Service Alterations Registered ~ 20th January 2021

For the second consecutive week the latest Notices and Proceedings Report, issued today by the East of England Traffic Commissioner, contains nothing of relevance regarding local area services.

Nevertheless the full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Little & Large

Seen together in Norwich's St Stephen's Street earlier this morning was the double deck and single deck versions of Pink Line buses

Joe Wilson-Smith was on his way to the Post Office when he quickly got this photo of Wright StreetDeck 35196 SK16 GVV leading ADL Enviro200 45119 RT09 JPT

My thanks to Joe for the photo

Roy

Friday Flashback ~ February 2009

For this week' Friday Flashback we look back at activity during the early part of February 2009

We initially feature the competition between First and Anglianbus on the Great Yarmouth - Norwich corridor with journeys commencing from Gorleston High Street. Both operators vehicles were laying over outside Gorleston Church on Church Lane in between duties.

On the 10th First were using Volvo B7RLE 66957 WX55 TZU on its X1 service whilst Anglian employed Scania N230UD YN08 MOF on the X47. The former is now part of its Ipswich fleet carrying the superseded charcoal grey livery whilst the latter has subsequently seen use with Wessex Conect, Preston Bus and Rotala Diamond.

On the 14th I made a trip to Bury St Edmunds and was fortunate to capture Fareline's Bedford YNT/Plaxton Paramount TJH 881Y preparing to turn into the bus station. The Bedford was new to Reliance of Newbury in April 1983 and was scrapped by Fareline in November 2011

An unusual visitor to Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach on the 19th was Yorkshire Rose Van Hool bodied Volvo B12B YJ06 GMV. It was new to Galloway of Mendlesham in April 2006

Roy

Southwold 99

Ten years ago today saw First operating its last day of the 99 service between Lowestoft Bus Station and Southwold. Young 'Reg Vardy' was there to record the event with his first photo showing Volvo Olympian 34156 P656 UFB waiting to leave Southwold for Lowestoft

The next picture records the same bus in Station Road passing the junction with Blyth Road in Southwold. An interesting view as to the immediate right of the bus is the red and blue building formerly occupied as the Eastern Counties Bus depot. Also just out of the shot to the right is the Police Station where the Southwold Railway Station was originally sited

First's withdrawal left services in the hands of Anglianbus which continued with its 601 route. Scania YN63 UVR was in the High Street that day when buses were allowed to continue as far as the Swan Hotel

First's 99 was reintroduced in May 2014. My thanks to 'Reg' for the info and photos

Roy

Coastlink On the 8s

Aaron Martin reports the odd working yesterday afternoon of a First Great Yarmouth Coastlink liveried ADL Enviro400 on service 8.

The decker concerned was 33803 YX63LJF which was heading for the James Paget Hospital via Great Yarmouth. It is pictured on Marram Drive in Caister.

My thanks to Aaron for the report and photo

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 13th January 2021

Today's Notices and Proceedings Report, issued by the East of England Traffic Commissioner, contains nothing of interest regarding our local area services.

Nevertheless the full Report can be viewed here

Roy

First's Belton Shuttle

Following continuing carriageway works on New Road in Belton, First Eastern Counties is operating a temporary X11 service terminating at James Paget Hospital,. From the Hospital there will be a shuttle to allow passengers to complete their journeys to Belton. The arrangements will continue until further notice with the timetable available here.

Services on Sundays will be unaffected but will operate via A143 and Beccles Road and then continue along Station Road North and St Johns Road, turning right at the end into New Road and left to the terminus point at Bracon Road.

Roy