Central Connect In Bradwell

On my walk from Bradwell to Gorleston this afternoon, I was passed on the A143 Beccles Road by a Central Connect (Simonds) double decker heading southwards.

It was blue liveried ADL Enviro400 MMC YY74 OBT and, despite observing it regularly on factory workings from the town, it was my first attempt in obtaining  a photo of it in use.

Roy 

Ensign On Monday

Regular correspondent Mark Doggett paid his latest visit to the Ensignbus premises at Purfleet on Monday.



Former First Norwich deckers MX58 DXS/V/T were ready for their open top service in Southend this summer with MX58 DXZ yet to be painted.



Mark also noted on site ex First Eastern Counties open top 37000 LK53 AYY (also previously registered as CRZ 366) and former Kernow partial open tops 32208 HIG 8790 and 32211 TJI 4838. Both Kernow vehicles operated as closed tops on Great Yarmouth services as LT 52 WTO and LT52 WTU respectively.



Also former First Great Yarmouth Volvo B7s 37044 YJ06 XLU and 37154 YN06 URH were present but likely destined for scrapping with PVS of Barnsley.



My thanks to Mark for the information and photos.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 19th March 2025

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report contains details of changes to some of First's Lowestoft services and the cancellation of a Great Yarmouth route by Konectbus..

First Eastern Counties is amending the timetables of some of its town services from 30th March 2025

• 101 Lowestoft Bus Station to Crestview Drive, Gunton Estate.
• 105 Gordon Road to Oulton Rock Estate Circular.
• 109 Lowestoft Bus Station to Hollow Grove / Cowslip Crescent.
• 122 Gordon Road to Lowestoft Bus Station Circular via Oulton Rock Estate.

From the same date the operator is to change the route, stopping places and timetable of its 102 Gordon Road to Gordon Road Circular via Oulton Village.

In Great Yarmouth, Konectbus is to cancel its 214 route between Market Gates and Gapton Retail Park from 29th March 2025. The service, which began on the 30th of November last year, appears to be going the same way as other unsuccessful attempts to provide a regular link to the retail park from the town centre.

Roy

Simonds Park and Ride

Mark C has been in touch to say that 'Simonds has put what looks like a finalised timetable for PR2 and PR3 on their website.

It is interesting to note that Roydon and Diss and the rest of the 82 route up to Long Stratton now have a Sunday service after many years, I remember Diss did have a Sunday bus service to Norwich some years ago.'

Many thanks for the information Mark

Roy

Norwich On Monday

Regular contributor Dan High was in his usual position at Norwich's Castle Meadow earlier today when he got some photos of his sightings.



One of them was of Great Yarmouth-based Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 36201 BN12 WOB returning to the coast on service 7.



Sanders Coaches featured in many of Dan's photos and here is MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE 527 BB72 KKB on the X55 express to North Walsham. Some of Sanders' vehicles are being fitted with a new passenger information system as shown below.



My thanks to Dan for his photos.

Roy

Another Open Top On Its Way

Another arrival for First Eastern Counties is expected to be an ADL Enviro400 partial open topper from First Kernow. 33427 LK58 KHL is pictured by Mark Doggett at School Hill in Padstow on 20th June last year.

My thanks to Mark for the information and photo.

Roy

Felixstowe Travel

Felixstowe Travel is to cease trading this weekend with its Beach Station site at Walton Avenue in the town vacated a week ago.

Many vehicles had left the fleet in recent weeks including Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC M10 FXO which was seen at the BorderBus Ellough yard by 'Reg Vardy' earlier this morning.



The two MCVs (M20 FXO and M80 FXO) were returned to the finance company last month and are now in a yard along with many trucks off the A12 at Capel. Yutong M1 FXO also left in February and is now with Weardale. Additionally some vehicles and work have transferred to REL Tendring.

M20 FXO on rail replacement duty at Lowestoft in August 2020

The closure meant travel chaos for more than 120 school children with some school runs being operated by Tendring Travel.

Scania M90 FXO seen in Felixstowe on Wednesday (Photo: Martin Bott)

My thanks to Martin Bott for the additional information and photo and also to 'Reg Vardy' for his photo.

Roy