Bounce across East Anglia in completely the wrong bus (First Eastern Counties)

Member Name: jamesontheroad

Product:	First Eastern Counties
Date:	02/01/09 (106 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Frequent clockface schedule

Disadvantages: Uncomfortable buses, ever rising fares

(this review concentrates only on the part of First Eastern Counties I know well... the X1 intercity / crosscountry bus that bisects East Anglia)

Perhaps East Anglia's most under appreciated public transport asset is the extremely frequent X1 bus that winds all the way from Peterborough in the west of the region to Lowestoft on the east coast. I can't speak for First Eastern Counties' urban operations, but this unusual cross-country bus has been a vital link for me and my family, as it connects dozens of rural towns and villages with both the region's major cities and key rail stations.

As often as every thirty minutes (and every fifteen between Norwich and Lowestoft) this bus connects Peterborough, Wisbeach, King's Lynn, Swaffham, Dereham, Norwich and Lowestoft, and numerous intermediate villages. This is especially convenient for the major railway station at Peterborough, from where you can travel to London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, the north-east and Scotland; and the bus stops right outside the station.

However, in 2008 the service saw a major set back with the introduction of wholly unsuitable urban double decker buses. Until these appeared the long cross-country route had been served by comfortable, spacious and well equipped coaches that were more suitable to infrequent stops and bouncy fenland and rural roads. The brand new (and no doubt extremely expensive) double deckers are extremely uncomfortable for anything more than thirty minutes, and have significantly less luggage room.

So, if (like me) you live in central Norfolk or the Breckland and appreciate a direct connection to the cities of Peterborough or Norwich, you're in for a long and uncomfortable ride. And that's a real shame, because the X1 opens up a whole swathe of East Anglia unserved by rail to a frequent connection to Peterborough and beyond.

Summary: Misguided