Norwich - 2 Dec 2022

Friday 2 December 2022 (1054) – East Yorkshire Motor Services 94 (80 EYC) seen unloading passengers in Castle Meadow, Norwich below the Castle and ramparts. It is a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo that was new in September 2022 with this registration that has been carried by numerous EYMS vehicles over the years. EYMS was acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in June 2018. Renovation works are in progress at the castle which started in August 2020 with a planned completion in 2023. The £13.5million project aims to transform and reinstate the medieval floors and rooms to their formal glory. Over the years the castle has been a prison and the city museum.

Friday 2 December 2022 (1051) – Castle Meadow, Norwich. A bus of local operator First Eastern Counties Buses passes by a visiting coach of East Yorkshire Motor Services. First Eastern Counties Buses 36265 (BG12 YJX) is a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL new in June 2012 to First Games Transport - the division of the First Group that provided transport at the 2012 London Olympics. It carries branding for the Yellow Line group of services into the city from Thorpe Marriott (28), Taverham (29) or Fakenham (X29) all of which share a common route from Taverham. East Yorkshire 94 (80 EYC) is a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo that was new in September 2022 with this registration that has been carried by numerous EYMS vehicles over the years. EYMS was acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in June 2018. The gents in the blue tabards were local tourist assistants offering a welcome along with visitor guidance.

Friday 2 December 2022 (1051) – Castle Meadow, Norwich. A bus of local operator First Eastern Counties Buses passes by a visiting coach of East Yorkshire Motor Services. First Eastern Counties Buses 36197 (BN12 WNX) is a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL new in June 2012 to First Games Transport - the division of the First Group that provided transport at the 2012 London Olympics. It carries branding for the Red Line group of services 23/23A/24/24A. East Yorkshire 94 (80 EYC) is a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo that was new in September 2022 with this registration that has been carried by numerous EYMS vehicles over the years. EYMS was acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in June 2018. The gents in the blue tabards were local tourist assistants offering a welcome along with visitor guidance.

Friday 2 December 2022 (1050) – Castle Meadow, Norwich. Buses of local operator First Eastern Counties Buses pass by a visiting coach of East Yorkshire Motor Services. The double decker is branded for Orange Line services 21/22 (Norfolk & Norwich Hospital or Bowthorpe-City Centre-Old Catton). Single decker 66824 (MX05 CEV), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new to First Manchester in May 2005, carries normal fleet livery. It was working Green Line service 15A (Lingwood-City Centre-Wymondham). The Green Line branded services include 14/14A/15/15A which, on the eastern side of the city fan out to serve different locations. (Wymondham is to west of the city). East Yorkshire 94 (80 EYC) is a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo that was new in September 2022 with this registration that has been carried by numerous EYMS vehicles over the years. EYMS was acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in June 2018. The two gents in the blue tabards were local tourist assistants offering a welcome along with visitor guidance.

Friday 2 December 2022 (1037) – Davey Place, Norwich with some well worn steps leading up to Castle Meadow. The Castle itself dominates the background. The First Eastern Counties Travel Centre is at street level on the left and one of their Wright Streetdecks wearing the Pink Line branding passes by. The Pink Line group of services link the Norwich & Norfolk Hospital with the city centre and onward to Sprowston (11/11A) or to Wroxham and Hoveton (12). Also included are services 10/10A (Cringleford-city centre-Mousehold Heath). Renovation works are in progress at the castle which started in August 2020 with a planned completion in 2023. The £13.5million project aims to transform and reinstate the medieval floors and rooms to their formal glory. Over the years the castle has been a prison and the city museum.

Friday 2 December 2022 (1153) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36913 (YN69 XZT), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 MMC bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, parked in the layover bays in Norwich bus station. Having worked the 1115 service D from East Dereham its next working was the 1230 service D back to East Dereham. According to the tracker on the Bus Times website this bus worked the following trips today: 0900 East Dereham-Norwich 0935 (service D) 1030 Norwich-East Dereham 1105 (service D) 1115 East Dereham-Norwich 1150 (service D) 1230 Norwich-East Dereham 1305 (service D) 1315 East Dereham-Norwich 1350 (service D) 1430 Norwich-East Dereham 1505 (service D) 1515 East Dereham-Norwich 1550 (service D) 1610 Norwich-Peterborough 1930 (service A) 1940 Peterborough-Norwich 2242 (service A) 2250 Norwich-East Dereham 2333 (service D) First Eastern Counties 36913 (YN69 XZT)

Friday 2 December 2022 (0954) – Buses parked in the layover bays at Norwich bus station. Left to right: Konectbus (Go-Ahead owned) 644 (LK08 FLJ) is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Trident that had been new to First Capital (DN33521) in June 2008. The livery is from a former Park & Ride contract. According to the tracker on the Bus Times website this bus only worked the following school service trips today: 0746 South Creake to Wells-next-the-Sea Primary School 0835 1515 Wells-next-the-Sea Primary School to South Creake 1609 First Eastern Counties 36913 (YN69 XZT), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019. This was between trips on the Excel service. Having worked the 0900 service D from East Dereham its next working was the 1030 service D back to East Dereham. According to the tracker on the Bus Times website this bus worked the following trips today: 0900 East Dereham-Norwich 0935 (service D) 1030 Norwich-East Dereham 1105 (service D) 1115 East Dereham-Norwich 1150 (service D) 1230 Norwich-East Dereham 1305 (service D) 1315 East Dereham-Norwich 1350 (service D) 1430 Norwich-East Dereham 1505 (service D) 1515 East Dereham-Norwich 1550 (service D) 1610 Norwich-Peterborough 1930 (service A) 1940 Peterborough-Norwich 2242 (service A) 2250 Norwich-East Dereham 2333 (service D) First Eastern Counties Coastal Red Wright Eclipse Gemini Konectbus 621 (SK15 HKE) Konectbus (Go-Ahead owned), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 new in August 2015, which carries branding for services 3 and 6 (Norwich-Watton). According to the tracker on the Bus Times website this bus worked the following trips today: 0615 East Dereham-Swanton Morley 0629 (4) 0630 Swanton Morley-Norwich 0800 (4) 0805 Norwich-Hethersett High School (6A) 1015 Norwich-Watton 1120 (6) 1120 Watton-Norwich 1228 (3) 1245 Norwich-Watton 1354 (3) 1354 Watton-Norwich 1505 (6) 1530 Norwich-Watton 1635 (6) 1635 Watton-Norwich 1735 (3) 1745 Norwich-Watton 1903 (3) 1915 Watton-Dereham 1940 (11)

Friday 2 December 2022 (1156) – Norwich bus station was opened in August 2005 and was built on the site of an earlier bus station and garage owned by the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company. The passenger building features an enquiry desk, passenger waiting area, small café and toilets all very clean and well maintained. National Express and Megabus coach services once departed from a stand just to the right of the camera but now they use a stand on the other side of the site. Note the lettering on the pavement directing passengers to the revised location.

Friday 2 December 2022 (0956) – Ambassador Travel 218 (BV19 XOZ) seen in Norwich bus station when working the 0905 National Express service 727 from Great Yarmouth to Heathrow Airport due from here at 0950. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360EB4s which was new in June 2019 to National Express owned West Midlands Travel as their 267. Buses parked in the layover bays are: Konectbus (Go-Ahead owned) 644 (LK08 FLJ) is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Trident that had been new to First Capital (DN33521) in June 2008. The livery is from a former Park & Ride contract. First Eastern Counties 36913 (YN69 XZT), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019. Konectbus 621 (SK15 HKE) Konectbus (Go-Ahead owned), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 new in August 2015.

Friday 2 December 2022 (1044) – First Eastern Counties Buses 69544 (BF12 KWD), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new to First Hampshire & Dorset in March 2012 and still with their branding layout which resembles FEC’s Green Line branding a little. It was working service 38 to Hellesdon (Ives Road) - a Purple Line service.

Friday 2 December 2022 (1101) – First Eastern Counties Buses 69555 (BF12 KWR), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new to First Hampshire & Dorset in March 2012 and still with their branding layout which resembles FEC’s Green Line branding a little. It was working service 36A to Harleston - a Purple Line service.

Friday 2 December 2022 (1053) – First Eastern Counties Buses 35193 (SK16 GVR) seen entering Castle Meadow from Red Lion Street in Norwich when working service 12 to Wroxham and Hoveton. It is a Wright Streetdeck that was new in April 2016. It wears Pink Line branding for the services linking the Norwich & Norfolk Hospital with the city centre and onward to Sprowston (11/11A) or to Wroxham and Hoveton (12). Also included are services 10/10A (Cringleford-city centre-Mousehold Heath). Heading away is 37056 (YJ06 XMG), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL new in June 2006 to First West Yorkshire working the 1001 Purple Line service 36 from Horsford to Long Stratton. Just visible between the two buses is a Caetano Levante (SLK 886) coach operated by Simonds of Botesdale which was working the 0940 service 2 from Roydon and Diss which terminates at Norwich Railway Station.

Friday 2 December 2022 (1008) – First Eastern Counties Buses 35199 (SK16 GVY), a Wright Streetdeck new in April 2016, seen in St. Stephens Street, Norwich. It wears Pink Line branding for the services linking the Norwich & Norfolk Hospital with the city centre and onward to Sprowston (11/11A) or to Wroxham and Hoveton (12). Also included are services 10/10A (Cringleford-city centre-Mousehold Heath).

Friday 2 December 2022 (1046) – First Eastern Counties Buses 35198 (SK16 GVX) seen at Castle Meadow/Bank Plain working service 11A to Sprowston. It is a Wright Streetdeck that was new in April 2016. It wears Pink Line branding for the services linking the Norwich & Norfolk Hospital with the city centre and onward to Sprowston (11/11A) or to Wroxham and Hoveton (12). Also included are services 10/10A (Cringleford-city centre-Mousehold Heath).

Friday 2 December 2022 (1046) – First Eastern Counties Buses 35198 (SK16 GVX) seen in Bank Plain working service 11A to Sprowston. It is a Wright Streetdeck that was new in April 2016. It wears Pink Line branding for the services linking the Norwich & Norfolk Hospital with the city centre and onward to Sprowston (11/11A) or to Wroxham and Hoveton (12). Also included are services 10/10A (Cringleford-city centre-Mousehold Heath).

Friday 2 December 2022 (1110) – First Eastern Counties Buses 35199 (SK16 GVY) seen in passing the company’s travel centre in Castle Meadow, Norwich working service 12 to Hoveton. It is a Wright Streetdeck that was new in April 2016,. It wears Pink Line branding for the services linking the Norwich & Norfolk Hospital with the city centre and onward to Sprowston (11/11A) or to Wroxham and Hoveton (12). Also included are services 10/10A (Cringleford-city centre-Mousehold Heath).

Friday 2 December 2022 (1120) – First Eastern Counties Buses 66980 (KX05 MHJ) seen in Red Lion Street, Norwich, is branded for the Yellow Line services from the city to Thorpe Marriott (28), Taverham/Drayton (29) or Fakenham (X29) all of which share a common route to Taverham. A Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new to First owned Leicester Citybus in May 2005.

Friday 2 December 2022 (1020) – First Eastern Counties Buses 66976 (KX05 MGZ), seen in Castle Meadow, Norwich, is branded for the Yellow Line services into the city from Thorpe Marriott (28), Taverham/Drayton (29) or Fakenham (X29) all of which share a common route from Taverham. A Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new to First owned Leicester Citybus in April 2005.