG & G45 VME) have all been transferred to the training fleet.
• 3384 (M274 JPA) Dennis Lance SLF 11SDA / Wright Pathfinder 320 (Tunbridge Wells depot) is the only remaining ex-Southend Transport Lance SLF in the Southern Counties fleet. 3379 suffered severe fire damage.
• 3730 (LF02 PVA) Volvo B7L / Wrightbus Eclipse (Guildford depot) was the Arriva "Bus of the Future". It was transferred to Arriva Shires & Essex after a short spell at Northfleet depot.

Double-deck, low-floor

Chassis	Number	Body type
DAF DB250LF	7	Wright Pulsar Gemini
Alexander Dennis Enviro400	8	Alexander Dennis Enviro400
Dennis Trident 2	7	Alexander ALX400 (10.5m)
DAF DB250LF	13	Alexander ALX400 (10.2m)
VDL DB250	4	East Lancs Myllennium Lowlander
Volvo B7TL	48	TransBus ALX400 (10.6m)

Double-deck, step-entry

Chassis	Number	Body type
Leyland Olympian	3	Alexander RL
Dennis Dominator	3	East Lancs Pyoneer
Leyland Olympian	4	Leyland
Volvo Olympian	7	Northern Counties Palatine II
Leyland Olympian	12	Northern Counties Palatine
Volvo Olympian	28	Northern Counties Palatine
DAF DB250	3	Northern Counties Palatine II
Volvo Citybus B10M-50	12	Northern Counties Palatine

Single-deck, low-floor

Chassis	Number	Body type
Dennis Dart SLF	139	Plaxton Pointer
Dennis Dart SLF	54	Plaxton Pointer 2
Dennis Dart SLF	6	Plaxton Pointer SPD
Dennis Dart SLF	10	East Lancs Spryte
DAF SB120	49	Wright Cadet
VDL SB120	6	Wright Cadet
VDL SB200	9	Wright Commander
VDL SB200	12	Wright Pulsar
DAF SB220	9	Plaxton Prestige
Scania L113CRL	10	Wright Axcess-Ultralow
Volvo B7RLE	31	Wright Eclipse Urban
Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro Integral	3	(Integral)
Dennis Lance SLF	2	Wright Pathfinder 320
Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart	83	ADL Enviro200Dart

Single-deck, step-entry

Chassis	Number	Body type
Dennis Dart	8	Plaxton Pointer
Dennis Dart	6	East Lancs EL2000
Dennis Dart	2	Northern Counties Paladin
Dennis Lance	5	East Lancs EL2000
Volvo B6	7	Plaxton Pointer

Midibuses/ Low-floor

Chassis	Count	Body types
Optare Solo	1	Optare Solo
Optare Solo SR	6	Optare Solo SR
Dennis Dart SLF (8.8m)	5	Plaxton Pointer MPD
TransBus Dart SLF (8.8m)	12	TransBus Pointer MPD
Alexander Dennis Dart SLF (8.8m)	19	Alexander Dennis Pointer MPD
Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart (8.9m)	13	ADL Enviro200Dart

Midibuses, Front-engined

Chassis	Number	Body type
Mercedes-Benz Vario	9	Plaxton Beaver 2
Mercedes-Benz 515CDI	15	Optare Soroco
Mercedes-Benz 711D/811D	1	Plaxton Beaver
Optare MetroRider MR15/17	4	Optare

Coaches

Chassis	Number	Body type
DAF SB3000	1	Ikarus Blue Danube 320
DAF SB3000	1	Ikarus Blue Danube 350
DAF SB3000	7	Plaxton Prima Interurban
DAF SB3000	5	Van Hool Alizée T8
DAF SB3000	1	Van Hool Alizée T9
Transbus Javelin	1	Plaxton Profile
Volvo B10M-62	1	Caetano Enigma
Volvo B7R	2	Plaxton Profile

[edit] See also

• List of bus operators of the United Kingdom
• Pentagon bus station

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Arriva Buses GB

• Arriva bus UK website
• Maidstone Borough Council's Park & Ride webpage
• The official Fastrack website
• The M&D and East Kent Bus Club

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