Bus Routes: Coasthopper and Coastliner
View allAll Photos Tagged coasthopper
Sanders Services 517 (BX07AZJ) departs Cley-next-the-Sea working a Coasthopper CH1 service to Wells[-next-the-Sea].
Sanders Services 524 (BV22HBN) "Norfolk Wanderer" approaches Cley-next-the-Sea on the Coast Road working a Coasthopper CH1 service to Cromer.
Sanders Services 519 (BV21OOB) "Norfolk Rambler" calls at Cley-next-the-Sea Wildlife Centre working a CH1 Coasthopper service to Cromer.
A view from the window of the superb NWT Reserve visitor center at Cley-next-the-Sea as Sanders Volvo B7RLE Wright passes by on the Coasthopper service from North Walsham to Wells.In the Background the vast area of marsh and reed bed of the Nature Reserve. You can just make out Coastguards where you can park for that long torturous walk up to Blakeney Point. The cream tea was very nice indeed.
Due to visiting the Wells & Walsingham Railway I did not have much time to Photograph the smart new Buses on the Sanders Coasthopper service from Cromer to Wells. Here in glorious sunshine Volvo B8R MCV Evora stops at the Norfolk Wildlife trust visitor center at Cley-next-the-Sea. BV21 00D is named the Norfolk Discoverer
Going back three years ago.Sanders Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban HF54 HFO arrives at Wells-next-the-sea working the Coasthopper service to Cromer
This is what somtimes happens on the Sanders Coasthopper service from Cromer to Wells-next-the Sea. Here Sanders Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban HF54 HHE enroute to Sheringham meets one of the new Volvos going to Wells at Stiffkey. We had to set back and so did a few cars in order for the buses to pass.
A location that I previously used from this angle in both Autumn 2024 and Winter 2021, so time for a Summer shot……
Here we see Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 524 - BV22 HBN “Norfolk Wanderer” which is captured as it heads along the A149 Coast Road between Cley-next-the-Sea and Salthouse with the above Coasthopper service CH1 journey. In the background we have the wide expanse of Cley Marshes and beyond, the shingle bank sea defences are just visible through the haze. The area to the left is known as Snipes Marsh.
As before, my vantage point was the Norfolk Ornithologists Association Walsey Hills reserve and hide, once home to a Royal Observer Corps Cold War underground monitoring post which, having opened in 1958 closed ten years later in 1968.
Seen shortly after delivery at Holt on Tuesday 22nd June 2021, Sanders 519 - BV21 OOB one of four brand new MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8R types poses for my camera at their Hempstead Road premises prior to receiving fleet name vinyls. Behind is vehicle 518 - BV21 OOA and the other pair are 520/521 - BV21 OOC/OOD, which had yet to arrive.
Due to enter service on Coasthopper duties from 1st Jult, they have been named as follows, 518 - “Norfolk Adventurer”; 519 - “Norfolk Rambler”; 520 - “Norfolk Explorer” and 521 - “Norfolk Discoverer”.
Finally, a big thank you to everyone at Sanders Coaches for allowing access to their premises and for the additional vehicle information.
It has been a while since I last uploaded a shot of Coasthopper service CH1, so on a lovely sunny April afternoon we see Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 518 - BV21 OOA “Norfolk Adventurer” heading along the A149 Coast Road between Salthouse and Kelling Cross with the above Cromer bound journey. As from 2nd April 2023 the Sunday frequency on service CH1 increased from six eastbound/ five westbound journeys to eight each way on a regular hourly headway. From 1st May 2023 the Monday - Saturday frequency also increases to more or less half hourly with up to fourteen journeys each way per day.
It will be five years on 29th April 2023 since Sanders took over the Wells-next-the-Sea to Cromer section of the former Stagecoach operated King’s Lynn - Hunstanton - Wells - Cromer Coasthopper route and added the extension to/from North Walsham. Various combinations of CH prefixed service numbers have been used during this period and back in April 2018 some journeys ran right through each way over the full route between Wells and North Walsham, but in more recent times they both seem to have settled down as separate CH1 Wells - Cromer and CH2 Cromer - North Walsham services and operational variations.
On both sides of the road is the edible plant “Smyrnium olusatrum” - more commonly known as Alexanders - which was originally brought to the British Isles by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago and as we can see it grows in great abundance in these parts at this time of year. In the background, beyond the Saltmarsh and shingle bank sea defences we have an unusually vessel free North Sea.
Sanders Coaches 530 (BV23NNZ) "Ernie Howes" departs Sheringham on a CH1 Coasthopper service to Cromer.
Stagecoach 37437 (SN16 ORG) is far from the North Norfolk Coast as it turns up along Bedford Road, Northampton, with 41 service from Bedford, where this bus has transferred to from King`s Lynn.
5th May 2018
Sanders Volvo B8R MCV Evora BV21 00D arrives at Sheringham Railway station with the Coasthopper service from Wells to Cromer. I am not sure How long they will remain in such pristine condition,at Webourne a branch from a overhanging tree knocked the wing mirror round and at serveral places the bodyside was being scratched by roadside vegetation.
Optare Tempo in Cromer Norfolk on Coasthopper route. Originally supplied to Morris of Llanrhaedr-ym-Mochnant, Wales
Sanders Service 521 (BV21OOD) "Norfolk Discoverer" in Cley-next-the-Sea working a CH1 Coasthopper service from Cromer to Wells-next-the-Sea.
SN16 OPZ is the last Bedford MMC still in Coasthopper livery and is due an imminent repaint. Seen here returning to Bedford along the A428 in Northampton...Dec 24 2020.
Filling in the gap between capturing diverted Coasthopper journeys, here, Sanders former Lancashire United Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE type number 517 - BX07 AZJ is caught by my camera on Bridgefoot Lane at Wiveton shortly after crossing the narrow 700 year old single arch medieval Wiveton Bridge over the River Glaven with the above anti-clockwise circuit on Holt Circular service 46. Having reached this point from Holt by way of Letheringsett and Glandford the route continues via Newgate Green, Cley-next-the-Sea, Blakeney, Morston, Langham, Field Dalling, Binham, Hindringham, Thursford and Letheringsett.
If you like rural bus rides, service 46 is a must and thoroughly recommended.
Optare Solo SR near Cley-next-the-Sea Norfolk branded for and operated on the Coasthopper route CH1 (Cromer & King's Lynn).
On a foggy and damp Saturday morning, Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 521 - BV21 OOD “Norfolk Discoverer” is captured on School Road between Aylmerton and Metton as it works the above North Walsham bound service 18 journey. The Aylmerton to Metton road has regularly featured amongst my previous uploads and I chose it again today as the fog was much thinner under the trees, in addition a very weak sun was trying really hard to break through, but with little success.
As mentioned before, the two North Walsham - Cromer round trips on the Saturday service 18 timetable are extended in North Walsham to provide a service to parts of the town which from Monday to Friday are served by Our Bus service 33A. Normally operated by North Walsham depot, possibly due to driver shortages, they appeared to be covered by Holt today, hence the appearance of 521 which has managed to escape from Coasthopper duties.
In common with most operators, as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on the next two Saturdays, Sanders will not be running services on this day of the week until 8th January 2022.
Sanders have acquired 4 brand new eVoRa's for use on their Coast Hopper services. 519 is seen operating service CH1
Registration: BV21OOB
Fleet Number: 519
Name: Norfolk Rambler
Operator: Sanders Coach Services Of Norfolk
Route: CH1 Coasthopper
New In: July 2021
Chassis: Volvo B8R
Bodywork: MCV eVoRa
Engine: Volvo D8K
Gearbox: ZF EcoLife
Location: Cromer Bus Interchange
Date: 01/07/2021
Volvo B8RLE with MCV Evora body near Cley-next-the-Sea Norfolk. From the 1st July Sanders of Holt in Norfolk introduced four brand new MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE on the Coasthopper CH1 and CH4 services between Cromer and Wells-next-the-Sea. The routes operate along the extremely rural A149 coast road and negotiate some quite awkward and narrow hazards at Cley and Stiffkey, thus these are a shorter version to aid manoeuvrability. The buses are numbered, registered and named as follows:
518 BV21OOA Norfolk Adventurer
519 BV21OOB Norfolk Rambler
520 BV21OOC Norfolk Explorer
521 BV21OOD Norfolk Discoverer
On a very pleasant early May afternoon, Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 524 - BV22 HBN “Norfolk Wanderer” of North Walsham depot is captured as it heads along the A149 Coast Road between Salthouse and Cley-next-the-Sea with the above Wells-next-the-Sea bound Coasthopper service CH1 journey.
This shot was taken from a vantage point on the east side of Walsey Hills looking east across Salthouse Marsh towards Sheringham in the far distance. To the left it is just possible to see a glimpse of the North Sea beyond the shingle bank. In the centre background we can also see some of the houses at Salthouse and to the right, rising above the trees on Sarbury Hill is the tower of Salthouse Church which is dedicated to St Nicholas.
Another gloomy, drizzly day on the North Norfolk Coast and here, looking towards the North Sea, Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 521 - BV21 OOD “Norfolk Discoverer” is captured as it heads along the A149 Coast Road between Cley-next-the-Sea and Salthouse with the above Coasthopper service CH1. In the background we have the wide expanse of Cley Marshes and beyond, the shingle bank sea defences are just visible through the mist and murk.
I have used this location on a number of occasions, although not from this high angle for today my vantage point was the steps leading to the Norfolk Ornithologists Association Walsey Hills reserve and hide, once home to a Royal Observer Corps Cold War underground monitoring post which, having opened in 1958 closed ten years later in 1968.
Fortunately other traffic was comparatively light, but despite the awful weather, there were a number of bird watchers and walkers about, not to mention some bloke with a camera taking pictures of buses.
As we come towards the end of 2021, I take this opportunity to send best wishes for Christmas and The New Year to all of my Flickr followers, my fellow bus photographers and also to my many friends in the bus and coach industry, both past and present. A special mention and thanks to all those who have kept the wheels turning in North Norfolk and beyond throughout these difficult times.
Another road closure, this time on Trunch Road at Mundesley, sees another bus on diversion in the shape of Sanders former Nottingham City Transport Scania N94UD East Lancs Omnidekka type number 124 - YN07 EYX which is caught by my camera in Trunch, at the point where Knapton Road becomes Back Street, while operating the above diverted Coasthopper service CH2 journey. Given the name “REMUS” upon entering service with Sanders during May 2018, as we can see, 124 is now anonymous.
The road closure, which is scheduled to last until Friday 6th August, means services CH2 & 55 are currently unable to serve the Gimingham Pound bus stop as they are diverting over the Trunch - Mundesley section by way of Knapton in both directions. It will be recalled that up until Thursday 24th March 2016 this route was taken by most service 34 journeys, but after that date service 34 was rerouted to run directly between Knapton and Swafield along the B1145 thus omitting Trunch. However, the village was not left busless by this omission as it was still being served by services 5/55 and more recently service CH2.
The last time I stood near this spot was back on 19th July 2013 - see below. Note the subtle differences to the thatched property immediately behind vehicle 124 and the not so prominent Village Hall sign.
Taken back on 30th March 2020, here we have a rear view of Sanders brand new MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 524 - BV22 HBN inside their Hempstead Road premises at Holt prior to it receiving fleetnames/decals etc.
This is one of a pair, the other being 525 - BV22 HBO, which entered service today, Thursday 7th April 2022, based at North Walsham depot where they will primarily be used to cover duties on services CH1 & CH2. As a result these two new vehicles carry Coasthopper branding, similar to 518 - 521 and are named “Norfolk Wanderer” and “Norfolk Pathfinder”.
As usual, a big thank you to Sanders for allowing me access to their premises. I hope to get some scenic action shots of both 524 & 525 very soon.
On a sunny afternoon, Sanders Coasthopper liveried Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE type number 503 - HF54 HFO is seen at Sidestrand as it works the last westbound service CH5 journey of the day. Upon arrival in Cromer it will operate the 1717hrs journey to Wells-next-the-Sea and the 1834hrs from Wells to Cromer on service CH4, before returning from Cromer with the 1944hrs service CH5 journey to North Walsham.
This location has been used on at least three previous occasions as it is one of the few places between Mundesley and Cromer where it is possible to capture both bus and North Sea in the same shot. In the background beyond the cliff top we can see a bank of cloud lurking out to sea which is forecast to provide foggy conditions overnight and tomorrow. To the right of shot it is just possible to make out the Bahamian registered Survey Vessel “Fugro Galaxy”.
Sanders Coaches
Volvo B8RLE / MCV eVoRa
520 "Norfolk Discoverer" - BV21OOD
Seen on Coasthopper service CH1 in Wells-next-the-Sea.
Former First 44966 passes through Crackington Haven with a Sunday 95, which goes the long way round between Camelford and Wadebridge, via villages such as Port Isaac and Rock. Now numbered 2011 with Plymouth Citybus, the brand for all contracted bus services is now Transport for Cornwall, an anonymous red livery as illustrated here. I've always thought that the 95 could warrant some kind of Coasthopper brand as in Norfolk - it is certainly bus in the summer months at least.
On a day of bright sunny periods and squally hail showers, with Brewery Road to the left of shot and Brick Kiln Road to the right, Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 524 - BV22 HBN “Norfolk Wanderer” is caught by my camera on Gimingham Road in Trunch as it heads for North Walsham with the above Coasthopper service CH2 journey. The view through the gap between 524 and the Give Way sign to the right extends beyond the line of bushes to the coast twixt Trimingham and Mundesley. Note that the arm of the finger post has moved round with the wind and Brick Kiln Road will not take you to North Walsham!
The road closure on the B1145 at Swafield was lifted this morning and services CH2 & 34 have now returned to their normal routes.
This is the first day in service for vehicles 524/525 - BV22 HBN/HBO which are respectively named “Norfolk Wanderer” & “Norfolk Pathfinder”. Both are based at North Walsham depot for use on Coasthopper services CH1 & CH2.
On a day of bright sunny periods and squally hail showers, Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 525 - BV22 HBO “Norfolk Pathfinder” is captured in mid-afternoon sunshine as it pauses to setdown a passenger at the Cross Street bus stop on the A149 Coast Road in Salthouse while working the above Coasthopper service CH1 journey. Some years ago, the Cross Street stops became the main picking up and setting down points in the village as indiscriminate parking made it impossible for buses to reach the shelter situated on The Green.
In the background beyond the saltmarsh we can just see the shingle bank sea defences and to the right rear of 525 as we look, the duck pond, a frequent haunt of various wildfowl, seabirds, duck feeders and an ice cream van, although the latter was missing today.
This is the first day in service for vehicles 524/525 - BV22 HBN/HBO which are respectively named “Norfolk Wanderer” & “Norfolk Pathfinder”. Both are based at North Walsham depot for use on Coasthopper services CH1 & CH2.
37431 (SN16OPV) is seen in Norwich while laying over between trips on the Route X29 to Fakenham which then continues as an X8 to Kings Lynn. (18/06/16)
The North Norfolk coastal village of Cley-next-the Sea is another village with very Narrow twisty main street. Here we squeeze past Sanders Volvo B8R MCV Evora 519 Norfolk Rambler on the Coasthopper service to Wells. I was aboard Norfolk Discoverer.
37437 Coasthopper (Stagecoach in Norfolk)
SN16ORG
seen in Kings Lynn Bus Station.
This was my first sighting of one of the new Enviro Coasthoppers, and it looks outstanding in my opinion, it's especially pleasing to see the brand living on with the sad demise of the Norfolk Green name.
Clearly, this previously Coasthopper branded Volvo has been repainted and is no longer Coasthopper branded.
Passing it as it entered Melton Constable, I didn’t notice the number plate, but fortunately I did spot the offside destination display – evidence of its Go South Coast provenance – and chased it here. Unfortunately, I’ve found its electronic destination display particularly hard to photograph, but at least the offside one – is just about showing (“9 Holt for 5 to Cromer”).
Another shot taken on the diversionary route which is being used by Sanders services 16, 18 and 19 as Church Road in Aylmerton village is temporarily closed to through traffic from today due to roadworks. This time their Optare Solo type 205 is captured as it passes through the pleasant arboreal setting of the Lions Mouth with the above journey on service 18.
In the early years of operation, the Norfolk Green Coasthopper service included journeys to Felbrigg Hall. At that time a one way traffic system was in operation within the Hall grounds which meant their vehicles also traversed this now normally busless narrow lane, but only when heading back towards Cromer.
Hunstanton Bus station sees Lynx Optare Tempo YJ60 KAE on the 36 Coasthopper service From Kings Lynn to Wells-next-the-Sea. Also here was Peelings Volvo B10M Jonckheere Deauvile JJZ 802. I remember when the Railway line to Kings Lynn closed in May 1969 the local council being happy to turn the station and yard into a large car park. With all the road congestion in the Summer months now with hindsight not a great decision. Especially that this was four years after Beeching left the Railway industry. He was replaced by Stanley Raymond who I believe was a Bus enthusiast. In 1969 he had been replaced by Henry Jonhson who impvoved BR finances by the introdution of the BR Property board, selling off and developing surplus land.
In this shot, taken on a lovely sunny March morning while waiting for my bus to Holt, Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8RLE type number 521 - BV21 OOD “Norfolk Discoverer” is captured as it runs “out of service” along Runton Road in Cromer. In the background beyond the cliff edge we can just make out an unusually blue North Sea.
Having previously worked school day only services 79 - Gresham to Cromer Academy High School and 65 - West Runton to Sheringham Primary School, 521 has taken a break before running light to Cromer. It will then operate the 1020hrs Coasthopper service CH1 journey from there through to Wells-next-the-Sea.
In late afternoon October sunshine, Sanders MCV Evora bodied Volvo B8R type number 519 - BV21 OOB “Norfolk Rambler” is captured heading along an otherwise deserted Runton Road in Cromer as it actually works, the final westbound Coasthopper CH4 journey of the 2021 summer season.
As previously mentioned, from Saturday 29th May the Monday to Saturday hourly frequency over the Cromer to Wells-next-the-Sea Coasthopper service CH1 route was increased to more or less every thirty minutes and with later journeys for the summer following the introduction of additional service CH4. However, having coped with the situation for several weeks, due to a severe shortage of drivers Sanders introduced revised and reduced frequency timetables on a number of their services from Saturday 2nd October. As a result, although originally intended to operate up to and including the following Saturday, the seasonal service CH4 journeys actually ran for the last time, today Friday 1st October 2021.
Yet another warm, sunny morning and Sanders former Nottingham City Transport Scania N94UD East Lancs Omnidekka type number 124 - YN07 EYX is captured at Suffield Park in Cromer about to make the right turn from Station Road onto Overstrand Road while working the above Coasthopper service CH2 journey. Upon reaching North Walsham, bus and driver will continue on service X55 thus providing a direct link from Overstrand - Mundesley section of the coast through to Norwich. In term time they would previously have run light to Cromer after working schoolday only service 88 from North Walsham to Aylsham High School by way of Swanton Abbott and Skeyton, but during the school holidays a light run is made from North Walsham depot directly to Cromer.
The first time number 124 has appeared before my camera since 21st September 2021 at Lower Southrepps. Upon acquisition in May 2018 it was named “REMUS”, but had subsequently lost the name at some unknown date, although certainly by July 2020 if not earlier. I was pleased 124 came along as sister vehicle 123 had been captured at almost the same spot on 22nd July 2022.