Last step Dart bites the dust

I understand that First Eastern Counties' last step Dart was withdrawn on Saturday. Number 46379 (M379YEX) spent its last months operating from Caister Road depot and is pictured here in Regent Road on the 4th January this year on one of its usual workings.
Presumably it will now be keeping the triaxles company at the rear of the depot before being towed away for scrap.

Today's Sightings

First Eastern Counties was using a Great Yarmouth-based Premiere on the 14.55 Lowestoft to Kings Lynn this afternoon. The vehicle, 20126 (P776XHS), is pictured at Market Gates.

Ipswich based Dart 46440 (N810VOD) was unusually noted in the town's Market Gates on service 8. Presumably this is a recent transfer?

Triaxles Languishing At Caister Road

Since my last opportunity to view the rear yard of Caister Road bus depot, all three Darts have now been removed leaving just the six withdrawn triaxles.
30097 and 30098 (K481/2 EUX) are still alongside the Harley Road fence as shown in my blog of 13th January 2011. The remaining four are parked against the southern boundary with 30101 (K485EUX) nearest the camera and 30105 (K489EUX) to the right of that. The two others are 30100/4 (K484/8EUX) but I could not identify which was which.

Hidden behind the fencing, but on the ramp, was withdrawn Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere 20129 (P769XHS) with only its numberplate showing through the gap in the fence!

Rainy Shearings!

Compared to last week's sunshine, today's Shearings vehicle is pictured in the continuous rain at Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station late this afternoon. The visitor was Grand Tourer 602 (MX04AEB) a Volvo B12M/Van Hool 42 seater.

Buses March 2011

The latest edition of Buses dropped on my doormat earlier this week and its only now that I have been able to digest much of its contents!

Page 7 contains a report of £4 million worth of orders placed with bus manufacturer Optare. 'These include three more Versas for Anglian Bus to add to five others, 24 Solos and two Tempos in the 60 strong fleet' the article adds.

Under Fleet News, City Sightseeing Leyland Olympian/ Northern Counties open-top E767LBT has been sold to City Sightseeing of Cyprus. The vehicle operated in Great Yarmouth towards the end of last year's summer season.

Sunday in the City

Unusually spent some of Sunday morning shopping in Norwich.
I spent around an  hour at lunchtime observing workings in a cold and overcast city.
As expected on a Sunday in February, there was not a lot to see. However, I did note Sanders Omnicity 309 YN53GFE (top) waiting at its stop in St Stephen's Street for its next run to the North Norfolk Coast.

To keep warm I briskly walked to the bus station and saw the usual crop of First Eastern Counties vehicles.Other operators included National Express with its CO58 FH06EBM (right) with Gatwick Airport on its destination blind and Simmonds MAN AE07DZG ready for departure on service 118 to Long Stratton (below)

Needless to say it wasn't too long before I returned to the warmth of the shopping centre!!

Reassurance Over X1 Timetable

First Eastern Counties has confirmed that no significant changes will be made to its X1 service which connects Great Yarmouth with Norwich, Dereham, Kings Lynn and Peterborough. The new timetable for the service is due to be published at the end of March. 
 In the meantime, a Punctuallity Improvement Plan is to be prepared by the company to identify possible ways of dealing with delays being experienced on the route.
The full Eastern Daily Press article can be read here