Central Connect 326
Vehicle provision on the Central Connect 90 varies, with E200 MMCs of different sizes and colours plus the EVM Citylines on Sundays and some workings and variations. This was my first time seeing one of the slightly larger and fully liveried MMCs operating a 90, and although I’ve got a fair bit of disdain for the type I have to say it looks different enough for me to say I like it.
Not all of them carry the full livery with all the branding and extra diagonal stripes; I’ve also seen the simplified version with basic Vectare names on a school route, but looking at this with no context you could easily think this was one of the ‘big group’ operators with the presentation... “transport made simple” and all that. It looks like how you might imagine Arriva if they were classy and had investment.
The whole deal with Central Connect and their rapid expansion buying other companies is intriguing if a little bizarre, with Vectare (as it was) going from running a few minibuses and rail replacements to suddenly owning several operations across different parts of the country, gaining a vast fleet of MMCs out of thin air and continuing to receive brand new deliveries from ADL. Even if they’re leasing their vehicles, there must be some financial wizardry going on at that place.
Part of me wonders if it’ll all fall apart in a few years if their rapid acquisitions don’t pay off, or if they’ll instead go on to replicate Stagecoach of the nineties by proving agile in an uncertain market, punching above their weight and eventually becoming a major player in the bus industry. Maybe they genuinely will replace Arriva as the 3rd big group in years to come, or maybe they’ll just continue as they are, keeping marginal routes going and picking up random contracts.
YX22 OJJ is pictured on London Road, Nottingham, with a 90 to Newark and Fernwood on 4.11.24
Central Connect 326
Vehicle provision on the Central Connect 90 varies, with E200 MMCs of different sizes and colours plus the EVM Citylines on Sundays and some workings and variations. This was my first time seeing one of the slightly larger and fully liveried MMCs operating a 90, and although I’ve got a fair bit of disdain for the type I have to say it looks different enough for me to say I like it.
Not all of them carry the full livery with all the branding and extra diagonal stripes; I’ve also seen the simplified version with basic Vectare names on a school route, but looking at this with no context you could easily think this was one of the ‘big group’ operators with the presentation... “transport made simple” and all that. It looks like how you might imagine Arriva if they were classy and had investment.
The whole deal with Central Connect and their rapid expansion buying other companies is intriguing if a little bizarre, with Vectare (as it was) going from running a few minibuses and rail replacements to suddenly owning several operations across different parts of the country, gaining a vast fleet of MMCs out of thin air and continuing to receive brand new deliveries from ADL. Even if they’re leasing their vehicles, there must be some financial wizardry going on at that place.
Part of me wonders if it’ll all fall apart in a few years if their rapid acquisitions don’t pay off, or if they’ll instead go on to replicate Stagecoach of the nineties by proving agile in an uncertain market, punching above their weight and eventually becoming a major player in the bus industry. Maybe they genuinely will replace Arriva as the 3rd big group in years to come, or maybe they’ll just continue as they are, keeping marginal routes going and picking up random contracts.
YX22 OJJ is pictured on London Road, Nottingham, with a 90 to Newark and Fernwood on 4.11.24