Neal's Travel OIG 6912 (BJ13 TXM), Galloway 204 (YJ60 GDO) and Stephensons 434 (EU10 NVT) in Mildenhall - 11 Sep 2020 (P1070610)

Friday 11 September 2020 (0833) – Neal’s Travel OIG 6912, a Jonckheere SHV bodied Volvo B13RT that was new to Lochs and Glens of Aberfoyle in June 2013 registered BJ13 TXM, is seen travelling down the High Street in Mildenhall probably heading back to their Isleham base after completion of a school contract. The ‘16’ displayed in the windscreen hints towards an American Schools Contract as Suffolk County Council contract numbers in the area comprise ML prefixing three numbers.

On the left are Galloway European Coachlines 204 (YJ60 GDO), an MCV Evolution bodied VDL SB180 new in October 2011 to Reays of Wigton, Cumbria, which was following Stephensons of Essex 434 (EU10 NVT), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 new in August 2010

Stephensons and Galloway are now under related ownership. Stephensons is the operator of the Newmarket-Mildenhall-Bury St. Edmunds service 16 and their 434 was working the 0750 service from Newmarket (Guineas bus station) to Bury St. Edmunds.

The Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic brought about some out of the ordinary working practices in bus operation to assist with social distancing measures. The Galloway vehicle appeared to be operating as a secondary vehicle to the Stephensons vehicle to enable social distancing for the school students.