Ambassador Additions

Recently joining the Great Yarmouth-based Ambassador Travel fleet from National Express West Midlands are two Volvo B8R / Caetano Levante 2s in the form of BX65 WAJ and BX65 WBD. They have received fleet numbers 201 and 202 respectively.

My thanks to Alfie Clarke for the information and to Trevor Plackett for consent to use his photo of BX65 WAJ.

Roy

Greenline in Cromer

Trevor Arbon was on one of his early morning walks today and observed two Greenline Coaches at the Cadogan Road Car Park in Cromer.

The two Mercedes Benz Tourismos were GC19 GLC Major John and GH19 GLC Bram and were both on a four day tour based at the Hotel de Paris overlooking Cromer Pier.

My thanks to Trevor for the information and photo.

Roy

A Week In Worthing

I have just returned from a week in Worthing on the south coast which provided the opportunity of taking a few few photos whilst I was there

The first shows an unusual visitor to Stagecoach South's Worthing depot on 26th November. It was former Yellow Buses of Bournemouth Y416 CFX. However, I couldn't get close enough to see the legal information to identify the new owner. A request on Twitter for further details received a comment from Colin Oakley who said it was previously with R&J Coaches of Smeeth. Murray Jones later provided details of the current owner which was Seven Sisters Bus & Coach but it is presently on loan to Compass Bus. Thank you both for the updates.

Later the same day Metrobus was employing Scania N94UB/ OmniCity YN05 HCG on the 23 service to Crawley Bus Station - a regular occurrence. The bus is similar to the four Anglianbus acquired from Metrobus in May 2012.

A few days later, on the 29th November, Metrobus Alexander Dennis Enviro200 YX63 ZWY is seen working the same service to Crawley in South Street, Worthing. Also on the same day an example of the latest Stagecoach livery was observed on a Worthing based bus. See New Livery For Worthing - 29th November 2021 for a photo of Transbus Enviro300 27658 GX10 KZL in the new colour scheme

Finally, my thanks to Grahame for holding the fort whilst I was away and who provided some interesting posts in my absence.

Roy

National Express 727

David Slater provides details of changes to National Express routes serving our area

A new timetable for the National Express service 727 commenced on 29 November 2021 featuring two trips from Great Yarmouth to Heathrow (worked by Ambassador Travel) and two trips from Norwich (UEA) to Heathrow. There is also one trip from Norwich (UEA) to Stansted (The UEA services are all worked by National Express in house).

On stand A  at Mildenhall Bus Station on Wednesday 1st December is National Express owned 323 (BF21 CZJ), a Caetano Levante 3 bodied Scania K410 new in July 2021, which was working the 0915 National Express service 727 from Stansted to Norwich (UEA). This service was due here at 1100.  

 On stand B is Stephensons of Essex 461 (EU60 CBF) working the 1020 service 16 from Newmarket to Bury St. Edmunds. This service was due her at 1103.An Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 new in September 2010.  

 Also vying to reach stand A is Ambassador Travel 218 (BV19 XOZ) working the 0915 Great Yarmouth to Heathrow Airport National Express service 727 (also due here at 1100). It is a Caetano Levante 2 bodied Scania K360EB4 new in June 2019 to National Express owned West Midlands Travel as their 267. Ambassador Travel is an old established contractor to National Express.  

 

Service 727 no longer runs through to Gatwick and Brighton. National Express owned Lucketts Travel/Worthing Coaches that have worked on the 727 since June 2021 no longer work on the service.

The Great Yarmouth-Norwich-London services 490/491/492 remain unchanged and it would appear that Ambassador Travel are still working these.

The above changes would perhaps explain why Volvo B8R BK15 AJU was added as an extra vehicle to the Ambassador fleet of late from West Midlands Travel.

I am grateful to David for the information and photo

Roy

BorderBus Arrival in Service

The latest acquisition at BorderBus has been observed on the road in Beccles. As already reported, former Stagecoach Scania N230 OmniCity 15151 LX59 COJ has joined the fleet but now has the registration BB04 AVA. The decker has had a full repaint and interior retrim and received fleet number 215

Recently leaving the operator is former First 30955 Volvo B7TL ALX400 YJ51 RCU which returned to Ensignbus off loan. It has subsequently moved on to a company based in the Peterborough area.

My thanks to LiamS for the information and photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 1st December 2021

Today's Notices and Proceedings Report, published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner, contains no information regarding changes to local bus services.

The full Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here.

Roy

Norwich Outings

About a week ago, two additional Volvo B7 Geminis moved to First Eastern Counties from Weston-super-Mare joining the two already here. 32333 LK53 LYT is already out and about in the City but not sure what this means regarding 32336 LK53 LYW (See Ex Weston Decker In Use - 11th November 2021)

The newcomers are 32344 LK53 LZE and 32345 LK53 LZF with the former observed by Dan High yesterday on the 13 Turquoise Line service to Spixworth. The latter is now in use at Great Yarmouth

Also noted was Sanders Coaches Coasthopper 520 BV21OOC away from the coast being employed on the Fakenham 24 route

My thanks to Dan High for the report and photos

Roy