I’d heard great things about this bus so I headed out to Peterborough to give it a go on the full length of the journey all the way to Norwich. Timetabled at 3 hours and 15 minutes exactly, it’s a long one but I’ll show you all there is to see from the top deck of the bus.
I’ll tell you about the service, what it’s like inside and, importantly, how much I paid. I think you’ll agree it was a bit of a bargain! You’ll also learn about tornados, folk singers and a little bit more about Alan Partridge (I’d promised myself I wouldn’t mention it but I couldn’t help it in the end!).
Thanks as always guys for taking the time to watch my videos. All likes, comments, subs are massively appreciated and it really encourages me to make more content for you all to enjoy.
Cheers for now.
Mark
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📖Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
02:17 – Leaving Peterborough
02:55 – Interior seating & features
03:48 – Towards Wisbech
05:26 – About the Excel
06:50 – Kings Lynn to Swaffham
09:55 – Swaffham to Dereham
10:42 – Dereham to Norwich
13:25 – Summary
Link to First Eastern Counties Excel Leaflet
https://www.firstbus.co.uk/sites/default/files/public/maps/FEC-XL-excel_A_B_C_D-Bus_Times_from_14-05-23.pdf
Route map: OpenStreetMap (annotated)
https://www.openstreetmap.org/
29 Comments
Nice video but did you change your hiar stile recently 😅
Hi they used to have coaches for First operating between Lowestoft to Peterborough all the way before then getting a batch of 58 plate volvo b9tl geminis to replace them and they all came with seatbelts. It wasn't a legal requirement to wear seatbelts though, it was optional. Then in 2013 we had a batch of brand new enviro 400 deckers that came without seatbelts, along with this they split the route so the XL did Norwich to Peterborough and X1/X11 did Norwich to Lowestoft section. This was due to driving hours and changes of drivers.
Great video always enjoy watching them.
That really was a lovely bus! You have definitely won me over to buses.
Looks to me that bus route would be ideal for a London-Kings Lynn-Norwich-London kinda East Anglian round robin!
Keep em coming. I hope you are feeling better now 👍
Whilst it seems excellent value of course, I'm unsure why a journey of 80 miles takes 3 and a quarter hours. Good looking buses though, shame about the USB points
Bargain, top video Mark
Class video, couldn’t last 3 hours on a bus though 😂😂
2 pounds for an 80 mile journey. Great value. Also, that wheelchair ramp to the entrance of the bus…brilliant. I wonder if this type of ramp is seen on other UK busses. If it isn't, it should be.
By the way Mark, no one does bus trips better than you. Cheers.
It's a shame that even with the £2 fare there doesn't seem to be many people using the bus.
I think that was above and beyond the call of duty, the train would have been faster, albeit more expensive and a risk of overcrowding on a 2car 158. We stayed at the same Travelodge when visiting the North & Mid Norfolk railways a couple of years ago and used the Excel to/from Dereham, short journeys yes but 3 hours…. Keep up the trips, always good to compare your thoughts with ours.
This route was shown in railway timetables for many years as it provides the useful cross-country links to Wisbech, Swaffham and Dereham, being virtually a rail replacement. Travelled it some years ago and enjoyed the trip. I hopped off at Dereham and went on the Mid-Norfolk Railway to Wymondham.
Defo was a good bus and try and do X5 Bedford to Oxford
Much improved. Good on you, mate!😊
I wonder if the driver went all the way to Norwich
Is Swaffham where all of the locals have the same DNA?
Lovely views, great commentary, quality music, thanks as always!
I really wish we had the bus fare incentive here in Scotland, it's brilliant. Looked a clean, comfortable bus especially at the back! 😊
Great travel video again Mark. Inspired me to do the same trip. Just wondered what timetable or app you use to get times etc
So they've replaced and upgraded this route then? Cause I use to get the X1 from Norwich to King's Lynn to do my nursing placements at the Queen Elizabeth. Even late at night it was safe. Then i started driving and it was great.
Although the upstairs didn't have table seats.
A nice journey made better by having a clean bus that is comfortable and at the right price, pleasant scenery for the journey as well, till next time stay safe and well, cheers.
That's quite long but looked impressive. Definitely a new one to try. The longest regular bus journey in the UK I took was on the Arriva Sapphire X18 service between Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed via Bamburgh, at over 4 hours
We've done that trip between King's Lynn & Norwich..which I get for free as my Stagecoach staff pass allows free travel on First Eastern Countries services .
With working as a bus driver for Stagecoach in Manchester, my staff pass gets me free travel on about 80% of bus routes in GB….what I am still wanting to do is Manchester to Thurso using regular service buses & coaches (non Megabus/Scottish Citylink services as me staff pass not valid on them). A route I want to do is the 35 from Aberdeen to Elgin. Will get round to it one day
Try some buses in dorset
you should visit Donegal airport it was voted most scenic landing in the world in 2017 although it only has two flights a day to Dublin on a good day the views form landing are spectacular
Nice bus. But what about that fabulous house and garden in Swaffham.
You should try the longest train journey in the uk 13 hours
From Aberdeen to Penzance! In first class or standard lol
Hi! How does this compare to train from PBoro to Norwich?
I used to catch this bus to Great Yarmouth when it used to go all the way to Lowestoft from Peterborough. If you have the time (and a strong bladder!) it's unbeatable value for the distance covered.