Coastal in Leeds

On Monday I reported the loan of a First Great Yarmouth Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 to FirstBus Bramley depot at Leeds to cover their temporary loans to First York.



Ronan Deans has consented to the use of his photo of the Coastal Reds liveried 36283 LX59 DAU which is seen on Boar Lane in Leeds operating the 16 service to Whinmor.

I am grateful to Ronan for the use of his photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 8th July 2026

The latest East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report contains no entries regarding any relevant changes to local bus services. The full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy 

Norwich Today

A hot but tired Dan High forwards some photos of bus activity on Castle Meadow in Norwich earlier today. The effects of watching the England football match very early this morning was obviously taking its toll!



His first subject is Central Connect ADL Enviro200 YX13 AFN on the Konectbus 30A route heading for Thorpe Marriott.



Next up is the rare appearance of First Bus Great Yarmouth Transport liveried Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 37562 FJ08 FYN on the Great Yarmouth to Norwich 7 service.



Last is Sanders Coaches Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante 908 6542 FN, a registration previously carried by a former Caroline Coaches and East Kent AEC Reliance.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Coastal Red to Leeds

Following the temporary withdrawal of the Optare MetroDecker fleet in the London area after a bus fire, FirstBus have begun a number of vehicle movements across the country. Initially First Hunslet came to the aid of First York but vehicles have since returned.

First Leeds has now stepped in with its Bramley depot helping out. Naturally they, in turn, had to find replacements and one of those is Great Yarmouth’s Coastal Reds liveried Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36283 LX59 DAU which made the journey yesterday.

Roy

Flixbus Updates

An update report from our regular Flixbus contributor, David Slater, arrived in our inbox during yesterday afternoon.

'On Thursday 18 June the Flixbus Norwich-London service 007 had two additional round trips added to the schedule.

Tuesday 30 June 2026 – Hearns Coaches Neoplan Tourliner OU22 ZXE has been regularly working on the Flixbus service 007 from London to Norwich seen here approaching Fiveways, Barton Mills

Prior to these additions the service had one round trip to Victoria worked by Transport Made Simple / Central Connect / Simonds):

0905 Norwich-Thetford-Stratford-Victoria (arriving 1255)
1600 Victoria-Stratford-Thetford-Norwich (arriving 1955)

The new runs are worked by Hearns Coaches based in the north London area:
0700 Victoria-Stratford-Thetford-Norwich (arriving 1055)
1210 Norwich-Thetford-Stratford (arriving 1500)
1540 Stratford- Thetford-Norwich (arriving 1840)
1955 Norwich-Thetford-Stratford-Victoria (arriving 2320)

Friday 3 July 2026 - Hearns Coaches YD23 FOJ also seen at Fiveways worked the 0700 service from London (Victoria Coach Station) to Norwich. It is a Yutong T12 that was new in July 2023

Still more to come. Commencing Monday 13 July there will further additions to the service:0550 Norwich-Ipswich-Colchester-Chelmsford-Stratford (arriving 1000)
1130 Stratford-Thetford-UEA-Norwich (arriving 1425)
1545 Norwich-UEA-Thetford-Stratford (arriving 1845)
2015 Stratford-Chelmsford-Colchester-Ipswich-Norwich (arriving 0025)

When making journey searches on the Flixbus website I saw that one of the journey options for a London to UEA journey was available by using a London-Thetford timing and changing there for the Thetford-UEA section using the Heathrow-Norwich coach. That’s different!'

Many thanks for the detailed update and photos David which are much appreciated.

Roy

First Day

Dan High reports the sighting of a Central Connect ADL Enviro200 on its first day in service with them at Norwich’s Castle Meadow earlier today.

Former Go Ahead London YX13 AFF retains its two door layout and was observed on the service 5 to Rackheath. In the second photo it is shown passing Eastern Counties liveried Volvo B9TL /Wright Eclipse Gemini 36183 BN12 JYF on the 11A to Sprowston.

My thanks to Dan for the report and photos.

Roy

Beach Coach Station Redevelopment

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has unveiled plans to build some 94 homes on the site of Beach Coach Station and its associated car park.

It has launched an early stage consultation on the scheme which will be run by Broadland Housing Association with the Council stating that any redevelopment would be accompanied by plans to ensure alternative, convenient parking for coaches using the site.

You can view the plans at https://www.ingletonwood.co.uk/beach-coach-station-consultation-2.php and there is also an opportunity to comment.

However, there is no mention of where the alternative coach parking will be provided and neither is there any mention of the location for the displaced car parking spaces used during the holiday season although that is promised to be included as part of the planning process.

Roy