Blue Line Bernards

Three Norwich Blue Line liveried Volvo B9TL Geminis have arrived at Caister Road on loan to assist with rising contract work for Bernard Matthews Factories across the region.

The vehicles involved are 36176 BD11CGE, 36177 BD11CGF and 36178 BD11CDX.

Many Thanks to Will Drake for the photos from Caister Road today.

Stay Safe Everyone and a Happy New Year, Grahame.

Service Alterations Registered ~ 30th December 2020

Today's Notices and Proceedings Report, issued by the East of England Traffic Commissioner, contains nothing of interest regarding our local area services.

Nevertheless the full Report can be viewed here

Roy

Rail Replacement Connexions

Recent rail replacement workings have provided the odd unusual appearance of vehicles not normally associated with our local area.

That was the case last night when Joe Wilson-Smith looked in at Norwich Railway Station and observed a bus well away from its normal base. It was Harrogate Coach Travel's YN05GXC, a Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB. 

Operating as Connexions, the company provides a network of local bus services from Harrogate and York in the North Yorkshire area as well as Otley and Ilkley and Leeds in West Yorkshire.

Joe referred me to their Facebook site which stated they had hired one of their DDA compliant service buses to fulfil Rail Replacement services and to 'Look out for them in East Anglia.... ' 

Update: Apparently it's on hire to Angies Tours

My thanks to Joe for the information and photo

Roy

Lowestoft Rail Replacement

Following on from Grahame's earlier report on rail replacement at Great Yarmouth Station, Andy Swan provides a couple of photos of vehicles in use at Lowestoft Station whilst out on his Boris walk this morning.

The first shows Wright Coaches Scania OmniCity decker R70 PTS awaiting its next trip with an Ambassador Travel Caetano Levante behind, thought to be FJ09 DXE.

On lay over waiting a call to service was Completely Coach Travel's Volvo B7TL /Plaxton President LX04 NLZ and alongside was former Ensign Enviro 200 SN11 FFM currently with Simmonds of Bottesdale.

Also present were two from Angie's Tours and a Sanders Coaches representative.

My thanks to Andy for the photos and report

Roy

Velvet Replacement

Essential Shopping took me to Asda this morning and a busy Rail Station greeted me on my way in with quite a selection of Rail Replacement vehicles on show.

First up is Freestones Scania K360/Irizar i6  S26DDA, This was new to West Coast Motors as YT11LVL.

Sanders had a pair of Caetano Levantes on duty in the shape of  6546FN & 3990ME which do look the part in Sanders colours in my opinion!

Finally an unusual visitor to the area was Scania L94UB/Wright Solar FJ03VVR which is on loan to Completely Coach Travel. The vehicle is listed as preserved but has appeared around the country on Rail work recently. It was new to the Wellglade group operating for Trent Barton and Kinchbus before moving to TM Travel in Sheffield. It is in the livery of Velvetbus a now defunct operator in Eastleigh, Hampshire.

Thanks to Liam for the heads up on this, have a safe time everyone.

Grahame

Seasonal Greetings and Thanks

Well what a year 2020 has been! When the first lockdown occurred in late March I feared that we wouldn't have much to report on the blog for the foreseeable future.

How wrong I was! Despite all the concerns, the reports continued to arrive and the introduction of our lookback/flashback features have contributed to the third highest number of reports in our ten year history. Whilst I dispensed with the annual review last year, you are still able to look through the blog archive at the bottom of the left hand column of our webpage. The highlight for me was my invitation to the press launch of First's new £5.3 million excel fleet - really enjoyable.

All that remains is for me to acknowledge all the many contributors to the blog over the last twelve months as the numbers continue to grow. Thanks to each and everyone of you as your reports and photos are much valued and appreciated.

My very special thanks also go to Grahame Bessey for his many contributions and continued support - a busy man indeed but he still spares time for his reports! Last, but not least, ENBB would like to wish all readers, supporters and contributors a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and safe new year. We hope to continue our high standard of reporting into our eleventh year despite Tier 4!

Take care all and stay safe

Roy

First Great Yarmouth Latest

30964 in Gorleston High Street in September this year

The latest from First's Caister Road Depot is that five double  deckers require, or are receiving, attention. The three Geminis concerned are 37569  AU58 ECN (steering rack), 37578 AU58 EDJ (compressor) and 37023 YJ06 XKM (rear axle)

The others are two ALX400s in the form of 30959 YJ51 RCO (electrics) and 30964 YJ51 RAU (gears). StreetLite 47503 SN64 CPX also requires a new gearbox

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the reports received throughout the year

Roy