First Eastern Counties New Geminis

It's been reported on the Anglia Thames Valley Bus Forum that four new Wright Eclipse Geminis for First Eastern Counties were spotted at Pops Services, Lymm on Wednesday night.
The four vehicles seen were:
36166 BD11CFK    36167 BD11CFM    36168 BD11CFN    36169 BD11CFO
It is believed that they are destined for use on Norwich city services

A further report including the first pictures of the new Geminis can be seen on Andys Bus Blog

Italian Holiday June 2011

A ten day holiday touring the Rome & Sorrento areas of Italy povided some interesting transport related subjects for photography too.

Buswise, the best photo was that of an open topper in Rome about to work a city sightseeing service.

Registered as DT 614ZH, she is a Volvo B7L with Ayats Bravo City bodywork and is pictured in Rome on the 7th June.

Three days earlier we went on a tour of the Amalfi Coast where we found the following unidentified single deck open topper in Amalfi town, also on sightseeing duties.

A visit to the Isle of Capri found a number of orange minibuses negotiating the twisting and narrow roads of the island. Operated by ATC (Azienda Transporti Compana) these three, comprising a FIAT and two Iveco tectors were awaiting their next duty in Capri itself on the 3rd June

Travelling on to Rome for the second part of the holiday, I had the opportunity to photograph some of the trams. The tram system is operated by Azienda Tramviara Autofiloviaria Comunale (or ATAC) and operates along six routes. My photographs were taken on the 19 route between Piazza Dei Gerani and Piazza Risorgimento on the 8th June

I was fortunate in that my first photo was that of what appears to be of a vintage tram (number 2035) heading towards Piazza Risorgimento on 8th June. Subsequent research shows it to be one of five remaining 1935 vintage 2000 series 4 axle cars with 2035 being a 'school tram' but available for charters.

The second and third photos include tram 9015 on Via Ottaviano. 9015 is a member of the 9000 series or the Socimi classs delivered between 1990 and 1992. The first shows 9015 nearing the Ottaviano/Barletta stop whilst the second shows her picking up passengers there whilst Stanga class 7017 heads in the opposite direction.

The final photograph shows one of the more modern 9200 series trams. Number 9250, manufactured by FIAT in the early 1990s, is seen at the Piazza Risorgimento terminus in the company of  Socimi class 9016.

From the destination blind it looks as though it has (or is about to) undertake a schools service.

Beach Coach Station 14th June

Correspondent Stephen Gowler reports the following vehicles at Beach Coach Station at around 14.30 in the afternoon of the 14th June 2011

Silver Star Coach Holidays of Caernarfon N90EDW       DCP Travel of Lingwood TIL7718
Floyds Minicoaches of Bridport YN07NUY                   Caledonian Travel LSK821
Shearings 218 BF10VCL                                            Brentwood Coaches LUI7643
Ruffles of Castle Hedingham CA52LBG                       Grettons of Peterborough VUN678 
Expresslines Ltd of Bedford S594ACT                         National Holidays NH05CDH 
Marshalls of Sutton on Trent VL7 PM04JAM                Whippet J689LGA
 
He also saw former Kings Lynn Volvo B7TLs 30887 and 30888 both in service on the 8's.

His journey home was on Anglian’s 437 AU11EPF, its first day in service, with chewing gum already on the front seat! It's an Optare Versa B37F.

Thanks to Stephen for his report 

The Newcomers

Following my previous posting on the transfer of three First Eastern Counties double deckers from Kings Lynn to Great Yarmouth, the remaining pair travelled to the seaside during Sunday (12th).

Caister Road wasted no time in getting at least two of them in service yesterday. 30889 (W344DWX) was on a Bernard Matthews contract just after lunch time (see photo), whilst another was being used on the seasonal service 3.

Two of the four former Ipswich B10BLEs were present at the front of the Caister Road depot yesterday afternoon - 60807 and 60813 are pictured below.

After I had photographed the Ipswich duo, I was quick enough to capture National Holidays NH05CDH passing along Caister Road, no doubt returning its passengers to their hotel following a days outing.

The day didn't end there though as I was surprised by Norwich's Trident 33150 (LR02LXJ) exiting Market Gates on the 8 to Caister.

As for Beach Coach Station, there were only six vehicles present including Whippet's B10M J670LGA - that makes a change from regulars J689LGA and J669LGA!!

Kings Lynn Clearout and Transfers

With Saturday being the last day of First Eastern Counties operation in Kings Lynn, the operator has wasted no time in moving its vehicles away.

Yesterday, Kings Lynn's Volvo B7TL 30887 (W742DWX) left for Great Yarmouth with sisters 30888/9 (W743/4DWX) expected to follow soon after. It is anticipated that the additional deckers will be required to assist in the introduction of service 3 between Hemsby and Great Yarmouth

Volvo B10BLE 60813 (S664RNA) in action in Ipswich on 6th March 2010

Also transferred to Great Yarmouth from Ipswich are Volvo B10BLE's 60807/8/13/14 (S657/8/64/5RNA). It is unsure whether these are replacements for vehicles scheduled for withdrawl or for those being transferred away.

Olympian 34333 (H132FLX), which was originally scheduled to move away, will now remain at Great Yarmouth.

Local Newspaper Review - 10th June

The local weekly newspaper, the Great Yarmouth Mercury, has three items of interest in this week's edition

Market Gates Revamp

The first report is that the town's Market Gates bus station is to receive thousands of pounds of investment later this year. The money is to be spent on maps, electronic signs and improvements to its general appearance. The work has been prompted by the widespread dismay over current facilities available.

Seasonal Bus Services

There are a number of responses on the letters pages of this week's paper regarding a report in the previous edition  that seasonal bus services were being curtailed or not going to be reintroduced this summer. First Eastern Counties will only be operating the service 3 between Hemsby and Great Yarmouth's town centre and not continuing to the seafront. Additionally the open top 'sight seeing' service, previously operated by McMasters Awaydays, will not be provided either this year. The full press report can be found here

Bustitution

The local council's Head of Planning and Business, Peter Warner, has expressed his concerns over the replacement of two early morning rail services by buses. The trains are the 08:09 Norwich to Great Yarmouth and the 08:47 return. He continues that he "finds it difficult to understand that there appears to be no available rolling stock to operate the 'missing service'. Of equal concern is that the bus replacements offer no alternative to the queues on the (A47) Acle Straight to Great Yarmouth during the morning peak period."

Normal Service Resumes

You will be pleased to know (some may not, of course!) that the blog has restarted after a short break. This was not due to any technical difficulties but due to the fact that I was out of the country on my hols.

Forthcoming posts, in the next few days, will provide information about my bus sightings in Italy plus a review of this week's Great Yarmouth Mercury which has three interesting items to report.

So please be patient whilst I up load all my holiday pics (only a few bus related ones - as I really do have a life!!) and undertake the necessary research to ensure information is correct.