| xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxii |
- First imported 10 tri-axle Alexander bodied
Olympians from their Hong Kong subsidiary in 2000. They
started life in Glasgow but have migrated south to East Anglia,
where 30097 (K481EUX) was photographed at the
temporary bus station in Lowestoft in July 2008.
- First still operate many vehicles inherited from their
predecessors such as 34876 (F176LBL), a Northern
Counties bodied Olympian seen in Lowestoft in July 2008. This
bus
was ordered by Bee Line
in Berkshire in 1988, and was one of the few new vehicles bought by
this operator before it was absorbed into the First empire.
- In the 1980's after de-regulation lots of smaller
operators gained routes in the London tender process.
One such was Len Wright who under the name of London Buslines bought
10
Alexander bodied Olympians for the Hounslow area.
Subsequently this company was bought by Centrewest who in turn were
swallowed up by First. This goes some way to explain why
20 year old 34950 (G50XLO) can still be found performing duties in Lowestoft in July 2008.
- Kings Lynn is the halfway point of the trunk
First Eastern Counties X1 route from Peterborough to Lowestoft via
Norwich. It may have narrow streets and a notorious
one-way system that even confuses satnav's, but its bus station is
uncompromising bricks and concrete. First Eastern
Counties 37576 (AU58EDC), a Wright bodied Volvo, is
seen there during a driver change-over in April 2009.
- Passing Kings Lynn railway station is
37564 (AU58ECC) in April 2009.
- East Dereham lies between Kings Lynn and Norwich
and is a typical rural East Anglian village.
37570 (AU58ECT) is seen heading for Lowestoft on a hot
lunchtime in April 2009.
- Also in East Dereham but heading in the opposite
direction to Peterborough is 37568 (AU58ECJ) in
April 2009.
- Swaffham on the other hand is a lively market town, where a well loaded 37576 (AU58EDC)
can be seen speeding off on a morning journey to Peterborough in
April 2009.
|
