Lowestoft Look In

I was on my way to Lowestoft this afternoon and looked in at the First Eastern Counties depot at Gasworks Road in the hope of viewing any of the Specialist Transport Solution buses based there for Sizewell C work.

I was rewarded with the view of two ADL Enviro400 MMCs with the first SN75 YWD being 34496 in the First numbering scheme. Unfortunately the one behind could not be identified.

Also present, poking out of the depot, was former First Glasgow Volvo B9TL 37542 MXZ 3342.

Roy

Coach Services' Departures

Regular contributor Jdraves1 reports the withdrawal of BJ60 BYX, a 2010 Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2. Unfortunately it was written off on Monday (June 8th) in an accident on the 357 route but what's unlucky is that it had newly painted panels 2 weeks prior.

Also previously unmentioned here is another withdrawal in the form of HF05 HXG, a 2005 Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban back in December. It was new to Wilts & Dorset in May of that year.

Many thanks to Jdraves1 for his report and photos.

Roy

Norwich Pride In Ipswich

Continuing the Pride theme, Colin Sharman tells us that Norwich Pride liveried Volvo B7RLE saloon 69543 BF12 KWG has been operating from Ipswich since Monday of last week.

Last week on the Wednesday to Friday (3rd to 5th June) it ran empty at around 09.00 or so (presumably from Suffolk One) under Ancaster Road railway bridge and then later worked the Stowmarket 87 town service. It is seen here operating a Sprowston service in Norwich.

Many thanks for your report Colin.

Roy

New Pride Bus For Norwich

Details are slowly emerging of another special Pride liveried vehicle for First Norwich. We can exclusively reveal the vehicle being used is Electroliner 36574 BK73AKF.

The full reveal will take place soon, it will join another vehicle in Norwich 69543 BF12KWG which also carries a livery dedicated to Norwich Pride.

Many thanks to Zak at First for the information and photos.

Grahame. 

MetroDecker in Norwich

An unusual appearance in Norwich's Castle Meadow earlier today was this Central Connect branded red and blue Optare MetroDecker..

Listed on Bus Times as being with the Simonds fleet, T21 GAL has fleet number 501 and was previously registered YJ21 FDD. It was part of a cancelled order for Reading Buses in June 2021 and was later with Centaur Travel of Crayford.

My thanks to Dan High for the photo which shows it about to leave on the 82 service to Roydon.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 10th June 2026

This week's East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report includes just the one retrospective entry of relevance to the local area.

First Eastern Counties had ceased operating its 983 Repps Road, Martham to East Norfolk Sixth College, Gorleston service from 3rd October 2025. 

The full report can be viewed here soon on the Government’s website.

Roy

Ex First Ipswich Repaint

During mid January an Ipswich Park and Ride liveried ADL/TransBus Enviro300 migrated south to First Essex. This morning 67774 SN62 AXK was observed in Chelmsford Bus Station in the latest Ultraviolet colour scheme. 

My thanks to Dale Bell for the information and photo. He had earlier provided a photo of it being employed in Chelmsford in the Park & Ride livery for my post of  2nd February 2026, which can be viewed by clicking here.

Roy