33423 ~ Final Journey

First Eastern Counties ADL Enviro400 33423 SN60 CAA has departed Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot for the final time.



Withdrawn in December last year, due to chassis deterioration, it subsequently lost its engine and gearbox and is pictured leaving this morning on tow for its final journey to the scrapyard.



Also in the depot is former First South West partial open topper 37796 LX59 CXO still in its Lands End Coaster livery. It arrived in August last year.

My thanks to Steve N for the photos

Roy

First Electroliner Substitution

John Russell informs me that this morning’s 11:12 Pink Line departure from Wroxham and Hoveton to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital was unusually worked by ex Doncaster and Kernow Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36225 BD12 TAV.

I am grateful to John for the information and photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 15th April 2026

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report includes some changes to Konectbus services which may be of local interest.

Two new services have been introduced from 13th April 2026. The first is a Fridays only one return journey from Roys Department Store at Hoveton and Aylsham Market Place. The other is a schools service 855 Salthouse Road, Sprowston to: Broadland High School at Hoveton

There are two amendments to routes and timetables of existing services commencing 12th April 2026. They are the 10 between The Street, Catfield and St Stephens Street in Norwich plus the 2 between Bridge Road in Potter Heigham and Stalham.

From 13th April 2026 the timetable of the 717 St Stephen Street, Norwich to Kingsway, Hemsby is being amended

The full report can be seen here soon on the Government’s website.

Roy

Derby Day Coaches

Martin Bott says that 'on Saturday Simonds turned out 17 coaches for the Tractor Boys visit to Carrow Road for the East Anglian football derby game (a Norfolk operator for Suffolk fans??).



Amongst these was high-spec Irizar i8 bodied Scania K410, recently transferred here from Galleon Travel (Central Connect). One of just 25 Scania i8s in the UK.

However, other fans got this 28 years old Volvo B10M 4940 VF (new as Kenzies R81 NAV), which has been with Simonds for 21 years now. I guess they weren’t too upset having won the match!'

My thanks to Martin for the report and photos.

Roy

Dolphin Acquistions (Updated)

Norwich-based Dolphin Autos has acquired three vehicles previously advertised for disposal by Our Bus.



One of them is Irisbus KV05 YRO which is pictured at Dolphin's Swanton Road site earlier today by Dan High. The identity of the the other two have subsequently been confirmed as Volvo B10M /Plaxton Panther PUI 6679 and PEZ 1549.

When he visited BMC Condor YK56 DLX and Volvo PEZ 1549 (referred to above) were present

My thanks to Dan for the photos and to Joe Wilson and Anon for the information.

Roy

Rail Replacement Norwich

Rail replacement bus services between Norwich and Ipswich were in position this weekend with Galloways two new Higer bodied Scania K410 tri-axles in the form of YN26 VSK and YN26VSL making an appearance.



Galloways also provided their relatively new ADL Enviro 400MMC SN75 YKP E400MMC



Completely Coaches also got in on the act by supplying Van Hool TDX27 Astromega P29 CCT, previously registered YJ14 LFW.



My thanks to Martin Bott for the photos

Roy

First Repaints

First Lowestoft Wright StreetLite 47647 SN15 AFJ has been taken to Roy Humpfrey of Diss for a repaint into the Ultraviolet livery.

First Norwich Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 36221 BJ12 VXE has left the Diss site after losing its Doncaster colours with similar 36226 BD12 TBO about to receive the same treatment.

My thanks to Steve N for the information.

Roy

Norwich Monday

Three photos have been selected from Dan High's sightings in Norwich's Castle Meadow earlier today.



ADL Enviro200 YX64 TXP was in use with Konectbus on service 50 from the City Centre to Mousehold.



First Eastern Counties Wright StreetLite 63143 SN14 DWW was operating service 12 to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital



The final photo is of Our Bus Mercedes-Benz Sprinter EVM Cityline RE17 FAO (which also featured in our post of earlier today) which was working its 32 route from Heartsease to the City Centre.

Again my thanks to Dan for the continuous supply of photos.

Roy

Surprise Surprise!

I was driving back from Lowestoft during yesterday afternoon when I decided I would see how many cyclists I could observe using the new cycle lanes on Middleton Road in Gorleston.

Nearing the end of the route I saw a red and yellow minibus parked up beside Middleton Gardens. It was Our Bus Mercedes-Benz Sprinter EVM Cityline RE17 FAO complete with its Farleigh Coaches colour scheme. Affectionately referred to as Morph, the vehicle was new to the Kent operator in May 2017.

As for the cycle lanes they resulted in no cyclists being spotted. I'll just leave that there!

Roy

Where Are They Now? LT02 ZDL

Quite often we feature vehicles finding new owners after their their working in our local area and the subject this time is former First Eastern Counties Volvo B7TL/ Plaxton President 32112 LT02 ZDL

Previously branded Network Norwich, it is now operated by Brian Jones Coaches of Gravesend, primarily on schools duties. Originally introduced in April 2002, it was acquired by First Eastern Counties from CentreWest of London in February 2010 and last served in Norwich in March 2024

My thanks to Luke Champeny for the information and photos.

Roy

Norwich Friday

Today is the last day for First's excel services to pass through Norwich's Castle Meadow plus there are also some Konectbus routes being changed from tomorrow.



Dan High was watching activity in Castle Meadow yesterday and recorded First Eastern Counties Scania N250UD/ Enviro400 City 36906 YN69 XZK on excel route B to Peterborough.



Konectbus was employing ADL Enviro400 635 SN65 OAU on its Dereham Fast service.

Meanwhile, similar Konectbus decker 603 SN10 CFG was heading off on the 11B to Sprowston

Thanks Dan for the photos

Roy

Saturday Coaches

Unusual to see a few coaches on the Coach Park these days so a surprise to see a small selection as i passed earlier this afternoon.



A brand new Mercedes Benz Tourismo BV26HTA for P&O Lloyd of Baglit, Wales was the first to be photographed.



Next up is OU25WJJ a Neoplan Tourliner with Johnsons of Kirton Lindsey in Lincolnshire.

Finally another Mercedes Benz Tourismo BV19YJF another Welsh visitor belonging to Cresta Coaches of Bridgend seen wearing Leisuretime by Toureasy lettering.

Grahame.

Norwich Yesterday

After Dan High's early visit to Lowestoft yesterday he returned to Norwich City Centre to see what was about on Castle Meadow.

Konectbus ADL Enviro200 270 YX61 BXL was employed all day on the 9 between Cringleford and Pilson Green.

Another Konectbus vehicle, ADL Enviro400 602 SN10 CFF, was in use on the 11B service from Sprowston. Now in its Hedingham colours it wasn't that long ago when it was in regular use on Norwich area duties.

A surprise appearance was made by First Essex ADL Enviro200 MMC 44661 YX66 WBF. Normally deployed on Chelmsford area shuttles, it was displaying Eastern National on its destination screen.

Ex First Kernow Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 36224 BD12 TAU was seen passing Wright StreetDeck Electroliner 36586 BK73 ALU. The Gemini had recently been repainted from its former Doncaster livery.

Once more thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Lowestoft Today

A really early start for Dan High today involving a journey to Lowestoft to witness some activity there.

On arrival he decided to take a trip on First Lowestoft's Wright StreetLite 47645 SN15 AFE on its 101 route to Gunton where the photo was taken.

While at the bus station, he observed Coastal Clipper liveried Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL 37569 AU58 ECN departing on service 1.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Norwich Today

Dan High took up his usual position on Norwich's Castle Meadow earlier today observing bus activity.

His first photo is of an operator which rarely features on the blog and that is Marett's Chariots based in North Walsham. Their Iveco RJ23 LYD was seen heading west.

Simonds were employing WVE 284 on its PR3 Postwick Park and Ride service. The East Lancs bodied Scania was new to Blue Triangle as BV55 UCY and acquired by Simonds in August 2016.

First had two Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE driver trainers in use - pink 69436 WX59 BYN and red 66865 MX05 CJO

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 8th April 2026

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report includes some items which may be of interest.

Ourhire Limited, operating as Our Bus, is to cancel its 80 service between Dereham and Wroxham from 13th April 2026.

Central Connect Transport Limited has received approval for two new operating centres including one for six vehicles at Postwick Park & Ride site on the outskirts of Norwich . The other is located at Diss.

The full report can be seen here soon on the Government’s website.

Roy

Blue Line

Today was the first time that ex First Kernow Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 36222 BD12 SZY worked the First Norwich 25 service between the University of East Anglia and Norwich Railway Station.

The former Doncaster liveried bus was noted on the Blue Line route by Dan High who photographed it on Castle Meadow. It received First Ultraviolet colours just over fortnight ago.

My thanks to Dan for the photo.

Roy

Soccer Specials

Good Friday is traditionally when football matches are played and Norwich City were involved in their first game today over the Easter period. Local travel to home matches is regularly provided by Sanders Coaches and this is Volvo B8L / MCV eVoSeti 127 ED23 SAN on the NC2 to Carrow Road from Fakenham.

At the football ground two vehicles were of interest with the first being Phoenix Bussing’s Kassbohrer Setra S431D double decker N90 PBS operated by Romsey Coaches Limited.

Behind is the Portsmouth Team bus Lucketts’ Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BG22 NTJ.

My thanks to Dan High for the photos.

Roy

Sanders Coach Repaint

Today is the first day back in service of Sanders Coaches’ Volvo B8RLE / MCV eVoRa BV23 NUW following a repaint from all over white into the standard single deck orange livery.

Number 532 has also received the 6/X6 branding for its Cromer to Great Yarmouth service via North Walsham and Stalham.

My thanks to Reg Vardy for the information and photos

Roy

North Walsham Area Sightings

Another different location for Dan High’s sightings today when he visited North Norfolk and specifically the North Walsham area.

His photos feature three of Sanders Coaches’ MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE Coasthopper’s with the first showing 518 BV21 OOA.

The second is of the North Walsham Travel Hub with another eVoRa, 521 BV21 OOD, awaiting its next duty.

The last is of a third eVoRa, 519 BV21 OOB, working the 54 service from North Walsham to Norwich. 

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Top Ten

With a couple of early family taxi runs this morning, the last one found me in Great Yarmouth so I decided to see what was lurking about the coach station and the seafront area.

My trawl netted me ten coaches including three each from Alfa Holidays and Caledonian Travel with the former providing a couple at the coach station. They were Mercedes-Benz Tourismos 120 BV20 HND and 136 BV22 WTT.

The only one from the Caledonian fleet there was another Mercedes-Benz Tourismo UMO 58, which was formerly NH69 RHH when with National Holidays.

Also present was a Leons Holidays VDL Futura from Stafford with its special plate LE23 EON.

Hiding behind those four was Go South Coasts' Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 91 MB19 ENZ parked in a very difficult position to get a reasonable photo.

The other two coaches there were both Yutong GT12s conveniently parked together - Yorkshire Rose YK74 PCY and KM Travel's 4465 KM (reported here yesterday in Norwich)

Continuing my journey along the seafront, Alfa Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 139 BF23 CFE was parked outside the New Beach Hotel with Caledonian Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BV22 WUW and Volvo 9700 LSK 814 about to leave their position opposite the Wellington Pier.

Roy

Lowestoft Yesterday

Dan High had a change of scenery yesterday and decided to cross the border into Suffolk to see what was lurking at Lowestoft Bus Station.

His first photo is of Great Yarmouth's Wright Eclipse Gemini 36215 BJ12 VWX leaving the bus station returning north on an X1 service.

ADL Enviro200 44532 SN62 DBO departs on the 106 circular service to Burnt Hill with its destination screen looking a little the worse for wear.

Also observed was Wright StreetLite 47646 SN15 AFF on another Lowestoft service, the 109 to Hollow Grove.

Thanks again to Dan for the photos.

Roy