Wisbech/Guyhirn - 21 Mar 2024

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1057) – Stagecoach East Midlands 19195 (NK57 DVY), on the approach to Wisbech bus station as it returned on Town Circular service 66. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Trident new to Busways in October 2007. The livery is the purple based scheme initially employed on the Lincolnshire County Council supported InterConnect network. I believe the Wisbech area services are worked by vehicles based at Long Sutton outstation. 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 (1057) – Stagecoach East Midlands 19195 (NK57 DVY), arriving at Wisbech bus station as it returned on Town Circular service 66. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Trident new to Busways in October 2007. The livery is the purple based scheme initially employed on the Lincolnshire County Council supported InterConnect network. I believe the Wisbech area services are worked by vehicles based at Long Sutton outstation. Parked in the background is Stagecoach East Midlands 15617 (OU10 BGV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD new in March 2010 to Thames Transit.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1101) – Contrasting architectural styles in Wisbech complement Stagecoach East Midlands 15617 (OU10 BGV) departing on the 1100 service 50 to Tydd St. Giles. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD new in March 2010 to Thames Transit. The livery is the purple based scheme initially employed on the Lincolnshire County Council supported InterConnect network. I believe the Wisbech area services are worked by vehicles based at Long Sutton outstation. The building in the background behind the bus is the former Magistrates Court building that opened in April 1957. In March 2023 the Eastern Daily Press newspaper reported it 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. The newer Job Centre Plus building is nowhere near as attractive.

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 (1038) – The bus layover bays at Wisbech bus station. Looks like a stand-off! 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. FACT (Fenland Area Community Transport) BX14 LCZ, a Mercedes-Benz 513cdi mini-bus new in March 2014.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1038) – Wisbech bus station 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. FACT (Fenland Area Community Transport) BX14 LCZ, a Mercedes-Benz 513cdi mini-bus new in March 2014, just leaving.

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).

Thursday 21 March 2024 (0938) – Stagecoach East (Cambus) 10866 (YX67 VDA), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, seen in Gull Road, Guyhirn working the 0930 service 46 from March to Wisbech. I parked the car nearby and travelled on this bus to Wisbech. The First Eastern Counties excel service covers the journey between Guyhirn and 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.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (0941) – On board Stagecoach East (Cambus) 10866 (YX67 VDA), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, which was working the 0930 service 46 from March to Wisbech. I parked the car in Guyhirn and travelled on this bus to Wisbech. The First Eastern Counties excel service covers the journey between Guyhirn and 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. Note the path outside the bus on the left. The river bank is at the top of that path. The road we are on here is below river level.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1004) – Arrival at Wisbech bus station on board Stagecoach East (Cambus) 10866 (YX67 VDA) which was working the 0930 service 46 from March. The Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N250UD very clean inside and out although the front upper deck screen was slightly splattered. Stagecoach East Midlands 19195 (NK57 DVY), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Trident new to Busways in October 2007, was about to work a town circular. It carries the purple based livery initially employed on the Lincolnshire County Council supported InterConnect network. I believe the Wisbech area services are worked by vehicles based at Long Sutton outstation. Two First Eastern Counties Buses Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs are working in opposite directions on the Norwich-Peterborough ‘excel’ service. Left of the pair is 36911 (YN69 XZR) working eastbound to Norwich and right of the pair is 36903 (YN69 XZG) working westbound to Peterborough. I parked the car in Guyhirn and travelled on this bus to Wisbech. The First Eastern Counties ‘excel’ service covers the journey between Guyhirn and 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.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1007) – Wisbech bus station Stagecoach East (Cambus) 10866 (YX67 VDA), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, had worked the 0930 service 46 from March going on to work the 1015 return journey. I had travelled on this bus from Guyhirn. The First Eastern Counties ‘excel’ service covers the journey between Guyhirn and 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. The driver (left), possibly a new recruit, appeared to be receiving route tuition from her colleague in the hi-vis jacket. In the background is First Eastern Counties Buses 36903 (YN69 XZG), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD, working an eastbound ‘excel’ service to Peterborough.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1007) – Wisbech bus station Stagecoach East (Cambus) 10866 (YX67 VDA) had worked the 0930 service 46 from March. The Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019. I had travelled on this bus from Guyhirn. The First Eastern Counties ‘excel’ service covers the journey between Guyhirn and 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. In the background is First Eastern Counties Buses 36903 (YN69 XZG), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD, working an eastbound ‘excel’ service to Peterborough.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1016) – Stagecoach East (Cambus) 10866 (YX67 VDA), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, seen leaving Wisbech bus station working the 1015 service 46 to March. I had arrived in Wisbech from Guyhirn on this bus a short time earlier (1004) as it worked the 0930 trip of service 46 from March.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (0926) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36919 (YN69 XZZ), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, seen on the A47 at Guyhirn working the 0840 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. It left Peterborough at 0843 but was now running about 15 minutes late. It was on the incline approaching the bridge over the River Nene.