New Repowers In Service

Dan High was on duty at Norwich's Castle Meadow today when he observed Wright StreetDeck New Power EV 71025 CMZ 5293 in service.



For the record the six recently repowered vehicles, together with their previous identities, are as follows:-

71016 W6 FAL formerly 35103 SM15 WCR

71020 MXZ 7674 formerly 35109 SO15 CUJ

71022 CMZ 5332 formerly 35207 SL16 RFF

71023 XIG 1723 formerly 35200 SK16 GVZ

71024 XIG 1724 formerly 35208 SL16 RFN

71025 CMZ 5293 formerly 35113 SO15 CUW



Dan reports that 71023 XIG 1723 was also in use and is pictured in Norwich earlier today.

My thanks to Dan for his photos

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 2nd April 2025

Today's East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices and Proceedings Report contains details of some changes to services in our local area.

REL Felixstowe has gained approval for an operating centre at Beach Station Depot on Walton Avenue in the town for 13 vehicles. Whether this will proceed or not is open to speculation following recent developments. Felixstowe Travel Limited surrendered its operating licence on 27th March 2025 relating to the same site.

Our Hire has amended the route, stopping places and timetable of its 80 service between Wroxham and Dereham from 30th March 2025.

Konectbus has amended the route, start and finish point, stopping places and timetable of its 717 St Stephen Street, Norwich to Kingsway, Hemsby service from 31st March 2025.

The same operator has also amended the route, start and finish point, stopping places and timetable of its 5B service between Norwich Bus Station Stand A / Easton College / Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Stalham from 30th March 2025.

Ambassador Travel is to cancel its 73C service between the Cantley Cock Public House and East Norfolk Sixth Form in Gorleston from 10th July 2025.

The full Notices and Proceedings Report will be available to be viewed here soon.

Roy

First Great Yarmouth Update

Firstly, I've been asked many times about the future of partial open topper Volvo B7 32348 LK53 LZL. It will not be returning to Norwich as its City Clipper decals are being removed at Caister Road and will remain at the seaside for this summer season.

A couple of Coastal Reds Volvo B9s are having their rear axles replaced - 36186 BN12 JYJ and 37564 AU58 ECC.

Wright StreetLite 47503 SN64 CPX requires a new engine and Volvo B9 37574 AU58 ECY is undergoing inspection in Norwich.

Regarding MOTs, open top 37067 CRZ 488 has passed while 33810 YX63 LJV and 37532 MXZ 3342 are currently having theirs carried out.

My thanks to First Great Yarmouth for the update

Roy

StreetLite Repaint

That's the first quarter of the year gone then with March being a busy month for the blog publishing more than 40 posts! We continue with the first post of this month featuring the news that one of First's Wrightbus StreetLites being repainted in the Flying Banana bus livery reminiscent of the 1990s.



Looking forward to see that operating on First Great Yarmouth routes 2 and 3 serving Bradwell, Burgh Castle and Belton.

Many thanks to Tom Green for the information and photo.

Roy

Firstbus return to Park & Ride

This weekend saw First return to operating Park & Ride services in Norwich. They will run the Thickthorn and Airport sites previously served by Konectbus.

 Recently re-powered Streetdeck 71025 CMZ5293 is pictured above entering the Airport site.

 

Another recent addition to the fleet at Norwich is 71016 W6FAL, another re-powered Streetdeck converted to Battery seen here at the Airport terminus.

 

Finally a throwback to First previously operating at Thickthorn, A batch of Scania L113CRL operated the service although being allocated to Yarmouth Depot. 552 R552CNG seen here in Castle Meadow in 1997. This ended its career with First Essex in 2013.

Many Thanks to Toby Cullum for use of his excellent photos from Sunday.

Grahame.

History Of Transport Event

Omar Atiallah provides details of a History of Transport event which he is helping to organise in the Lowestoft area on Saturday 12th July 2025. It includes displays being held in the Nicholas Everitt Park at Oulton Broad in Lowestoft which will have buses, trains, boats and cars on view to the public.

Further information regarding the event can be found here, while details of the display are also available on the website with the opportunity of applying for a free ticket!

My thanks to Omar for alerting us about the event. 

Roy

Central Connect's First Day On P&R

Sunday was the first day of the new Norwich Park and Ride contract with Central Connect (Simonds) operating the PR2 from Harford and PR3 from Postwick.



Dan High's father got photos of the two ADL Enviro400 MMCs working the routes with YY74 OBU working the former and YY74 OBV the latter.



My thanks to Dan for forwarding the images.

Roy