Open Top Out Today

One of First Great Yarmouth's part open top buses was out again today. I know the weather was warmer but it was not on its normal Coastal Clipper route along the town's seafront. That service ceased in late September.



Instead Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 37067 CRZ 488 wondered into Suffolk and was employed on tree cutting duties accessing routes in the Sizewell area; no doubt in preparation for the later introduction of workers' contract buses

My thanks to First for the information.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 16th October 2024

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report again contains only one entry of 'local' interest

Under short notice, Simonds of Botesdale have retrospectively registered an 81 service between Beccles, Old Market Place and Diss operating on Mondays to Fridays from 2nd September 2024

The full Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to be viewed here soon.

Roy

First Norwich Decker In Kent

A former First Eastern Counties Plaxton President-bodied Volvo B7 was seen in Kent today by regular contributor Mark Doggett.



Previously branded Network Norwich, 32112 LT02 ZDL is now operated by Brian Jones Coaches of Gravesend. Originally introduced in April 2002, it was acquired by First Eastern Counties from CentreWest of London in February 2010 and last served in Norwich in late March of this year.

My thanks to Mark for the photo.

Roy

Rail Replacement Vehicles

Tony Wilson spent some time in Norwich city centre on Saturday and observed a variety of vehicles on rail replacement duty along St. Stephens Street.



A Volvo B11RT with Plaxton Elite Interdeck bodywork, registered R25 PTS, was provided by Wrights Coaches. It had recently returned to them from Angies Travel and was initially operated by Go-Ahead subsidiary Oxford Bus Company under the registration X90 SVC.



Felixstowe Travel offered an ADL E20D Enviro200 MMC with the select registration mark M10 FXO.

Thanks are extended to Tony for providing the information and photos.

Roy

Norwich On Friday

Dan High took up his regular spot at Norwich's Castle Meadow on Friday and sent this selection of photos.



First's 7 service between Norwich and Great Yarmouth, via Filby and Caister, was operated by Great Yamouth's Volvo B9 36215 BJ12 VWX.



Newly transferred from First South Yorkshire, Wright StreetLites 63141 SN14 DWU and 63144 SN14 DWX were in use after first entering service on Monday.



Unusually Wright GB Kites 63638 BK24 AAO and 63639 BK24 AAU were employed on the 11 to Hethersett and 13 to Spixworth respectively.




Finally, Simonds had East Lancs Olympus bodied Scania N230UD YN08 OBZ on the 82 to Royden. This was new to Burtons for their then Colchester operation with Simonds acquiring if from SBC of Leigh-on-Sea in Essex in August 2023



Once more my thanks to Dan for the reports and photos

Roy

Another Yorkshire Exile In Service

The third recent Volvo B9 transfer from Yorkshire to First Eastern Counties made its appearance at Castle Meadow in Norwich this morning.



Adorned with its City of Bradford livery, 37722 YJ09 OBT was seen on the Yellow Line 28 service from Thorpe Marriott.

Credit to Dan High for the photograph.

Roy

Heritage Liveried Vehicle Returns

Another vehicle returning to its home depot after repair yesterday was First's Great Yarmouth Transport heritage liveried Volvo B9 FJ09 FYN.



It is seen inside Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot shortly after arrival and was employed on the 7 between Great Yarmouth and Norwich this morning.

Thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the use of the photo

Roy