Ambassador Travel 192 (M34 KAX) on the A11 at Barton Mills – 22 Aug 1998 (402-15A)

Saturday 22 August 1998 (approx. 0940) - Ambassador Travel 192 (M34 KAX) seen accelerating away from Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills when working a National Express service to London (Victoria). It is a Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M new in March 1995 to Bebb Travel, Llantwit Fardre.

This trip was a summer Saturdays only non stop holiday express trip of service 497 departing Great Yarmouth at 0830 due to arrive at Victoria at 1150. The corresponding northbound trip departed Victoria at 1300 arriving in Great Yarmouth at 1615. The regular service 497 comprised two trips each way each day which didn’t pass this way as they served Bury St. Edmunds travelling then to Newmarket. The end to end journey time from Great Yarmouth to Victoria took 4 hours/4hours 20 minutes on those.

Note the Little Chef roadside restaurant on the left, the property had only recently changed from being AJ’s Family Restaurant. It later became the Pancake and Waffle Shack and then, in Summer 2023, Five Guys (Five Guys at Fiveways!). The filling station had a number of brand changes too having been Fina, Esso then BP.