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.

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into service of the new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners the Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Geminis are beginning to be withdrawn from service.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Soon to be withdrawn from use are some of the original batch of Excel Volvo B9TL's, 37578 AU58EDJ is seen here entering Beatty Road en route to Caister.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In other news Volvo 9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 37579 AU58 EDK has been withdrawn.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

Open Topper Update

The latest from First Great Yarmouth is that ex First Kernow partial open topper 37796 LK59 CXO has left the depot for a repaint following repair.

It was new to First London before being acquired by Metroline. It then passed to Ensign before ending up with First Kernow running the Land's End Coaster service as an open topper.

Photo courtesy of Southern England Bus Scene.

Roy

Norwich Today

A couple of photos from Dan High who was stationed on Castle Meadow in Norwich earlier today.

The first is of First Eastern Counties Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 36174 BD11 CFY which recently returned from Cornwall after leaving Norwich in July 2024. It's about head off to Sprowston on the Pink Line 11A service and there is nothing remotely pink about it!

Also observed was Simonds Irizar i6s coach YT26 AFK which looked to be on a private charter. It was new to the operator in early May.

My thanks to Dan for his photos.

Roy

Electroliner Arrivals

Another of First Great Yarmouth’s new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners arrived at Caister Road just before lunchtime today.

It was 36695 BF26 ZVH which is seen inside the depot in Steve N’s photo soon after arrival. 

He later got a photo of this afternoon’s arrival 36691 BF26 ZVC

Thanks for the information and photos Steve.

Roy

Lynx Changes

West Norfolk independent operator Lynx Bus has published changes to some of its services which are to take effect from Monday 1st June 2026.

They include the following routes:-
Service 33 Kings Lynn to Hunstanton - improved frequency with buses operating every two hours
Service 33A Hunstanton Town Circular - new service
Service 33B Hunstanton Town Circular - new service
Services 34/35/36 Kings Lynn to Hunstanton - improved connections to the QE Hospital
Service 36 Coastliner Kings Lynn to Fakenham - revised service
Service 44 The loop - New Kings Lynn to Hardwick circular route

More details on the Lynx Website

To help provide these changes Lynx has acquired eight Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530s from Bus Vanin on the Isle of Man. They are to receive fleet numbers 1 - 8  and are as follows:-

1) KMN-210-L 2) KMN-214-U 3) KMN-215-U     not yet arrived 4) KMN-218-U     now FX12 MUB 5) KMN-219-U     not yet arrived 6) LMN-225-D     not yet arrived 7) LMN-229-H

8) LMN-230-H     away for repaint

No's 2 and 4 have already received the Lynx red colour scheme with the latter to be branded for the new Loop service.

Making way for them will be the withdrawal of nine older OptareTempos:-

3 - YJ55BKG    7 - YJ56WVA    11 - YJ07VSK    12 - YJ07VSL    13 - YJ07VSM 14 - YJ07VSN 15 - FD54JYA    19 - FD54JYF    30 - MX05ELH

In other news DAF DB250 Gemini 57 - LJ04LEU has been withdrawn for scrap with two new E400 MMCs (68 and 69) expected soon for Coastliner.

I am very grateful to Sam Larke for his help in preparing this report and to 'Reg Vardy' for his photo of four of the new arrivals.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 27th May 2026

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report includes changes to BorderBus services in connection with the Latitude Festival at Henham Park in Suffolk.

LAT1 Halesworth to Latitude Festival - amended timetable effective 21st July 2026.
LAT2 Halesworth to Latitude Festival - amended timetable effective 24th July 2026.
LAT3 Latitude Festival to Southwold - amended timetable effective 24th July 2026.
LAT4 Kessingland to Latitude Festival - amended route and timetable effective 24th July 2026.
LAT5 Tesco, Beccles to Latitude Festival - amended timetable effective 24th July 2026.

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

Roy

Grim Reaper Visits

The grim reaper called into First Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot early this morning in the form of a Trevor Wigley tow truck.

Making its final journey to the scrapyard was Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 37139 SN57 HCY.

My thanks to Steve N for the information and photos.

Roy

Emergency Rail Replacement

With Reedham Swing Bridge braking down but remaining open to river traffic, Anglia Railways quickly arranged rail replacement services between Lowestoft and Norwich at short notice earlier today.

Lowestoft- based Angies Tours (P J Overy) immediately stepped into the breach by providing at least two coaches. The 14:17 departure was provided by Scania K410EB6/Caetano Levante BV17 GOU which was new to De Courcey of Coventry in March 2017.

The second coach observed was Neoplan Tourliner Y24 TEY, thought to be the 15:48 rail replacement. Its registration recognises Angies' associated Colchester-based business Teys Tours.

My thanks to Tim Miller for the report and photos.

Roy

New Flixbus Service

David Slater reports that a new Flixbus service started today with the 950 from Heathrow Airport to Norwich. 

The first northbound trip (06:00 from Heathrow) was worked by Cozy Travel of Sandy's OU23 CYM which was seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills. It is a Neoplan Tourliner that had been new to Whippet Coaches in July 2023 and still carries Whippet fleet number FX44. After Whippet Coaches ended their four year Flixbus contract Cozy’s apparently took on the lease of the six former Whippet Neoplan coaches.

Departing Heathrow (Central) at 0600 this trip travels via Luton Airport Parkway (0650-0655); Cambridge (Parkside) (0810-0820); and Thetford (0920-0925) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1015. he full service has six daily trips each way although not all serve Cambridge Trumpington Park and Ride (TP&R) and Norwich (University of East Anglia).

Departures from Norwich are:

0025 arriving Heathrow 0430

0200 arriving Heathrow 0610

0335 arriving Heathrow 0800

1100 arriving Heathrow 1530 (omits UEA and TP&R)

1250 arriving Heathrow 1720 (omits UEA and TP&R)

1500 arriving Heathrow 1920 (omits UEA)

 

Departures from Heathrow are:

0600 arriving Norwich 1015 (omits TP&R and UEA)

0740 arriving Norwich 1215

0940 arriving Norwich 1405 (omits UEA)

1740 arriving Norwich 2210 (omits TP&R and UEA)

1910 arriving Norwich 2330

2120 arriving Norwich 0140

The service is operated by Transport Made Simple/ Central Connect from their Diss depot with the the Neoplans currently on loan to them until new vehicles arrive.

I am grateful to David for the information and photos.

Roy

Swaffham Observations

Earlier today regular contributor Dan High decided to observe bus activity in Harry Hill’s favourite Norfolk town of Swaffham.

First Eastern Counties Scania N250UD / ADL Enviro400 City 36910  YN69 XZP was being employed on the B excel service to Kings Lynn, Wisbech and Peterborough.

Seen at the bus stop was Konectbus ADL Enviro400 622 SN65 OAA destined for Dereham on the 11 route.

My thanks to Dan for the photos.

Roy

Sanders Acquires Semmence

Sanders Coaches have announced their acquisition of H Semmence & Company of Wymondham. The takeover means that additional operational coaches join the fleet together with the majority of the Semmence staff.

Sanders Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B8R CE24SAN outside their Bessemer Road depot
(Photo: Nick Farrow)

All existing Semmence operations will be moved to Sanders recently built Bessemer Road depot in Norwich. All contracts and private charters are to continue as normal and will be completed by a mixture of vehicles acquired from Semmence together with some of Sanders own fleet.

Optare Solo YK04 KVU, when with Ambassador Travel, has been acquired by Sanders

Fleet wise the following become part of the Sanders fleet although not all will be operational:-

YO54 DRX	Dennis Javelin
KIG 8457	Volvo Sunsundegui
KIG 8426	Jonckheere Mistral
JL09 RSL	Plaxton Panther
YN06 RVE	Volvo
BF63 ZSK	Volvo B9 Caetano
BF63 ZSL	Volvo B9 Caetano
EHZ 5362	Volvo B9 Caetano
FJ09 DXC	Scania Caetano
Y176 KCS	Jonckheere Mistral
KIG 7738	Volvo Sunsundegui
KIG 1890	Jonckheere Mistral
PN06 TVP	Iveco
YK04 KVU	Optare Solo
AU02 VXY	Volvo

Volvos BF63 ZSK and KIG 7738 when they were both operated by Ambassador Travel

As part of the takeover Norfolk County Council school bus routes and local bus services will be operated by Sanders Coaches with effect from Sunday 24th May 2026.

My thanks to Kieran Smith at Sanders for his help with the preparation of this post.

Roy

Not Another One!

Another of First Great Yarmouth's Wright StreetDeck Electroliners has arrived at Norwich's Roundtree Way depot.



The latest is 36696 BF26 ZVJ which is seen here in a photo provided by Steve N. Thanks Steve.

Roy

Blue Wednesday

There appeared to be a predominance of blue in the photos sent by Dan High regarding Norwich activity yesterday.



Simonds branded Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini SN55 AGV was employed on the PR3 Postwick Park & Ride.



Seen at the same location is First Eastern Counties Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini BD11 CFY. It had recently returned from a stint with First Kernow and was acting as a staff bus.



The third photo features First Eastern Counties open topper 33427 LK58 KHL, another former First Kernow bus.

A fourth blue bus is Konectbus ADL Enviro200 YY64 TXP is shown here with fleet number 785 which seems to indicate the fleet is/has received a re-numbering.

My thanks to Dan for the photos

Roy

Dolphin School Trips

Two Norwich-based Dolphin Travel vehicles appeared on school trips to Great Yarmouth earlier today.



I first spotted their BMC 220 YJ56 XSR turning on South Beach Parade, while Volvo B12B / Plaxton Panther BU54 DAY was later noted outside the SeaLife Centre on Marine Parade.

Roy

Electroliner Driver Training

To prepare for the introduction of Wright StreetDeck Electroliners on First Great Yarmouth services, two examples were observed on driver training earlier today.



Kai Gied saw the first, 36689 BF26 ZVA, about to enter Market Gates Bus Station while he pictured 36692 BF26 ZVD on Northgate Street.



A third Electroliner, 36690 BF26ZVB, was later viewed inside Caister Road depot.



My thanks to Kai for the information and photos.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 20th May 2026

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report includes changes to two First Eastern Counties services in the local area.

The operator is to amend the route and timetable of its 40/40A/X41/41A /41 services from St Stephens Street in Norwich to Halesworth / Bungay, St Johns Road from 31st May 2026.
It will also alter the route, start & finish points, stopping places and timetable of its X1 service between Market Gates in Great Yarmouth and the railway station in Lowestoft from 26th May 2026.

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

Roy

Latest First Great Yarmouth Activity

The latest from First's Caister Road Depot is that Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 37139 SN57HCY has been withdrawn. The lime fronted bus moved from First Essex to First Eastern Counties during late October last year and almost immediately found work in Great Yarmouth.

It is shown here waiting time at the Halfway House (Alpha Road) bus stop in Southtown whilst employed on route 2 to Market Gates on 30th October 2025.

The other news from Great Yarmouth is that another new Wright StreetDeck Electroliner has arrived in the form of 36692 BF26 ZVD. In addition, Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 37563 AU58 ECA has returned to service.

My thanks to Steve N for the update.

Roy

Second Electroliner Arrives At Caister Road

The second of First Great Yarmouth’s new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners has arrived at Caister Road.



36690 BF26 ZVB arrived at the depot early this morning and my thanks to Steve N for the report and photo. It joins 36689 BF26 ZVA which was out on test earlier in the week.

Roy.

Alfa In Lowestoft

Tim Miller provides a photo of Alfa Holidays' Mercedes-Benz Tourismo A156 BV25 LZL at Lowestoft Railway Station today. In the meantime the travelling contingent were sampling the delights of the town following their morning trip to Southwold.



Apparently it was one of two visiting with the other coach (BF23 CFG) previously returning to the New Beach Hotel in Great Yarmouth where I observed it this afternoon.

My thanks to Tim for the photo.

Roy

Barton Mills Surprise

At lunchtime yesterday David Slater was waiting at Fiveways, Barton Mills to see the Flixbus Birmingham-Norwich service pass through and was rewarded by the sight of unregistered First Bus StreetDeck Electroliner on delivery to Norfolk.


The Electroliner was heading eastbound on the A11 eventually destined for First Great Yarmouth. With fleet number 36690 it is to be assigned to First Eastern Counties Buses with the registration BF26 ZVB.


Later he observed Prospect Coaches of Lye, Stourbridge YT71 GHD, an Irizar i6s new in October 2021, working the 0840 Flixbus service 083 from Birmingham to Norwich.



This service commenced on Thursday 7 May 2026 and features just one journey in each direction. Eastbound it departs Birmingham at 0840 travelling via Coventry (0920-0925) and Cambridge (1120-1125) arriving in Norwich at 1255. The westbound journey departs Norwich at 1450 travelling via Cambridge (1620-1625) and Coventry (1820-1825) arriving in Birmingham at 1905.

Prospect Coaches was a Megabus contractor prior to working for Flixbus and this coach had from time to time worked the Megabus service M37 which ran on a similar Birmingham-Norwich route at very similar times.

I'm very grateful to David for the photos and detailed report

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 13th May 2026

Yesterday morning's East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report includes reference to five local services.

First Eastern Counties is to introduce a new 111 service between Lowestoft Bus Station and the Transport Museum on Chapel Road in Carlton Colville. Starting on 26th May 2026 it will operate Monday to Saturday excluding public holidays.
The operator is also to amend the route, start and finish point, stopping places and timetable of its 99A between the Kings Head Southwold and the Co-op store on Saxons Way in Halesworth / St Mary's Street in Bungay from 26th May 2026.

Sunbeam Luxury Coaches has changed the route, start and finish point, stopping places and timetable of its 4A service from Low Street in Sloley to the Waitrose Store in North Walsham from 14th April 2026.

Sanders Coaches is to amend the timetable of its X44/44A /X40/X41 services between Norwich Bus Station and the Station Approach in Sheringham from 24th May 2026.

Halesworth Area Community Transport ceased operating its Sole Bay Health Centre service from 1st February 2026.

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

Roy

First Lowestoft Repaint

Noted for the first time today in the latest First livery was former First Essex Streetlite 47647 SN15AEJ. Seen here entering the Bus Station in Gordon Road.

 Many Thanks to Aaron M for sending the photo over this morning.

Grahame. 

Work Starts On Open Topper

Work has commenced at First's Caister Road depot to return former First South West partial open topper 37796 LX59 CXO to active duty. The Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini is still in its Lands End Coaster livery.



The first of Great Yarmouth's new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners has arrived in town allowing one of the two loaned Norwich examples to return to the city.

My thanks to Steve N for the information

Roy

Mercs At Palm Court

After having lunch with friends, I returned home via Great Yarmouth seafront and found a Bakers Dolphin Mercedes-Benz Tourismo in the car park of the Palm Court Hotel on North Drive.



It was registered OO75 BDT and, naturally, I stopped for a photo opportunity! As I prepared to leave Barnes of Swindon's similar BV74 MYD arrived with passengers alighting for the same hotel.



Roy

Dolphin Repaint

After recently acquiring BMC 220 YK55 AUA from AFSC Limited (operating as Marett's Chariots). Dolphin Travel has treated it to a repaint.



Dan High's photo is attached

Roy