East Dereham - 28 Sep 2020

Monday 28 September 2020 (1145) – In February 2020 the First Eastern Counties Buses Excel (XL) service was upgraded with the introduction of a batch of new well appointed Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs which had been delivered at the end of 2019 in readiness for the launch. A new red based livery replaced the blue and gold livery carried by the buses previously employed on the service. Two examples are seen here in Market Place, East Dereham. 36918 (YN69 XZY) was working the 1100 service B from Norwich to Peterborough and 36906 (YN69 XZK) the 0910 service B from Peterborough to Norwich. Note that the buses do not feature traditional style rear view mirrors, cameras now provide this facility. I had read of the planned upgrade at the New Year and was looking forward to a trip on the service soon after the launch. However, a bad back and then the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that plan. So, some seven months on I ventured out especially to get a few photographs.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1142) - First Eastern Counties Buses 36918 (YN69 XZY) seen in Market Place, East Dereham when working the 1100 Excel service B from Norwich to Peterborough. In February 2020 the Excel (XL) service was upgraded with the introduction of a batch of new well appointed Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs which had been delivered at the end of 2019 in readiness for the launch. A new red based livery replaced the blue and gold livery carried by the buses previously employed on the service. Note that the buses do not feature traditional style rear view mirrors, cameras now provide this facility. I had read of the planned upgrade at the New Year and was looking forward to a trip on the service soon after the launch. However, a bad back and then the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that plan. So, some seven months on I ventured out especially to get a few photographs.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1142) - First Eastern Counties Buses 36918 (YN69 XZY) seen in Market Place, East Dereham when working the 1100 Excel service B from Norwich to Peterborough. In February 2020 the Excel (XL) service was upgraded with the introduction of a batch of new well appointed Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs which had been delivered at the end of 2019 in readiness for the launch. A new red based livery replaced the blue and gold livery carried by the buses previously employed on the service. Note that the buses do not feature traditional style rear view mirrors, cameras now provide this facility. I had read of the planned upgrade at the New Year and was looking forward to a trip on the service soon after the launch. However, a bad back and then the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that plan. So, some seven months on I ventured out especially to get a few photographs.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1145) - First Eastern Counties Buses 36918 (YN69 XZY) seen in Market Place, East Dereham when working the 1100 Excel service B from Norwich to Peterborough. In February 2020 the Excel (XL) service was upgraded with the introduction of a batch of new well appointed Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs which had been delivered at the end of 2019 in readiness for the launch. A new red based livery replaced the blue and gold livery carried by the buses previously employed on the service. Note that the buses do not feature traditional style rear view mirrors, cameras now provide this facility. I had read of the planned upgrade at the New Year and was looking forward to a trip on the service soon after the launch. However, a bad back and then the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that plan. So, some seven months on I ventured out especially to get a few photographs.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1146) – In February 2020 the First Eastern Counties Buses Excel (XL) service was upgraded with the introduction of a batch of new well appointed Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs which had been delivered at the end of 2019 in readiness for the launch. A new red based livery replaced the blue and gold livery carried by the buses previously employed on the service. Two examples are seen here in Market Place, East Dereham. 36918 (YN69 XZY) was working the 1100 service B from Norwich to Peterborough and 36906 (YN69 XZK) the 0910 service B from Peterborough to Norwich. Note that the buses do not feature traditional style rear view mirrors, cameras now provide this facility. Other exterior optical aids on the buses include four exterior mounted ‘fish eye’ cameras to record traffic incidents – examples can be seen on each vehicle in this photograph. (By the Subway advert on 36918 and above the driver’s rear view camera om 36906). I had read of the planned upgrade at the New Year and was looking forward to a trip on the service soon after the launch. However, a bad back and then the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that plan. So, some seven months on I ventured out especially to get a few photographs.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1148) - First Eastern Counties Buses 36906 (YN69 XZK) seen leaving the Market Place, East Dereham when working the 0910 Excel service B from Peterborough to Norwich. In February 2020 the Excel (XL) service was upgraded with the introduction of a batch of new well appointed Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs which had been delivered at the end of 2019 in readiness for the launch. A new red based livery replaced the blue and gold livery carried by the buses previously employed on the service. Note that the buses do not feature traditional style rear view mirrors, cameras now provide this facility. I had read of the planned upgrade at the New Year and was looking forward to a trip on the service soon after the launch. However, a bad back and then the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that plan. So, some seven months on I ventured out especially to get a few photographs.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1154) - First Eastern Counties Buses 36905 (YN69 XZJ) seen as it arrived at the Market Place, East Dereham having worked the 1115 Excel service D from Norwich. In February 2020 the Excel (XL) Norwich-East Dereham-Swaffham-King’s Lynn-Wisbech-Peterborough service was upgraded to provide four variants of route. Service A covers all points over each segment as does service B except that it runs more direct over the King’s Lynn-Wisbech segment. Service C runs via a more direct route on the Norwich-Swaffham segment (omitting East Dereham) and on the Wisbech-Peterborough segment (omitting Thorney village). Service D provides a fast service between Norwich and Dereham. A batch of new well appointed Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs were delivered at the end of 2019 in readiness for the launch. A new red based livery replaced the blue and gold livery carried by the buses previously employed on the service. Note that the buses do not feature traditional style rear view mirrors, cameras now provide this facility. I had read of the planned upgrade at the New Year and was looking forward to a trip on the service soon after the launch. However, a bad back and then the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that plan. So, some seven months on I ventured out especially to get a few photographs.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1155) - First Eastern Counties Buses 36905 (YN69 XZJ) seen in the Market Place, East Dereham loading as the 1200 Excel service D to Norwich. (It arrived a few minutes earlier as the 1115 service D from Norwich). In February 2020 the Excel (XL) Norwich-East Dereham-Swaffham-King’s Lynn-Wisbech-Peterborough service was upgraded to provide four variants of route. Service A covers all points over each segment as does service B except that it runs more direct over the King’s Lynn-Wisbech segment. Service C runs via a more direct route on the Norwich-Swaffham segment (omitting East Dereham) and on the Wisbech-Peterborough segment (omitting Thorney village). Service D provides a fast service between Norwich and Dereham. A batch of new well appointed Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs were delivered at the end of 2019 in readiness for the launch. A new red based livery replaced the blue and gold livery carried by the buses previously employed on the service. Note that the buses do not feature traditional style rear view mirrors, cameras now provide this facility. I had read of the planned upgrade at the New Year and was looking forward to a trip on the service soon after the launch. However, a bad back and then the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that plan. So, some seven months on I ventured out especially to get a few photographs.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1200) – A busy moment in the Market Place, East Dereham. First Eastern Counties Buses 36905 (YN69 XZJ), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, was about to leave as the 1200 Excel service D to Norwich. Behind that is Go-Ahead owned Konectbus 618 (SK15 HKB), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in August 2015, working the 1107 service 8 from Norwich which continues to Toftwood just south of East Dereham. Bringing up the rear is Konectbus 607 (SN61 CZX), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in January 2012, working the 1140 service 4 from Swanton Morley to Norwich.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1202) - First Eastern Counties Buses 36905 (YN69 XZJ) seen leaving the Market Place, East Dereham when working the 1200 service D from Peterborough to Norwich. In February 2020 the Excel (XL) service was upgraded with the introduction of a batch of new well appointed Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs which had been delivered at the end of 2019 in readiness for the launch. A new red based livery replaced the blue and gold livery carried by the buses previously employed on the service. Note that the buses do not feature traditional style rear view mirrors, cameras now provide this facility. I had read of the planned upgrade at the New Year and was looking forward to a trip on the service soon after the launch. However, a bad back and then the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that plan. So, some seven months on I ventured out especially to get a few photographs.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1202) - First Eastern Counties Buses 36905 (YN69 XZJ) seen leaving the Market Place, East Dereham when working the 1200 service D from Peterborough to Norwich. In February 2020 the Excel (XL) service was upgraded with the introduction of a batch of new well appointed Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs which had been delivered at the end of 2019 in readiness for the launch. A new red based livery replaced the blue and gold livery carried by the buses previously employed on the service. Note that the buses do not feature traditional style rear view mirrors, cameras now provide this facility. I had read of the planned upgrade at the New Year and was looking forward to a trip on the service soon after the launch. However, a bad back and then the Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that plan. So, some seven months on I ventured out especially to get a few photographs.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1201) – Two Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D buses of Go-Ahead owned Konectbus seen in the Market Place, East Dereham. 618 (SK15 HKB) was new in August 2015 and carries the branding for the ‘Straight 8’ service 8 from Norwich to East Dereham and Toftwood. This was the 1107 trip from Norwich. Standing behind is 607 (SN61 CZX) which was new in January 2012 was working the 1140 service 4 from Swanton Morley to Norwich. Normal fleet livery is carried.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1159) – Buses in the Market Place, East Dereham. Go-Ahead owned Konectbus 618 (SK15 HKB), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in August 2015, working the 1107 service 8 from Norwich which continues (at 1200) to Toftwood just south of East Dereham. In front of that is First Eastern Counties Buses 36905 (YN69 XZJ), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, was about to leave as the 1200 Excel service D to Norwich.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1137) – Go-Ahead owned Konectbus 620 (SK15 HKD), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in August 2015, seen in the Market Place, East Dereham heading for Norwich on service 8. Service 8 is branded as the ‘Straight 8’ and operates from Toftwood just south of East Dereham to Norwich. This was the 1107 trip from Toftwood (1135 from the Market Place) which is due in Norwich bus station at 1210. From there it continues via Castle Meadow to the railway station where it arrives at 1217.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1137) – Go-Ahead owned Konectbus 620 (SK15 HKD), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in August 2015, seen leaving the Market Place in East Dereham heading for Norwich on service 8. Service 8 is branded as the ‘Straight 8’ and operates from Toftwood just south of East Dereham to Norwich. This was the 1107 trip from Toftwood (1135 from the Market Place) which is due in Norwich bus station at 1210. From there it continues via Castle Meadow to the railway station where it arrives at 1217.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1149) – Konectbus 627 (SN65 OAG) seen arriving at the Market Place in East Dereham on the 1035 service 11 from Swaffham. Following a driver change over the bus went on to work the 1152 town service 12. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September August 2015 which carries the livery and branding for the Norwich Park and Ride services. If nothing else the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic has brought about many out of the ordinary workings to bus services. The town sign which spans the High Street can be seen the background. It features the legend of Saint Withburga (or Wihtburh) an East Anglian princess and abbess who died in 743. The story goes that the Virgin Mary sent a pair of female deer to provide milk for her workers during the construction of a monastery founded by Withburga.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1150) – Konectbus 627 (SN65 OAG) seen In the Market Place in East Dereham having just arrived on the 1035 service 11 from Swaffham. Following a driver change over the bus went on to work the 1152 town service 12. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September August 2015 which carries the livery and branding for the Norwich Park and Ride services. If nothing else the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic has brought about many out of the ordinary workings to bus services.

Monday 28 September 2020 (1151) – Konectbus 627 (SN65 OAG) seen in the Market Place in East Dereham having just arrived on the 1035 service 11 from Swaffham. Following a driver change over the bus went on to work the 1152 town service 12. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September August 2015 which carries the livery and branding for the Norwich Park and Ride services. If nothing else the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic has brought about many out of the ordinary workings to bus services. There are very few the smaller East Anglian towns that have a cinema nowadays like the Orion Cinema on the right of the photograph.