Excel : First Eastern Counties

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 18 February 2019 (1132) – First Eastern Counties 33817 (YX63 LKF), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 new in September 2013, seen arriving at Peterborough bus station. It is one of a batch of dedicated vehicles assigned to the Peterborough-Norwich XL service.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1250) – First Eastern Counties Buses at work in St. Stephens Street, Norwich. On the right is 36547 (BK73 AGO), a Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner new in September 2023, seen in St. Stephens Street, Norwich heading to Hethersett on service 25. First Eastern Counties Buses and Norfolk County Council were successful in the award of a grant from the Department for Transport (DfT) of £14.7m under the Zero Emission Bus Regional Access (ZEBRA) scheme. First Bus will invest £22.5m in the project that will see the purchase 70 new electric vehicles and related depot infrastructure. Two ‘excel’ branded Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 MMC bodied Scania N250UDs are coming through having just left the nearby bus station. Leading is 36906 (YN69 XZK) operating the 1240 service C to Peterborough followed by 36903 (YN69 XZG) operating the 1245 service D to East Dereham. They were new in December 2019.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1250) – First Eastern Counties Buses at work in St. Stephens Street, Norwich. On the right is 36547 (BK73 AGO), a Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner new in September 2023, seen in St. Stephens Street, Norwich heading to Hethersett on service 25. First Eastern Counties Buses and Norfolk County Council were successful in the award of a grant from the Department for Transport (DfT) of £14.7m under the Zero Emission Bus Regional Access (ZEBRA) scheme. First Bus will invest £22.5m in the project that will see the purchase 70 new electric vehicles and related depot infrastructure. On the left 36903 (YN69 XZG), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 MMC bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, was working the 1245 ‘excel’ service D to East Dereham

Friday 9 February 2024 (1239) – Norwich bus station On the left are three Konectbus (Go-Ahead Group) Alexander Dennis (ADL) Envriro 400Ds. Left to right they are 637 (SN65 OAW) new in September 2015; 618 (SK15 HKB) new in August 2015; and 607 (SN61 CZX) new in January 2012 First Eastern Counties Buses 36906 (YN69 XZK), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 MMC bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, was coming round to load for the 1240 ‘excel’ service C to Peterborough Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, had recently arrived on the 0830 Megabus service M87 from Birmingham (due 1235). My trip to Norwich from Cambridge and back was on this coach.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1352) – 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. First Eastern Counties Buses 36916 (YN69 XZW), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 MMC bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, which would work the 1400 ‘excel’ service B to Peterborough. Konectbus 607 (SN61 CZX), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in January 2012. (Out of service) Konectbus 632 (SN65 OAO), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September 2015 on Park & Ride service 503.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1223) – Vectare Limited 216 (RX23 TUU), a Mercedes-Benz 516cdi new in March 2023, seen leaving Peterborough bus station working the 1220 service 24 to Lynchwood. The Ting network is a demand responsive service serving the rural communities east of Huntingdon. On the right is First Eastern Counties 36901 (YN69 XZD) which was the first of the 19 Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs delivered in late 2019 for the Peterborough-Norwich ‘excel’ service. It had recently arrived spot on time (1217) as the 0900 service B from Norwich and would return to Norwich as the 1240 service C on which I would travel to Guyhirn.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1236) – Peterborough bus station Left: Stagecoach Midlands 11130 (SK68 LVB) seen departing as the 1232 service X4 to Corby (due 1344) and Northampton (1521). Like many longer bus services the X4 is licenced in shorter sections (Peterborough-Corby/Corby-Northampton) but with buses running through. This legally avoids having to comply with additional formalities and regulations. This bus had arrived at 1225 as the 0933 service X4 from Northampton via Corby (1113). It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in October 2018. I think I have read that the Stagecoach Gold livery will disappear as corporate repaints take place. Right: First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD) had arrived on time (at 1217) as the 0900 service B from Norwich. It would return to Norwich as the 1240 service C (arriving 1537). It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in November 2019. It is an interesting thought that a passenger could have departed Norwich at 0900 changed buses here and arrived Northampton at 1521 (or conversely left Northampton at 0933 arriving Norwich at 1537) travelling only by these two buses covering around 130 miles/209km in just over 6 hours!

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1217) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD seen in Peterborough bus station having just arrived spot on time (1217) as the 0900 service B from Norwich. It would return to Norwich as the 1240 service C on which I travelled to Guyhirn. This vehicle was the first of the 19 such buses delivered in late 2019 and allocated to King’s Lynn garage for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. 36901 arrived in November 2019 with the others arriving the following month.