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The latest from First is that two Volvo B9TLs have been withdrawn.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. 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 Coaches' 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