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. 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.

Norwich Friday

Dan High was out and about in the Norwich area yesterday and found Konectbus ADL Enviro400 635 SN65 OAU on the 5 at Rackheath on its way to the City.

When in the city he saw Sanders Coach’s Wright Eclipse 2 bodied Volvo B7RLE 553 BJ11 ECW arriving with the 45 from Holt

Thanks for the photos Dan

Roy

Three Tourismos

Passing Great Yarmouth’s Beach Coach Station at lunchtime today I observed three Mercedes-Benz Tourismos.

The first was Greenline Holidays’ GC22 GLC with the others being BV20 HNC and BV19 YFH from the Alfa Holidays’ fleet.

Roy 

Dan’s Tour

Regular contributor Dan High was touring around the county earlier today taking in Dereham and Fakenham before returning to Norwich.

His first photo is of Konectbus ADL Enviro200 754 YX62 DMU at the Beech Road stop in Beetley on its way to Fakenham.

It is also observed at the latter preparing for its return journey. On the opposite side of the road are two Lynx double-deckers with ADL Enviro400 DU61 FVY taking on passengers.

Dan also got a photo of Flixbus branded Yutong GT12 YK25 OMF on his return to Norwich Bus Station. The Central Connect coach’s destination is London Victoria on the 007 service.

Finally a look in at Castle Meadow in the city and one of the new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners 36709 LX76 ZGA was preparing to leave on the 11A to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

My thanks to Dan for his photos.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 7th October 2026

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

Central Connect has introduced a new O2 Langer Road, Felixstowe to Suffolk One Sixth Form College, Ipswich service on college days only from 1st September 2026.

B R Shreeve has changed the routes, stopping places and timetables of services to the Thomas Mills Hugh School at Framlingham from 3rd September 2026. They are MILLS1 from Thorpeness Alms Houses, MILLS2 from Butchers Arms Public House in Knodshall and MILLS3 from Saxmundham Primary School. It has also commenced a new MILLS4 schools service from the Butchers Arms Public House in Knodishall to the school.

Sanders Coaches has amended the timetable of its 805 Queens Head in Earsham to Hobart High School  in Loddon from 3rd September 2026. The operator has also amended the route and timetable of its 34 North Walsham Travel Hub to Tesco lay by in Stalham from the same date.

Thompsons Coaches have been granted an increased authorisation of 14 vehicles at its operating centre at Charnwood Estate off Saxted Road in Framlingham.

The full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Jubilee Coach Sales Updated

Earlier today I saw that Rollesby-based Jubilee Coaches has advertised the sale of two of their vehicles on the Used Bus & Coach Trader Facebook site.

The first is Marcopolo Viaggio bodied Iveco Irisbus Eurorider L333 JCR, although I suspect the personalised number plate will be retained by the operator. It was new to Suffolk County Council in September 2007 as PN57 CTZ.

The other is Kassbohrer Setra S416GT-HD W28 JCR which was new to Spencer of Ellistown in Leicestershire in October 2011 as BF61 HCD.

Roy

BorderBus Rail Replacement

Dan Pretty took photos of two BorderBus single deckers employed on Ipswich to Stowmarket rail replacement duties yesterday.

The Beccles-based operator has rarely provided vehicles for this sort of work but supplied two MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLEs 113 BB73 BUS and 116 BB75 BUS.

I am grateful to Dan for sending in his photos.

Roy

FirstBus Update

A transfer and two withdrawals feature in this evening’s news update. The former involves the permanent move from Great Yarmouth to Lowestoft of Wright StreetLite 47512 SN64 CRZ.

Lowestoft’s 44454 YX09 HKO has been removed from active duties which mainly included use on town services.

Great Yarmouth’s Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Wright B9TL 36285 LX59 DBU has also met the same fete. I was fortunate in obtaining a photo of it yesterday in Gorleston High Street on its way to Lowestoft.

My thanks to Steve N for the information.

Roy

Foursome Leave Norfolk

So far unreported here is the recent disposal of four buses by Norfolk-based Our Bus. The operator, which has its office at Acle and a garage at South Burlingham, has sold the quartet to Nick Maddy Coaches of  Hereford.

All are Optare Solos with YJ62 FZD and YJ62 FZV being the M920 version while YJ59 GHX is an M950 model.

The remaining Solo, YJ59 NNL, is an M880 type and has yet to enter service with its new owner.

The information was found on the Friends of Buses and Coaches Facebook site.

Roy

Ex Lowestoft Bus Enters Service

Former First Lowestoft ADL Enviro200 44533 SN62 DBV entered service with First Essex in Chelmsford  today.

Dale Bell got a photo of it leaving the Market this morning on the 47 route on which it spent most of the day. Again all coastal reds branding had been removed.

Many thanks for the information and photo Dale.

Roy

Another Withdrawal

A further Volvo B9 taken out of service is First Lowestoft’s 37577 AU58 EDF. Its last day of activity was reported on Bus Times as yesterday, when it performed a number of runs on the X21 to Norwich.

My thanks to Steve N for the use of his photo.

Roy

Wensum eVoRa

A photo supplied by our regular contributor Dan High features in today’s post. It shows Sanders Coaches’  Volvo B8RLE / MCV eVoRa 526 BV72 KKA on Norwich’s Wensum Street with yesterday’s X55 North Walsham service.

Thanks for the photo Dan

Roy

Yellow Line Moves

Two double-deck buses from First Norwich have now transferred to the coast. They are both ex Yellow Line Wright Eclipse 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs with 36265 BG12 YJX going to Lowestoft and 36266 BG12 YJY moving to Great Yarmouth.

The former was helping out with Great Yarmouth Airshow Park & Ride services in June 2018 and is seen turning in front of the Hollywood Cinema on North Drive.

My thanks to Steve N for the information.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 30th September 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 

Ex Lowestoft Bus In Essex

Recently transferred from First Lowestoft, ADL Enviro200 44532 SN62 DBO was captured on camera yesterday by Dale Bell on First Essex driver training duties. It is observed leaving Chelmsford bus station with all its coastal reds references removed.

My thanks to Dale for providing his photo

Roy

Sanders First

Former First Essex Thamesway liveried Volvo B7RLE 69520 BJ11 ECW has passed to Sanders Coaches.

It was observed in Norwich city centre today by Harry Holmes on the 57 service on its first day in use with the operator.

My thanks to Harry for the photo .

Roy

Central Connect Contract

Observed eastbound on Euston Road in Great Yarmouth this afternoon was Central Connect ADL Enviro400 MMC YY74 OBV. It was being employed on the 15:25 workers’ contract bus from Nelson Road North to Eye Chicken Factory.

It had started the day on the B3 service between Eye and Bury St Edmunds’ West Suffolk College.

Roy

Turquoise Move

Following our recent post regarding a number of FirstBus Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs being moved from Norwich to Great Yarmouth’s Caister Road depot, one has now arrived at the coast.

It is former First Norwich Turquoise line 36184 BN12 JYG which is seen here prior to leaving its Norwich Roundtree Way depot this morning.

Also present was recently withdrawn Coastal Clipper branded 37565 AU58 ECD.

Roy

EATM Festival of Transport

This weekend saw the East Anglia Transport Museum hold its Festival of Transport and I visited the event at Carlton Colville on Sunday.

I took advantage of the well signposted new park and ride service which was just about full when I arrived just before midday. The ‘ride’ part of the service was provided by First Eastern Counties Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL 36226 BD12TBO.

On entering the site my attention was drawn to former West Bridgeford UDC Willowbrook Lowbridge bodied AEC Regent III No 21 ORR 140. The undertaking passed to Nottingham City Transport in 1968.

Also in the yard was Pat Burnside’s former Eastern Counties Bristol L5G KNG 711 and ex Eastern National Bristol LDLX6G prototype Lodekka 1541 236 LNO from 1957. Both were bodied at Lowestoft’s Eastern Coach Works.

One of First Great Yarmouth’s ten Wright StreetDeck Electroliners made an appearance. 36098 BF26 ZVL is seen being passed by Danish trolleybus Copenhagen No 5. The Electroliner later completed a number of circuits of the museum with passengers onboard.

Blackpool tram 159 was looking good following its recent repaint and is observed passing the taxi garage and restored telephone box.

Also on display were two BorderBus vehicles - Volvo B8RLE / MCV eVoRa 116 BB75 BUS and Scania CN230UD 205 BB08 PSV.

Our final photo features former Royal Mail Post Bus M736 VSC, a 1995 Iveco Daily with Mellor bodywork.

Roy

Saloon Swap

Two First Lowestoft ADL Enviro200s have moved to First Essex at Colchester with the former receiving two Wright StreetLites in return.

The Enviros are Coastal Reds liveried 44532 SN62 DBO and 44533 SN62 DBV, while the incoming StreetLites are 47643 SN15 AEZ and 47644 SN15 AFA.

My thanks to Steve N for the information.

Roy

Surprise Arrivals

Recently observed in the yard of BorderBus in Beccles are these two double deckers previously operated by Metrobus which is headquartered in Crawley, West Sussex.

The couple are Scania CN270UDs YP09 HWK and YP09 HWG which require some attention prior to entering service.

Roy

Moves Due

It is understood, from various sources, that a small number of FirstBus Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TLs are expected to move from Norwich to Great Yarmouth’s Caister Road depot in the next few days. We will not speculate as to which examples they may be as their identity could be subject to change.

Similar 36226 BD12 TBO and 36190 BN12 JYP are now both Lowestoft based vehicles with the former appearing on shuttle duties between Carlton Colville and the Easr Anglian Transport Museum today.

Meanwhile, ADL Enviro400 33822 YX63 LKM and Volvo B9TL 36282 LX59 DAO have successfully passed their MOTs. Scheduled for theirs next week are 36284 LX59 DBO and Wright StreetLite 47504 SN64 CPY

Roy

There’s More!

As comedian Jimmy Cricket used to say ‘there’s more’ meaning additional new FirstBus Wright StreetDeck Electroliners have been observed in Norwich.

 

Luke Champeny saw other examples yesterday with 36706 LX76 ZFW being noted at Postwick Park and Ride ready to work PR1 to Airport Park and Ride yesterday.

At the back of Sapphire House on Roundtree Way 36712 LX76 ZGD was seen parked up.

Finally also in the yard at Roundtree Way was 36704 LX76 ZFU

My thanks to Luke for the photos

Roy

Electroliners Make An Appearance

Dan High’s photos today include the entry into service of three new FirstBus Eastern Counties Wright StreetDeck Electroliners in Norwich.

The three Electroliners are 36700 LX76 ZFO, 36705 LX76 ZFV and 36707 LX76 ZFY and all are pictured on Castle Meadow.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Service Alterations Registered ~ 23rd September 2026

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

However, of specific interest is that Central Connect has amended the route and timetable of its 82/82A/82C services between Roydon and Postwick Park and Ride from 30th of August 2026

The full Report can be viewed here soon

Roy

Norwich Tuesday

A couple of photos showing Dan High’s  observations on Norwich’s Castle Meadow earlier today.

An unusual visitor was ex Lochs & Glens’ Volvo B11RT 9900 SJ21 NDD which was first registered in April 2021. It is now operated by PTS Group (Wrights Coaches)

Next up is Central Connect’s ADL Enviro 200 765 EU10 AOX being employed on the 82C Postwick Park and Ride service

Thanks for the photos again Dan. Our thanks also to many of you who contacted us regarding the new owner of the Volvo  B11RT 9900

Roy

Early Retirement

It is reported in the Eastern Daily Press today that the FirstBus Eastern Counties double decker involved in the crash at Ormesby St Margret late last month is to be ‘retired’ 

The bus, Coastal Reds liveried Volvo B9TL 36286 LX59 DBV, was due for withdrawal at the end of September but the date has now been brought forward says the report.

Roy