Beach Coach Station - 11th July 2012

A brief trip to Beach Coach Station this afternoon between the showers (is there any more rain left up there!)

The first vehicle observed was Shearings Volvo B12M 502 (MX03AAF) in the old Shearings livery.

Among other coaches noted were Beeston's Van Hool 222GRA, Chenery's Setra SPV555, DCP Travel's DAF OJI4369 and Suffolk County Council's MAN 292 (AY56BJU)

Some of the coach parking has been given over to car parking to replace some of the spaces lost to the new housing development - the amount allocated to coaches was quite generous. The new access has been completed but is not yet in use.

New Buses for the X1?

The X1 blog reports rumours that the new buses are expect for the X1 Peterborough to Lowestoft via Great Yarmouth service

Gerard reports the vehicles are currently parked in a location north of London labelled for Olympic use but with X1 branding. The livery is different from the current one and it is believed the lower bodysides are burgundy. The seventeen buses (not 22 as hoped for) have leather seats and and are rumoured to have more powerful engines than the current fleet.

We will just have to wait and see what happens after everything settles down following the Olympics.

News Update:

A reliable source has subsequently advised that here are NO replacement X1 vehicles in the Olympic fleet, although discussion is shortly to take place on replacing the Gemini's in next year's vehicle allocation.

Service Alterations Registered - June 2012

The Traffic Commissioner for the Eastern Traffic Area published two Notices and Proceedings Reports on the Business Link website on 13th and 27th of June

Both reports provide details of proposed alterations to bus services in the Eastern Traffic Area

The most significant changes locally involve the reintroduction of the Great Yarmouth Seafront Circular by Our Bus and a change of operator for the 878 service between Alpington Village Hall and the Great Yarmouth Colleges.

Registration Of New Services

PF0000458/43

AMBASSADOR TRAVEL (ANGLIA) LTD, JAMES WATT CLOSE GREAT YARMOUTH NR31 0NX, GB From: Alpington Village Hall To: Great Yarmouth Colleges Via: Name or No: 878 Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 01-Sep-2012 Other Details: College days only.

PF0002480/26

JEREMY W CUSHING & DARREN J LITTLEWOOD T/A OUR HIRE, 35 ENGLANDS ROAD, ACLE , NORWICH NR13 3EQ, GB From: Great Yarmouth, Haven Seashore To: Great Yarmouth, Haven SeashoreVia: Name or No: Seafront Circular Service Type: Normal Stopping Effective Date: 21-Jul-2012 End Date: 02-Sep-2012 Other Details: 21/7/12 to 2/9/12.

Applications to Vary Existing Services Granted Under Short Notice

PF0000323/202

FIRST EASTERN COUNTIES BUSES LTD, ROUEN HOUSE, ROUEN ROAD , NORWICH NR1 1RB, GB Operating between LOWESTOFT BUS STATION and NORWICH, ALL SAINTS GREEN given service number X2 effective from 24-Jun-2012. To amend Timetable.

PF0000323/328

FIRST EASTERN COUNTIES BUSES LTD, ROUEN HOUSE, ROUEN ROAD , NORWICH NR1 1RB, GB Operating between Lowestoft, Dip Farm Car Park and Lowestoft, Marine Parade given service number A1 effective from 23-Jun-2012. To amend Timetable.

PF0000323/223

FIRST EASTERN COUNTIES BUSES LTD, ROUEN HOUSE, ROUEN ROAD , NORWICH NR1 1RB, GB Operating between NORWICH RAIL STATION and ROYAL NORFOLK SHOWGROUND given service number 100 effective from 27-Jun-2012. To amend Timetable.

Cancellations of Existing Services Granted Under Short Notice

PF1047489/3

SWIFT TAXIS & PRIVATE HIRE LTD, SWIFT HOUSE, MORTON PETO RD , GREAT YARMOUTH NR31 0LT, GB Operating between AYLSHAM MARKET PLACE and GORLESTON CHURCH LANE COLLEGE given service number 837 effective from 31-Jul-2012.

PF0000323/266

FIRST EASTERN COUNTIES BUSES LTD, ROUEN HOUSE, ROUEN ROAD , NORWICH NR1 1RB, GB Operating between Alpington and Great Yarmouth college given service number 878 effective from 21-Jul-2012.

Source: Traffic Commissioner for the Eastern Traffic Area - Notices and Proceedings No 2129 & 2130

Latest Anglianbus Arrival

The fourth Scania Omnicity from London's Metrobus operation has been noted on the road in Anglianbus colours.

Grahame Bessey was fortunate to capture Anglian's 445 (YN05HFE) laying over between duties outside Lowestoft Police Station on Old Nelson Street on 27th June

This leaves just YN05HFG to be accounted for and, by a process of elimination, it should receive fleetnumber 446.

So for the record the ex Metrobus vehicles now numbered in the Anglianbus fleet are as follows:-

442 YN05HFH

443 YN05HFJ

444 YN05HFF

445 YN05HFE

446 YN05HFG

Again my thanks to Grahame Bessey for the photo.

Grahame's Norwich Visit

Regular contributor Grahame Bessey paid a visit to Norwich city centre on Tuesday (3rd July)

He saw at least three of the recent transferred Volvo B7L/ Wright Eclipses from First Northampton to First Eastern Counties

The first photo shows 61148 (MV02VBU) at Castle Meadow on city service 28 to Thorpe Marriott

Sister vehicle 66342 (MV02VCU) was also noted in Castle Meadow on a Costessey Queens Hills working.

A third example was noted by Grahame at Norwich Bus Station off Surrey Street - 66336 (MV02VCC) was the vehicle in question.

Another interesting sighting was that of Anglianbus Dennis Javelin 109 (CSK282) complete with Plaxton Derwent bodywork

The Javelin previously carried the registration J127LHC and took the cherished plate on the demise of a Mercedes Benz O303.

CSK282 is pictured on St Stephen's Street not in service - presumably it had worked a schools duty.

The final photo is that of Sanders 33 seater Scania L94UB/ Wright Axcess-Floline T362JWA.

Numbered 311 in the Sanders fleet, it seen in Castle Meadow on the X44 from the North Norfolk coast.

T362JWA was new to Apcoa of Sunbury on Thames in May 1999.

My thanks to Grahame Bessey for providing the good quality photos. 

Tuesday Round-up

 

First's Gemini 37516 AU07DXS diverted along King Street

Central Area

Much activity in Great Yarmouth town centre this afternoon - both routemasters were active on First's service 3 and a diversion for buses was also in place.

As reported yesterday on the blog, part of King Street was dug up to permanently repair the burst water main of last month.

The diversion was, therefore, in force with buses travelling southwards along King Street before turning into 

Anglianbus Scania Omnicity 444 YN04HFF makes
 the turn from King Street into Yarmouth Way

Yarmouth Way and onto Hall Quay for the resumption of their normal routes.

Before the Regent Street bus lane was introduced, all Southtown/ Gorleston bound routes used Yarmouth Way.

As it was unusual to see vehicles using this route I took a number of pictures of them doing so and the additional ones can be seen on my Flickr site.

Repairs looked to be complete.

Beach Coach Station

Work on the new access to Beach Coach Station is also nearing completion as my photo shows; so it shouldn't be too long before it is brought into use.

Vehicle wise the most noteable coach present was Shearings' Volvo B12M 603 (MX04AEC)

Bus Lane Closed

Workmen have begun digging up part of a road forming a major bus route in Great Yarmouth town centre following a burst water main last month.

First's Gemini 37570 (AU58ECT) negotiates the road in question

The incident happened in a busy shopping street, at the junction of King Street with Regent Street, on Saturday, June 23rd.

The leak was temporarily repaired on the day of the incident and this morning contractors started work on a twelve metre by six metre area to repair the road permanently.

Completion is due by the end of Wednesday