Semmence Arrivals Receive Fleet Names

H Semmence Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE GN07 AVM has received fleet names and is named Chloe. Similar GNO7 AVK will also be branded soon and will become Harriet.

My thanks to Joe Wilson-Smith for the information and photo.

Roy

Coach Services New Enviro400

A brand new double decker has joined the Thetford based Coach Services fleet in the form of ADL Enviro400 CS22BUS.

It has yet to enter service but has been specifically branded for the Thetford to Bury St Edmunds 84 and 86 services.

My thanks to Omar Atiallah for the information and photos

Roy

Wanderer Returns

One of Sanders new Volvo/Evora was noted again this week in Great Yarmouth on the X6 North Walsham to Yarmouth service.

524. BV22HBN 'Norfolk Wanderer' was noted in the town again about to head back to North Walsham.

These should begin full time service on the CH2 services this coming weekend so a rare spot to have one in the town!

Many Thanks to Aaron for the photograph.

Grahame.

Another Open Top Arrival and New Registrations Revealed

The Fifth Open Top Vehicle for the 2022 Summer season in Great Yarmouth arrived at Caister Road Depot this afternoon after its conversion at Thorntons Bus Refurbishment in the North East.

37057 YJ06XMH was transferred from First Bradford and chosen for conversion along with sister 37059 YJ06XML. The latter being the last of the 3 new arrivals due for this summer.

With many thanks to Chris Speed at first we can exclusively reveal the full list of OpenToppers for 2022 complete with all their cherished registrations they have/will be given.

32905 CRZ166  Ex. W905VLN

32348 CRZ266  Ex. LK53LZL

37000 CRZ366  Ex. LK53AYY

32336 CRZ488  Ex. LK53LYW

37057 CRZ599  Ex. YJ06XMH

37059 CRZ622  Ex. YJ06XML 

Grahame.

EATM Trolleybus Arrival

Yesterday saw the latest acquisition by the London Trolleybus Preservation Society arrive at the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville.

The vehicle is Nottingham Corporation trolleybus no. 578 which is a 7'6" Brush bodied BUT 9641T delivered to the Corporation as part of a batch in 1951/2. The vehicle has had a number of years in storage and is currently undergoing inspection with a view to a return to operational condition.

My thanks to Tim Major for the information and photos

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 27th April 2022

No relevant local entries appear in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report. However, the full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Coming Soon ...

Another Arrival

Rollesby-based Jubilee Coaches has another addition to the fleet in the form of ex Suffolk Norse Van Hool bodied Volvo B12BT SF06 LKC

New to Marbill in the west of Scotland in April 2006, it migrated south to Irvings of Carlisle as V30 BUS and D & Harrod of Downham Market as their N18 DHH. It is the first Volvo and the first triaxle vehicle to be owned by Jubilee.

My thanks to Kean Portas for the report and photo.

Roy

ENSFC Bus Activity

Gorleston's East Norfolk Sixth Form College on Church Lane generates a number of special services to get students in and back home and yesterday afternoon I witnessed the mass exodus!

Two First Lowestoft buses are regulars and the first to arrive was Alexander Dennis Enviro200 44533 SN62 DBV ready to work the 982 15:50 from the College to Oulton Broad.

The other was Coastlink liveried Enviro400 33822 YX63 LKM being employed on the 981 to Worlingham via Lowestoft. A third First vehicle, Great Yarmouth's Volvo B9 36188 BN12 JYL, was noted on the 983 to Martham but escaped the attention of my camera.

Independent operators also appear and Ambassador Travel's Optare Solo YK04 KVU was on the 68 service to Upton.

Sanders Coaches extends its 6 service to and from the college and 504 HF54 HFP was on 16:04 departure yesterday. This has also seen a double decker working it.

A surprising arrival was Jubilee Coaches Marcopolo bodied Irisbus PN06 TVP returning students to the college prior to the end of their day.

Roy

Bradwell 217 Service Completed

I was fortunate in being in the right place at the right time when I saw Ambassador Travel's Volvo B7RLE GN07 AVF on Beccles Road returning to the depot after completing the 9:55 Hemsby to Bradwell 217 service this morning.

Roy

School Run

Yesterday, regular contributor Kevan Portas provided me with details of a couple of school runs by Jubilee Coaches to Bradwell's Phoenix Pool this morning.

With no cancellations, other commitments and illness thwarting our attempts to meet up, it was the first opportunity to actually meet him the flesh as it were! Unfortunately our conversation was cut short by the arrival of the school children for their return trip, but I did have the time to get a photo of Kevan in front of L333 JCR, a Plaxton Prima bodied Dennis Javelin.

Many thanks for the information and the chat

Roy

Angie's Arrival

A recent arrival at Angie's Tours is a smart looking Plaxton Elite Interdeck bodied Volvo B11RT with the registration of OW15 WKF.

The coach was new to Oxford Bus Company as their 78 and was later reregistered OX15 LON for its London services. In 2020 it joined Go North East where it wore X Lines - X9/X10 livery for fast services to Newcastle, Gateshead and Middlesbrough and again reregistered X10 XLS.

Purchased from an Oxford dealer, it arrived at Angie's Tours earlier this week with another vehicle expected next week!

My thanks to Robbie Collins for the photos.

Roy

Jubilee Part Exchange

Rollesby-based Jubilee Coaches has part exchanged their former Reynolds Coaches' Dennis Javelin KBZ 3617 for another Javelin in the Norse fleet. 

The newcomer is YO54 DHJ which was in use with an unknown MOD contractor prior to being acquired in March 2016. New in October 2004, it was previously registered WK54 PUH

My thanks to Kevan Portas for details of the exchange and for the photo

Roy

Third Eclipse In Use

The last of the three ex Arriva Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLEs, which recently arrived at Semmence's yard in Wymondham from dealers Ensign, was noted in use today.

GN07 AVM was employed by Semmence on their service 9 between Wymondham Green Lane and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital earlier and is seen here at the latter courtesy of Joe Wilson-Smith.

The others were GN07 AVF and GN07 AVK both in use with Ambassador Travel and Semmence respectively.

My thanks to Joe for the photo

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 20th April 2022

No relevant local entries appear in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report. However, the full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Bluewater Blogging

A trip to Bluewater in Kent for birthday shopping (My now 16 year old daughter) meant i had an hour or so to myself whilst she and her friend hit the shops to observe some different operations to the local variety here in Norfolk.

 

Bluewater is mainly served by Arriva Southern Counties plus TFL routes 96, 428 & 496 all operate into here also and National Express services.

ADL Enviro 400 6476 YY14WFZ pictured above is working the 700 service from Chatham.

TFL route 492 is operated by Arriva London and Enviro 400 T80 LJ59ABZ is heading to Sidcup Station.

Services A & B come under the Arriva Fastrack banner and is operated using 15 ADL Enviro 200's and 7 Wrightbus Streetlites on behalf of Kent County Council. SN67WUV is working the B route to Gravesend.

Arriva Streetlite 4301 GN15CWX is painted in London Country Heritage livery celebrating 16 years of London Country Bus Services in Kent.

Stagecoach London operates the TFL 96 route between Bluewater & Woolwich using ADL Enviro 400H, PVR is 20+ vehicles for this busy service. 12367 YX16OGF is seen arriving at Bluewater.

A very enjoyable hour or so was had and a good variation of vehicles noted!

Grahame.

Beach Twosome

When I looked in at Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station just before lunchtime today, I found just the two coaches present.



The first is Mercedes Benz Tourismo BU18 YMJ operated by Owens Coaches of Oswestry under the Travelmaster Holidays branding.

A second Tourismo, Grayway Coaches' BU18 YNW, made up the twosome - a far cry from the days when the Coach Station was teaming with coaches on an Easter weekend!

Roy

Alfa's New Investment

 Alfa Coaches, an operator whose coaches are regular visitors to Great Yarmouth, has recently invested around £2.5 million in ten new vehicles.

The new additions will now mean the whole fleet is now EuroVI compliant and comes at a time with confidence to invest returning to the coaching sector.

They are fitted with free onboard wi-fi and USB charging sockets together with stylish seating providing maximum comfort.

I expect it won't be too long before we see some of these new 2022 registered coaches in Great Yarmouth. 

Roy

End Of The Road?

It appears that one of the quartet of First's '51' registered Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TLs may have reached the end of the road.

30961 YJ51 RDV is pictured in the rear yard of Caister Road depot yesterday following the need for a new engine. It is unlikely to be replaced

Also in the rear yard were recently withdrawn Plaxton Presidents 32206 LT52 WTM and 32213 LT52 WTW with the former displaying a notice not to remove parts. Suggesting a buyer had been found - preservation perhaps?

Meanwhile, the sole surviving Barbie liveried President 32210 LT52 WTR continued in service yesterday on the 8s between Caister and the James Paget Hospital

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 13th April 2022

Just the one entry of local interest in today's Notices and Proceedings Report published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner..

First Eastern Counties is to amend the timetable of the 14, 15, 15A, 15B and 905 services between Wymondham and Wroxham/ Blofield Heath/ Lingwood from 24th April 2022

The full Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

An Hour In Town

An hour was spent in Great Yarmouth late this morning to observe activity and grab a few pictures.



The first subject for the camera was BorderBus Enviro200 104 BB62 BUS branded for the Southwold - Beccles - Norwich route about to operate the 11:40 580 to Bungay service.



Our next photo shows one of the recently transferred Geminis in Olympia livery which have all now been vinyled for Coastal Reds duties. Here is 32345 LK53 LZF leaving Market Gates with the 11:40 departure for the James Paget Hospital. Meanwhile, Enviro400 33803 YX63 LJF waits time for the X11 Coastlink service to Norwich.



Later StreetLite 47502 SN64 CPV arrives and prepares for the 12:05 Bradwell Circular denoting that it diverts off route with Crab Lane being closed to all traffic for utility works.



Just prior to me leaving, I got a picture of Ambassador Travel's Caetano Levante 219 BV19 XOY arriving which was to be employed on the 12:15 Great Yarmouth to London Victoria National Express 491 route.

On the way home I looked in at Beach Coach Station where Gibbon Holidays' Mercedes Benz Tourismo BN17 JBV was keeping company with Alfa Travel's similar BV19 YFC

Roy

And Here's The Other One!

In response to yesterday's post, Tony Wilson has sent a photo of the other 2022 registered Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8 in action on Monday

No 524 BV22 HBN was on the 'Coasthopper' CH1 service between the bus stops at Salthouse on the A149 North Norfolk coast road.

My thanks to Tony for the photo and good to see you back in the county again!

Roy

Sanders Newbie Visits Town

One of Sanders Coaches brand new MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8s graced Great Yarmouth with its presence this morning.

Coasthopper branded 525 BV22 HBO 'Norfolk Pathfinder' was employed on the 09:25 X6 service from North Walsham and returned almost immediately at 10:45 as the 09:25 arrived late at Market Gates. I was very fortunate in getting a picture as my phone packed up immediately!

Roy

Coastal Clippers ~ 37567/8/9/70

Semmence / Ambassador Volvos In use

The two ex Arriva Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLEs, which recently arrived at Semmence's yard in Wymondham, are now both in service with their Vistafield Limited subsidiaries.

GN07 AVK is in use with Semmence on their service 9 between Wymondham Green Lane and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital and is seen here at the latter courtesy of LiamS.

Meanwhile, similar GN07 AVF was employed for the third day in succession on the 271 Bradwell Green Lane to Hemsby Beach route

H Semmence and Ambassador Travel are both part of the Vistafield Group of Companies.

Roy

Sanders Coaches Activity

Two brand new MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8s have joined the Sanders Coaches fleet today at their North Walsham depot.



They are 524 BV22 HBN “Norfolk Wanderer” and 525 BV22 HBO “Norfolk Pathfinder” with the former illustrated here

Two Wright bodied VDL SB200s have been withdrawn in the shape of 403 YJ10 DJU and 408 YJ60 GDX. with the first named seen in the yard. Both Solos 200 YJ58 CBX and 203 MX09 AOU have also been stood down from service.

My thanks to LiamS for the information and photos

Roy

Thursday Five

Up and about early today with a visit to Great Yarmouth for a trawl around the usual sites which netted five coaches.



A visit to the town's Beach Coach Station revealed Mercedes Benz Tourismos present. Alpine Coaches' AP68 ALP in Just Go branding was noted alongside Caledonia Travel's new BV22 WPM.



Passing the New Beach Hotel on Marine Parade I observed Alfa Travel's Tourismos 119 BV20 HNC and 118 BV20 HNB.



Outside the SeaLife Centre was a Shearings.Com liveried Volvo B11R BV19 LNJ from Nottingham based Silverdale Coaches.

Roy

Towlers Of Emneth ~ New Beginning

Since my earlier post that Towlers Coaches of Emneth are closing after almost 90 years of trading, I have received an update from John Wakefield. Apparently from the 8th April Towlers Coaches Ltd will be under new Directorship. All services provided will remain unchanged, as will the vehicles and drivers

The operator has been a familiar sight on the Fen highways for several decades with Charles James Towler starting the company back in 1932He continued successfully for 33 years and then he retired, selling his vehicles and the remainder of the business to Lawson Fox. Alan Charles Towler (his son) then took back the business on 1st April 1969 and continued as a sole trader for a further 34 years.



On 1st May 2003, Towlers Coaches Ltd was incorporated by Alan’s children (Mark, Wendy, Anton and Joanne) who ran the company as equal directors. Towlers was still trading from where Charles Towler started all those years ago, at Church Road in Emneth, Norfolk. They will retain their 1952 Bedford SB Duple EJD 510.

The foursome and, of course not forgetting most importantly Alan Towler, 'would like to send a massive thank you to every single person over the 90 years of trading, who have worked for them, hired our coaches or had any dealings with the company in anyway. It's been a blast! We wish the new directors all the very best for the future.'

The appended photo shows Towlers' Van Hool bodied Scania CAZ 7446 at Beach Coach Station, Great Yarmouth on 29th August 2013

Many thanks to John Wakefield for all the information, update and photo of the Bedford SB.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 6th April 2022

Just the one entry of local interest in today's Notices and Proceedings Report published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner..

Our Bus is to amend the timetable and route of its 80 service between Dereham and Wroxham from 22nd April 2022

The full Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Ambassador's 271 service

Further to yesterday's post about the 271 Bradwell to Hemsby route not serving Shrublands Estate in Gorleston. I was contacted by a member of the East Norfolk Transport Users Group.

It appears that Our Bus used to serve the Shrublands Estate under their own volition. The correct route is Long Lane, Trinity Avenue, Magdalen Way and Church Lane. However, Ambassador failed to serve North Denes Road all day yesterday instead using Northgate Street.

However, I was determined to get a photo of the vehicle operating the service, which I managed to do this morning as GN07 AVF arrived at the Bradwell terminus on Green Lane.

Meanwhile one of the two B7RLEs reported as being purchased by Ambassador has arrived at the Semmence yard in Wymondham. GN07 AVK is the one pictured and both are expected to remain with Semmence

My thanks to the Users Group for the information and to Joe Wilson-Smith for the photo.

Roy