Weekly News Round Up 19/4/15

Another really slow week for news this week that hasn't already been reported. No repaints, no service change announcments, no fleet movements, no really rare workings*! However there are a couple of items to report a bit further afield so here goes.

Andy's Bus Blog was first to break the news Friday (that I saw anyway) that Stagecoach have revealed their new vehicle order for 2015. Norfolk Green are set to receive 5 new Optare Solo SR's with fleet numbers 48021-5. Andy reports that they are likely to be M990SL variants.

Galloway's Optare Solo SR similar to those Norfolk Green are expecting

As part of the same order Stagecoach are replacing the original 09 reg Scania E400's and Volvo B7rle's on the Cambridge Busway with 10 new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UDs numbered 15211-20 and 10 Wrightbus Eclipse Urban 3 bodied Volvo B8RLEs numbered 21301-10. Not sure when these are due for delivery but it will undoubtedly mean another trip to Cambridge this year!

Suffolk Norse have introduced 2 new coaches in the form of Volvo B8R Plaxton Leopard's. Pics can be found on East Norfolk Bus Blog by clicking here.

I spotted First Ipswich Volvo B7tl 32490 AU53 HKH at Ipswich Station on Wednesday. If my information is correct that vehicle had been long term VOR so good to see her back on the road.

32490 as part of an impressive line up at OCM December 2014

*After typing that there had been no rare workings Cameron from Yarmouth Bus Page tweeted this pic of Lowestoft E200 44513 on the X1 to Norwich at Yarmouth yesterday. For the next three weekends the A47 is closed at Postwich to allow construction of a new bridge and so 3 extra buses are needed. Well done Cameron for spotting that before anyone else.

45113 at Market Gates on the X1 to Norwich yesterday         pic (c) Cameron Robinson

Another pic that Cameron posted last weekend caught my eye. On Thursday East Norfolk Bus Blog posted a few pics taken at Yarmouth Coach Park in August 1991 (see here.). One of those vehicles was Colchester Borough Transport Leyland Olympian H47 MJN. Fast forward nearly 24 years and look what Cameron saw operating Rail Replacement at Norwich last weekend, now with Talisman Coaches.

Yep - still going strong and looking just as good.      pic (c) Cameron Robinson

 I have added more fleet lists to the Fleet List section of the blog, by providing direct links to individual operator's websites. You are now just one click away from the fleet lists of BorderBus, Konect, Hedingham/Chambers, Sanders, Ipswich Buses and Carters Coaches. Please note that those lists are maintained by the operators concerned and some are updated more than others. Nothing I can do about any errors I'm afraid.

A quick update on the appeal for a saviour for the last ever Olympian 34110. Roy from ENBB who also carried the appeal tells me there are several parties who have expressed an interest, and First are sifting through them to make sure she goes to the one giving her the best chance of preservation. I'll keep you updated as and when I hear anything else.

It has been a great week for the blog and as I'm posting more than ever thanks to a renewed and refreshed mojo it would be silly to list all the posts as they are all in the sidebar on the left anyway. So here are a few highlights with easy links.

On Tuesday I had a meeting with Dave Jordan, Commercial Officer at Anglian to discuss the forthcoming service changes - here.

Wednesday saw me reviewing another Mercedes Citaro demonstrator and getting confirmation from Ipswich Buses of their Citaro order - here.

Thursday was the highlight of the week, if not the year, with the day spent at BorderBus being given access to areas and procedures no blog has ever had before. A two part feature resulted and can be found Part One and Part Two.

A feature that has proved very popular are the features on buses worldwide. This week saw features from Mozambique and Luxembourg. This morning saw a feature from Poland, and I have posts lined up from USA and elsewhere. Those posts would be impossible if people such as Paulo weren't good enough to send the pics in, so keep them coming. The holiday season is fast approaching so if you go abroad take a few snaps and send them in - the more people that become contributors and feel part of the blog the better. Trains and trams as well as buses.

Oh in case you have been wondering no other candidates for the Election here have bothered to respond to my email so read into that what you will. Fair play to Russell Whiting of Labour for taking the time and trouble to meet me and discuss Labour's public transport policies. 

The first of what I hope will become a regular Saturday rail round up was posted yesterday. Obviously rail news is nationwide rather than strictly local and I'm grateful to Harry Stanley from East Anglia Rail Scene for allowing me to source a lot of my information from there. You can see the first Rail Round Up here.

Highlights for the forthcoming week include hopefuly meeting up with Arriva Southern Counties' Commercial Manager on the new Colchester Park & Ride. It's still to be confirmed but fingers crossed - I'll be there if he is or not!!

Well that became a longer round up than I thought it would! Have a great week everyone and keep checking in as posts will be going up regularly as long as I keep getting the material.