ESSEX airlink

ESSEX airlink is the brand given to two airport bus services run by First Essex. The brand was relaunched at Stansted Airport, England, on 17 February 2020.[1] There are two routes, X10 and X30, which start their journey in Basildon bus station and Southend Travel Centre respectively. The two routes meet on the A130 and then follow the same route from there to Stansted.

ESSEX airlink: X10 & X30
Overview
Operator	First Essex
Garage	Basildon: X10 Chelmsford: X30
Vehicle	Scania N250UD/Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC
Peak vehicle requirement	3 on X10 4 on X30
Route
Start	Basildon bus station - X10 Southend-on-Sea - X30
Via	X10 Wickford X30 Southend Airport Eastwood Rayleigh railway station X10/X30 Chelmsford Barnston
End	Stansted Airport
Service
Level	Daily (364 days a year—not Christmas Day)
Frequency	Hourly; 22 hours a day
Journey time	75–80 minutes from Basildon 90 minutes from Southend 35–40 minutes from Chelmsford
Route map ESSEX airlink Stansted Airport Barnston, Church School Onslow Green Ford End, School Chelmsford bus station Runwell, The Chase Rayleigh railway station Wickford, The Swans Eastwood Rise, Oakwood Eastmayne, The Watermill Eastwood, Rochford Corner Basildon bus station Eastwood, Kent Elms Corner Prittlewell Bell, Rochford Road Southend Airport Southend Victoria Circus Southend Travel Centre X10 X30 X10/X30 ← {{{previous_line}}}  {{{system_nav}}}  {{{next_line}}} →

X10

Route X10 began operation in July 2016[2] using Volvo 7900 Hybrids temporarily taken from First Essex's 100 service. It runs from Basildon to Stansted via Wickford, Chelmsford, and Barnston. It is currently operated by five Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMCs that were launched in November 2016 along with another seven for the X30. Route X10 buses carries "From Here to Air" branding.[3]

Basildon and Wickford had a previous service to Stansted Airport, the X40. The service began in May 2009[4] but was withdrawn in February 2010 due to low usage.

X30

Route X30 is both busier and longer than the X10. Until the recent introduction of the new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC bodied Scania N250UD double deck buses in February 2020, journeys were frequently overcrowded with passenger having to stand for part or the whole of their journey. To help with the overcrowding, First introduced two Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL buses in 2018, which were used on certain journeys,[5] notably the 06:00 and 06:50 departures from Southend and the 16:45 and 17:47 departures from Chelmsford which suffered from some of the worst overcrowding. They were used alongside the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC buses delivered in 2016 in X30 "From Pier to Air" branding.

The new buses introduced in February 2020 feature leather seats, free WiFi, USB and wireless charging, table and solo seating, luggage racks, and next stop audio visual announcements.[6] They are the only buses other than the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMCs used on the Chelmsford Park and Ride to feature next stop audio visual announcements in Essex. The luggage rack is monitored by CCTV which is shown on display on the top deck so that the passengers can still see their luggage from the top deck.

The X30 has existed as other routes in the past.

Fleet

Current fleet

Route	Number	Fleet Numbers	Depot	Type	Livery	Features	Length	New
X10	5	67160–67164	Basildon	Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC	X10 From Here to Air except 67163 which is in ESSEX airlink	• USB Charging • Free WiFi • Luggage Racks	11.6 m	2016
X30	7	36837–36843	Chelmsford	Scania N250UD/Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC	ESSEX airlink	• USB Charging • Wireless Charging • Free WiFi • Luggage Racks • Audio Visual Next Stop Announcements • Tables	11.4 m	2020

Previous fleet

Route	Number	Fleet Number	Depot	Type	Livery	Features	Length	New	Notes
X10	4	44659–44662	Basildon	Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC	First Olympia		10.5 m	2016	Temporary buses. Transferred to Chelmsford depot in November 2016 for use on the 57 after the permanent Enviro200 MMCs arrived
X10	19	69901–69919	Basildon	Volvo 7900 Hybrid	First Olympia - A Greener Essex 100 City Country Connections	• Free WiFi	12 m	2013	Not all 19 used. Temporary buses used when the X10 first started operation. Occasionally used to substitute the current Enviro200 MMCs on the X10 when they are unavailable
X30	7	67165–67171	Chelmsford	Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC	X30 From Pier to Air	• USB Charging • Free WiFi • Luggage Racks	11.6 m	2016	Now used on Chelmsford City services although frequently used on city services during time on the X30
X30	2	37985–37986	Chelmsford	Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2	X30 From Pier to Air	• Free WiFi • 3 Pin Plug Sockets • Luggage Racks • Tables	10.4 m	2011	Transferred to First Essex’s Hadleigh depot in February 2020. Ex-Greenline 702.
X30	5	20801–20805	Chelmsford	Volvo B9R/Plaxton Panther	Aircoach	• Free WiFi		2008	Transferred to First Kernow in 2017

References

1. "Launch of 7 New Essex Airlink Buses". FirstGroup.
2. "New 24-hour bus service will provide direct route from Basildon to Stansted Airport". Echo.
3. "New £1.9m bus fleet launched for south Essex and Stansted Airport routes". Echo.
4. "Coach service links Basildon to Stansted". Echo.
5. "First Essex Bus". www.facebook.com.
6. Dougall, Emily (February 25, 2020). "£1.9m upgrade for First Essex Airlink service". Coach & Bus Week.