Stephensons of Essex
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| Parent | Bill Hiron |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1975 |
| Headquarters | Rochford |
| Service area | Essex Suffolk |
| Service type | Bus & coach services |
| Routes | 85 (April 2026) |
| Depots | 4 |
| Fleet | 112 (April 2026) |
| Annual ridership | 1.8 million (2012) |
| Chief executive | Bill Hiron |
| Website | Stephensons Website |
Stephensons of Essex[1] is a privately owned bus company based in Rochford, Essex. It operates local bus services throughout Essex and West Suffolk, from headquarters at Rochford, near Southend-on-Sea, and depots at Maldon, Boreham, Braintree and Haverhill.
It also runs a bus and coach dealership and sales service.
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Stephensons was founded in Rochford in 1975 by John Stephenson, and has since expanded by gaining contracts for tendered bus routes and school routes.[2]
In 2001 after Arriva Southend decided to withdraw their route 721 service, Stephensons commenced operating routes X1 and X10 from Rochford to London under the London Link Express brand. X1 was the original number of the service when it was first launched in 1980.[3] Stephensons withdrew the service on 11 July 2008.[4] Swallow Coach Company revived the service on 14 August 2008[5][6] but it again ceased on 29 May 2009.
In 2005 Stephensons won a contract to operate the Dengie Connections services from Arriva Southend, which it operated for five years from April 2007.[7] In 2012 this was extended for a further four years.[8]
In 2008 it won the contract to run Withamlink services 38 and 39.
In November 2016, Stephensons of Essex owner Bill Hiron purchased Galloway European. The two businesses operate independently.[9][10][11] In October 2018 it was announced Stephensons had purchased local bus operator NIBS Buses (Nelsons Independent Bus Services), based in Wickford, Essex and would run as a separate entity.[12]
In September 2022, Stephensons has registered a partial replacement for one of the 18 services that Stagecoach East is to withdraw from late October,[13] taking over the route 12 between Cambridge and Newmarket.
In October 2024, Bill Hiron sold Stephensons to an employee ownership trust.[14]
Services
Fleet
As at December 2020, the fleet consisted of 107 buses and coaches.[16]
Current Fleet:
- Plaxton Paragon
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
- Optare Solo
- Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 2
- Alexander Dennis Enviro 200
- Scania N230UD/Optare Olympus
- Scania N230UD/East Lancs Olympus
- Scania OmniCity
- Scania N230UD/Alexander Dennis Enviro 400
- Scania N250UD/Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC
- Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka
