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