The XL Blog

 I was recently asked to provide a timeline of the evolution of the XL bus route. As far as I can recall, I've never done this before but I've managed to piece together the basics and thought you might like to see the results. I'm not claiming it is 100% accurate and any amendments/ comments are welcome. I am particularly grateful to Interurban Bus for using their timeline as a blueprint.

So here goes .....

XL service evolution timeline

1959 – The former Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, then part of British Railways is closed, removing the link between Great Yarmouth and Peterborough via North Walsham, Fakenham, South Lynn  and Wisbech.

1963 – The Beeching Report does not recommend closure of railway lines from King’s Lynn to Wisbech, March, Dereham and Hunstanton. It stresses the importance of King’s Lynn – Dereham – Norwich as a freight route.

 1968 September – The Government authorise Kings Lynn to Dereham and King’s Lynn to Wisbech passenger train services to cease, with Hunstanton to King’s Lynn following in May 1969. A short-lived and infrequent March – Wisbech -King’s Lynn bus service no. 415 lasts just a couple of years before it too is withdrawn.

1971 – Link between Norwich and Kings Lynn via Dereham and Swaffham is provided by the 34/34B bus service. Buses run roughly every one and a half hours, with a limited evening and Sunday service. The journey takes about two hours for the full route. The 336 bus links Kings Lynn to Peterborough via Wisbech, with a more frequent service than the 34/34B. Both services are provided by the Eastern Counties subsidiary of the National Bus Company (NBC).

1974 – Norwich-Kings Lynn is re-numbered 434/435/436. The service remains patchy, with a greater frequency of buses on the Dereham-Kings Lynn section of the route.

1979 – Introduction of additional services between Dereham and Norwich on routes 834/835/836 with a half hourly frequency at peak times. The morning frequency of the full Norwich-Kings Lynn route falls. The 336/337 continues to link Kings Lynn to Peterborough, with a frequent morning and afternoon service.

1982 – Considerable improvement in the 434 service. Weekday frequency is upgraded to hourly, with little evening and weekend change. A Rail Link (bus) service is introduced by British Rail between Hunstanton, Kings Lynn and Peterborough, operating via Wisbech, with four services per day in each direction. The service is eventually taken over by Birds of Hunstanton in May 1983.

1983 – The Eastline branded 794 service is introduced between Peterborough and Norwich, running five buses per weekday. Service on 434 between Kings Lynn and Norwich is reduced to just three buses per day.

1993 – Improvements are made to the 794 following the removal of the Rail Link service operated by Birds in October. Two extra journeys added in each direction Monday – Saturday, and one on Sunday. Kings Lynn and Peterborough Stations also included as stopping points.

1994 – Eastern Counties is sold to GRT Group.

1995 – GRT Group merges with Badgerline to form First Group. Appearance of First branding on the 794 timetables which accompanies a slight improvement in weekday service.

1996 – From June 2^nd, the 794 is renumbered the X94, and increased to two-hourly. New Volvo B10M coaches introduced. Four are required on weekdays and three on Sundays. 434 service withdrawn between Norwich and Swaffham.

1997 –   The X94 route is significantly improved, with an hourly weekday service between Peterborough and Norwich . Journey time between Kings Lynn and Norwich cut down to an hour and a half. (Note that it currently takes an hour and 48 minutes).

1998 May - Half of the X94 services are extended to run through to Great Yarmouth.

1999 – Extension of the service to Gorleston. Improvements such as more comprehensive evening service and railway station ticketing (multi-modal integration).

2000 July -  X94 daytime services extended to Lowestoft on weekdays. (Evening and Sunday journeys extended to Lowestoft in 2007).

2001 – New hourly Excel service X95 is introduced (Lowestoft – Yarmouth – Norwich – Dereham – Shipdham – Watton), increasing combined frequency to half hourly over the common section with the X94.

2002 – Route is rebranded as a coach service, with ten new Volvo B12 coaches despite offering the same vehicle spec as before. The X94 offers ‘luxury travel’ and continues the hourly frequency.

2004 August – Route rebranded as the X1. Peak weekday service upgraded to half hourly, with a considerable improvement in evening and Sunday frequency (hourly). Frequency varies somewhat depending on the section of the route, but peak frequency is maintained on the main trunk route (Great Yarmouth/Norwich-Kings Lynn). X95 service is withdrawn. Eighteen coaches are required on weekdays and eight on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

2008 July – The X1 Blog goes live !

2008 October – A new fleet of Volvo Gemini double deckers enter service replacing the coaches, capacity increases but comfort declines.

2011 June – First Group give up their local operations in King’s Lynn and area, leaving just the X1 under their jurisdiction.

2013 April – The last appearance of a coach on the X1

2013 October – First introduces 22 new Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 buses, fitted with leather seats, air conditioning and Wi-Fi.

2014 July – The X1 Peterborough to Norwich and Norwich to Lowestoft revert to separate bus services.

2016 April – Reduced evening service between Norwich and Peterborough and last buses run earlier.

2020 February – New £5.3m fleet of nineteen Scania /ADL Enviro 400 buses enter service between Norwich and Peterborough with leather seats, tables, wi-fi but no air conditioning. The X1 service remains with older vehicles between Norwich, Yarmouth and Lowestoft, but Norwich – Peterborough is rebranded XL with route options A,B,C & D

2020 March – June. Heavily reduced timetable due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

2026. The current timetable utilises 15 buses on weekdays and 7 on Sundays. The Scania Enviro 400s are expected to be replaced around 2028. Wear and tear is taking its toll now and whilst very comfortable, the lack of heating operating in the winter has been unsatisfactory.