Dovers Duo

Two members of the Dovers Coaches fleet were present at Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station this morning. Both vehicles were Neoplan Tourliners and registered as AD18 DOV and UK22 DOV.

The family run business is based at Hetton-le-Hole in Tyne & Wear.

Roy

Open Top Preparations

First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot are starting to prepare their Cabriolet open top buses for the forthcoming summer season.

The first to have its initial inspection this year is Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7TL 32336 CRZ 488.

It was formerly First West of England's LK53 LYW and was delivered in early March last year following its conversion by Thorntons of Ashington, in Northumberland.

One of the latest overnighters at Caister Road depot was First Norwich Blue Line Volvo B7TL 32333 LK53 LYT which spent last night there.

My thanks to First for the information and photo

Roy

Seafront Sightings

Three coaches were observed on my trip along Great Yarmouth Seafront earlier this morning.

Outside the New Beach Hotel were two Mercedes Benz Tourismos from the Alfa Travel fleet. They were 126 BV20 HNK and 104 BN17 JCY

Opposite The Arc Cinema on North Drive was Barnsley-based Yorkshire Rose Coaches' Van Hool TX17 Astron, D2 YRC.

Roy

New Bus Service

Great Yarmouth Borough Councillor Adrian Thompson announced on social media yesterday that a new bus service would be operating through Fleggburgh and Filby linking the villages with Great Yarmouth and Norwich

The Monday to Friday service 7 is to commence from Monday 13th March 2023 and the relevant part of the timetable is reproduced above.

Councillor Thompson thanked those carrying out the work and particularly mentioned Norfolk County Council, Stephen Hewett of the East Norfolk Transport Users Association (ENTUA) plus members of the public supporting the project. 

Stephen Hewett said ' At long last two substantial villages west of Great Yarmouth now have a regular bus route to both the main centres in East Norfolk. ENTUA with the help of the local parish councils, will campaign hard to make this a success and hope to see the service grow so we can at a later date push for a more extensive timetable'

The bus service is the culmination of many years work by the Association and my thanks to Stephen for his help with this post.

Roy

Gorleston Sighting

Earlier this afternoon I was in Gorleston High Street for a spot of shopping and after passing a bus stop I heard the braking of a bus behind me.

I turned around in time to see one of the former Bournemouth Yellow Buses double deckers from the BorderBus fleet at the bus stop. With nobody in place to spoil the scene, I quickly got a photo of 218 BX62 FOJ which was working the 14:16 ex Bungay and running to time.

Roy

Former York B9s In Use

Following reports on social media of the ex First York Volvo B9s entering service yesterday, Dan High witnessed a couple of them active at Castle Meadow in Norwich earlier this morning.



37069 YK57 WZZ was observed on the Pink Line 11 service to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.



The other Volvo noted was 37065 YK57 EZU on the 12 service en route to the same destination.

My thanks again to Dan for his reports and photos

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 22nd February 2023

For the second consecutive week there are no 'local' entries in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report. However, the full Report can be viewed here soon.

Roy

First 69552 Enters Service In Norwich

Just over a week after being delivered to First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot, Wright Eclipse 2 bodied Volvo B7RLE 69552 BF12 KWP has now entered service with First Norwich.

69552 retains its First Wessex branding for that operator's Littlemoor - Weymouth 2 service but was observed in Norwich this afternoon by Dan High on the Red Line 24 Thorpe St Andrew to Queen's Hill route.

My thanks to Dan for the photo.

Roy

High Street Happenings

Well I am glad to be free of all restrictions! Firstly it was the unexploded bomb in Southtown causing four days of traffic chaos - to be followed by a week of testing positive for COVID! Fortunately I tested clear this morning so 'celebrated' with a quick trip to Gorleston High Street in an attempt to get a photo of one of the former Yellow Buses on the BorderBus 580 to Beccles/Bungay.

Whilst waiting at the traffic lights, on the corner of Gorleston Library, former First Ipswich ALX400 32653 AU05 MUV attempted to sneak past on the 10:32 service 8 from the James Paget Hospital to Caister's Marram Drive.

A couple of minutes later and BorderBus Volvo B9 219 BX62 FUO appeared at the traffic lights in the sunshine working the 11:40 Great Yarmouth Market Gates to Bungay.

My thanks to those of you who sent in reports over the past couple of weeks enabling ENBB posts to appear.

Roy

In The Pink

With an increasing number of passengers using First Norwich Pink Line services, the operator has re-introduced a 10-minute frequency between Sprowston Tesco and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital on weekdays from this morning.

Dan High saw Norwich Red Line liveried Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL 36190 BN12 JYP operating the service this morning at Castle Meadow on its way to the hospital.

My thanks to Dan for the report and photo.

Roy

467 BMR Tour Continues

Following Wednesday's report on the interloper at Tesco's Car Park at Beccles (Tesco Interloper - 15th February 2023), the double decker has continued its tour of the area turning up in Great Yarmouth yesterday.

This morning the Eastern Coach Works bodied Bristol FLF6G 467 BMR was observed in the Station Square at Lowestoft by Leighton Bromswold.

From the photo it can be seen to be operating on behalf of the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System promoting Health and Social Care Careers.

My thanks to Leighton Bromswold for the use of his photo.

Roy

New Arrivals in Norwich

Yesterday saw the arrival of 4 ex First York Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis in Norwich. The four are in special liveries for use on York University services so you will not miss them!

 

Three are pictured above shortly after arriving in Norwich yesterday evening. The full list of arrivals is below.

37065 YK57EZU

37066 YK57EZV

37067 YK57EZW

37069 YK57EZZ

Many thanks to Kevin King for use of his photo and to Chris Speed for the phone call and info!

Grahame.

Tesco Interloper

Tim Miller noted this Eastern Coach Works bodied Bristol FLF6G on Tesco's car park at Beccles earlier today. He was about to get a front short of it but it drove away before he could do so!

467 BMR was new to Wilts and Dorset as their 658 in October 1963. It transferred to Hants & Dorset nine years later becoming their 201. Acquired by dealer Omnibus Promotions of London in early 1980, it was subsequently sold to P &O Ferries by June 1982.

It was last recorded with the London Bus Export Company being used as a mobile exhibition unit by the British Heart Foundation during February 2002.

My thanks to Tim for the photo with its history being obtained from Rob Sly.

Roy

Arrivals At First Essex

Adam Roggerman sends news from First Essex regarding some of the delivery of some brand new buses at First Hadleigh.

One of them is 63454 MC72 UXS which went out on a test run earlier today and subsequently returned to base.

Hadleigh currently has eight of the Wright StreetLites with a further four expected. The total number in the batch is thirteen with fleet numbers 63454-63466.

More On Ipswich Exiles

Following yesterday's post about two former First Ipswich Reds being based in Lowestoft, First's 32653 AU05 MUV returned to Great Yarmouth and this morning was being employed on the 8s between Caister's Marram Avenue and the James Paget Hospital.

Regular contributor Dan High sent a photo of it resting on the forecourt of the town's Caister Road depot earlier today. Meanwhile, similar 32654 AU05 MUW remains at Lowestoft working the 99 route from the bus station to Kessingland/ Southwold.

In the rear yard at Caister Road he observed another Ipswich exile, 32492 AU53 HKK, which had been withdrawn last month. It has had its references to First painted out, being made ready for its final journey.

Thanks for the photos Dan

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 15th February 2023

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

Roy

Ex Ipswich ALX400s At Lowestoft

Two former First Ipswich Reds, 32653 AU05 MUV and 32654 AU05 MUW, are currently based in Lowestoft having previously been located at First Great Yarmouth.

On his visit to Lowestoft this afternoon Dan High was fortunate to get a photo of the latter at Lowestoft’s Bus Station being employed on X2/X22 services between the Suffolk town and Norwich.

He was unable to get of photo of the other one as it broke down whilst in service on the 99 route.

Thanks Dan for the info and photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 8th February 2023

First Eastern Counties' service changes in our local area dominate our post on today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

The operator is to amend the timetables of the following routes from the 12th March 2023:-

• 1/1A/1B Lowestoft Bus Station to Martham
• 2 Market Gates, Great Yarmouth to Barrack Estate
• 5 Market Gates, Great Yarmouth to Burgh Castle
• 6/6B/7 Market Gates, Great Yarmouth to Bradwell/Belton
• 8 Marram Drive Caister and James Paget Hospital
• X1 Market Gates, Great Yarmouth to Lowestoft Bus Station

The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here soon.

Roy

Welsh Visitor

A Welsh visitor to Great Yarmouth was noted at Beach Coach Station this morning basking in the sun.

It was a Neoplan Tourliner NH2216 3SHDC from the Voel Coaches' fleet from Dyserth in North Wales. Registered as Y67 DXO, it was new to Highland Heritage of Dalmally in Scotland in February 2018 and later moved to Voel in March 2019.

It appears that the short breaks are beginning again, following the winter break, with Alfa Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BV20 HNF being observed on North Drive next to the Arc Cinema.

Roy

StreetDeck's First Day

Former First West Of England Wright StreetDeck 35114 SO15 CUX was placed in service today following a repaint into its First Norwich Orange Line livery.



It was observed at Castle Meadow on the 21 route between Old Catton and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital by Dan High. My thanks to Dan for the photo.

Roy

36285 Finally Enters Service

After being collected from Ensignbus in early December the last of the eight former Go Ahead London Volvo B9TL Gemini 2s finally entered service this morning.

36285 LX59DBU has undertaken revenue earning duties today on the 8s between the James Paget Hospital and Caister's Marram Drive'

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the information

Roy

Another BorderBus Arrival

Another double decker has joined the Borderbus fleet on loan in the form of Scania N230UD OmniCity YR59 FYO.

Jon observed the former London United bus on his way home from Southwold this afternoon working the SJL6 school run to Reydon.

YR59 FYO was new to London United in November 2009 and subsequently wore fleet number SP40109. It has also seen use with Xelabus of Eastleigh, Hampshire and is now on loan from Stephensons of Essex.

My thanks to Jon for the report and photo and to Andrew Pursey of BorderBus

Roy

New Ipswich Pride Bus

One of First Ipswich's new Wright bodied StreetDecks visited Norwich's Vulcan Road site this morning to have its pride branding applied.



Double Decker 35919 BN72 TVO was the vehicle concerned which is expected to soon replace the current pride bus wearing the livery - Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX400 32476 AU53 HJK .



Following its completion it departed south for its new home via Castle Meadow in Norwich where it was observed by Dan High

My thanks to Zak Nelson and Dan High for the photos

Roy

Recent Acquisition Enters Service

One of the two Enviro200s acquired from Yellow Buses of Bournemouth by Borderbus was noted in use on the 146 Norwich to Kessingland service this morning by Dan High.

Previously with First London, we exclusively revealed that the twosome were picked up in December (BorderBus Fleet Update - 20th December 2022) with YX12 AKP subsequently undergoing internal and external refurbishment prior to entering service. It has taken fleet number 106 replacing that taken by since departed Enviro300 KX54 NKH.

My thanks to Dan for the information and photo.

Roy

Turquoise On Pink Line

The variety of liveries of buses appearing on First Norwich Pink Line 12 route has varied a little over the last month or so with a Turquoise Line Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9 working the service yesterday.



John Hutchinson reports that there was some confusion for passengers at the outgoing bus stop in Anglia Square, as the 12 and 13 (Turquoise Line) services share the same stop! The normal traveller would probably have just seen the bus and might have assumed that it was their 13.

The photos, taken by John's wife Mary, shows 36173 BD11 CFX making the return journey outside the McDonalds fast food restaurant on Stalham Road in Wroxham.

My thanks to John and Mary for the report and photos respectively.

Roy

OmniCity VOR

Our correspondent 'Jdraves1' reports that Coach Services has Scania N230UD OmniCity LX59 CPU is now VOR and, therefore, treated as withdrawn.

It was one of two Scania's joining the Thetford-based fleet from Stagecoach East London during June 2015; the other was LX59 CPK.

My thanks to 'Jdraves1' for the information and photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 1st February 2023

Yes its the first of the month already and we begin with details of some items which may be of interest in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

David McMaster of Wood Dalling in Norfolk is to restart his Norwich City tours from the 1st April 2023 with an amended timetable.

Thompsons Coaches of Framlingham has ceased operating its 1FL service between the High Street in Debenham and Farlingaye High School from today, 1st February 2023

The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here soon.

Roy