Headlines
- Konect win Norwich Park & Ride routes
- Steam train crushes low loader
- Another bus fire in South London
- Last Scania leaves Ipswich - again
- MMC ride and review
- Another Ipswich refurb revealed
- Galloways Jubilee coach caught on camera
I broke the news on Twitter on Friday that I had been informed by someone within Go-Ahead that Konect had been awarded all the Norwich Park and Ride routes to commence in September, as well as running Norwich Bus Station for the next 5 years. I was also told this would require 22 new vehicles. Some of these will apparently be stabled at Beccles. The stipulations of the P&R are that at no time during the contract can vehicles be more than 6 years old. This means that if new vehicles are not brought in they will have to be changed during the 5 years of the contract. However, after keeping quiet for over a month now I can reveal how this will affect other Konect services. There will be 5 new E400's for the flagship 8 route between Tuckswood and Norwich Riverside. The current E400's on the 8 will cascade onto the 2, which is soon to undergo improvements. This will release the Optare Tempos currently in use on the 2 to operate City Routes, currently operated by ex Anglian Versas, some of which will return to Anglian to replace the Streetlites, whose lease expires in July. One of the consequences I'm particularly looking forward to is the bendibuses currently operating the Costessy Park and Ride will enter regular service. I assume the other E400's already operating P&R will also enter regular service, probably freeing up the ex London Geminis to go elsewhere in the East Anglia group. Congratulations to Konect - I know it was a competitive bidding process.
I am grateful to Nicky Pursey for alerting me to an article in the Telegraph online reporting on a pretty spectacuar incident that happened in Swanage on Thursday. A 65 tonne steam locomotice was being transported from Swanage Heritage Centre to the West Somerset Railway in Taunton, when the low loader simply snapped under the weight. A 40ft gouge in the road ensued and I imagine a few heads were scratched. You can read the full article by clicking here.
Now look what you've gone and done!! pic by Telegrapgh Online |
The burnt out shell of the ex something! |
65579 in Ipswich a coupe of weeks ago |
The new Enviro400 MMC demonstrator in Bury on Friday. pic (c) DW |
IB 93 X93 LBJ looking rather good in new livery. pic Hants & Dorset trim |
Ex Metrobus Scania Omnidekka YN55 PZC waiting to go to Beccles. pic (c) Mike |
Galloway's Jubiilee liveried Mercedes Tourismo tri-axle BP15 XPJ |
Finally here is definitely the first published pic from Norwich Running Day - Ipswich's Eastern Counties liveried VA479 in Castle Meadow, Norwich less than 30 mins before this post was published.
VA479, driven by Freddie the Frog sorry Chris Speed at Castle Meadow. |
Posts This Week
Just Another Manic Monday
I spend the day finding a place to catch a Class 56 hauled ballast train for the Mid Norfolk Railway.
Cambridge Awayday Part One
Bryan and I go to Cambridge to ride the Busway. Notable is that I am gushing in my praise for some E400's!
Moor Business Park MOT Special
A special post on the new MOT facilities at Truck & Plant Engineering in Beccles, and their first customer - BorderBus's E300
Cambridge Awayday Part Two
A look at the non Busway vehicles operating in Cambridge.
MMC Hammered
I ride and review the new Alexander Dennis Enviro300 MMC
Ipswich Loco Fest
A very entertaining half hour at Ipswich with a plethora of different locos, including close ups of a Class 70 and a top and tail Class 37 test train.
That's it for this week. No quiz as no one responded to last week's quiz. If anyone wants it to continue let me know. Sorry to rail enthusiasts at the lack of rail news this week, but I do have a special Class 365 post lined up for one day this week. Stay safe everyone.
The Abellio bonfire was a euro 3 Dennis Trident, well known for self-combusting!
ReplyDeleteCheers buddy - knew someone would fill in that gap.
ReplyDelete