Lochs & Glens in Lowestoft

Robert Kelly observed one of the new Lochs & Glens coaches close to Lowestoft's Tesco store earlier this evening. The Volvo B11RT is one of five new to the operator last month.

My thanks to Robert for the photos

Roy

New Arrivals For Sanders

Sanders have taken delivery of 4 brand new Volvo Buses for use on their Coasthopper Routes around North Norfolk.

This information was posted today on their Facebook page,

"From tomorrow 1 July 2021, there will be 4 brand new Volvo single deck buses on the Coasthopper route, these are a shorter length bus than our current buses on that route which should make life a bit easier on the smaller coast roads".

 

Introducing:

518 Norfolk Adventurer

519 Norfolk Rambler

520 Norfolk Explorer

521 Norfolk Discoverer

 

 

The Buses are Volvo B8R/ Evobus Evoras, a shorter wheelbase version to help on the country lanes.

Registrations are as follows,

518 BV21OOA

519 BV21OOB

520 BV21OOC

521 BV21OOD

Many Thanks to Ian Richardson at Sanders for use of his Photographs and to Jack Farrow for helping us with the post.

Grahame.

Service Alterations Registered ~ 30th June 2021

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

Latest Coastal Red Returns

The latest Coastal Reds repaint to return to Caister Road is Volvo B7TL 37154 YN06 URH. The next in line is Lowestoft's 37044 YJ06 XLU and whilst repaints are being carried out on some of the Lowestoft fleet Great Yarmouth's 69020 SF55UAN is there as a paint spare.

My thanks to Will Drake for the photo and to First Great Yarnouth for the information

Roy

First Norwich to Martham

There was a rare working of a Network Norwich Volvo B9 on the 983 schools service to Martham this afternoon. Unfortunately it doesnt show on the destination screen.

The service, which departs the East Norfolk Sixth Form College at 16:00, was operated by Blue Line liveried 36176 BD11 CGE. The bus was snapped by AaronM close to the Royal Oak at Ormesby

My thanks to Aaron for the photo

Roy

A Matter Of Time

It was only a matter of time as to when the first Coastal Red double decker appeared at Norwich Bus Station.

It happened earlier today when Volvo B7 37023 YJ06 XKM was noted there by Omar Atiallah. It is seen here waiting to operate the 14.00 X11 Coastlink service back to Belton.

It wasn’t the only Coastal Red in Norwich today as ADL Enviro200 44532 SN62 DBO also paid a couple of visits.

My thanks to Omar for the information and photo

Roy

One in One out

A busy morning at Caister Road saw the arrival back from refurbishment of Gemini 37141 SN57HDA which has gained the yellow & blue Coastlink livery along with a new interior.

The work was carried out by Thorntons in Northumbria and 37141 returned on a low loader this morning after the long trip down.

A new interior has been fitted with some seats now having additional legroom for passengers.

Sister vehicle 37142 SN57HDC is now off on the long trip north to have the same work done, once returned we are told both vehicles will be allocated to Lowestoft.

Many thanks to Will Drake for the photographs today.

Grahame.

First Great Yarmouth Update

The latest Coastal Red repaint to arrive at First's Caister Road depot is Volvo B7TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 37150 YN06 URD with next in line 37174 SF07 FDE already at the paint shop

Also returning to Great Yarmouth today was Volvo B9 37141 SN57 HDA following refurbishment and repaint into Coastlink livery at Thornton's of Ashington.

On loan from Network Norwich is 37579 AU58 EDK, another Volvo B9 - photo courtesy of Will Drake. My thanks also to First for the first photo and information

Roy

Wednesday Wander

A shopping trip into Great Yarmouth for some DIY stuff early yesterday evening provided an opportunity to look in at Beach Coach Station and the First Eastern Counties depot at Caister Road.

A foursome was present at the former with half of them being from the Alfa Travel fleet parked up for the night.. They were Mercedes Benz Tourismos 118 BV20 NHB and 105 BN17 JCZ

The others were Shearings Kassbohrer Setra K21 HCC (see Tuesday's report) and Travelsure's BJ16 KYH, another Mercedes Benz Tourismo

At First's Caister Road, double deckers were assembled on the forecourt for the Bernard Matthews runs including the two former excel examples in the old livery - AU58 ECX and AU58 EDJ

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 23rd June 2021

There are a few items of interest in today's Notices and Proceedings Report published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner

Our Hire has registered two 'new' Monday to Friday services for the summer season commencing on the 26th July 2021. They are 100 Vauxhall Holiday Park to Seashore Holiday Park (via Britannia Pier) and the 200 Hemsby Beach to Great Yarmouth

Konectbus is amending the timetable of its 5B Stalham to Norwich City Centre service from 25th July 2021

Roy

Shearings Returns

Robert Kelly was driving along Great Yarmouth's Marine Parade earlier today when he passed a coach parked up with a familiar name.

The name Shearings has returned to the town in the shape of  Kassbohrer Setra S416GT-HD K21 HCC with its travellers using the Carlton Hotel as did its Shearings predecessor.

From the description on the windscreen it shows the operator is on a short break tour taking in Norwich and the Sandringham Estate 

My thanks to Robert for the photos and its good to see the once familiar name back in the area once more

Roy

Recent Arrival At First Ipswich

So far unreported on here is the recent arrival of Alexander Dennis Enviro200 44925 YX11 HNW at First Ipswich. It transferred in from First South Yorkshire's Doncaster Depot about a week or so ago

My thanks to Hew Winter for the information and photo

Roy  

Norwich COVID-19 Mobile Test Centre

Oh my goodness five reports on the blog in one day - you really are being spoilt!! The last one for today features another COVID-19 mobile testing bus in use and this one is close to the Sainsburys Store in Norwich.

Again it's another former Oxford Bus Company Mercedes Benz Citaro and this time it's blue liveried 842 DF55 OXF being used by Norfolk County Council

My thanks to Dan High for the photo

Roy

Worthing In Norwich

Two Worthing Coaches were returned on 727 services from Norwich to Brighton earlier today. The operator's XW5611 BU18 OSM was employed on the 12:05 departure whilst XW5610 BU18 OSL was employed on the 16:05 service

Photos of both coaches, which are are Caetano Levante 2 bodied Scania K410EB6s, were taken by Omar Atiallah. My thanks to him for them and for his report.

Roy

Latest Coastal Red

The latest double decker to be painted in the Coastal Red livery is another former West Yorkshire Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 37024 YJ06XKN. 

It is seen here at Caister Road earlier this evening after being recorded in Norwich this lunchtime close to the Harford Park & Ride by Dan High

My thanks to First and Dan for the photos

Roy

excel Activitity

Dan High was on watch at Norwich Bus Station this morning and observed Network Norwich Wright Eclipse Gemini 36194 BN12 JYU on First's excel D service to Dereham.

Subsequently Ensign's ADL Enviro400 MC, on loan to First, arrived from Dereham on a reverse working complete with 'excel' branding

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Another Jubilee Arrival

Kevan Portas reports on the latest arrival at Rollesby-based Jubilee Coaches in the shape of former National Holidays' NH63 CYH. He tells me that the Kassbohrer Setra S415GT-HD will not be used on school duties!

My thanks to Kevan for the update and photo

Roy

Flying Banana & Coastal Reds in Norwich

The First Eastern Counties’ Flying Banana liveried Dennis Dart was noted in Norwich Bus Station this morning. It was used to pick up additional passengers following an earlier delay to the service.

42943 WA56 OAS was waiting to work the 11.30 X11 service to Belton when photographed by Omar Atiallah. Around half an hour later Coastal Reds Enviro200 44531 SN62 AZW was almost in the same position for the 12:00 X22 to Lowestoft

My thanks to Omar for the photos and to First for the information 

 Roy

Friday Flashback ~ March 2010 (Part Two)

The subject of this week's Friday Flashback is a visit to Ipswich on the 6th March 2010

We start with a photo of Galloway's Mercedes Benz Vario O814D HF54 HLE about to leave the Old Cattle Market Bus Station on a Bealings service.The Plaxton Beaver bodied bus was new to Romdrive of Melton Mowbray in September 2004 as HP54 WET. It is currently with Seaford and District as their SD53 SEA.

Our second subject is Carters of Capel St Mary's R707 YWC. The Dennis Dart was formerly with Stagecoach London in October 2007 and also had spells with Stagecoach Manchester and Stagecoach Yorkshire. It later moved to Malcolm's Blue Bus Service of Clacton

First Eastern Counties Volvo B7RLE AU58 FFH is observed in Friars Street when the operator used to provide Park And Ride services. 69421, which has subsequently moved on to First Essex, is heading for the Bury Road terminus. It has recently been painted in the new mainly green Essex Bus livery

Our last offering is that of Ipswich 94 X94 LBJ awaiting its next duty at Tower Ramparts. The East Lancs Spryte bodied Dennis Dart SLF was later repainted in the new Ipswich Buses livery in June 2015 and withdrawn three years later

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 16th June 2021

There are some alterations to local services in today's Notices and Proceedings Report published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner.

Vertas has submitted another new application for three operating centres in Suffolk. Based at Landmark Business Park in Ipswich, it has applied for a Centre for eleven vehicles at the East Suffolk Council Depot on Rotterdam Road in Lowestoft.

Coastal Red, operating as Lynx, is varying the timetables of a number of its routes. They include the 36 Hunstanton Bus Station to Wells-next-the-Sea (from 11th April 2021) and the 36 from Oak Street, Fakenham to Wells-next-the-Sea (from 27th June 2021)

The full Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Another COVID-19 Mobile Test Centre

 A second former Oxford Bus Company Mercedes Benz Citaro has appeared in Great Yarmuth outside the Matalan store on Southtown Road.

Green liveried 840 BF55 OXF is being used by Norfolk County Council as a COVID-19 mobile testing centre, similar to 839 AF55 OXF seen outside the town's Britannia Pier during April 

My thanks to Will Drake for the photo and information which is also included on his own WD Bus & Coach Facebook site

Roy

Rail Replacement ~ Norwich

Rail replacement services are in use again this weekend with track renewal and structural work taking place on the Norwich to Ipswich and Norwich to Ely lines. Harry Holmes was at Norwich Station earlier today to photograph a number of vehicles in use.

Dan's Coach Travel was employing YS03 ZKF, the second of a pair of former First Essex Scania L94s recently acquired by them for rail replacement work. The other, YR52 VEH. featured in last weekend's report

Also of interest was the appearance of Greys of Ely's Van Hool TDX27 G17 ELY which was new to DJ Coaches of Gravesend as YJ14 CDF

Youngs Coaches of Haddenham also provided a couple of coaches.  Again members of the Galloway, G&G Travel, Sanders Coaches and Angie's Coaches fleets were in attendance so I have not included photos of the 'regulars' here.

My thanks to Harry for the photos

Roy

Coastal Red Decker in Service

Following Grahame's report on the first Double Decker to receive Coastal Red livery, Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 37021 YJ06XKK was noted in service earlier today

After an early morning school's duty, the Gemini was employed on a Coastal Clipper 1B service and the pictures show it at Hemsby Beach - the northern terminus of the route

My thanks to AaronM for the photos

Roy

Friday Flashback ~ March 2010 (Part One)

This week's Friday Flashback travels back to March 2010 when we revisit Gorleston High Street and end up in Ipswich

The first photo is at the latter on 1st March and features Plaxton Pointer bodied Dart 47626 N626 GAH. I later posted a photo of this on the blog and Jim Long commented 'Well all that batch came from Ipswich after being used on the then Superoute 66. They were all painted into the Anglia livery, so called by the chief who was in charge back then and all had 'Rail Link' on them too'

Our next subject is another First Eastern Counties Dart in the shape of 46375 M375 YEX in Gorleston High Street on the same date. It was new in January 1995 and met its end in February 2011 when it was collected from Caister Road by Erith Commercials for scrapping

Ipswich is our next location where Beestons YN54 OCJ is seen on Raleigh Road on 6th of the month heading to Sudbury on the 91 route. The East Lancs OmniDekka bodied Scania N94UD was formerly used as a Scania demonstrator

Our final photo is of Ipswich Buses Optare Excel 170 YG52 DGO in Princes Street being passed by Carter's Dennis Dart R707 YWC also on the 6th

Roy

First Coastal Red Double Deck Revealed

The First Double Deck vehicle to gain the new Coastal Red livery for Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft is former West Yorkshire Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 37021 YJ06XKK.

It is pictured above awaiting its return to Caister Road earlier today, it was soon out in use on the 901 College service to Norwich.

Many Thanks to First for use of the photograph.

Grahame.

Service Alterations Registered ~ 9th June 2021

Yesterday's Notices and Proceedings Report, published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner, includes a couple of items of local interest.

First Eastern Counties has amended the route and timetable of its 913 service operating between Rackheath and Broadland High School, Hoveton from 27th May 2021.

A Public Inquiry is to be held at the Eastern Traffic Area Offices in Cambridge to consider the affairs of PTS Group (Norfolk) Limited of North Walsham on 28th June 2021. A Public Enquiry into its Transport Manager Matthew Wright will also be held at the same time.

The full Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here

Roy

Where Are They Now

A feature we tend to use on a regular basis is "Where are they now" Mark Doggett recently visited Devon and Somerset and stumbled upon three former Eastern Counties vehicles now with First South West operations.

First up is Dennis Trident 33233 LT52WWV seen above in Taunton wearing the base livery for First Kernow's Atlantic Coaster routes which have recently been upgraded.

Next we have 33235 LT52WWY pictured in Bridgewater heading for Taunton.

Finally we see 33242 LT52WVL which is now withdrawn at Bridgewater Depot in Somerset.

All three were new to First London before passing to Eastern Counties in 2009/10 where they spent their working life in Norwich.

Many Thanks to Mark for use of his excellent Photographs

Ensign Loan in Service

Following the collection of an ADL Enviro400 MC from Ensign at the weekend by First Eastern Counties, it was observed on Excel duties at Norwich Bus Station earlier this morning.

The decker is Ensign's YX66 WLH and is a temporary replacement for Scania/ADL Enviro 36902 YN69 XZE whilst repairs are effected

My thanks to Harry Holmes for the photos which are believed to be the first of it in service

Roy

Jubilee Update

Further changes have taken place at Rollesby-based Jubilee Coaches including the the first day of service yesterday for recently acquired YO52 FHA now registered as L333 JCR. The Plaxton bodied Javelin was previously with Norse

Other re-registrations include Javelins YM51 WGN becomeing L444 JCR whilst YO54 DRX is now L555 JCR. The previous holder of L444 JCR, formerly R682 DWS, is now withdrawn.

My thanks to Kevan Portas for the photos and for keeping me up to date with developments.

Roy