David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

Thursday 14 November 2024 (0953) – On board Ambassador Travel 304 (BV72 XFA), a Caetano Levante III bodied Scania K410 new in November 2022, in King Street, Mildenhall when working the 0750 National Express service 727 from Great Yarmouth to Stansted Airport. This is the only ‘short’ trip on service 727, the other seven trips run through to Heathrow Airport. I took a ride on this coach today from Mildenhall to Trumpington Park and Ride (Cambridge) in order to sample a ride on this type of coach. I travelled back on two local buses, the first being Stagecoach East 21234 (AE12 CJV) working the 1106 Busway service B to St. Ives followed by Stephensons 802 (EU24 LWV) working the 1218 service 12 from Cambridge to Newmarket which continued as the 1300 service 16 to Bury St. Edmunds/West Suffolk Hospital via Mildenhall.

Thursday 14 November 2024 (1103) – Ambassador Travel 304 (BV72 XFA), a Caetano Levante III bodied Scania K410 new in November 2022, seen at Trumpington Park & Ride, Cambridge when working the 0750 National Express service 727 from Great Yarmouth to Stansted Airport. I had travelled on this service from Mildenhall in order to sample a ride on this type of coach. I travelled back on two local buses, the first being Stagecoach East 21234 (AE12 CJV) working the 1106 Busway service B to St. Ives followed by Stephensons 802 (EU24 LWV) working the 1218 service 12 from Cambridge to Newmarket which continued as the 1300 service 16 to Bury St. Edmunds/West Suffolk Hospital via Mildenhall.

Thursday 14 November 2024 (1104) – Ambassador Travel 304 (BV72 XFA), a Caetano Levante III bodied Scania K410 new in November 2022, seen at Trumpington Park & Ride, Cambridge when working the 0750 National Express service 727 from Great Yarmouth to Stansted Airport. I had travelled on this service from Mildenhall in order to sample a ride on this type of coach. I travelled back on two local buses, the first being Stagecoach East 21234 (AE12 CJV) working the 1106 Busway service B to St. Ives followed by Stephensons 802 (EU24 LWV) working the 1218 service 12 from Cambridge to Newmarket which continued as the 1300 service 16 to Bury St. Edmunds/West Suffolk Hospital via Mildenhall.

My National Express ‘ticket’ for a trip from Mildenhall to Trumpington Park & Ride, Cambridge on the 0950 service 727 on Thursday 14 November 2024. The full service is the 0750 from Great Yarmouth to Stansted Airport. Booking on-line with the ‘ticket’ printed at home on A4 paper. I made the journey so that I could travel on a Caetano Levante III coach and in order to achieve this I had first to establish what was operating on the journey on the morning by checking the tracker on the Bus Times website. (The previous day it had been the earlier style Caetano Levante II model so that was out!). Having identified the vehicle I then booked my ticket just after the coach had departed Great Yarmouth. All quite easy really compared with the days one had to go to a booking agent or risk not getting a seat etc. The coach was Ambassador Travel 304 (BV72 XFA), a Caetano Levante III bodied Scania K410 new in November 2022. I then travelled back on two local buses, the first being Stagecoach East 21234 (AE12 CJV) from Trumpington to Parkside followed by Stephensons 802 (EU24 LWV) from Cambridge to Newmarket then the same bus which continued to Mildenhall. The coach ride cost £9.70 (£8.20 plus £1.50 booking fee), homeward travel free using my bus pass! (I wondered why National Express charged a booking fee when I they didn't have to do any work? The answer on their website reads 'National Express charges a booking fee for online tickets to help ensure the security of their website and payment systems, and to invest in new technology for a better customer experience. The booking fee also helps cover the cost of staff in their contact center and coach stations to process phone bookings'. Hmm....what a load of old toffee!)

Sunday 10 December 2000 (approx. 1030) – First Manchester 327 (W327 JND) seen in Rochdale bus station arriving on service 409 from Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham. This service had its origins as service 9 operated jointly by Ashton, Oldham and Rochdale Corporations before the formation of the SELNEC PTE in 1969. It is a Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 new in June 2000.

Sunday 10 December 2000 (approx. 1030) – First Manchester 327 (W327 JND) seen in Rochdale bus station having arrived on service 409 from Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham. This service had its origins as service 9 operated jointly by Ashton, Oldham and Rochdale Corporations before the formation of the SELNEC PTE in 1969. It is a Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 new in June 2000. Parked behind is a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo B10M of Western National about to work the 1035 National Express service 328 to Plymouth.

Sunday 10 December 2000 (approx. 1030) – First Manchester 327 (W327 JND) seen in Rochdale bus station having arrived on service 409 from Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham. This service had its origins as service 9 operated jointly by Ashton, Oldham and Rochdale Corporations before the formation of the SELNEC PTE in 1969. It is a Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 new in June 2000.

Monday 11 November 2024 (0825 - Coach Services Limited of Thetford YT09 YHK seen in The Street, Barton Mills when working the 0755 service 357 from Cavenham to Mildenhall (Bus Station and Hub), a trip which only runs on schooldays. It is an 86 seat Optare Omnidekka bodied Scania N270UD which had been new to Nottingham City Transport (970) in May 2009. The Omnidekka design originated with East Lancs Coachbuilders passing to Optare in 2008. Coach Services began operating the Suffolk County Council sponsored services 357 and 358 on Monday 2 September 2024 which had until the previous Saturday (31 August) been operated by Mulleys Motorways. (No services run on Sundays).

Monday 11 November 2024 (0825 - Coach Services Limited of Thetford YT09 YHK seen in The Street, Barton Mills when working the 0755 service 357 from Cavenham to Mildenhall (Bus Station and Hub), a trip which only runs on schooldays. It is an 86 seat Optare Omnidekka bodied Scania N270UD which had been new to Nottingham City Transport (970) in May 2009. The Omnidekka design originated with East Lancs Coachbuilders passing to Optare in 2008. Coach Services began operating the Suffolk County Council sponsored services 357 and 358 on Monday 2 September 2024 which had until the previous Saturday (31 August) been operated by Mulleys Motorways. (No services run on Sundays).

Monday 11 November 2024 (0825 - Coach Services Limited of Thetford YT09 YHK seen in The Street, Barton Mills when working the 0755 service 357 from Cavenham to Mildenhall (Bus Station and Hub), a trip which only runs on schooldays. It is an 86 seat Optare Omnidekka bodied Scania N270UD which had been new to Nottingham City Transport (970) in May 2009. The Omnidekka design originated with East Lancs Coachbuilders passing to Optare in 2008. Coach Services began operating the Suffolk County Council sponsored services 357 and 358 on Monday 2 September 2024 which had until the previous Saturday (31 August) been operated by Mulleys Motorways. (No services run on Sundays).

Saturday 24 August 2024 (0935) – REL Redwing Coaches BN17 JKV, a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo new in May 2017, seen arriving at the Shell Service Area at Fiveways, Barton Mills. The passengers would soon be taking a 30 minute break but not before the driver found a spot to park. Other than for fuelling it is unusual to capture a coach on this part of the site. In the end it parked near the mast in the background. Based in London and Kent, Redwing was established in 1987. In February 2022 the business was acquired by REL Capital which also owns REL Davian North London Coaches.

Saturday 24 August 2024 (0942) – Tates Coaches Limited, Luton YT19 DYX seen heading eastbound on the A11 at Fiveways, Barton Mills. It is a Scania K410 Interlink that had been new to Turners Coaches of Bristol in July 2019.

Saturday 24 August 2024 (0942) – Tates Coaches Limited, Luton YT19 DYX seen heading eastbound on the A11 at Fiveways, Barton Mills. It is a Scania K410 Interlink that had been new to Turners Coaches of Bristol in July 2019.

Wednesday 6 November 2024 (0914) – In the lead up to Remembrance Day the knitters of the West Row area created an amazing cascade of woollen poppies spreading from the village sign to the War Memorial. Coach Services Limited of Thetford YX14 RXK, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2014, passes the display when working the 0900 circular service 358 from Mildenhall. Coach Services began operating the Suffolk County Council sponsored services 357 and 358 on Monday 2 September 2024 which had until the previous Saturday (31 August) been operated by Mulleys Motorways. (No services run on Sundays). Whereas Mulleys used the same bus on the services all day, Coach Services now interwork services 357/358 with their Thetford-Brandon-Mildenhall services 200/201 resulting in the three West Row circular services being covered by three different buses Mondays to Fridays.

Monday 4 November 2024 (1132) – In the lead up to Remembrance Day the knitters of the West Row area created this amazing cascade of woollen poppies spreading from the village sign to the War Memorial. In the background Coach Services Limited of Thetford YT09 YHK is seen when working the 1117 circular service 358 from Mildenhall and return. It is an 86 seat Optare Omnidekka bodied Scania N270UD which had been new to Nottingham City Transport (970) in May 2009. The Omnidekka design originated with East Lancs Coachbuilders passing to Optare in 2008. Coach Services began operating the Suffolk County Council sponsored services 357 and 358 on Monday 2 September 2024 which had until the previous Saturday (31 August) been operated by Mulleys Motorways. (No services run on Sundays). Whereas Mulleys used the same bus on the services all day, Coach Services now interwork services 357/358 with their Thetford-Brandon-Mildenhall services 200/201 resulting in the three West Row circular services being covered by three different buses Mondays to Fridays.

Monday 4 November 2024 – In the lead up to Remembrance Day the knitters of the West Row area created this amazing cascade of woollen poppies spreading from the village sign to the War Memorial.

Monday 4 November 2024 (1133) – In the lead up to Remembrance Day the knitters of the West Row area created this amazing cascade of woollen poppies spreading from the village sign to the War Memorial. Coach Services Limited of Thetford YT09 YHK is seen when working the 1117 circular service 358 from Mildenhall and return. It is an 86 seat Optare Omnidekka bodied Scania N270UD which had been new to Nottingham City Transport (970) in May 2009. The Omnidekka design originated with East Lancs Coachbuilders passing to Optare in 2008. Coach Services began operating the Suffolk County Council sponsored services 357 and 358 on Monday 2 September 2024 which had until the previous Saturday (31 August) been operated by Mulleys Motorways. (No services run on Sundays). Whereas Mulleys used the same bus on the services all day, Coach Services now interwork services 357/358 with their Thetford-Brandon-Mildenhall services 200/201 resulting in the three West Row circular services being covered by three different buses Mondays to Fridays.

Wednesday 6 November 2024 (0914) - Coach Services Limited of Thetford YX14 RXK, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2014, rounds the corner of Friday Street and Church Road in West Row when working the 0900 circular service 358 from Mildenhall. Coach Services began operating the Suffolk County Council sponsored services 357 and 358 on Monday 2 September 2024 which had until the previous Saturday (31 August) been operated by Mulleys Motorways. (No services run on Sundays). Whereas Mulleys used the same bus on the services all day, Coach Services now interwork services 357/358 with their Thetford-Brandon-Mildenhall services 200/201 resulting in the three West Row circular services being covered by three different buses Mondays to Fridays.