First Norwich Gemini to receive new livery

 Norwich based Volvo B9TL 36180 BD11CDZ is the first of its type to gain the new corporate livery

Thanks to Sheldon at First for the photo.

Grahame.

Three Days in Dereham

Chad Lovick provides photos of First Eastern Counties' bus activity on three consecutive days in Dereham this week.



The first shows Volvo B9 36183 BN12 JYF in heritage livery running through the town on Tuesday whilst working the Excel D service.



On Wednesday he saw similar, but Charcoal Line branded, 36182 BF12 KXV also on the same route arriving in Dereham. It subsequently travelled further the following day on the Excel B to Peterborough.



My thanks to Chad for his photos

Roy

J&M Preservations Latest Addition

J&M Preservations has announced the latest addition to its collection and (naturally) its a Dennis Dart!



It is an East Lancs-bodied version registered M454 LLJ, which has been safely recovered to group's Suffolk premises by Manchetts Recovery and are grateful for their expert help in getting the vehicle delivered.

New in the mid-90s, M454 LLJ was previously with Vale Travel of Aylesbury and before that was a former Yellow Buses vehicle, sporting its distinctive East Lancs EL2000 bodywork. Over the years, it’s seen a wide variety of use; from busy public routes leading towards its retirement as a spare support bus. Tired but not forgotten, it’s managed to survive the scrapyard and is now ready for a new chapter.

Follow its future progress on the J&M Preservations Facebook page. I'm grateful to Mason Lee for the information and photos

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 28th May 2025

There are a few changes to local bus services listed in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

BorderBus has amended the route, start and finish point, stopping places and timetable of its Bungay to Great Yarmouth 580 service from 17th May 2025

Sanders Coaches has altered the route, stopping places and timetable of its X55/55B services between North Walsham Post Office and Norwich city centre from 18th May 2025. On the same day it changed the timetable of its 54 route between North Walsham and Norwich Bus Station

The full report is now available to view here.

Roy

Latest Loans

Grahame provides a quick update from Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot which includes the loan of a couple of deckers from Norwich.

They are Wright StreetDeck Ultroliner 35141 SN65 OMJ and Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 36268 BG12 YKA. He suggests one could be cover for 36198 BN12 WNY, which caught fire last week and featured prominently in local media.

My thanks to Grahame for the update

Roy

Beach Coach Station ~ Sunday Evening

Yesterday evening I called in at Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station on the way home after dining out.



I discovered four coaches present with all of them being Mercedes-Benz Tourismos and two of them from the same fleet. The twosome were Alfa Travel's A159 BV25 LZO and A135 BV22 WTR; the latter a regular visitor to the resort



Green Line Holiday's GH19 GLC was parked next to them with Worcester-based Elgar Coach Holidays' EC15 PTC parked away from the others.



Roy

Hello Old Friend!

Regular contributor Dan High is spending some time in South Wales and earlier today he crossed paths with an old friend.



He observed First Cymru's Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 37057 YJ06 XMH which had been previously based in Great Yarmouth for use on Coastal Clipper services. It was now being employed on the Tenby Coaster service along with another ex Caister Road vehicle 37059 YJ06 XML. They had respectively moved to South Wales in March and February of last year replacing two Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TLs on the route

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Jeff Buckle RIP

Earlier this week, I learnt the sad news that local coach company great, Jeff Buckle, had passed away after suffering a period of illness.



Jeff was the former owner of Great Yarmouth coach business Caroline Seagull Coaches which closed on 31st of March 2008. At the time the company had relocated to South Denes and I visited a month or so later when I observed at least thirteen coaches still on site.



I later met Jeff on the eve of the Reynolds Coaches Retirement Auction at their Ormesby Road garage in Caister during early August 2018. I remember him talking about the merits (and mostly otherwise!) of the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo.

He subsequently established a two vehicle Reynolds of Caister business to operate school runs from the same premises. Our thoughts are with the family and wide circle of friends at this sad time - rest in peace Jeff.

Roy

Two Queens At Quorn

Nigel has been in touch regarding a visit he made last weekend to the Great Central Railway.



'The Heritage Bus Rally at Quorn & Woodhouse station held last Saturday included two vastly different double-deckers with local connections. Bristol G-type VG 5541 was new as Norwich Electric Tramways 43 in 1933 and became Eastern Counties LG4 (later HLG4/HLG496) in 1935, remaining in the fleet until 1960 thanks to being converted to open-top ten years previously.



Meanwhile W219 XBD was making its first appearance after restoration and repaint into original condition as Leicester City Bus 219. This was previously in Great Yarmouth Transport livery as First Eastern Counties 32059 with both repaints being performed by Darren Sentance of DS Coachworks in Sheffield ten years apart!'

I'm grateful to Nigel for the detailed report and photos. It's good to see First 32059 out and about again

Roy

In Norwich Today

Dan High has provided some photos of bus activity in Norwich this morning. His first contribution is an image of Konectbus ADL Enviro400 SN65 OAA in the new livery but with the recent addition of PRIDE embellishments.



He was also in the right place at the right time to snap the new First Eastern Counties Norwich Sightseer partial open topper ADL Enviro400 LK58 KHL stretching its legs on Rampant Horse Street.

Its appearance in the city was due to the open topper being out on route learning duties. 

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Norwich Sightseer Revealed

Following our report that the Norwich Sightseer open top service is to begin this Saturday 24th May (Norwich Sightseer - 16th May 2025), Zak Nelson has forwarded this image of ADL Enviro400 33427 LK58 KHL resplendent in its new livery.

Buses will run every hour from 10:00 to 16:00, seven days a week from 24th May to 20th September 2025 with the timetable available for download here

We are grateful to Zak for providing the image and very smart it looks too

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 21st May 2025

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

Roy

EATM 1960s Weekend

Last weekend the East Anglia Transport Museum held their 1960s event at Carlton Colville and Colin White attended on the Saturday.



He has sent along a few pictures with one showing First Eastern Counties Wright StreetDeck Ultroliner 35196 SK16 GVV carrying out park and ride duties



Parked up together was this former London Transport duo in the form of RM613 WLT 613 and RT1163 LYF 104. The former is a Routemaster of 1960 vintage whilst the latter is a Leyland Titan dating from 1951



Former Great Yarmouth Corporation AEC Reliance AEX 85B features in the next photo alongside another London Transport vehicle RF626 NL626, an AEC Regal IV / Metro-Cammell built in 1953.



Also present was a line up of a number of vintage cars.

My thanks to Colin for the photos

Roy

Ensign Yesterday

Mark Doggett made one of his many visits to Ensign at Purfleet yesterday and has provided a couple of pictures of his findings



His first photo features First Eastern Counties Wright StreetDeck NewPower EV 71020 MXZ 7664. New to First Bristol as 35019 SO15 CUJ, it has yet to turn a wheel service with Counties.

The second is of former First Eastern Counties MX58 DXZ which has now been converted to open top and painted as a Butterscotch Breezer for Ensign's Southend seafront service.

My thanks to Mark for the information and photos.

Roy

First 69544 Returns

First Norwich Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse 69544 BF12 KWD returned to active duties this weekend following its repaint at Mardens Commercials of Benfleet.

My thanks to Dan High for the photo of 69544 which was working the 38s between Ives Road and the University Technical College Norfolk in the city earlier today.

Roy

Former Eastern Counties VR Observed

David Bell writes that he has just returned from the Merseyside Bus Club's annual holiday which this year visited Devon

RAH 260W now named 'Lacie' after the owner's daughter

He continues 'I joined them at Cheltenham where they took a lunch break having left Merseyside in the early hours. Waiting in Royal Well bus station to take us to Wiveliscombe in Somerset en route to our hotel in Torquay was former Eastern Counties VR RAH 260W now owned by Troopers Lodge Motor Services of Moreton-in-Marsh. The company has a number of heritage vehicles which are used for private hire, wedding services, TV and film work and proms.'

My thanks to David for the information and photo.

Roy

Ex First Eastern Counties In Essex

Two ex First Eastern Counties' single deckers were noted in action in Chelmsford yesterday by Stephen Tyrrell. They are former Ipswich Alexander Dennis Enviro 300s 67763 SN62 AUK and 67775 SN62 AXO



My thanks to Stephen for emailing the photos.

Roy

Ex Newbury Optares In Service

Earlier today, Dan High observed both of Sanders' recently acquired Optare (East Lancs) bodied Scania N270UD Omnidekkas in service in Norwich.

Grateful to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Norwich Sightseer

First Eastern Counties' new Norwich Sightseer service is to commence on Saturday 24th May 2025 confirms a press release on the operator's website.

Recently transferred ADL Enviro400 partial open topper 33427 LK58 KHL has received its new livery to work the service with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL 32348 LK53 LZL heading to the city to act as a spare vehicle,

Buses will run every hour from 10:00 to 16:00, seven days a week from 24th May to 20th September 2025 with the timetable available for download here

My thanks to First for the information and photo.

Roy

Norwich Yesterday

Dan High provides a couple of photos showing activity in the city yesterday with the first showing First Eastern Counties Wright StreetDeck Ultroliner 35286 SL67 VXP being employed on the 511 to New Costessey.

The second photo shows Simonds YK25 OME, a Yutong GT12, on the Flixbus 007 Stratford to Norwich service.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Market Gates Bus Station Changes

Major changes to bus travel at Great Yarmouth's Market Gates Bus Station are due to come into effect from this coming Monday following the completion of works.. With funding obtained from the government's Bus Service Improvement Plan, journeys are expected to be quicker and more reliable.

A number of new bus stops have been created as part of the scheme as shown on the plan, which allows buses to travel in both directions. A new way system will also be introduced.

From press reports, timetables etc, it is expected the stands will be used as follows:-
Stand A – Sanders Coaches 6/6A/X6 to North Walsham and Cromer

Stand B – First Eastern Counties 7/X1/X11 to Norwich, Ambassador Travel 271 to Bradwell
Stand C – First Eastern Counties 1/1A/8/983 to Caister & Martham

Stand D – X1/X11 (& evening 7) to Belton & Lowestoft

Stand E – First Eastern Counties 1/1A/8/983 to ENSFC & James Paget Hospital, Lowestoft, Ambassador Travel 271 to Hemsby

Stand F – BorderBus 580 to and from Beccles and Bungay

Stand G – First Eastern Counties 2/3/3 to Barrack Estate then James Paget Hospital & Burgh Castle
Stand H – Sanders Coaches 6/6A/X6 from North Walsham and Cromer

At present National Express appears to be continuing to use Beach Coach Station for their services.

Roy

Brighton Activity Yesterday

A much awaited ride to Brighton occurred yesterday on a Stagecoach South Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC to observe vehicle activity in the city.

After grabbing a meal deal from a local supermarket, we consumed it overlooking the sea with our view being interrupted with the passing of a number of foreign coaches including French based Orgo Voyages VDL EL-025-WP.

I adjourned to Pool Valley Coach Station and found it closed due to building demolition being underway with National Express services now operating from the Old Steine. The photo shows Worthing Coaches' Scania K410EB6 / Caetano Levante 55-66-55 BV72 XGJ awaiting time before departure.

The Old Steine itself provided an ideal location for the variety of vehicles in use including Brighton & Hove's 470 BK13 OAP, a Brighton & Hove Albion branded Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini.

Passing through was Redwing Coaches of London's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo RED8 BN17 JKO.

Metrobus operates services to and from Brighton and this is their Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 6937 BJ11 XHG operating the 273 service from Crawley.

Compass Bus was using YX25 DGA, one the first four of eleven new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMCs to provide the recently successful bid to run new services in the city under the Citybuzz brand.

Another Compass Bus Alexander Dennis Enviro200MMC, YX24 PLN, was operating the Brighton - Bristol Estate 37 route in all over white.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 14th May 2025

There's just one item of 'local' interest in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report. 

Coastal Accessible Transport Services, of Masterlord Industrial Estate in Leiston, has been given approval to vary its flexible Katch service between Framlingham and Snape from 12th May 2025.

The full Notices and Proceedings Report is available to view here.

Roy

Old Timer

Martin Bott was in Old Buckenham last week when he saw this Dennis Javelin being operated by Semmence on a schools service in the village.

New to Windsorian of Wokingham in April 1996 as N333 ASH, it later gained the registration of N43 AAH and was also L333 JCR when with Jubilee Coaches of Rollesby.. 

The vehicle may be a strong contender for the oldest (non-preserved) operational PSV in Norfolk (or Suffolk!) at 29 years old. Perhaps some of our readers could suggest any other suitable contenders?

My thanks to Martin for the information and photo. 

Roy

Sanders eVoRa Repaint

Following Saturday’s report on Sanders Coaches’ acquisition of two former Felixstowe Travel Volvos, I am able to report that both are now painted in Sanders colours.

Operations Manager Kieran Smith has forwarded a photo of 546 M20 FXO which has yet to receive its operator’s fleet names.

I am grateful to Kieran for the information and photo

Roy

Mid Norfolk Railway ~ Bus and Coach Day

Firstly, can I thank you all for your patience regarding the preparation of this post. Its delay is due to two important personal issues needing to be resolved requiring a journey to be made to the south coast with an almost three week stay there. I have tried to keep the blog going but, due to some time issues and being without my faithful old PC, I have found it very difficult to say the least. However, I'm now back home and normal service should resume very shortly.

Back to the matter in hand - I had planned to attend the event but the above issues meant me being unable to do so. Fortunately our faithful regular contributor Dan High did and here is a selection of his photos. This first features ex Eastern National open top Bristol KSW5G WNO 479 alongside Patrick Burnside's Eastern Counties 1949 Bristol K5G/ECW HPW 133.

Another open top appearing was former Ipswich Buses Leyland Atlantean No 9 MRT 9P

A third open topper was ex Eastern Counties and Cambus FLF6G/ Eastern Coach Works JAH 552D. An illustrated history of the vehicle compiled by Rob Sly can be viewed here.

Whincop of Peasenhall was displaying its recently refurbished OJI 742; a Wright bodied Volvo B10BLE new as Ambassador Travel's T127 OAH. It had spent most of its career with Blackburn/ Transdev.

Kings Lynn - based Lynx (Coastal Red) was exhibiting their preserved Leyland National UFX 852X.

Eagles of Castle Acre had their smartly turned out Volvo B7TL M30 ENH on view at the event.

Our final photo shows recently repainted Konectbus Alexander Dennis Enviro400 623 SN65 OAB on one of the many road runs.

Roy