Lound Link Maintained

Ambassador Travel normally uses an Optare Solo on the 607 route, as it did today.
603 MX54KYC is seen passing the Village Maid at Lound with the 14:00 from the 

Morrison's store in Gorleston to Lowestoft Bus Station

The Suffolk villages of Lound and Blundeston, just off the A12 Lowestoft to Great Yarmouth road, are currently served on weekdays by the Ambassador Travel 607 route

The five times daily service is to be withdrawn by Ambassador with the last bus operating on Saturday 22nd February

However, from the following Monday 24th February, Anglianbus are diverting their service 60 five times a day in each direction via Lound and Blundeston providing a link to Lowestoft and the James Paget Hospital (for buses to Gorleston, Yarmouth and Norwich).

The new timetable can be viewed HERE

Wet & Windy Wednesday

Ambassador Travel's Volvo G262UAS on the free Adsa shopper service

As the title suggests, I headed off to a wet and windy Great Yarmouth Town Centre today to pick up some shopping

Within a few minutes of my Jersey Dart arriving at Market Gates, I observed Ambassador Travel's Volvo B10M/ Plaxton Paramount 111 G262UAS arriving on the free Asda shopper service. I saw her undertake three return workings and wondered what would work the usual Ormiston School trip to the town centre

Ambassador's sister Volvo G261UAS emerges from the gloom of Market Gates

When it did arrive, just before 3pm, I did a double take and thought it was the same coach - until I noticed that the front bottom of the vehicle was not in black! It was 110 G261UAS. Quite unusual to see them both out at the same time

Whilst similarly registered, they have both held previous registrations. 110 was previously 930GJF and 111 was earlier

First Olympian 34187 S687AEE heads into Market Gates with the service 8 

448GWL. Both were new in 1989

Olympian wise, First's 34108 W435CWX was employed on the usual service 7 to Belton and return.

Whilst 34187 S687AAE was performing on the 8s between Caister and the James Paget Hospital

Service Alterations Registered ~ 5th February 2014

McMaster/Awaydays open top service

The latest Eastern Area Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report was published earlier today on the Gov.UK website. Publication No 2172 has little of relevance to this area but the following may be of interest

Application to Vary Existing Services

David McMaster, trading as Awaydays of Wood Dalling near Norwich, has submitted an application to amend stopping places on service 1 which operates between Theatre Street and Theatre Street. Changes are effective from 6th April 2014

Information source: Traffic Commissioner for the Eastern Traffic Area - Notices & Proceedings Report 2172 - published on 5th February 2014.

Anglian Movements

Anglian's MX53FDO in St Stephen's Street Norwich in June 2007

The enthusiasts section of the Anglianbus website reports a fleet news update today

Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 700 V161MEV has been transferred to sister company Hedingham Buses at Clacton where it is now numbered 740.

Meanwhile, Optare Solo 905 MX53FDO has returned off loan from Chambers.

She's Back

SN60CAA resplendent in her new livery after arrival at the depot this morning

First's ADL Enviro400 33423 SN60CAA returned to Caister Road depot earlier this morning following her repaint at Full Circle

Grahame Bessey's father was on '33423 watch' today and he captured the decker outside the depot this morning prior to her first outings on the X1 shorts

My thanks to Grahame and Mr Bessey senior for the photo

Order Us!

Regular contributor Neil Chilvers was passing the Border Bus depot at Ellough, Beccles earlier today and noted that new fleet names have been applied to the three Volvo B7s and the depot building

Border Bus Logo

He thinks its a shame that you can't quite make out the B in the logo as it looks more like 'order us'!

I would tend to think that it may be deliberate and could be part of a marketing ploy

My thanks to Neil for the report and photo

Caister Road Activity

Another Lowestoft Dart DK57SXG at Casiter Road awaiting parts

My apologies for the delay in bringing you Ryan's latest report on activity at First's Caister Road depot

Long time workshop resident ADL Dart 44512 DK57SXF continues to await parts and is joined by Lowestoft sister 44513 DK57SXG also awaiting parts!

Another saloon undergoing engine repair is former Jersey

After a shunt around Ryan took this photo of three Olympians in the rear yard

Dart 43862 EG52FGK which failed on Thursday

Both Palantine bodied Olympians are not available for service; 34186 S686AEE is currently off the road for inspection whilst 34187 S687AEE is also having work undertaken

After starting all the Olympians in the rear yard, Ryan had a shuffle around and took some photos of them

Many thanks for the report and photos Ryan