Excel : First Eastern Counties

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1238) – The upper deck of First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), was the first of the 19 Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs delivered in late 2019. Allocated to King’s Lynn garage they were for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. 36901 arrived in November 2019 with the others arriving the following month. Seen about to depart Peterborough bus station as the 1240 service C to Norwich on which I travelled to Guyhirn. It had previously worked the 0900 service B from Norwich arriving Peterborough spot on time at 1217. Earlier I had travelled from Wisbech on similar bus 36904 and had chosen the front offside seat above the driver. During the journey I thought the seat was a little more upright for my comfort and had negative thoughts about this type of bus for a long journey. However, on this return journey I eventually sat in one of the single seats near the top of the stairs which was far more comfortable being slightly more reclined. Studying the front seats I saw that the more upright aspect of the seat was due to the compact space between the front bulkhead and the stairs bulkhead.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1239) – On board First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), the first of the 19 Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs delivered in late 2019 for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. 36901 arrived in November 2019 with the others arriving the following month. All 19 are allocated to King’s Lynn garage which is almost mid-way between Norwich (approx. 44 miles) and Peterborough (approx. 35 miles). The route diagram on the stairs panel shows the ‘excel’ service variations (A, B and C). Seen in Peterborough bus station the bus had arrived spot on time (1217) as the 0900 service B from Norwich and was about to return as the 1240 service C on which I travelled to Guyhirn (1310). Earlier I had travelled from Wisbech on sister vehicle 36904 and had chosen the front offside seat above the driver. During the journey I thought the seat was a little more upright for my comfort and had negative thoughts about this type of bus for a long journey. However, my return ride on to Guyhirn I sat in one of the single seats near the top of the stairs which was far more comfortable being slightly more reclined. Studying the front seats (left) I saw that the more upright aspect of the seat was due to the compact space between the front bulkhead and the stairs bulkhead.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1238) – A display on the upper deck of First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), the first of the 19 Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs delivered in late 2019. Allocated to King’s Lynn garage they were for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. 36901 arrived in November 2019 with the others arriving the following month. My journey on this trip was to Guyhirn Service Station which is shown on the display (arrival 1310).

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1310) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD seen at Guyhirn when working the 1240 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. I had just travelled from Peterborough on this service. 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. For a major cross-country road (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) the A47 is in the main just single carriageway which carries lots of commercial traffic. In summer the holiday traffic increases the volume.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1310) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD seen at Guyhirn when working the 1240 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. I had just travelled from Peterborough on this service. 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. For a major cross-country road (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) the A47 is in the main just single carriageway which carries lots of commercial traffic. In summer the holiday traffic increases the volume.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1311) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD seen at Guyhirn when working the 1240 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. I had just travelled from Peterborough on this service. 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. For a major cross-country road (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) the A47 is in the main just single carriageway which carries lots of commercial traffic. In summer the holiday traffic increases the volume. Overall the ‘excel’ service is over flat East Anglian Fenland. In the distance can be seen the slight rise in road level where the road crosses the River Nene. The road to the left leads to Guyhirn village.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1116) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36906 (YN69 XZK), seen travelling eastbound on the A47 between Guyhirn and Wisbech where the road runs alongside the River Nene along what is named South Brink. The A47 (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) road carries lots of commercial traffic and in summer the additional holiday traffic increases the volume and yet, for a major cross-country road, is for the most part just single carriageway. 36906, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, was working the 0940 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. 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. The photograph was taken from the upper deck of sister vehicle 36904 (YN69 XZH) on which I was travelling from Wisbech (1105) to Peterborough (1147) as it worked the 0840 westbound ‘excel’ service C from Norwich to Peterborough.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1131) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36906 (YN69 XZK), seen travelling eastbound on the A47 just west of Thorney. The A47 (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) road carries lots of commercial traffic and in summer the additional holiday traffic increases the volume and yet, for a major cross-country road, is for the most part just single carriageway. 36906, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, was working the 1110 ‘excel’ service B from Peterborough to Norwich. This vehicle was the first of the 19 such buses allocated to King’s Lynn garage for the upgraded ‘excel’ service. The photograph was taken from the upper deck of sister vehicle 36904 (YN69 XZH) on which I was travelling from Wisbech (1105) to Peterborough (1147) as it worked the 0840 westbound ‘excel’ service C from Norwich to Peterborough.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1149) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36904 (YN69 XZH), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, seen in Peterborough bus station having just arrived spot on time (1147) as the 0840 service C from Norwich. I had travelled from Wisbech (1105) on this bus which would return to Norwich as the 1210 service B. The driver stayed with the bus during the 23 minute stay at Peterborough allowing passengers to board for that return trip.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1101) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36904 (YN69 XZH), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, on the approach to Wisbech bus station when working the 0840 westbound service C from Norwich to Peterborough. After getting this photograph I trotted down from this car park vantage point to travel to Peterborough on this bus which departed at 1105. The building in the background behind the bus is the former Magistrates Court building which, in March 2023, the Eastern Daily Press newspaper reported had been sold for £166,000 to an undisclosed buyer. The last court hearings had taken place in 2011. The building also houses the Cambridgeshire Constabulary Wisbech Police Station.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1103) – Two First Eastern Counties Buses Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs seen in Wisbech bus station working in opposite directions on the Norwich-Peterborough ‘excel’ service. I was waiting to board (left) 36904 (YN69 XZH) which was working the 0840 westbound service C from Norwich to Peterborough. On the right is 36902 (YN69 XZE) working the 1010 eastbound service B from Peterborough to Norwich. Both are due to depart at 1105.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1148) – The upper deck of First Eastern Counties Buses 36904 (YN69 XZH), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, which features a couple of tables with face to face seating. Note also just four seats on the back row. The bus had just arrived in Peterborough spot on time (1147) as the 0840 service C from Norwich. I had travelled from Wisbech (1105) and had chosen the front offside seat above the driver. During the journey I thought the seat was a little more upright for my comfort and had negative thoughts about this type of bus for a long journey. However, my return ride back to Guyhirn on sister bus 36901 I sat in one of the single seats near the top of the stairs which was far more comfortable being slightly more reclined. Studying the front seats I saw that the more upright aspect of the seat was due to the compact space between the front bulkhead and the stairs bulkhead.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1027) – Two First Eastern Counties Buses Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs seen in Wisbech bus station working in opposite directions on the Norwich-Peterborough ‘excel’ service. Nearest the camera is 36914 (YN69 XZU) working the 0800 westbound service B from Norwich. Beyond that is 36918 (YN69 XZY) working the 0940 eastbound service C to Norwich. Both are due to depart at 1030. Don’t get on the wrong bus!!

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1029) – Two First Eastern Counties Buses Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs seen in Wisbech bus station working in opposite directions on the Norwich-Peterborough ‘excel’ service. Left of the pair is 36914 (YN69 XZU) working the 0800 westbound service B from Norwich. Left is 36918 (YN69 XZY) working the 0940 eastbound service C to Norwich. Both are due to depart at 1030. Don’t get on the wrong bus!!

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1030) – Two First Eastern Counties Buses Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs seen in Wisbech bus station working in opposite directions on the Norwich-Peterborough ‘excel’ service. Left is 36914 (YN69 XZU) working the 0800 westbound service B from Norwich. Reversing out is 36918 (YN69 XZY) working the 0940 eastbound service C to Norwich. Both are due to depart at 1030.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1101) – Wisbech bus station First Eastern Counties Buses 36902 (YN69 XZE), seen crossing the bridge over the River Nene on the A47 at Guyhirn It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, working the 0630 ‘excel’ service A from Norwich to Peterborough. Due here at 0924 – good timing. Fowlers Travel BX56 XBU seen in Wisbech bus station having worked the Thursdays only (Wisbech market day) service 43A from Sutton St. James. The return trip leaves Wisbech at 1245. It is a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE that had been new to West Midlands Travel (1752) in November 2006. It retains the WMT base colour with their gold stripe modified to Fowlers orange. Prominent lettering for service 43 is carried. This service operates from Sutton St. James to Spalding on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays the bus has a change of scenery! Stagecoach East Midlands 15617 (OU10 BGV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD new in March 2010 to Thames Transit, which carries the purple based livery initially employed on the Lincolnshire County Council supported InterConnect network. I believe all the Wisbech area Stagecoach services are worked by vehicles based at Long Sutton outstation.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1038) – Wisbech bus station Two Stagecoach East Midlands Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UDs are in the shot. Left is 15811 (FX12 BBV) and right is 15617 (OU10 BGV). They both carry the purple based livery initially employed on the Lincolnshire County Council supported InterConnect network. I believe all the Wisbech area Stagecoach services are worked by vehicles based at Long Sutton outstation. Fowlers Travel BX56 XBU had worked the Thursdays only (Wisbech market day) service 43A from Sutton St. James. The return trip leaves Wisbech at 1245. It is a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE that had been new to West Midlands Travel (1752) in November 2006. FACT (Fenland Area Community Transport) BX14 LCZ, a Mercedes-Benz 513cdi mini-bus new in March 2014.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (0937) – Stagecoach East (Cambus) 10866 (YX67 VDA), seen crossing the bridge over the River Nene on the A47 at Guyhirn It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, working the 0930 service 46 from March to Wisbech. I travelled on this bus to Wisbech. Having thought a picture of it at this point would be a novelty I got the shot and then trotted down a pathway into Gull Road in order to board the bus. The First Eastern Counties excel service covers the journey to Wisbech in 14 minutes travelling along the A47 (South Brink) however, I fancied travelling on the more local service 46 which takes about 22 minutes travelling via the North Brink and Wisbech St. Mary. Between Guyhirn and Wisbech the two routes (6.5 and 7.5 miles respectively) travel by roads on the different banks of the River Nene. There are no other bridge crossings between these two locations. (For safety reasons traffic emerging from Guyhirn village must turn left onto the A47. Peterborough bound traffic must travel to the roundabout to turn and then head back).