Service Alterations Registered ~ 16th April 2014

The latest Eastern Area Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report was published earlier today on the Gov.UK website.

Publication No 2177 includes a number of changes to services operated by Anglian, First Eastern Counties and Sanders Coaches

Variation Applications Granted

First Eastern Counties are to amend the number of vehicles allowed to operate at some centres.

• Increased authorisation at Vancouver Centre, Kings Lynn to 15 vehicles
• New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 15 vehicle
• Increased authorisation at Vulcan Road, Norwich to 46 vehicles
• Removed operating centre: Scot Group Limited, Saddlebow Industrial Estate Kings Lynn
• Increased authorisation at at Lansdowne Road to 79 vehicles

Licences Surrendered

Ann Harvey trading as Feline Travel at The Street in Catfield has surrendered her licence with effect from 9th April 2014 with all registered services surrendered with immediate effect

Registration of New Services 

As already reported on this blog, First Eastern Counties has registered a new service between Lowestoft Bus Station and Kessingland. Service 99 will commence from 26th May operating Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays and Public Holidays

Registration of New Services Granted Under Short Notice

Anglian Bus has lodged an application for a new service under short notice between Wrentham and Southwold via Wangford, Church. The 61 commenced from 18th April 

Applications to Vary Existing Services

Anglian Bus of Beccles is to amend the timetable of service 61 operating between Bungay and Lowestoft from 9th June 2014

First Eastern Counties are to vary a number of their services from the 25th May

• The timetable of services 75/76/77/78 between Felixstowe and Ipswich are to be altered
• The route, timetable and stopping places for three Lowestoft routes 101, 102 and 103 are to be amended
• The summer service 3 between Newport Caravan Park and Great Yarmouth Seashore Holiday will see changes to its route, stopping places and timetable
• The X22 between Lowestoft Bus Station and Beccles Old Market will also see changes to its route, stopping places and timetable

Sanders Coaches is to amend the timetables of a number routes in the North Norfolk area from the 1st June

• Service 4 between Edinburgh Road, Holt and Cadogan Road Cromer 
• Service 9 between Holt Market Place and Oak Street in Fakenham
• Service 6 North Walsham Post Office and Great Yarmouth Market Gates
• Service 55 North Walsham Post Office and Norwich City Centre

The route and timetable of service 5 between Charles Road, Holt and North Walsham Post Office are also to be amended

Cancellations of Existing Services

First Eastern Counties are cancelling the registration of Lowestoft Town service 123 between Gordon Road and Gordon Road from 25th May

Information source: Traffic Commissioner for the Eastern Traffic Area - Notices & Proceedings Report 2177 - published on 16th April 2014.

Sanders Acquires Neaves

Sanders DAF/Wright Cadet YJ03PKX on one of Neaves 36 duties today

Holt based Sanders Coaches issued a press release yesterday regarding their acquisition of H S Neave and Son Limited trading as Neaves located in Catfield

All vehicles and staff have transferred to Sanders as well as bus services 32 and 36. There will be no change to the timetables as Sanders plan to operate the services with Neaves current staff, providing continuity to existing customers.

Sanders reassures passengers that, whilst the colour of the buses may change to yellow, the standard of service will still remain exactly the same

As part of the takeover process, the timetables for Neaves routes 32 and 36 now appear on the Sanders website

Many thanks to Brian Ellis for his help with this post. Photo with permission from Norwich Buses Updates on twitter @NorwichBuses

Multiple Mulleys

The three Mulleys coaches (left to right) X472KUT, WCF99 and X888MUL 

Driving through Great Yarmouth earlier this afternoon, I observed four coaches at Beach Coach Station

I initially thought that they represented four completely different companies but, on closer inspection, three of them were actually from the Mulleys' fleet!

The coach in Mulleys' colours was X888MUL, a Beulas Stergo bodied Iveco Eurorider. In

National Holidays Volvo B10M NH06FEH

green was Volvo B12T/ Jonckheere WCF99 with similar Volvo B10M/ Jonckheere X472KUT in light blue making up the trio.

The fourth coach present was NH06FEH, a Volvo B10M/Plaxton Panther from the National Holidays fleet.

Minutes earlier a second unidentified National Holidays coach was noted on Fullers Hill heading towards the town centre

First's Service 99 Re-registered

Routemaster NML623E in its former Flying Banana livery carrying the destination 

display for service 99 Lowestoft to Southwold. First planned to operate it on a 

summer Sunday service but the proposal failed to materialise

Christian Newsome has alerted me to the fact that First Eastern Counties seem to be reintroducing their 99 route after some absence. The 99 last operated on 3rd April 2011

The service had been logged with VOSA on the 28th March and should restart on 25th May. Its introduction would be in direct competition with Anglianbus 61

My thanks to Christian for the heads up and to Syd Eade for the photo

+++++ Stop Press +++++

Grahame Bessey reports this afternoon's safe arrival at Caister Road of ALX400 32065 W425SRP from First Leicester

Customer Satisfaction Improves

Left to right First Eastern Counties' Norwich operations manager, Lee Howes,

General Manager, Hugo Forster and Business Manager, Chris Speed 

The results of a national bus passenger survey published by independent watchdog, Passenger Focus, have revealed that First’s customers in Norfolk have seen an increase in satisfaction.

89% of First’s customers in Norfolk said that they were ‘very satisfied’ or ‘fairly satisfied’ with the service in the county – a 2% increase since 2011.

Passenger Focus’ National Bus Survey is considered the bus industry’s definitive gauge of passenger satisfaction. The survey was carried out between 8 September and 1 December 2013.

The survey also noted improvements in punctuality, the cleanliness and appearance of the buses and drivers’ attitudes.

Managing Director of First Eastern Counties, David Squire, said: “We are thrilled with our score which reflects the hard work and commitment of all my colleagues. We’ve got excellent teams in place at our depots who are improving our services and helping to encourage more people to travel with First.”.

Source: First Group Press Release 7th April 2014

This Afternoon's Activity

I nipped into Great Yarmouth this afternoon for some shopping via a visit to the library in Gorleston High Street

Age before beauty - Olympian 34114 leads President 32206 and Gemini 37579

Before catching one of the former Jersey Darts into town, I observed Volvo Olympian 34109 W436CWX in Gorleston High Street back on one of its regular workings on the 7 to Belton

On arrival at Market Gates I headed to Beach Coach station to witness the Bernard Matthews contract workings this afternoon

There was a triumvirate of buses (posh word for three!) appearing instead of the normal twosome on the contract. Not only that, but they were of three different types as well!

Anglian Fleet Support Vehicle in attendance

It seemed to be 'age before beauty' with Olympian 34114 W434CWX leading the charge! The second bus was President 32206 LT52WTM with Gemini 37579 AU58EDK bringing up the rear

After that surprise, I returned to Market Gates to see the Anglianbus Fleet Support vehicle parked in front of Scania 456 AN61BUS. I was unable to discover what the problem was as both left just after I had taken my photo