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

Service Alterations Registered ~ 1st July 2026

Yesterday's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report contained information on a new service and the withdrawal of others.

Ambassador Travel is to reintroduce its seasonal Wherry 100 bus service in Great Yarmouth which connects Vauxhall Holiday Park with the seafront via the town centre. The Monday to Friday service recommences on the 6th July 2026 and ends on 31st August 2026.

Simonds of Botesdale is to cancel nineteen of its services from 18th July 2026 including the following:-
CGY1 Great Yarmouth Coach Station / Nelson Road North and KFC Gillingham, Beccles.
GY1A Great Yarmouth, Coach Station / Nelson Road North and KFC Gillingham, Beccles.
PR3 Postwick Park & Ride, Norwich.
3A / 3B Chapel Road, Lingwood and Acle Academy, South Walsham Road, Acle.
6 Old Courthouse, Yarmouth Road, Blofield and St Andrew High School, Thorpe, Norwich.
482 Diss Bus Station to Bridge Street, Framlingham.
It appears that that the routes are to be operated under the Central Connect name.

The full report can be viewed by clicking HERE

Roy

More Electroliners

As mentioned in the previous post, dental appointments awaited my wife and I this morning and I was hopeful of some photos of the new First Bus Wright StreetDeck Electroliners.



With very limited parking times in the High Street, I had to move the car after my appointment which provided some more opportunity for photos.



In the end I took four pictures of the newcomers, three of which I hadn't seen before and were still to appear on the blog!



In order of appearance they are 36697 BF26 ZVK, 36694 BF26 ZVG and 36696 BF26 ZVJ all on the 8s

Roy

Gorleston Trio

Driving down to Gorleston's High Street this morning for a dental appointment, I passed three Sanders Coaches unloading schoolchildren visiting the East Norfolk Sixth Form College on Church Lane.



I later received two photos from 'Reg Vardy' of the aforementioned threesome at rest on Pier Gardens with the first, Volvo B7R / Plaxton Profile 915 E21 APY, parked outside the Pavilion.

The others present were Volvo B9R / Plaxton Elite 915 PVF377 with Volvo B12M / Plaxton Panther 904 SGF 965 parked behind.

My thanks to 'Reg' for the photos.

Roy