Norwich Today

Some photos from Dan High featuring bus activity in Norwich’s Castle Meadow earlier today with the first showing an unusual visitor.

It was privately preserved AEC Regal IV NLE 527 of 1953 vintage with a Metro Cammell body. The RF is often associated with London Country bus operations

The second vehicle is recently repainted Konectbus ADL Enviro400 646 LX09 FCD on Simonds PR3 Postwick Park and Ride duty. It was new to London General in July 2009.

The last photo is of Sanders Coaches’ Scania K30UB Omnilink 325 YT11 LPN arriving on the 45 from Holt.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Activity At J&M Preservations

J&M Preservations' latest acquisition is Volvo B10BLE / Wright Renown T125 OAH from Dan's Coach Travel based near Stowmarket.



New in March 1999, it was originally delivered to Ambassador Travel for use on Norwich Park & Ride duties. Subsequently it saw service with Blackburn Transport before joining Transdev Lancashire United as fleet number 205.

York Pullman purchased it in 2017 working local routes and contracts including the York–Tadcaster corridor, along with school services. Most recently, the Volvo operated with Dan’s Coach Travel in Suffolk, carrying the registration B21 DCT, before being secured for preservation.

The group has also been busy recently removing reusable parts off ex First Bath double decker 32284 WR03 YZT to keep its former First Eastern Counties Volvo B7TL 30887 W742 DWX running. Fully stripped, the former made its final journey to Geoff Ripley & Son earlier this week

My thanks to Mason Lee for the information and photos

Roy

Sizewell C Depot Plans

David Slater draws my attention to an item appearing on the RouteOne magazine this week which may be of interest.



It reports plans to create a 150 strong zero emission bus fleet at a depot in Ipswich to support the transport of the workforce for the Sizewell C project. If accepted it will see the expansion of its current site at Ransomes Europark estate in the Suffolk town. A planning application is to be submitted soon with a decision expected in the spring. Further information can be gained by visiting the website here.

My thanks to David for the information. Photo supplied by Mark Doggett featuring one of the hydrogen powered Wright StreetDecks at Sizewell in March last year

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 18th February 2026

There are quite a few entries in the latest East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report affecting some local bus services.

First Eastern Counties is to cancel two services effective from 28th March 2026 - the 903 between Ormesby and Flagg High School plus the 913 from Rackheath to Broadland High School, Hoveton.

Sanders Coaches has altered the route, stopping places and timetable of the following six services from 1st February 2026.

9/9A Station Approach, Sheringham to Oak Street, Fakenham.

44 Heath Drive, Holt to Tesco Store on Cromer Road in Sheringham.

56 Station Approach, Sheringham to Easton/Otley College.

66 Red Hart, Bodham to Sheringham Primary School.

CH1 Cadogan Road, Cromer to Quay, Wells-next-the-Sea.

NC1 Holt to Norwich City Football Club.

City To Coast Day Tours of Staines-Upon-Thames has been granted approval to use Hayward United Farmers Limited’s premises at Benacre Road, Ellough in Beccles for one vehicle. The new licence authorisation will be five vehicles.

The full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Today’s First Activity

From a comment on a previous post concerning the delivery of former First Kernow double deckers to First Eastern Counties, a tenth Volvo B9 was also dispatched for Norwich but broke down on the way. The errant bus was 36175 BD11 CFZ which was subsequently towed to Roundtree Way depot and is shown here in Luke Champeny’s photo.

A line up of some of the new ex First Kernow arrivals was observed by Luke in their many colours earlier today. Apparently three of the ex Doncaster B9s have already been sent away for a repaint.

Meanwhile, First Great Yarmouth has on loan Volvo B9 36176 BD11 CGE (pictured at the James Paget Hospital on the X11 to Belton earlier) together with Wright StreetDecks 35199 SK16 GVY (seen at Norwich Bus Station also today on the X11) plus 35287 SL67 VXR.

Many thanks to Luke for the information and photos

Roy

Red Olympus

One of the last London red liveried double deckers with Konectbus made an appearance in Norwich earlier today.

Optare Olympus bodied ADL Enviro400 651 LX58 CXB was noted on a staff shuttle in the city’s Castle Meadow.

Thanks to Dan High for the photo.

Roy

On Their Way

Yesterday Riviera Photography was on a bridge at Cullompton on the M5 in some silly weather capturing some of the First Kernow buses venturing north for the next stage of their life.



The first photo features four of those heading for First Eastern Counties with Doncaster liveried 36222 BD12 SZY leading with ex Norwich 36173 BD11 CFX, 36226 BD12 TBO and 36221 BJ12 VXE following closely behind.



The next two also show Volvo B9s, also in Doncaster colours, in the form 36221 BJ12 VXE and 36225 BD12 TAV.



The final picture sees 36223 BD12 SZZ with 36174 BDY with the later still in its First Norwich livery.



My thanks to Riviera Photography for consent to use the photos.

Roy

StreetLite Repaint

A First Eastern Counties Wright StreetLite appeared in Norwich's Castle Meadow earlier today on its first day in service following its repaint.



It was 47507 SN64 CRJ and I had a couple of reports and pictures sent in with Dan High's photo being the first received (above) to be followed around a second later by Harry Holmes (below).



My thanks to both of them for the reports and photos.

Roy

First Cornwall To Norwich

With First ending their Cornwall operations yesterday there appears to be a mass exodus of their buses to pastures new.

Bustimes suggests that First Eastern Counties is expected to receive nine double deckers following closure, with two of them returning to the city. They are all Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TLs comprising 36173/4 (BD11CFX/Y), 36221-7 (BD12VXE/SZY/SZZ/TAU/TAV/TBO/TBU). There could be more.

Pictured is one of the returnees, 36173 BD11CFX, on Castle Meadow in Norwich during January 2022 heading for Spixworth.

Roy

First Ipswich News

The latest news from First Ipswich concerns the withdrawal of two Wright Eclipse Urban Volvo B7RLEs with both being destined for scrap after being stripped for the retrieval of parts.



The first is Felixstowe Flyers branded 69428 AU58 FFP, observed at the rear of Ipswich depot, whilst the other is similar 69426 AU58 FFN.

My thanks to Will M for the information and photo.

Roy

First Update

Following its successful MOT, First Great Yarmouth Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini open top 37065 CRZ 266 has also gone offsite for storage joining the three others mentioned previously.



Two Coastlink ADL Enviro400s are presently out of use, 33823 YX63 LKN with an electrical issue and 33803 YX63 LJF is about to undergo its MOT.

Meanwhile, First Norwich will be collecting their old 11 plated Volvo B9s from Cornwall on Sunday

My thanks SteveN for the information.

Roy

Norwich Activity

Regular contributor Dan High provides photos of some bus activity in Norwich’s Castle Meadow earlier today.



Passing through was Completely Coach Travel’s Van Hool Astromega double deck coach J29 CCT. New as YJ14 LFS in August 2014 as part of the Oxford Tube fleet, it arrived from Stagecoach West Scotland in June last year.



Making a rare appearance on the 11A to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital was Wright StreetLite 63318 SK65 PWY - a route mainly worked by a Wright StreetDeck Electroliner.
Many thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Norwich Volvo B7RLEs

A couple of shots from Dan High yesterday from his usual vantage point of Castle Meadow in Norwich City Centre.



He was almost caught unawares as First's Volvo B7RLE 69552 BF12 KWP worked through from the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital to Riverside on the 26. Normally reserved for the Wright StreetDeck Electroliners, it was a rare appearance on the route.

Another Volvo B7RLE working yesterday was Ultraviolet 69545 BF12 KWC destined for the hospital with the 12 from Hoveton. A direct comparison can be made of the two liveries.

My thanks Dan for the photos

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 11th February 2026

The latest East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report contains no entries regarding any changes to our local bus services. The full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Last Enviro400 In Service

All four former First Eastern Counties Coastlink double deckers have now entered service with First Essex in their new corporate livery.

Alexander Dennis Enviro400 33806 YX63 LJL is the last to do so and is seen yesterday in Chelmsford on the X30 service to Southend.

My thanks to Dale Bell for the information and photo.

Roy

Norwich On Monday

Some photos from Dan High showing activity in Norwich's Castle Meadow yesterday initially featuring First Eastern Counties Volvo B9R/ Plaxton Panther 20802 TFO 319.



Volvo B9 36176 BD11 CGE was standing in for the usual Scania on the excel A route to Paterborough.



Loitering outside the Castle Mall entrance was Sunbeam Coaches' recently acquired Mercedes-Benz Vario / Plaxton Cheetah HXZ 9522.



The final photo is of Transport Made Simple's ADL Enviro200 270 YX61 BXL complete with its Konectbus fleet name.



My thanks to Dan for all the photos

Roy

Football Services

Another Norwich City Football Club lunchtime match yesterday which meant the usual arrival of Sanders Coaches' vehicles to Carrow Road.



Sanders' MCV EvoiSeti bodied Volvo B8L 129 EC23 SHA was observed by Dan High working the return Fakenham NC2 journey following the canaries win.



Sanders are not the only operator running services to the venue as Belle Coaches also provides services as witnessed by the presence of their Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BF62 JZR.



My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

First Great Yarmouth Update

The latest news from First’s Caister Road depot is that open toppers Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Geminis 37068 CRZ 599, 37069 CRZ 622 and 37533 CRZ 166 have moved out of the depot to be stored elsewhere whilst the garage is being prepared to cater for the arrival of electric buses later this year.



Wright StreetLite 47646 SN15 AFF is presently awaiting parts for its MOT with open top Volvo B9TL 37065 CRZ 266 currently over the pits for its MOT next week.

Meanwhile, withdrawn ADL Enviro400 33423 SN60 CAA still remains inside the depot.

My thanks to StevenN for the information.

Roy

Green Machine

Continuing the green vehicle theme earlier today was First Eastern Counties 37134 SN57 HDJ working 21 services to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. The Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL entered service in Norwich in October last year having transferred from First Essex in Colchester.



My thanks to Dan High for the photo.

Roy

New Flixbus Services

David Slater notes from the Flixbus website that two new services serving Norwich are to be launched in May 2026.

Commencing Friday 1st May is daily service UK083 from Norwich Bus Station via Cambridge Parkside and Coventry Pool Meadow to Birmingham Newhall Street.
Departure from Birmingham is 08:30 arriving in Norwich at 12:45 while the return leaves Norwich at 15:00 arriving in Birmingham at 19:15. On the face of it that appears to be a working from the Birmingham end

Commencing Monday 25th May is daily service UK950 from Norwich Bus Station via UEA, Thetford Bus Interchange, Cambridge Parkside, Trumpington Park & Ride and Luton Airport Parkway Railway Station to Heathrow Airport Central Bus Station.
Departure times from Norwich Bus Station/arrival times at Heathrow:
0025    0430
0215    0625
0350    0815
1115    1600
1315    1740 (This trip does not serve UEA or Trumpington)
1515    1950
Departure times from Heathrow/arrival times at Norwich Bus Station:
0600    1035
0755    1230
0945    1420
1730    2200 (This trip does not serve Trumpington or UEA)
1910    2330
2120    0140
The pattern appears to be a working from the Norwich end possibly using three vehicles at a stretch.

I am very grateful to David for the information.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 4th February 2026

Some retrospective changes to local bus services appear in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report

Coastal Accessible Transport Service Limited of Leiston has varied its Katch service between Framlingham and Snape from 19th January 2026

BorderBus of Beccles has amended the route, start & finish point, stopping places and timetable of its 580 service between Broad Street, Harleston / Hillside Road, Bungay, Suffolk and Market Gates, Great Yarmouth from 5th January 2026.

The same operator has also altered the route, start & finish point, stopping places and timetable of its 522 / 522A / 522B service from Morrisons, Beccles to Fort Green, Aldeburgh from the same date.

The full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Wanderers To Return

Former First Eastern Counties Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 36173 BD11 CFX was seen last week at Land’s End by Martin Bott whilst operating with First South West.



With First ceasing their Cornwall operations on 14th of February, this bus (and two its sisters) are due to return to First Eastern Counties in the near future.

My thanks to Martin for the information and photo

Roy

Norwich Monday

Regular contributor Dan High has sent some photos relating to his sightings in Norwich's Castle Meadow yesterday



His first shows Simonds (Transport Made Simple) Scania N94UD OmniDekka WVE 284 being employed on the PR3 Postwick Park & Ride route.



Next up is Konectbus ADL Enviro200 272 YX61 DVP, still in Hedingham colours, heading for Stalham on the 5B service.



His final photo features First Eastern Counties ADL Enviro400 33573 SN58 ENR on the 28 from Thorpe Marriott.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Another Enviro300 Joins First Essex

During mid January another Ipswich Park and Ride liveried ADL/TransBus Enviro300 migrated south to First Essex. Since then Dale Bell has attempted to get a photo of recent arrival 67774 SN62 AXK.

That was until earlier today when Dale found it in Chelmsford Bus Station ready to leave for Brentwood and Warley on the 351.

My thanks to Dale for the photo.

Roy