Simonds New Saloon

Norfolk independent Simonds has acquired an ADL Enviro200 from Ensignbus of Purfleet. SN11 FFM was observed in Castle Meadow in Norwich earlier today still in Ensign colours. It was new to Hillier of Foxham in June 2011 for Salisbury Park & Ride Services.

My thanks to Joe Wilson-Smith for the photo

Roy

New First Coastlink Livery Revealed

Today see's the intoduction of a new livery for the rebranded X1/X2 services for First which has been named Coastlink. The new livery will be worn by the former X1 fleet of ADL Enviro 400's which are now split between Yarmouth and Lowestoft Depot's.

The First to receive the new look is 33823 YX63LKN.

We are told 33803/33824 are next in line for repaint. 33823 is pictured above at R&H Bodyworks and is due back at Caister Road later today.

Many Thanks to First for the info and Photographs.

Grahame.

Service Alterations Registered ~ 12th August 2020

There were no entries in today’s Notices and Proceedings Report published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner concerning changes to any local bus services. The full report will be available to view here soon.

Roy

Ten Year Time Tunnel ~ August 2010

It's time again to delve into the archives of ten years ago when we revisit August 2010 in the Ten Year Time Tunnel

Our first offering is Soames' WJ02 VRT at Beach Coach Station on the 3rd August; a Van Hool bodied Volvo B12M new to Lawrence & Harding of St Ann's Chapel of Cornwall in July 2002. Soames traded as Forget Me Not Travel at Otley near Woodbridge in Suffolk and was acquired by Suffolk Norse in September 2016. As for WJ02 VRT it moved on to Thompsons of Framlingham.

The next photo is of North Quay Services' Neoplan Cityliner NUI 5125 at Beach Coach Station on the same day. Trading as Eurosun Coaches, the Lowestoft operator purchased the coach from Beavis and Baxter of Bussage, Gloucestershire in October 1998. It had received many registrations during its existence only to see its NUI plate later transferred to a Plaxton bodied Dennis Javelin also owned by Eurosun.

The third picture features three Alexander RH bodied Leyland Olympian triaxles in the rear yard of First's Caister Road depot on the 3rd of the month. 30097 K481 EUX is the one nearest the camera and it's the only one of the batch of ten to survive in preservation complete with its original colours of blue and white and delivered registration of FW3858. They were new to China Motor Bus during 1993.

The final photo is of Suffolk County Council's P11 BSL and is another Plaxton bodied Dennis Javelin. It was new to Bennetts Coaches of Chievely, Gloucestershire in February 1997

More from August 2010 next week

Roy

Sunday Evening Walk

After our meal out it was decided to exercise following our intake of calories and this involved an evening walk to Great Yarmouth's seafront via Regent Road.

On nearing Britannia Pier, I observed three Simonds Coaches parked up next to the Arc Cinema on North Drive. The trio were all Van Hool bodied Volvo B12B's with YVF 158 at the front and 98 TNO behind. Taking up the rear was 378 BNG.

Looking in at Beach Coach Station I found a brace of Alfa Travel's Mercedes Benz Tourismos in the form of 111 BV19 YYF and 101 BN7 JCU.

Roy

Bendy Bus On The 36

Costessey-based Completely Business ran its third Sunday of the 36 bus service earlier today in Norwich but not with its expected Plaxton President LK04 NLZ.



Instead it used its Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530G BX04 MXK to work the service. The first photo is taken at Norwich Bus Station whilst the second is in St Stephen Street about to start the service. The third location is at the Horsford end of the route.

My thanks to Joe Wilson-Smith for the photos

Roy

Norwich Decker for Repair

A First Norwich double decker arrived at Caister Road depot during yesterday for repairs.

Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL 32107 LT02 ZCX recently suffered an engine failure whilst on the X13 Norwich Attleborough route.

It is seen here at the Great Yarmouth depot last night having work carried out.

My thanks to LiamS for bringing this to my attention and to First Great Yarmouth for the photo

Meanwhile ALX400 30960 YJ51 RDU underwent its MOT inspection yesterday.

Roy