First Eastern Counties 36173 (BD11 CFX)/36171 (BD11 CFU)/Coach Services YX14 RXK in Mildenhall - 5 Dec 2023 (P1170134

Tuesday 5 December 2023 (1109) – Mildenhall bus station

Coach Services Limited YX14 RXK, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2014, parked between trips on service 201. It had worked from Brandon arriving at 1100 and would return there at 1140.

In the background are First Eastern Counties Buses 36173 (BD11 CFX) and 36171 (BD11 CFU) seen during a short stopover when working a staff contract for Traditional Norfolk Poultry. They had made a call to enable passengers to get some shopping.

The two Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TLs, new in July and June 2011 respectively, carry lettering and branding for Norwich city service 13. During October 2023 FEC received the first of its new electric buses for Norwich city services which has possibly resulted in these older buses now being available for contract work.

This was the first time in about two years that I had seen buses on the contract myself although my wife’s friend has seen them parked in the bus station in recent weeks. At the time I saw them (in November 2019) they were passing straight through Mildenhall heading, I believe, towards Ely.