First Eastern Counties - Alb 2

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1415) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 36186 (BN12 JYJ) seen just after crossing the Harbour Bridge as it entered Lowestoft town centre working the 1305 Coastlink service X2 from Norwich via Beccles. It is a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL that was new in June 2012 to First Games Transport. The company is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using this new livery style that has almost replaced the First Bus corporate style. There are also branded liveries for two key groups of services, Coastlink (X1, X2, X11 and X22) and Coastal Clipper (1 and 1A). However, a Coastal Reds liveried 36186 is covering the X2 service on this occasion. (The Coastal Reds name should not be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited). The seaside resort and port town of Lowestoft is the most easterly town in the British Isles. The town developed as a major fishing port but as that trade declined around the 1960s the port then supported the North Sea gas and oil industry. As that work declined the town became a regional centre for renewable energy. The town is divided by Lake Lothing which links the sea with Oulton Broad. The Harbour Bridge links the two parts of the town and separates the Outer Harbour from the Inner Harbour. When this bascule style bridge is lifted (10 times in 24 hours) road traffic in the town can become gridlocked. There is a second bridge at Oulton Broad a couple of miles or so inland (the vertical lift Mutford Bridge) which also can get very congested. A third bridge (Gull Wing Bridge) is now under construction about halfway between the existing two bridges which is due to open in 2023.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1415) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 36186 (BN12 JYJ) seen just after crossing the Harbour Bridge as it entered Lowestoft town centre working the 1305 Coastlink service X2 from Norwich via Beccles. It is a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL that was new in June 2012 to First Games Transport. The company is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using this new livery style that has almost replaced the First Bus corporate style. There are also branded liveries for two key groups of services, Coastlink (X1, X2, X11 and X22) and Coastal Clipper (1 and 1A). However, a Coastal Reds liveried 36186 is covering the X2 service on this occasion. (The Coastal Reds name should not be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited). The seaside resort and port town of Lowestoft is the most easterly town in the British Isles. The town developed as a major fishing port but as that trade declined around the 1960s the port then supported the North Sea gas and oil industry. As that work declined the town became a regional centre for renewable energy. The town is divided by Lake Lothing which links the sea with Oulton Broad. The Harbour Bridge links the two parts of the town and separates the Outer Harbour from the Inner Harbour. When this bascule style bridge is lifted (10 times in 24 hours) road traffic in the town can become gridlocked. There is a second bridge at Oulton Broad a couple of miles or so inland (the vertical lift Mutford Bridge) which also can get very congested. A third bridge (Gull Wing Bridge) is now under construction about halfway between the existing two bridges which is due to open in 2023.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1414) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 37025 (YJ06 XKO), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL new in May 2006 to First West Yorkshire, seen in Waveney Road, Lowestoft when working the 1410 Coastlink service X22 to Norwich. Standing behind is 44533 (SN62 DBV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 bodied Dart SLF that was new to First Hampshire & Dorset in December 2012 working the 1410 Coastal Clipper service 99 to Southwold. The company is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using this new livery style that has almost replaced the First Bus corporate style. There are also branded liveries for two key groups of services, Coastlink (X1, X2, X11 and X22) and Coastal Clipper (1 and 1A). However, a Coastal Reds liveried 37025 is covering the X22 service on this occasion. (The Coastal Reds name should not be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1413) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 33816 (YX63 LKE) seen just after crossing the Harbour Bridge as it entered Lowestoft town centre working the 1250 Coastlink service X22 from Norwich via Beccles. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in October 2013 that wears the branded livery for the range of Coastlink services linking Norwich with Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft (Norwich-Great Yarmouth then Lowestoft (X1) or Belton (X11) and Norwich-Beccles-Lowestoft (X2/X22)). The seaside resort and port town of Lowestoft is the most easterly town in the British Isles. The town developed as a major fishing port but as that trade declined around the 1960s the port then supported the North Sea gas and oil industry. As that work declined the town became a regional centre for renewable energy. The town is divided by Lake Lothing which links the sea with Oulton Broad. The Harbour Bridge links the two parts of the town and separates the Outer Harbour from the Inner Harbour. When this bascule style bridge is lifted (10 times in 24 hours) road traffic in the town can become gridlocked. There is a second bridge at Oulton Broad a couple of miles or so inland (the vertical lift Mutford Bridge) which also can get very congested. A third bridge (Gull Wing Bridge) is now under construction about halfway between the existing two bridges which is due to open in 2023.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1111) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited vehicles in Market Gates bus station in Great Yarmouth working Coastlink services X11. The bus on the left is in the Coastal Reds livery used on local services in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. That on the right carries the Coastlink branded livery (Norwich-Great Yarmouth then Lowestoft (X1) or Belton (X11) plus Norwich-Beccles-Lowestoft (X2/X22)). Left is 37564 (AU58 ECC), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL new in October 2008, working the 1030 service from Norwich to Belton. Right is 33806 (YX63 LJL), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September 2013. (First Eastern Counties Buses Limited is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area a name not to be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1021) – Within the previous week First 37005 (YJ06 XMF) had been transferred from First West Yorkshire (Bradford) to First Eastern Counties. It is a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL that was new in June 2006. Remnants of its former home can be seen on the advertising boards and on the side panels where the Bradford fleetname lettering had been removed, the feint outline can still be seen First Eastern Counties Buses Limited is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds using a red based livery in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area. The First Group corporate livery on the buses based at these two East Anglian depots had almost been phased out so maybe this bus will get a repaint.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1432) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 33817 (YX63 LKF) seen in Lowestoft bus station. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in October 2013 in the livery for Coastlink services (Norwich-Great Yarmouth then Lowestoft (X1) or Belton (X11) plus Norwich-Beccles-Lowestoft (X2/X22)). The bus station in Gordon Road was established in the 1920s by United Automobile Services and also featured a garage where the buildings are in the background of this photograph. In 1931 the property passed into the ownership of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company but the garage was sold and demolished in more recent times. Here is a link to some 1960s photographs of the site (scroll down to Lowestoft): easterncountiesomnibusco.com/ecoc4.html

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1432) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 33817 (YX63 LKF) seen in Lowestoft bus station. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in October 2013 in the livery for Coastlink services (Norwich-Great Yarmouth then Lowestoft (X1) or Belton (X11) plus Norwich-Beccles-Lowestoft (X2/X22)). The bus station in Gordon Road was established in the 1920s by United Automobile Services and also featured a garage where the buildings are in the background of this photograph. In 1931 the property passed into the ownership of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company but the garage was sold and demolished in more recent times. Here is a link to some 1960s photographs of the site (scroll down to Lowestoft): easterncountiesomnibusco.com/ecoc4.html

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1431) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 33817 (YX63 LKF) seen in Lowestoft bus station. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in October 2013 in the livery for Coastlink services (Norwich-Great Yarmouth then Lowestoft (X1) or Belton (X11) plus Norwich-Beccles-Lowestoft (X2/X22)). The bus station in Gordon Road was established in the 1920s by United Automobile Services and also featured a garage (off camera to the left). In 1931 the property passed into the ownership of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company but the garage was sold and demolished in more recent times. Here is a link to some 1960s photographs of the site (scroll down to Lowestoft): easterncountiesomnibusco.com/ecoc4.html

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1342) – The First Eastern Counties Buses depot at Lowestoft is the most easterly bus depot in the British Isles and is located only 270 metres (295 yards) from Ness Point the most easterly land point. The company is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using a red based livery mainly for the town service operations. There are also branded liveries for two key groups of services, Coastlink (X1, X2, X11 and X22) and Coastal Clipper (1 and 1A) represented here on two buses parked in the rear yard of the depot. Left in the yellow based Coastlink livery is 33812 (YX63 LJZ), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September 2013. Right in the blue based Coastal Clipper livery is 37576 (AU58 EDC), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL new in November 2008.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1402) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 42911 (WX05 RVV), an Alexander bodied Dennis Dart SLF that was new to First Somerset and Avon in April 2005, seen in Katwijk Way, Lowestoft when working the service 106 from Oulton Broad. The town of Lowestoft was once twinned with Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands which is honoured with the naming of this roadway. First Eastern Counties is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using a new livery style that has almost replaced the First Bus corporate style seen here. (The Coastal Reds name should not be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1402) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 42911 (WX05 RVV), an Alexander bodied Dennis Dart SLF that was new to First Somerset and Avon in April 2005, seen in Katwijk Way, Lowestoft when working the service 106 from Oulton Broad. The town of Lowestoft was once twinned with Katwijk aan Zee, The Netherlands which is honoured with the naming of this roadway. First Eastern Counties is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using a new livery style that has almost replaced the First Bus corporate style seen here. (The Coastal Reds name should not be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1222) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 32210 (LT52 WTR) seen turning from Howard Street North to The Conge, Great Yarmouth when working service 8 from Gorleston to Caister. It is a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL new to Centrewest in October 2002 for Transport for London contracted services. Taken from the top deck of 37566 (AU58 ECE) working service 1A. The company is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using a new livery style that has almost replaced the First Bus corporate style. This was one of the few remaining buses wearing the corporate livery that I saw on this visit and it didn’t have Coastal Reds vinyls applied. At the time of my visit there were three Plaxton Presidents in service, the other two being 32206 (LT52 WTM) and 32213 (LT52 WTW). I later read on the East Norfolk Bus Blog website that these two vehicles were withdrawn from service a few days later thus making the subject of my photograph the last of the Plaxton Presidents operating from Great Yarmouth depot. The report also stated that 32210 would soon be withdrawn. (The Coastal Reds name should not be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1221) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 32210 (LT52 WTR) seen turning from Stonecutters Way to Howard Street North, Great Yarmouth when working service 8 from Gorleston to Caister. It is a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL new to Centrewest in October 2002 for Transport for London contracted services. Taken from the top deck of 37566 (AU58 ECE) working service 1A. The company is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area using a new livery style that has almost replaced the First Bus corporate style. This was one of the few remaining buses wearing the corporate livery that I saw on this visit and it didn’t have Coastal Reds vinyls applied. At the time of my visit there were three Plaxton Presidents in service, the other two being 32206 (LT52 WTM) and 32213 (LT52 WTW). I later read on the East Norfolk Bus Blog website that these two vehicles were withdrawn from service a few days later thus making the subject of my photograph the last of the Plaxton Presidents operating from Great Yarmouth depot. The report also stated that 32210 would soon be withdrawn. (The Coastal Reds name should not be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1111) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 33806 (YX63 LJL) seen in Market Gates bus station in Great Yarmouth when working Coastlink service X11 to Norwich. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September 2013 that wears the branded livery for Coastlink services X1, X2, X11 and X22.

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1044) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 33805 (YX63 LJK) seen leaving Market Gates bus station in Great Yarmouth when heading to Belton on service X11. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in September 2013 in the livery for Coastlink services (Norwich-Great Yarmouth then Lowestoft (X1) or Belton (X11) plus Norwich-Beccles-Lowestoft (X2/X22)).

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1431) – The bus station in Gordon Road, Lowestoft was established in the 1920s by United Automobile Services and also featured a garage where the newer buildings now stand in the background of this photograph. In 1931 the property passed into the ownership of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company but the garage was sold and demolished in more recent times. Two buses of First Eastern Counties Buses Limited are on site in this photograph. Right is 33817 (YX63 LKF), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D new in October 2013, that wears the branded livery for Coastlink services (Norwich-Great Yarmouth-Lowestoft and Norwich-Beccles-Lowestoft Coastlink services. Left is 42938 (WX05 SVD), an Alexander (Plaxton) Pointer bodied Dennis Dart new in March 2005 to First Bristol, wearing an advertising livery for the company’s m-ticket phone app. Here is a link to some 1960s photographs of the site (scroll down to Lowestoft): easterncountiesomnibusco.com/ecoc4.html

Tuesday 29 March 2022 (1120) – First Eastern Counties Buses Limited 37565 (AU58 ECD) seen leaving Market Gates bus station in Great Yarmouth when working the 1020 Coastal Clipper service 1A from Martham to Lowestoft. It is a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL new in October 2008. The destination display advises that the bus is on diversion although this isn’t hereabouts but I believe it was in Corton where Anglian Water had to carry out emergency repairs to a sink hole. (First Eastern Counties Buses Limited is now marketing itself as Coastal Reds in the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft area a name not to be confused with unrelated Lynx Bus in North Norfolk that is registered with Companies House as Coastal Red Limited).