Service Alterations Registered ~ 6th July 2022

For the third consecutive week there are no relevant 'local' entries in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report. However, the full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Konect Depot Visit

During yesterday sparkie001uk paid a visit to the Konect bus depot at Dereham and passes on his thanks to the member of staff who acted as guide.

A row of deckers guarded the entrance to the site with driver trainer 9030 LK54 GZP, a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL, on sentry duty!

In the workshop he noted two deckers receiving attention including Dennis Trident/ ADL Enviro 639 SN65 OAY

Being a Sunday the yard was reasonably full as can be seen from the photo

Our correspondent was also able to get a good photo of Costessey Park and Ride liveried ADL Enviro400 644 LK08 FLJ which was especially placed in position for him and he wishes to thank the staff at Konect for their help in enabling him to get his photos. My thanks to him for his photos which also appear on his Flickr site under the same name.

Roy

First Begin Park and Ride Services at Costessey

First began operating the 510/511 Costessey Park & Ride services today having taken over from Konectbus.

Chris Dugdell has kindly sent us photographs and details of the first operations of the day.

A trio of ex West of England Volvo B9TL are allocated to the services today with 37405 MX58DXS pictured above on 511 duties.

37408 MX408DXV is pictured laying over between duties at the Park & Ride site this morning.

Finally 37415 MX58DYG is pictured arriving at Costessey through the trees on the 510 service.

Many Thanks to Chris for the Info and Photographs.

Grahame

Brighton Breezy

 A sunny day with a cool breeze welcomed us on our visit to Brighton yesterday which included viewing the local bus scene.

We arrived there on Stagecoach South’s Coastliner 700 service which, in the beginning, appeared to stop at every lamppost but was fully loaded. We alighted at the Churchill Square stop where we observed the many Brighton & Hove buses.

After some retail therapy at the shopping centre, we adjourned to Old Steine where we consumed our ‘meal deal’ whilst observing bus activity. It was interesting to see the bendybuses still in action on The Universities 25 route.

Whilst there was no activity at Pool Bus Station, I took a couple of photos of the Brighton open top buses awaiting passengers at the Pier.

We returned to Old Steine to catch the 700 Coastliner back to Worthing and witnessed one of the four electric buses purchased by The Big Lemon. Unfortunately I only got a side photo so was unable to identify its registration.

However, our wait for our return journey to Worthing was unusually long and it was obvious that the service had experienced a problem. Our decker arrived along with a saloon acting as a relief. Luckily we managed to grab the top front seats and were ‘fried’ on our trip back.

It did provide a good vantage point for some pics of Brighton buses in service

Roy

Crawley Luxury Coaches Visit

The second operator based at Lancing Business Park is Crawley Luxury Coaches located on Charwell Road with some thirteen coaches on site.

I approached the depot entrance with intention of only taking photos at the front of the premises with two Volvo B10M-62s placed at the entrance. W608 FUM had Plaxton Premier bodywork, whilst 978 VYD was a Berkhof Axial. The former was new to Wallace Arnold in August 2000 whereas the latter began life with Ferris Holidays of Nantgarw of Wales as Y796 HPG in May 2001.

As I was taking the photo one of the mechanics walked towards me and asked if I would like to take pics of the others on site and allowed me a free rein. In the workshop receiving attention was D32 CLC, a Vanhool Alizee bodied. Volvo B10M which was new to Tellings Golden Miller as P10 TGM. It also carried the registration P272 HBC.

With the exception of two, all the coaches were parked around the periphery of the site. The others were situated adjoining the  workshop at the rear.

They were OC51 CLC, a Volvo B10M/ Berkhof which was new to East Yorkshire as YX51 AXM. Alongside was white Volvo B12BT B8 JHN which was new to Lochs & Glens as FJ05 AON

The back row included DC06 CLC, VolvoB12M/ Berkhof (ex FJ06FMV); XX60CLC , Mercedes-Benz Tourismo (ex BD60 XSY) and plateless N12 CLC, another Wallace Arnold refugee originally registered as PN02 SVL.

A very enjoyable visit.

Roy

Worthing Coaches Visit

I am currently based on the south coast and yesterday provided an opportunity to visit a couple of operators based at Lancing Business Park.

The first was Worthing Coaches, which had three vehicles on site, including a double decker previously based in Norfolk. This was former Sanders’ East Lancs bodied Volvo OU05 AVB.

The second Worthing vehicle on site, also difficult to photograph, was Plaxton Cheetah bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario WA14 NWW located in the corner of the site.

Lucketts of Farnham’s BK67 LOD was the third resident which had to viewed from the neighbouring site as it had been parked with the front facing the fence. Lucketts is Worthing Coaches parent company.

Roy

Just Perfect

Whilst delivering a vehicle to LG Perfects on Harfrey’s Industrial Estate in Great Yarmouth yesterday, Will Drake noticed the Norwich-based SOS medical bus parked up. It was not known why Optare Solo SO55BUS was there.

When I first posted the photo I noticed that the phone number had been removed and also the reference to Open below the windscreen. Apparently Open has gone into administration and there’s the possibility a new owner has been found.

My thanks to Will for the photo and to Jamie Skinner for the update

Roy