At First From First, A Bit Odd?

Geographically, the A12 runs south via Kessingland to Southwold; The A47 goes north to Great Yarmouth and the A146 trundles westwards to Beccles and Norwich with a branch to to Bungay. Services along these main routes are shown on Mr K’s network map, one of the delights of his latest book.

But if we look at today’s Lowestoft network we find there is lots more stuff than on the Eastern Counties map. Here are local routes north of Oulton Broad (the wet stuff, not the community!) …

… and south of Oulton Broad.

Either current incumbent First Bus has expanded dramatically since Eastern Counties days or we are missing something.

What we are missing, of course, is that Lowestoft Corporation ran, firstly, trams …
… and later, buses.

As with many small municipalities, the buses were always shiny clean …

… with just a few less usual vehicles to excite the bus spotter.

The corporation was finding it more and more difficult to cope with the steady decline in passenger numbers and joint working with Eastern Counties came in the early 1970s. 

In 1974 Lowestoft became part of the new Waveney District of Suffolk and for a few years the “new” council; continued to run the old council’s buses.
In 1977 Waveney finally succumbed to the inevitable and sold out to the big boys.
So within Mr K’s dateline there were Lowestoft town services which did not feature in the oeuvre of ECOC. To add to the “Contrast and Compare” challenge, the two 1970 “local” Lowestoft routes do not appear on Mt K’s network map!
Service 3 to Oulton
Every 15 minutes

Can we find an equivalent on First’s map and timetable for 2023?  The 105 (PURPLE) is probably the closest to he 1970 route.

Hmm. every hour off peak compared with every 15 minutes?

Whilst a direct comparison may not be possible, First’s map shows three routes serving the “greater” Oulton area.
… with a second hourly frequency provided by the 102 (GREEN).

Service 3A/3B to Oulton Village
Every 20 minutes
Back in 1970, the equivalent of today’s hourly off peak service 102 ran every 20 minutes!

At arly morning, evening and Sunday times the 102 and 105 are replaced by a portmanteau route 122 (YELLOW) ….

… so the whole thing is a huge come-down compared with 1970s!

Service 4 to Kessingland
Every 30 minutes
Service 1B to Southwold
Every Hour

Becomes branded route 99 …

… every 30 min to Kessingland, continuing hourly to Southwold.

Not bad compared with 1970!

Service 2A to Gisleham and Hulver
OR Kessingland Beach

Alas, these communities appear to be bus-less in 2023 – no surprise, really.

Likewise, today, no bus runs to Kessingland Beach.

Service 2 to Beccles and Bungay
Service 17 to Beccles and Norwich
Irregular
This is another corridor not strictly comparable, but in 2023 there is a bus every 15mintes from Lowestoft to Beccles …
… but these routes do continue to Norwich.

The 1970 service 17 to Norwich was also erratic!

One of the “interesting” developments in the modern bus business is the growth of frequent inter-urban services, strongly branded and using high quality buses …

… which leads us neatly into …

Service 1/1A (Great) Yarmouth
Every 30 minutes
Like the service via Beccles (above) this now runs through to Norwich. It runs every 30 minutes from Lowestoft and every 30 from Belton …
… combining to run every 15 min via Gorleston and Great Yarmouth to Norwich.

So it is the same as the 1970 headway between Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.

But still impressive.


Which leaves just one remaining service from Lowestoft in 1970.

Service 56 Somerleyton and (Great)Yarmouth
Irregular

You may wish to check on the network map above.

The great news (NOT!!) is that Somerleyton is now served by the North Lowestoft Buzzabout.

The PDF is about as useful as the archetypal chocolate teapot! Here, for example is the map.

And really all you need to know is how this service compares with a proper bus running at advertised times.

It gives you “FREEDOM” to hang around until the bus is available and it gives you “INDEPENDENCE”; although the leaflet is coy about what you are being “independent” from and for.

It certainly isn’t cheap and fbb guesses that you don’t get offered a £2 maximum fare.
And this “Freedom” service offers all the “Independence” of a minibus on Monday to Friday only and …

… finishing well before any peak “commuter” requirements.

Bring back Eastern Counties service 56!
But, oddly, Traveline has a proper timetable for this Demand Responsive service – hourly from 1000 to 1600 …

… and similar in the opposite direction.

So it appears to be an ordinary scheduled bus running hourly but one which you cannot catch unless you book in advance. The operation has strange definitions of “freedom”, “independence” and “convenient”!
That’s certainly “different”.
=============================

This blog really hurt fbb’s brain – so tomorrow he takes a short break from the consequences of Mr K’s excellent book and considers a possible Christmas prezzy c/o Northampton Alan.

 Next Book Review blog : Thursday 12th October 

60 Comments

  • by DanielTiert
    Posted 4 days ago 8:37 am 0Likes

    https://biotpharm.com/# Over the counter antibiotics for infection

  • by DavidWek
    Posted 3 days ago 9:19 am 0Likes
  • by RodneyUnmax
    Posted 3 days ago 9:56 am 0Likes

    Discount pharmacy Australia [url=https://pharmau24.com/#]online pharmacy australia[/url] Pharm Au 24

  • by Curtisbuh
    Posted 3 days ago 10:23 am 0Likes

    Ero Pharm Fast: erectile dysfunction medications online – cheap boner pills

  • by RodneyUnmax
    Posted 3 days ago 12:24 pm 0Likes

    Ero Pharm Fast [url=https://eropharmfast.shop/#]Ero Pharm Fast[/url] Ero Pharm Fast

  • by Curtisbuh
    Posted 3 days ago 2:40 pm 0Likes

    ed pills for sale: Ero Pharm Fast – online ed medication

  • by RodneyUnmax
    Posted 3 days ago 2:44 pm 0Likes

    Over the counter antibiotics for infection [url=https://biotpharm.com/#]buy antibiotics online[/url] cheapest antibiotics

  • by DavidWek
    Posted 3 days ago 7:07 pm 0Likes

    https://eropharmfast.com/# buy erectile dysfunction treatment

  • by RodneyUnmax
    Posted 3 days ago 7:22 pm 0Likes

    Licensed online pharmacy AU [url=http://pharmau24.com/#]Online drugstore Australia[/url] Online drugstore Australia

  • by RodneyUnmax
    Posted 3 days ago 11:56 pm 0Likes

    Ero Pharm Fast [url=https://eropharmfast.com/#]Ero Pharm Fast[/url] get ed meds online

  • by DavidWek
    Posted 3 days ago 11:59 pm 0Likes

    http://eropharmfast.com/# cheap ed meds online

  • by RodneyUnmax
    Posted 2 days ago 2:19 am 0Likes

    Over the counter antibiotics for infection [url=https://biotpharm.shop/#]buy antibiotics online[/url] buy antibiotics from canada

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 2 days ago 5:01 am 0Likes

    livraison discrète Kamagra: Kamagra oral jelly pas cher – Kamagra oral jelly pas cher

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 2 days ago 5:07 am 0Likes

    kamagra livraison 24h: kamagra en ligne – acheter kamagra site fiable

  • by Jesushiery
    Posted 2 days ago 6:09 am 0Likes

    https://ciasansordonnance.shop/# Cialis generique sans ordonnance

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 2 days ago 6:20 am 0Likes

    Kamagra oral jelly pas cher [url=http://kampascher.com/#]kamagra oral jelly[/url] kamagra en ligne

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 2 days ago 7:27 am 0Likes

    Viagra homme prix en pharmacie sans ordonnance: Acheter du Viagra sans ordonnance – viagra sans ordonnance

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 2 days ago 8:26 am 0Likes

    pharmacie en ligne sans prescription: Medicaments en ligne livres en 24h – Achat mГ©dicament en ligne fiable

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 2 days ago 9:04 am 0Likes

    livraison discrete Kamagra [url=https://kampascher.com/#]acheter kamagra site fiable[/url] kamagra 100mg prix

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 2 days ago 9:57 am 0Likes

    Kamagra oral jelly pas cher: kamagra gel – acheter Kamagra sans ordonnance

  • by Jesushiery
    Posted 2 days ago 11:14 am 0Likes

    https://ciasansordonnance.shop/# traitement ED discret en ligne

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 2 days ago 11:47 am 0Likes

    pharmacie en ligne france livraison internationale: pharmacie en ligne france fiable – achat kamagra

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 2 days ago 11:56 am 0Likes

    cialis generique [url=https://ciasansordonnance.com/#]Cialis sans ordonnance 24h[/url] Acheter Cialis 20 mg pas cher

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 2 days ago 12:29 pm 0Likes

    Acheter Cialis: acheter Cialis sans ordonnance – Acheter Cialis

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 2 days ago 2:45 pm 0Likes

    pharmacie internet fiable France [url=https://pharmsansordonnance.shop/#]Medicaments en ligne livres en 24h[/url] pharmacie en ligne france livraison belgique

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 2 days ago 2:54 pm 0Likes

    pharmacie en ligne sans prescription: Médicaments en ligne livrés en 24h – pharmacie en ligne france pas cher

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 2 days ago 3:08 pm 0Likes

    viagra sans ordonnance: viagra sans ordonnance – livraison rapide Viagra en France

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 2 days ago 5:21 pm 0Likes

    commander sans consultation médicale: pharmacie en ligne – Achat médicament en ligne fiable

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 2 days ago 5:33 pm 0Likes

    Cialis pas cher livraison rapide [url=http://ciasansordonnance.com/#]cialis generique[/url] cialis sans ordonnance

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 2 days ago 6:34 pm 0Likes

    commander Viagra discretement: Meilleur Viagra sans ordonnance 24h – prix bas Viagra generique

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 2 days ago 7:49 pm 0Likes

    Viagra sans ordonnance 24h: Viagra pas cher livraison rapide france – commander Viagra discretement

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 2 days ago 8:22 pm 0Likes

    pharmacie en ligne sans ordonnance [url=http://pharmsansordonnance.com/#]pharmacie en ligne pas cher[/url] trouver un mГ©dicament en pharmacie

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 2 days ago 10:05 pm 0Likes

    acheter kamagra site fiable: kamagra 100mg prix – kamagra gel

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 2 days ago 10:16 pm 0Likes

    cialis prix: cialis generique – acheter Cialis sans ordonnance

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 2 days ago 11:07 pm 0Likes

    Viagra sans ordonnance 24h [url=http://viasansordonnance.com/#]livraison rapide Viagra en France[/url] commander Viagra discretement

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 1 day ago 12:41 am 0Likes

    cialis sans ordonnance: cialis prix – cialis generique

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 1 day ago 1:42 am 0Likes

    cialis generique: Cialis pas cher livraison rapide – Cialis generique sans ordonnance

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 1 day ago 1:53 am 0Likes

    pharmacie en ligne sans prescription [url=https://pharmsansordonnance.com/#]commander sans consultation medicale[/url] pharmacie en ligne fiable

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 1 day ago 3:05 am 0Likes

    pharmacie internet fiable France: Médicaments en ligne livrés en 24h – pharmacie en ligne

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 1 day ago 4:37 am 0Likes

    Viagra homme sans ordonnance belgique [url=https://viasansordonnance.com/#]Viagra sans ordonnance 24h[/url] prix bas Viagra generique

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 1 day ago 5:19 am 0Likes

    acheter Cialis sans ordonnance: Cialis sans ordonnance 24h – commander Cialis en ligne sans prescription

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 1 day ago 5:35 am 0Likes

    Pharmacies en ligne certifiées: Médicaments en ligne livrés en 24h – pharmacie en ligne avec ordonnance

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 1 day ago 7:28 am 0Likes

    Pharmacies en ligne certifiees [url=https://pharmsansordonnance.com/#]pharmacie en ligne sans prescription[/url] pharmacie en ligne france livraison internationale

  • by Matthewnic
    Posted 1 day ago 8:08 am 0Likes

    Acheter du Viagra sans ordonnance: acheter Viagra sans ordonnance – Viagra générique en pharmacie

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 1 day ago 8:57 am 0Likes

    acheter medicaments sans ordonnance: pharmacie en ligne – pharmacie en ligne pas cher

  • by JamesDaync
    Posted 1 day ago 10:23 am 0Likes

    kamagra pas cher: acheter Kamagra sans ordonnance – kamagra en ligne

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 1 day ago 10:53 am 0Likes

    commander Viagra discretement [url=https://viasansordonnance.com/#]viagra en ligne[/url] livraison rapide Viagra en France

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 24 hours ago 12:38 pm 0Likes

    Cialis generique sans ordonnance: cialis sans ordonnance – Cialis sans ordonnance 24h

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 22 hours ago 2:38 pm 0Likes

    Acheter Cialis 20 mg pas cher [url=http://ciasansordonnance.com/#]Cialis sans ordonnance 24h[/url] cialis generique

  • by Jesushiery
    Posted 21 hours ago 2:55 pm 0Likes

    http://kampascher.com/# commander Kamagra en ligne

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 20 hours ago 4:25 pm 0Likes

    acheter Cialis sans ordonnance: Acheter Cialis 20 mg pas cher – cialis prix

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 18 hours ago 6:20 pm 0Likes

    Meilleur Viagra sans ordonnance 24h [url=http://viasansordonnance.com/#]acheter Viagra sans ordonnance[/url] Meilleur Viagra sans ordonnance 24h

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 14 hours ago 9:54 pm 0Likes

    cialis prix [url=https://ciasansordonnance.shop/#]acheter Cialis sans ordonnance[/url] acheter Cialis sans ordonnance

  • by Jesushiery
    Posted 14 hours ago 10:50 pm 0Likes

    https://pharmsansordonnance.shop/# Pharmacie en ligne livraison Europe

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 13 hours ago 11:33 pm 0Likes

    commander Viagra discretement: Acheter du Viagra sans ordonnance – Viagra generique en pharmacie

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 11 hours ago 1:12 am 0Likes

    achat kamagra [url=https://kampascher.com/#]Kamagra oral jelly pas cher[/url] acheter Kamagra sans ordonnance

  • by EdwardDow
    Posted 10 hours ago 2:52 am 0Likes

    kamagra livraison 24h: kamagra 100mg prix – Kamagra oral jelly pas cher

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 8 hours ago 4:37 am 0Likes

    cialis prix [url=https://ciasansordonnance.com/#]Cialis generique sans ordonnance[/url] cialis generique

  • by Jesushiery
    Posted 6 hours ago 6:37 am 0Likes

    https://pharmsansordonnance.shop/# trouver un mГ©dicament en pharmacie

  • by EugeneFeaby
    Posted 5 hours ago 7:44 am 0Likes

    viagra en ligne [url=http://viasansordonnance.com/#]livraison rapide Viagra en France[/url] livraison rapide Viagra en France

Add Your Comment