Ellough Surprise

An unusual visitor to the Anglian Bus premises at Ellough in Beccles today was one of the new Norwich Park and Ride deckers

One of Konect's eighteen new Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s was parked up in the shape of 622 SN65OAA. The new Norwich Park an Ride services commence this coming Monday

My thanks to SteveW for the info

Olympian Watch

At the beginning of this week I posted that two of the remaining First Volvo Olympians would be retired from service and put into reserve

However, retirement has been short lived for the two deckers concerned with 34108 W435CWX and 34114 W434CWX both being observed in service this week. The former was photographed by Jamie Skinner heading off to Bradwell on the 6 in the rain this morning

In the meantime, the other active Olympian, 34111 W431CWX, was noted by Tim Miller heading towards Great Yarmouth on a contract working from Bernard Matthews late this afternoon

My thanks to Jamie and Tim for their reports

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 2nd September 2015

The East of England Traffic Commissioner published his fortnightly Notice & Proceedings Report on Wednesday and the following are the major changes affecting our local area

New Applications Received
Anthony Villiers, trading as A & M Travel of North Walsham, has lodged an application for a one vehicle authorisation at Laundry Loke in the town

Variation Applications Granted
Bus & Us of Melton Constable is to increase its vehicle allowance to two at its Briston site

License Surrendered
Stephen Futter of Letheringset, Holt has surrendered his licence with effect from 17th August 2015 with all registered bus services running under this licence surrendered with immediate effect

Registration of New Services
Coastal Red, trading as Lynx at North Runcton near Kings Lynn, is to provide two new daily services with route number 36 from 12th October 2015. They will operate from Hunstanton Bus Station to Station Road, Wells next the Sea via Brancaster and Burnham Market and from Station Road, Wells Next the Sea to Sheringham, Station Approach via Blakeney and Weybourne

Applications to Vary Existing Services
Anglian Bus of Beccles is to amend the timetable of its 61/61A/61B/61C services from 11th October 2015. Its 7A service between Blofield Heath and Great Yarmouth College will also have its timetable amended from the same date

Applications to Vary Existing Services Granted Under Short Notice
Sanders Coaches of Holt is amending the timetables of the following schools services from 1st September 2015:-

• 201 South Creake to Alderman Peel High School in Wells
• 202 Salthouse Post Office and Wells High School
• 203 Binham Post Office and Wells High School
• 204 Holt and Wells High School
• 205 Blenheim Park and Wells High School

Other timetable changes registered by Sanders taking effect during this month include

• 32 Sprowston, Cannerby Lane and St Stephens Street from 20th September
• 34 North Walsham Post Office and Stalham from 20th September
• 36 Happisburgh Post Office and Norwich High School from 20th September
• 42/43 Reepham Market Place and Norwich Bus Station from 6th of September
• 157 St Stephens Street, Norwich and Bishopgate Norwich from 20th September

Cancellations of Existing Services Granted Under Short Notice
Venturer Coachways of Woodbridge has cancelled its 936 Felixstowe Garrison Lane Coach Park to Otley College service from 1st September 2015

The full Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed HERE

Roy

#TBT UVF625X

This week's Throw Back Thursday spotlight falls on a Leyland National operated by Eastern Counties Bus Company

The bus is Leyland National Series 2 registered UVF625X which was new to the company in October 1981. Receiving fleet number LN625 the 49 seater was delivered in red livery. However, shortly after Eastern Counties introduced its 790 Eastline service between Great Yarmouth and Cambridge, it was singled out for its special livery

UVF625X is seen here nearing its Wellington Road destination and is about to negotiate its left turn from St George's Road into St Peter's Road one weekday lunchtime in August 1982.

The bus lasted in service with Eastern Counties until 2001 and further photos of the Leyland National can be seen here

Roy

All White!

Following the expiry of their lease, Anglianbus have already repainted two of their four Wright StreetLites back into white prior to to their return to the owner later this month

I am reliably informed by SteveW that the two concerned are 350 MX60BWH and 352 MX60BWJ, (not as previously reported elsewhere) and provides photos of the two vehicles concerned

The four were the first Streetlites to be delivered to this area in November 2010 and my thanks to Steve for the info and pics

Roy

Our Bus 730

Yesterday saw the start of Acle based Our Bus taking over the running of the 730 route from Ambassador Travel. Today was its first run to Gapton Hall Retail Park and, whilst I observed the return journey with a handful of passengers on-board, I was unable to get a reasonable photo

However, frequent contributor Joe Leathers Watson travelled on the service earlier today. He sends photos of the Volvo B10BLE/ Alexander 300, with registration VAG608R, laying over in Acle this morning Interestingly it carries an advertisement for Our Hire's new website on the rear

Our Bus acquired the Volvo from Middlesbrough based Stage Carriage, and before that it was with Stagecoach North East as R249KRG.

My thanks to Joe for the photos and the report

Roy

Megabus Link Goes

Megabus MX61GFE prior to departure on 22nd July last

As already speculated on the blog, and reported elsewhere, Megabus has announced the withdrawal of its short lived M37 service from 1st September

Starting at Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station, it served Norwich, the University of East Anglia, Cambridge and Birmingham. 

Loadings at Great Yarmouth were always very low and cancellation of the service comes as no surprise

Roy