Remembrance Sunday

With Remembrance weekend upon us I am featuring some local buses adorned with poppies to remember the fallen.

At the beginning of the month outside First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot wsa Volvo B9 36284 LX59 DBO, acquired from London General in October 2022.

Yesterday regular contributor Dan High provided provided photos of Norwich buses receiving the same treatment. His first photo features First Eastern Counties Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner 36542 BK73 AFU being passed by Konectbus Optare Versa 305 YJ60 KGU which was new to Anglianbus.

Also observed was newly arrived Konectbus Volvo B7 509 LX06 EAC also featuring the poppy

Our final contribution is from Kevan Portas showing LNER’s 91 111 named “For The Fallen”.at Doncaster propelling a Leeds-London service back in June this year.

My thanks to Dan for the Norwich photos and to Kevan for the Doncaster photo.

Roy

Gorleston Trio

Despite yesterday's dull grey day, I ventured out to walk to Gorleston Library to return and borrow some books.



Leaving the library, I noticed the time matched the expected arrival of a BorderBus service from Great Yarmouth, which would head to Harleston. With 'lighting up' time approaching and the light fading, I decided to photograph its departure. To check the lighting, I first snapped a shot of First Eastern Counties Pride bus, Volvo B9 36202 BN12 WOC.



Reasonably satisfied with the quality, I noticed the BorderBus decker was immediately behind it in the photo and subsequently got a picture of it about to make the same turn. I was pleased to see that it was one of the AVA registered ones being their Scania OmniCity 213 BB10 AVA with the Alde Valley Academy branding now removed.



Continuing my walk home, I passed East Norfolk Sixth Form College as students dispersed for the day. Among the vehicles present was Sanders Coaches' Volvo B7RLE / MCV 533 SW63 TAV with the patient driver waiting departure time for the 6 to North Walsham.

Roy

Norwich Activity Today

Today marked the debut of Sanders Coaches' newly branded X55 MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE 526 BV72 KKA 'Roger Parker'. It was spotted on the route at Norwich Bus Station by Dan High.



Dan also observed Wrights Coaches Volvo B11RT / Plaxton Elite R25 PTS during its layover at Castle Meadow close to the entrance to Castle Mall.



Additionally, he checked what was operating on Simonds' route 82 to Royden and saw their ADL Enviro200 9383 MX was waiting time.



At the Dolphin Autos' depot in the city, he encountered their KAC1. Contrary to its plate's previous association with a Mercedes-Benz it is now an Irizar-bodied Scania, though its former identity remains a mystery.



Once again, my thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 6th November 2024

There are no 'local' interest entries in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report. Nevertheless, the complete report will be available for viewing here soon.

Roy

Norwich Earlier Today

Regular contributor Dan High was stationed at his usual spot on Castle Meadow earlier today, capturing some activity in Norwich.



His first catch was a photo of the recent transfer from First Essex Volvo B9 37140 SN57 HCZ on its first day of service with First Eastern Counties. Formerly from Colchester, it was seen operating the X29 service from Fakenham.

Simmonds' former Lodge Coaches East Lancs-bodied VDL DB250 YJ56 KCK was once more utilised for the 82 service to Roydon.



A few of the First Eastern Counties Wright StreetDecks were spotted on atypical routes, including 35286 SL67 VXP on the 11 to Hethersett and 35150 SN67 OMU on the 14 to Wymondham.



Our thanks to Dan for his continual contributions of photos and updates.

Roy

Megabus M87 Service

Further to David Slater's post regarding the reduction of Megabus services in England (Megabus Route To Be Axed - 31st October 2024) he tells me its been some time since he looked at what was running on the 09:10 Megabus Birmingham-Cambridge-Norwich service M87.



He continues 'To my surprise rather than it being Prospect Coaches it was, on both Saturday 2 November and Sunday 3 November 2024, the same coach of Thandi Executive Coaches of Smethwick (TH18 NDY), a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo new to Shearings Holidays (148) in June 2018 registered BU18 YTC.

The enclosed picture was taken on Sunday 3 November 2024 at 1214 as the coach passed through Fiveways, Barton Mills. The scheduled intermediate timings on this trip are Coventry (1000), Cambridge (1135), Norwich (UEA) (1305) and Norwich (Bus Station) (1315).

Only a few weeks remaining before Megabus withdraws this and most other services it operates in England. In this case Sunday 1 December will be the last date of operation'.

Many thanks for the information and photo David

Roy

Coastlink Enviro400s

A number of First Eastern Counties coastlink Alexander Dennis Enviro400s are awaiting attention at Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot.



They include 33805 YX63 LJK (gearbox issues), 337807 YX63 LJN (pictured) and 33814 YX63LKC (electric fault)

Also awaiting attention is Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 36286 LX59 DBV with a compressor issue.

My thanks to First for the information.

Roy