Friday 31 May 2024
Simonds' Withdrawals
The first is ADL/Transbus Enviro300 SN06 BOV which joined the fleet from Suffolk Norse by late summer of 2022. It is seen here on Norwich's Castle Meadow during February last year
The other two are Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B9Rs SIA 488 and SLK 886. The former was previously FJ11 GMZ and was acquired from Edwards of Llantrisant in November 2019. The latter was ex FJ11 MLE which joined the fleet a month later and is pictured in St Stephen's Street in Norwich in November 2021.
My thanks to Omar for the information
Roy
Thursday 30 May 2024
Wednesday At The Beach
Two were Mercedes-Benz Tourismos from the Alfa Travel fleet in the form of A143 BF23 CFL and A148 BF24 AOW (pictured).
Also present was Felixstowe Travel's M40 FXO, a 2017 Volvo B8R with Sunsundegui SC5 bodywork.
Roy
Wednesday 29 May 2024
This Morning At Ensign
The first photo shows a former First Great Yarmouth Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL which has been converted into a driver training vehicle. 37023 YJ06 XKM is about to be transferred to West Thurrock-based Road Train
Another similar decker in Coastal Reds livery was present in the form of ex 37154 YN06 URH. This confirms the suspected destination when seen by Jon on a trade plate in Lowestoft on 15th May
Roy
Lowestoft Loan
Service Alterations Registered ~ 29th May 2024
Konectbus is introducing a new Coastal Konect 717 service from 29th June 2024. It will operate from Norwich Bus Station to Kingsway in Hemsby via Sprowston, Wroxham and Martham.
First Eastern Counties has amended the timetable of its 1C service between Hemsby Beach and Great Yarmouth's Britannia Pier from 25th May 2024
The latest Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to view here soon.
Roy
Tuesday 28 May 2024
Felbrigg Hall Services
'Something a bit different for 2024. Sanders Coaches of Holt in North Norfolk, have adjusted a number of rural routes that serve the Cromer, Holt and Sheringham Triangle. These are the already established once-a-week Monday to Friday 16/17/19/20, plus new route 15. All routes serve the National Trust property of Felbrigg Hall and Parkland, along private gated roads.
The dedicated bus is fleet number 222 (RX22 SKU) a low-floor Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with EVM Cityline bodywork, upon which Mrs.W and I experienced the 16 (Holt & Cromer) and 15 (Cromer & Sheringham). The series of attached pictures illustrate a selection of the rural and narrow byways plus some of the local ruminant inhabitants encountered along the way. My gate opening/closing and shepherding skills were put to good use and unlike the Bermuda Triangle, we lived to tell the tale.
The second new route in Norfolk to serve such a property did materialise. Operated by Hevingham-based Sunbeam Luxury Coaches route 1B is an infrequent circular service based on Aylsham, that runs on Mondays and Fridays (not Bank Holidays). It appears that the regular steed is a 14-year old Bluebird Orion bodied Fiat Ducato registered YX60 CLF, illustrated in front of the Hall.'
My thanks to Tony for his report and accompanying photos
Roy
Monday 27 May 2024
Revisited Ipswich March 2011
Been a long while since we did a revisited feature, so as its a bank holiday i thought i would have a dig through my hard drives and take a trip down memory lane.
March 29th 2011 is where we are going back to and a very sunny day in the suffolk town.
We begin with First Volvo B7RLE 69430 which was in Park & Ride livery but sporting an allover advert for Suffolk Police when pictured here in the Bus Station.
Independent Operator Carters had this ex Stagecoach United Counties Olympian L679HNV as part of their fleet of varied vehicles, they were eventually purchased by Ipswich Buses.
Beestons of Hadleigh had Scania Omnicity YT11LTA in use on their 91 service between Sudbury and Ipswich, this was later aquired by West Coast Motors in Glasgow and became a partial open top working on the Glasgow city sightseeing tour.
Galloway of Mendlesham had AY09BYC a VDL SB220 Plaxton Centro from new and seen here in a very bright version of their livery entering the Buttermarket.
Finally another Operator serving Ipswich at the time is Mulleys of Ixworth, P641ENN is a Scania L113CRL, East Lancs. This was one of a pair aquired from Nottingham City Transport.
Hopefully not as long between blogs next time!
Grahame
Sunday 26 May 2024
Another Ipswich Exile Appears
This time it was YN56 NVC which is now with Suffolk & North East Essex Wellbeing Services. Cameron Robinson noticed it parked up on the quayside in the town
Thanks for the photo Cameron
Saturday 25 May 2024
Soggy Saturday
In Traditional Bank Holiday style the good old english weather lived up to expectations and today was a wash out!. Certainly not the type of weather fit for open top bus rides, however they were running today along with a red intruder.
One of the survivors from last years fleet of open toppers is 32348 LK53LZL (now back on original plates). It was the first noted today whilst i spent 45 mins at the Seashore terminus in the car with some sandwiches and camera!.
Next arrival was 37065 CRZ266 one of the new B9TL conversions from Norwich.
For those who preferred a drier ride Coastal Red 36282 LX59DAO was in service about to head to Hemsby when she was pictured waiting to leave.
The rain got a tad heavier just as i jumped out to photograph 37066 CRZ366 arriving which at this point was my cue to exit home!
Finally former Norwich Red line B9TL 36193 BN12JYT was on Staff shuttles between Seashore and the Depot.
Lets hope the rest of the Bank holiday brightens up a bit!
Grahame.
Friday 24 May 2024
Ex Ipswich Scania Still Going Strong
Thursday 23 May 2024
Chatsworth Surprise
After the morning run on the Blue route they returned to the Chatsworth House hub, where what should be parked up was one of Hevingham-based Sunbeam Coaches coaches. M29 SUN is a Jonckheere Mistral bodied Volvo B12M which was new to Titteringtons registered as FJ06 BOV..
Many thanks Tony for the photo
Roy
Wednesday 22 May 2024
Local First Bus Changes
Coastal Reds route 2 is to be extended - recent withdrawal 37025 YJ06 XKO is seen in use in April 2024 |
The new Coastal Reds timetable booklet can be downloaded here
* The Coastal Reds service 7 will see improvements including additional journeys and the operation of a new Saturday service.
The new Coastlink X1/X11 (& 7) timetable booklet can be downloaded here
* There is to be no changes to the Coastal Clipper 1/1A route between Lowestoft and Martham although a revised timetable will provide a more reliable service
The new Coastal Clipper 1/1A timetable booklet can be downloaded here
Many of these changes are being partially funded by Norfolk County Council under the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), aimed at enhancing public transportation infrastructure.
* The Coastal Clipper 99 service in Lowestoft will cease operating via the Coast Road and will use Norfolk Road in Wangford with minor timetable changes. Additional 99A departures will also be provided
The new Coastal Clipper 99/99A timetable booklet can be downloaded here
Transformation Underway
My thanks to First for the photo.
Roy
Service Alterations Registered ~ 22nd May 2024
Roy
Tuesday 21 May 2024
Ambassador's 73C Service Today
It was registered NK73 YBA and was new to Weardale Motor Services of Stanhope in September last year and running for a short while as GO73 WMS. I am assuming the 27 seater is now with Ambassador.
Roy
Monday 20 May 2024
The Remaining MMCs
Both 34425 SN17 MTY and 34426 SN17 MTZ are pictured in the vicinity of the bus station and were new to Bournemouth's Yellow Buses. They continue to operate with First Norwich branding.
Roy
Saturday 18 May 2024
Wrights Coaches Additions
They are two blue liveried 45 seater Scania Omnilink PSVAR compliant single decker buses in the form of YT61 FEU and YT61 FEP, formerly with Preston Bus as their 30115 and 30116. They have now received registrations W22 PTS and W23 PTS respectively.
My thanks to Matthew Wright for the information and photo.
Roy
First Volvo On Trade Plates
The vehicle concerned was Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL 37154 YN06 URH with the trade plate 580 TW. It is assumed it was on its way to Ensignbus at Purfleet. Perhaps a future visit by Mark Doggett will be able to locate whether it was destined for there (or not!)
My thanks to Jon for the report and to his daughter for the photo
Friday 17 May 2024
From Leicester To Norwich
Yesterday At Ensign
His photo shows ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL 32651 AU05 MUO - originally in use with First Ipswich and later with First Lowestoft
Also present was former First Great Yarmouth Volvo B7TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 37021 YJ06 XKK
Next up are photos of similar First Lowestoft 37043 YJ06 XLT and 37044 YJ06 XLU.
My thanks to Mark for the information and photos.
Roy
Thursday 16 May 2024
First Norwich MMCs On The Move
The latest to arrive at Chelmsford today is 34424 SN17 MTX and is pictured here by Dale Bell.
My thanks to Dale for supplying the photo.
Wednesday 15 May 2024
Sanders Latest Arrival
Plaxton Panther 3 bodied Volvo B8R CE24 SAN is named Charles Edward Sanders after the company's Managing Director. It is shown outside the operator's new Norwich depot on Bessemer Road
My thanks to Nick Farrow for the photo and information.
Sunbeam Coaches' Acquisitions
The first coach is Yutong GT12 YD19 HHZ acquired from ABC Coaches of Pendlebury, Manchester
The other addition is Temsa HD12 Safari NG17 XML from TS Travels of Ossett in West Yorkshire. It was originally registered as H19 ATK
The operator has also opened a second depot at Dunkirk in Aylsham.
My thanks to Nick Farrow for his help with this post.
Roy
Service Alterations Registered ~ 15th May 2024
Monday 13 May 2024
MNR Bus & Coach Day
The first from Dan shows Hedingham Wright bodied Volvo B7TL 502 LF52 ZN normally seen on the Clacton open top service.
His second pictures London Country liveried Northern Counties Palatine II bodied Volvo Olympian R364 LGH passing the display area at the station.
His next one features two deckers at Hardingham Station. Former Westcliff on Sea AJN 825, a 1939 Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol K5G, stands beside another K5G former Eastern Counties HPW133 which was built ten years later.
Moving on to the display area, captured by Dan in the Konectbus corner, was their ADL Enviro200 248 LX13 CZA, previously with Go North West, and driver trainer ADL Enviro400 9645 LX57 CJJ.
Jack Taylor took photos of four vehicles seen clockwise starting with Ipswich Buses 29 Scania N230UD Omnicity. in heritage livery celebrating 120 years of Ipswich Transport. Next is SALEC Travel's Setra A4 SDY followed by Sanders Coaches' Volvo B8RLE/ MCV BV23 NUU and finally Dons of Dunmow's Neoplan Tourliner DH17 DON
Jack also took a photo of former London Transport 1950 AEC Regent III with Weymann RT8 body RT 3183 KYY 912.
Finally, Dan observed this ex Sanders Coaches' SNT 925H, a 1970 Bedford VAL 70 with Plaxton Panorama Elite bodywork. The vehicle has recently been reacquired by the operator's owner.
I'm very grateful to both Dan and Jack for all the photos they've sent but unfortunately I can't publish all of them but have mostly selected those vehicles appearing for the first time
Roy
Sunday 12 May 2024
J&M's Latest Acquisition
It was an Optare Solo M780 with the registration MX06 ABO which the group collected on Friday and was driven to its new home without any issues. The Solo was new to Hampson & Furness (Speedwell Bus) of Greater Manchester in April 2006. More recently it was in use with Star Travel of Aylesbury, a family run private hire and bus operator.
It joins three other vehicles owned by J&M Preservations; ex Abellio KP02 PVU, former Halton Transport PX06 DWD and ex FirstBus WX05 RVN
My thanks to Mason Lee for the information and photos. Continuous fleet updates are available on the group's Facebook site
Roy