National Express coaches 1990s

Sunday 27 June 1993 (1909) – R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk H62 PDW seen in the evening sunshine descending Chalk Hill on the A11 approaching Barton Mills. It was operating the 1730 London (Victoria) to Norwich National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599 which was due to arrive Norwich at 2015. One of three Kässbohrer-Setra S215HD coaches (H62-H64 PDW) new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre in April 1991. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993. The service offered five trips each way with one coach staying overnight in London and, despite only requiring three coaches to work the service, there were four coaches in the fleet carrying National Express livery. The fourth coach (D704 NUH) was another former Bebb Travel vehicle although a S215HR model.

Sunday 20 March 1994 (1112) – A head on shot of R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk H64 PDW heading away from Fiveways at Barton Mills when operating the 0930 London (Victoria) to Norwich National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. This section of road was a temporary loop created whilst the bridge over a watercourse was rebuilt on what was then only a single carriageway road. In December 2014 the long awaited dual carriageway on the section of the A11 between Barton Mills and Thetford was finally opened. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 using four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches (three model S215HD like this and one model S215HR) which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre. (H64 PDW was subsequently re-registered to 920 ACH)

Sunday 27 June 1993 (1356) – R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk H64 PDW seen on the A11 between Barton Mills and Red Lodge when operating the 1305 Norwich to London (Victoria) Norwich National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. It was due to arrive Victoria at 1510. One of three Kässbohrer-Setra S215HD coaches (H62-H64 PDW) new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre in April 1991. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993. The service offered five trips each way with one coach staying overnight in London and, despite only requiring three coaches to work the service, there were four coaches in the fleet carrying National Express livery. The fourth coach (D704 NUH) was another former Bebb Travel vehicle although a S215HR model. (H64 PDW was subsequently re-registered to 920 ACH)

Sunday 15 August 1993 (approx 1130) – Sadly, in the early hours of this particular day, a Scottish based lorry driver died when his refrigerated truck carrying a consignment of fish ran off the A11 near Barton Mills. The emergency services closed the road until just before 1200 noon to clear the wreckage and during the period of the closure eastbound traffic was diverted on to the parallel roadway which was once the A11 before the dual carriageway was constructed. In this view R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk H64 PDW, a Kässbohrer-Setra S215HD, which was operating the 0930 London (Victoria) to Norwich National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599 is seen returning from the ‘old road’ back on to the dual carriageway. (Normally I wouldn’t have been able to stand at this point to take a photograph!) Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 using four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches (three model S215HD like this and one model S215HR) which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre. (H64 PDW was subsequently re-registered to 920 ACH)

Sunday 6 February 1994 (1112) – On the A11 just east of Fiveways, Barton Mills with a remarkably (and quite unbelievable) clear road ahead for R W Chenery’s Kässbohrer-Setra H64 PDW which was operating the 0930 London (Victoria) to Norwich National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. By December 2014 this section of road was quite unrecognisable after the opening of the last remaining section of dual carriageway between Barton Mills and Thetford. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 adding four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches (three model S215HD and one model S215HR) to the fleet which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre. (H64 PDW was subsequently re-registered to 920 ACH)

Wednesday 11 May 1994 - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk H64 PDW travels past the church of St Andrew and St Patrick through the Suffolk village of Elveden when operating the 1805 Norwich to London (Victoria) National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. This was the last southbound trip of the day and the coach would stay overnight in London to work the first northbound trip the next morning. The photograph was taken during one of Elveden’s quieter moments. Many travellers particularly at summer weekends would face a nose-to-tail crawl along the 9 mile section of the then single carriageway of the A11 between Barton Mills and Thetford not helped by the traffic lights at Elveden crossroads. Accidents and road deaths were abundant so the name of the village was well known but for all the wrong reasons. In December 2014 the dual carriageway and a village by-pass brought peace to the village almost like that seen in this photograph. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 using four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches (three model S215HD like this and one model S215HR) which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre. (H64 PDW was subsequently re-registered to 920 ACH)

Monday 18 July 1994 (1850) - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk H64 PDW seen in Thetford bus station when working the 1805 Norwich to London (Victoria) National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 adding four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches (three model S215HD and one model S215HR) to the fleet which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre. (H64 PDW was subsequently re-registered to 920 ACH)

Monday 18 July 1994 (1850) - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk H64 PDW seen in Thetford bus station when working the 1805 Norwich to London (Victoria) National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 adding four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches (three model S215HD and one model S215HR) to the fleet which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre. (H64 PDW was subsequently re-registered to 920 ACH)

Saturday 11 June 1994 (1108) - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk H63 PDW seen at speed passing Red Lodge when working the 1005 Norwich to London (Victoria) National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 adding four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches (three model S215HD and one model S215HR) to the fleet which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre.

Saturday 26 June 1993 (1121) - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk D704 NUH, running a little late, heads away from Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills when working the 1005 Norwich to London (Victoria) National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract on Sunday 23 May 1993 there were three model S215HD (H62-64 PDW) and one model S215HR pictured here which had all been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre. D704 NUH later re-registered UPV 337.

Sunday 19 September 1993 (1055) - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk D704 NUH seen at Fiveways roundabout on the A11 at Barton Mills when operating the 1005 Norwich to London (Victoria) National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 using four former Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre Kässbohrer-Setra coaches. D704 NUH was the odd one out being a model S215HR whereas the other three were the model S215HD (H62-64 PDW).

Sunday 19 September 1993 (1055) - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk D704 NUH seen accelerating away from Fiveways roundabout on the A11 at Barton Mills when operating the 1005 Norwich to London (Victoria) National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 using four former Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre Kässbohrer-Setra coaches. D704 NUH was the odd one out being a model S215HR whereas the other three were the model S215HD (H62-64 PDW).

Sunday 16 January 1994 (1053) – Just east of Fiveways at Barton Mills during the replacement of the road bridge crossing a large watercourse. R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk D704 NUH was seen in the temporary loop around the closed main road having just crossed the also temporary pontoon bridge. The straight path of the A11 towards Elveden and Thetford stretches to the horizon. At the time the A11 was only single carriageway between Barton Mills and Thetford and it was to be a further 20 years before the long awaited dual carriageway was opened between the two locations (in December 2014). Chenery began operating the service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 using four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches, three model S215HD and this model S215HR all of which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre.

Sunday 22 January 1995 (1057) - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk RYG 684 seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1005 Norwich to London (Victoria) National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. This coach became the fifth Kässbohrer-Setra in Chenery’s National Express contingent. Initially when Chenery began operating the service 599 contract on Sunday 23 May 1993 there were three model S215HD (H62-64 PDW) and one model S215HR (D707 NUH later re-registered UPV 337) which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre in 1991 and 1986/7 respectively. The latter, being a few years older, appeared on the service less frequently following the arrival of RYG 684, another model S215HD, which was always easily distinguishable from the others being painted white below the Setra grille. (RYG 684 was later registered as K127 OCT).

Sunday 22 January 1995 (1057) - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk RYG 684 heads away from Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills when working the 1005 Norwich to London (Victoria) National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599. This coach became the fifth Kässbohrer-Setra in Chenery’s National Express contingent. Initially when Chenery began operating the service 599 contract on Sunday 23 May 1993 there were three model S215HD (H62-64 PDW) and one model S215HR (D707 NUH later re-registered UPV 337) which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre in 1991 and 1986/7 respectively. The latter, being a few years older, appeared on the service less frequently following the arrival of RYG 684, another model S215HD, which was always easily distinguishable from the others having more white paint on both the rear bumper and the frontal area below the Setra grille. (RYG 684 was later registered as K127 OCT).

Sunday 17 October 1993 (1402) – R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk began operating the National Express ‘Rapide’ service 599 contract effective Sunday 23 May 1993 for which they added four Kässbohrer-Setra coaches (three model S215HD and one model S215HR) to the fleet which had been new to Bebb Travel of Llantwit Fadre. However, this coach wasn’t any of those but J78 VTX a model S215HD from the Bebb fleet which had been loaned to Chenery to cover H64 PDW which was off the road having suffered a major mechanical problem. It is seen passing Red Lodge when working the 0930 service from London (Victoria) to Norwich.

Sunday 21 June 1998 - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk became a contractor to National Express on 23 May 1993 operating on the Norwich to London service ‘Rapide’ service 599. Chenery favoured Kässbohrer-Setra coaches in its own fleet and for the next 11-12 years employed this brand of vehicle on its National Express contract. In this photograph R303 EEX, one of three model S250 coaches operated on the National Express contract at this time, was seen on the A11 at Red Lodge as it worked the 1130 London (Victoria) to Norwich.

Sunday 21 June 1998 (0825) - R W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk became a contractor to National Express on 23 May 1993 operating on the Norwich to London service ‘Rapide’ service 599. Chenery favoured Kässbohrer-Setra coaches in its own fleet and for the next 11-12 years employed this brand of vehicle on its National Express contract. In this photograph R303 EEX, one of three model S250 coaches operated on the National Express contract at this time, was seen on the A11 at Red Lodge as it worked the 0700 Norwich to London (Victoria). Following behind is Simonds of Botesdale 9983 PW, a Van Hool Alizee bodied Volvo B10M. In the far distance is Mil-Ken JAZ 6847 (formerly E503 EFG), a Duple 320 bodied Dennis Javelin.