StreetLites Arrive

Cameron Robinson reports the two Wright StreetLites from First South Yorkshire have now arrived at Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot. (Yorkshire StreetLites Arrive - 30th August 2024)

My thanks to him for the use of the photo.

Roy

BorderBus Repaint

Earlier in the month we reported the arrival of three ex Newport Transport Scania N230UB OmniCity single deckers at BorderBus. (BorderBus Further Update - 8th August 2024)



One of them, YT11 LUF, was away for repainting and returned this week in BorderBus colours. It made its debut on the 580 route this morning working the 07:45 from Harleston to Great Yarmouth and continued on the route for most of the day.

My thanks to 'Reg Vardy' for the photo which was taken in Gorleston High Street.

Roy

Back In Service

Following 'jdraves1' report on the withdrawal of ADL Enviro400 MMC CS72 BUS from the Coach Services fleet (Coach Services' Withdrawals - 14th August 2024), I am pleased to say that it returned to traffic yesterday following repair.



He observed it in Bury St Edmunds on his return trip to Brandon on the 14:55 service 86. I am grateful to him for the report and photo.

Roy

Sheringham Sightings

With the North Norfolk Railway (NNR) nine day Festival of Steam drawing to a close this weekend, I thought I should make an effort to witness the running of new build locomotive No 6880 Betton Grange before it leaves the county.



However, in between the trains I observed bus activity on the Station Approach in the town with Sanders Coaches' Mercedes-Benz Sprinter EVM Cityline 222 RX22 SKU awaiting departure time as we crossed the road to enter the station.



Using an all day NNR rover ticket, I was also able to see bus workings outside the station in between the railway departures. The first was Volvo B8RLE / MCV Evora 518 BV21 OOA Norfolk Adventurer on the Coasthopper CH1 to Wells-next-the-Sea.



Route 9 Sheringham to Fakenham branded ADL Enviro200 409 YX63 LJA Marjorie Olive Thompson
was also noted on Station Approach.



A similar Volvo B8RLE was observed opposite the station in the form of 524 BV22 HBN Norfolk Wanderer on a return CH1 service to Cromer.

Emergency rail replacement services were introduced due to signalling issues between Hoveton / Wroxham and North Walsham. One of the substitute workings employed Sanders Volvo B8R / Plaxton Panther 927 CE24 SAN Charles Edward Sanders.



Another North Norfolk operator, Wrights Coaches, was also seemingly providing rail replacement with their Scania Omnilink W23 PTS in use.

Roy

Yorkshire StreetLites Arrive

Mark Doggett advises that two Wright StreetLites have arrived at Norwich from First South Yorkshire.



They are 47484/5 SN64 CNV/X in Olympia livery and he believes they are destined for Great Yarmouth.



My thanks to Mark for photos of the vehicles which were taken in Doncaster on 17th May this year.

Roy

Dolphin Travel's Latest Arrival

Another arrival at Norwich-based Dolphin Autos is M10 YKM , a Scania K114IB with Irizar Century bodywork. It was previously with K Matt Coaches (Matthews Travel) of Chadderton, Oldham.

My thanks to Dan High for the information and photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 28th August 2024

The East of England Traffic Commissioner published his regular Notice & Proceedings Report earlier this morning with Great Yarmouth-based Ambassador Travel featuring strongly.

The operator's Public Inquiry was held at Cambridge on 12th August 2024, having previously been deferred on 22nd July 2024 . It was determined under Section 17 of the Public Passenger Act of 1981 that disciplinary action be taken to reduce vehicle authorisation from 55 to 31 vehicles for a period of four weeks, effective from 12 August 2024.

Ambassador Travel also gave the following undertakings:
•   Roller brake testing will be carried out at every (5 weekly) preventative maintenance inspection.
•  The operator will arrange an independent audit to be carried out by a DVSA-authorised audit provider, the RHA, Logistics UK or other equivalent independent body, by 12th February 2025..The audit will assess the systems for complying with maintenance and drivers’ hours requirements, and the effectiveness with which those systems are implemented.

The audit should cover at least the applicable elements in  the annex. A copy of the audit report, together with the operator’s detailed proposals for implementing the report’s recommendations, must be sent to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, Cambridge within 14 days of the date the operator receives it from the auditor.

Ambassador Travel also gave the following two statements of intent:
•  All drivers will receive in-house tachograph training within 28 days.
•  The operator will retain a compliance consultant until full compliance can be achieved.

Road & Air Vehicle Sales Limited of Airfield Farm Cottage in Monewden, near Woodbridge surrendered its operating licence from 22nd August 2024.

The complete Notice & Proceedings Report will be available to be view here soon.

Roy

Epping Onger Railway ~ Routemasters

The Essex-based Epping Ongar Railway held an event on Sunday celebrating the 70th anniversary of the first appearance of London Transport's Routemaster bus



Dan High attended and provided a large number of photos of participating vehicles which provided me with the inevitable task of deciding which ones to publish. However, the first shows four double-deckers RM1979 ALD979B, RM2217 CUV217C, RMC1507 507CLT and RML 2331 CUV331C



Next up is RML902 WLT 902 which was new in early 1962. During the following year it visited Munich and Zurich and later a tour of the USA. It is shown in its experimental Green Line livery.



Our third photo is of RM835 WLT 835 which entered service in July 1961 at Stamford Hill. It was acquired by Clydeside Scottish in September 1986 and appears in their colours. It is now preserved by the Clydeside Preservation Group of Brentwood



RMC1453 453 CLT was new to Aldenham garage in June 1962 and was used in many LT publicity photos. It received a paint into red in November 1980 and subsequently reverted to 1960's Green Line livery in September 2013.



Our final photo features RM1933 ALD 933B, another Routemaster new to the Aldenham garage but in June 1964. In 1983 it received a 1933 livery of red/white/black/silver. It was taken out of service three years later and in August of that year it was bought by Kelvin Scottish.

My thanks to Dan for the significant number of photos. The relevant individual histories were taken from the excellent Iain's Bus Stop website

Roy

Inaugural Run

Thursday (15th) witnessed the first day in service for the latest addition to the Sanders service bus fleet, MCV Evolution bodied Volvo B7RLE 535 BF12 KWT.



In the shot, captured by Stephen Purkiss, the location is Norwich Road at Horsham St Faith and 535 is shown working the Reepham bound 43 journey.

BF12 KWT started life as a Volvo/MCV demonstrator with National Express West Midlands Travel in April 2012. It subsequently passed to a number of other operators for evaluation/use, but retained the original red/white WMT livery throughout. It was last recorded with Mackie of Alloa and arrived in Norfolk from them during June 2024.

My thanks to Stephen for the information and photo which would've been published sooner if it hadn't been buried among the spam!

Roy

Clacton Trip

A trip to Clacton yesterday for the airshow with flying activity delayed for a couple of hours due to the blustery weather conditions.



We travelled to the resort on Belle Coaches' Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 18 BD18 TKO. It's a former National Holidays' coach and is seen here at the Martello Coach Park shortly after arrival.



The delayed action in the air provided an opportunity to explore the town and also the possibility of some bus photos! Walking along Marine Parade West I observed a Dennis Dart SLF / Caetano Nimbus KX03 HZP operated by North Essex Travel. New to Ealing Community Transport, it had also seen use with Cardinal Buses and Target Transport.



Continuing to Pier Avenue it appeared the major operator for the area was Hedingham & Chambers with the first picture showing their Scania N230UB Omnicity 461 NK56 KJF about to leave on a 97 Walton-on-the-Naze service. It was one of many transferred from Go North East in October 2022.



Former Brighton & Hove Scania N270UD OmniDekka 826 YN57 FYA was observed complete with its predecessor's livery and is one of around a dozen that have migrated to Essex



Also seen was Hedingham & Chambers Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 536 LX59 DCZ preparing to depart for Jaywick on the 4. It was new to London Central now Go-Ahead London.

And the airshow? A much restricted display running later than normal with the star of the show for me being the B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B - the last remaining airworthy B-17 in Europe. Lets hope the weather improves for today's flying.

Roy

Ensign Revisited

Mark Doggett returned to Ensign's premises at Purfleet earlier today and found two former First Great Yarmouth buses with new registrations.



The buses, First Eastern Counties 32211 TJI 4838 and 32208 HIG 8790, were positioned such that he could finally take a decent photograph of them. Both were modified to partial open-tops for the Land's End Coaster. They were taken out of service last year and replaced by Enviro400s. The twosome now appear to be part of the Ensign sales stock of vehicles and not as reported earlier.



Additionally, he shares a photo of Ensign's BCI Enterprise Tri-axle 406 LX19 EAG, which is adorned with a special wrap for Cadbury’s advertising campaign, previously active on promotional trips between London and  Southend. It was also used on similar trips between Leeds and Bridlington 

My thanks again to Mark for his regular reports and photos from Ensign. Also grateful to Adam Kalleher for the additional information on LX19 EAG

Roy

Simonds' Arrival

Diss-based Simonds of Botesdale has recently added two double-deckers to its fleet and one of them is former Flagfinders' Scania YN53 YRD. New to Metrobus in January 2004 the East Lancs bodied Scania N94UD also saw use with Wheelers Travel of North Baddesley



It was noted on Norwich's Castle Meadow yesterday employed on the 1620 from Norwich to Diss service still bearing the Flagfinders fleet names.

My thanks to Omar for providing the information and photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 21st August 2024

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

Roy

Former Norwich Gemini Leaves Camborne

Following his report on former Norwich Geminis in Cornwall, Dave King provides an update on 36166 BD11 CFK which suffered an engine issue in mid-July.



He witnessed the Volvo B9 departing Camborne under tow today by a locally based wrecker probably destined for a Volvo dealer in Cornwall that undertakes bus repairs.

Thanks Dave for the update and photo

Roy

Today's Coaches

A visit to Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station this afternoon where I saw six coaches parked up. 



Among the front row of three was Crosskeys of Folkestone's Scania / Irizar YT24 BVC representing the JG Travel Group



On the rear rank was Caledonian Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo NH18 DGH, a former National Holidays' coach.



Also on the back line was GL22 PUL, a Van Hool EX16M, from the fleet of Pulham of Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire.

The remaining trio were regular visitors to the town - Alfa Travel's BN17 JCY, KM Travel's M400 KMT and Caledonia Travel's LE60 HOL.



Parked on North Drive awaiting passengers was Mullanys Coaches of Watford's YT17 EZV, an Irizar i6 Integral.



On Marine Parade opposite the Wellington Pier was Pats Coaches' Mercedes Benz Tourismo PC24 PAT.

Roy

Ensign Visit

Mark Doggett, a frequent visitor to Ensign, was once again at their Purfleet premises today and found some notable activity.



Firstly two former First Eastern Counties double-deckers were observed side by side. They were Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL partial open toppers 37000 LX53AYY and newly converted 37410 MX58 DXZ. The former recently left Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot whilst the latter is awaiting a repaint into its expected caramel livery.

Additionally, in the workshops was First Eastern Counties 35201 SK16 GWA which has received the dateless registration of OIG 1790.

My thanks to Mark for the information and photo.

Roy

Sanders Soccer Specials

Saturday saw the start of home matches being played at Norwich City Football Club's Carrow Road ground in the 2024/25 campaign. As last season, North Norfolk-based Sanders Coaches provided a number of services and ardent Norwich supporter Dan High was there to witness activity both outside and inside the ground.



His first photo captures three double-deckers after arrival with 115 YN53 CFF from Fakenham, 116 YN53 CFZ from North Walsham and 114 YN54 AFV from Holt.



Additionally this year, with Simmonds not running their services to Carrow Road, Sanders Coaches took on the two routes from Diss and Garboldisham on a trial basis. Working those routes were Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante's 921 536 FN and 928 FJ60 EFS.



Thanks Dan for the information and photos. For the record the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Roy

Coach Services' Withdrawals

Contributor 'jdraves1' has reported the withdrawal of two double-decker buses from the fleet of Thetford-based Coach Services.



Firstly Scania N230UD OmniCity LX59 CPK has been removed from service and was more lately used as a school bus until its engine failed. The Scania was originally acquired from Stagecoach East London in June 2015.



The second is ADL Enviro400 MMC CS72 BUS which has been withdrawn due to a road traffic accident that happened a few weeks ago. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, and the bus might be repairable. It was later shown on bus times as being in service but this was due to a driver mistakenly inputting the wrong registration on the site.

Thanks to 'jdraves1' for this update.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 14th August 2024

Today’s East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report contains a notice of a Public Inquiry concerning a Suffolk-based operator.

Relating to PF Travel of Woodbridge, it is to be held in Cambridge on 5th September 2024 and will consider the following:-
Disciplinary action under Section 17 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act of 1981.
Disciplinary action under Section 28 of the Transport Act of 1985.
The Transport Managers Repute under Schedule 3 of The Public Passenger Vehicles Act of 1981.

The full Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to view here soon.

Roy

Norwich On Tuesday

Daniel Pretty captured some unusual operations in Norwich yesterday and has provided photographs to document them.



The first depicts First Great Yarmouth Coastal Clipper liveried Volvo B9 37571 AU58 ECV operating on service 7 from Great Yarmouth, a route it does not usually serve as it is typically assigned to the 1/1A Martham to Lowestoft route via Great Yarmouth.



Daniel's second observation was of a double-decker on Simonds' Norwich to Diss service, specifically VDL DB250 YJ56 KCK.



Finally, he noted the newly acquired BorderBus ADL Enviro400 MMC BB22 BUS in St Stephen's Street, boarding passengers for the 146 service to Southwold.

My thanks to Daniel for the photos

Roy

BorderBus Enviro400MMC

Andrew Watts noted on the bustimes website this morning, the apparent addition of BB22 BUS in use on the BorderBus 146 service. Coincidently his son so happened to be in the area at the same time armed with a camera!



He captured a photo of the bus at the junction of Church Road and Wash Lane in Kessingland, on the 09:40 Southwold to Norwich route. The bus, an all-white ADL Enviro400 MMC featuring BorderBus fleet names, is presumed to be YX22 OJB which Steve Blackburn recently reported as being on the operator's site, although this remains to be confirmed.

My thanks to Andrew and his son for the information and photo.

Roy

The Big Bus Show

Yesterday saw the Big Bus Show staged at Stonham Barns near Stowmarket with more than 100 vehicles registered to attend. I planned to visit the event but a last minute family issue precluded that - but I know a man who did, fortunately! That person was Dan High, who provided many photos of the vehicles that made the trip there and, again, I had the difficult problem in deciding what to publish and what not to publish.



As expected the First Eastern Counties and First Essex fleets were well represented but I choose to publish a picture of ex Norwich Alexander Dennis Enviro 400MMC 34424 SN17 MTX to cover both operators. It is now with First Essex in their @essex airlink' livery. First Great Yarmouth heritage branded Volvo B9 37562 FJ08 FYN also made an appearance.



Other major operators were represented too including a Dew Coaches' trio. They were Volvo B7RLE BV73 MPO, Bedford YMQ JFT 412X and more recent arrival Volvo B8RLE/MCV eVoRa BL24 GYP.



Suffolk-based Beestons secured first prize for a company double decker with its Volvo B8L/MCV EvoSeti triaxle MUN 56N. It is shown operating the 210 service connecting Stowmarket Rail Station to the venue.



Mulleys Motorways exhibited three vehicles with Volvo B8R YX69 LCM and Switch Metrodecker YJ23 EKN both shown here. The third was Volvo B13R YY63 WCK.

Local preservationists also proudly displayed their vehicles including at least three from the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group. These were ex -Great Yarmouth Corporation AEC Swift WEX685M, Eastern Counties Scania S574TPW in First Blue Bus livery and Eastern Counties Mercedes-Benz 609D / Frank Guy N619 GAH



Suffolk-based J&M Preservations had three of their buses on show including former Abellio London Alexander Dennis Dart KP02 PVU and ex London United Volvo B7TL GIG 9134. Despite issues with their Optare Solo MX06 ABO, it also made it to the event.



Our final photo shows preserved Whippet Coaches Scania L94UB / Wright Solar AF52 VMD, new to them in September 2002

Other Norfolk operators attending were Sanders Coaches, Jubilee Coaches and Wrights Coaches

My special thanks to Dan High for supplying all the photos and to the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group who were hosting the event.

I can also recommend Graham Sleath's YouTube video of the event which can be viewed by clicking on the link: The Big Bus Show 2024 Stonham Barns Suffolk (youtube.com)

Roy