Lynx (bus company)

Lynx[1] is an independant bus company based in King's Lynn and operating services across west and north Norfolk and eastern Cambridgeshire.

Lynx
A pair of Lynx Optare Tempos at King's Lynn bus station in March 2018
Founded6 January 2015
HeadquartersKing's Lynn
Service areaCambridgeshire
Norfolk
Service typeBus services
Routes18 (July 2019)
DestinationsMarham
Downham Market
Fakenham
Hunstanton
King's Lynn
Wells-next-the-Sea
Wisbech
Fairstead Estate
Castle Rising
Dersingham
HubsKing’s Lynn
StationsHunstanton
Websitewww.lynxbus.co.uk

History

Lynx was founded by Stephen Challis, Jullian Patterson and Andrew Warnes in 2013. The trio had previously established Konectbus in 1999 before selling it to the Go-Ahead Group in March 2010.[2]

Operations commenced on 6 January 2015, with a school contract between Southery and Downham Market Academy. On 26 January 2015, it commenced its first public bus service operating hourly between King's Lynn to Hunstanton, seven days a week.[2][3]

Lynx expanded its network of routes with the takeover three Council-subsidised bus services from Stagecoach in Norfolk in September 2017,[4] followed by a further eight former Stagecoach routes from 29 April 2018, after Stagecoach closed their King's Lynn depot. Among the services taken on following Stagecoach's withdrawal from the area was the western half of the popular and well established Coasthopper service between King's Lynn and Cromer.[5][6] Lynx took over operation of the King's Lynn to Wells-next-the-Sea section of this route, rebranded it as Coastliner 36 and extended the service inland from Wells to Fakenham.[7][8] A further three services were taken over from Stagecoach in September 2018.[9]

Fleet

Lynx commenced operations with a fleet of four single-decker Optare Tempos, including an experimental prototype purchased directly from Optare.[10][11] It has standardised on the type and by April 2018 it was operating the largest fleet of Tempos in the United Kingdom with 26.[5]

Since September 2016, Lynx has also operated double-deckers including Optare Spectra bodied DAF DB250LFs, Wright Pulsar Gemini bodied DAF DB250s and Leyland Olympians.[12][13][14] Two Alexander Dennis Enviro400's are on order and expected in spring 2021.

Lynx own a Leyland National, which is operated as a heritage bus in a semi-preserved state, painted in Lynx's standard red livery. Delivered new to Hants & Dorset in November 1977, it has been used in passenger service several times to mark special occasions, as well as attending industry and promotional events and bus enthusiasts' rallies. As of winter 2019/20 it is stored out of service.

Buses are painted in 'Mars Red' - chosen to stand out against other bus operators in the area and as a nod to the 'Poppy Red' of National Bus Company days.

References
  1. Coastal Red Limited Companies House extract
  2. Second time around for former Konectbus team Bus & Coach Buyer 11 February 2015
  3. Lynx is launched Lynx 5 January 2015
  4. New bus times from Sept 2017 Lynx
  5. "All change in King's Lynn as Stagecoach vacates the town" Coach & Bus Week issue 1340 1 May 2018 page 11
  6. Stagecoach in Norfolk Stagecoach
  7. "Stagecoach planning to shut King's Lynn depot" Coach & Bus Week issue 1328 6 February 2018 page 11
  8. Stagecoach calls it a day in Norfolk and plans withdrawal Route One 6 February 2018
  9. "Lynx :: New Services 54, 55A & 55B". www.lynxbus.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  10. Lynx effect in Norfolk Coach & Bus Week 9 December 2014
  11. "Lynx links Lynn" Buses issue 720 March 2015 page 10
  12. "Fleet News" Buses issue 745 April 2017 page 72
  13. "Fleet News" Buses issue 754 January 2018 page 73
  14. "Fleet News" Buses issue 756 March 2018 page 73

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