David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

Wednesday 27 May 2026 (1232) – Transport Made Simple/Central Connect/Simonds of Botesdale is the contracted operator for the Norwich-Heathrow Airport Flixbus service 890 which commenced on Monday 25 May 2026. Whilst new coaches are awaited some additional vehicles have been loaned including Neoplan Tourliner OY23 CYM which was seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1100 departure from Norwich. The coach had been new to Whippet Coaches (FX44) in July 2023 and after Whippet ended a four year Flixbus contract Cozy Travel of Sandy apparently took on the lease of six former Whippet Neoplan coaches for use on Flixbus work. (I am not sure at this time which company can be said to be the ‘owner’ of the vehicle). Departing Norwich at 1100 this trip calls at Thetford (1155-1200), Cambridge (Parkside) (1300-1310), Luton Airport Parkway (1420-1425) arriving at 1530. The full service has six daily trips each way. Some additionally serve Norwich (University of East Anglia) and Cambridge (Trumpington Park and Ride) although the departure seen here is one which omits both those. Departures from Norwich are: 0025 arriving Heathrow 0430 0200 arriving Heathrow 0610 0335 arriving Heathrow 0800 1100 arriving Heathrow 1530 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1250 arriving Heathrow 1720 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1500 arriving Heathrow 1920 (omits UEA) Departures from Heathrow are: 0600 arriving Norwich 1015 (omits TP&R and UEA) 0740 arriving Norwich 1215 0940 arriving Norwich 1405 (omits UEA) 1740 arriving Norwich 2210 (omits TP&R and UEA) 1910 arriving Norwich 2330 2120 arriving Norwich 0140

Wednesday 27 May 2026 (1232) – Transport Made Simple/Central Connect/Simonds of Botesdale is the contracted operator for the Norwich-Heathrow Airport Flixbus service 890 which commenced on Monday 25 May 2026. Whilst new coaches are awaited some additional vehicles have been loaned including Neoplan Tourliner OY23 CYM which was seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1100 departure from Norwich. The coach had been new to Whippet Coaches (FX44) in July 2023 and after Whippet ended a four year Flixbus contract Cozy Travel of Sandy apparently took on the lease of six former Whippet Neoplan coaches for use on Flixbus work. (I am not sure at this time which company can be said to be the ‘owner’ of the vehicle). Departing Norwich at 1100 this trip calls at Thetford (1155-1200), Cambridge (Parkside) (1300-1310), Luton Airport Parkway (1420-1425) arriving at 1530. The full service has six daily trips each way. Some additionally serve Norwich (University of East Anglia) and Cambridge (Trumpington Park and Ride) although the departure seen here is one which omits both those. Departures from Norwich are: 0025 arriving Heathrow 0430 0200 arriving Heathrow 0610 0335 arriving Heathrow 0800 1100 arriving Heathrow 1530 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1250 arriving Heathrow 1720 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1500 arriving Heathrow 1920 (omits UEA) Departures from Heathrow are: 0600 arriving Norwich 1015 (omits TP&R and UEA) 0740 arriving Norwich 1215 0940 arriving Norwich 1405 (omits UEA) 1740 arriving Norwich 2210 (omits TP&R and UEA) 1910 arriving Norwich 2330 2120 arriving Norwich 0140

Wednesday 27 May 2026 (1246) – Transport Made Simple/Central Connect/Simonds of Botesdale W11 VEC, a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo new to National Holidays in April 2017, seen on the A11 approaching Fiveways, Barton Mills. Whilst I can’t swear to it, I believe it may have been the coach I was waiting to see that was working the new Heathrow-Norwich Flixbus service 890 which was expected to pass by this point thirty plus minutes after departing Cambridge at 1210. Transport Made Simple/Central Connect/Simonds of Botesdale is the contracted operator for the six daily departures on this new Flixbus service which commenced operation on Monday 25 May 2026.

Wednesday 27 May 2026 (1202) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG, an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0840 Flixbus service 087 from Birmingham to Norwich. This service 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 Birmingham at 1905. Prospect Coaches, based in Lye near Stourbridge, was once the contractor to operate a similar service for Megabus and this coach was a regular performer on same. At that time it wore a ‘halfway house’ Megabus livery. (See PiP for the coach at the same spot four years earlier).

Wednesday 27 May 2026 (1202) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG, an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0840 Flixbus service 087 from Birmingham to Norwich. This service 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 Birmingham at 1905. Prospect Coaches, based in Lye near Stourbridge, was once the contractor to operate a similar service for Megabus and this coach was a regular performer on same. At that time it wore a ‘halfway house’ Megabus livery.

Wednesday 27 May 2026 (1202) – A recent addition to the fleet of Stephensons of Essex or perhaps on loan? BU26 WRW, an MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE new in May 2026, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1100 Newmarket to Bury St. Edmunds/West Suffolk Hospital service 16.

Wednesday 27 May 2026 (1202) – A recent addition to the fleet of Stephensons of Essex or perhaps on loan? BU26 WRW, an MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE new in May 2026, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1100 Newmarket to Bury St. Edmunds/West Suffolk Hospital service 16.

Wednesday 27 May 2026 (1202) – A recent addition to the fleet of Stephensons of Essex or perhaps on loan? BU26 WRW, an MCV eVoRa bodied Volvo B8RLE new in May 2026, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1100 Newmarket to Bury St. Edmunds/West Suffolk Hospital service 16.

Friday 15 May 2026 (1157) – Stagecoach East 10877 (YX67 VDO) seen on Madingley Road, Cambridge when working the 1035 service 905 from Bedford to Cambridge. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D MMC new in October 2017 which wears the latest Stagecoach Group livery.

Friday 15 May 2026 (1157) – Stagecoach East 10877 (YX67 VDO) seen on Madingley Road, Cambridge when working the 1035 service 905 from Bedford to Cambridge. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D MMC new in October 2017 which wears the latest Stagecoach Group livery.

Friday 15 May 2026 (1321) – Whippet Coaches WG457 (BU25 ZFF) seen in Emmanuel Street, Cambridge. 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. Whippet Coaches Limited is the operator of service T1, a service that operates from Cambridge to Huntingdon travelling from the City Centre 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 tri-axle 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).

Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2026 (0850) – This was the first day of operation of Flixbus service 950 from Heathrow Airport to Norwich. The service is worked by Transport Made Simple/Central Connect from their depot at Diss (originally the home of Simonds of Botesdale). The first northbound trip (0600 from Heathrow) was worked by Neoplan Tourliner OY23 CYM loaned to TMS/CC by Cozy Travel of Sandy and is seen here at Fiveways, Barton Mills running spot on time. The coach had been new to Whippet Coaches (FX44) in July 2023 and after Whippet ended a four year Flixbus contract Cozy Travel apparently took on the lease of six former Whippet Neoplan coaches. Departing Heathrow (Central) at 0600 this trip travels via Luton Airport Parkway (0650-0655); Cambridge (Parkside) (0810-0820); and Thetford (0920-0925) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1015. It would seem that the trip was early enough in the day to not be encumbered by busy Bank Holiday traffic and the driver had to drag his heels a little taking longer breaks at each stop in order to maintain schedule. The actual times recorded on the Flixbus tracker on this trip were Heathrow (Central) at 0603; Luton Airport Parkway (0643-0657); Cambridge (Parkside) (0753-0821); and Thetford (0903-0926) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1011. The full service has six daily trips each way although not all serve Cambridge (Trumpington Park and Ride) and Norwich (University of East Anglia). Departures from Norwich are: 0025 arriving Heathrow 0430 0200 arriving Heathrow 0610 0335 arriving Heathrow 0800 1100 arriving Heathrow 1530 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1250 arriving Heathrow 1720 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1500 arriving Heathrow 1920 (omits UEA) Departures from Heathrow are: 0600 arriving Norwich 1015 (omits TP&R and UEA) 0740 arriving Norwich 1215 0940 arriving Norwich 1405 (omits UEA) 1740 arriving Norwich 2210 (omits TP&R and UEA) 1910 arriving Norwich 2330 2120 arriving Norwich 0140

Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2026 (0850) – This was the first day of operation of Flixbus service 950 from Heathrow Airport to Norwich. The service is worked by Transport Made Simple/Central Connect from their depot at Diss (originally the home of Simonds of Botesdale). The first northbound trip (0600 from Heathrow) was worked by Neoplan Tourliner OY23 CYM loaned to TMS/CC by Cozy Travel of Sandy and is seen here at Fiveways, Barton Mills running spot on time. The coach had been new to Whippet Coaches (FX44) in July 2023 and after Whippet ended a four year Flixbus contract Cozy Travel apparently took on the lease of six former Whippet Neoplan coaches. Departing Heathrow (Central) at 0600 this trip travels via Luton Airport Parkway (0650-0655); Cambridge (Parkside) (0810-0820); and Thetford (0920-0925) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1015. It would seem that the trip was early enough in the day to not be encumbered by busy Bank Holiday traffic and the driver had to drag his heels a little taking longer breaks at each stop in order to maintain schedule. The actual times recorded on the Flixbus tracker on this trip were Heathrow (Central) at 0603; Luton Airport Parkway (0643-0657); Cambridge (Parkside) (0753-0821); and Thetford (0903-0926) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1011. The full service has six daily trips each way although not all serve Cambridge (Trumpington Park and Ride) and Norwich (University of East Anglia). Departures from Norwich are: 0025 arriving Heathrow 0430 0200 arriving Heathrow 0610 0335 arriving Heathrow 0800 1100 arriving Heathrow 1530 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1250 arriving Heathrow 1720 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1500 arriving Heathrow 1920 (omits UEA) Departures from Heathrow are: 0600 arriving Norwich 1015 (omits TP&R and UEA) 0740 arriving Norwich 1215 0940 arriving Norwich 1405 (omits UEA) 1740 arriving Norwich 2210 (omits TP&R and UEA) 1910 arriving Norwich 2330 2120 arriving Norwich 0140

Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2026 (0850) – This was the first day of operation of Flixbus service 950 from Heathrow Airport to Norwich. The service is worked by Transport Made Simple/Central Connect from their depot at Diss (originally the home of Simonds of Botesdale). The first northbound trip (0600 from Heathrow) was worked by Neoplan Tourliner OY23 CYM loaned to TMS/CC by Cozy Travel of Sandy and is seen here at Fiveways, Barton Mills running spot on time. The coach had been new to Whippet Coaches (FX44) in July 2023 and after Whippet ended a four year Flixbus contract Cozy Travel apparently took on the lease of six former Whippet Neoplan coaches. Departing Heathrow (Central) at 0600 this trip travels via Luton Airport Parkway (0650-0655); Cambridge (Parkside) (0810-0820); and Thetford (0920-0925) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1015. It would seem that the trip was early enough in the day to not be encumbered by busy Bank Holiday traffic and the driver had to drag his heels a little taking longer breaks at each stop in order to maintain schedule. The actual times recorded on the Flixbus tracker on this trip were Heathrow (Central) at 0603; Luton Airport Parkway (0643-0657); Cambridge (Parkside) (0753-0821); and Thetford (0903-0926) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1011. The full service has six daily trips each way although not all serve Cambridge (Trumpington Park and Ride) and Norwich (University of East Anglia). Departures from Norwich are: 0025 arriving Heathrow 0430 0200 arriving Heathrow 0610 0335 arriving Heathrow 0800 1100 arriving Heathrow 1530 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1250 arriving Heathrow 1720 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1500 arriving Heathrow 1920 (omits UEA) Departures from Heathrow are: 0600 arriving Norwich 1015 (omits TP&R and UEA) 0740 arriving Norwich 1215 0940 arriving Norwich 1405 (omits UEA) 1740 arriving Norwich 2210 (omits TP&R and UEA) 1910 arriving Norwich 2330 2120 arriving Norwich 0140

Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2026 (0850) – This was the first day of operation of Flixbus service 950 from Heathrow Airport to Norwich. The service is worked by Transport Made Simple/Central Connect from their depot at Diss (originally the home of Simonds of Botesdale). The first northbound trip (0600 from Heathrow) was worked by Neoplan Tourliner OY23 CYM loaned to TMS/CC by Cozy Travel of Sandy and is seen here at Fiveways, Barton Mills running spot on time. The coach had been new to Whippet Coaches (FX44) in July 2023 and after Whippet ended a four year Flixbus contract Cozy Travel apparently took on the lease of six former Whippet Neoplan coaches. Departing Heathrow (Central) at 0600 this trip travels via Luton Airport Parkway (0650-0655); Cambridge (Parkside) (0810-0820); and Thetford (0920-0925) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1015. It would seem that the trip was early enough in the day to not be encumbered by busy Bank Holiday traffic and the driver had to drag his heels a little taking longer breaks at each stop in order to maintain schedule. The actual times recorded on the Flixbus tracker on this trip were Heathrow (Central) at 0603; Luton Airport Parkway (0643-0657); Cambridge (Parkside) (0753-0821); and Thetford (0903-0926) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1011. The full service has six daily trips each way although not all serve Cambridge (Trumpington Park and Ride) and Norwich (University of East Anglia). Departures from Norwich are: 0025 arriving Heathrow 0430 0200 arriving Heathrow 0610 0335 arriving Heathrow 0800 1100 arriving Heathrow 1530 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1250 arriving Heathrow 1720 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1500 arriving Heathrow 1920 (omits UEA) Departures from Heathrow are: 0600 arriving Norwich 1015 (omits TP&R and UEA) 0740 arriving Norwich 1215 0940 arriving Norwich 1405 (omits UEA) 1740 arriving Norwich 2210 (omits TP&R and UEA) 1910 arriving Norwich 2330 2120 arriving Norwich 0140

Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2026 (0850) – This was the first day of operation of Flixbus service 950 from Heathrow Airport to Norwich. The service is worked by Transport Made Simple/Central Connect from their depot at Diss (originally the home of Simonds of Botesdale). The first northbound trip (0600 from Heathrow) was worked by Neoplan Tourliner OY23 CYM loaned to TMS/CC by Cozy Travel of Sandy and is seen here at Fiveways, Barton Mills running spot on time. The coach had been new to Whippet Coaches (FX44) in July 2023 and after Whippet ended a four year Flixbus contract Cozy Travel apparently took on the lease of six former Whippet Neoplan coaches. Departing Heathrow (Central) at 0600 this trip travels via Luton Airport Parkway (0650-0655); Cambridge (Parkside) (0810-0820); and Thetford (0920-0925) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1015. It would seem that the trip was early enough in the day to not be encumbered by busy Bank Holiday traffic and the driver had to drag his heels a little taking longer breaks at each stop in order to maintain schedule. The actual times recorded on the Flixbus tracker on this trip were Heathrow (Central) at 0603; Luton Airport Parkway (0643-0657); Cambridge (Parkside) (0753-0821); and Thetford (0903-0926) arriving Norwich (Bus Station) at 1011. The full service has six daily trips each way although not all serve Cambridge (Trumpington Park and Ride) and Norwich (University of East Anglia). Departures from Norwich are: 0025 arriving Heathrow 0430 0200 arriving Heathrow 0610 0335 arriving Heathrow 0800 1100 arriving Heathrow 1530 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1250 arriving Heathrow 1720 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1500 arriving Heathrow 1920 (omits UEA) Departures from Heathrow are: 0600 arriving Norwich 1015 (omits TP&R and UEA) 0740 arriving Norwich 1215 0940 arriving Norwich 1405 (omits UEA) 1740 arriving Norwich 2210 (omits TP&R and UEA) 1910 arriving Norwich 2330 2120 arriving Norwich 0140

Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2026 - This was the first day of operation of Flixbus service 950 from Heathrow Airport to Norwich. The service is worked by Transport Made Simple/Central Connect from their depot at Diss (originally the home of Simonds of Botesdale). The first northbound trip (0600 from Heathrow) was worked by Neoplan Tourliner OY23 CYM loaned to TMS/CC by Cozy Travel of Sandy These were the timings for the trip as displayed on the Flixbus tracker. It would seem that the trip was early enough in the day to not be encumbered by busy Bank Holiday traffic and the driver had to drag his heels a little taking longer breaks at each stop in order to maintain schedule. The full service has six daily trips each way although not all serve Cambridge (Trumpington Park and Ride) and Norwich (University of East Anglia). Departures from Norwich are: 0025 arriving Heathrow 0430 0200 arriving Heathrow 0610 0335 arriving Heathrow 0800 1100 arriving Heathrow 1530 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1250 arriving Heathrow 1720 (omits UEA and TP&R) 1500 arriving Heathrow 1920 (omits UEA) Departures from Heathrow are: 0600 arriving Norwich 1015 (omits TP&R and UEA) 0740 arriving Norwich 1215 0940 arriving Norwich 1405 (omits UEA) 1740 arriving Norwich 2210 (omits TP&R and UEA) 1910 arriving Norwich 2330 2120 arriving Norwich 0140

Friday 15 May 2026 (1002) - Stagecoach East 10791 (SN66 VZO), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC new in December 2016, seen in Park Terrace, Cambridge arriving on service 13 from Haverhill. The houses forming the backcloth to the photograph were built in the 19th century and overlook Parker’s Piece, a large area of city centre grassland.