Sanders 123 0915hrs Sheringham to Norwich 140423
The Sanders Norfolk County Council/HM Government supported service/timetable enhancements, introduced from week commencing Sunday 2nd April 2023, include amendments to their flagship Holt - Sheringham - Cromer - Aylsham - Norwich “44 Group” of services. Making a welcome return is the partly non-stop Sheringham - Cromer - Norwich service X40 variation.
Now operating on a Daily basis, with up to six journeys each way M-F and three each way SSu, as in the past none of them divert to serve Suffield Park and/or Aylsham. However, whilst the SSu journeys run non-stop both ways over the Alby Horseshoes - Marsham Bus Shelter section, the non-stop section is extended in each direction on the M-F journeys from Alby Horseshoes through to Hellesdon The Firs/Tesco, thus omitting the stops at Marsham, Hevingham, Stratton Strawless and Hainford.
It will be recalled that service X40 was introduced from 18th March 2013 at the height of Sanders competition with Konectbus service 2 Norwich - Sheringham and it continued when Konect subsequently pulled out after operations on 31st October 2015. The Covid pandemic saw all service X40 journeys suspended from 23rd March 2020 onwards and although briefly re-instated from 12th April 2021, they were once again suspended from 2nd October 2021, this time due to staff shortages.
In this shot Sanders former Nottingham City Transport Scania N94UD East Lancs Omnidekka type number 123 - YN07 EYY is captured in sunshine and shadows as it heads along the A140 at New Hainford while working the above Norwich bound service X40 journey. Known locally as the Hainford Straight it is quite clear to see why it was given this name. To cover the additional double deck requirement following introduction of the increased frequency between Sheringham and Norwich - the M-F “44 Group” timetable now offers twenty three journeys each way, up from seventeen each way - vehicle 123 and the other two North Walsham based deckers have recently been transferred to Holt Depot. Note also that since last appearing before my camera at Worstead on 3rd March 2023, the service X55 North Walsham - Coltishall - Norwich between decks route branding on 123 has been removed apart from the line “friendly reliable and frequent service”.
My vantage point was the nearside upper deck front seat of Sanders former Nottingham City Transport East Lancs bodied Scania N94UD Omnidekka type number 116 - YN53 CFZ working the 0935hrs Norwich to Sheringham service X40 journey.
Sanders 123 0915hrs Sheringham to Norwich 140423
The Sanders Norfolk County Council/HM Government supported service/timetable enhancements, introduced from week commencing Sunday 2nd April 2023, include amendments to their flagship Holt - Sheringham - Cromer - Aylsham - Norwich “44 Group” of services. Making a welcome return is the partly non-stop Sheringham - Cromer - Norwich service X40 variation.
Now operating on a Daily basis, with up to six journeys each way M-F and three each way SSu, as in the past none of them divert to serve Suffield Park and/or Aylsham. However, whilst the SSu journeys run non-stop both ways over the Alby Horseshoes - Marsham Bus Shelter section, the non-stop section is extended in each direction on the M-F journeys from Alby Horseshoes through to Hellesdon The Firs/Tesco, thus omitting the stops at Marsham, Hevingham, Stratton Strawless and Hainford.
It will be recalled that service X40 was introduced from 18th March 2013 at the height of Sanders competition with Konectbus service 2 Norwich - Sheringham and it continued when Konect subsequently pulled out after operations on 31st October 2015. The Covid pandemic saw all service X40 journeys suspended from 23rd March 2020 onwards and although briefly re-instated from 12th April 2021, they were once again suspended from 2nd October 2021, this time due to staff shortages.
In this shot Sanders former Nottingham City Transport Scania N94UD East Lancs Omnidekka type number 123 - YN07 EYY is captured in sunshine and shadows as it heads along the A140 at New Hainford while working the above Norwich bound service X40 journey. Known locally as the Hainford Straight it is quite clear to see why it was given this name. To cover the additional double deck requirement following introduction of the increased frequency between Sheringham and Norwich - the M-F “44 Group” timetable now offers twenty three journeys each way, up from seventeen each way - vehicle 123 and the other two North Walsham based deckers have recently been transferred to Holt Depot. Note also that since last appearing before my camera at Worstead on 3rd March 2023, the service X55 North Walsham - Coltishall - Norwich between decks route branding on 123 has been removed apart from the line “friendly reliable and frequent service”.
My vantage point was the nearside upper deck front seat of Sanders former Nottingham City Transport East Lancs bodied Scania N94UD Omnidekka type number 116 - YN53 CFZ working the 0935hrs Norwich to Sheringham service X40 journey.