East Anglia Bus Scene

[buslad1988]

At Arriva Colchester the pair of VDL DB300 Gemini 2’s have been replaced by 58 plate Enviro 400’s (6458 and 6461) the latter being in a battered Max livery.

With the StreetLites also moved on and the rest of the fleet being made up of 58/09 plate Enviro 200’s (bar the sole 08 plate VDL SB200 Pulsar 3761) Colchester really does feel like a budget operation.

Weren’t the Citaro’s made available from the shires supposed to be heading here?

Colchester must be in line for Versa’s or something newer soon.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

At Arriva Colchester the pair of VDL DB300 Gemini 2’s have been replaced by 58 plate Enviro 400’s (6458 and 6461) the latter being in a battered Max livery.

With the StreetLites also moved on and the rest of the fleet being made up of 58/09 plate Enviro 200’s (bar the sole 08 plate VDL SB200 Pulsar 3761) Colchester really does feel like a budget operation.

Weren’t the Citaro’s made available from the shires supposed to be heading here?

Colchester must be in line for Versa’s or something newer soon.

Sounds like making it a depreciation free zone?

I thought the 133 to Stansted had an age requirement hence the Streetlites but clearly not.

 

[Cesarcollie]

At Arriva Colchester the pair of VDL DB300 Gemini 2’s have been replaced by 58 plate Enviro 400’s (6458 and 6461) the latter being in a battered Max livery.

With the StreetLites also moved on and the rest of the fleet being made up of 58/09 plate Enviro 200’s (bar the sole 08 plate VDL SB200 Pulsar 3761) Colchester really does feel like a budget operation.

Weren’t the Citaro’s made available from the shires supposed to be heading here?

Colchester must be in line for Versa’s or something newer soon.

I’m sure Colchester is in line for something. But I doubt that it’s newer vehicles…..

 

[buslad1988]

Service changes now announced by Arriva in Colchester…

Arriva Bus

www.arrivabus.co.uk

Service 1 increased to every 7/8 mins on the Greenstead end, reduced from every 12 to 15 minutes at Shrub end - although a Sunday timetable is introduced and extended to Stanway Sainsbury’s (shame it can’t do this half hourly during the week also).

Revised timetables for services 8 and 133.

No change to service 2.

One last throw of the dice?

 

[buslad1988]

Ipswich Buses have purchased a further 3 Enviro 200MMC’s in the form of YW68PFA/E/K.

This’ll bring white buses making up roughly 10% of the fleet - hopefully a new livery will be launching this year!

 

[buslad1988]

The Central Connect/Konect Bus Norwich Park & Ride alterations from the end of March have been announced… links provided on East Norfolk Bus Blog here:

Simonds Refresh

Similarly, Simonds has published new information concerning their takeover of two Norwich Park and Ride routes from 30th March 2025. Further...

eastnorfolkbus.blogspot.com

Central Connect have incorporated their Diss service 82 into the Harford timetable (although the PDF on their website seems to have a few mistakes). Meanwhile Postwick gains brand new high spec minibuses - presumably Enviro 200MMC’s? Surprised they’ve gone for minibuses, If it’s popularity increases overcrowding may become an issue?!

Konectbus Refresh

Konectbus has announced on social media that it is unveiling its fresh new look and enhanced routes. Starting at the end of March, when the ...

eastnorfolkbus.blogspot.com

Konect Bus (with their new very bland livery and logo, reminiscent of Stagecoach) are also making a wave of changes across their network with the sudden influx of available buses/drivers from the loss of their contracts. The Sprowston Road corridor they’ll be up to every 15 mins on and the 8/8A increased to every 20 mins. Plus a lot of changes to their Dereham area buses.

First bus I guess won’t be far behind announcing what they’ll be doing? Will the converted electric streetdecks arrive in time?

 

[borage]

First bus I guess won’t be far behind announcing what they’ll be doing? Will the converted electric streetdecks arrive in time?

First's timetables are in their Bus Open Data data already:
Sprowston:

Sprowston Park and Ride (Stand A) – Bus Times

bustimes.org

Airport & Thickthorn:

PR1 - Airport Park & Ride - Norwich City Centre - Thickthorn P&R

First Eastern Counties

bustimes.org

 

[dk1]

The Central Connect/Konect Bus Norwich Park & Ride alterations from the end of March have been announced… links provided on East Norfolk Bus Blog here:

Simonds Refresh

Similarly, Simonds has published new information concerning their takeover of two Norwich Park and Ride routes from 30th March 2025. Further...

eastnorfolkbus.blogspot.com

Central Connect have incorporated their Diss service 82 into the Harford timetable (although the PDF on their website seems to have a few mistakes). Meanwhile Postwick gains brand new high spec minibuses - presumably Enviro 200MMC’s? Surprised they’ve gone for minibuses, If it’s popularity increases overcrowding may become an issue?!

Konectbus Refresh

Konectbus has announced on social media that it is unveiling its fresh new look and enhanced routes. Starting at the end of March, when the ...

eastnorfolkbus.blogspot.com

Konect Bus (with their new very bland livery and logo, reminiscent of Stagecoach) are also making a wave of changes across their network with the sudden influx of available buses/drivers from the loss of their contracts. The Sprowston Road corridor they’ll be up to every 15 mins on and the 8/8A increased to every 20 mins. Plus a lot of changes to their Dereham area buses.

First bus I guess won’t be far behind announcing what they’ll be doing? Will the converted electric streetdecks arrive in time?

Yes I see the 717 Hemsby-Norwich runs daily Monday-Saturday rather than Wednesdays (Summer only) and Saturdays. The weekday service however looks more geared up for students and commuters as no return service from Norwich between 12:37 & 17:22.

 

[transportphoto]

Meanwhile Postwick gains brand new high spec minibuses - presumably Enviro 200MMC’s? Surprised they’ve gone for minibuses, If it’s popularity increases overcrowding may become an issue?!

Postwick currently runs with Enviro 200s. Short and long wheelbase examples coping more than adequately with the amount of fresh air they currently carry around. Whilst the current fleet is largely Manchester (GoNorthWest) hand-me-downs, I can’t see overcrowding becoming a problem in the foreseeable future unless a miracle happens.

 

[dk1]

Central Connect have incorporated their Diss service 82 into the Harford timetable (although the PDF on their website seems to have a few mistakes). Meanwhile Postwick gains brand new high spec minibuses - presumably Enviro 200MMC’s? Surprised they’ve gone for minibuses, If it’s popularity increases overcrowding may become an issue?!

Aren’t they Midibuses rather than Minibuses? Should be more than enough capacity on the Postwick P&R.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Hedingham and Chambers being rebranded under the Konect brand it has been announced.

Internal memo issued to staff end of last week.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Hedingham and Chambers being rebranded under the Konect brand it has been announced.

Internal memo issued to staff end of last week.

Thanks for sharing. I did wonder if expansion of the Konectbus brand might be on the cards when I saw photos of the new livery with 'Norfolk' lettering under the new style logos, although I'm not sure if that is really necessary (are we going to end up with both Essex and Suffolk branded vehicles as well, that then inevitably spend much of their time in the other county/counties?). A shame to lose the long established names, but I guess it gives a bit of uniformity to the Go East Anglia operation with 'Hedingham & Chambers' being a bit of a mouthful and the reputation perhaps not all that great.

I think it's a real shame the yellow is going though. While the original livery perhaps suited boxy buses like the Tempos better than it did modern vehicles/deckers, the later blue with grey skirt and yellow pencil line was in my opinion a bit dull but smart enough. The new one is just horrible though! Personally, I think the original style 'konectexpress' livery (linked to below) was a lovely creation and would have made a great base for a standard livery going forward. Admittedly it won't have sat quite as nicely on non-Enviros, but I'm sure even a variation of it would look preferable to what appears to be likely to be rolled out over a large area now.

SN61 CZX

Alexander Dennis Enviro400 - Konectexpress - Norwich fast Rail Station 8

www.flickr.com

 

[buslad1988]

Hedingham and Chambers being rebranded under the Konect brand it has been announced.

Internal memo issued to staff end of last week.

Interesting - expect an imminent press release then.

Konect Suffolk/Essex presumably?

Quite the move getting rid of such well established names like Hedingham and Chambers in their areas! Konect means nothing outside of Norfolk.

Wonder how long it’ll take to get repainting the already mixed bag of a fleet!

 

[F Great Eastern]

Interesting - expect an imminent press release then.

Konect Suffolk/Essex presumably?

Quite the move getting rid of such well established names like Hedingham and Chambers in their areas! Konect means nothing outside of Norfolk.

Wonder how long it’ll take to get repainting the already mixed bag of a fleet!

Thanks for sharing. I did wonder if expansion of the Konectbus brand might be on the cards when I saw photos of the new livery with 'Norfolk' lettering under the new style logos, although I'm not sure if that is really necessary (are we going to end up with both Essex and Suffolk branded vehicles as well, that then inevitably spend much of their time in the other county/counties?). A shame to lose the long established names, but I guess it gives a bit of uniformity to the Go East Anglia operation with 'Hedingham & Chambers' being a bit of a mouthful and the reputation perhaps not all that great.

I think it's a real shame the yellow is going though. While the original livery perhaps suited boxy buses like the Tempos better than it did modern vehicles/deckers, the later blue with grey skirt and yellow pencil line was in my opinion a bit dull but smart enough. The new one is just horrible though! Personally, I think the original style 'konectexpress' livery (linked to below) was a lovely creation and would have made a great base for a standard livery going forward. Admittedly it won't have sat quite as nicely on non-Enviros, but I'm sure even a variation of it would look preferable to what appears to be likely to be rolled out over a large area now.

SN61 CZX

Alexander Dennis Enviro400 - Konectexpress - Norwich fast Rail Station 8

www.flickr.com

The new operator names will be Konectbus Norfolk and Konnectbuses Essex and Suffolk. Both in same livery, minus different branding.

The rationale for the Essex and Suffolk name being Konnectbuses and not Konnectbus is because there are some route numbers which are the same on the Norfolk operation and the Essex and Suffolk one which can cause some confusion.

Chambers and Hedingham reputation isn't great, and with a lot of their Suffolk and Norfolk fleet quite scruffy and in need of repaints, I guess they hope they can give them a fresh start.

 

[buslad1988]

Chambers and Hedingham reputation isn't great, and with a lot of their Suffolk and Norfolk fleet quite scruffy and in need of repaints, I guess they hope they can give them a fresh start.

Why didn’t they just adopt the Go East Anglia name for the entire regions fleet.

The problem is it doesn’t matter what new name they take on - it’ll still be the same tatty elderly fleet which will take years to repaint, rebrand and be run by the same management etc.

I know they tried unsuccessfully with the zebra 2 bid to replace the entire Chambers fleet but I assume then that means they’ll just continue on indefinitely as they are.

It must cost the division a fortune in fuel running all those old thirsty Scania’s of various types from just about every other Go Ahead subsidiary going.

In other news rumour has it Arriva is about to pull the plug on Southend and Colchester - lots of the newest stock transferred out for older stuff. I’d say Central Connect may be a possible contender? Already in Harlow and bought Simonds.

 

[MotCO]

Why didn’t they just adopt the Go East Anglia name for the entire regions fleet.

The problem is it doesn’t matter what new name they take on - it’ll still be the same tatty elderly fleet which will take years to repaint, rebrand and be run by the same management etc.

I know they tried unsuccessfully with the zebra 2 bid to replace the entire Chambers fleet but I assume then that means they’ll just continue on indefinitely as they are.

It must cost the division a fortune in fuel running all those old thirsty Scania’s of various types from just about every other Go Ahead subsidiary going.

In other news rumour has it Arriva is about to pull the plug on Southend and Colchester - lots of the newest stock transferred out for older stuff. I’d say Central Connect may be a possible contender? Already in Harlow and bought Simonds.

Does Go Ahead have any surplus buses which could be cascaded - e.g. from Manchester, London, Brighton, etc from fleet renewals / EV introduction. Some seem to have gravitated towards the North East, but if there are any buses newer than the Heddingham and Chambers fleets, they could be transferred and repainted, and may improve the presentation of their services.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Does Go Ahead have any surplus buses which could be cascaded - e.g. from Manchester, London, Brighton, etc from fleet renewals / EV introduction. Some seem to have gravitated towards the North East, but if there are any buses newer than the Heddingham and Chambers fleets, they could be transferred and repainted, and may improve the presentation of their services.

Hmmm... part of the problem has been the cascading. You have quite a number of ex Brighton vehicles that were marginally newer that are still running around in B&H colours. Internally, they're pretty tired too.

Also, the expansion of Go Ahead with both Southampton and Bournemouth as well as Wycombe, as well as some short term requirements in Greater Manchester and in Crawley, it seems to have stretched the national fleet and there's a few fleets that need some investment.

 

[F Great Eastern]

It's not just the fact that so many vehicles are hand me downs, but also the fact that many of their existing liveries are extremely scruffy, dirty and faded in parts and many of the nearside bodies of the vehicles have very rough panels. There was one Omnikdekka I was recently that didn't have a single straight panel on the nearside. And they're very tired inside.

Those vehicles are hugely missing a lot of TLC. I've been on Ipswich Buses, Beestons, Chambers and Stephenson's Omnidekkas in the last few months and Chambers were the worst of the lot in terms of being tired, whereas Beestons have 20 year olds going around without a thing being out of place. .

 

[Cesarcollie]

Does Go Ahead have any surplus buses which could be cascaded - e.g. from Manchester, London, Brighton, etc from fleet renewals / EV introduction. Some seem to have gravitated towards the North East, but if there are any buses newer than the Heddingham and Chambers fleets, they could be transferred and repainted, and may improve the presentation of their services.

The problem is newer buses have a book value and therefore a cost. Hedingham and Chambers lose money and can ill afford newer buses, less still repairs/retrims.

 

[F Great Eastern]

The problem is newer buses have a book value and therefore a cost. Hedingham and Chambers lose money and can ill afford newer buses, less still repairs/retrims.

They bid for quite a few subsidised routes and get the contracts in Suffolk on quite decent subsidies. Even when they were seriously struggling for drivers and reliability they were tendering for more work and quite a few of the other operators were surprised by the fact they were often being beat in tenders by an operation that was struggling with existing work.

I remember earlier in the year they were running a college contract where there were issues several days running and after the bad press they had a vehicle drafted in from elsewhere that only operates that contract, which shows how little faith they have in their fleet.

 

[MotCO]

The problem is newer buses have a book value and therefore a cost. Hedingham and Chambers lose money and can ill afford newer buses, less still repairs/retrims.

The counter to that is that innovative managers will seek to improve the offer to passengers by way of better, more reliable buses and better services, which the travelling public can rely on and the company will therefore see an increase in their revenues to cover these additional costs.

 

[Hophead]

Does Go Ahead have any surplus buses which could be cascaded - e.g. from Manchester, London, Brighton, etc from fleet renewals / EV introduction. Some seem to have gravitated towards the North East, but if there are any buses newer than the Heddingham and Chambers fleets, they could be transferred and repainted, and may improve the presentation of their services.

Within the last week, Metrobus have, in fact, sent a 2009 Omnicity D/D (fleet no. 6957) to none other than Beestons (source: Brighton & Hove disposals list). Don't know if that's for operating or parts.

 

[Cesarcollie]

The counter to that is that innovative managers will seek to improve the offer to passengers by way of better, more reliable buses and better services, which the travelling public can rely on and the company will therefore see an increase in their revenues to cover these additional costs.

But when most work is tendered where the cheapest bid wins, and where passenger revenue (even if retained by the operator) is a tiny amount compared to the fixed contract price, cost is everything.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Within the last week, Metrobus have, in fact, sent a 2009 Omnicity D/D (fleet no. 6957) to none other than Beestons (source: Brighton & Hove disposals list). Don't know if that's for operating or parts.

The vehicle is a write-off and is being stripped for parts.

Beestons have a dealer arm that often take in vehicles for spares or parts or do up for onward sale.

 

[Hophead]

The vehicle is a write-off and is being stripped for parts.

Beestons have a dealer arm that often take in vehicles for spares or parts or do up for onward sale.

Oh right. Metrobus have sent a few vehicles to various dealers recently.

 

[buslad1988]

The problem is newer buses have a book value and therefore a cost. Hedingham and Chambers lose money and can ill afford newer buses, less still repairs/retrims.

These ops can’t be losing that much money or Go Ahead wouldn’t have been prepared to invest in replacing the entire Chambers fleet in their Zebra 2 bid.

Norwich aside, East Anglia is very far behind in the electric bus revolution. I can’t see Ipswich Buses being able to even place a bid (if anymore Zebra schemes are launched) due to their garage not being easily adapted for the infrastructure required.

I was in Ipswich recently and First’s enviro 300’s and oldest eclipses were looking quite tatty meanwhile pretty much every tempo from Ipswich Buses had damaged panels and various vinyls missing.

 

[Mollman]

Does Go Ahead have any surplus buses which could be cascaded - e.g. from Manchester, London, Brighton, etc from fleet renewals / EV introduction. Some seem to have gravitated towards the North East, but if there are any buses newer than the Heddingham and Chambers fleets, they could be transferred and repainted, and may improve the presentation of their services.

There are a number of ZEBRA2 areas due electrics including Plymouth, East Yorkshire and Go North East. Group could dictate that these release newer buses from these fleets E400 MMCs and Streetdecks) rather than the oldest.

 

[LAIRA]

There are a number of ZEBRA2 areas due electrics including Plymouth, East Yorkshire and Go North East. Group could dictate that these release newer buses from these fleets E400 MMCs and Streetdecks) rather than the oldest.

Plymouth has about 30 06/07 E400's in all day front line service, some are Euro 4. If you think these are an improvement you will be most welcome when our electrics are in service.

 

[Man of Kent]

There are a number of ZEBRA2 areas due electrics including Plymouth, East Yorkshire and Go North East. Group could dictate that these release newer buses from these fleets E400 MMCs and Streetdecks) rather than the oldest.

No it can't. ZEBRA bids were actually submitted by Local Transport Authorities, not the operator. Most bids would have detailed which buses were to be replaced - the form required that the bidder show "how the proposal meets the wider decarbonisation benefits criteria".

I doubt any LTA would have agreed to the removal of Euro VI buses from its area ahead of those of poorer emission standard.

 

[buslad1988]

Arriva have now announced the withdrawal of service 133 from June.

Arriva Bus

www.arrivabus.co.uk

Should we expect other Essex reductions this date - or further announcements? Although they’ve only just changed timetables in Colchester last week.

First have clearly won the Stansted battle atleast.

No links currently available to share but it’s been reported on BBC Look East this evening that there’s been another accident on the Cambridge guided busway (Histon section) involving a pedestrian late this afternoon.

Images were shown of four Stagecoach vehicles stuck, one of which had a smashed windscreen. A spokesperson from Stagecoach said they were working with the Police and thoughts are with the family of the person involved.

The air ambulance had been on the scene and Police crash investigators were in attendance.