Ensign Visit

Mark Doggett, a frequent visitor to Ensign, was once again at their Purfleet premises today and found some notable activity.



Firstly two former First Eastern Counties double-deckers were observed side by side. They were Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL partial open toppers 37000 LX53AYY and newly converted 37410 MX58 DXZ. The former recently left Great Yarmouth's Caister Road depot whilst the latter is awaiting a repaint into its expected caramel livery.

Additionally, in the workshops was First Eastern Counties 35201 SK16 GWA which has received the dateless registration of OIG 1790.

My thanks to Mark for the information and photo.

Roy

Sanders Soccer Specials

Saturday saw the start of home matches being played at Norwich City Football Club's Carrow Road ground in the 2024/25 campaign. As last season, North Norfolk-based Sanders Coaches provided a number of services and ardent Norwich supporter Dan High was there to witness activity both outside and inside the ground.



His first photo captures three double-deckers after arrival with 115 YN53 CFF from Fakenham, 116 YN53 CFZ from North Walsham and 114 YN54 AFV from Holt.



Additionally this year, with Simmonds not running their services to Carrow Road, Sanders Coaches took on the two routes from Diss and Garboldisham on a trial basis. Working those routes were Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante's 921 536 FN and 928 FJ60 EFS.



Thanks Dan for the information and photos. For the record the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Roy

Coach Services' Withdrawals

Contributor 'jdraves1' has reported the withdrawal of two double-decker buses from the fleet of Thetford-based Coach Services.



Firstly Scania N230UD OmniCity LX59 CPK has been removed from service and was more lately used as a school bus until its engine failed. The Scania was originally acquired from Stagecoach East London in June 2015.



The second is ADL Enviro400 MMC CS72 BUS which has been withdrawn due to a road traffic accident that happened a few weeks ago. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, and the bus might be repairable. It was later shown on bus times as being in service but this was due to a driver mistakenly inputting the wrong registration on the site.

Thanks to 'jdraves1' for this update.

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 14th August 2024

Today’s East of England Traffic Commissioner’s Notices and Proceedings Report contains a notice of a Public Inquiry concerning a Suffolk-based operator.

Relating to PF Travel of Woodbridge, it is to be held in Cambridge on 5th September 2024 and will consider the following:-
Disciplinary action under Section 17 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act of 1981.
Disciplinary action under Section 28 of the Transport Act of 1985.
The Transport Managers Repute under Schedule 3 of The Public Passenger Vehicles Act of 1981.

The full Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to view here soon.

Roy

Norwich On Tuesday

Daniel Pretty captured some unusual operations in Norwich yesterday and has provided photographs to document them.



The first depicts First Great Yarmouth Coastal Clipper liveried Volvo B9 37571 AU58 ECV operating on service 7 from Great Yarmouth, a route it does not usually serve as it is typically assigned to the 1/1A Martham to Lowestoft route via Great Yarmouth.



Daniel's second observation was of a double-decker on Simonds' Norwich to Diss service, specifically VDL DB250 YJ56 KCK.



Finally, he noted the newly acquired BorderBus ADL Enviro400 MMC BB22 BUS in St Stephen's Street, boarding passengers for the 146 service to Southwold.

My thanks to Daniel for the photos

Roy

BorderBus Enviro400MMC

Andrew Watts noted on the bustimes website this morning, the apparent addition of BB22 BUS in use on the BorderBus 146 service. Coincidently his son so happened to be in the area at the same time armed with a camera!



He captured a photo of the bus at the junction of Church Road and Wash Lane in Kessingland, on the 09:40 Southwold to Norwich route. The bus, an all-white ADL Enviro400 MMC featuring BorderBus fleet names, is presumed to be YX22 OJB which Steve Blackburn recently reported as being on the operator's site, although this remains to be confirmed.

My thanks to Andrew and his son for the information and photo.

Roy

The Big Bus Show

Yesterday saw the Big Bus Show staged at Stonham Barns near Stowmarket with more than 100 vehicles registered to attend. I planned to visit the event but a last minute family issue precluded that - but I know a man who did, fortunately! That person was Dan High, who provided many photos of the vehicles that made the trip there and, again, I had the difficult problem in deciding what to publish and what not to publish.



As expected the First Eastern Counties and First Essex fleets were well represented but I choose to publish a picture of ex Norwich Alexander Dennis Enviro 400MMC 34424 SN17 MTX to cover both operators. It is now with First Essex in their @essex airlink' livery. First Great Yarmouth heritage branded Volvo B9 37562 FJ08 FYN also made an appearance.



Other major operators were represented too including a Dew Coaches' trio. They were Volvo B7RLE BV73 MPO, Bedford YMQ JFT 412X and more recent arrival Volvo B8RLE/MCV eVoRa BL24 GYP.



Suffolk-based Beestons secured first prize for a company double decker with its Volvo B8L/MCV EvoSeti triaxle MUN 56N. It is shown operating the 210 service connecting Stowmarket Rail Station to the venue.



Mulleys Motorways exhibited three vehicles with Volvo B8R YX69 LCM and Switch Metrodecker YJ23 EKN both shown here. The third was Volvo B13R YY63 WCK.

Local preservationists also proudly displayed their vehicles including at least three from the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group. These were ex -Great Yarmouth Corporation AEC Swift WEX685M, Eastern Counties Scania S574TPW in First Blue Bus livery and Eastern Counties Mercedes-Benz 609D / Frank Guy N619 GAH



Suffolk-based J&M Preservations had three of their buses on show including former Abellio London Alexander Dennis Dart KP02 PVU and ex London United Volvo B7TL GIG 9134. Despite issues with their Optare Solo MX06 ABO, it also made it to the event.



Our final photo shows preserved Whippet Coaches Scania L94UB / Wright Solar AF52 VMD, new to them in September 2002

Other Norfolk operators attending were Sanders Coaches, Jubilee Coaches and Wrights Coaches

My special thanks to Dan High for supplying all the photos and to the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group who were hosting the event.

I can also recommend Graham Sleath's YouTube video of the event which can be viewed by clicking on the link: The Big Bus Show 2024 Stonham Barns Suffolk (youtube.com)

Roy