New Flixbus Service Begins

Regular contributor David Slater went over to Thetford this morning to see the inaugural Norwich-Stratford Flixbus service. David takes up the story

'This was the day that Flixbus introduced a new service between Norwich (Bus Station) and London (Stratford, City Bus Station). There are two daily departures leaving Norwich at 0700 and 1430 departing UEA (University of East Anglia) 15 minutes later and Thetford (Bus Interchange) 65 minutes after Norwich. The overall journey time is 2 hours 50 minutes. Departures from Stratford are at 1100 and 1820.



Fleet number 418 (YK25 OME), a Yutong GT12 new in April 2025, is seen at Thetford on today's 0700 Norwich-Stratford journey. The coach was in full Flixbus livery operated with Simonds of Botesdale Limited legal lettering (address as Advanced Technology Innovation Centre, Loughborough LE11 3QF) running on a Simonds operator disc.'

My thanks to David for the information and photo. He added 'Quite a few passengers boarded at Thetford'

Roy

Getting In Gear!

After some time, First Great Yarmouth has finally begun work on replacing the gearbox on its Volvo B9TL 37275 LK58 EDJ. The Coastlink liveried decker is reported on the bustimes website as last working the X1 route back in late November 2024!

Meanwhile, partial open top Volvo B7TL 32348 LK53 LZL is at Norwich receiving attention.

My thanks to First for the update.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 16th April 2025

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report contains just one item of 'local' interest.

Jubilee Coaches, from Rollesby near Great Yarmouth, has received approval for a variation in its operator licence. It now has consent for a new operating centre at Drury's Vehicle Services site at Cornish Way Business Park in North Walsham for three vehicles. Its new licence authorisation is now eleven vehicles.

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

Roy

Ambassador Update

Following our post on the arrival of Ambassador's Neoplan Tourliner OY24 ZWZ (Ambassador Arrival (& Departure) - 4th April 2025) we received some comments on the post which you may not have seen. The Tourliner was one of two arriving from Reays Of Wigton during the spring of last year with the other being 257 OY24 ZWX.

Next the 22 plate National Express motioned departure was apparently on its way to Scania with a clutch issue - our anonymous respondent said it was either fleet number 300 or 301.

BV19 XOZ at Ambassador Travel's Gapton Hall site in January last year

Finally, to confirm the 2019 registered coaches purchased from National Express are 217 BV19 XPA and 218 BV19 XOZ which have now had their National Express branding removed.

I am grateful to the anonymous contributor for supplying the information.

Roy

More Arrive At Mulleys

Regular contributor jdraves1 has provided a photo of one of three new members joining the Mulleys fleet.



All three are Wright StreetLites and the one pictured shows wheel forward SK19 FAJ at Bury St Edmunds Bus Station having arrived on the Wednesdays only 300 service from Ixworth Thorpe. The saloon was new to Passenger Plus of Tadworth in Surrey during March 2019.

My thanks to jdraves1 for the information and photo

Roy

Roundtree Way Observations

A few observations from Norwich's Roundtree Way depot today where repowered Wright StreetDeck 71024 XIG 1724 was seen. Repowering means that its diesel engine has been removed and converted to electric traction with battery packs installed.



First Great Yarmouth's partial open top Volvo B9s 37067 CRZ 488 and 37533 CRZ 166 are both at the Norwich site having some work carried out on them. The latter is seen alongside driver trainer Volvo B7RLE 66840 MX05 CGE



A second trainer was also present in the form of similar 66883 MX55 HHP in its yellow and green 'BlockBuster' colour scheme.



The final thing to report is that First Norwich's Volvo B9 36269 BG12 YKB was employed on First Great Yarmouth's service 2 between Market Gates and the James Paget Hospital, via Bradwell, earlier today.

My thanks to First for the information and photos.

Roy

It's back!

Following our post last month (More Withdrawals - 11th March 2025) regarding the accident to Fareline Coach Services' Volvo B10BLE / Wright Renown T127 OAH, we can now report its return to service following repairs.



jdraves1 supplies a photo taken yesterday of the former Norwich Park and Ride vehicle parked in the layover area at Bury St Edmunds bus station. Its absence was covered with the use of Volvo B7RLE CYZ 2303 from Whincop of Peasenhall

My thanks jdraves1 for the information and photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 9th April 2025

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report provides details of some changes to services in our local area.

Paul Whincop of Peasenhall near Saxmundham introduced two Monday to Friday schools services from 21st March 2025. They include TM01 Minden Drive Bus Stop in Leiston to Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham. The second is TM02 Peasenhall Road in Halesworth to Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham.

First Eastern Counties has altered the route, stopping places and timetable of two of its services from 30th March 2025. They are the 11/11A /12 between the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and Sprowston/ Wroxham and the 15/15A from Millfield Close in Blofield Heath to Nightingale Avenue in Silfield,

The full Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to be viewed here

Roy

Konectbus Developments

Beginning on 31st March, Konectbus improved its 30A service to Drayton and Thorpe Marriott including new first and last weekday journeys to and from Lyng (see timetable here). Dan High got a photo of the service worked by ADL Enviro200 MMC 201 YX69 NPF earlier today



Also observed in Norwich Bus Station today was ADL Enviro200 247 YX62 DTY fresh from repaint into the new Konectbus livery.

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Essex Enviro

Dale Bell has sent some photos of a First ADL/TransBus Enviro300 in a newly adorned livery supporting Essex County Cricket Club. The team are known as the Eagles and the club is primarily based in Chelmsford



The bus is First Essex 67755 SN62 ASO which was recently pictured in Chelmsford. It was new to First Glasgow in February 2013.

My thanks to Dale for the many photos supplied

Roy

Jubilee On Tour

One of Jubilee Coaches' vehicles was spotted earlier today in Whitby by one of their former drivers Kevan Portas.



He took a photo of the Setra S415GT-HD MY63 JCR which was previously ex National Holidays coach NH63 CYH

I'm grateful to Kevan for the photo

Roy

Norwich Workings Today

Dan High provides some photos of workings in Norwich earlier today with the first featuring Simonds' Mercedes-Benz Sprinter EVM Cityline RX25 TFF on the PR3 Postwick Park and Ride.



Also being employed by Simonds on the same route was ADL Enviro200 MMC YX72 OMY seen at Castle Meadow.



Adjourning to the Bus Station he captured First's Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner 36566 BK73 AHX on the PR1 Thickthorn Park and Ride. Also observed there was First's Volvo B9 37711 YJ09 OBF about to head for Lowestoft on the X22 route.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Quartet On The Move

On East Yorkshire Enthusiasts Facebook Group this morning is the news that four Alexander Dennis Enviro400s had arrived on loan from Konectbus.




The quartet are Konectbus 629 SN65 OAJ, 631 SN65 OAM, 632 SN65 OAO and 633 SN65 OAP. They are still in the Norwich Park & Ride colour scheme with 632 being the first to receive East Yorkshire branding. Apparently whilst they are 'up north' the foursome are be repainted.

I am grateful to jdraves1 for his photos to illustrate this post.

Roy

Worthing Bus Changes

My daughter has sent me a couple of photos featuring Stagecoach South ADL/Transbus Enviro300 GX60 PCZ newly painted into the latest livery. It was on display on South Street in Worthing today promoting up and coming service changes in the area.



The changes are expected to take place tomorrow (Sunday) to 'provide better services and improve punctuality', so the official blurb says!. Hopefully I will be in the town towards the end of the month to sample the service for myself.

Roy

Coach Services 80

On Monday last Coach Services introduced a new 80/80A service between Thetford and Mildenhall providing an half hourly service to Brandon. jdraves1 tells me that route 80 has a school variant of the 80A which goes through Beck Row whereas the 80 avoids it.

He provides a photo of Volvo B7RLE/ Wright Eclipse Urban HF05 HXG which was spotted working the service on its first day.

Thanks again to him for providing the information and photo

Roy

Mulleys Second Arrival

Regular contributor jdraves1 reports that the second Volvo B7RLE/ MCV Evolution recently acquired by Mulleys Motorways from Simonds is now in the former's orange livery. BT13 YWE was captured on its first day in service.

My thanks to jdraves1 for the information and photo.

Roy

Ambassador Arrival (& Departure!)

Following our feature on Gapton Hall Estate (Gapton Threesome - 29th March 2025) where we featured a vehicle at Ambassador Travel, driver Phil Redman contacted us with details of a recently acquired coach.

Neoplan N2216/3SHDC Tourliner OY24 ZWZ was purchased from Reays of Wigton, having been new to them in March last year. Adorned with fleet number 258 it is intended to have Just go/ National Holidays livery applied

My thanks to Phil for the information and photo.

Just after posting this, Robert Kelly tells me that he observed one of Ambassador Travel's 22 plate National Express vehicles on a low loader on the A47 heading away from the town. He also noted that two of the National Express 19 plates have had their National Express branding removed and are now in all over white..

Roy

Exhausting Work

First Great Yarmouth reports that partial open top Volvo B9TL 37069 CRZ 622 is having work undertaken on its exhaust system at the Caister Road depot.

My thanks to First for the information and photo.

Roy

Sanders Latest Arrival

On social media Sanders Coaches has announced the arrival of the first of two more Plaxton Leopard coaches joining the fleet this year. Volvo B8R AV72 VKT is wheelchair accessible, PSVAR compliant and seats up to 72 passengers. It carries fleet number 911



The coach was previously new to Beestons Coaches as their FHJ 565 in October 2022.

My thanks to Sanders for the information and photo.

Roy

New Repowers In Service

Dan High was on duty at Norwich's Castle Meadow today when he observed Wright StreetDeck New Power EV 71025 CMZ 5293 in service.



For the record the six recently repowered vehicles, together with their previous identities, are as follows:-

71016 W6 FAL formerly 35103 SM15 WCR

71020 MXZ 7674 formerly 35109 SO15 CUJ

71022 CMZ 5332 formerly 35207 SL16 RFF

71023 XIG 1723 formerly 35200 SK16 GVZ

71024 XIG 1724 formerly 35208 SL16 RFN

71025 CMZ 5293 formerly 35113 SO15 CUW



Dan reports that 71023 XIG 1723 was also in use and is pictured in Norwich earlier today.

My thanks to Dan for his photos

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 2nd April 2025

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report contains details of some changes to services in our local area.

REL Felixstowe has gained approval for an operating centre at Beach Station Depot on Walton Avenue in the town for 13 vehicles. Whether this will proceed or not is open to speculation following recent developments. Felixstowe Travel Limited surrendered its operating licence on 27th March 2025 relating to the same site.

Our Hire has amended the route, stopping places and timetable of its 80 service between Wroxham and Dereham from 30th March 2025.

Konectbus has amended the route, start and finish point, stopping places and timetable of its 717 St Stephen Street, Norwich to Kingsway, Hemsby service from 31st March 2025.

The same operator has also amended the route, start and finish point, stopping places and timetable of its 5B service between Norwich Bus Station Stand A / Easton College / Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Stalham from 30th March 2025.

Ambassador Travel is to cancel its 73C service between the Cantley Cock Public House and East Norfolk Sixth Form in Gorleston from 10th July 2025.

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

Roy

First Great Yarmouth Update

Firstly, I've been asked many times about the future of partial open topper Volvo B7 32348 LK53 LZL. It will not be returning to Norwich as its City Clipper decals are being removed at Caister Road and will remain at the seaside for this summer season.

A couple of Coastal Reds Volvo B9s are having their rear axles replaced - 36186 BN12 JYJ and 37564 AU58 ECC.

Wright StreetLite 47503 SN64 CPX requires a new engine and Volvo B9 37574 AU58 ECY is undergoing inspection in Norwich.

Regarding MOTs, open top 37067 CRZ 488 has passed while 33810 YX63 LJV and 37532 MXZ 3342 are currently having theirs carried out.

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the update

Roy

StreetLite Repaint

That's the first quarter of the year gone then with March being a busy month for the blog publishing more than 40 posts! We continue with the first post of this month featuring the news that one of First's Wrightbus StreetLites being repainted in the Flying Banana bus livery reminiscent of the 1990s.



Looking forward to see that operating on First Great Yarmouth routes 2 and 3 serving Bradwell, Burgh Castle and Belton.

Many thanks to Tom Green for the information and photo.

Roy