Wednesday 31 March 2021
Service Alterations Registered ~ 31st March 2021
Simonds of Botesdale has amended the timetable of its 522 route between Denham Post Office and Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham from 8th March 2021.
Borderbus has changed the timings of both sections of its 146 service (Southwold to Kessingland and Kessingland to Norwich) from 29th March 2021. There are also new timetables in use on its 521 Halesworth to Aldeburgh and 522 Peasenhall/Leiston and Leiston/Aldeburgh routes from the same date.
Konectbus has also altered the timetables of the84 Harleston to Norwich and 53C Norwich Old Catton to Broadland High School, Martham services from 8th March 2021.
The full Report can be viewed here soon
Roy
Tuesday 30 March 2021
Charcoal To Lilac
Thanks to First for the Photo.
Grahame.
Thoughts of A Local in Exile
David Clarke comments 'We live in a colourful world of buses with the launch if the 1/1A blue livery - memories of Great Yarmouth Corporation from my youth.
Living in North Yorkshire, I have a lovely view of the Aire Valley from my window. Last Sunday,(21st) refurbished double decks were introduced on the Keighley to Skipton service 66 by Transdev Keighley, having spent seven years on the Witchway service X43 for Transdev Burnley (Burnley-Manchester).
Many thanks to AaronM for the Ormesby photo, to Alex Hornby for the Dalesway picture and finally to David for his reminiscences.
Monday 29 March 2021
Felixstowe Flyer on the X2
Here's Grahame's later picture of it when passing through a sunny Carlton Colville on the return journey.
Roy
Friday 26 March 2021
Coastal Clipper marks the return of the Blue Bus (Sort Of)
With many thanks to First we can reveal the new Coastal Clipper livery to be used for the 1/1A/1B/1C routes around Great Yarmouth to Lowestoft.
The first vehicle to gain the livery is Volvo/Wright 37571 AU58ECV. We are told that 37565 - 37572 are to gain the new livery.
Many Thanks to First for sending us the Photos
Stay Safe Everyone, Grahame.
Friday Flashback ~ August 2009 (Part Two)
Roy
Wednesday 24 March 2021
Service Alterations Registered ~ 24th March 2021
First Eastern Counties dominate the local alterations in today's Notices and Proceedings Report published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner.
Among the many services affected by timetable changes taking effect retrospectively from 8th March 2021 are:1/1A/1B Martham and Lowestoft Bus Station
8 Caister and James Paget Hospital, Gorleston
14/15/15A/15B Wymondham and Wroxham/ Blofield Heath/ Lingwood
40/40A /X41/41A /41 St Stephens Street, Norwich and Hillside Road West, Bungay,
63/64 Forte Green, Aldeburgh to Ipswich Rail Station
73/74 Woodbridge to Felixstowe
99/99B Lowestoft Bus Station and Pier Avenue, Southwold
99A/99H Kings Head, Southwold and St Mary's Street, Bungay
881 Worlingham and East Norfolk Sixth Form College, Gorleston
882 North Cove and East Norfolk Sixth Form College, Gorleston
911 Sole & Heal Rackheath and Broadland High School, Hoveton,
921 Tesco, Cobholm and Cliff Park Ormiston Academy, Gorleston
922 Market Gates, Great Yarmouth and Cliff Park Ormiston Academy, Gorleston
931 High Road, Burgh Castle and Ormiston Venture Academy, Gorleston
972 Turban Centre, Woodbridge to Farlingaye School, Woodbridge
978 Grange Farm, Felixstowe to Northgate School, Ipswich
X1/X11 Market Gates, Great Yarmouth and Norwich Bus Station
X2,X21,X22 Lowestoft Bus Station and All Saints Green, Norwich
The full Report can be viewed here soon
Roy
Tuesday 23 March 2021
Bus & Us Sales
The photo is taken in the yard of the Whitwell & Reepham Railway Station in December 2018 and shows GDZ 9097 still in Richards livery whilst GDZ 8561 is painted in the colours of Elcock Reisen of Telford, a previous operator.
My thanks to Jṏs for consent to use his photo.
Roy
Completely’s Arrival
Norwich based Completely Coach has a new addition to the fleet - Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B10M W173 VEL.
Together with the operator’s other 70 seater, Volvo B12B GRZ 5753, it was yesterday employed at the University of East Anglia. W173 VEL was previously with Suffolk Norse.
Roy
Monday 22 March 2021
Ipswich Refurbishment
With the completion of the repainting of the remaining 'Battenburg' attired Enviro200's, the Hants & Dorset team have turned their attention to work on the East Lancs bodied Omnidekkers Nos 60-62 PJ54 YZT/U/V.
With no details released of the recipient the vehicle remains unidentified.
My thanks to the member of the workshop management team for the information and photo.
Roy
Sunday 21 March 2021
eBay Jubilee
The first is Caetano Enigma bodied L333 JCR which carried the RIB 5086 registration when with its previous owner Peelings. It was new to Dickinson of Wrangle, Boston as S100 DJD in October 1998 with Peelings acquiring it in December 2012.
The second is Plaxton Premier bodied L555 JCR, a 70 seater purchased from Medway Executive Coaches of Birmingham. The Javelin was new to Happy Days (Woodseaves) of Stafford as N899 KFA in May 1996.
My thanks to Nick on twitter (@sji1616)
Roy
Friday 19 March 2021
Friday Flashback ~ August 2009 (Part One)
Our first contribution is Suffolk County Council's AY56 BJU pictured at the coach station on the 4th of August. The Marcopolo Viaggio bodied MAN 18.310 was new to them in September 2006 and received fleet number 292. Used primarily for school services, public services, private hire charter etc it was exhibited at Showbus event in 2006.
Also there on the same day was Burton's Coaches Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B12B UK05 BCL. New to Burton in April 2005, it later found use with Go Ahead London. It was then reported by dealers Ensign as being sold to Candy Coaches of Selbourne in Hampshire during March last year.
Our third photo, also from the 4th, was TSU 238 from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The Dennis Javelin/ Caetano Algarve II was new to Horsham Buses as N588 GBW. It also spent time with Kent County Council.
Our final offering is Thandi Group's double deck coach N930 RGD seen on 11th of August. Later re-registered by Thandi as AJI 979, the Van Hool Astrobel bodied Volvo B12BT was new to Parks of Hamilton as LSK 832 in 1995. It subsequently moved on to Cranberry Coaches of Great Harwood who re-registered it again as B12 CBY
Wednesday 17 March 2021
Service Alterations Registered ~ 17th March 2021
The restricted licence held by Steven John Atkinson and Gillian Atkinson of Mill Road, Cobholm in Great Yarmouth was surrendered with effect from 10th March 2021.
The full Report can be viewed here soon
Roy
Tuesday 16 March 2021
Citaro Moves
My thanks to Joe for the report
Sunday 14 March 2021
Semmence Shuttles
A shuttle service from the Interchange to the hospital, via the A47 road, is being provided by Ambassador Travel's sister company, H Semmence. Our correspondent, Will Mason is able provide details of the three Semmence vehicles involved
They are former Konectbus Citaro HX06 EZE, former Ambassador Travel Solo MX54 KYB, and the latest arrival CN54 HFD from OurBus, which was seen in service with Semmence for the first time.
My thanks to Will for the report and photos which were taken on Saturday morning
Roy
Friday 12 March 2021
Friday Flashback ~ July 2009 (Part Three)
We begin at Market Gates in Great Yarmouth with Sanders Coaches W266 CDN leaving the terminus on the 25th on its way to North Walsham. The East Lancs bodied DAF SB220 was acquired from National Car Parks of Marble Arch in London in May 2008.
Our second photo shows another SB220 this time operated by Eastons Coaches in Norwich with the 25 service to Reepham on the 28th. H843 UUA, an Optare Delta bodied coach, was new in November 1990 to KF Cars of Gatwick
On the same day First Eastern Counties 32849 T849 LLC is on St Stephens Street in Norwich with the 25 service to the rail station. It began life with First London before being converted to single door and gaining Barbie livery passing to 'Counties' in early 2009. 32849 worked in the fine city before moving over to First Essex and then down South to Weymouth & Southampton. It also had a stint in Great Yarmouth in late 2017 providing additional support for Bernard Matthews contract work. It was subsequently acquired by Black Cat Travel of Lincoln.
Our final photo is of Lamberts Coaches' A16 LKR. The Van Hool Alizee bodied DAF SB3000 is also observed in Norwich's St Stephens Street on the same day.
Wednesday 10 March 2021
Grey Day
Yarmouth has welcomed two Volvo B7RLE to the fleet on loan. One from Norwich and another from Ipswich although both wear the older Grey fronted Ipswich livery now replaced by the Ipswich Reds colours.
66986 KX05MHU arrived this afternoon from Ipswich as additional vehicles are being placed on X1/X2 services in the afternoons due to demand on the routes.
Service Alterations Registered ~ 10th March 2021
Sanders Coaches has registered two new schoolday services to serve Reepham High School. The 601 begins at Hillside Bus Stop in Melton Constable where as the 611 commences at Old Fakenham Road in West Foxley. Both services start on 12th April 2021.
Coastal Red has amended the timetable of its 36 service between Kings Lynn Bus Station and Station Road, Wells-next-the Sea from 8th March 2021.
Wheel McCoy Limited has submitted an application to use premises at Cornish Way Business Park in North Walsham for a one vehicle operating centre.
The full Report can be viewed here soon
Roy
Monday 8 March 2021
Off For The Chop
This afternoon saw Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 32348 LK53LZL collected by low loader for a trip North to be converted into another Open Topper for Great Yarmouth.
The conversion is being carried out by Thorntons Bus Refurbishment in Ashington, Northumberland.
Thanks to Roger Bellward for getting use of the photograph.
Thanks to Chris Speed for the information also.
Stay Safe, Grahame.
First Norwich News
Three Arrivals At Our Bus
The first is Optare Solo M950SL YJ59 GHX which has been acquired from Felix (Golynia) of Long Melford in Suffolk. It was new to Bodman of Warton in Wiltshire in October 2009.
My thanks to Alex for the update and photos and to Benjamin Fosker for the corrections. My apologies for the previously incorrect details
Sunday 7 March 2021
Lockdown Look Back Kings Lynn 2002
Been a while since we had a look back through my Photo Collection, Roy's Friday Flashbacks continue to bring back some memories of vehicles gone by so i thought i would journey back to a Saturday in November 2002 and a drive up to Kings Lynn. I always enjoy Lynn for Photos as it has a few good spots and plenty of variety.
Eastern Counties gained a batch of Leyland Olympians from Strathclyde in 1998 and 99 KGG159Y is seen above in the Bus Station working the local 410 service. These ventured to a few FEC depots in their time including Norwich, Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds.
Fowlers of Holbeach operated the 505 between Kings Lynn and Spalding in 2002, a route that has continued to this day through various operators, Stagecoach East Midlands now have vehicles allocated to the route run from their Long Sutton Outstation, the vehicles are maintained at Skegness.
F259CEW, A Scania N113DRB with Alexander bodywork and was new to Fowlers in November 1989.
Norfolk Green ran a lot of routes around Kings Lynn as a private company before being taken over by Stagecoach. Sadly the name no longer exists but a fleet of varied vehicles was operated over the years beginning with Coaches. The stalwart of the fleet for a number of years was the Optare Solo, AP02XOD was new in 2002 and seen here at the Bus Station. There is a twist to this photo as the registration was incorrect, it should have been AP02XOO. Below it is seen in 2014 under Stagecoach ownership wearing the correct plate.
First continued to operate local services in Kings Lynn until June 2016 before passing routes to Norfolk Green. First's Excel service between Norwich and Peterborough continues to serve the town.
2002 saw the introduction of the Volvo B12/Plaxton Paragon fleet of coaches for use on the X94 service (Now Excel) Numbered 200-209. 204 AO02RCU is pictured above on an unusual working, local service 411.
Finally a photo which is not one of mine but taken by Graham Smith, Norfolk Green had this ex Arriva Meterobus GYE372W on hire from Ensignbus, New to London Transport in 1980. 3 others were also noted in use, KYO622/625X and KYV805X. It was later purchased and did receive Norfolk Green livery.
Hope you enjoyed this brief piece of Nostalgia, hopefully i can produce a few more for you.
Thanks to John for the current Route 505 information .
Stay Safe, Grahame.
Saturday 6 March 2021
Border Bus Demo
Today YX21 RPO was in use on the operator's 146 route between Southwold and Norwich via Beccles
Northgate Street Divert
My thanks to Aaron for the photo
Roy
A Tale of Two B7RLEs
The good news relates to 69022 SF55 UAP. which has recently returned to active duties following attention in the workshops.
The bad news refers to the Mainline liveried 69017 SF55 UAK which arrived in Great Yarmouth from Norwich in October. It retained its red and yellow colour scheme when noted in service later in the month with Great Yarmouth fleet names applied to its sides.
However, it has only seen limited use with its reliability issues and has not turned a wheel in anger since 25th November 2020 according to Bus Times. It is now down for scrapping and awaits collection in the rear yard with its fleet names painted over.
Also accompanying it in the yard is ALX400 30960 YJ51 RDU plus Geminis 37025 YJ06 XKO and 37174 SF07 FDE
Roy