First Eastern Counties

90sWereBetter · 27 Jan 2020

Monday 17th February is the launch date for the new Excel fleet, with a brand new timetable incorporating half-hourly short journeys between Norwich and Dereham. Clearly taking the fight to Konectbus' Straight8 service, will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months. I'm planning a trip on the 22nd to sample the new fleet.

Meanwhile, the bonfire of the W-reg ALX400s is finally upon us. 32061 and 32063 have already been taken out of service, joining the long-dead 30886 at the rear of Yarmouth depot. Imagine the rest of Yarmouth's allocation will go in the next few weeks, while the quartet at Lowestoft will probably hang on a little longer until the Excel cascades start.

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TheGrandWazoo · 27 Jan 2020

90sWereBetter said:
Monday 17th February is the launch date for the new Excel fleet, with a brand new timetable incorporating half-hourly short journeys between Norwich and Dereham. Clearly taking the fight to Konectbus' Straight8 service, will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months. I'm planning a trip on the 22nd to sample the new fleet.

Meanwhile, the bonfire of the W-reg ALX400s is finally upon us. 32061 and 32063 have already been taken out of service, joining the long-dead 30886 at the rear of Yarmouth depot. Imagine the rest of Yarmouth's allocation will go in the next few weeks, while the quartet at Lowestoft will probably hang on a little longer until the Excel cascades start.

Interesting. That will be a 15 min headway against Konect’s 20 min frequency? Excuse my ignorance but has that battle been a long-standing one?

Whiteway215 · 27 Jan 2020

Is 37061 with FEC or Essex? Thanks.

TheGrandWazoo · 27 Jan 2020

Whiteway215 said:
Is 37061 with FEC or Essex? Thanks.

FEC apparently https://eastnorfolkbus.blogspot.com/2020/01/another-arrival-from-yorkshire.html?m=1

buslad1988 · 28 Jan 2020

Wasn’t expecting those excel route variation changes! A, B, C and D. So with the introduction of the new deckers that really will be the separation (and never to return) legacy of the old full length Lowestoft - Peterborough route... although tbf it has been split at Norwich for a number of years now.

They will look and feel like two totally disjointed brands on the separate eastern/western sections. Do we think the current fleet will be repainted before cascade to X1/X11? Guess it’s cheaper just to update vinyls.

And with the flurry of FWY Gemini’s incoming will we finally see a livery to go with the marketing material of the Coastal Clipper routes 1/1A and 99 this year?!

TheGrandWazoo · 28 Jan 2020

buslad1988 said:
Wasn’t expecting those excel route variation changes! A, B, C and D. So with the introduction of the new deckers that really will be the separation (and never to return) legacy of the old full length Lowestoft - Peterborough route... although tbf it has been split at Norwich for a number of years now.

They will look and feel like two totally disjointed brands on the separate eastern/western sections. Do we think the current fleet will be repainted before cascade to X1/X11? Guess it’s cheaper just to update vinyls.

And with the flurry of FWY Gemini’s incoming will we finally see a livery to go with the marketing material of the Coastal Clipper routes 1/1A and 99 this year?!

Just checked it out - Dereham with a 15/15/30 split is a bit odd but quick. The ABCD is a little confusing. Should be interesting

RELL6L · 28 Jan 2020

An aggressive and interesting timetable planned for the Excel! Some places being cut from 30 minutes to 60 minute frequency, four variations - plus variations on the variations in that some of the "A"s stop for fish and chips in Thorney and some don't. Buses leave Peterborough, Kings Lynn and Swaffham at 30 minute intervals eastbound, but by the time they reach Norwich the fast (C) is only 12 minutes behind the previous slow (B). Then between Norwich and Dereham, as TGW has pointed out, it's 15/15/30 both ways - why not 20/20/20? And why do the through B's stop in Hockering as opposed to the short D's (or some of them - Da perhaps!)?

If the service is 100% reliable, there are no mishaps, no delays on the A47 and the prospective passengers get to understand all the twiddles, then it could be good. But what when it all goes per shaped - as it surely will despite best intentions? What when a B is cut from Peterborough - will the next C go through Dereham or will it be two hours between buses into Dereham from the west? And will the buses clearly state which variation they are - or will passengers for some places only find out what it is as bypasses their intended destination? I know that a couple of these variations run now but bypassing Dereham on half the journeys is more drastic - and saves quite a lot of time - but halves Dereham's links to Swaffham and the west.

I wish it well but I wonder if it is too complicated...

F Great Eastern · 30 Jan 2020

A look inside the new Excel vehicles:
http://fecx1news.blogspot.com/2020/01/january-29th-2020-all-is-revealed.html

TheGrandWazoo · 30 Jan 2020

F Great Eastern said:
A look inside the new Excel vehicles:
http://fecx1news.blogspot.com/2020/01/january-29th-2020-all-is-revealed.html

They look very smart. Quite the upgrade on the current fleet.

MrGriff500 · 4 Mar 2020

It’s a few weeks since the withdrawal of the first B7TL ALX400, 32061 was withdrawn of this lot and here is how everything stands.

Following 32061’s withdrawal, 30948 failed and was withdrawn, followed closely by 32063/4 (the former being revived until recently).

32062 was the next to be withdrawn, along with Lowestoft’s 30901 which suffered not only engine failure but vandalism!

Skipping to now, the rest of the W Reg B7’s in Lowestoft, 30888 (heritage) and 30913, and finally 30900 have been withdrawn. Yarmouth’s 32058 also failed. Leaving just three W Reg versions in service in the whole of FEC. These being 32059, 32063 and 32065.

Finally, 30947 was also withdrawn and joined 32063 and 32065 that had also finally been taken out of service. This means GYT heritage 32059 is the only operational W Reg B7, with 30959, 30960, 30961 and 30964 of the YJ51 batch in operation.

Lastly, some transfers to Norwich. These include B7 President 32204, and B9’s 37571, 37574, 37579, 36184 and 36186. 37562 was also on loan to Norwich briefly but has now returned.

The B7L’s are also due the axe anytime now, being due to go last week. But eight are still in service with the only one withdrawn still being 66343.

dlp_888 · 4 Mar 2020

Quick Ipswich update:

Additional contract work has been gained in the form of services 72 (Ipswich-Bealings), 163 (Ipswich-Levington), 173 (Woodbridge-Kirton-Felixstowe) and 179 (Ipswich-Bucklesham-Woodbridge) commencing 6th April, previously operated by Suffolk Norse. I'd expect to see an additional "short" Enviro transferred in from elsewhere to operate this contract (44900 from Essex?).

32475 is the latest bus in Ipswich Reds livery. Its currently in the process of receiving the engine from recently withdrawn 32494 - it'll also get the seats from 32494 which are e-leather covered rather than moquette.
32488 is away for repaint.
32481 is VOR with engine problems.

dlp_888 · 25 Jun 2020

Ipswich update as at 25/06/20:

Volvo B7TL 32653 (AU05 MUV) carries new "mainline 66" route branding for service 66 (Ipswich Rail Station-Kesgrave & Martlesham Heath) - the use of the "Mainline" name a nod to the infamous 1994 Mainline Ipswich era. A further 2 B7TLs and 2 B7RLEs are expected to gain branding in the next week or so.

First Ipswich are really pushing ahead with the repainting of the fleet into the "Ipswich Reds" livery - a further 7 buses have been treated in the last month, these being 32486/32489/32490/32491/32653/32655/32656. Only 13 buses now remain in the old, faded "charcoal front" scheme.

Enviro 200 44908/44909 are recent transfers here from First Essex for additional SCC contract gains.

Enviros 44516/518-519 have lost "shuttle60s" branding following withdrawal of the 60/60A/60E Ipswich services at the end of May - this concludes 25 years of First Eastern Counties operating services to the Gainsborough/Greenwich area of the town.

B7TL 32481 returned to service on 12/06 after a long period out of action with engine problems. Similar 32488 is also out of service with engine trouble, repair work is being carried out at GY.
B7RLE 69425 is VOR with ongoing mechanical issues.
66957 is languishing at the rear of the depot having not seen use since March.

buslad1988 · 26 Jun 2020

Thanks for your updates, much appreciated. They’re certainly cracking on with repaints!

Mainline 66 branding looks great.

TheGrandWazoo · 5 Jul 2020

So it seems that FEC in Ipswich have won a couple more tenders that look like another two vehicles onto the PVR. https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/ipswich-buses.205851/

FEC is one of those operations I don't know. Looking from afar, they perhaps need to weed out some of the oldest fleet; it's fine for 2001 B7TLs for the works contracts but there's still a few oldies (ex London Tridents) on main routes and Ipswich seems to have a mature fleet. Yet it seems to be a decent operation and they appear to be winning the battle against Go Ahead in Norfolk plus slowly improving the Ipswich ops but is that a fair appraisal?

F Great Eastern · 5 Jul 2020

The problem about First Ipswich is the height of the depot roof means that you are unable to get modern deckers in there in a way that First would ideally like.

In the last couple of years the decker fleet which was exclusively 53 plate, has seen a small number of 05 plates arrive, but internally they're virtually the same, save for fabric rather than leather interior and having LEDs. When they repainted the 53 B7TLs they didn't fit LEDs which seemed a waste.

The 13 plate Enviro 300 that was backup for the Park and ride has now become part of the main fleet and one of the 62 plate Park and ride spec vehicles has since gone back into the main fleet and repainted.

Double Decks
12x 53 Plate B7TL ALX400
6x 05 plate B7TL ALX400

Single Decks
9x 05 plate B7RLE / Eclipse
3x 55 plate B7RLE / Eclipse
1x 08 plate Enviro 200 (28 seater)
7x 58 plate B7RLE / Eclipse
4x 09 plate Enviro 200 (35 seater)
3x 09 plate Enviro 200 (28 seater)
7x 62 plate Enviro 300 (6 exclusively for Park and Ride)
1x 13 plate Enviro 300.

TheGrandWazoo · 5 Jul 2020

F Great Eastern said:
The problem about First Ipswich is the height of the depot roof means that you are unable to get modern deckers in there in a way that First would ideally like.

In the last couple of years the decker fleet which was exclusively 53 plate, has seen a small number of 05 plates arrive, but internally they're virtually the same, save for fabric rather than leather interior and having LEDs. When they repainted the 53 B7TLs they didn't fit LEDs which seemed a waste.

The 13 plate Enviro 300 that was backup for the Park and ride has now become part of the main fleet and one of the 62 plate Park and ride spec vehicles has since gone back into the main fleet and repainted.

Double Decks
12x 53 Plate B7TL ALX400
6x 05 plate B7TL ALX400

Single Decks
9x 05 plate B7RLE / Eclipse
3x 55 plate B7RLE / Eclipse
1x 08 plate Enviro 200 (28 seater)
7x 58 plate B7RLE / Eclipse
4x 09 plate Enviro 200 (35 seater)
3x 09 plate Enviro 200 (28 seater)
7x 62 plate Enviro 300 (6 exclusively for Park and Ride)
1x 13 plate Enviro 300.

Take it the depot roof means that you can have c.13'10 max height deckers? Aside from some newish Scania e400mmc in West of England, not certain what else is newer and low height so the ALX400 will have to soldier on. It suppose it might be hoped that the older Eclipses would be replaced relatively soon though I believe some have been painted in the Ipswich Reds livery? Of course, what may have been planned and what happens may be markedly different.

The new Excel fleet came in as well as some ex Yorkshire B7TL Geminis. Some old ALXs disappeared from Yarmouth and Lowestoft, but did all the changes get made before longdown came?

F Great Eastern · 21 Jul 2020

According to the Ipswich Bus Blog, recently transferred Enviro 200s 44908/44909 have already left for Norwich.

Apparently Dart 43846 from Chelmsford, after being stored for 4 months has replaced it. That's going to look out of place.

F Great Eastern · 28 Jul 2020

32492 has been repainted in Ipswich and wears the new Stowmarket Swift branding in green.

dlp_888 · 6 Aug 2020

Ipswich update at 06/08/20.

Transfers out:

Enviro 200 44908/44909 to Norwich

Transfers in:

43846 Dart/Plaxton MPD from Chelmsford (as a spare for short-Enviro 200s 44928/45119).

Repaints:

B7TL/ALX400 32492/32493 in "Stowmarket Swift" branding

AU53HKK Ipswich 29.07.2020

Explore Hadliegh1849's 76687 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

B7RLE 66959 in "Stowmarket Swift" branding, as is 66950 (to return from repaint any time now).

B7TL/ALX400 32655/32656 now wear "Mainline 66" branding

AU05MVA

First Eastern Counties 326565 : Volvo B7TL now in Ipswich Reds livery with route branding for service 66.

flic.kr

All repainting of double deckers is now complete. Currently away for repaint is B7RLE 69005.

Next route to receive branding is the 64/65 Ipswich-Woodbridge/Aldeburgh corridor.

Other bits:

69425 has returned to use after a long period out of action with engine failure.
32488 too is now back in service following an engine rebuild.
66957 still remains in reserve - this and 66986 are expected to be transfered out when the repaint programme is complete.
Ipswich P&R operations are still suspended due to COVID-19.
New contract gains are the 115/116 (Ipswich-Debenham) and 174 (Woodbridge-Felixstowe), won from Ipswich Buses - these commence 31st August. Enviro 200s 44516-44519 will primarily be allocated to this work.

TheGrandWazoo · 6 Aug 2020

dlp_888 said:
Ipswich update at 06/08/20.

Transfers out:

Enviro 200 44908/44909 to Norwich

Transfers in:

43846 Dart/Plaxton MPD from Chelmsford (as a spare for short-Enviro 200s 44928/45119).

Repaints:

B7TL/ALX400 32492/32493 in "Stowmarket Swift" branding

AU53HKK Ipswich 29.07.2020

Explore Hadliegh1849's 76687 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

B7RLE 66959 in "Stowmarket Swift" branding, as is 66950 (to return from repaint any time now).

B7TL/ALX400 32655/32656 now wear "Mainline 66" branding

AU05MVA

First Eastern Counties 326565 : Volvo B7TL now in Ipswich Reds livery with route branding for service 66.

flic.kr

All repainting of double deckers is now complete. Currently away for repaint is B7RLE 69005.

Next route to receive branding is the 64/65 Ipswich-Woodbridge/Aldeburgh corridor.

Other bits:

69425 has returned to use after a long period out of action with engine failure.
32488 too is now back in service following an engine rebuild.
66957 still remains in reserve - this and 66986 are expected to be transfered out when the repaint programme is complete.
Ipswich P&R operations are still suspended due to COVID-19.
New contract gains are the 115/116 (Ipswich-Debenham) and 174 (Woodbridge-Felixstowe), won from Ipswich Buses - these commence 31st August. Enviro 200s 44516-44519 will primarily be allocated to this work.

Thanks for those bits of information. At the risk of sounding negative, and whilst it's great that they are improving their image in Ipswich, it's rather sad that they are having to spruce up fleet that is 15-17 years old already.

swifty · 7 Aug 2020

TheGrandWazoo said:
Thanks for those bits of information. At the risk of sounding negative, and whilst it's great that they are improving their image in Ipswich, it's rather sad that they are having to spruce up fleet that is 15-17 years old already.

Isn’t part of the issue, at least with the deckers, that First have no newer deckers that would fit in the garage at Ipswich?

TheGrandWazoo · 7 Aug 2020

swifty said:
Isn’t part of the issue, at least with the deckers, that First have no newer deckers that would fit in the garage at Ipswich?

Indeed it is. Since the 2005 ALXs, can’t recall any deckers being under 4.4m until West of England got some (but that’s not to say I’ve not forgotten something!!). Don’t think Ipswich could justify some 3 yr old Scania deckers!

I was thinking more of the Eclipses at a time when similar aged ones are being disposed of or are becoming trainers. Some more ex Glasgow e300s were more what I was thinking

smtglasgow · 7 Aug 2020

Suspect that with PVR reductions on the way all across the country we’ll see quite a lot of movement to get rid of the oldest stock – and Glasgow may well have some E300s going spare.

Eastern Counties is one of the most interesting bits of First atm. Between friends, family and work I’m in Suffolk and Norwich a lot and, old stock excepted, the operations just seem to have a bit more life to them than other parts of the empire. Decent publicity, good branding, incremental service improvements – there’s a lot going right at FEC. Kudos to the management - hopefully someone senior is noticing and wondering if there are ways to transfer some of the learning to the weaker ops.

swifty · 7 Aug 2020

TheGrandWazoo said:
Indeed it is. Since the 2005 ALXs, can’t recall any deckers being under 4.4m until West of England got some (but that’s not to say I’ve not forgotten something!!). Don’t think Ipswich could justify some 3 yr old Scania deckers!

I was thinking more of the Eclipses at a time when similar aged ones are being disposed of or are becoming trainers. Some more ex Glasgow e300s were more what I was thinking

Indeed, as you say similar ages B7RLEs are being converted to DTVs, a fleet of E300s would look cracking in the reds livery alongside the 2 already done.

You do wonder if Norwich would be first in line for replacement of similar ages B7RLEs though?

swifty · 7 Aug 2020

F Great Eastern said:
Apparently Dart 43846 from Chelmsford, after being stored for 4 months has replaced it. That's going to look out of place.

It was 66957 that had been stored for 4 months, 43846 had come straight from service in Chelmsford.

F Great Eastern · 7 Aug 2020

smtglasgow said:
Suspect that with PVR reductions on the way all across the country we’ll see quite a lot of movement to get rid of the oldest stock – and Glasgow may well have some E300s going spare.

Eastern Counties is one of the most interesting bits of First atm. Between friends, family and work I’m in Suffolk and Norwich a lot and, old stock excepted, the operations just seem to have a bit more life to them than other parts of the empire. Decent publicity, good branding, incremental service improvements – there’s a lot going right at FEC. Kudos to the management - hopefully someone senior is noticing and wondering if there are ways to transfer some of the learning to the weaker ops.

For a while it certainly wasn't the case though, the last few years have certainly been better than the start of the previous decade where it was abysmal and very much seen in the shadows of Ipswich Buses.

TheGrandWazoo · 7 Aug 2020

smtglasgow said:
Suspect that with PVR reductions on the way all across the country we’ll see quite a lot of movement to get rid of the oldest stock – and Glasgow may well have some E300s going spare.

Eastern Counties is one of the most interesting bits of First atm. Between friends, family and work I’m in Suffolk and Norwich a lot and, old stock excepted, the operations just seem to have a bit more life to them than other parts of the empire. Decent publicity, good branding, incremental service improvements – there’s a lot going right at FEC. Kudos to the management - hopefully someone senior is noticing and wondering if there are ways to transfer some of the learning to the weaker ops.

I can only speak from afar; my experience has been limited over recent years but they seem to be better than some and undertaking a gradual recovery rather than the more eye catching Kernow.

If Norwich P&R is retendered this year, that could be a real game changer for FEC as a win would really bring Konect’s future under greater scrutiny!!

As for cascades and fleet renewal, guess those plans are completely up in smoke. Certainly, aside from the schools and contracts in GY/LS, there’s quite a few older deckers still going.

TheGrandWazoo · 7 Aug 2020

swifty said:
Indeed, as you say similar ages B7RLEs are being converted to DTVs, a fleet of E300s would look cracking in the reds livery alongside the 2 already done.

You do wonder if Norwich would be first in line for replacement of similar ages B7RLEs though?

Very possibly - hence why the 2005 Eclipses are being repainted.

More pressing might be culling the oldest Tridents. You’d think Norwich might be a good place to send some Streetdecks?

cnjb8 · 12 Aug 2020

New First Coastlink Livery Revealed

Today see's the intoduction of a new livery for the rebranded X1/X2 services for First which has been named Coastlink. The new livery will b...

eastnorfolkbus.blogspot.com

New livery for X1 and X2

swifty · 12 Aug 2020

cnjb8 said:
New First Coastlink Livery Revealed

Today see's the intoduction of a new livery for the rebranded X1/X2 services for First which has been named Coastlink. The new livery will b...

eastnorfolkbus.blogspot.com

New livery for X1 and X2

I’d heard they were due paint, that’s looks cracking! FEC are up there with First op cos leading the way at the moment.

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