National Express coaches 1990s

Sunday 18 February 1990 (approx. 1610) – Fordham Road in Newmarket was the picking up and setting down point for National Express services at one time. This view shows three Plaxton Paramount bodied Leyland Tigers vehicles working National Express services. Ambassador Travel 899 (A899 KAH) was working the 1400 service 097 from London (Victoria) to Lowestoft (due in Newmarket 1605/1610). It had been new to Eastern Counties in November 1983. Wessex of Bristol 209 (USV 804) was working the 0830 service 747 from Bristol to Cromer (due in Newmarket 1555/1610). Dack’s (Rosemary Coaches) of Terrington St. Clement G704 HPW, the later style Paramount new in August 1989, was working the 1505 service 099 from Thetford to London (Victoria) (due Newmarket 1610).

March 30 or 31 1990 (approx. 1800) - Fordham Road in Newmarket was the picking up and setting down point for National Express services at the time. Nearest the camera in this view is Ambassador Travel 906 (B906 RVF), a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger new in January 1985, was working the 1600 London (Victoria) to Sheringham service 099. Standing in front of that is Yorkshire Traction 60 (NHE 340), a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger, which was working the 0905 Liverpool to Clacton-on-Sea service 350. Compare the difference between the height of the 3200 and 3500 models. The numbers signify the height of the coach in millimetres.

Friday 4 November 1994 – After picking up at King Street, Mildenhall buses and coaches used to travel down St. Andrew’s Street. Sometimes it could be difficult for the driver to make the right turn into the High Street particularly if a car was wrongly parked close to the junction at end of the street or if Martins Furniture Store had a delivery van outside. The driver of Ambassador Travel 109 (G109 HNG) gives the coach full lock to negotiate the turn and continue on its way. It was working the 0700 Cromer to London National Express service 495. Just visible in St. Andrew’s Street is the nose of Neal’s Travel M373 VER, a Marshall SPV bodied Mercedes-Benz mini-bus, working the 0920 service to West Row. Being much smaller that didn’t have any trouble making the turn.

A Saturday in November 1995 (0905) – Two vehicles of Neal’s Travel of Isleham occupy the King Street lay-by in Mildenhall so Ambassador Travel 108 (G108 HNG), working the 0700 Cromer-London National Express service 495, picks up in the entrance to the lay-by. The Neal’s vehicles are Reeve Burgess bodied Leyland Swift G642 WMG, working a private hire, which is standing in front Marshall SPV bodied Mercedes-Benz of M373 VER, working the Mildenhall town service.

Saturday 5 March 1994 - Ambassador Travel 125 (H167 EJU), a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M new in April 1991, seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 0700 National Express service 495 from Cromer to London.

Sunday 6 March 1994 (approx. 0905) - Ambassador Travel 125 (H167 EJU), a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M new in April 1991, seen in a rather quiet High Street, Mildenhall when working the 0700 National Express service 495 from Cromer to London. There have been a few changes to the businesses in this part of town. On the left there is the Gandhi Tandoori (still trading today); an electrical component shop that everyone called ‘Tandy’ because of its signage but actually owned by local people (M & K Electrical) (now Rumble's fish and chip shop); Mildenhall Cleaners - the dry cleaning shop (now Mildenhall Carpets); and Dewhursts Butchers (still there but under a different name - Cherry Tree Butchers). On the right is Motorspares and Colbert & Moy Plumbers (in to which Motorspares later expanded). Later the shops were divided again with Wreaths and Ribbons occupying the Colbert & Moy shop and Papa John's Pizza occupying the shop on the right.

Saturday 25 July 1992 – A view of the King Street bus and coach lay-by in Mildenhall seen from outside the Budgens Store in St. Andrew’s Street – the store is now Wilko. Ambassador Travel 103 (F103 CCL), a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Volvo B10M is in the lay-by. It was working the 0650 National Express service 095 from Cromer to London. It was customary to give the passengers a short comfort break here between 0855 and 0905. 103 was fitted with a toilet and had been used on tour work when new in March 1989.

Saturday 10 March 1990 – Cambus 329 (G329 PEW) had just arrived at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1600 National Express service 098 from London (Victoria) to Thetford. It was a Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M-60. Note that the building across the street was the Midland Bank which later became Corals Betting Shop.

Saturday 10 February 1990 (1550) – Dack’s of Terrington St. Clement (Rosemary Coaches) B493 UNB, a Plaxton 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RZ that had been new to Smiths-Shearings in March 1985. It was seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1505 National Express service 099 from Thetford to London (Victoria). Earlier in the day this duty first covered the 0640 Swaffham-London service 096 (arriving 1020) followed by the 1100 London-Thetford service 099 (arriving 1415). After working the current trip back to London it would work the 1900 service 096 back to Swaffham.

Saturday 10 February 1990 (1550) – Dack’s of Terrington St. Clement (Rosemary Coaches) B493 UNB, a Plaxton 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RZ that had been new to Smiths-Shearings in March 1985. It was seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1505 National Express service 099 from Thetford to London (Victoria). Earlier in the day this duty first covered the 0640 Swaffham-London service 096 (arriving 1020) followed by the 1100 London-Thetford service 099 (arriving 1415). After working the current trip back to London it would work the 1900 service 096 back to Swaffham.

A Sunday in January 1990 (1550) – Dack’s of Terrington St. Clement, near Kings Lynn traded as Rosemary Coaches. Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3R B387 UEX was seen at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1505 National Express service 099 from Thetford to London (Victoria). This coach passed to Mulleys of Ixworth after sale by Dack’s. The roof of the then new Jubilee Centre and the tower of St. Mary’s Church in Barton Mills can be seen on the left of the photograph.

Thursday 1 July 1993 – North Devon Limited 2225 (C923 HYA), a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger was new in May 1986 to the related Southern National Limited, both companies were formed when the Western National Omnibus Company was split into four smaller companies. Now, even though a North Devon coach appeared in Mildenhall on alternate mornings, this was not a North Devon working at all. (Even though North Devon did once work through Mildenhall on the 747 service some years previously but hadn’t done so for some time). On Sunday 23 May 1993 National Express introduced their Summer schedules which drastically reduced what had been service 747 east of Cambridge which was renumbered 347. Premier Travel Services was responsible for what trips remained other than the Saturday Cambridge-Lowestoft extras worked by Richard W Chenery in the height of the summer. One of the Premier trips was the 0620 service from Thetford to Cambridge that, on alternate days was worked by a North Devon coach from Ilfracombe depot but driven by a Premier Travel driver. This arrangement came about as a result of the 346 Cambridge-Ilfracombe service being shared between Premier Travel and North Devon. Each company provided one coach which ended up in the care of the other partner on alternate days. After working into Cambridge from Thetford the coach then departed at 0840 for the West Country driven by a Premier Travel driver to Bath that driver brought the westbound coach back to Cambridge. A North Devon driver would drive from Ilfracombe to Bristol and return with the westbound service. The Bristol-Bath-Bristol segment was covered by local drivers out of Bristol. The shop with the yellow signage was Ritz Video Rental (later Blockbuster then Costa Coffee).

Friday 25 June 1993 – North Devon Limited 2225 (C923 HYA), a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger was new in May 1986 to the related Southern National Limited, both companies were formed when the Western National Omnibus Company was split into four smaller companies. Now, even though a North Devon coach appeared in Mildenhall on alternate mornings, this was not a North Devon working at all. (Even though North Devon did once work through Mildenhall on the 747 service some years previously but hadn’t done so for some time). On Sunday 23 May 1993 National Express introduced their Summer schedules which drastically reduced what had been service 747 east of Cambridge which was renumbered 347. Premier Travel Services was responsible for what trips remained other than the Saturday Cambridge-Lowestoft extras worked by Richard W Chenery in the height of the summer. One of the Premier trips was the 0620 service from Thetford to Cambridge that, on alternate days was worked by a North Devon coach from Ilfracombe depot but driven by a Premier Travel driver. This arrangement came about as a result of the 346 Cambridge-Ilfracombe service being shared between Premier Travel and North Devon. Each company provided one coach which ended up in the care of the other partner on alternate days. After working into Cambridge from Thetford the coach then departed at 0840 for the West Country driven by a Premier Travel driver to Bath that driver brought the westbound coach back to Cambridge. A North Devon driver would drive from Ilfracombe to Bristol and return with the westbound service. The Bristol-Bath-Bristol segment was covered by local drivers out of Bristol. The shop with the yellow signage was Ritz Video Rental (later Blockbuster then Costa Coffee) and that on the right of it was Computer Scene (later En-Thai-Sing Restaurant).

Sunday 25 October 1998 - Stagecoach owned Cambus/Premier Travel 454 (R454 FCE), a 1997 Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M, seen at King Street, Mildenhall. On the previous Monday (19 October) National Express introduced their Winter timetables and service 347 was extended through the Plymouth having previously terminated at Taunton. This was the 0755 Great Yarmouth to Plymouth service. Whilst Taunton was included on the destination blind, Plymouth was not and so a window bill displayed the final destination. The other window label shows a number of main towns served along the way.

Friday 19 March 1993 (1605) – Premier Travel Services 377 (G377 REG), a Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M, seen in the King Street lay-by in Mildenhall when working National Express service 746 to Stansted Airport.

Saturday 22 May 1993 – Premier Travel Services 371 (G371 REG) had just departed from the King Street lay-by in Mildenhall when working the 1020 Lowestoft-Bristol National Express service 747. Eastern Counties Omnibus Company VR307 (PRC 853X), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR that had been new to Trent in October 1981, is standing in the lay-by. On the right are two shops, the one with the yellow signage was Ritz Video Rental (later Blockbuster then Costa Coffee). The shop nearest the camera was Computer Scene (later En-Thai-Sing Restaurant).

Saturday 8 May 1993 (1605) – Premier Travel Services 371 (G371 REG) seen in the King Street lay-by in Mildenhall when working the 1445 Norwich-Oxford National Express service 747.

Friday 19 March 1993 (1305) - Premier Travel Services 329 (G329 PEW) picks up at King Street lay-by in Mildenhall when working the 1020 Lowestoft-Bristol National Express service 747. This coach had been new to Stagecoach owned Cambus. The coach was transferred to Premier Travel Services after Stagecoach acquired Premier and made it their coaching subsidiary.