Welcome To Worthing

My first opportunity to observe bus activity in Worthing was late yesterday afternoon and it was nearing dusk. After a few pictures during daylight hours I thought I would try and experiment with the ‘night mode’ on my mobile phone.

I thought it might be appropriate, bearing in mind our closeness to the magic day, to take my first photo of a bus beneath the ‘Merry Christmas from Worthing’ illuminated sign. It features Compass Bus ADL Enviro200 YX63 GXP on the 16 to Lyons Farm.

With the light beginning to fade, I took a photo of Stagecoach South’s ADL/Transbus Enviro300 27664 GX10 KZS passing similar 27675 GX60 PDK, in the latest livery, opposite The Dome Cinema in Worthing.

Also seen opposite The Dome is unibus branded ADL Enviro400 MMC 11228 SN69 ZDJ being prepared for a 700 service to Durrington..

I experimented a little more with some slowly moving buses but the photos tended to be slightly blurred. So I decided to move to South Street to capture buses at the stops with Christmas lighting in the background with the first showing out of service Enviro300 27832 GX62 BUU at the front of the photo.

The final photo features another ADL Enviro400 MMC 10943 SN18 KNG with ‘You can’t miss us’ branding on the 701 to Lancing with a Compass Bus ADL Enviro200 passing the lights in the background on South Street.

Reasonably pleased with some of the results of ‘night mode’ and will definitely use it again.

Roy

Coastlink Decker Withdrawn

Another Coastlink branded decker has been withdrawn by First Eastern Counties. It’s Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 37141 SN57 HDA which joined the local fleet from First Borders in April 2021. It received Coastlink colours during June of that year and is pictured by Will Drake following its transfer to First’s Lowestoft depot. It’s next and final journey will be to the scrapyard.

Volvo B9 37722 YJ09 OBT has returned to Norwich whilst Ultraviolet StreetDeck 35196 SK16 GVV is now on loan at Caister Road,

My thanks to First for the update.

Roy

Completely Gorleston

Two Completely Coach Travel vehicles arrived in Gorleston earlier today loaded with customers attending an event at the Pavillion.

One of the coaches was their new Irizar i6 YN75 ZXZ thought to be making its first appearance in Gorleston. It was supported by similar L29 CCT which was new to Coliseum (Lucketts) as JIL 8230 in May 2016 and later became PG16 LXJ.

Two of the company’s Van Hool TD 927 Astromegas were also noted on private hire in Great Yarmouth with R28 CCT and J29 CCT parked up at the coach station.

My thanks to Kai Gied for the photos and information. Kai has also set up a Facebook group for the operator.

Roy

Yellow For Blue

Another First Norwich bus not on its correct coloured route this morning was Yellow Line Volvo B9 36267 BG12 YJZ on Blue Line service 25. It is seen at Castle Meadow on its way to the University of East Anglia.

My thanks to Dan for the photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 10th December 2025

Again there’s just the single entry concerning local bus operations in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

First Eastern Counties has amended the timetable of service 7, between Great Yarmouth Market Gates /James Paget Hospital and Norwich Bus Station, from 2nd November 2025.

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

Roy

Volvo Re-registered

Further to our post from last Thursday, Mark Dogget paid another visit to Ensign of Purfleet today and found former First Norwich Volvo B9 / Wright Eclipse Gemini with its new number plate. 36168 BD11 CFN has been re-registered LPY 374 as expected.

My thanks to Mark for the information and photo.

Roy

Another Enviro300 Joins First Essex

Over the weekend another First Eastern Counties ADL/TransBus Enviro300 moved south to First Essex.This morning saw 67773 SN62 AXH, in Ipswich Park & Ride colours, at Chelmsford Rail Station on its first day in service on the c1 to Galleywood.

It was in April 2017 when it moved from First Borders to First Eastern Counties depot in Great Yarmouth for preparation for the new service. Simon Taylor provided a photo to accompany our original post about its arrival.

My thanks to Dale Bell for his photo of 67773.

Roy

Norwich Selection (8/12/25)

Day of from work to do some Christmas shopping in the city, so took the camera along for when the shopping bug left!

 

First up is one of  the more recent Streetlite arrivals from First Essex, 63169 SN64CJV is pictured in Castle Meadow working the 36A route to Mulbarton.

It has been a while since i had the camera out in Norwich so i still have a few vehicles to catch up on!

 71025 CMZ5293 (ex. SO15CUW) is one of the re powered Streetdecks operating in the city.

 

One of the oldest fleet members now is Volvo B9TL 37139 SN57HCY seen here about to depart for Fakenham on the X29. It recently had a brief spell in Great Yarmouth before returning to Norwich.

 

Finally we have BT63UUR a Volvo /MCV Evolution, previously with Simonds and now part of the Coach Services fleet. Seen here about to head out to East Harling.

Hopefully another trip before Christmas (When the shopping is finished!)

Grahame. 

Thursford Coaches

David Bell has been to Thursford several times this year since the Christmas Concerts started and has provided a selection of photos for use on the blog.

Representing the long distance operators were Brethertons of Longridge in Lancashire with their Volvo 9900 bodied Volvo B11R GL22 HOL in its distinctive red livery. 

John Martin of Midsomer Norton in Somerset was represented by their VDL Futura2 JM19 HOL.

KM Travel of Barnsley, an operator which regularly visits Great Yarmouth, sent along their Yutong GT12 KM25 KMT.

The more local operators were represented by Coach Services of Thetford’s Scania YN17 OLW and Ipswich-based Suffolk Travel’s Volvo PN06 KJZ

I’m grateful to David for the many photos

Roy

StreetLite Gets New Livery

Harry Holmes was  out and about in Norwich tonight and caught site of former First Essex Wright StreetLite 63143 SN14 DWW in its new corporate colours with First Eastern Counties. It was its first time out in service in the new livery with its first journey’s beginning this evening. He apologises for the poor quality of the photo due to the bad lighting conditions.

Roy

First Lowestoft Withdrawal

First Lowestoft has lost another of their ADL Enviro200s with 44450 YX09 HJO being withdrawn for scrapping. This leaves only 44454 YX09 HKO as the last of a batch of five which began arriving at the operator from London United from August 2022 onwards.

My thanks to First for the information.

Roy

Norwich Activity

Dan High was observing bus activity in Norwich this morning when he witnessed Flagfinders’ ADL Enviro400 585 LJ59 LYA being employed on Transport Made Simple (Simonds) park and ride PR3 service from Postwick.

Shown leaving Norwich Bus Station is ex First Huddersfield Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B9TL 37725 YJ09 OBW on the X21 to Lowestoft. It had been swapped for Wright StreetDeck 35287 

SL67 VXR.

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Another Ex Norwich Bus At Ensign

Mark Doggett called in at Ensign of Purfleet this morning and found another former First Norwich Volvo B9TL /Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 present.

It was former Blue Line 36168 BD11 CFN and, from the message on the windscreen, it looks as though it will shortly be re-registered LPY 374.

My thanks to Mark for the information and photo.

Roy

Dartline Visitor

Noted in Great Yarmouth town centre this morning was a red Dartline Irizar i6 coach parked on Alexandra Road. It was DL25 DLC which was in use with Majestic Holidays with a Thursford banner in the front windscreen.

My thanks to Tim Miller for the information and photo

Roy

Norwich Yesterday

A couple of shots from Dan High's sightings yesterday on Castle Meadow in Norwich. The first features Viking Coaches of Heywood's Van Hool T916 Astron T9 VCC passing First Eastern Counties Wright StreetDeck NewPower 71023 XIG 1723 The former was new to Galloway of Mendlesham as AY06 CPZ in 2006.



Also out yesterday was recently transferred ADL Enviro400 33573 SN58 ENR and this time it was on First Norwich route 13 to Spixworth.



My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

One In, One Out

Following yesterday’s post about the expected arrival of Wright StreetDeck 35670 MF22 SXY at First Great Yarmouth, it duly appeared at Caister Road late this afternoon.



It had been delivered from Mardens Commercials in Benfleet following a repaint from Badgerline colours into First corporate livery.



The driver returned to the Essex site soon after with First Eastern Counties Coastlink branded ADL Enviro400 33807 YX63 LJN which had been withdrawn from service earlier today. When there it will also receive the new corporate colours before passing to First Essex.

My thanks to First for the information and photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 3rd December 2025

There is just the single entry concerning local bus operations in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

Our Hire, operating as Our Bus, has amended the timetable of its 86 servicer between Thurlton/ Beccles Old Market and Norwich Bus Station from 3rd November 2025.

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

Roy

First Loans

Further to yesterday's post regarding the move of First's Volvo B9 37139 SN57 HCY to Norwich, it was replaced at First Great Yarmouth by similar First Bradford branded 37722 YJ09 OBT.

With a backlog of repairs at Caister Road, there are additional loans in the form of Volvo B9s 36192 BN12 JYS (pictured) and 37711 YJ09 OBF plus ADL Enviro400 33814 YX63 LKC.

There's also the expected arrival of Wright StreetDeck Ultroliner 35670 MF22 SXY tomorrow.

My thanks to First for the information.

Roy

First Transfers

Following its transfer from Basildon in Essex, ADL Enviro400 33573 SN58 ENR works on its first day in service with First Eastern Counties on the 25 route in Norwich on its way to the railway station.



Another apparent transfer appears to be the move from Great Yarmouth to Norwich of Volvo B9TL 37139 SN57 HCY which was being employed on the First Norwich 28 service to Thorpe Marriott



The photos were taken on Castle Meadow in the city by a rather damp Dan High - thanks Dan.

Roy

Completely New

Last weekend Norwich-based Completely Coach Travel announced the purchase of their brand new coach on social media



YN75 ZXZ is an Irizar i6s with the photo taken at Irizar's premises in Nottinghamshire prior to handover. An interior photo is also shown.

My thanks to Completely Coach Travel for the photos.

Roy

City Soccer Specials

Two of the newer members of the Sanders Coaches’ fleet were used on Norwich City Football Club specials earlier today.

MCV EvoSeti bodied Volvo B8L 133 MA75 BEL Mabel Rose Sanders was employed on the NC1 service from Holt.

Yutong GT12 802 NO25 MWJ Michael Wynn-Jones, in classic livery, operated the NC5 route from Larling.

Also present  was Hollinshead Coaches’ Neoplan N2216SHDC Tourliner MK25 HOL. The  number plate was created in recognition of an employee named Mick for 25 years service.

My thanks to Dan High for the photos.

Roy

First Lowestoft Depot Today

We bring you photos of some sightings at First Lowestoft’s Gas Works Road depot taken this morning. The first shows single deckers 44974 YY25 DKE, 47805 SK17 HHA, 69544 BF12 KWD and 44975 YY25 KDK.

Three of the quartet are part of the Specialist Passenger Solutions fleet for Sizewell duties while the Ultraviolet Volvo B7RLE is used on First Lowestoft duties.

The next picture shows a withdrawn ADL Enviro200, prepared for its final journey, alongside Coastal Clipper Volvo B9 37566 AU58 ECE.

Two ADL Enviro200s and 44454 YK09HKO and 44533 SN62 DBV feature in our last photo with Coastlinks Volvo B9 SN57 HDA providing the filling in the sandwich.

Roy

X1 Unusual

A first today i believe on the X1 for Bradford liveried Volvo B9TL 37722 YJ09OBT which appeared on the route this morning after 37139 SN57HCY failed on the route in Norwich earlier in the morning.

 

37722 pictured here in Market Gates after arriving from Norwich, it later returned west on the X11.

Grahame. 

StreetLite Repaint

Harry Holmes reports the repaint of First Eastern Counties Wright StreetLite 63168 SN64 CJU from the Olympia colour scheme into the latest Ultraviolet livery.

He sends a photo of it in Norwich’s Castle Meadow on its first day in its new colours working the 36A to Harleston.

Thanks Harry for the photo and report.

Roy

Colour Blind?

Luke Champney has emailed us with some photos showing First Eastern Counties coloured vehicles wrongly working on their allocated routes in Norwich.



The first is of Orange Line branded Wright StreetDeck 35141 SN65 OMJ on the Blue Line 25 route to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.



The next features green Volvo B7RLE/ Wright Eclipse Urban 69555 BF12 KWR with a Pink Line 11A service to Sprowston.



The third shows Turquoise Line's Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL 36184 BN12 JYG being employed on Orange Line 21 to Old Catton .

I am grateful to Luke for his photos

Roy

Ex Norwich Bus On the Move Again

With First announcing plans to withdraw all of its services from Cornwall from the middle of February next year, the operator is already looking at plans to relocate its buses.

Mark Doggett observed one of their vehicles at Ensign today in ex First Norwich Turquoise Line Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36172 BD11 CFV. However, it now has a new registration of GDZ 539 but still retains a 'Transport for Cornwall' sticker in the front screen! Some research reveals that it has transferred to York Pullman, along with others, for further use / onward sale.

My thanks to Mark for his report and photo.

Roy

Norwich Wednesday

Another couple of photos from Dan High taken earlier today of workings in Norwich's Castle Meadow. First Eastern Counties Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 36269 BG12 YKB is basking in the sun waiting for the off to Sprowston.



The next picture shows Eastern Counties heritage liveried Volvo B9 VW183 BN12 JYF on the 26 service passing Electroliner 36543 BK73 AFV waiting to leave on the 24 to Queens Hill.



Thanks to Dan as always for the photos

Roy