Wisbech/Guyhirn - 21 Mar 2024

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1310) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD seen at Guyhirn when working the 1240 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. I had just travelled from Peterborough on this service. This vehicle was the first of the 19 such buses delivered in late 2019 and allocated to King’s Lynn garage for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. 36901 arrived in November 2019 with the others arriving the following month. For a major cross-country road (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) the A47 is in the main just single carriageway which carries lots of commercial traffic. In summer the holiday traffic increases the volume.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1310) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD seen at Guyhirn when working the 1240 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. I had just travelled from Peterborough on this service. This vehicle was the first of the 19 such buses delivered in late 2019 and allocated to King’s Lynn garage for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. 36901 arrived in November 2019 with the others arriving the following month. For a major cross-country road (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) the A47 is in the main just single carriageway which carries lots of commercial traffic. In summer the holiday traffic increases the volume.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1311) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD seen at Guyhirn when working the 1240 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. I had just travelled from Peterborough on this service. This vehicle was the first of the 19 such buses delivered in late 2019 and allocated to King’s Lynn garage for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. 36901 arrived in November 2019 with the others arriving the following month. For a major cross-country road (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) the A47 is in the main just single carriageway which carries lots of commercial traffic. In summer the holiday traffic increases the volume. Overall the ‘excel’ service is over flat East Anglian Fenland. In the distance can be seen the slight rise in road level where the road crosses the River Nene. The road to the left leads to Guyhirn village.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1238) – The upper deck of First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), was the first of the 19 Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs delivered in late 2019. Allocated to King’s Lynn garage they were for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. 36901 arrived in November 2019 with the others arriving the following month. Seen about to depart Peterborough bus station as the 1240 service C to Norwich on which I travelled to Guyhirn. It had previously worked the 0900 service B from Norwich arriving Peterborough spot on time at 1217. Earlier I had travelled from Wisbech on similar bus 36904 and had chosen the front offside seat above the driver. During the journey I thought the seat was a little more upright for my comfort and had negative thoughts about this type of bus for a long journey. However, on this return journey I eventually sat in one of the single seats near the top of the stairs which was far more comfortable being slightly more reclined. Studying the front seats I saw that the more upright aspect of the seat was due to the compact space between the front bulkhead and the stairs bulkhead.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1239) – On board First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), the first of the 19 Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs delivered in late 2019 for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. 36901 arrived in November 2019 with the others arriving the following month. All 19 are allocated to King’s Lynn garage which is almost mid-way between Norwich (approx. 44 miles) and Peterborough (approx. 35 miles). The route diagram on the stairs panel shows the ‘excel’ service variations (A, B and C). Seen in Peterborough bus station the bus had arrived spot on time (1217) as the 0900 service B from Norwich and was about to return as the 1240 service C on which I travelled to Guyhirn (1310). Earlier I had travelled from Wisbech on sister vehicle 36904 and had chosen the front offside seat above the driver. During the journey I thought the seat was a little more upright for my comfort and had negative thoughts about this type of bus for a long journey. However, my return ride on to Guyhirn I sat in one of the single seats near the top of the stairs which was far more comfortable being slightly more reclined. Studying the front seats (left) I saw that the more upright aspect of the seat was due to the compact space between the front bulkhead and the stairs bulkhead.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1238) – A display on the upper deck of First Eastern Counties Buses 36901 (YN69 XZD), the first of the 19 Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UDs delivered in late 2019. Allocated to King’s Lynn garage they were for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. 36901 arrived in November 2019 with the others arriving the following month. My journey on this trip was to Guyhirn Service Station which is shown on the display (arrival 1310).

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1114) – Stagecoach 15614 (OU10 BGF) seen travelling eastbound on the A47 between Guyhirn and Wisbech where the road runs alongside the River Nene along what is named South Brink. The A47 (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) road carries lots of commercial traffic and in summer the additional holiday traffic increases the volume and yet, for a major cross-country road, is for the most part just single carriageway. 15614, an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD which was new to Thames Transit (Stagecoach Oxfordshire) in March 2010, was working the 1030 service 56 from Manea to Wisbech. The tracker on the Bus Times website showed most if not all service 56 trips travelling this road today (and the previous two days) were diverted from the normal route via Friday Bridge to Elm. The tracker showed everything back to normal the next day. The InterConnect branding and purple based livery was 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 photograph was taken from the upper deck of First Eastern Counties Buses 36904 (YN69 XZH), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019. I was travelling from Wisbech (1105) to Peterborough (1147) on what was the 0840 westbound ‘excel’ service C from Norwich to Peterborough.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1114) – Stagecoach 15614 (OU10 BGF) seen travelling eastbound on the A47 between Guyhirn and Wisbech where the road runs alongside the River Nene along what is named South Brink. The A47 (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) road carries lots of commercial traffic and in summer the additional holiday traffic increases the volume and yet, for a major cross-country road, is for the most part just single carriageway. 15614, an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UD which was new to Thames Transit (Stagecoach Oxfordshire) in March 2010, was working the 1030 service 56 from Manea to Wisbech. The tracker on the Bus Times website showed most if not all service 56 trips travelling this road today (and the previous two days) were diverted from the normal route via Friday Bridge to Elm. The tracker showed everything back to normal the next day. The InterConnect branding and purple based livery was 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 photograph was taken from the upper deck of First Eastern Counties Buses 36904 (YN69 XZH), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019. I was travelling from Wisbech (1105) to Peterborough (1147) on what was the 0840 westbound ‘excel’ service C from Norwich to Peterborough.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1116) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36906 (YN69 XZK), seen travelling eastbound on the A47 between Guyhirn and Wisbech where the road runs alongside the River Nene along what is named South Brink. The A47 (East Midlands-Great Yarmouth) road carries lots of commercial traffic and in summer the additional holiday traffic increases the volume and yet, for a major cross-country road, is for the most part just single carriageway. 36906, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, was working the 0940 ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich. This vehicle was the first of the 19 such buses delivered in late 2019 and allocated to King’s Lynn garage for the upgraded Norwich to Peterborough ‘excel’ service. The photograph was taken from the upper deck of sister vehicle 36904 (YN69 XZH) on which I was travelling from Wisbech (1105) to Peterborough (1147) as it worked the 0840 westbound ‘excel’ service C from Norwich to Peterborough.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1103) – WNCT (West Norfolk Community Transport) trades as Go to Town. 2103 (LN18 EWF), a Mellor bodied Mercedes-Benz 516CDI new in April 2018, seen parked in Wisbech bus station. It was quite likely between trips on service 60 to/from Three Holes. (1020 from Three Holes/1200 to Three Holes).

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1052) – WNCT (West Norfolk Community Transport) trades as Go to Town. 2103 (LN18 EWF), a Mellor bodied Mercedes-Benz 516CDI new in April 2018, seen on the approach to Wisbech bus station quite likely working the 1020 service 60 from Three Holes.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1054) – WNCT (West Norfolk Community Transport) trades as Go to Town. 2103 (LN18 EWF), a Mellor bodied Mercedes-Benz 516CDI new in April 2018, parked in Wisbech bus station quite likely having worked the 1020 service 60 from Three Holes. On the left is 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 (1101) – First Eastern Counties Buses 36904 (YN69 XZH), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, on the approach to Wisbech bus station when working the 0840 westbound service C from Norwich to Peterborough. After getting this photograph I trotted down from this car park vantage point to travel to Peterborough on this bus which departed at 1105. 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 (1103) – 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. I was waiting to board (left) 36904 (YN69 XZH) which was working the 0840 westbound service C from Norwich to Peterborough. On the right is 36902 (YN69 XZE) working the 1010 eastbound service B from Peterborough to Norwich. Both are due to depart at 1105.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1148) – The upper deck of First Eastern Counties Buses 36904 (YN69 XZH), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD new in December 2019, which features a couple of tables with face to face seating. Note also just four seats on the back row. The bus had just arrived in Peterborough spot on time (1147) as the 0840 service C from Norwich. I had travelled from Wisbech (1105) and had chosen the front offside seat above the driver. During the journey I thought the seat was a little more upright for my comfort and had negative thoughts about this type of bus for a long journey. However, my return ride back to Guyhirn on sister bus 36901 I sat in one of the single seats near the top of the stairs which was far more comfortable being slightly more reclined. Studying the front seats I saw that the more upright aspect of the seat was due to the compact space between the front bulkhead and the stairs bulkhead.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1005) – Stagecoach East Midlands 19195 (NK57 DVY), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Trident new to Busways in October 2007, seen in Wisbech bus station about to work town circular66. 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.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1030) – Stagecoach East Midlands 19195 (NK57 DVY), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 bodied Trident new to Busways in October 2007, seen in Wisbech bus station 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. In the background is First Eastern Counties Buses 36918 (YN69 XZY) (an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 City bodied Scania N250UD, working the 0940 eastbound ‘excel’ service C from Peterborough to Norwich) and FACT (Fenland Area Community Transport) BX14 LCZ, a Mercedes-Benz 513cdi mini-bus new in March 2014.

Thursday 21 March 2024 (1058) – 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. It was moving towards the loading stand in Wisbech bus station about to work the 1100 service 50 to Tydd St. Giles. I believe all the Wisbech area Stagecoach services are worked by vehicles based at Long Sutton outstation.