Testing Time for First Great Yarmouth

Buses from First Great Yarmouth will be very much involved in the transporting of students from Norwich City College to Norwich Showground on three days next week to sit their exams

My source at First tells me that at least one Routemaster will be operating the 100 service which may be supported by either the second Routemaster or Great Yarmouth's sole Olympian! In addition the bus working the 7:01 X1 Gorleston to Norwich, which normally returns to Great Yarmouth empty, will be utilised as well

The First deckers will also be supplemented by buses/coaches from the Simonds and Norse fleets

Roy

#TBT Caroline Seagull Coaches N897FWT

This week's Throw Back Thursday subject is a coach owned by the long gone Great Yarmouth operator Caroline Seagull



N987FWT is an Ikarus 55 seater bodied DAF which was new to Godson of Crossgates, Leeds in June 1996. It was still with the local operator when the business closed almost eight years ago on 31st March 2008

My photo above shows it among 13 coaches at Caroline Seagull's South Denes site when I visited on 23rd April 2008

The DAF subsequently found its way to Bristol based Mike's Travel of Thornbury who exhibited the coach at a number of Showbus events still in Caroline Seagull livery complete with 'the coach company that cares' logo . The only change was that Mike's Travel fleetnames replaced the Caroline Seagull brandings as can be viewed here

Not only has the operator and coach disappeared but the scene in the 2006 photo has changed too with new shops being built over the bus station creating an even larger 'black hole'!

Roy

Ensign In January

At the beginning of every month Ross Newman at Ensign publishes details of comings and goings at the Purfleet dealer for the previous month

Norse Trident PN03ULV laying over at Postwick Park and Ride in October 2010

During January a further four former Norse operated Norwich Park and Ride Tridents have found new owners. Three have moved to Central Buses of Birmingham and they are PN03ULV/ULU/UMJ (the first two were reported on the blog on 10th January). The fourth, PN03ULR, is now with First Bus Stop of Gravesend

Their departure leaves only two former Norse deckers there in the shape of PN03ULL and PN03UMC

My thanks to Ross for the information

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 3rd February 2016

As another fortnight quickly passes, it's time for our regular look at the proposed changes to local bus services as contained in today's  East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report.

Not that much to report this time other than the registration of a new 482 Monday to Friday service by Simonds between Diss Bus Station and Bridge Street in Framlingham from 29th March. This replaces Galloway's 482 which ceases on 26th March

Additionally, National Express is to amend the timetable of its 497/498 Lowestoft to London Victoria service from 14th March

The full East of England Traffic Commissioners Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed HERE

Roy

Anglian in Lound

Anglianbus operates a three times daily return service between Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth's James Paget Hospital via some of Suffolk's villages

The operator was employing Scania OmniLink 455 AN61LAN on the run today, which operates as route number 60J. Despite its destination display, it is seen at Lound about to drop off passengers on the 12:00 from Lowestoft

I understand that Anglian have cancelled this service, plus the 68 Rackheath to the Sixth Form College route, from Easter (one vehicle working). Norfolk County Council presently has the services out to tender with a contribution pledged by Suffolk County Council

Roy

33423 Returns

After some time being employed on schools and contract work, First Eastern Counties Enviro400 33423 has returned to front line duties.

33423 returns to front line service on the X1 in Norwich today

SN60CAA had been confined to this work due to the fact that it's wheelchair arm bracket had broken. This meant that the bus was not available for service as it had become non DDA compliant. As reported previously on the blog, it had been used extensively on Bernard Matthews contract workings (as it was yesterday) Either the problem has been fixed or the bus may have received some exemption

My thanks to Steve W for the photo

Roy

Monday Morning Mooch

Following my taxi duties of earlier today, I had about an hour to spare while the car was having new tyres fitted. (oh the expense of it all!)

On the way, I made a detour along Marine Parade to see if any of the Shearings Group coaches were parked in the area. Sure enough two Setras from the Group were present comprising National Holidays NH13KWH and Grand Tourer liveried Shearings Holidays 101 BK09RMY

After dropping the car off, I walked to Market Gates in time to see the 9:15 National Express 371 service to Birmingham in the capable hands of Ambassador Travel's Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante 211 BF63ZSL

Another notable working was Sanders' Scania OmniCity 321 YN08HXZ on the 9:15 service 6 East Norfolk Sixth Form College to North Walsham. This former demonstrator was new to Beestons (Constable) of Hadleigh in April 2010. It then went to Eastons Coaches before reaching Sanders in February last year

All too soon the hour was up and it was time to part with some of my money!

Roy