David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

Monday 18 May 2026 (1153) – The Park and Ride service in Colchester is worked by Arriva Southern Counties. In this view taken at the Park and Ride site to the north of the city, 4124 (SN67 WUO), one of the branded Alexander Dennis Enviro200D MMC buses new in September 2017, was seen at the terminal building. I think the concrete slabs were an afterthought to combat car drivers trying to avoid the exit gates of the car park (or maybe as Ecobird says below, to stop traveller vehicles getting in).

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1209) – Prospect Coaches, Lye, Stourbridge YS25 XOX, an Irizar i6S new in July 2025, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0840 Flixbus service 083 from Birmingham to Norwich. This service commenced on Thursday 7 May 2026 and features just one journey in each direction. Eastbound it departs Birmingham at 0840 travelling via Coventry (0920-0925) and Cambridge (1120-1125) arriving in Norwich at 1255. The westbound journey departs Norwich at 1450 travelling via Cambridge (1620-1625) and Coventry (1820-1825) arriving in Birmingham at 1905. In an article featured in the July 2026 issue of ‘Buses’ magazine it stated that all Flixbus branded Irizar coaches in the UK were in the fleet of Prospect Coaches.

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1209) – Prospect Coaches, Lye, Stourbridge YS25 XOX, an Irizar i6S new in July 2025, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0840 Flixbus service 083 from Birmingham to Norwich. This service commenced on Thursday 7 May 2026 and features just one journey in each direction. Eastbound it departs Birmingham at 0840 travelling via Coventry (0920-0925) and Cambridge (1120-1125) arriving in Norwich at 1255. The westbound journey departs Norwich at 1450 travelling via Cambridge (1620-1625) and Coventry (1820-1825) arriving in Birmingham at 1905. In an article featured in the July 2026 issue of ‘Buses’ magazine it stated that all Flixbus branded Irizar coaches in the UK were in the fleet of Prospect Coaches.

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1209) – Prospect Coaches, Lye, Stourbridge YS25 XOX, an Irizar i6S new in July 2025, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0840 Flixbus service 083 from Birmingham to Norwich. This service commenced on Thursday 7 May 2026 and features just one journey in each direction. Eastbound it departs Birmingham at 0840 travelling via Coventry (0920-0925) and Cambridge (1120-1125) arriving in Norwich at 1255. The westbound journey departs Norwich at 1450 travelling via Cambridge (1620-1625) and Coventry (1820-1825) arriving in Birmingham at 1905. In an article featured in the July 2026 issue of ‘Buses’ magazine it stated that all Flixbus branded Irizar coaches in the UK were in the fleet of Prospect Coaches.

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1127) - Mulleys Motorways SN68 AGF, a Wrightbus StreetLite DF that was new to Passenger Plus, Tadworth in February 2019, seen at Tollgate, Bury St. Edmunds when working the 1120 town circular service M55 to the Mildenhall Road and Howard residential estates .

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1127) - In the Spring of 2026 the road layout around the Tollgate island in Bury St. Edmunds was re-modelled. The three-sided island now had a two-way traffic flow on each side replacing the former clockwise one direction traffic flow. This view, looking towards the town centre, shows Mulleys Motorways SN68 AGF passing the new junction used for traffic to and from Fornham St. Martin. It is a Wrightbus StreetLite DF that was new to Passenger Plus, Tadworth in February 2019 which was working the 1120 town circular service M55 to the Mildenhall Road and Howard residential estates. In the background is Stephensons of Essex 805 (EU74 KTV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September 2024, arriving with the 1000 service 16 from Newmarket and Mildenhall.

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1127) - In the Spring of 2026 the road layout around the Tollgate island in Bury St. Edmunds was re-modelled. The three-sided island now had a two-way traffic flow on each side replacing the former clockwise one direction traffic flow. This view, looking towards Tollgate Lane shows Mulleys Motorways SN68 AGF on the new two directional section of road that was once one-way with the left lane used for Tollgate Lane and Mildenhall Road traffic and the right lane used for Fornham St. Martin traffic. The traffic for the latter now turns right at a junction behind the camera. The bus is a Wrightbus StreetLite DF that was new to Passenger Plus, Tadworth in February 2019 which was working the 1120 town circular service M55 to the Mildenhall Road and Howard residential estates.

Saturday 13 June 2026 (approx. 1130) – In the Spring of 2026 the road layout around the Tollgate island in Bury St. Edmunds was re-modelled. The three-sided island now had a two-way traffic flow on each side replacing the former clockwise one direction traffic flow. Traffic for Fornham St. Martin, through where this bus is heading, now turns right at the start of the island rather than taking what had been the right hand lane for a the right hand turn behind the camera. The bus is Mulleys Motorways YJ23 EKN which was heading out of town working the 1120 service 955 from Bury St. Edmunds to Mildenhall and Beck Row. It is one of two Optare MetroDeckers delivered to Mulleys in March 2023 that were part of an order placed by Reading Buses in June 2018 to operate the Green Line branded route 702 from London to Slough, Windsor and Legoland. Reading Buses cancelled the order in July 2020 as part of a number of financial cutbacks made following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Optare was renamed Switch Mobility in November 2020). It was very close to this spot where the old road layout featured an inclined slip road used by traffic travelling round the island towards Tollgate Lane/Mildenhall Road. There was a ‘Give Way’ line at the top of the incline. I recall vividly when I drove buses for Mulleys taking 100 seat tri-axle double deckers up the incline when working the school related service 955. It was quite exhilarating in the busy morning traffic to coast up the slope and try to avoid having to stop at the top which would then require a hill start with the fully loaded bus!

Saturday 13 June 2026 (approx. 1130) – In the Spring of 2026 the road layout around the Tollgate island in Bury St. Edmunds was re-modelled. The three-sided island now had a two-way traffic flow on each side replacing the former clockwise one direction traffic flow. Traffic for Fornham St. Martin, through where this bus is heading, now turns right at the start of the island rather than taking what had been the right hand lane for a the right hand turn behind the camera. The bus is Mulleys Motorways YJ23 EKN which was heading out of town working the 1120 service 955 from Bury St. Edmunds to Mildenhall and Beck Row. It is one of two Optare MetroDeckers delivered to Mulleys in March 2023 that were part of an order placed by Reading Buses in June 2018 to operate the Green Line branded route 702 from London to Slough, Windsor and Legoland. Reading Buses cancelled the order in July 2020 as part of a number of financial cutbacks made following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Optare was renamed Switch Mobility in November 2020). It was very close to this spot where the old road layout featured an inclined slip road used by traffic travelling round the island towards Tollgate Lane/Mildenhall Road. There was a ‘Give Way’ line at the top of the incline. I recall vividly when I drove buses for Mulleys taking 100 seat tri-axle double deckers up the incline when working the school related service 955. It was quite exhilarating in the busy morning traffic to coast up the slope and try to avoid having to stop at the top which would then require a hill start with the fully loaded bus!

Saturday 13 June 2026 (approx. 1130) – In the Spring of 2026 the road layout around the Tollgate island in Bury St. Edmunds was re-modelled. The three-sided island now had a two-way traffic flow on each side replacing the former clockwise one direction traffic flow. Traffic for Fornham St. Martin, through where this bus is heading, now turns right at the start of the island rather than taking what had been the right hand lane for a the right hand turn behind the camera. The bus is Mulleys Motorways YJ23 EKN which was heading out of town working the 1120 service 955 from Bury St. Edmunds to Mildenhall and Beck Row. It is one of two Optare MetroDeckers delivered to Mulleys in March 2023 that were part of an order placed by Reading Buses in June 2018 to operate the Green Line branded route 702 from London to Slough, Windsor and Legoland. Reading Buses cancelled the order in July 2020 as part of a number of financial cutbacks made following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Optare was renamed Switch Mobility in November 2020). It was very close to this spot where the old road layout featured an inclined slip road used by traffic travelling round the island towards Tollgate Lane/Mildenhall Road. There was a ‘Give Way’ line at the top of the incline. I recall vividly when I drove buses for Mulleys taking 100 seat tri-axle double deckers up the incline when working the school related service 955. It was quite exhilarating in the busy morning traffic to coast up the slope and try to avoid having to stop at the top which would then require a hill start with the fully loaded bus!

Saturday 13 June 2026 (approx. 1130) – In the Spring of 2026 the road layout around the Tollgate island in Bury St. Edmunds was re-modelled. The three-sided island now had a two-way traffic flow on each side replacing the former clockwise one direction traffic flow. Traffic for Fornham St. Martin, through where this bus is heading, now turns right at the start of the island rather than taking what had been the right hand lane for a the right hand turn behind the camera. The bus is Mulleys Motorways YJ23 EKN which was heading out of town working the 1120 service 955 from Bury St. Edmunds to Mildenhall and Beck Row. It is one of two Optare MetroDeckers delivered to Mulleys in March 2023 that were part of an order placed by Reading Buses in June 2018 to operate the Green Line branded route 702 from London to Slough, Windsor and Legoland. Reading Buses cancelled the order in July 2020 as part of a number of financial cutbacks made following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Optare was renamed Switch Mobility in November 2020). It was very close to this spot where the old road layout featured an inclined slip road used by traffic travelling round the island towards Tollgate Lane/Mildenhall Road. There was a ‘Give Way’ line at the top of the incline. I recall vividly when I drove buses for Mulleys taking 100 seat tri-axle double deckers up the incline when working the school related service 955. It was quite exhilarating in the busy morning traffic to coast up the slope and try to avoid having to stop at the top which would then require a hill start with the fully loaded bus!

Saturday 13 June 2026 (approx. 1130) – In the Spring of 2026 the road layout around the Tollgate island in Bury St. Edmunds was re-modelled. The three-sided island now had a two-way traffic flow on each side replacing the former clockwise one direction traffic flow. Traffic for Fornham St. Martin, through where this bus is heading, now turns right at the start of the island (behind the camera) and travels along a path that once carried two lanes of traffic heading towards the camera. Having cleared the revised road layout the bus then turns right again beyond the Tollgate pub to continue its journey as before. The bus is Mulleys Motorways YJ23 EKN which was working the 1120 service 955 from Bury St. Edmunds to Mildenhall and Beck Row. It is one of two Optare MetroDeckers delivered to Mulleys in March 2023 that were part of an order placed by Reading Buses in June 2018 to operate the Green Line branded route 702 from London to Slough, Windsor and Legoland. Reading Buses cancelled the order in July 2020 as part of a number of financial cutbacks made following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Optare was renamed Switch Mobility in November 2020).

Saturday 13 June 2026 (approx. 1130) – In the Spring of 2026 the road layout around the Tollgate island in Bury St. Edmunds was re-modelled. The three-sided island now had a two-way traffic flow on each side replacing the former clockwise one direction traffic flow. Traffic for Fornham St. Martin, through where this bus is heading, now turns right at the start of the island (behind the camera) and travels along a path that once carried two lanes of traffic heading towards the camera. Having cleared the revised road layout the bus then turns right again beyond the Tollgate pub to continue its journey as before. The bus is Mulleys Motorways YJ23 EKN which was working the 1120 service 955 from Bury St. Edmunds to Mildenhall and Beck Row. It is one of two Optare MetroDeckers delivered to Mulleys in March 2023 that were part of an order placed by Reading Buses in June 2018 to operate the Green Line branded route 702 from London to Slough, Windsor and Legoland. Reading Buses cancelled the order in July 2020 as part of a number of financial cutbacks made following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Optare was renamed Switch Mobility in November 2020).

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1042) – Konectbuses 104 (BU18 YRR), a Mercedes-Benz City Sprinter that had been new to City of Oxford (974) in June 2018, seen in Vinery Road, Bury St. Edmunds when working the 0935 service 45 from Sudbury via Shimpling. Service 45 runs along some quite narrow country roads serving a number of different villages. The full route is via Long Melford, Bridge Street, Shimpling, Shimpling Street, Cockfield, Lawshall, Hawstead and Nowton. In late September 2025 the Go-Ahead Group sold its Go East Anglia operations to Transport Made Simple. That purchase included the Konectbus brand (in Norfolk) and the Konectbuses brand (in Essex and Suffolk). The latter had only been created a short time before when Go Ahead had merged its Hedingham and Chambers businesses owned for a number of years and managed by Konectbus.

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1048) – The second of the two Alexander Enviro400D MMCs delivered to Coach Services Limited of Thetford in 2022 seen in Vinery Road, Bury St. Edmunds when working the 1045 service 86 from the West Suffolk Hospital to Thetford to Brandon. CS72 BUS was new in September 2022. The first of the pair (CS22 BUS) was delivered in April 2022. Both are branded for services 84/86.

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1053) – Stephensons of Essex 464 (EU62 FDF), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200D new in October 2012, seen in Out Westgate, Bury St. Edmunds when working the 1050 service 16 from the West Suffolk Hospital to Mildenhall and Newmarket.

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1041) – Beginning to look down at heel, Konectbuses 803 (YN55 PZE), an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD new to Metrobus in February 2006, seen in Vinery Road, Bury St. Edmunds close the end of working the 0834 service 43A from Colchester. In late September 2025 the Go-Ahead Group sold its Go East Anglia operations to Transport Made Simple. That purchase included the Konectbus brand (in Norfolk) and the Konectbuses brand (in Essex and Suffolk). The latter had only been created a short time before when Go Ahead had merged its Hedingham and Chambers businesses owned for a number of years and managed by Konectbus. This bus still carries the Chambers name although it would seem the name will gradually disappear in the near future as TMS carries out its own integration and re-branding. The Chambers family had been running motor buses on the Colchester-Sudbury-Bury St. Edmunds road from around 1918 although had been in business with horse drawn vehicles since 1877.

Saturday 13 June 2026 (1041) – Beginning to look down at heel, Konectbuses 803 (YN55 PZE), an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD new to Metrobus in February 2006, seen in Vinery Road, Bury St. Edmunds close the end of working the 0834 service 43A from Colchester. In late September 2025 the Go-Ahead Group sold its Go East Anglia operations to Transport Made Simple. That purchase included the Konectbus brand (in Norfolk) and the Konectbuses brand (in Essex and Suffolk). The latter had only been created a short time before when Go Ahead had merged its Hedingham and Chambers businesses owned for a number of years and managed by Konectbus. This bus still carries the Chambers name although it would seem the name will gradually disappear in the near future as TMS carries out its own integration and re-branding. The Chambers family had been running motor buses on the Colchester-Sudbury-Bury St. Edmunds road from around 1918 although had been in business with horse drawn vehicles since 1877. In the foreground is a memorial to the novelist Ouida (Louise de la Ramee 1839-1908) who was born in Bury St. Edmunds. In addition to writing more than forty novels she was also an animal rights activist. Originally the memorial featured an integrated water trough for passing animals to take a drink although this no longer functions.