Rail in Eastbourne

When rail works happen the buses come out to play that was the case last Sunday there were no trains out of Eastbourne so the buses replaced them. This particular one was very dominant with Brighton and Hove with most of the buses used being theirs. 

Here is my selection of photos from the afternoon all were photographed by me.

Volvo 472 "The Snowman" seen at the station you can see a Southern Transit Trident lurking in the background

Route 6 branded Gemini 407 is seen with the Rocking Horse behind

Gemini 410 is seen with another Route 6 Gemini behind it

Former Brighton and Hove Scania Omnicity 717 now with Metrobus on their 400 is seen with 472 behind

The Rockinghorse bus this is Gemini 438 seen in the Station 

Please excuse my finger a Brighton and Hove Gemini leads a Scania

This is my first time at a rail in a while because of bullying so was nice to see different buses.

Unexpected departures

I was heartbroken about some buses that I really like going. I was informed a few weeks back and was told to make the most of 27580-2 when I can I wasn't expecting them to go this soon. I was hoping more like the end of the month so I could enjoy them for that little bit longer and after 15450/1 and 15636 arrived I knew the 3 were the replacements for 27580-2. 

27581/2 got removed from service down here a few weeks back and 27580 clung on for that little bit longer until that left. They have transferred well away well and truly out off the South East but all the way to Scotland so many memories have been created on these buses and they will be missed here is some of my photos that I took.

27580:

What would be my last photo of 27580 the bus is seen leaving Langney it would be taken out of service and prepped for transfer 5 days later.

A week before sees 27580 arriving at Langney

 27581:

Sadly, I was unable to capture 27581 on its last week here is my last photo of it awaiting its entry into Langney.

Back in the Summer of 2018, 27581 took a spin on the 5 a route which didn't see these running often on it.

 27580 and 27581:

One of my favourite photos sees 27580 and 27581 both on the 1 but going different ways.

 27582:

27582 is seen arriving at Langney its screen refused to come out.

27582 this time is seen leaving Langney whilst on the 1 service.

It has been nice showing these buses in the good times and hopefully 27573/4/5/6 stay they appear to be as of this week.

Recent fleet additions

I was surprised at the end of last month when I saw a 2008 Scania E400 in Langney when I was coming in on the bus. I wondered why it was here I was like is this a loan or permanent transfer and found on fleet movements on socials that it was a permanent transfer.  That Scania came down with 2 other Scanias from Stagecoach West they were 15450 (MX08 GHV), 15451 (MX08 GHY) and 19636 (SF10 CCN).

The photos that I'm showing are the 3 Scanias in their first week in service on routes in Eastbourne. It is the first time a 10 plate Scania has been in service in Eastbourne whilst the 08 plates are not the first 08 plate Scanias in Eastbourne after a loan period back in February of KX08s from the Kent area of the division. 

Recent addition to the fleet 15451 MX08 GHY is seen leaving Langney my first ever photo featuring the transfers 

Sister 15450 MX08 GHV seen working the 5 service I haven't been on these 2 yet.

I will always remember my very first ride on this bus and I rode it at the start of this week and the driver was so happy they called it the happy bus here is 15636 SF10 CCN on the 1

I will look forward to the many rides I will have on this trio of Scanias.

Another new location for photos

It's always nice to change photo location when I can this is a bit further down than where I normally stand when I'm photographing in this area. This is a new place where I photograph Buses on the 1 and 1A it is also good most of the time when other traffic doesn't get in the way. I started using this location from the 25th of February and I've been very pleased with the results.

Buses featured are:

27581

28607

15328

15771

15773

15544

27582

27574

E300 27581 works the 1A in this location 

The next 1A 20 minutes after 27581 came Scania 28607

MMC Scania 15328 also works the 1A

Former Wave Bus 15771 works the 1 this was behind timetable

Scania 15773 also works the 1 

Still need to ride and film this Scania 15544 in that location

Still awaiting the paintshop is E300 27582 here it is on the 1

E300 27574 flys down the hill it was on the 1 but the blind didn't come out

I will hopefully be taking more photos in this location I just need to hope that the light is right.

Loans and more loans

It is very nice to see different buses from elsewhere on loan it has been the case this week as it's Brighton mainline closure all week which means buses are needed on the rail replacement services. Quite a few buses went to help out resulting in many loans being brought in from elsewhere to cover normal services. The loan Buses were provided from Thanet, Dover, Folkestone and Ashford in between them they provided E300s and Scania E400s. 

I was lucky enough to ride on some of them as well I went on E300s 27577 GX58 GKJ and 27579 GX58 GKL they were really good I also went on Scanias 15476 GN09 AZR, 15496 GN09 BCE and 15438 KX08 KZH 15476 and 15496 were really good but 15438 let me down. 

Here are the photos of some of them:

E300 27579 GX58 GKL is seen on the 1A at the start of this week

Meanwhile, E300 27577 GX58 GKJ was working the 1 which does a slightly different route to the 1A

Scania 15475 GN09 AZP gets to work on the 1A at the start of the week

Here is 15476 GN09 AZR on the 1 this is a good bus I liked it when I went on it

Scania 15439 KX08 KZJ on the hill where I take my photos I'm not really that keen on these KX08s

It let me down on the first ride however 15438 KX08 KZH impressed me on the second ride

15478 GN09 AZU works my local route the Loop

The best Decker I went on that was on loan was 15496 GN09 BCE photographed on the 1A

15436 KX08 KZD goes down the hill

I was able to capture most of the loan buses it has been nice seeing different buses down here.

MMCs: First year in service

I'm a bit sorry for the lack of pictures of the MMCs first year in service it's all because of whats been going on in the town centre. Today marks a year since the Scania MMCs entered service on the 99 alongside spare unbranded MMC 15328 which can be used on any route. I remember going on a couple of them on their first day and I was impressed with them. 

Unbranded MMC 15328 takes the title for the MMC I've been on the most due to its high presence on Eastbourne locals mainly the 1/1A and an appearance on the Loop can't be ruled out. This post is highlighting the MMCs and may they have many years on the route with them being Scania and not ADL.

15333 one of the many Wave branded ones on its normal route

The Eastbourne trio have been busy here is 15329 loading for another trip

Meanwhile, a very recent shot sees 15339 working a shortened 99 which is common during term time

 Whilst trying and struggling to get up to date shots, the unbranded MMC and the odd one out because it doesn't have branding is 15328 it's seen on the 1 in my most recent shot of it.

15328 the unbranded MMC is seen in a very recent photo on the 1 what appears to be its favourite route

I don't know when I can get the up to date photos again.

The 2018 Bus review some of the Buses which were highlights of 2018

It's hard trying to pick out some of the highlights of 2018 as the year draws to a close and we move into 2019. A story of different angle of photos, the Wave 99 MMCs first year in service, new operators I haven't photographed before, loan Tridents over the summer, the return of the StreetDeck demonstrator to Brighton&Hove, a new type of Bus photographed and the Santa Bus which ran a week before Christmas. 

January saw the entry into service of Scania N250UD Enviro400 MMCs on the Wave 99 between Eastbourne and Hastings here is 15333 photographed sometime this month.

January saw the entry into service of new E400 MMC Scanias on the 99 the recent shot of 15333 is an example.

 I went to East Anglia on 2 holidays this year to see family up there and my next highlight is of an independent operator in the county. What struck me was Border Bus with their neat livery as shown by 107 BB12 BUS.

A 146 Border Bus off route what caught my eye on holiday was Border Bus as shown by 107 BB12 BUS on the 580.

 The Summer of 2018 saw 2 Trident ALX400s come to Eastbourne on loan this one was here practically the whole summer the first time Eastbourne have operated the type in 2 years 17590 LV52 HFZ was on the when this photo was taken. 

Summer 2018 saw Trident ALX400s loaned from the East Kent area as shown by 17590 LV52 HFZ on the 1.

 I also tried a new angle for my photos the first time I had used it in Eastbourne and what better Bus to choose than Scania MMC 15329 YN67 YLA on the 1.

2018 saw me try a different style of photo which I hadn't used in Eastbourne before as shown by Scania MMC 15328 YN67 YLA on the 1.

 Another holiday came in August 2018 this was when I took my very first photo of a E200 MMC a new type for me as shown by 37441 SN16 ORZ in Devon.

A highlight of 2018 was my very first E200 MMC photo which I took on holiday in Devon in the Summer as shown by 37441 SN16 ORZ

 2018 saw StreetDeck demonstrator SN64 CTU return to Brighton&Hove this time numbered 703 it has seen high use on the Coaster between Eastbourne and Brighton. 

The return of StreetDeck SN64 CTU to Brighton&Hove for the third time happened in 2018 here it is on the 12A.

 Finally, the very popular Santa Bus returned a week before Christmas. This saw E300 27574 GX58 GKE decorated with Christmas decorations as well as a driver dressed as Santa. It ran between the 18th and 24th December all for charity. 

The Santa Bus made a comeback the week before Christmas all decorated to raise money for charity the 2018 Santa Bus was 27574 GX58 GKE a ADL E300 which was new in 2008/9.