BorderBus 'Demo'

Since Friday last week the bustimes.org website has shown a BorderBus 'Demo' ticket machine in use on the 580 route. I had been meaning to look into the matter but just assumed it might be one of the former Yellow Buses using another ticket machine.

Contributor AndrewW also noted this and yesterday 'finally got around to investigating in person and attached is a picture of the vehicle on Beaufort Way working the 12:40 Yarmouth to Bungay service (despite the destination display indicating otherwise).

The vehicle in question is 39 seater ADL Enviro200, reg SN66 WKF, wearing Stephensons of Essex livery and carrying fleet number 467. It is assumed to be on loan to BorderBus and this week has been working the 580 duty with the Harleston extensions daily in place of the now regular Scania decker YT59 FSO.

SN66 WKF looks to have made its way down to Essex sometime in 2018 after starting life with Stephensons of Easingwold.co.uk in September 2016.'

My thanks to Andrew for his report and photo.

Roy

Latest Arrival

With the help of Will Drake I able to bring you a photo of the latest arrival at First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot



Ex Go Ahead London Volvo B9TL Gemini 2 LX59 DAU is seen inside the depot awaiting the application of Coastal Reds branding and fleet number 36283

Thanks Will - his Facebook site WD Bus and Coach Photos can be viewed HERE

Roy

Rail Replacement ~ Lowestoft

 Matthew Holland has provided a photo of rail replacement vehicles in position at Lowestoft Station Car Park today. 

Whilst I haven't received details of those on duty I can easily identify that many of them are from the Angie's Tours fleet.

Thanks Matthew

Roy

Last Journey

Recently withdrawn Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL 30959 YJ51 RCO began its final journey  earlier this morning. It was removed from service by First Great Yarmouth in late September after some twenty years of use.



YJ51 RCO is destined for Ensign (dealer) at Purfleet where it will join former First Great Yarmouth YJ51 RAU and YJ51 RDU.

My thanks to Will Drake for the photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 26th October 2022

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report contains some items of 'local' interest.

Konectbus has registered a 'new' 503 service between Postwick Park and Ride and Norwich Bus Station. The Monday to Saturday service runs from 21st November to 24th December 2022

First Eastern Counties has retrospectively amended the routes of its 40/ 40A/ X41/ 41A /41 services between Norwich Bus Station and Hillside Road West in Bungay from 2nd October 2022

Surprisingly included in the publication are the cancellations of Anglian Bus 495/497/498 Harleston - Halesworth and the 100 Harleston - Ipswich services from 13th October 2008 !

The full Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed HERE SOON

Roy

Lowestoft Surprise!

When visiting First Lowestoft's depot this morning Will Drake was surprised to see a purple fronted double decker at the Gasworks Road site.

It was First West of England Wright StreetDeck 35114 SO15 CUX which is apparently destined for Norwich for further use there.

My thanks to Will for the report and photo.

Roy

Final 51 Plate Faces Withdrawal

I understand that the final '51 registered ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL double decker is to be removed from service within the next few days.

30960 YJ51 RDU began life with First York (Rider) in January 2002 and arrived on the east coast in May 2018. As such it has amassed more than twenty years in service with First and is the last of a batch of six joining First Great Yarmouth from First Manchester in that year.

It is seen here on Crab Lane earlier this morning returning from Bradwell with the 6 service to Great Yarmouth's Market Gates. It had previously operated over the last three days primarily on the 8s between the James Paget Hospital and Caister's Marram Drive.

Update

Apparently today was 30960’s last day in service as it was withdrawn tonight (21st October)

Roy

Green Line Last Night

We recently reported that from the beginning of the month the operation of some Norwich Green Line services would based from First Great Yarmouth's depot due to driver shortages at the former..

Quite often some Green Line buses staying in Great Yarmouth overnight can provide some 'different' vehicles, as was the case last night. Eastern Counties liveried Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE 66985 KX05 MHU and similar ex First Wessex 69544 BF12 KWD both put in an appearance.

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the information and photos.

Roy

Ipswich Heritage Buses

Ipswich has gained another Eastern Counties Heritage liveried vehicle in the shape of former Wessex Volvo B7RLE 69547 BF12KWH which now carries VW547 as its fleet number.

It has joined Volvo B7TL/ALX400 32479 AU53HJV (Jim Long) wearing the Red and Cream colours in the town.

Not sure how long left 32479 has in service with the introduction of new Streetdeck vehicles being added to the fleet now in full swing, lets hope it lives on a bit longer maybe finding its way to the Norfolk coast for its last hurrah!

Many Thanks to Mark Pitman for both photos which were taken today (19/10/22)

Grahame.

Last Enviro200 for Lowestoft

Another ADL Enviro200 arrived at First's Roundtree Way depot in Norwich yesterday from Thorntons Bus Refurbishment in the North East following refurbishment.

YX09 HKK is the fifth and last to be received by First Lowestoft replacing their older saloons. It has fleet number 44451 and was due for delivery to Lowestoft's Gasworks Road depot this morning.

My thanks to Will Drake for the photo and information.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 19th October 2022

This week's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report contains no items of local interest. However, the full Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here soon.

Roy

Blue Line Overnight Stayers

You may remember earlier in the month we reported that two First Norwich Blue Line vehicles stay overnight at First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot (Blue Line Sleepovers - 4th October 2022). As usual, two were here again overnight but they were anything but blue!

The first was Eastern Counties heritage liveried decker Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 36183 BN12 JYF - also going under the guise of VW183. The other was Purple Line coloured Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident 33166 LR02 LYD.

More news on the loans to Norwich is that the second decker, 37056 YJ06 XMG, has also lost its Coastal Reds embellishments which also suggests it is allocated to First Norwich permanently.

My thanks to First for the information and photos

Roy

Permanent Transfer?

Apparently one of the three deckers reported on loan to First Norwich from First Great Yarmouth has had its Coastal Reds branding removed.

LiamS provides this photo of 37055 YJ06 XMF in service today which gives rise to the thought that the loan is now a permanent transfer. Thanks Liam.

Roy

Banana Buggy to Live On

Further to our recent post regarding the appearance of former Flying Banana Freight Rover Minibus D70TLV we can reveal that it has now been purchased by enthusiast Jamie Vendy. Jamie has added the vehicle to his growing fleet as part of the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation group.

The Carlyle bodied Freight Rover Sherpa was new to North Western with Flying Banana acquiring it from Brian Isaac of Morriston, Swansea in 1993. It was later converted into an open top as a 'Banana Buggy'

 

Jamie has informed me in his own words "It may need to see a doctor!" So sounds like a long and busy process to get it back to its former glory!

He has also asked if any blog readers has the Flying Banana Deck Chair logo in their collections anywhere please.

Now safely undercover it will live on alongside other Eastern based veterans. We will of course keep you updated on its progress.

Thanks to Jamie for the Photos and Info.

Grahame.

Bluebell Visit

Dan's Coach Travel's KY08 KUF was the only coach at Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station earlier this afternoon. 

Named Bluebell, it was new to Country Lion of Northampton as G1 CLN and later moved on to Three C's Travel of Nedging

Roy

Yellow BorderBus

One of the four ex Yellow Buses Wright Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs was out all day today on the BorderBus 146 Norwich to Southwold service.



BX62 FNV retains its former owner's colours and is pictured in Beccles working to Southwold and now has fleet number 217

My thanks to Dan High for the photos

Roy

Another Gemini for Great Yarmouth

Simon Taylor paid another visit to Ensign yesterday to collect the second of a batch of ex Go Ahead London Volvo/Wright Gemini's for Great Yarmouth.

LX59DBZ will become 36288 with First (Formerly WVL231 with Go Ahead)

Sister 36281 LX59DAA entered service in Great Yarmouth yesterday working the X11 service between Belton & Norwich.

Many Thanks as always to Simon and to First for the Info.

Grahame.

Ex Yorkshire Duo arrive for Norwich

2 New arrivals to report for FEC at Norwich today, former First South Yorkshire Streetlites 47472 & 42473 SN14EAF/SN14EAG have moved down from Sheffield's Olive Grove Depot. Both came from Manchester to Sheffield in 2019.

Both will be for use in Norwich.

Many thanks to Will Drake for the early morning photo and First for the info.

Grahame.

Krakow Trams

I have just returned from Krakow in Poland after a short break. It has an extensive tram system in place which has been in operation since 1882. There are 22 ordinary, 2 fast, and 3 night tram lines with a total line length of 216 miles (347 kilometres).

Although the trams ran past the front door of our hotel (Hotel Leonardo) I never had enough time to get a lot of photos but here are just three of them. The more modern examples present were the "Lajkonik" low-floor trams built by Stadler which began delivery in December 2019.

I also managed to capture a photo of the older Bombardier NGT 6-II with No 625 pictured here

With an intensive itinerary on our Leger tour, unfortunately I didn't have the time to travel on any of the system but it is definitely worthy of further investigation.

Roy

Sunday Rail Replacements

Buses were replacing trains between Great Yarmouth and Norwich today with Konectbus supplying vehicles along with Ambasador Travel.

Konectbus 200 & 202 YX69NPE & YX69NPG pictured at Great Yarmouth Rail Station this evening.

Many Thanks to Kieran Smith for the Photo

Grahame

Another Withdrawal

Another withdrawal to report today from Caister Road is the removal from service of Wright Eclipse Gemini 32345 LK53 LZF. It was new to First Centrewest (London) in February 2004 before moving down to the South West. It joined the local fleet earlier this year.

This morning it was seen in the 'dead bus corner' of the rear yard sandwiched between earlier ALX withdrawals 30959 YJ51 RCO and 30964 YJ51 RAU.

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

Roy

Lowestoft's Fourth Enviro200

A fourth former London United Alexander Dennis Enviro200 has been collected from Norwich’s Roundtree Way depot and is destined for use at Lowestoft. The new arrival is 44453 YX09 HKN

My thanks to Will Drake for the photo.

Roy

Another Decker Bites The Dust

Another former First Manchester Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400 has been taken out of service by First Great Yarmouth. New to First York (Rider) in January 2002, 30964 YJ51 RAU arrived here from Manchester in May 2018. It is pictured here outside the depot in April this year.

This leaves just the sole remaining 30960 YJ51 RDU of the six B7TL/ALX400s moving here during 2018. The survivor was last in use on the 8s during yesterday afternoon. 

Roy

Red On Green

You may remember on Sunday last I reported (Green Line From Caister Road) that some First Norwich Green Line buses would begin working a few services based at Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot.

However, earlier tonight one of the Green Line buses arriving for tomorrow's workings wasn't green at all! It was red in the shape of Volvo B7RLE 69553 BF12 KWM appearing in its Eastern Counties heritage colours

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

Roy

On Loan To Norwich

Two First Great Yarmouth Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Geminis have been helping out on Norwich services recently

37056 YJ06 XMG surprised Nigel yesterday lunchtime when he saw it on a Blue Line service in Norwich. He later caught up with it on The Avenues when he managed to get a photo. The other decker is 37055 YJ06 XMF.

My thanks to Nigel for the photo - a lovely picture!

Roy

First Essex Arrivals

I've received an email from Adam Roggerman regarding the arrival of some fifteen former Arriva London Enviro 400s at First Essex Hadleigh depot.

Registered LJ59LXP/LXR/LXS/LXT/LYK/LYO/LYP/LYS/LYT/LYU/LYV/LYW/LZD/LZE/LZF, they have received fleet numbers 34451-34465 inclusive

Many thanks to Adam for the information and photos.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 5th October 2022

This week's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report contains no items of local interest.  However, the full Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here soon.

Roy

Blue Line Sleepovers!

We have recently become aware that two First Norwich Blue Line vehicles stay overnight at First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot.

Last night, although not in Blue Line colours, it was the turn of Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 37410 MX58 DXZ (pictured) to spend the night there.

The other sleepover was made by Blue Line liveried 36178 BD11 CDX, another Volvo B9TL.

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the information and photo.

Roy

Update: 

36179 BD11 CDY and 32344 LK53 LZE spent Tuesday night at Caister Road

Norwich Arrivals Photo Special

As you are all aware by now FEC is undergoing a large fleet update and Norwich has seen some new arrivals over the past couple of weeks along with a new look for a current fleet member.

A batch of Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse have been transferred from First Wessex, some are for Ipswich whilst others have appeared in service in the city still wearing the colours of their old employers. 69544 BF12KWD is pictured in Red Lion Street working the 23A service.

Another B7RLE to arrive is 69548 BF12KWJ, seen here heading for Castle Meadow on the 28 service

A nice surprise was to see 69553 BF12KWM appear in Eastern Counties heritage colours, a livery which does suit the B7RLE in my opinion very well! It carries fleet number VW553.

On the subject of heritage colours, another vehicle has also gained Eastern Counties livery in the shape of Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 36183 BN12JYF.

Pictured in the sunshine at Vulcan Road Depot is the new VW183 looking superb in its new colours.

Finally another B7RLE arrival yet to hit the road is 69550 BF12KWO, seen below at Roundtree Way awaiting preparation.

Many Thanks to Mark Doggett for use of his excellent photos as always.

Grahame.

Ipswich Exiles In Service

The three ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TLs, previously with First Ipswich, were all in service earlier today on the east coast.

32653 AU05 MUV was observed by Leyton Palmer in Great Yarmouth's Regent Street on the 8s heading for Caister's Marram Drive.

Meanwhile, 32654 AU05MUW is pictured on Carlton Road in Lowestoft by Grahame on the X22 Coastlink service.

The third decker, 32492 AU53 HKK, was employed on routes 2 and 8 in Great Yarmouth but is seen by Will Drake in Caister Road depot earlier.

My thanks to Leyton, Grahame and Will for the use of their photos.

Roy

42938 Withdrawn

First Lowestoft's 42938 WX05 SVD has been taken out of service. The First M Ticket App liveried Dennis Dart SLF moved to First Eastern Counties from First Somerset & Avon in January 2016. It was new to First Bristol in March 2005

It was photographed in Gordon Road in March this year awaiting its next run to Hollow Grove

Roy

Green Line From Caister Road

The first of five Norwich Green Line Wright StreetLites began transferring to First Great Yarmouth's depot this afternoon to begin working some Green Line services from Caister Road from tomorrow.

Those observed so far are 63317/18/21/23 SK65 PWX/Y/PXA/D with the other one expected to be 63321 SK65 PXB. These allocations may change on a daily/weekly basis

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the information and to Roger Bellwood for the photo showing 63318 inside Caister Road depot earlier

Roy

Luxury Cruise Ship Shuttles

Luxury cruise ship The Seabourn Ovation docked at Great Yarmouth's outer harbour yesterday morning (September 30) as part of a 14 day round Britain cruise.



The ship's passengers toured the area on shuttle buses alongside excursions to Norwich, the Broads and Sandringham. Jon observed observed three First Great Yarmouth buses providing the shuttles in the form of 37562 FY08 FYN in Great Yarmouth Transport livery, 37055 YJ06 XMF in Olympia livery and 37567 AU58 ECF in coastal clipper livery between the port and Great Yarmouth town centre.

The boat left the port yesterday evening continuing on to Dover for its next stop.

My thanks to Jon for the photos.

Roy