Colchester: Bus services set to go head to head

7:10am Tuesday 19th August 2008

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IT could be bus wars! Two Colchester bus services are preparing to go head-to-head with routes that are almost identical – stopping just one minute apart.

First buses announced it is launching a new service, number 60, which will run between Prettygate and Colchester town centre via Maldon Road every ten minutes Monday to Saturday.

This will be in direct competition with the number 1 service run by Network Colchester which runs from Shrub End to the town centre, then on to Greenstead.

It is believed that buses from the different companies will be just one minute after each other at some stops.

Peter Kay, secretary of Colchester Bus Users’ Support Group (C-Bus), said: “The route followed by the 60 will be exactly the same as Network Colchester’s number 1 service, that runs between the town centre loop and Prettygate.

“The 60s are completely in parallel and timed to arrive one minute before the one.”

Bob Dorr, of First, said: “As a commercial organisation we have always got to look and see where there are gaps in the service we provide and try to identify new operations.

“We recognise there are other services in the area but the service we have introduced is different and useful in linking to the town centre.

Bus director Bill Hiron, of Network Colchester, said: “Competition is good for us and good for our customers."