Sanders 222 1130hrs Holt Town Hopper Circular 310823
On yet another sunny Thursday in North Norfolk, Sanders Mercedes Benz Sprinter EVM Cityline type number 222 - RX22 SKU is captured as it pauses to pick up a passenger at the Woodfield Road/Heather Drive junction in Holt while working the above circuit on Holt Town Hopper service 8. At this point it is at the extremity of the double run from/to Cromer Road via Kelling Road. Thanks to the Sanders driver who allowed me time to “hop-off” and get these shots.
Initially introduced by Sanders on Monday 6th September 2021 - see below - with the backing of Holt Town Council and some Section 106 funding, from Monday to Friday there were seven journeys in each direction increased to nine each way on Saturday and during school holidays. With an overall running time of around 18 minutes, the route from/to Heath Farm Estate operated by way of Nightjar Road, Heath Drive, Hempstead Road, Charles Road, Edinburgh Road, Norwich Road (B1149), Holt Bypass (A148), Station Road, Market Place, Cromer Road, Kelling Road, Woodfield Road, Kelling Road, Cromer Road, NNR Station and Old Cromer Road to Kelling Hospital/Holt Medical Practice. From week commencing 1st May 2022 the route was slightly revised in both directions between Norwich Road (B1149) and Station Road along Norwich Road (A148) and Kerridge Way to serve Budgens Supermarket/The Venue instead of taking the Holt Bypass, but the timings were unaltered and it was still an end to end operation. In addition, from the same date in May, to supplement the Sunday service 44 Sheringham - Holt timetable, three summer seasonal May to September service 8 short workings were introduced on this day of the week over the NNR Station - Market Place section. There were two am westbound/one pm eastbound journeys running directly along Cromer Road, covered by vehicles working off of/on to service 44.
A major change took place from Tuesday 3rd January 2023 when the route became a clockwise circular operation commencing from Heath Farm Estate and then as previously to Kelling Hospital/Holt Medical Practice before running directly back to Heath Farm Estate via the Holt Bypass (A148). This enabled the frequency to be increased to every 25 minutes between 0900 and 1430hrs (M-F)/1545hrs (SSchH), except for an interval between 1230 and 1323hrs.
Unfortunately service 8 will be withdrawn after operations on Saturday 2nd September 2023. The following statement was issued by Holt Town Council on 7th August, “We are sorry to report that The Holt Hopper No.8 bus route will be stopping at the end of this month. This is very disappointing news for those who relied upon the service to access the surgery. HTC worked hard, along with Sanders and NCC to secure the route through S106 funding. However, the funding has now run out and the route is not being used enough to make it viable”.
Sanders 222 1130hrs Holt Town Hopper Circular 310823
On yet another sunny Thursday in North Norfolk, Sanders Mercedes Benz Sprinter EVM Cityline type number 222 - RX22 SKU is captured as it pauses to pick up a passenger at the Woodfield Road/Heather Drive junction in Holt while working the above circuit on Holt Town Hopper service 8. At this point it is at the extremity of the double run from/to Cromer Road via Kelling Road. Thanks to the Sanders driver who allowed me time to “hop-off” and get these shots.
Initially introduced by Sanders on Monday 6th September 2021 - see below - with the backing of Holt Town Council and some Section 106 funding, from Monday to Friday there were seven journeys in each direction increased to nine each way on Saturday and during school holidays. With an overall running time of around 18 minutes, the route from/to Heath Farm Estate operated by way of Nightjar Road, Heath Drive, Hempstead Road, Charles Road, Edinburgh Road, Norwich Road (B1149), Holt Bypass (A148), Station Road, Market Place, Cromer Road, Kelling Road, Woodfield Road, Kelling Road, Cromer Road, NNR Station and Old Cromer Road to Kelling Hospital/Holt Medical Practice. From week commencing 1st May 2022 the route was slightly revised in both directions between Norwich Road (B1149) and Station Road along Norwich Road (A148) and Kerridge Way to serve Budgens Supermarket/The Venue instead of taking the Holt Bypass, but the timings were unaltered and it was still an end to end operation. In addition, from the same date in May, to supplement the Sunday service 44 Sheringham - Holt timetable, three summer seasonal May to September service 8 short workings were introduced on this day of the week over the NNR Station - Market Place section. There were two am westbound/one pm eastbound journeys running directly along Cromer Road, covered by vehicles working off of/on to service 44.
A major change took place from Tuesday 3rd January 2023 when the route became a clockwise circular operation commencing from Heath Farm Estate and then as previously to Kelling Hospital/Holt Medical Practice before running directly back to Heath Farm Estate via the Holt Bypass (A148). This enabled the frequency to be increased to every 25 minutes between 0900 and 1430hrs (M-F)/1545hrs (SSchH), except for an interval between 1230 and 1323hrs.
Unfortunately service 8 will be withdrawn after operations on Saturday 2nd September 2023. The following statement was issued by Holt Town Council on 7th August, “We are sorry to report that The Holt Hopper No.8 bus route will be stopping at the end of this month. This is very disappointing news for those who relied upon the service to access the surgery. HTC worked hard, along with Sanders and NCC to secure the route through S106 funding. However, the funding has now run out and the route is not being used enough to make it viable”.