Southend-on-Sea Corporation Transport
| Industry | Transport |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1901 |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Fate | Purchased by British Bus in 1993, before being bought by Cowie Group in 1996 and being rebranded Arriva in 1998 |
| Successor | Arriva Southend |
| Headquarters | Southend-on-Sea, UK |
| Parent | 1901-1993 Southend Borough Council 1993-1996 British Bus 1996-1998 Cowie Group |
Southend-on-Sea Corporation Transport was the overarching name given to the local municipal transport services provided to the town of Southend-on-Sea by the local council. Initially started as a tramway, although known officially as Southend-on-Sea Corporation Light Railway, the trams started operating on 19 July 1901 until the service was terminated on 8 April 1942. A trolleybus system was introduced in 16 October 1925, gradually replacing the tramway, before it closed on 28 October 1954. Motorbuses were first run by the corporation in 1914, but two years later they withdrew the services. Buses did not return to the corporation's service until 1932, eventually replacing the trams and trolleybuses. In 1974, the organisation was renamed Southend Transport, and after the Transport Act 1985, it became involved in a bus war with rival Thamesway. The council sold Southend Transport to British Bus group in June 1993, which in turn was taken over by the Cowie group. Cowie was renamed Arriva in August 1998, with Southend Transport becoming Arriva serving Southend.