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The next picture shows a withdrawn ADL Enviro200, prepared for its final journey, alongside Coastal Clipper Volvo B9 37566 AU58 ECE.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

Service Alterations Registered ~ 26th November 2025

There are a couple of entries entries concerning local bus operations listed in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

First Eastern Counties features with the introduction of a new 107 circular service between Lowestoft Bus Station and Gunton St Peter from 2nd November 2025.

Hoveton-based PTS Group has received approval for a new operating centre for seven vehicles at Unit A, Bay 9 at Wall Engineering Estate off Cromer Road in North Walsham.

The full Notices and Proceedings Report is available to view here

Roy

Norwich Monday

A couple of photos taken in Norwich earlier today by Dan High with the first featuring Transport Made Simple's (Simonds') ADL Enviro 200 YX12 FPY.



The second shows Sanders Coaches' Scania N270UD OmniDekka 135 W27 SCL having arrived from Sheringham on the X44.



Many thanks to Dan for his photos.

Roy

Ambassador Travel Arrivals

News taken from the excellent Loncolnshire Bus Fleet News Blog,

Pc Coaches, Lincolnshire

Scania Irizar Intercentury KC07PCC is re-registered to FT07UFS

Scania Irizar FT07UFS has been sold to Ambassador Travel, Great Yarmouth

Scania Irizar AC06PCC is due for withdrawal imminently. Once withdrawn this vehicle moves to Ambassador Travel, Great Yarmouth 

I shall try my best to get some photos over the next few weeks!

Grahame. 

Essex Exiles

 Mark Doggett has recently caught up with a couple of former FEC vehicles in Chelmsford.

 

Former Coastlink Enviro 400 33811 YX63LJY has now gained corporate colours and is pictured at Bloomfield Hospital in Chelmsford. You may notice a former Ipswich Enviro 200 in the background

 

Also noted at the Hospital was 34425 SN17MTY one of the former Bournemouth vehicles that passed to Norwich, only a short time was spent in Norfolk before heading over to Essex.

Thanks to Mark as always for the photos.

Grahame. 

Busy First Great Yarmouth

Quite a bit of forthcoming activity for First Great Yarmouth’s workshops to report. Firstly two Coastlink liveried ADL Enviro400s require attention - 33821 YX63LKL has an electrical fault while a suspension problem has occurred with 33823 YX63 LKN.

Three other buses are out of use at Caister Road and they include Wright StreetLite 47645 SN15AFE with engine problems and Volvo B9TL/ WrightEclipse Gemini 36189 BN12 JYO with a misfiring engine. The third is another B9, 37711 YJ09 OBF with a speedo throttle fault.

Another couple of the Great Yarmouth fleet are out of action at Lowestoft. They are Coastal Clippers 37566 with engine problems and 37570 with a suspension fault.

Roy

Shuffling Streetlites

First are currently have a move around of  Wright bodied Streetlites between its Essex depots and Ipswich, also some former Norwich examples have moved to Suffolk aswell.

63322 SK65PXC has moved from Norwich to Ipswich and also been treated to a front end repaint from Green to Blue.

 47667 SN15ACO has moved over from Essex and has gained the new corporate colours.

 63325 SK65PXF is another example moving from Norwich to Ipswich.

 So the Essex versions transferring to Ipswich are 47666/47667 & 47668.

Also reportedly on the move to FEC are Essex Enviro 400's  33549/73, these are yet to be reported as having moved over.

Many Thanks to The Suffolk Explorer for use of the photos from Ipswich recently.

Grahame. 

Norwich Friday

Regular contributor Dan High sends a few photos of bus activity in Norwich this morning with the first showing two Completely Coach Travel coaches. Irizar i6s M28 CCT is followed by Caetano Levante 2 bodied Volvo B11RT BX16 CKO



Almost caught unaware on Castle Meadow, he quickly got a shot of Norfolk-based SALEC Travel's Neoplan OV63 XCM.



Also observed was First Eastern Counties yellow line Volvo B9 36268 BG12 YKA pretending to be orange on the 21 service to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital.



My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Coach Services New eVoRa

Following our post from 6th November concerning the imminent arrival of a 75 plate MCV eVoRa at Coach services, Jdraves1 has provided photos of the newcomer. CS75 BUS is to be employed on the Mildenhall-Thetford 80/80A service.



It is apparently one of three new Volvos for the operator with the other two destined for the new Thetford town T1/T2/T3 services.

My thanks to Jdraves1 for the information and photos.

Roy

Completely Norwich

Dan High was on Castle Meadow in Norwich yesterday on a comparatively colder day and espied two Completely Coach Travel double deck coaches passing through.



The first was Volvo B12B K28 CCT which was new to Ferris of Natgarw in south Wales as FJ06 ZKS during April 2006.

It was later followed by former Stagecoach Oxfordshire Van Hool Astromega Y28 CCT which began life with Stagecoach Bluebird as their SV12 BZN.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 19th November 2025

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

Sanders Coaches introduced a new Monday to Friday school day 841 service between Kirstead Green and Framingham Earl High School from 3rd November 2025

First Eastern Counties has amended the timetables of its 1/1A Martham Repps Road to Lowestoft Bus Station service and the 8 from Caister Marram Drive to Gorleston's James Paget Hospital from 2nd November 2025

Border Bus has revised the route plus the start & finish point of its 521 service from Fort Green in Aldeburgh to Old Market in Beccles from 1st September 2025. From the same date it has changed the timetable of its BECHS Southwold to SET Beccles School service

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

Roy

First Update

First Norwich are loaning Olympia liveried Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 36270 BJ12 YKC to First Lowestoft. It was observed in Norwich by Dan High during February this year.

Meanwhile, First Ipswich Wright StreetLite 47679 SL15 RVW is still waiting repairs at Roundtree Way in Norwich following internal fire damage. It has been off the road since June.

My thanks to First for the update.

Roy

Caister Road Update

The latest from First Great Yarmouth’s Caister Road depot is that it has received Norwich’s Green Line Wright StreetLite 63321 SK65 PXB on short term loan. (It stayed for only a day - returning to Norwich for use there on Tuesday!)

Meanwhile Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 36188 BN 12 JYL has returned to service following the fitting of a new gearbox.

My thanks to Sam Larke for the use of his photo and to First for the information.

Roy

Norwich Sightings

Dan High was on Castle Meadow in Norwich earlier today and witnessed First Eastern Counties Coastlink liveried ADL Enviro400 33824 YX63 LKO returning to Great Yarmouth on the 7 via Fleggbugh, Filby and Caister.

Also observed was Norfolk Coachways’ Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B9R B21 NCW awaiting its next duty.

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Rail Replacement

Rail replacement buses ran between Norwich and Ipswich this weekend as the signalling system was being upgraded.



Martin Bott was at Ipswich Railway Station earlier today and saw this rare MCV bodied Mercedes OC500 in use with special registration E26 NCW. New as as VX12 FBO, Norfolk Coachways acquired it in May this year and this was the first time it was in service. However, it is no stranger to East Anglia having seen eighteen months use with Turners of Great Barton between 2021 and 2023.

My thanks to Martin for the information and photo and he says 'One can make one’s own decision on the destination blind!'

Roy

First Lowestoft Latest

The latest from First Lowestoft is that ADL Enviro200 44452 YX09 HKM is now withdrawn. The saloon was new to London United in July 2009 and joined First Eastern Counties in April 2022. It is pictured leaving Lowestoft Bus Station on 13th December last year.



Coastlink branded Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 37274 LK58 EDF has been towed from Lowestoft's Gas Works Road depot to Great Yarmouth for repair.

Roy

Another Arrival For Yarmouth

During early August Grahame reported the expected arrival of six ex First South West Wright bodied StreetDeck Ultroliners.at First Great Yarmouth (New Arrivals At Yarmouth - 10th August 2025). Only four are at Caister Road in their new livery and they are 35671-3/5 MF22 SXZ/SYA/SYC/SYG.

The fifth one was collected from Norwich this morning and that was 35674 MF22 SYE. That leaves only 36570 MF22SXY to be delivered which is currently at Mardens in Essex being repainted out of the Badgerline livery into the corporate colours.

Also observed at Roundtree Way was Wright StreetLite 63170 SN64 CJX from First Essex and excel 36901 YN69 XZD which had returned from Full Circle following repair.

My thanks to First for the information and photos.

Roy

Ex First Eastern Counties ADL Enviro400 Enters Service

The latest on the on the three ex First Eastern Counties Coastlinks branded ADL Enviro400s recently transferred to First Essex is that 33805 YX63 LJK entered service today,

It is shown here at Chelmsford being employed on the 170 Chelmsford to Tesco, Marks Farm route. My thanks to Dale Bell for the photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 12th November 2025

Yesterday’s Notices and Proceedings Report, published by the East of England Traffic Commissioner, contained no information regarding any changes to local bus services. The full Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Postwick Park & Ride

Dan High’s visit to Norwich’s Postwick Park and Ride site today revealed the presence of a former Go Ahead London Enviro400 SN11 BUH. It has been acquired by Simonds for use on school contract work and it is understood that similar SN11 BUJ has also joined the fleet.

On the PR3 service was Simonds' Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evora BV23 MSO.

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Harford Park & Ride

Dan High reports some notable workings on the PR2 Harford Park  and Ride service in Norwich earlier today.

On the odd occasion Simonds (Transport Made Simple) uses a coach on the route and today it was Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B8R YX68 UCA

Later at the bus station the operator was employing Central Connect’s branded ADL Enviro 200 MMC SF66 ARV.

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Remembrance Sunday

With Remembrance Sunday with us once more we share a photo of a bus depicting this event to remember the fallen.

This year we include a photo of Arriva North East Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL 7401 NK64 FSF taken by Kevan Portas outside Scarborough railway station. Thanks Kevan

From the poem ‘For The Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon …….  We will remember them

Coastal Fleet Update

An update from the First Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft fleet includes Volvo B9 37275 LK58 EDJ (pictured on Church Lane, Gorleston in 2023) having a new rear axle fitted at Caister Road while Lowestoft's ADL Enviro200 44538 YX13 AHN requires similar treatment. Also needing attention to its gearbox is Volvo B9 36188 BN12 JYL 

Loaned StreetDeck 35141 SN65 OMJ has returned to Norwich with Volvo BR7RLE 69544 BF12 KWD moving from the City to Lowestoft on loan.

My thanks to First for the update.

Roy

Norwich Friday

Dan High was observing activity in Norwich's Castle Meadow earlier today and saw First Eastern Counties vehicles not working on their correct routes.



The first photo is of Blue Line Volvo B9 BD11 CDX in use on the Pink Line 12 to Hoveton.



Meanwhile, Pink Line StreetDeck 35195 SK16 GVU was working on the Blue Line to Riverside.



Also on the Blue Line route was Turquoise Line Volvo B9 36194 BN12 JYG - confusing or not?!



Simonds' Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evora BV23 MSO was employed on Postwick Park and Ride PR3

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy