More evening bus services out of Norwich thanks to bus service improvement plan

A number of bus services operated by First Eastern Counties will run more often from next Sunday, thanks to money that Norfolk County Council secured from the Department for Transport (DfT) to improve bus services across the County.

The changes to timetables which start on Sunday 29 October are:

• More evening journeys between the City Centre and Hethersett via Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on the Pink Line 11/11a/12. Hourly journeys will operate every day and these replace existing 13A and 13B journeys to and from the hospital.
• New evening and Sunday journeys on the Green Line to Wymondham and some routes have been extended to Silfield and Harts Farm.
• Sunday and evening journeys on Service 13 shortening journey times between Norwich, Wymondham and Attleborough.
• Green Line services have been renumbered, to make it easier to identify your destination when travelling to the east of the city.
• Services 14 and 14A will operate to and from Dussindale.
• Services 15 and 15A will operate to and from Blofield Heath.
• Services 16 and 16A will operate to and from Lingwood.
• The Purple Line 36/37/38/39 is getting later evening services and improved Sunday services - as well as an extension to the Horsford services to operate to Memorial Road and Flagcutters Way on the Kingfisher Meadow development.
• Thorpe St Andrew will get a new hourly evening service as well as new Sunday journeys on the Red Line 23/24. Previously no evening service the last bus will now depart the city centre for Thorpe St Andrew at 23:08.
• Spixworth will be getting a new hourly service on a Sunday on the Turquoise Line 13 (previously just five journeys on a Sunday).

Cllr Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "More evening services is something that people said they wanted when we asked them how we could improve bus services in Norfolk. I'm certain this latest round of enhancements to services in and out Norwich will be welcomed by many and makes it even easier for people to choose the bus when they need to work later or when enjoying an evening out in the city. With the £2 fare cap now being extended to the end of 2024 getting the bus also offers excellent value for money for our residents."

Piers Marlow, managing director for First East of England said, "We're delighted to be working with Norfolk County Council to introduce important enhancements to our popular network of bus services across Norfolk. Being able to run later departures and more direct journeys are vital to the success of local networks and in encouraging local communities to use the bus to get around the county."

This is one of a number of service enhancements which are being funded by the £49.55 million funding which Norfolk County Council was successful in securing from the Department for Transport (DfT) to use on improving bus services across the County over the next three years.

Approximately £12 million of the funding has been allocated to provide new or expanded bus routes and increase service frequencies on key routes, including more evening and weekend services.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said: "People up and down the country deserve a clean, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided Norfolk County Council with almost £50m to boost its bus services.

"Supporting First Bus with providing more late and weekend services is great for local residents, who will now benefit and be able to make the most of the fantastic work, business and leisure opportunities Norwich has to offer."