First Eastern Counties

[83G/84D]

StreetDecks 35912 (BN72 TVD) and 35913 (BN72 TVE) arrived at Ipswich depot this afternoon (after initial delivery to Norwich), with a third due to be collected this evening.

There will be one StreetDeck parked at Ipswich's Old Cattle Market bus station throughout tomorrow for driver training, publicity etc. All 3 should be in public use by end of the week.

Thanks I will have to pay another visit to the area sometime. Maybe early next year when they will hopefully all be in service.

 

[317 forever]

There's been more developments on the vehicle front at First Eastern Counties. Volvo B7TL/President 32210 suffered gearbox failure about two weeks ago and has been withdrawn, finally rendering Barbie livery extinct in the area. It's expected to go for scrap imminently, a local preservationist had expressed interest but clearly couldn't seal the deal. Norwich's collection of Presidents, both Tridents and B7s, continue to give excellent service in the city, almost all now over 20 years old, but surely will be on the hitlist soon.

Meanwhile in Lowestoft, five ex-London United E200s have been bought, refurbished, and being drip-fed into service as of this week. These should kill off the last quintet of Pointer Darts at the depot; indeed Eastern Counties heritage livered 42926 has already been withdrawn. They look incredibly smart, but I'm surprised First plumped for 13 year old replacements given there's many newer ex-London E200s on the secondhand market right now.

Ipswich have secured nine 12-plate B7RLEs from First Weymouth, which are slowly being repainted and put into service to remove older 05-reg siblings. There's rumours that the depot may be due a batch of lowheight Wright Streetdecks to clear out the B7TL/ALX400s, which if they materialise would be the first new vehicles at Ipswich in nearly 14 years. Even then, it's been mooted that the Streetdecks might only replace the 53-reg B7s, with the six members of the 05-reg batch staying for the meantime on school services. While these may be the youngest ALX400s in the First fleet, given the cull of the type elsewhere in the empire I somehow doubt these will survive! Either way it's a welcome upgrade of the Ipswich fleet.

Finally, it appears some ex-Go Ahead London B9TLs have been sourced, for an unknown destination at present. The former WVL314 is the first to be completed. I'm unsure as to how many are coming this way. By process of elimination I presume these are for Great Yarmouth to remove the 51-plate ALX400s and 32210, but we shall see!

Although former WVL314 still has yellow grabrails, it has had a light refurb and been given grey leather seating.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Seems that not all of the Eclipse 2 single deckers from Weymouth are going to Ipswich now, some have entered service elsewhere in FEC.

 

[vla50]

What are 35114, 140 & 163 replacing? The Euro 3 Tridents (33003 & 167) & 33162 which has just been marked as SORN?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

What are 35114, 140 & 163 replacing? The Euro 3 Tridents (33003 & 167) & 33162 which has just been marked as SORN?

What with Streetdecks and the secondhand B9s, there is a clear purging of the oldest fleet. It's the First Group policy to wipe out the Tridents, Darts, Solos (not SRs) and the most elderly B7TLs so grab them whilst you can.

 

[83G/84D]

What with Streetdecks and the secondhand B9s, there is a clear purging of the oldest fleet. It's the First Group policy to wipe out the Tridents, Darts, Solos (not SRs) and the most elderly B7TLs so grab them whilst you can.

Not to forget the early B7RLE’s.

Just a few Darts hanging on in Essex and Cymru

 

[WibbleWobble]

Just a few Darts hanging on in Essex and Cymru

And Yeovil (unless they've recently been withdrawn).

 

[cnjb8]

Not to forget the early B7RLE’s.

Just a few Darts hanging on in Essex and Cymru

One ex-Channel Islands Dart left in Glasgow too

And Yeovil (unless they've recently been withdrawn).

All withdrawn now AFAIK

 

[Bristol LH]

One ex-Channel Islands Dart left in Glasgow too

All withdrawn now AFAIK

First Cymru has four Darts left in service - First Eastern Counties 44928 arrived a week ago to presumably see off one of them.

 

[vla50]

First Cymru has four Darts left in service - FEC 44928 arrived a week ago to presumably see off one of them.

I should assume the 3 E200s from Buses of Somerset will then see the remainder off

 

[GusB]

This thread is to discuss First Eastern Counties. The last time I checked, Somerset and Cymru were on the other side of our island! Please stay on topic.

 

[Volvodart]

Norwich's bus network could be changed radically if a £25m scheme to swap diesel vehicles for electric goes ahead.

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23189777.norwich-buses-made-electric-25m-plans-city/

Norfolk County Council has submitted a proposal to the Department for Transport (DfT) which could see 70 zero-emission buses arriving in the city in 2024.

Council leaders say that if successful, the plans would be an "extraordinary boost" for their ambitions to run a net-zero emissions transport system in Norfolk.

Martin Wilby, cabinet member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “We are excited that we already have the 15 buses confirmed to be in operation in 2024 but to have the opportunity to increase this to a potential 70 buses was one not to be missed.

"If successful, this will be an extraordinary boost to our ambitions to run a net-zero transport system in Norfolk."

The plans follow an earlier successful bid alongside First Bus for 15 electric vehicles for the city, which was secured through a £6.9m investment from the DfT and First Bus as part of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Access (ZEBRA) scheme.

Mr Wilby added: "The support that First bus has shown for this demonstrates the excellent working relationship we have with our bus operators here in Norfolk and how working together can help to achieve the very best for our county.”

The electric buses would serve the Greater Norwich area and will run through the city centre, an area which is already under management for air quality.

The council says the switch from diesel to electric would reduce Co2 emissions by 80,000 tonnes, the equivalent of taking 4700 small petrol cars off the road, helping to reduce the harm to health from pollution.

The total cost of £25,110,250 would be split between the DfT and First Bus, which has promised an investment of £16,438,497 to match the £8.6m from the DfT.

Piers Marlow, managing director at First East of England said: "This proposal will enable our Roundtree Way bus depot in Norwich to operate an entire zero-emission bus fleet, removing all diesel infrastructure.

“We will continue to work closely with Norfolk County Council to deliver bus priority for customers in Norwich and progress the decarbonisation of our bus fleets across the region.”

 

[90sWereBetter]

After a long period of decline over the last six years, the end of the Norwich Presidents is upon us. Six ex-Bournemouth Yellow Buses E400MMCs are due to enter service imminently, ostensibly for Costessey Park and Ride but available for all city routes in the lilac fronted Urban livery. In addition, the first of the ex-Bristol Streetdecks, 35163 has just been outshopped today in Orange Line 21/22 livery, one of the two bastions of President operation in Norwich.

The E400MMCs will cascade the seven ex-Manchester B9s to other routes (although in practice they already work across Norwich), which will wipe out more Presidents. Apparently some of York's B9s are due to come south too once their Streetdeck deliveries are complete. No word yet on what will take over the Purple Line 36/37/38 corridor from its Presidents, but I would wager the Manchester B9s will be refurbished and repainted for this corridor.

 

[M803UYA]

Six ex-Bournemouth Yellow Buses E400MMCs are due to enter service imminently, ostensibly for Costessey Park and Ride but available for all city routes in the lilac fronted Urban livery.

These were mooted for First Halifax so interesting to see they're coming here.

 

[MacT]

These were mooted for First Halifax so interesting to see they're coming here.

The plan was always for the ex Yellows SN17s to move to Norwich.

 

[M803UYA]

The plan was always for the ex Yellows SN17s to move to Norwich.

Ah, that makes sense then. Can't recall where I read it, though!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

See on https://eastnorfolkbus.blogspot.com/ that the ex Bristol Streetdecks are being prepared for the 21/22 to replace the elderly Presidents. Slight irony in that the first was 35163, originally ordered for Norwich but diverted to Wells in exchange for the Green Line Streetlites.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Ipswich has had a bunch of Ticketer tap on / tap off machines delivered.

 

[dlp_888]

Just bringing this one up to date a touch more.

The new Wright StreetDecks for First Eastern Counties "Ipswich Reds" fleet started to arrive yesterday (20/09/22), with initial delivery to Norwich for certification, vinyl application etc. See link below for photos:

New Arrivals For Ipswich Appear

The first two Wright bodied Low Height Streetdecks have arrived at Norwich for prep prior to moving down to their new home in Ipswich. 17 br...

eastnorfolkbus.blogspot.com

These will receive fleetnumbers 35910-35926.
A total of 17 are due.
These are built to "lowheight" 13'10"/4220mm format to enable access to the fuelling lanes of Ipswich depot where there is a low roof.

The first 5 to arrive are registered:

35910 BN72 TVA
35911 BN72 TVC
35912 BN72 TVD
35913 BN72 TVE
35914 BN72 TVF


More updates to follow.

Bringing this one up-to-date once more (12/01/23).

A further 6 Wright StreetDecks have now arrived with First Eastern Counties for allocation to Ipswich depot for the "Ipswich Reds" fleet. These are registered as follows:

35915 BN72 TVJ
35921 BN72 TVT
35922 BN72 TVU
35923 BN72 TVV
35924 BN72 TVW
35925 BN72 TVX


See link below for photos:

https://eastnorfolkbus.blogspot.com/2023/01/latest-streetdeck-deliveries-for-ipswich.html


These will be pressed into service immediately to replace ailing Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400s. The final 6 StreetDecks (35916-35920/35926) are due to arrive over the coming weeks, bringing the total number of new vehicles to 17 - a substantial, and well overdue, investment for the Ipswich fleet.

Recent withdrawals from the Ipswich fleet were:

Volvo B7TL/ALX400 32480/32487/32488/32493 (AU53 HJX, HKE/F/L)
Volvo B7RLE/Wright 69011 (AU05 DMZ).

 

[F Great Eastern]

35921/2/3 already in service today.

Just as well too as the number of mechanical failures of the ALX400s in recent weeks has been high.

 

[JD2168]

Looking on the South Yorkshire Transport forum Streetlite 66883 has also moved to Norwich from Sheffield.

 

[Pit_buzzer]

Looking on the South Yorkshire Transport forum Streetlite 66883 has also moved to Norwich from Sheffield.

It's not a Streetlite; it's a B7RLE training bus. It is no longer suitable for use in Sheffield due to the forthcoming low emissions zone.

 

[90sWereBetter]

Going for a jolly to Ipswich and then Colchester tomorrow for one last ALX400 bash, it's starting to look like I picked the right weekend! I remember the 53-plate B7s when they were brand new in Norwich, scary to think they're finally at the end of the line.

In more surprising news, a First Glasgow B9TL (37533) has been picked to replace the venerable open-top Trident 32905 on Great Yarmouth seafront services.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Going for a jolly to Ipswich and then Colchester tomorrow for one last ALX400 bash, it's starting to look like I picked the right weekend! I remember the 53-plate B7s when they were brand new in Norwich, scary to think they're finally at the end of the line.

In more surprising news, a First Glasgow B9TL (37533) has been picked to replace the venerable open-top Trident 32905 on Great Yarmouth seafront services.

37533 - SF08SNJ (Thorntons)

Seen leaving First Glasgow's Caledonia Depot is Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL 37533 - SF08SNJ on the back of a low loader for Thornton's vehicle refurbishers.

flic.kr

Chance shot of it leaving Caledonia today.

 

[Busfan98]

I do wonder when the 6 Enviro 400 MMC will enter service in Norwich - it has been a while now.

 

[F Great Eastern]

35921/2/3 already in service today.

Just as well too as the number of mechanical failures of the ALX400s in recent weeks has been high.

35924 entered service on 16th with 35915 in prep this evening.

35915 entered service tonight (17th)

 

[90sWereBetter]

I do wonder when the 6 Enviro 400 MMC will enter service in Norwich - it has been a while now.

As if by magic, 34425 entered service this morning on the Pink Line 11/12 corridor.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Ipswich StreetDeck 35925 entered service this evening.

 

[vla50]

Why's 32490 transferring to Norwich?

 

[Busfan98]

As if by magic, 34425 entered service this morning on the Pink Line 11/12 corridor.

Yes i noticed that, think once they all enter service they will remain on the 510 and 511.

Why's 32490 transferring to Norwich?

It might be just on loan or something. I saw an Ipswich red B7Rle, although I can't remember which one, on a Norwich route on Tuesday evening.

I noticed another Streetdeck (35140) now painted up for orange line, and I suspect others will follow soon, and purple line will get B9TLs. I do wonder how long the Tridents have left now, possibly matter of weeks. And I'm not sure what's happening with the the B7TL Presidents; I guess they're heading same way.