National Express coaches 2020s

Tuesday 12 December 2023 (1204) – Ambassador Travel 305 (BV72 XFB), a Caetano Levante 3 bodied Scania K410 new in November 2022, picking-up in High Street, Newmarket when working the 0920 National Express service 727 from Great Yarmouth to Heathrow Airport. The scheduled departure time from here was 1135 so was 28 minutes late. (According to the tracker on the Bus Times website the coach had run on time as far as Thetford (arrived 1050) where an unscheduled stop of 29 minutes occurred with the coach departing at 1119. It was due to arrive at Terminal 5 at 1505 and this was closely achieved).

Monday 8 January 2024 (1057) – The bollards and signage at the McDonalds ‘restaurant’ at Fiveways, Barton Mills spell out ‘Welcome to Barton Mills’. Passing by in the background spot on time is Ambassador Travel 218 (BV19 XOZ) working the 0715 National Express service 728 from Heathrow Airport to Norwich and the University of East Anglia. It is a Caetano Levante 2 bodied Scania K360EB4 that was new in June 2019 to National Express owned West Midlands Travel as their 267.

Sunday 10 December 2023 (1127) – A National Express poster on display at Mildenhall bus station.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1352) – Express service coaches waiting in Norwich Bus Station. Ambassador Travel 215 (BV19 XPU), a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360 new in June 2019, was about to work the 1355 National Express service 728 to Heathrow Airport. This service had started from UEA (University of East Anglia) at 1330. Its route would be via Thetford (1440), Mildenhall (1500), Newmarket (1520), Cambridge (Parkside) (1550-1600), Trumpington Park & Ride (1625), Stansted Airport (1705-1715), Heathrow Airport (Central 1845-1855 and Terminal 5 (1905)). Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, was about to work the 1405 Megabus service M87 to Liverpool. The route was via UEA (1415), Cambridge (1545), Coventry (1720), Birmingham (1805-1810), Manchester Airport (2000). Manchester (2040) and Liverpool (2150). My outing today from Cambridge to Norwich and back was on the Megabus service. Whichever of these coaches a passenger chose to travel to Cambridge they would have arrived there on time.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1331) – Ambassador Travel 306 (BV72 XGK), a Caetano Levante III bodied Scania K410 new in February 2023, seen in Norwich bus station as it arrived as the 0855 National Express service 728 from Heathrow Airport. The service terminates at the University of East Anglia (UEA) about ten minutes from the bus station. The tracker on the Bus Times website showed it worked the following trips today: 0105 Great Yarmouth-Heathrow (Terminal 5) 0635 (727) 0855 Heathrow (Terminal 5)-UEA 1400 (728) 1540 UEA-Heathrow (Terminal 5) 2115 (728) 2310 Heathrow (Terminal 5)-Great Yarmouth 0420 (next day) (727) I saw the coach parked in the lay-by near UEA during my trip back to Cambridge on board Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU) which is seen on the right. (See inserted photographs) Prospect Coaches 151, an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, had initially worked the 0830 Birmingham-Cambridge-Norwich Megabus service M87 and would then work the 1405 Norwich-Cambridge-Birmingham-Manchester-Liverpool service. I made my trip today from Cambridge to Norwich and return on this coach.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1424) – Ambassador Travel 306 (BV72 XGK), a Caetano Levante III bodied Scania K410 new in February 2023, seen parked near the University of East Anglia (UEA) between trips on National Express services from/to Heathrow Airport. The tracker on the Bus Times website showed it worked the following trips today: 0105 Great Yarmouth-Heathrow (Terminal 5) 0635 (727) 0855 Heathrow (Terminal 5)-UEA 1400 (728) 1540 UEA-Heathrow (Terminal 5) 2115 (728) 2310 Heathrow (Terminal 5)-Great Yarmouth 0420 (next day) (727) I took the photograph during my trip back to Cambridge on board Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, which was working the 1405 Norwich-Cambridge-Birmingham-Manchester-Liverpool Megabus service M87.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1424) – Ambassador Travel 306 (BV72 XGK), a Caetano Levante III bodied Scania K410 new in February 2023, seen parked near the University of East Anglia (UEA) between trips on National Express services from/to Heathrow Airport. The tracker on the Bus Times website showed it worked the following trips today: 0105 Great Yarmouth-Heathrow (Terminal 5) 0635 (727) 0855 Heathrow (Terminal 5)-UEA 1400 (728) 1540 UEA-Heathrow (Terminal 5) 2115 (728) 2310 Heathrow (Terminal 5)-Great Yarmouth 0420 (next day) (727) I took the photograph during my trip back to Cambridge on board Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, which was working the 1405 Norwich-Cambridge-Birmingham-Manchester-Liverpool Megabus service M87.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1201) – National Express Limited 392 (BV19 XPT) seen in Peterborough bus station just after arriving as the 0810 service 788 from Heathrow Terminal 5. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360 new in June 2019 to Chalfont, Southall.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1205) – Three quite large paintless and rusty marks on the side of National Express Limited 392 (BV19 XPT), a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360 new in June 2019 to Chalfont, Southall. It was seen in Peterborough bus station having arrived as the 0810 service 788 from Heathrow Terminal 5.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1158) – National Express Limited 392 (BV19 XPT) seen in Peterborough bus station just after arriving as the 0810 service 788 from Heathrow Terminal 5. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360 new in June 2019 to Chalfont, Southall.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1159) – National Express Limited 392 (BV19 XPT) seen in Peterborough bus station just after arriving as the 0810 service 788 from Heathrow Terminal 5. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360 new in June 2019 to Chalfont, Southall.

I booked my National Express ‘ticket’ for a ride from Norwich bus station to Mildenhall on-line with the ‘ticket’ printed at home on A4 paper. The journey being the 1355 service 728 on Friday 26 July 2024. A couple of days before the journey I received an information email which is shown here. (printed out as three A4 pages)

I booked my National Express ‘ticket’ for a ride from Norwich bus station to Mildenhall on-line with the ‘ticket’ printed at home on A4 paper. The journey being the 1355 service 728 on Friday 26 July 2024. A couple of days before the journey I received an information email which is shown here. (printed out as three A4 pages)

I booked my National Express ‘ticket’ for a ride from Norwich bus station to Mildenhall on-line with the ‘ticket’ printed at home on A4 paper. The journey being the 1355 service 728 on Friday 26 July 2024. A couple of days before the journey I received an information email which is shown here. (printed out as three A4 pages)

My National Express ‘ticket’ for a ride from Norwich bus station to Mildenhall on the 1355 service 728 on Friday 26 July 2024. Booked on-line with the ‘ticket’ printed at home on A4 paper.

Friday 26 July 2024 (1503) – Back where I started when I boarded the Mulleys bus here in Mildenhall at 0743 this morning and after riding ten buses and this coach on a bus riding trip to Norwich. This last vehicle was Ambassador Travel 219 (BV19 XOY) working National Express service 728 which had started from UEA (University of East Anglia) at 1330 picking up at Norwich bus station (1355) and Thetford (1440). On time at Mildenhall where it was due at 1500. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360EB4 new in March 2019 to National Express owned West Midlands Travel. The tracker on the Bus Times website showed that the coach arrived at Terminal 5 on time at 1905 and also showed the following journeys worked on during this diagram: Thursday 25 July 2250 Gt Yarmouth-Heathrow 0405 (Friday) 727 Friday 26 July 0715 Heathrow- Norwich-UEA 1220 728 1330 UEA-Norwich-Heathrow 1905 728 2100 Heathrow-Great Yarmouth 0210 (Saturday) 727 Ambassador Travel (Anglia) Limited is based at Great Yarmouth and is associated with H. Semmence and Company Limited, Wymondham. On my ride there was a change of drivers at Thetford which made me think the drivers were Wymondham based.

Friday 26 July 2024 (1503) – Back where I started when I boarded the Mulleys bus here in Mildenhall at 0743 this morning and after riding ten buses and this coach on a bus riding trip to Norwich. This last vehicle was Ambassador Travel 219 (BV19 XOY) working National Express service 728 which had started from UEA (University of East Anglia) at 1330 picking up at Norwich bus station (1355) and Thetford (1440). On time at Mildenhall where it was due at 1500. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360EB4 new in March 2019 to National Express owned West Midlands Travel. The tracker on the Bus Times website showed that the coach arrived at Terminal 5 on time at 1905 and also showed the following journeys worked on during this diagram: Thursday 25 July 2250 Gt Yarmouth-Heathrow 0405 (Friday) 727 Friday 26 July 0715 Heathrow- Norwich-UEA 1220 728 1330 UEA-Norwich-Heathrow 1905 728 2100 Heathrow-Great Yarmouth 0210 (Saturday) 727 Ambassador Travel (Anglia) Limited is based at Great Yarmouth and is associated with H. Semmence and Company Limited, Wymondham. On my ride there was a change of drivers at Thetford which made me think the drivers were Wymondham based.

Friday 26 July 2024 (1354) – On board Ambassador Travel 219 (BV19 XOY), a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360EB4 new in March 2019 to National Express owned West Midlands Travel. The seats look sumptuous enough but I found the pitching rather close where I sat. Standing outside is National Express 343 (BV72 XGA) which had been on hire to Ambassador Travel for some months. It is a Caetano Levante III bodied Scania K410, which was working the 1000 London (Victoria Coach Station) to Great Yarmouth National Express service 491. According to the tracker on the Bus Times website this was shown as having departed on time but was around 40 minutes late arriving here due to traffic delays. The orange bus is Sanders 318 (YN06 NXR), a Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB new in May 2006 to Reading Buses (1023), which would work the 1400 service 43 to Reepham.