Holkham Estates MX72 HLD at Wells-next-the-Sea - 21 Jun 2023 (P1150754)

Wednesday 21 June 2023 (1255) – Holkham Holiday Parks Limited (trading as Pinewoods) (part of Holkham Estates) operates a shuttle bus service along Beach Road, Wells-next-the-Sea from a terminus near The Quay (Wells Town) to Wells Beach, a distance of about 0.9 miles/1.5 km.

The service commenced in 2022 and was introduced following the decision by Holkham Estates to close the Wells Harbour Railway, a 10.25 inch/260mm gauge miniature railway, which had operated the service from 1976 to 2021. The railway, which operated along the western side of Beach Road, was dismantled and sold to the Lappa Valley Railway in Cornwall at the end of the 2021 season.

The service is mainly operated by Mellor Sigma 7 electric bus MX72 HLD new in September 2022 and supplemented by a vintage open top single decker at busy times. (A Reading bodied Leyland Tiger PS1/1 new to Jersey Motor Transport in May 1951).

In this view the Mellor Sigma was just emerging from the bus only road linking the Town terminus with Beach Road when heading to the Beach.

Apparently, Beach Road is a private road owned by Holkham Estates and so a bus service registration is not required although the company and vehicles are covered by an operator’s licence.