Return of the Renown

This evening, the last loanee Wright bodied Volvo B10BLE Renown 66112 (R912BOU) returned home to Midland Road depot, Rotherham. In its place is another Volvo B10BLE Wright Renown.. although, this one has undergone DDA work and is now compliant. 60626 (R789WKW) will transfer to Norwich tonight on a temporary basis to act as a paint float.

Thanks to Chucklebuster on flickr for allowing me to use his photo. You can view his flickr photostream by clicking here.


60626 seen in service in Yorkshire. Photo © Chucklebuster on flickr.

Thanks to chucklebuster for the allowance of us to use their photo and First for the information.

Toodle-oo Tridents

On Tuesday morning, loanee Plaxton bodied Dennis Tridents 33153 (LR02LXM), 33180 (LR02LYZ) and 33183 (LR02LZC) will say their goodbyes to Norfolk and set off to their new home of Southampton.

33183 parked on Castle Meadow working the Red Line service 23

Norwich and Yarmouth latest

Wright bodied Volvo B10BLE Renown 66168 W368EOW has now returned to Yarmouth after spending a few days over at Lowestoft, where she spent most of her time on the 99 between Lowestoft and Kessingland.

66168 pictured in Lowestoft with Mr Drake at the wheel.

Volvo B9 Geminis 37575 (AU58ECZ), 37576 (AU58EDC) and 37577 (AU58EDF) have now been transferred to Lowestoft successfully with ALX400s 30900 (W774DWX) and 30901 (W756DWX) now at Great Yarmouth and have had Lowestoft vinyls removed and Yarmouth ones soon to come.

30900 pictured at Caister Road depot with Former Leicester 32063/4.

 Former Slough Green Line branded Volvo B9 Gemini 37275 (LK58EDJ) has now arrived at Great Yarmouth in Interurban livery for use on the X1 between Lowestoft and Norwich.

Chris Speed confirms that the WrightBus Streetdecks destined for Norwich in March-April time will be for the Pink Line and will have Breast Cancer Pink fronts.

Plaxton bodied Volvo B7TL President 32107 (LT02ZCX) is now at Rotherham joining sister 32106 (LT02ZCV) for repaint into Yellow Line livery. 32105 (LT02ZCU) still remains in service in the city as a Pink Line branded vehicle but will soon make the trip to Rotherham to receive the same treatment.

Wright bodied Volvo B10BLE 60621 (R784WKW) has now returned to Rotherham leaving just 60618 and 66112 as paint floats. She spent her last day in service in Norfolk yesterday on the 29 service.

All Orange Line vehicles are now complete with 33161 (LR02LXW) being the latest to return and 33162 (LR02LXX) to return in a few days time.

Orange Line branded 33150 on a wet Castle Meadow during  Saturday afternoon.

Plaxton bodied Volvo B12M Paragon 20501 (AO02RBY) has been confirmed as a permanent move from Essex to Norwich.

20501 on Castle Meadow on Sunday.

I am also informed that the Norwich travel shop is to open in January and is currently undergoing work to the interior. The exterior is now complete with Pillars all painted and signage up.

Upcoming route changes

Service 39A 
From tomorrow, a new service 39A will commence which will link Norwich City Centre to the new Asda Supermarket on Hall Road. It will do the current 39 route from Lakenham to Sandy Lane, follow Sandy Lane under the rail bridge to the traffic lights and then turn left onto Hall Road. It will serve the bus stop just outside the entrance to the shop.

X1 Excel
As of tomorrow, the east side of the X1 Excel route will operate to a fantastic frequency of every 15 minutes! It will include a new regular link between Middleton Road in Gorleston and more peak time buses between Gorleston, Great Yarmouth and Norwich.

Services X2/X22
The brand new X22 service will be introduced tomorrow and will provide a regular link up to every 30 minutes between South Lowestoft, Long Road, Ribblesdale and Carlton Colville and Norwich. The new X22 service will replace what was the X2 serving Hales, Loddon, Chedgrave, North Cove and Ribblesdale. With the X2 now only serving Pakefield, Worlingham, Gillingham, Thurton on a fast service which will take just over 1 hour from Lowestoft to Norwich!

Rudolph's Routemaster
This Christmas a FREE bus tour will be held in Norwich as part of the community engagement work with East Anglia's Children's Hospices. It will be run by one of the old London AEC Routemasters and will run on Monday 21st December, Tuesday 22nd December, Wednesday 23rd December and Thursday 24th December (Christmas Eve). Buses will leave Castle Meadow outside Castle Mall at 10am, 11:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm. Find out more by clicking here. To view a timetable of where the bus will stop at which time, click the tab below the header labeled 'Rudolph's Routemaster Norwich Timetable'.

Latest Updates

Volvo B7TL Plaxton Presidents 32105 (LT02ZCU), 32106 (LT02ZCV) and 32107 (LT02ZCX) are all to set off to Rotherham's Midland Road depot for a repaint into the Yellow Line livery and a refurbishment which will include leather seats. 32106 is the first to make her way up arriving at Midland Road depot at around 6am this morning.

32105 during her Pink Line days at Sprowston Tesco

Loanee Wright bodied Volvo B10BLE Renown 60622 (R785WKW) has now returned home back to Rotherham. Speaking of B10BLEs, 66168 (W368EOW) and 66169 (W369EOW) are now back at Great Yarmouth and will stay until after Christmas where they'll then be withdrawn.

60622 while on loan at Great Yarmouth in early July.

Former Jersey Dennis Dart Nimbuses 42358 (EY05FYP), 43861 (EG52FGJ) and 43865 (EG52FGU) have now all departed the region and are now at their new home of  Cornwall being prepared for service. I am informed that in place of 42358 is recently arrived Alexander Dennis Dart 42943 (WA56OAS) which is a former Kernow vehicle. Still to come from Bath are 42908 (WX05RVR), 42911 (WX05RVV), 42914 (WX05RVZ), 42926 (SN05EAE) and 42938 (WX05SVD) which will also all become Lowestoft vehicles.

Alexander Dennis Enviro200s 45116 (VT09JPT), 45117 (ST58JPT) and 45118 (ST09JPT) have all now returned to Lowestoft after around a year at Norwich mainly on the Purple Line service 39.

Great Yarmouth based Volvo B9TL Geminis 37575 (AU58ECZ), 37576 (AU58EDC) and 37577 (AU58EDF) are to say goodbye to Yarmouth this weekend and move down to their new home of Lowestoft ready for the changes with the X2 next Monday.

37576 pictured at Market Gates Bus Station last weekend.

ALX400s 30900 (W774DWX) and 30901 (W756DWX) will move to Great Yarmouth on a permanent basis in their places.

Another former Slough Volvo B9TL Gemini is to join the Yarmouth fleet in the coming weeks. 37275 (LK58EDJ) will join it's sister 37274 (LK58EDF) on the X1. She's currently at Full Circle in Banham for a repaint into the 'Interurban' livery.

Latest Updates

Lowestoft

Former Jersey Dennis Caetano Nimbus Darts 42358 (EY05FYP), 43861 (EG52FGJ) and 43865 (EG52FGU) have now all departed the region and are now at their new home of  Cornwall.

43861 during a short loan period at Norwich working the Purple Line service 38 seen on Castle Meadow.

Great Yarmouth

Alexander Dennis Dart 42920 (EU05AUM) returned from repaint in her new 'Olympia' livery Three weeks ago. 

42920 pulling out of Market Gates Bus Station showing off her new livery working the 7 to Belton.

 Former Greenline Volvo Gemini's 32348 (LK53LZL) and 37274 (LK58EDF) are now both in service. With 32348 in Olympia livery and 37274 in Interurban and branded up for X1 Excel. Another Greenline Volvo B9 is soon to join the fleet, sister of 37274, 37275 (LK58EDJ). Which is currently at Full Circle in Banham for repaint into Interurban where it will then join 37274 on the X1 Excel service.

32348 on her second day of service in her new home and in her new livery working the 8 to Caister.

Norwich

Several Orange Line branded vehicles have returned in the new livery with 33150 (LR02LXJ) being the latest and entering service today.

32101 on Castle Meadow working the 22 to UEA. The only Volvo President on the Orange Line.

All new Norwich Streetlite MAXs are now in service. 63322 is pictured with 66342 at Wymondham a few weeks back.

Buses to replace trains this weekend

This weekend track maintenance will mean rail lines across East Anglia will be closed over the weekend. First are to operate the Lowestoft - Yarmouth -  Norwich services.

First are to run Rail Replacement buses on both days.

Saturday
On Saturday, lines are shut between Brundall and Lowestoft all day for works. I understand Norwich based Volvo B9s are to operate the service with the possibility of a Great Yarmouth vehicle. The service will operate to Lowestoft via Oulton Broad North.

Unfortunately there will be no service for the Berney Arms.

Sunday
On Sunday, the Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft line will be shut all day. Meaning the same process as Saturday.

Cameron.

All go on the Orange Line and more

Norwich based Plaxton President 32101 (LT02ZCK) that is branded for Orange Line services in the City, was sent to Rotherham today for a repaint into, you guessed it! Orange Line livery, where it will also receive 

e-leather seating.  In return was Turquoise Line branded Dennis Trident 33167 (LR02LYF).

Jersey Darts 43861 (EG52FGJ) and 43863 (EG52FFK) are now both in use in the City. The pair were sighted on the 39 today. Talking of Jersey Darts, 43863 made a rare appearance on the Orange Line on Sunday!

Jersey Dart 43863 rarely allocated to the Orange Line service 21A on Sunday. © Matthew Edwards

Cameron.

Welcome Aboard!

Hello! Thank you for taking a look at First Eastern Counties Buses Blog!

Welcome to my new blog based just on the First Eastern Counties Buses fleet. Included in my posts will be Repaint updates, Rare allocations, Fleet movements and much more!

Watch this space as a first post will be uploaded soon..

Cameron.