Prepared on Notepad by Ian Smith,
This page created 15th October 2018.

Regal MAN buses

Regal Busways were very much on or beyond the fringes of the old London Transport Country Area. But they ran a reasonably modern fleet, with some contracts and services in the Harlow, Ongar, Loughton, Brentwood areas.

MAN/Wright Eclipse Meridian 801, 802

Regal bought some very large single-deckers in 2009. Presumably these were particularly useful for school runs, with intervening periods spent on longer distance services. 801 and 802 were based on long (12.1m) MAN chassis, with Wright Eclipse Meridian bodywork. 801 was bought new in March, and wore Regal's classic livery of cream and maroon. It later was repainted in Regal's new livery of bright red/maroon with modernistic writing. 802 was bought as an ex-demonstrator in September 2009, and received the new livery from acquisition.

MAN/AD Enviro, 701

The following year they bought a slightly shorter (10.9m) MAN with an AD Enviro200 body. 701 at Epping Town
701 squeezes past a mid-street bollard and a parked car in Epping. This required millimetric precision.

All three lasted with Regal until the end of 2017, when Regal ceased operating.

Regal MAN: Bus Histories

These histories are in the process of compilation.

Data comes from several sources, including LOTS' TLB and London Bus Reviews,
with "www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk" for VIN data, plus internet searches ($) - which need to be treated with the usual caution. 


 
801    RG09 BUS  3/09    12.1m MAN NL273F WMAA22ZZ77C009043, Wright Eclipse Meridian AA755, B44F
                 3/09    new to Regal Busways, Chelmsford for 16 (Chelmsford-Wethersfield)
                12/09    in service on 16 to Wethersfield: maroon/cream $
                 9/12    in Chelmsford: maroon/cream $
                 2/13    in service on 3 to Southend: maroon/cream $
                 4/13    in service on 3 to Southend: maroon/cream $
                12/13    on railway replacement, Lowestoft: maroon/cream $
                 3/14    in service to Freeport Braintree: maroon/cream $
                 3/16    on railway replacement, Shenfield: red/maroon $
                 9/17    on railway replacement, Harlow Town Stn: red/maroon $
                12/17    Regal ceases most services

802    WX08 DFN  3/08    12.1m MAN NL273F WMAA22ZZ06C007651, Wright Eclipse Meridian AA750, B44F
                 3/08    new to MAN, Swindon: demonstrator
                         demonstrated to Lothian: white, diamonds logos
                 9/09    bought by Regal Busways, Chelmsford
                 9/09    at Showbus, Duxford: red/maroon $
                 1/10    in service on 251 to Rayleigh: red/maroon $
                 1/11    in service on 1 to Canvey Island: red/maroon $
                10/11    in service on 240 to Debden: red/maroon $
                 8/13    in service to Freeport Braintree: red/maroon $
                12/13    on railway replacement, Lowestoft: red/maroon $
                 6/14    in service on 3 to Chelmsford Bus Station: red/maroon $
                 1/15    on railway replacement, Bishops Stortford: red/maroon $
                 8/15    in service on 205 to Old Street during tube strike $
                 8/15    in service on 8 to Bow Church during tube strike $
                 3/16    on railway replacement, Shenfield: red/maroon $
                 3/17    repaint by Mardens $ 
                12/17    Regal ceases most services
                 1/18    sold to Ensign Bus, (Purfleet) 
 
       EU10 OJE  8/10    10.9m MAN 14.240 WMAA66ZZ09C012686, AD Enviro200 9209/6, B37F 
702              8/10    new to Regal Busways, Great Wakering
                 1/11    at Southend Rally: blinded for 251 to Upshire $
                 5/11    in service on 552 to Ramsden Heath $
                 8/11    in service on 565 to Grays Station $
                         in service on 552 to Ramsden Heath $
                 8/12    in service at Braintree Running Day $
                 9/12    in Epping
                 4/13    in service on 565 to Brentwood Station $
                 9/13    on railway replacement $
                 3/15    on railway replacement, Stansted $
                 1/16    in service on Harlow 11 to Sumners & Katherines $
                 6/16    in service on 71C to Chelmsford $
                12/17    Regal ceases most services
                 2/18    for sale by auction

Photographic references

This handful of MANs seem to have escaped the photographers that get their photos published.
Some of the fruits of internet searches are included in the histories, denoted by $. These, especially dates, should be treated with appropriate caution.

Ian's Bus Stop MAN index. main text. bus histories. photos.