Mildenhall bus station 2006-2016

Monday 16 January 2006 (approx 0945) - Mildenhall bus station opened for business this day although the formal opening was the following day. It was located on the site that was once the town car park and a small bus lay-by (located on the extreme right of this photograph) which closed one year and one week earlier on 10 January 2005. The buildings beyond formed Mildenhall Social Club where Sainsbury's now is. Burtons Coaches W903 UJM, an Alexander ALX200 bodied Volvo B10BLE, is in the view which had worked the 0900 service 356 from Bury St. Edmunds.

Mildenhall bus station opened for business on Monday 16 January 2006 (although the formal opening was the next day). It was located on the site that was once the town car park and a small bus lay-by which closed one year and one week earlier on 10 January 2005. A Burtons Coaches Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario is loading for Bury St. Edmunds. This photograph was taken from the upper deck of a double decker bus parked in the layover bays alongside the children's playground.

Wc Sept 10 (12th?) 2007 - National Express Operations Limited D23 (R300 SPK) seen during a pick-up call at Mildenhall bus station. It was working the 1315 Norwich (University of East Anglia) to Gatwick Airport service 727 (due 1900). This Plaxton Premiere bodied DAF SB3000 was new in May 1998 to Speedlink Airport Services. The letters ‘SPK’ on the licence plate being a short form for that name.

Friday 28 Sept 2007 – Suffolk County Council placed nine new Marcopolo Viaggio bodied Iveco EuroRider coaches in service for the new school year (4 Sept 2007) supplied by Irisbus, the UK dealer. PN57 CUO was seen at Mildenhall bus station at about 1715 when working the 1645 College Days only trip on service 355 from Bury St Edmunds to Lakenheath. In the main Burtons works the 355 service (during both school terms and school holidays) under contract to SCC with Mulleys covering a couple of trips. However, SCC covers this trip which, despite being a College day only service, is available to the general public.

Friday 28 Sept 2007 – Suffolk County Council placed nine new Marcopolo Viaggio bodied Iveco EuroRider coaches in service for the new school year (4 Sept 2007) supplied by Irisbus, the UK dealer. PN57 CUO was seen at Mildenhall bus station at about 1715 when working the 1645 College Days only trip on service 355 from Bury St Edmunds to Lakenheath. In the main Burtons works the 355 service (during both school terms and school holidays) under contract to SCC with Mulleys covering a couple of trips. However, SCC covers this trip which, despite being a College day only service, is available to the general public.

Tuesday 29 July 2008 (0559) - A regular sight when Burtons Coaches used to outstation two buses in Mildenhall bus station. The allocation was usually two Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz small type buses although no two specific buses were regularly featured. In this view S130 NRB is nearest the camera.

Saturday 7 May 2011 (1045) - National Express CO66 (FN06 FMA), a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B12B, working the 1040 service 727 through Mildenhall to Norwich. The service would have possibly originated at Gatwick Airport at 0640 travelling via Heathrow and Stansted Airports. (Pictured from the driving seat of Mulleys YN54 VLE).

Tuesday 31 May 2011 (1004) - Stephensons of Essex Limited took over Burtons Coaches in the latter days of the previous week and Stephensons buses were soon appearing in Suffolk. 432 (EU10 NVR), an Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 new in August 2010 carries lettering for the Witham to Maldon ‘Blackwater Link’ service. It had arrived in Mildenhall working the 0925 service 16 from Bury St Edmunds and was now returning as the 1005 service. Burtons had only started to run this service on 4 April 2011 competing with Mulleys service 355.

Tuesday 31 May 2011 (1004) - Stephensons of Essex Limited took over Burtons Coaches in the latter days of the previous week and Stephensons buses were soon appearing in Suffolk. 432 (EU10 NVR), an Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 new in August 2010 carries lettering for the Witham to Maldon ‘Blackwater Link’ service. It had arrived in Mildenhall working the 0925 service 16 from Bury St Edmunds and was now returning as the 1005 service. Burtons had only started to run this service on 4 April 2011 competing with Mulleys service 355.

Saturday 4 June 2011 - Whippet Coaches (Go-Whippet), a Van Hool Alizée bodied Volvo that had been new to Park’s of Hamilton in March 1992. (Previous registrations carried were J459 HDS and LSK 499). It was seen in Mildenhall bus station setting down on a westbound Coastal Service journey.

Tuesday 7 June 2011 (approx 0645) - First Eastern Counties Buses Limited worked one single trip on service 355 from Mildenhall to Bury St Edmunds at 0645 hrs, the first 355 trip of the day sponsored by Suffolk County Council. Mulleys Motorways ran, and does still run, service 355 commercially throughout the remainder of the day. Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart 43440 (P440 NEX) was seen at Mildenhall bus station. Once upon a time Eastern Counties was the dominant operator in the area and had a Mildenhall outstation to work regular services on this route but, until 4 April 2011 when this trip started running, the company had not had a presence in Mildenhall for a few years. The bus was based at Bury St Edmunds garage which latterly concentrated on town services. This was, I think, the only working to take Bury garage buses out of town in this era. (Standing behind is Coach Services Limited of Thetford Optare Solo MX09 AOT working the 0645 service 200 to Thetford).

Tuesday 7 June 2011 (approx 0645) - First Eastern Counties Buses Limited worked one single trip on service 355 from Mildenhall to Bury St Edmunds at 0645 hrs, the first 355 trip of the day sponsored by Suffolk County Council. Mulleys Motorways ran, and does still run, service 355 commercially throughout the remainder of the day. Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart 43440 (P440 NEX) was seen at Mildenhall bus station. Once upon a time Eastern Counties was the dominant operator in the area and had a Mildenhall outstation to work regular services on this route but, until 4 April 2011 when this trip started running, the company had not had a presence in Mildenhall for a few years. The bus was based at Bury St Edmunds garage which latterly concentrated on town services. This was, I think, the only working to take Bury garage buses out of town in this era. (Standing behind is Coach Services Limited of Thetford Optare Solo MX09 AOT working the 0645 service 200 to Thetford).

Mildenhall bus station - National Express FJ56 PFF - 7 Jun 2011

Mildenhall bus station - Mulleys Motorways AY55 DGE - 15 Jun 2011

Mildenhall bus station - 15 Jun 2011

Mildenhall bus station - Mulleys Motorways AY55 NYL - 26 Jun 2011

Wednesday 29 June 2011 (1545) - National Express CO70 (FH06 EBL), a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B12B new in August 2006, seen at Mildenhall when working the service 727 to Norwich. (Late running service?)