Day 133 on #AYearOfBuses takes us to Essex, for a look at Arriva Kent Thameside’s recently-upgraded link to Stansted Airport.
Previously part of the ‘sxconnect’ network (Essex Connect), the core of the 133 links the town of Braintree with Great Dunmow and Stansted, with a couple of buses a day running to and from Colchester and Mark’s Tey. It’s now a Sapphire route, with route-branded Streetlites featuring free WiFi and USB power.
Running every hour, the 133’s most formidable competition (aside from the car) comes from an unlikely source – National Express coaches to the airport, which run 24 hours a day with a journey time of just 25 mins. For a journey of just under 20 miles, the train puts in a woeful performance, with a journey time averaging 2hr 15 min and 2 changes.
