Service Alterations Registered ~ 30th August 2023

Just the single entry of local interest is included in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

Holkham Holiday Parks Limited has received approval to use The Carrot Wash on Warham Road in Wells-next-the-Sea as an operating centre for two vehicles.

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

Roy

Coach Services' Disposal

Regular contributor 'Jdraves1' informs me that Coach Services has recently withdrawn one of its ADL Enviro 200s.

White bus YX17 NTN has coincidentally been sold to White Bus of Winkfield, Windsor and my thanks go to 'Jdraves1' for the information and photo.

Roy

Peelings Centenary Gathering

I reported last Monday that long established Norfolk operator Peelings Coaches was holding a centenary gathering at its home village of Tittleshall at the weekend. A number of vehicles turned up to join in the celebrations as these photos by 'Reg Vardy' show.



Two of their coaches on display were Van Hool bodied Volvo B12B's JJZ 8022 and JJZ 8021 named Cyril and Norfolk Hero respectively.



Another from the Peelings' fleet was Mercedes-Benz JJZ 9131 accompanied by former Towler of Emneth's Bedford SB / Duple EJD 510.



Eagles Coaches sent along their Volvo B10M-62 / Van Hool E7 GLE, acquired by them in March 2012



Former Sun Stream 1950 Bedford OB / Duple Vista MYB 33 also attended and is pictured here at Castle Acre



Jubilee Coaches' Bedford YNT VJI 8206 also visited with ex Eastern National 1953 Bristol KSW ECW bodied open topper WNO 479 pictured next to it



My thanks to 'Reg' for the many photos provided which included this of Volvo B10M / Van Hool Alizee YXI 6327, a former Peelings coach now in the hands of the Happisburgh Touring Society Preservation Group

Roy

Cromer Twosome

Trevor Arbon reports two coaches were present at Cromer's Cadogan Road coach park early yesterday evening.

They were Alfa Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 114 BV19 YFJ and Bland's Volvo B11R/ Jonckheere FP 7788

Thanks Trevor for the photo and info.

Roy

Bank Holiday Monday Visitors

Its been a while since I have posted I know but I managed to grab today's visitors at Beach Coach station whilst out and about.

First up is a visitor from Cork, Ireland. Kearneys Scania 162-C-9755.



A bit more local is Youngs of Haddenham, Cambridgeshire Volvo B11R/MCV Evotor BY72YCC.

Aziz Coach Services had this impressive Volvo B8R/Plaxton Leopard, they are based in Sparkbrook near Birmingham.



Anderson Travel Scania K320/Mobi OF YN70YOY, this had ventured up from Bermondsey in London.

The final shot is of the newly arrived 20802 TFO319 from Cornwall pictured at Caister Road awaiting its next contract run. The livery is Truronian which was the coaching fleet for First Kernow.

Hope you all had a great Bank Holiday!

Grahame.

East Coast Truckers Children's Convoy

Usually the Sunday prior to the August Bank Holiday regularly sees the East Coast Truckers Children's Convoy when drivers take disabled and disadvantaged children in their cabs for a trip to Pleasurewood Hills. The public line the route to clap and wave as it as passes through Norwich, Acle, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston before arriving at the Suffolk attraction around midday.



There must have been some one hundred HGVs in the convoy this year and I caught up with it at Church Road in Gorleston hoping to get a photo of the support coaches provided by Sanders Coaches.



The two involved were Jonckheere bodied Volvo B13RT BT14 DLX and Volvo B8R/ Plaxton Panther OC21 SAN. The former was the only one in the outward procession passing through Gorleston but both took part in the return trip.

Roy

Great Yarmouth Visit

As I hadn't visited Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station on a Saturday this year I thought I would look in to see what was about - especially with this being a bank holiday weekend. Gone are the days when it used to be a real hive of activity with most of the site taken up with coaches visiting from the Midlands, the North and the South East to mention but a few.



This afternoon saw it muster the grand total of just eight vehicles with the first being County Coaches' Irizar i6 YM23 UAX. The operator is based at London 's Luton Airport.



Second in line was another Luton - based operator Theobolds Coaches with its Neoplan N2216 KC15 DHY.



Fowlers of Holbeach were represented by Volvo B8R /Plaxton Leopard 836 FOW, formerly registered as YX17 OGT.



On the rear rank was A-Line of Coventry's Bova FuturaYJ60 LBX and an Irizar i6 Intregal YT17 EZV from Mullany's of Watford.



Landmark Coaches Irisbus Eurorider / Marcopolo Viaggio CC09 CRC was also present.



Two other regulars, KM Travel's VDL M100 KMT and Kearney's (Glenferry Coaches) Scania 162-C-9755 also put in an appearance



I returned home via First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot and witnessed recent arrival, Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B9R TFO 319, peeking out of the building. Sheldon Rees contacted us through our Facebook page to say that First Norwich had recently received Volvo B12B /Plaxton Panther LK07 CDF. Thanks Sheldon.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 23rd August 2023

A significant number of changes to local services are published in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

First Eastern Counties is altering the timetable of the following routes from 6th September 2023:-

921 Cobholm Tesco to Cliff Park, Ormiston Academy
931 Burgh Castle, High Road to Ormiston Venture Academy
994/99A Kings Head, Southwold to St Mary's Street, Bungay
998/99 Lowestoft Bus Station to Southwold, Pier Avenue (from 5th September)

Sanders Coaches is to introduce a new Tuesdays only 22A service between Weasenham and Fakenham Oak Street from 3rd September 2023. The operator is also changing the route and timetable of its 22 Mileham's Litcham Road to Fakenham's Oak Street route from the same date.

Coastal Red, operating as Lynx, is amending the timetable of its 36 route from Wells-next-the-Sea to Fakenham Oak Street. It is also altering the timetable of its 48/49/49A services between Kings Lynn Transport Interchange and Fakenham's Oak Street . Both changes to take effect from 4th September 2023.

Konectbus is amending the route and timetable of its 84 Harleston to Norwich service also from 4th September 2023

BACT Community Transport is changing the days of operating its Lowestoft Buzzabout between Lowestoft, Blundeston, Somerleyton, Lound and Gunton from 4th September 2023. The change will enable it to cover a larger area of drop off points within Lowestoft

Felixstowe Travel has received approval to increase the authorisation of the number of vehicles at its Walton Avenue premises in the town to thirteen vehicles. The licence has also been upgraded from a Standard National to a Standard International one.

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

Roy

First Coach Arrives

Late yesterday afternoon a Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B9R coach arrived at First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot.



First 20802 TFO 319 travelled to the depot from Bridgewater yesterday and is expected to be employed on contract duties. Previously with the Buses of Somerset in Truronian livery, the coach was new to First Essex as YN08 OWP

My thanks to First for the information and photos.

Roy

Tuesday Tour

The sunshine provided a welcome backdrop for this morning's Tuesday Tour of the holiday areas of Great Yarmouth and Beach Coach Station.



The first coach seen was Boorman's (Chiltern Travel) Mercedes-Benz Tourismo T19 HWT in shearings.com colours. It was new to them as BL16 GAA.



Next up was Caledonian Travel's Tourismo NH69 JHH, a former National Holidays' coach new in November 2019.

Telford of Newcastleton's VDL Futura HD X3 TCN was observed outside the Nelson Hotel. Despite its X registration plate it was delivered in May 2019.

Outside the New Beach Hotel was Bland's Volvo B11R / Jonckheere JHV FP7788 - the operator becoming a regular visitor the resort..



As I was crossing Marine Parade Ministerley Motor's Irizar I6 bodied Scania K360IB4 YT15 AWC sneaked up on me and luckily the traffic lights delayed its journey allowing me to quickly get a photo!



Finally, I looked in at Beach Coach Station and found only one coach present. Owen's Travelmaster's Tourismo BA19 OXE was on hire to Bakers Dolphin and being guarded by a seagull!

Roy

Peelings On the Ball

Peelings Coaches of Tittleshall regularly provides coaches to all of Norwich City Football Club's home games and this Sunday employed Volvo B10M-61 FAH 275Y.



The post coincides with the news that operator is holding a centenary gathering at its home village this coming Sunday, 27th August. The long established Norfolk operator has been owned by the Joplin family since 1990.

My thanks to Dan High for the photo and incidentally the Canaries won 3-1!

Roy

Abellio Acquisition

A First Lowestoft driver has contacted us regarding the recent purchase of a former Abellio London single decker.



He and his friend have acquired Alexander Dennis Dart KP02 PVU which was new to Armchair in June 2002. It later passed to Abellio in February 2010 and became their 8481. The Dart currently resides in the London area but will shortly move to an undisclosed location in Suffolk. There is a dedicated Facebook page KP02 PVU Preservation which will provide updates.

My thanks to the driver for providing us with the information and photos plus its history is sourced from Ian's Bus Stop website

Roy

First Contract Coaches

I understand that two coaches are due to be based at First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot for a contract to transport workers to a food processing site.

Earlier one had been identified on the Bus Times website as Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B12B 20612 LK07 CDF which recently saw use with First Worcestershire. In the past it had been employed on First Berkshire railair.com services between Reading and Heathrow Airport and is seen in this guise in the photo kindly provided by Steven's Transport Photos. 

However, as the vehicles selected are nearing the end of their useful life the start of the contract could now be delayed whilst others are sourced 

My thanks to Steven for the use of his photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 16th August 2023

More interesting 'local' items appear in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

First Eastern Counties is amending the timetables of its 14/15/15A/15B Green Line services between Wymondham and Wroxham/ Blofield Heath/ Lingwood from 3rd September 2023

Great Yarmouth-based Ambassador Travel is to cancel its 50 College service between Gorleston Sixth Form College and Easton College (via Martham) and its 600 ASDA route between the store and Market Gates. Both changes to take effect from 31st August 2023.

Another cancellation is B R Shreeve & Sons' LT179 service connecting Gorleston with Norwich City Centre from 1st September 2023.

PTS Group (Norfolk) Limited has received approval to use Unit 10 at Tilia Business Park on Tunstead Road in Hoveton as an operating centre for five vehicles. A number of conditions have been attached to the consent.

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

Roy

Big Bus Show

A successful Big Bus Show was held at Stoneham Barns Park near Stowmarket in Suffolk yesterday held in conjunction with the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group. Whilst we were unable to attend Dan High did! He sent some fifty photos for us to choose from which was a difficult task.



His first shows Smith's Coaches' JKV 412V, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Bedford YMT which was new in December 1979 to Smith of Alcester. The coach was voted Showstopper of the event.



Next up are three almost brand new deckers from 'local' independents in the form of Mulleys' two Switch Metrodekkers YJ23 EKO and YJ23 EKN plus Sanders Coaches' Volvo B8L/ MCV EvoSeti 128 PC23 SAN. The Volvo secured first prize in Company Double Decker category.



Also attending was one of the thirty Volvo BZL zero-emission battery electrics from Stagecoach East at Cambridge. Total access was allowed to MCV bodied 86018 BV23 NSO.

An interesting participant was Dan's Coach Travels' T125 OAH. The Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE was new to Great Yarmouth's Ambassador Travel as their 522 in March 1999 for use on Norwich Park and Ride duties. I understand from David Pomroy that sister vehicle T127 OAH was also present from Fareline of Wingfield.

Hulleys of Baslow sent along their Optare Solo M995 WK11 APY which was new to Western Greyhound of Summercourt as their 987 in April 2011

Among the First Eastern Counties contingent was Lowestoft's ADL Enviro200 44451 YX09 HKK. It was the fifth and last to be received by First Lowestoft replacing their older saloons. The bus secured the runners up award for Best Company Single Decker. It is pictured with First Essex Shuttle ADL Enviro200MMC 67161 YY66 OZW.

Other First Eastern Counties vehicles present included Ipswich's Wright StreetDeck 35919 BN72TVO and Eastern Counties heritage liveried Volvo B7RLE VW547 BF12 KWH plus Norwich's ADL Enviro400 MMC 34421 SN17 MTO. Photobombing the picture was privately preserved ex First Dennis Dart 42905 WX05 RVN.



The final photo shows former Flying Banana Freight Rover Minibus D70 TLV attending its first show. It is owned by the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group which also provided former Great Yarmouth AEC Swift WEX85M, Blue Bus liveried Scania S574 TPW plus Leyland National YYE284T in Eastern Counties colours.

My thanks to Dan High for all the photos and to the organisers of the Big Bus Show at Stonham Barns. For those missing the Show, Graham Sleath has compiled an excellent fifteen minute video of the event on YouTube

Roy

AP12 BUS Gains Fleet Names

Omar Atiallah tells me that Mulleys'  Volvo B7RLE/MCV Evolution AP12 BUS now has had stickers/fleet names applied to the it as of yesterday. I understand it will not now be attending the Big Bus Show at Stonham Barns this Sunday 13th August.

My thanks Omar for the photos.

Roy

New Bus Branding

Regular contributor 'jdraves1' has provided a quick update on the Coach Services' fleet. Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora CS21 BUS has now joined BV23 NVC in being branded for the 88/89 service between Thetford/Brandon and Kings Lynn.

My thanks to him for the information and photo

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 9th August 2023

A significant number of entries in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report with many relating to changes being made by Sanders Coaches.

The North Norfolk operator is introducing two new schooldays services - 602 Brickmaker Public House, Horsford to Reepham High School and 603 from Church Street, Elsing also to Reepham High. Both commence on 3rd September 2023.
Sanders is also to amend the timetables of the following five routes from 3rd September 2023:-

6/X6 North Walsham Post Office to Great Yarmouth Market Gates.
9A Sheringham Station Approach to Fakenham Oak Street.
79 Lower Gresham to Cromer High School.
405 Cley Old Woman's Lane to Sheringham High School.
CH1 Coasthopper between Cadogan Road Cromer and Wells-next-the-Sea Quay.

The operator is also amending the route, stopping places and timetable of its 44/X44/44A Heath Farm, Holt to Sheringham Station Approach from the same date in addition to cancelling its Holt Hopper service 8.

First Eastern Counties is introducing a new 905 schooldays service from Salhouse Road, Little Plumstead To: Acle Academy from 4th September 2023

Roy

Beccles Routemaster

Tim Miller noticed an unusual visitor to Beccles Old Market Place bus stops during yesterday evening in the form of Routemaster RML 2401 JJD 401D. It was thought to be on private hire for a wedding party.

Thanks Tim

Roy

Jubilee's Paramount Moves On

Rollesby-based Jubilee Coaches has sold its Plaxton Paramount bodied Dennis Javelin G210 UAS back to its previous owner Dan's Coach Travel of Stowmarket says a report on the latter's Facebook page.



The Norfolk operator originally acquired the coach from them in December 2020. It was earlier with Panther Travel as BIG 8856 and new to Maynes of Buckie in October 1989. A former driver told me at the time of acquisition that the vehicle had been well looked after with the underneath being 'rock solid'.

My thanks to Kevan Portas for the use of his photo

Roy

Tuesday Tour

Our regular weekly tour of the Great Yarmouth holiday area and Beach Coach Station provided the sighting of just four coaches today.



On South Beach Parade was Caledonian Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo UMO 58. The former National Holiday's coach was previously registered as NH69 RHH.



The remainder were at Beach Coach Station with Coachleasing.com's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BJ16 KXL reminded me of the old Shearing's Grand Tourer livery and it was probably the one and the same! It was operating on behalf of Harry Shaw.



Gloucestershire-based FR Willets RHV 462 was noted next. The Jonckhere JHV bodied Volvo B12M was new to Allander Coaches of Milngarve, Scotland in June 2007 as SF07 TKD



The final coach was Chiltern Travel's Kassbohrer Setra S416GT-HD K21 HCC in shearings.com colours.

Roy