National Express (Travel West Midlands) SH282 (BV19 XOO) on the A11 at Barton Mills - 6 Oct 2020 (P1070879)

Tuesday 6 October 2020 (1222) – National Express owned Travel West Midlands SH282 (BV19 XOO), a Caetano Levante III bodied Scania K410 new in March 2019, seen on the A11 at Barton Mills when working the 0930 London-Norwich service. It had called at Stratford (1020) and Cambridge (due 1145-1150). Passing here nicely on time it was due at Thetford at 1240 and Norwich at 1330. It would then work the 1715 return trip to London.

As a result of the Covid-19 Coronavirus outbreak National Express reduced their coach service network effective Tuesday 24 March 2020. From that date a limited number of routes operated on a temporary timetable with services numbered in the 800 series. Those services ceased completely after operation on Sunday 5 April 2020 and did not re-commence until Wednesday 1 July 2020.

When services resumed the Great Yarmouth to London service (which had been numbered 813 in the temporary series) reverted to service 491 and travelled via Acle, Norwich and Thetford running non-stop to Stratford then London (Victoria). There are two departures from Great Yarmouth (at 0730* and 1140 and one from Norwich (at 1715 which also serves Cambridge). The northbound journeys depart Victoria at 0930 (to Norwich also serving Cambridge) followed by two journeys to Great Yarmouth at 1300 and 1800.

* service departs at 0745 on Saturdays and Sundays