David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1126) – On my ride aboard Go to Town bus service 4 in King’s Lynn I snapped these two vehicles parked up in the parking bays of Austin Street. Left: Holmeswood Coaches Limited with branches in Lancashire and Cheshire, operates this Italian built Carrozzeria Barbi Gallileo bodied MAN. A small number of Barbi built coaches were sold in the UK by a subsidiary of Holmeswood between 2015 and 2019. Right: A Coach Services Limited Egyptian built MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE branded for the services 88 and 89 to King’s Lynn from Thetford and/or Brandon. The tracker on the Bus Times website showed this as being BV23 NVC which had worked the 0930 service 89 from Brandon (due King’s Lynn at 1101) returning at 1330.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1007) – Most of the single deckers in the Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) fleet are Optare Tempos acquired from different sources. About 20 such models are operated. Two examples are seen here in King’s Lynn Bus Station. In the foreground is 15 (FD54 JYA) loading to operate the 1010 service 39 to Marham which had been new to Trent Barton/trentbarton as their 312 in February 2005. In the background is 26 (YJ60 KAX) seen setting down after working the 0903 service 37 from Southery. The destination display has been set ready for the next trip, the 1030 service 48 to Grimston. It had been new to Lancashire United as their 1305 in September 2010.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1133) - Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) is a prominent operator in West Norfolk. These six lay-over bays in the middle of King’s Lynn Bus Station were all occupied by the company’s bright red buses. The three here are: On the left is 16 (FD54 JYB), an Optare Tempo new in February 2005 to Trent Barton/trentbarton (303). Centre is 82 (UWW 2X), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D that had been new to Lloyd’s Coaches of Machynlleth in September 2012 registered LC62 WYN. It subsequently carried registrations DU62 FHK and LA60 ODY before UWW 2X. Right is 57 (LJ04 LEU), a Wright Pulsar Gemini bodied DAF DB250 new in April 2004 to Arriva London South (DW55).

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1004) – A gathering of bus drivers in King’s Lynn Bus Station - perhaps they are righting the wrongs of the bus driver’s world? (perhaps upon meeting and greeting with opener “Hi mate, what you on?”) The surrounding buses include four of Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) 33 (YY24 ELH), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D MMC new in July 2024 and silver coloured 52 (LJ53 BFU), a Wright Pulsar Gemini bodied DAF DB250 new in September 2003 to Arriva London South (DW21). Later sold to Reading Buses where it was branded for their ‘Silver Stars’ school bus services and has retained their silver livery. They flank Go to Town (West Norfolk Community Transport) WR25 OFV, a Mellor bodied Mercedes-Benz 515 CDi new in May 2025. The other two Lynx vehicles parked beyond are Optare Tempo 27 (YJ60 KBF) (that had been new to Lancashire United as their 1305 in September 2010) and Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D 66 (YX23 OSE), new in August 2023.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1144) – Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) 82 (UWW 2X), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D, seen in King’s Lynn bus station prior to working the 1145 service 34 to Hunstanton. It had been new to Lloyd’s Coaches of Machynlleth in September 2012 registered LC62 WYN. It subsequently carried registrations DU62 FHK and LA60 ODY before UWW 2X. In the background is Stagecoach East Midlands 10054 (SN13 EEA), also an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D, soon to work the 1150 service 505 to Spalding. This had been new to Norfolk Green (Go West Travel) as their number 23 in April 2013. The Norfolk Green business was acquired by Stagecoach in December 2013.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1143) – Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) buses in King’s Lynn bus station. Double decker 82 (UWW 2X), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D that had been new to Lloyd’s Coaches of Machynlleth in September 2012 registered LC62 WYN. It subsequently carried registrations DU62 FHK and LA60 ODY before UWW 2X. The single decker is 15 (FD54 JYA), an Optare Tempo new to Trent Barton (312) in February 2005.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1105) - Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) 52 (LJ53 BFU) seen in Gaywood Road, King’s Lynn working the 1100 service 49A to Fakenham. It is a Wright Pulsar Gemini bodied DAF DB250 new in September 2003 to Arriva London South (DW21). Later sold to Reading Buses where it was branded for their ‘Silver Stars’ school bus services and has retained their silver livery.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1202-1206) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36903 (YN69 XZG), one of 19 Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs (numbered 36901-36919) added to the fleet in November/December 2019 to operate the Norwich-Peterborough ‘excel’ service. This was the 0947 service B from Norwich (Railway Station) to Peterborough seen at London Road, King’s Lynn. The ‘excel’ service timetable is quite complex but uniform. To legitimately keep this quite lengthy service within the rules of local bus service regulations rather than the more stringent rules pertaining to true long distance type operations, the services are registered in shorter segments although the buses run through: PF0000323/373: Norwich-East Dereham PF0000323/372: East Dereham-King’s Lynn PF0000323/371: King’s Lynn-Wisbech PF0000323/370: Wisbech-Peterborough PF0000323/433: Norwich-Swaffham The full timetable may be seen via this link: tinyurl.com/wt35yxnv The First Eastern Counties King’s Lynn garage, which is just around the corner from where the photo was taken, provides almost all of the buses for the service (15 allocated at King’s Lynn garage and 4 at Norwich garage). This is where most of the driver changeovers take place. This was the last of four buses I travelled on during my outing today: Bus 1: Coach Services Limited BU16 OZO – South Gate, London Road to the Bus Station. Bus 2: Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) 11 (YJ07 VSK) – Bus Station to Felstead Estate then Gaywood Tesco. Bus 3: Go to Town (WNCT) RX72 TJV – Gaywood Tesco via North Lynn to the Bus Station. Bus 4: First Eastern Counties Buses 36903 (YN69 XZG), Bus Station to South Gate, London Road.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1202-1206) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36903 (YN69 XZG), one of 19 Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs (numbered 36901-36919) added to the fleet in November/December 2019 to operate the Norwich-Peterborough ‘excel’ service. This was the 0947 service B from Norwich (Railway Station) to Peterborough seen at London Road, King’s Lynn. The ‘excel’ service timetable is quite complex but uniform. To legitimately keep this quite lengthy service within the rules of local bus service regulations rather than the more stringent rules pertaining to true long distance type operations, the services are registered in shorter segments although the buses run through: PF0000323/373: Norwich-East Dereham PF0000323/372: East Dereham-King’s Lynn PF0000323/371: King’s Lynn-Wisbech PF0000323/370: Wisbech-Peterborough PF0000323/433: Norwich-Swaffham The full timetable may be seen via this link: tinyurl.com/wt35yxnv The First Eastern Counties King’s Lynn garage, which is just around the corner from where the photo was taken, provides almost all of the buses for the service (15 allocated at King’s Lynn garage and 4 at Norwich garage). This is where most of the driver changeovers take place. This was the last of four buses I travelled on during my outing today: Bus 1: Coach Services Limited BU16 OZO – South Gate, London Road to the Bus Station. Bus 2: Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) 11 (YJ07 VSK) – Bus Station to Felstead Estate then Gaywood Tesco. Bus 3: Go to Town (WNCT) RX72 TJV – Gaywood Tesco via North Lynn to the Bus Station. Bus 4: First Eastern Counties Buses 36903 (YN69 XZG), Bus Station to South Gate, London Road.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1206) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36903 (YN69 XZG), one of 19 Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs (numbered 36901-36919) added to the fleet in November/December 2019 to operate the Norwich-Peterborough ‘excel’ service. This was the 0947 service B from Norwich (Railway Station) to Peterborough seen passing the South Gate in London Road, King’s Lynn. The South Gate guarded the southern approaches to the town for nearly 600 years. Not only did it perform a defensive role but it also acted as a point of entry and exit to collect tolls and duties on merchandise. Traffic heading towards the town passes through the archway whereas traffic heading out of town passes alongside the building. The First Eastern Counties King’s Lynn garage, which is just around the corner from here, provides almost all of the buses for the service (15 allocated at King’s Lynn garage and 4 at Norwich garage). This is where most of the driver changeovers take place and the bus is leaving after a new driver had taken over. The ‘excel’ service timetable is quite complex but uniform. To legitimately keep this quite lengthy service within the rules of local bus service regulations rather than the more stringent rules pertaining to true long distance type operations, the services are registered in shorter segments although the buses run through: PF0000323/373: Norwich-East Dereham PF0000323/372: East Dereham-King’s Lynn PF0000323/371: King’s Lynn-Wisbech PF0000323/370: Wisbech-Peterborough PF0000323/433: Norwich-Swaffham The full timetable may be seen via this link: tinyurl.com/wt35yxnv This was the last of four buses I travelled on during my outing today: Bus 1: Coach Services Limited BU16 OZO – South Gate, London Road to the Bus Station. Bus 2: Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) 11 (YJ07 VSK) – Bus Station to Felstead Estate then Gaywood Tesco. Bus 3: Go to Town (WNCT) RX72 TJV – Gaywood Tesco via North Lynn to the Bus Station. Bus 4: First Eastern Counties Buses 36903 (YN69 XZG), Bus Station to South Gate, London Road.

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (1144) – Longstanton Park and Ride on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) is embarking on a franchising model for the region’s bus services. Bus services are branded ‘Tiger’. I was riding on Whippet Coaches WG458 (BU25 ZFF) working the 1116 Tiger service T1 from Huntingdon to Cambridge. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a better shot of A2B Travel Group RJ25 UKX, an Ilesbus bodied Iveco, which I believe would be working Tiger service T12 which runs from Longstanton to Sutton-in-the-Isle via Willingham and Earith. (This vehicle may have initially been allocated registration RK74 ZSJ)

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (1144) – Longstanton Park and Ride on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) is embarking on a franchising model for the region’s bus services. Bus services are branded ‘Tiger’ and have ‘T’ prefixed service numbers. Left: Whippet Coaches Limited is the operator of service T1, a service that operates from Cambridge to Huntingdon travelling from Drummer Street bus station to join the Busway at Milton Road. It leaves the Busway at the Swavesey crossing taking to normal roads through the villages of Swavesey and Fenstanton. Two MCV eVoSeti bodied Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers were added to the fleet specifically for the service in June 2025. These carry fleet numbers WG457/458 and registrations BU25 ZFF and BU25 ZFE (in that order). I was riding on WG458 working the 1116 service from Huntingdon to Cambridge and in this shot WG457 is seen working the 1115 service from Cambridge to Huntingdon. Right: A2B Travel Group is the operator of service T12 which operates from Longstanton to Sutton-in-the-Isle via Willingham and Earith. On the right is RJ25 UKX, an Ilesbus bodied Iveco. (This vehicle may have initially been allocated registration RK74 ZSJ)

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (1144) – Longstanton Park and Ride on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. In addition to the main Busway services passing through here Stagecoach East serves the site with service 5 from Cambridge via Bar Hill and Longstanton village. Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 MMC bodied Scania N250UD 15293 (YN17 ONC), new in June 2017, was just arriving as the 1100 service from Cambridge. A2B Travel Group is the operator of The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) franchised Tiger service T12 which operates to Sutton-in-the-Isle via Willingham and Earith. RJ25 UKX is an Ilesbus bodied Iveco which is used on the service. (This vehicle may have initially been allocated registration RK74 ZSJ) I was riding on WG458 (BU25 ZFE) working the 1116 Tiger service T1 from Huntingdon to Cambridge.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1133) – Stagecoach East Midlands 10054 (SN13 EEA), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D, seen in King’s Lynn bus station between trips on service 505. It had worked the 0850 service from Spalding (due at 1129) and would return there on the 1150 service. It had been new to Norfolk Green (Go West Travel) as their number 23 in April 2013. The Norfolk Green business was acquired by Stagecoach in December 2013.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1014) – Stagecoach East Midlands 15808 (FX12 BAV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD, seen in King’s Lynn bus station. It had arrived on the 0820 service 505 from Spalding (due here at 0959 but actually had arrived at 1012). It departed on time on the 1020 service back to Spalding.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1015) – Stagecoach East Midlands 15808 (FX12 BAV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD, seen in King’s Lynn bus station. It had arrived on the 0820 service 505 from Spalding (due here at 0959 but actually had arrived at 1012). It departed on time on the 1020 service back to Spalding.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1137) – Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) 11 (YJ07 VSK), an Optare Tempo X1200 new to Trentbarton (313) in August 2007, seen in King’s Lynn Bus Station about to work the 1140 Felstead Estate circular service 42. I had travelled on this bus earlier for a trip to Felstead. In the background is – Stagecoach East Midlands 10054 (SN13 EEA), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D, which had been new to Norfolk Green (Go West Travel) as their number 23 in April 2013. The Norfolk Green business was acquired by Stagecoach in December 2013. It had worked the 0850 service from Spalding (due at 1129) and would return there on the 1150 service.

Thursday 18 September 2025 (1019) – On board Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) 11 (YJ07 VSK), an Optare Tempo X1200 new to Trentbarton (313) in August 2007, seen in King’s Lynn Bus Station about to work the 1020 Felstead Estate circular service 42. I travelled on this bus, the second of four I travelled on during my outing today: Bus 1: Coach Services Limited BU16 OZO – South Gate, London Road to the Bus Station. Bus 2: Lynx (Coastal Red Limited) 11 (YJ07 VSK) – Bus Station to Felstead Estate then Gaywood Tesco. Bus 3: Go to Town (WNCT) RX72 TJV – Gaywood Tesco via North Lynn to the Bus Station. Bus 4: First Eastern Counties Buses 36903 (YN69 XZG), Bus Station to South Gate, London Road.