Pretty In Pink & More

Following much coverage in social media about some new pink things arriving at First Norwich, I thought I would pop along to the official launch today to see what all the fuss was about

The line up for the official photo for the Eastern Daily Press - but I beat the official photographer to it!!

The view out of the top deck front window

Lined up outside The Forum were five of the nine new buses destined to run on the new Pink Line service 11/12 linking the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital with Sprowston and Wroxham via Norwich City Centre

The £1.8 million investment comprises buses fitted with leather seats, CCTV and Wi-Fi providing customers with free internet access. In addition to dedicated space for wheelchair users, there is extra space for pushchairs.

Leather seating on the top deck

For the record the five deckers on display were 35193 SK16GVR, 35194 SK16GVT, 35195 SK16GVU, 31597 SK16GVW and 31598 SK16GVX and will be in service starting tomorrow

The engine bay on 35194 which illustrates how small the Mercedes engine is

Overall the Wright Streetdecks look very impressive with their new branding and comparatively quiet engines (the engine looks so small compared to the old Olympians!) One of the drivers said they performed very well on their trip to Bath for Rail Replacement Work - time will tell as to how they perform in service!

To stop you overdosing on pink, I did observe other activity in the city and, immediately after leaving the party, I saw an ex Ambassador Solo on the 10A Norwich to East Harling service operated by Semmence. MX54KYB has passed from the former to the latter within the Vistafield Group and was carrying Semmence legal lettering when seen

In the short period I was in St Stephen's Street, I observed Stagecoach Norfolk Dennis Trident / ALX400 17605 LV52HHP making its way to Fakenham in Norfolk Green colours whilst Alexander Dennis Enviro300 27644 GX10HBZ was heading to the Bus Station on the return journey in Stagecoach livery

Also in St Stephen's Street was Borderbus decker 206 X652LLX. The Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL had just arrived on the 146 service. Whilst still carrying the Sir John Leman School destination, I understand new blinds are to be fitted in the near future

There was more to come as I was lucky to see two of the former Norwich Park and Ride Dennis Tridents now in use with Norwich School, PN03UMD and PN03ULT were both in Norwich School blue.

Roy