Service Alterations Registered ~ 28th October 2026

There are details of two relevant changes mentioned in today’s East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report.

Both concern Sanders Coaches with the first being the retrospective amendment of the route and timetable of its 42A Norwich Bus Station to Reepham High School service from 3rd September 2026.

The second is a one day park and ride service from the A149 road in Beeston Regis to the Tesco store bus stop in Sheringham. It ran every 10 minutes on Saturday 19th September 2026 only.

The full Report will be able to be viewed here soon

Roy

Two To Go!

The visit of a Trevor Wigley tow truck at FirstBus Great Yarmouth's depot this morning signalled the departure of two withdrawn double-deckers for their final journey to the scrapyard.

The buses are Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Geminis 36193 BN12 JYT and 36286 LX59 DBV which are pictured in the depot yard this morning.

My thanks to Steve N for the report and photos

Roy

Rail Replacement ~ Lowestoft

With railway engineering work under way between Ipswich and Lowestoft / Halesworth, rail replacement bus services were in operation today. A separate shuttle bus was also operating to Beccles.

Tim Miller took photos of three of the workings. The first he observed was Charlise of Ipswich’s Volvo B8RLE / MCV eVoRa BU75 WNF.

The shuttle bus was Ford Transit YS17 YKY provided by Lowestoft-based City to Coast Minibus Hire.

The third vehicle noted was Angies Tours’ Scania K410EB6 / Caetano Levante BV17 GOU substituting for the 14:06 to Ipswich via Halesworth, Saxmundham and Wickham Market.

Thanks to Tim for his photos.

Roy

Last President Goes

The last Border Bus Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL in service made its final journey to the scrapyard last week.

No 204 X662 LLX was the last of the six former Metroline double deckers specially acquired in 2014 for taking pupils to Sir John Leman High School in Beccles. All six are shown in a photo I took when visiting the Moor Business Park premises in April 2015.

I have subsequently been told that similar former 203 X647 LLX still remains on site out of use and that ex Galloway Volvo B7TL / East Lancs Myllennium Viking PO54 ACY also met the same fate as 204 last week.

Roy

Dan’s Sightings

Three of Dan’s sightings earlier today with the first picture showing Sanders Coaches’ Volvo B7RLE / MCV Evolution 535 BF12 KWT at Badersfield on the 54 to Norwich.

The next two photos were taken at Norwich Airport Park & Ride where Central Connects’ Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Atlas / EVM Cityline 231 RX25 TFU is with the 512 to Hellesdon.

Our third photo is of Sanders Coaches’ Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B11RT 930 W30 SCL awaiting time for its 801 journey.

My thanks to Dan for his photos.

Roy 

Service Alterations Registered ~ 21st October 2026

There are a few changes highlighted in today’s East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report.

Central Connect introduced two new college day services from 1st September 2026. The  O12 service between Western Avenue in Old Felixstowe and Suffolk One Sixth Form College plus the O7 from Chapel in Melton to the same college.

Sanders Coaches have been gained approval to operate two new school services under short notice commencing on 3rd September 2026. They are the 804 between Woodton and Hobart High School in Loddon and the 855 from Little Plumstead to Acle Academy.

The full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Sheringham Buses

Today I was treated to lunch on The North Norfolkman train running from Sheringham to Holt and return on the North Norfolk Railway.

At the end of the journey I left Sheringham Station and observed three Sanders' vehicles on Station Approach with the first being ADL Enviro400 MMC 131 VR24 VAR having arrived from Norwich on the X41.

Following behind was MCV EvoSeti bodied Volvo B8L 133 MA75 BEL on the 44 service from Sheringham to Holt.

Bringing up the rear was Volvo B8RE / MCV eVoRa 550 BU16 WTE with its destination showing 'Not In Service'.

As for the train and food - very enjoyable!

Roy

Norwich Today

Dan High was up and about early this morning and his first photo was that of Wright StreetDeck New Power EV 71025 CMZ 5293 on Castle Meadow with a 28 service from Thorpe Marriott.

At the Bus Station Coastal Reds liveried Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL 36281 LX59 DAA had arrived from Lowestoft on the X21.

Also present was Ambassador Travel's Scania K410EB6 / Caetano Levante 3 304 BV72 XFA with the 727 to Heathrow Airport.

During the afternoon he managed to travel on FirstBus Eastern Counties Wright StreetDeck Electroliner 36703 LX76 ZFT on its first day in service.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Lowestoft Today

Regular contributor Dan High spent some time in Lowestoft earlier today and saw two Former Great Yarmouth Wright StreetLites on Lowestoft Town services on Gordon Road next to the bus station.

The first photo features 47502 SN64 CPV which had just arrived on a 102 service from Oulton Village

A second Streetlite, 47501 SN64 CPU, appeared on a 106 working from Burnt Hill. It had only transferred to Lowestoft from Great Yarmouth during the middle of last week.

Another bus recently transferred in was Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B9TL 36266 BG12 YJY still in its Norwich Yellow Line livery.

On Dan's return to Norwich he caught up with Central Connect's Optare MetroDecker CT21 GAL on Castle Meadow. Formerly registered as YJ21 FDD, it was employed on the Harford PR2 Park & Ride service.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Electric One's

Sunday services on the Lowestoft to Martham 1/1A services have always thrown up the odd allocation over the years but these days Yarmouth's new fleet of Electroliners appear to be becoming the norm for the moment.

 

36694 BF26ZVG is pictured at the top of West Road heading for Lowestoft, scene of the recent accident involving 36286 which is now withdrawn after putting itself into the side of the property in the picture.

 Coming the other way is 36692 BF26ZVD about to head towards Hemsby bound for Martham.

Grahame 

Another Yarmouth Arrival

 Driving past Caister Road Depot this morning where another arrival from Norwich has appeared.

 

36175 BD11CFZ was on the forecourt, sadly no photo as most of the Sunday shift drivers were busy chatting in front of it! She is pictured above on Prince of Wales Road in Norwich back in 2017.

Grahame. 

Sheffield Reds

Former Great Yarmouth based 36283 LX59DAU recently became a member of the SMT Bus and Coach Ltd fleet based in Sheffield.

 

Seen here still in its Coastal Reds livery, now numbered 283 with SMT it joins a few other former First vehicles within their growing fleet. It came to Sheffield via Leeds where it was on loan at First Leeds before being sold on.

Thank you to Chris Gaskin for the use of his photo.

Grahame. 

Withdrawn Buses

The rear yard of FirstBus Eastern Counties Caister Road depot is beginning to look like a bus graveyard. Yesterday I reported the demise of Volvo B9TL 37569 AU58 ECN and it is seen there with similar 36286 LX59 DBV which has finally been withdrawn following its argument with a house in Ormesby St Margaret.

Another Volvo to meet its end is 36193 BN12 JYT with its next journey due to be to the scrapyard.

My thanks to Steve N for the information.

Roy

Dan's Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft Trip

Dan High carried out a quick tour of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft earlier today with two FirstBus double-deckers featuring in this post.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 36225 BD12 TAV is observed on Beaconsfield Road in Great Yarmouth on the 8 to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.

The second photo shows similar 36187 BN12 JYK on a Kessingland to Lowestoft 99 service.

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

FirstBus Great Yarmouth Changes

This morning FirstBus Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36200 B12 WOA was collected from Norwich and transferred to Great Yarmouth.

On the minus side another Volvo has been withdrawn with Coastal Clipper liveried 37569 AU58 ECN due to be scrapped.

My thanks to Steve N for the information.

Roy

Norwich Football Specials

As a birthday present, last night I was treated to tickets to watch the Norwich City v Southampton football match. An additional bonus was the taking of photos of buses and coaches taking supporters home from the event - twelve vehicles in total from five operators.

At the front of the queue to leave was Belle Coaches' Mercedes-Benz Tourismo LD11 HOL. It was the first of two from the operator with Scania K410EB4 BC17 BEL being the other one.

Second and third in line were Peelings' P55 FAH and P33 FAH. The former is a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo, previuosly a Shearings coach registered BF16 XPB which arrived in March this year. The latter is a Plaxton Panther 3 bodied Volvo B11R.

Downham Market-based D & H Harrod was employing Volvo B11R / Jonckheere N22 DHH, a former Lochs & Glens coach registered BU16 PBY.

SALEC Travel provided Van Hool bodied Volvo B12B YJ55 EZE for its city supporters.

Sanders Coaches provided the remaining six vehicles which included Scania N94UDs 113 YN53 CFF and 114 YN54 AFV plus Volvo B8Ls 128 PC 23 SAN and 129 EC2323 SHA. The saloons were Volvo B13RT 920 DLZ 822 (pictured) and 924 OC21 SAN.

As for the football result Norwich lost 1-0

Roy

Norwich Wednesday

Our regular reporter Dan High was in his usual position on Norwich's Castle Meadow earlier today and here is a selection of some of his sightings.

Thought to be on its first day in service, FirstBus Eastern Counties Wright StreetDeck Electroliner 36702 LX76 ZFS was observed on the 28 route to Thorpe Marriott.

Jubilee Coaches' green Dennis Javelin/Plaxton Profile YU05 ZHT was noted outside the entrance to the Castle Mall Shopping Centre.

Later seen in the same location was Bakers Dolphin Gold Service branded Irizar i8 BD24 GLD.

On Theatre Street in the city was Central Connects' Yutong GT12 YK25 OMG on Flixbus duty with the 007 service from London.

Our final photo is of Norwich-based ICT Coaches' Mercedes-Benz Tourismo BV26 HUZ on University Drive.

Our thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 14th October 2026

Today’s East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notice and Proceedings Report contains no entries affecting our local bus services. 

However, of particular interest is that FirstBus Eastern Counties has amended the routes and timetables of its excel services from 13th September 2026

The full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

FirstBus Update

The latest from First is that two Volvo B9TLs have been withdrawn. They are Great Yarmouth's 37564 AU58ECC and Lowestoft's 37532 MXZ 3342. The latter is parked up at Norwich

Similar 36174 BD11 CFY and 36225 BD12 TAV have moved down the coast from Great Yarmouth to Lowestoft.

My thanks to Steve N for the information.

Roy

Norwich Today

Three photos from Dan High's photos taken today in Norwich include Central Connect's Mercedes-Benz Sprinter / EVM Cityline 228 RX25 TCJ on the 50 service from Mousehold Heath to the City Centre.

Passing through Castle Meadow was Marett's Chariots' BMC 850 VF62 GAA. It began life with Welsh’s Coaches of Upton, Pontefract in September 2012 with the registration 1308 RW.

The final photo is of one of FirstBus new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners 36701 LX76 ZFP travelling on Red Lion Street on the 26 to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital with Norwich Castle in the back ground.

Thanks Dan.

Roy

Charcoal Line Improvements

People in the Bungay and Halesworth area have been fighting the withdrawal of the daytime X41 FirstBus service to Norwich with much of the Charcoal line route being reduced to an hourly service. There were reports that it was having a ‘significant practical impact on daily life’ with overcrowding, longer journeys, missed appointments and difficulties accessing work, education and healthcare.

The introduction of a revised service from 1st November follows sustained pressure from Bungay Town Council and Bungay Traffic Forum. The operator has acknowledged the increased passenger numbers on the route especially by school and college students.

The November improvements can be viewed HERE and my thanks to Mark C for bringing this to my attention.

Roy

Revisited Norwich March 2011

Been a while since we had a trip back in time, today we go back 15 years to March 2011 and a visit to the city which were a lot more frequent than they are these days!

 

First up we begin with Norfolk Green Optare Tempo YJ58VCC seen here working the X29 from Fakenham, now run by First of course. This was prior to the Kings Lynn based operator passing to the Stagecoach group.

 

Next up we have Eastons Scania Omnilink YN08HXZ which was originally a demonstrator before passing to Beestons of Hadleigh prior to arriving in Norfolk. This did pass to Sanders after its stint with Eastons.

 

Konectbus were trialling Mercedes Benz Bendi Bus BX02YYW which was on loan from Brighton & Hove. They did go on to purchase some of the type but were only short lived, these being ex London examples.

 

Norse were running  Park & Ride services in the city at this time with assorted couloured Dennis Tridents and single deck Agoralines. This White example was classed as a spare vehicle and is seen at Norwich Bus Station about to head out to the airport. This example was last noted in use with Preston Bus.

Finally the main fleet of First in Norwich had a large influx of ex London vehicles. 32206 LT52WTM was part of a batch of Volvo B7TL from First London. This spent the majority of its days at Great Yarmouth after starting off at Norwich.

Hope you have enjoyed this little look back.

Grahame.