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 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

Lowestoft Look

With reports being a little thin on the ground at the moment and, with a plan cross the border to Lowestoft, I thought I would look in at First’s Gasworks Road depot to see if there was anything worth photographing there this afternoon.

I was hopeful of getting a picture of at least one of Specialist Passenger Solution's Alexander Dennis Enviro200MMCs in the yard. Fortunately I obtained a photo of of two of them at the depot entrance although it shows the rear of 44974 YY25 DKE and 44976 YY25 KDZ as numbered in the First Eastern Counties fleet.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 28th January 2026

There's just the one retrospective entry regarding local bus operations in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

First Eastern Counties has amended the route, start and finish point and the timetable of its 981 service between the Transport Museum at Carlton Colville and East Norfolk Sixth Form College in Gorleston from 31st August 2025.

The full Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to view here soon.

Roy

Coach Arrival At First

A couple of weeks ago Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B9R transferred from First Kernow to First Eastern Counties. 20808 YN62 GYR was subsequently repainted from its Truronian colours to First’s Ultraviolet livery and is to be employed on contract work.

My thanks to Sheldon Rees for the information and consent to use the photo.

Roy

Ex Coastlink Deckers In Essex

Following Dale Bell's report of earlier in the week regarding ADL Enviro400 33807 YX63 LJN entering service with First Essex, he reports that all four former First Eastern Counties Coastlink deckers have now received the latest corporate livery.

However, 33806 YX63 LJL has yet to enter service as it has many issues and currently resides at the back of Westway depot in Chelmsford. It appears not to have moved from the same spot for some months now. Photo shows 33806 on Church Lane in Gorleston in September 2021

My thanks to Dale for the information.

Roy

First Update

The latest news from First Great Yarmouth is that 47645 SN15 AFE has successfully passed its MOT and returned to Lowestoft. Similar 47646 SN15 AFF and 47647 SN15 AFJ have been booked in for theirs. The photo of 47645 was taken by Mark Doggett in September last year.

Meanwhile Wright StreetLite 63320 SK65 PXA has arrived at First Ipswich from Great Yarmouth and was being employed on the 800 Park and Ride service this morning.

My thanks to SteveN and Toby Pearson for their reports.

Roy

Life After First

Brylaine’s former First Eastern Counties Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini YJ06 XKK was observed in Spalding Bus Station yesterday. Numbered 37021 in the First fleet, it shows evidence of its past use in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area. It was the first double deck bus to gain the new Coastal Red livery in June 2021.

My thanks to John R G Bland for the information and the use of his photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 21st January 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

Norwich Today

Regular contributor Dan High was in his normal position on Castle Meadow in Norwich this morning when he saw First Eastern Counties 33573 SN58 ENR on the 28 to Thorpe Marriott. It was the first time the ADL Enviro400 has appeared in revenue earning service this year and was recorded on Bus Times as last being in use in early December.

Also observed was Coastal Reds Volvo B9 37564 AU58 ECC on the 7 from Great Yarmouth to Norwich Bus Station with its display showing ‘Bus on Diversion’.

Parked close to the entrance of the Castle Mall Shopping Centre was Dolphin Travel’s Neoplan N3316 SHDL Euroliner REZ 3371 awaiting its passengers.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Former FEC Enviro400 Enters Service In Essex

Former First Eastern Counties Coastliner ADL Enviro400 33807 YX63 LJN entered service with First Essex earlier today after its repaint in First Ultraviolet colours. It is pictured in Chelmsford by Dale Bell on the X70 to Colchester.

Thanks for the photo and information Dale.

Roy

StreetLite On The Move

First Great Yarmouth allocated green liveried Wright StreetLite 63320 SK65 PXA was observed at First Lowestoft depot this afternoon and apparently is being transferred to First Ipswich tomorrow. It went from Norwich to Great Yarmouth on loan in September last year with its move made permanent later in the month.

Also seen at Lowestoft’s Gasworks Road depot, for the Sizewell C construction contract, was Specialist Passenger Solutions Alexander Dennis Enviro200MMCs YY25 KDK, YY25 KDZ, YY25DKE and YY25 KDX which have First fleet numbers 44975, 44976, 44974 and 44977 respectively.

My thanks to SteveN for the information and photos.

Roy

On Its Way!

This morning I received an email from Niall Spencer who said the photo of the First driver training vehicle featuring in yesterday’s post reminded him of his sighting of it on the A1 near Newark on Wednesday 7th January. 

At the time he was wondering where WX59 BYV was heading to and now he knows! My thanks to Nial for his photo.

Roy

Norwich First Friday

Some photos from Dan High featuring some First Eastern Counties buses in Norwich earlier today. No sooner had he arrived on Castle Meadow then one of the recently arrived driver trainer vehicles was approaching. 

He quickly managed to photograph Wight Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE 69443 WX59 BYV in its pink colours scheme.

Later he snapped similar Olympia liveried 69518 BJ11 ECT recently transferred from First Essex on the 30 Hellesdon route.

Also out after its recent Ultraviolet repaint was Wright StreetLite 63167 SN64 CJO on the 38 from the UTCN on Old Hall Road heading for Ives Road.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

First Update

The latest update from First Great Yarmouth is that Coastal Reds Volvo B9 37578 AU58 EDJ returned to duties yesterday after having a new gearbox fitted. An early photo of 37578 is shown here on Beaconsfield Road in Great Yarmouth on 14th November 2013

Coastlinks ADL Enviro400 33815 YX63 LKD is to receive the engine and gearbox out of recently condemned 33423 SN60 CAA.

MOTs are due today for Volvo B9s 37725 YJ09 OBW and open top 37533 CRZ 166. Incidentally open top 37068 CRZ 599 passed its recent MOT as evident from Tuesday’s post.

My thanks to SteveN for the update and apologies for the error in the earlier version of this post.

Roy

Essex Exile In Norwich

Another First Essex saloon has transferred to First Eastern Counties at Norwich. Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE 69518 BJ11 ECT was observed in St Stephen’s Street earlier this evening on the 38 to Tuckswood.

I am grateful to Harry Holmes for the report and photo.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 14th January 2026

There's just the one entry concerning local bus operations in today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

BorderBus has amended the route, start and finish point and the timetable of its 521 service between Halesworth / Morrisons Store in Beccles and Fort Green Car Park in Aldeburgh from 5th January 2026

The full Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to view here soon.

Roy

Local Activity

Our last post reported the unusual use of First’s Great Yarmouth Transport Heritage liveried Volvo B9 37562 FJ08FYN on the X1 service to Norwich. Jon was on hand to see it return on an X11 service to Belton via Great Yarmouth Market Gates Bus Station. 

Loanee Wright StreetDeck 35179 SK16 GUW was also seen departing the bus station destined for Norwich Bus Station on another X11 working.

A surprise sighting was the arrival of Coastal Clipper part open topper 37068 CRZ 599 with its screen showing as not in service. I suspect it was being used for ferrying staff to the town centre.

Jon later returned to Lowestoft and found double decker 36187 BN12 JYK on the 101 Lowestoft to Gunton service. The appearance of a decker on the usual saloon based route is now becoming more common.

My thanks to Jon for the information and photos received via X

Roy

Unusual X1 Working

An unusual appearance on First’s X1 Lowestoft to Norwich Coastliner service this morning was Great Yarmouth Transport Heritage liveried Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 37562 FJ08 FYN.

It was spotted by Tobey Jones working the 8:37 from Lowestoft passing Gorleston’s East Norfolk Sixth Form College earlier.

My thanks to Tobey for the report and photo

Roy

Coach Services’ Withdrawal

Regular contributor Jdraves1 reports that withdrawn Coach Services BJ11 EAX has been sold via Chartwell Bus Sales to an unknown buyer.

The Volvo B9TL was new to First Capital as their VN36144 in June 2011 and was acquired by Coach Services in September 2020.

My thanks to Jdraves1 for the report and photo.

Roy

Coastal Clipper Vehicle Update

Another update from First Great Yarmouth includes Volvo B9TL 37569 AU58 ECN needing a new axle. The Coastal Clipper liveried decker is seen nearing Lowestoft Bus Station with the 1 from Martham via Great Yarmouth on 19th May 2022.

Similar Coastal Clipper 37565 AU58 ECD has a suspension fault while Coastal Clipper partial open top 37068 CRZ 599 will be having its MOT next week.

My thanks to First for the update.

Roy

Thetford Flying Visit

On Thursday David Bell paid a quick visit to Thetford on Coach Services’ 88 route from Kings Lynn which enabled him to take his first photographs of 2026.

His first is of Coach Services’ Thetford Rangers branded Volvo B8RLE/MCV eVoRa BU75 WMK

Next up is Konectbus ADL Enviro400 619 SK15 HKC working in on the 81 service from Watton.

Flixbus (Simonds) Yutong GT12 YK25 OME was enroute to Norwich with the 007 from Stratford in London.

The final photo is of Ambassador Travel’s National Express branded Scania K360EB4/ Caetano Levante 219 BV19 XOY destined for Heathrow Airport on the 727.

My thanks to David for the information and photos.

Roy

Konectbus on PR3

A surprise appearance on the Norwich PR3 Postwick Park and Ride service today was a Konectbus liveried ADL Enviro400. 

The route is normally run with a Simonds / Transport Made Simple vehicle but, with Go East Anglia being acquired by the latter in October last year, I suppose it was only a matter of time that one turned up. 609 SN61 CZZ is listed as being in the Simonds fleet on bustimes.org.

My thanks to Dan High for the photo.

Roy

More First Norwich Exiles At Ensign

Another couple of ex First Norwich Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Geminis were observed by Mark Doggett at Ensign’s premises in Purfleet earlier today.

They were York Pullman’s blue liveried BD11 CFM/O (formerly First 36167/9) which are being fitted with new seatbelts.

My thanks to Mark for the information and photos.

Roy

Latest Update

The latest update from First Great Yarmouth includes the news that Enviro400 33815 YX63 LKD requires a new engine. It is pictured negotiating Middleton Road roundabout from Church Road on divert following the closure of Gorleston High Street in October 2020.

Coastal Reds Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 37578 AU58 EDJ also wants a new gearbox.

Similar 36215 BJ12 VWX and Wright StreetLite 47484 SN64CNV should return to the road if they pass their MOTs scheduled for today. (both did subsequently pass)

My thanks to First for the information.

Roy

Open Toppers For Scrap

The two partial open top Coastal Clipper Cabriolets, transferred from First Great Yarmouth to South Wales for use on the Tenby Coaster, have been withdrawn for scrap.They were 37057 YJ06 XMH and 37059 YJ06 XML which were delivered respectively from Norfolk in March and February last year.

Dan High visited Tenby in May 2025 and managed to get a photo of the former Volvo B7TL 37057 on its journey to Saundersfoot.

Roy

Enviro400s Return

Two former Norwich Park and Ride ADL Enviro400s have returned to Norfolk for use on services in the County. Previously based at Clacton in Hedingham Konectbus colours, they were both transferred north in early January.

No 601 SN10 CFE was photographed on Castle Meadow in Norwich this morning on the 11B service.

No 602 SN10 CFF was also observed on Castle Meadow with the 11C to the Heartsease Estate.

My thanks to Dan High for the photos

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 7th January 2026

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

Roy

Another Coach For Sanders

The Bus and Coach Centre announced on social media in late December that it had supplied Sanders Coaches with an MCV EvoTor-bodied Volvo B8R.

Registered AA24 REL, it was new to REL Davian of Rayleigh in Essex and I believe it is to be re registered before entering service with Sanders.

The photo is a screen shot taken from the video accompanying the post and apologies for its quality.

Roy.

Excel Scania On P&R

Kai Gied tells me he saw First’s 510 service between Costessey Park & Ride and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital being unusually worked by an ADL Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD earlier today.

Normally to be found on Norwich to Peterborough excel services, 36917 YN69 XZX is seen here nearing the Hospital.

The second photo shows it at the Hospital and it appears to have worked the route for most of the day.

My thanks to Kai for the information and photos.

Roy

Snowy Norwich

More photos featuring the white stuff (this time in Norwich yesterday) have been forwarded by Luke Champeny. The first is of First’s Wright StreetLite 63143 SN14 DWW destined for Ives Road in the city on the 38.

Next up is Wright StreetDeck Ultroliner 35185 SK16 GVF having arrived at Riverside with the 26 service.

Later in the day sees another Wright StreetLite, this time 63318 SK65 PWY, on the 11 to Sprowston.

Thanks for the photos Luke.

Roy

Snowy Gorleston

With snow arriving there’s the opportunity to get some photos featuring the white stuff and I got them in Gorleston High Street on Saturday 

I had to visit Gorleston Library and wasted little time in taking both photos within a couple of minutes of each other (it was a little on the cool side after all!) The first features Wright StreetLite 47512 SN64 CRZ on its way to Burgh Castle.

The second is of Norwich StreetDeck 35179 SK16 GUW on loan to the coast on the 1A to Lowestoft which featured in the last post from Grahame.

Stay safe and as someone used to say ‘Let’s be careful out there!’

Roy

Snowy Loan

 Norwich based Streetdeck 35179 SK16GUW is currently having a loan spell on the coast.

 

Thanks to Bustimes website i wandered out to grab a shot in the snow where she was about to head along West Road in Ormesby on her way to Martham.

Grahame