Beach Coach Station Yesterday

Five vehicles were noted at Great Yarmouth's Beach Coach Station during yesterday afternoon as the light was fading

Angies Tours' Scania OmniCity Y70 PTS had left after a short period of residence over the Christmas break to be replaced their Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown Y169 HRN. The single decker had been reported the previous day working rail replacement in the Colchester area.

Among the four coaches gathered together at the southern end of the site was Sleafordian's Volvo B8R / Plaxton Panther SC67 SLE together with its friendly driver.

Next along the rank was Chesterfield-based K M Travel's Bova Futura bodied VDL M300 KMT, a regular visitor to the area.



Third in line was Bagnalls of Swadlincote's Van Hool TX15 Alicron JT05 BAG. It was previously YJ13 GYU when with Landtourers Coaches of Alton, Hampshire.



The final visitor was Al's Coaches Irizar i6 AA16 ALS which, together with SC67 SLE and JT05 BAG, were chartered to Alfa Travel

Roy

Konectbus Volvos Nearing The End

The time of the red Volvo B7TLs at Konectbus' Dereham depot appears to be drawing to a close.

518 LX05 EZW and 526 LX06 EAJ have recently been withdrawn which leaves East Lancs Myllennium Vyking 509 PN02 XCL plus Gemini’s 516 LX05 EZL, 518 LX05 EZW and 519 LX05 EZZ still in active service. The foursome are still going strong for now but replacements are due soon.

My thanks LiamS for the information and photos and also to Konectbus

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 29th December 2021

The publication of today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report was slightly delayed. However, the only entry of relevance locally is the refusal of an application for an operating licence by Igor Tudor of Albany Road in Great Yarmouth for an operating centre for one vehicle at the same address.

Due to time constraints, I was unable to provide information on the previous week's Notices and Proceedings Report for which I offer my apologies. The relevant entries included the granting of a variation of an operating licence by David Wain McMaster of Wood Dalling in Norwich for a new undertaking by Daniel Tony Keith Ward from 28th February 2022

The second licence application made by Stephens Coach Hire Limited for an operating centre for one vehicle at Unit 2 Jones (G.C.) Way in Great Yarmouth has been refused

The two full Notices and Proceedings Reports can be viewed here

Roy

Ensign in December

Over the Christmas period Ross Newman published his monthly Ensign activity report for December. Among the departures were two Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE’s for Sanders Coaches. They were SK07 CGG and SK07 CFX and were new to Lothian Buses in May 2007

My thanks to Ross for his monthly updates

Roy

Coach Services Enviro200 Leaves

Thetford-based Coach Services has disposed of their ADL Dart SF07 KCE for scrap reports Omar Atiallah



The 29 seater, which left the operator just before Christmas, was originally acquired from Hansons of Wordsley in the West Midlands in January 2009 but was new to Whitelaw of Stonehouse

David Slater sends in a photo of SF07 KCE entering Thetford's old bus station on 10th June 2010. It is seen passing the statue of the Dad’s Army character Captain Mainwaring which had been unveiled earlier that day.

My thanks to Omar for the report and to Zak Nelson and David Slater for their photos

Roy

Boxing Day Backtrack

Firstly we hope everyone is having a great Christmas break and hopefully Covid free aswell. I thought i would delve into my photo collection and go back 11 years to 2010 and a rather dull and chilly day beginning at the James Paget Hospital stops capturing the variety of routes that pass through.

Norwich Park and Ride vehicles were often seen working town routes in Yarmouth if a spare was available, 32483 AU53HKA is pictured laying over awaiting its next trip to Caister.

Anglianbus ran the 608 route between Lowestoft and Yarmouth, this began in 2009. Optare Tempo YJ55BLX began life as an Optare demonstrator before moving to Anglian it then passed over to Konectbus before ending up at Lynx in Kings Lynn.

Ambassador Travel Optare Solo MX54KYC is seen working the 606 service to Carlton Colville.

First's X1 Excel service was now operated by Volvo/Wright Geminis which were new in 2008, 37574 AU58ECY is heading for Peterborough in this photo and is now part of the Coastal Red fleet at Yarmouth. There were also still some Volvo B10M Coaches in use on the route.

The Lowestoft-Martham 1/1A service was where the ex Hong Kong Leyland Olympian could be found most of the time, 30101 K485EUX is heading into the Hospital from Lowestoft.

On the way home, it was a quick look in on Ambassador Travel Depot where former National Express Volvo Plaxton Paragon FN52HRM was noted in between workings.

Final stop was Swift Coaches on Southtown Road where the rather odd looking Scania WJI8928 was parked up, it was new to Shearings as G881VNA in May 1990, it latterly passed to Black & White Coaches, Scunthorpe.

As Roy posted earlier i would also like to thank everyone for their support and contributions to the blog, old and new, please tell all your enthusiast friends where we are and help us continue to provide the most up to date news, historical stories and photos on a regular basis in 2022.

Enjoy Christmas and have a happy and safe new year!

All The Best, Grahame.

Seasonal Greetings & Thanks

2021 has been another year of uncertainty! Lockdown occurred again and who knows what Boris has in store for us after Christmas! However, some relaxation in the rules has allowed us all to get about a little bit more this year which is reflected in the number of contributions received in last twelve months. Although I have dispensed with annual reviews, you are still welcome to look through the blog archive at the bottom of the left hand column of our webpage.

All that remains is for me to thank all the many contributors (including many new ones!) to the blog over the past year as the numbers continue to grow. Thanks to each and everyone of you as your reports and photos are much valued and appreciated.

Again my very special thanks to Grahame Bessey for his many contributions and continued support - a busy man indeed but he still spares the time ! Last, but not least, ENBB would like to wish all readers, supporters and contributors a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. We expect to continue our high standard of reporting into our twelfth year despite the effects of COVID-19

Take care all and stay safe

Roy