Electroliner Enters Service

Another of FirstBus Great Yarmouth’s new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners arrived at Caister Road depot this morning.

36698 BF26 ZVL was almost immediately pressed in to service being used on two outward and return journeys on the 8s between Caister's Second Avenue and the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston

While I did see it in service, unfortunately I was unable to get a photo as driving at the time.

Roy

Norwich Today

This morning Dan High was in his usual position observing activity in Norwich's Castle Meadow where he obtained a photo of Coastal Clipper Volvo B9 37565 AU58 ECD in the city centre.



Also seen was Sunbeam Coaches' Mercedes-Benz O814D YN06 CYX. New to Weaver of Newbury in March 2006, Sunbeam acquired it from Wormall of Grantham in April 2023.



The Norwich Sightseer 100 service was running with open topper ADL Enviro400 33427 LK58 KHL in use.



Roy

Gorleston Visitors

There were two orange coloured coaches visiting the Pier Gardens area of Gorleston this morning.

The first was Rollesby-based Jubilee Coaches Setra S415GT-HD TIG 1295 which had recently been acquired from Crosskeys Coaches of Folkestone where it was previously registered BX07 NKG.

The second was Sanders Coaches' Volvo B9R /Plaxton Elite 917 YVJ 677 which had earlier operated the 834 Bacton to Gorleston East Norfolk Sixth Form College working.

Roy

In The Hot Seat

Dan High was enduring the heat in Norwich’s Castle Meadow earlier today while observing bus activity with drivers suffering in the hot seat!

His first contribution is a Yutong GT12 vehicle from the locally-based ICT Coaches in the form of their YH24 MGE.

The subject of the next photo is Eastons’ Mercedes-Benz Tourismo B8 AWE which appears to be on its way to a Take That concert in the London area.

Unusually appearing on the FirstBus 7 service from Great Yarmouth via Caister, Filby and Fleggburgh was Coastal Clipper liveried Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 37572 AU58 ECW.

Also noted was FirstBus Wright StreetLite 63170 SN64 CJX which was working the 37 Hellesdon to Mulbarton service for most of the day.

My thanks to Dan for his photos and to the drivers for enduring such high temperatures while working.

Roy

First Great Yarmouth Update

The first thing to report on this update from First Great Yarmouth is that new Wright StreetDeck Electroliner 36694 BF26 ZVG entered service yesterday

A couple of Coastlink liveried ADL Enviro400s are feeling a little unwell; 33815 YX63 LKD requires a new fuel tank to be fitted while 33814 YX63 LKC is undergoing repair.. Meanwhile, Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 37566 AU58 ECE is at Lowestoft awaiting a decision on repairs following accident damage.

Having their MOT test today are open top 37069 CRZ 622 and 36202 BN12 WOC

My thanks to Steve N for the information

Roy

Today's Activity In Norwich

Regular contributor Dan High reports on some of Konectbus workings in Norwich earlier today



His first photo is Central Connect branded Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Altas/EVM Cityline RX25 TCJ in use on the 50 route between the city centre and Mousehold Heath which operates on a 40 minute frequency.



With today being the first day of the Royal Norfolk Show, Konectbus is running its 400 service to the
Norfolk Showground near Costessey, on the outskirts of Norwich. Dan got this photo of Headingham liveried Konectbus ADL Enviro400 602 SN10 CFF on the service at Castle Meadow.



Also heading to the Showground was their ADL Enviro200 785 YY64 TXP in roughly the same location.



Meanwhile former Go Ahead London Enviro400 SN11 BUJ was employed by Simonds on the PR3 Postwick Park and Ride service.



Also continuing to defy rumours of its demise was First's Coastal Clipper branded Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 37565 AU58 ECD

My thanks to Dan for his photos.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 24th June 2026

The latest East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report was published this morning and includes changes to operator licenses held by AFSC and First Eastern Counties.

The former has opened a new operating centre at Marett's Chariots on Buxton Road near Frettenham for 20 vehicles. It coincides with the closing of centres at the Old School in Aylmerton and at Cornish Way Business Park in North Walsham.

First Eastern Counties is decreasing the authorisation at its Vulcan Road South site to 70 vehicles whereas its Sapphire House site on Rountree Way will increase to 20.

Konectbus is operating its limited stop 400 service between Norwich Railway Station and the Norfolk Showground for the Royal Norfolk Show during today and tomorrow

The full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Norwich Yesterday

A couple of photos from Dan High's observations in Norwich City Centre yesterday including one of a rarely mentioned local operator. ICT Coaches EVM bodied Mercedes-Benz 516CDI RY19 OUH is pictured on Castle Meadow.

Unusual now is the sighting of Scania N250UD / Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City 36905 YN69 XZJ in the same location. It is passing Konectbus 3&6 route branded ADL Enviro200 SK15 HKC on the 2 service to Eaton.

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Awaiting Next Journey

Two former First Eastern Counties X1 double-deckers were observed side by side at Lowestoft's Gasworks Road depot earlier today.



They were Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Geminis Coastal Red 37579 AU58 EDK and Coastal Clipper 37576 AU58 EDC. It appears they are awaiting their final journey.

My thanks to Steve N for the information and photo.

Roy

Another B9 Goes

A further withdrawal to report is First Great Yarmouth's Volvo B9TL 37578 AU58 EDJ. The Wright Eclipse Gemini is now parked up at Lowestoft.

My thanks to Steve N for the report and to Grahame for his photo

Roy

City Centre Activity

Following our recently reported demise of First Great Yarmouth's Volvo B9TL 37565 AU58 ECD, it subsequently turned up in Norwich working a number of city services. So its not the complete end of its use just yet! Dan High saw it in Norwich's Castle Meadow this morning.

Grahame recently exclusively reported the application of a special Pride livery for a First Norwich double-decker. Dan also got a photo of the Wright StreetDeck Electroliner, 36574 BK73 AKF, earlier today.

Visiting was Ipswich-based G12 CCC from the Three C's Travel fleet. The Jonckheere bodied Volvo B11B was previously registered RL15 RSL.

My thanks to Dan for his photos.

Roy

Local Coach Visitors

With some time to spare during yesterday afternoon, I decided to tour round the usual haunts in Great Yarmouth to see what touring coaches were lurking about in the holiday area and at the coach station.

A visit to the latter provided three coaches with the first being KM Travel's Yutong TC12 YG18 CWM.

In the middle of the trio was Shrewsbury-based Ministerley Motors' Scania K410EB4 YT19 EBU..

The final vehicle was Llew Jones Coaches' Mercedes-Benz Tourismo LJI 4670 in Shearings.com livery visiting the Norfolk Broads and Sandringham.

Afterwards driving along North Drive and saw a white coach heading towards me in the far distance. Quickly stopping and getting out of the car I caught Caledonian Travel's Mercedes-Benz Tourismo NH18 GGH heading back to its hotel.

Returning home via Jellicoe Road and Caister Road there was a coach at the Londis Petrol Filling Station on the west side of the road which was identified as Dartline's Irizar i6 YT20 ERZ.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 17th June 2026

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

Roy

Electroliner Arrivals

Three of First Great Yarmouth’s new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners were at Norwich’s Roundtree Way depot this morning. 

One of them, 36697 BF26 ZVK, has subsequently arrived at Great Yarmouth’s Caister Road depot but is pictured at the aforementioned site.

The other two present at Norwich were 36693 BF26 ZVE and 36698 BF26 ZVL which will no doubt find their way to the coast in due course!

My thanks to Steve N for the information and photos.

Roy

Lowestoft Look In

I was on my way to Lowestoft this afternoon and looked in at the First Eastern Counties depot at Gasworks Road in the hope of viewing any of the Specialist Transport Solution buses based there for Sizewell C work.

I was rewarded with the view of two ADL Enviro400 MMCs with the first SN75 YWD being 34496 in the First numbering scheme. Unfortunately the one behind could not be identified.

Also present, poking out of the depot, was former First Glasgow Volvo B9TL 37542 MXZ 3342.

Roy

Coach Services' Departures

Regular contributor Jdraves1 reports the withdrawal of BJ60 BYX, a 2010 Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2. Unfortunately it was written off on Monday (June 8th) in an accident on the 357 route but what's unlucky is that it had newly painted panels 2 weeks prior.

Also previously unmentioned here is another withdrawal in the form of HF05 HXG, a 2005 Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban back in December. It was new to Wilts & Dorset in May of that year.

Many thanks to Jdraves1 for his report and photos.

Roy

Norwich Pride In Ipswich

Continuing the Pride theme, Colin Sharman tells us that Norwich Pride liveried Volvo B7RLE saloon 69543 BF12 KWG has been operating from Ipswich since Monday of last week.

Last week on the Wednesday to Friday (3rd to 5th June) it ran empty at around 09.00 or so (presumably from Suffolk One) under Ancaster Road railway bridge and then later worked the Stowmarket 87 town service. It is seen here operating a Sprowston service in Norwich.

Many thanks for your report Colin.

Roy

New Pride Bus For Norwich

Details are slowly emerging of another special Pride liveried vehicle for First Norwich. We can exclusively reveal the vehicle being used is Electroliner 36574 BK73AKF.

The full reveal will take place soon, it will join another vehicle in Norwich 69543 BF12KWG which also carries a livery dedicated to Norwich Pride.

Many thanks to Zak at First for the information and photos.

Grahame. 

MetroDecker in Norwich

An unusual appearance in Norwich's Castle Meadow earlier today was this Central Connect branded red and blue Optare MetroDecker..

Listed on Bus Times as being with the Simonds fleet, T21 GAL has fleet number 501 and was previously registered YJ21 FDD. It was part of a cancelled order for Reading Buses in June 2021 and was later with Centaur Travel of Crayford.

My thanks to Dan High for the photo which shows it about to leave on the 82 service to Roydon.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 10th June 2026

This week's East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report includes just the one retrospective entry of relevance to the local area.

First Eastern Counties had ceased operating its 983 Repps Road, Martham to East Norfolk Sixth College, Gorleston service from 3rd October 2025. 

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

Roy

Ex First Ipswich Repaint

During mid January an Ipswich Park and Ride liveried ADL/TransBus Enviro300 migrated south to First Essex. This morning 67774 SN62 AXK was observed in Chelmsford Bus Station in the latest Ultraviolet colour scheme. 

My thanks to Dale Bell for the information and photo. He had earlier provided a photo of it being employed in Chelmsford in the Park & Ride livery for my post of  2nd February 2026, which can be viewed by clicking here.

Roy

Dan Visits Great Yarmouth

Regular contributor Dan High swapped his usual Norwich location for Great Yarmouth today and took up residence at Market Gates Bus Station to view some of the new Electroliners.

He did get a photo of one them during his short visit, in the form 36689 BF26 ZVA, heading for Caister on the 8s.

My thanks to Dan for the photo.

Roy

Another Withdrawal

With the gradual entry into service of the new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners the Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Geminis are beginning to be withdrawn from service.

We have already reported the demise of 37579 AU58 EDK but another, 37565 AU58 ECD, was condemned over the weekend. It is seen here on Lowestoft Road in Gorleston returning with the Coastal Clipper 1 service from Lowestoft in February 2023.

Roy

Simonds Activity

Dan High witnessed some double decker activity by Diss-based Simonds in the central area of Norwich yesterday.

Their Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL SN56 AGV was noted travelling eastbound on Castle Meadow on a Postwick Park and Ride service

Soon after another Simonds double decker passed in the same direction with ADL Enviro400 MMC 512  YY74 OBU displaying Hartismere EE315 as its destination! I assume it was heading for Great Yarmouth to operate a workers contract to the Cranswick Country Foods  factory as reported on the Bus Times website.

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Old & New

Great Yarmouth's Route 8 is about to be transformed into full electric operations, the new fleet slowly being introduced into service. 36695 BF26ZVH & 36689 BF26ZVA were both out in use today.

 36695 seen here in Beaconsfield Road on Driver Changeover.

 

Soon to be withdrawn from use are some of the original batch of Excel Volvo B9TL's, 37578 AU58EDJ is seen here entering Beatty Road en route to Caister.

Grahame. 

In The Pink

Pink liveried driver trainer Wright Eclipse 2 bodied Volvo B7RLE 69436 WX59 BYN has appeared at First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot this morning.



In other news Volvo 9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 37579 AU58 EDK has been withdrawn.

My thanks to Steve N for the information and photo.

Roy

The Wright Way

Observed by Dan High in Norwich City Centre yesterday was PTS Group's (Wrights Coaches) Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B11R W28 PTS.

The 57 seater was acquired from Shaw of Cornforth as SA17 ELE in November last year. It also saw use as Park of Hamilton's LSK 878.

My thanks to Dan for the photo.

Roy

First Electroliner In Service

The first electric bus in service at Great Yarmouth is 36695 BF26 ZVH on the 8 to the James Paget Hospital.

The photo shows the Wright StreetDeck Electroliner at the Magdalen Square bus stop in Gorleston on the way to the hospital.

I hoped to get a photo of it on Church Lane returning to Great Yarmouth and I quickly took this - thinking it was 36695, but found it to be another one! It was 36690 BF26 ZVB on driver training duties with 36695 following soon after.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 3rd June 2026

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report includes changes to Sanders Coaches' operating centres.

It has removed the use of Completely Coach Hire's premises at 56 Old Cattle Market on Hall Road in Norwich and replaced it with a new centre at Unit 49 White Lodge Trading Estate in the City for twenty vehicles. A new operating centre has also been registered at a storage site on Cornish Way Business Park in North Walsham also for twenty vehicles.

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

Roy

Welsh Visitor

On a run along Great Yarmouth's seafront this afternoon I observed a coach parked at the Palm Court Hotel on North Drive.

It was Scania K410EB6 /Higer BX69 BTX from the Brent Thomas fleet of Tonypandy, which took some time in confirming details as it was originally registered as YN69 XXT.

Roy