First Bus

First Bus is single handedly fighting the U.K's obesity epidemic by forcing people to walk because their buses either never show up or are so late you might as well not bother. Other perks of their service include the beautiful music you'll hear on the phone as you wait on hold for their non existent customer service and getting lots of fresh air as you stand at bus stops with all their other lucky customers! Well done first bus!

First Bus to power 20 depots with solar panelsByPaul Halford-April 21, 2023Installation of the solar panels has begun at First Bus's Camborne depotFirst Bus is to invest £2.5 million in installing more than 6000 solar panels across 20 of its depots across the UK as part of its net-zero strategy.The solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, which will be in place by mid-June, will generate more than 2 million kWh per year – enough to power 700 family homes.The move forms part of First Bus’s ambitions to carry out its operations with net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. This is in addition to its aim of achieving a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035.The panels would not only reduce costs but enable the 20 sites to generate their own renewable power for lighting, heating, office equipment and engineering bays without drawing power from the national grid.Jon Tivey, Head of Environment for First Bus UK, says: “We are delighted to announce the rollout of our solar PV programme across the UK, which will help us to significantly reduce our carbon emissions across 20 sites.“This is yet another milestone in our transition to a low-carbon future across every aspect of our operations. As one of the largest bus operators in the UK, it’s important that we lead the way in the industry and set an example for others to follow.”Manchester-based solar PV suppliers CorEnergy UK is already carrying out installation on some sites.CorEnergy Managing Director, Tom Griffin, says: “CorEnergy is pleased to be supporting the ambitious net-zero targets committed by First Bus, having been awarded the design and installation of an exciting renewable energy project to introduce solar PV solutions to 20 sites across the UK.“In a time where all businesses are striving for carbon neutrality, this successful solar PV project will play a significant role in supporting First Bus to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet ongoing net-zero objectives.”The depots which will have solar panels fitted by June are:BlantyreBridgewaterBradford, Bowling Back LaneBristol Bus stationCambourneChelmsfordGreat YarmouthHaven Road, ColchesterHuddersfield, Old Fieldhouse LaneLeeds, Hunslet ParkYork, James StreetAberdeen, King StreetLeicesterSwansea, RavenhillNorwich, Roundtree WayScotstounSummercourt, NewquayTruroBath, Weston IslandWeymouth

The attitude some drivers have is unbelievable.Bought a ticket online for £5.30, and my phone died, explained the situation to the driver and the answer was “so u don’t have a ticket then”, asked to buy an other ticket by cash and he refused my £20 note, I only had £1 coin and a old pound coin that of course he didn’t accept. So he kicked me out the bus shouting at me that I should pay like everyone else. In front of a full bus! Of people that know me. I was so embarrassed.. and late for work..My 16 yrs old sisters is studying in Norwich and I literally made her take the train from that day. It costs more and it takes longer, but I never risk something like that again.Unbelievably rude and disrespectful. Definitely not worth the money the time and the delay. At this point I drive and pay the car park.

Buses are frequently cancelled and never show up or when they do (because they don't show up) they are overcrowded. I absolutely resent having to pay for a month pass as they are the only operator on my route.Due to roadworks on the bus stop I usually take one of the drivers said to stop further down the road and signal. When I did this they didn't stop and rather awkwardly pointed up the road as they drove past. Not sure why some stop at the designated stop and others down the road. Why would they choose to block the road when there are roadworks?It's so confusing often drivers are rude or drive aggressively which recently seemed to cause an accident on St Stevens Street.

501|502|512|515|523|524|525 & Norwich park and ride & bus station Norwich sold to first eastern countiesGet new bus times atOn the 7th September the Norwich Park-&-Ride network was upgraded with a fleet of new buses and a revision to the routes operated. Established local operator first eastern counties, a first buses subsidiary, took over the network completely having up to then been just one part of the operation. Eighteen new ADL Enviro400 diesel engined double-decks, along with several of their existing fleet buses now run the whole network.There are now six distinct routes:501      Thickthorn P&R via City Centre to Airport P&R502      Harford P&R via City Centre to Sprowston P&R512      Harford P&R to Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital & University of East Anglia515 - Easton, Marlingford rd to Norwich airport P&R via Longwater retail park523      Costessey P&R via City centre to Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital524    Costessey  P&R Via city centre  to University of East Anglia525    Queen Hill  to Postwick P&R via City Centre to Great YarmouthFrom the first eastern counties website:First bus subsidiary First Eastern Counties has won the five-year contract to operate all six Park & Ride services in Norwich, starting in September this year.  The package includes the management of the six Park & Ride sites and Norwich bus station, offering the opportunity to improve the overall offer to customers. First eastern counties will deliver a new network of services designed by the company and Norfolk County CouncilFrom September 2023 Norwich Park & Ride is changing! First eastern counties will be taking over all six Park & Ride sites with a new improved network. As a result services 501, 502,512|515|523 & 524|525 For more information about your newNorwich Park & RideIn September 2023 it was announced that the Norwich Park & Ride & bus station Norwich 501|502|512|515|523|524|525  arm of the business would be sold to First Eastern CountiesNetwork Norwich Service Changes - from 2023Red Line 23|24As passenger numbers continue to increase towards pre-pandemic levels we are increasing the frequency of buses on Mondays to SundaysThere will be 10 buses per hour, operating every 7 minutes, between Larkman Lane and the Heartsease roundabout via the city centre.Buses will serve Queens Hills, Heartsease and Thorpe St Andrew Sainsburys up to every 7 minutes with each of the four routes taken between termini operating as:Red Line 23 - will operate twice every hourRed Line 23A - will operate twice every hourRed line 23B - will operate twice every hourRed Line 24 - will operate twice every hourRed Line 24A - will operate twice every hourThere will be 10 buses per hour, operating every 7 minutes, between Dereham Rd & Larkman Lane and the Park and ride  via the city centre.Buses will serve Costessey & Norwich park and ride Dereham Rd up to every 7 minutes with each of the routes taken between termini operating asRed line 523 will operate twice every hourRed line 524 will operate twice every hourRed line 525 will operate twice every hour512 - Norfolk and Norwich Hospital to Norwich airport park and ride via Hellesdon, Sweetbriar retail park, university515 - Easton, Marlingford road to Norwich airport park and ride via Longwater retail parkThe First Eastern Counties Bus Red Lineservice uses this corridor, providing a strategic public transport route acrossthe city centre, linking areas to the east of the city. Pre-Covid, the Red Lineservice operated at a frequency of up to every 7 minutes. Currently, theservice is operating at a lower frequency, mainly as a result of a temporaryshortage of bus drivers, but it is expected that the frequency of service willincrease to at least pre-Covid levels during 2023

Awful!! The app is shocking, the timetables shocking, at this point they should give up. Time keeping isn't difficult and yet here is this company. The app continues to be awful, makes no sense and doesn't give you a simple answer

Overpriced for the quality of their service. Some routes are better than others. Some drivers (especially on 25/26/26A route) don't know how to drive properly, ensuring passengers have a comfortable ride. They also like to pull away before passengers (especially the elderly) have sat down. Very hit and miss as to whether buses turn up or not. Looking forward to graduating in 2024 so I don't have to put up with First Bus again as I have no option at the moment. Complained directly in the past, but nothing was done. Absolutely dire

Pay for a service that is constantly late, sometimes up to 30 minutes, in the city center you can be waiting this length for a replacement driver, who quite conveniently having a smoke with his peers on a bench, never a sorry" or even a hello

Norwich Norfolk .I give one star because I can't put less, lousy service and expensive for the misery they offer, buses are constantly late, many times they don't provide service and you stay waiting, you really can't trust being able to get to work on time. The drivers are usually friendly, that's the only good thing I can say. I'd rather get wet in the rain on my bike than expect optimal service. It's not worth more than a pound.

1 star because there's no option for 0. Usually we get 1 bus showing up for every 3 scheduled.Today we've been waiting for over an hour and no bus.Using the car from now on.