Stagecoach East

Nigel Diplock from Cambridge has been in touch. He's highlighted this recent decision regarding Stagecoach, which now operate Norfolk Green, operating services into/out of Norwich. 

"The Norfolk Green operation, which was acquired by Stagecoach in December 2013, is to be absorbed into the Stagecoach East subsidiary. The change will take place from May 1st and will see Norfolk Green come under the control of Stagecoach East Managing Director Andy Campbell. It will add a further 86 buses to the 366-strong Stagecoach East fleet. The distinctive Norfolk Green livery and Stagecoach variation will be swept aside for corporate Stagecoach livery.

Stagecoach East operates services throughout Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and into Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. Norfolk Green operates services in Norfolk and into Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.Norfolk Green’s main depot is in King’s Lynn, but it also operates from a number of small outstations. Until recently it also operated the Ely Town Service, but this is now operated by Stagecoach East from its’ Cambridge depot.

Under Stagecoach ownership, Norfolk Green has been allowed to keep its local identity. It also has its own version of the Stagecoach corporate livery using silver, and two shades of green. Steven Knight Media understands that the Norfolk Green business will trade under the Stagecoach Norfolk brand.

Since becoming part of Stagecoach, Norfolk Green has been managed by Stagecoach South Managing Director Andrew Dyer, who is retiring in July 2015.

In the past year or so since Stagecoach acquired the Norfolk Green business, they have taken time to understand the operation and to consider how best it can be developed as part of the main Stagecoach business. This is the same approach as Stagecoach have taken with previous acquisitions. Stagecoach says: "We believe we can continue to develop the business by integrating the Kings Lynn depot operations fully into Stagecoach East. This also makes sense geographically".The Stagecoach spokesperson added: "All vehicles from Kings Lynn depot will carry corporate Stagecoach livery although those vehicles inherited from Norfolk Green will retain Norfolk Green branding until either their replacement or scheduled repaint". Andy Campbell, Managing Director of Stagecoach East said: "We look forward to attracting even more people on to our greener, smarter services by continuing to deliver the high-quality, affordable bus services across the east of England." Thanks again for the email, Nigel Diplock.