Lynx (bus company): Difference between revisions

|locale = North West Norfolk

|service_area = [[CambridgeshireNorfolk]]<br>[[NorfolkCambridgeshire]]

|alliance = Coasthopper shared with [[Sanders Coaches]]

|routes = 1819 (JulyOctober 20192023)

|hubs = [[King’sKing's Lynn]]

|stations = [[Hunstanton]]

|loungefleet = 37 (November 2021)

'''Lynx'''<ref name="lynx">[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08711244 Coastal Red Limited] Companies House extract</ref>, the trading name of 'Coastal Red Ltd', is an independenta bus company based in [[King's Lynn]] and operating services across west and north [[Norfolk]] and eastern [[Cambridgeshire]].

Coastal RedLynx was founded by Stephen Challis and Andrew Warnes in 2013. The pair (along with Julian Patterson) had previously established [[Konectbus]] in 1999 before selling it to the [[Go-Ahead Group]] in March 2010. Having considered construction and engineering, the idea of a new bus operation formally began in spring 2014. Julian Patterson camewould come aboard later that year upon leaving Go-Ahead. <ref>[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08711244 name="lynx"Coastal Red Limited] [[Companies House]] extract</ref> <ref name=B&CB>[https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/lynx/ Second time around for former Konectbus team] ''Bus & Coach Buyer'' 11 February 2015</ref> <ref name=C&BW1178>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/0jXjBdee2DnMH_foCRF0F5cEh4k/appointmentsGrassroots Julianbusmen Mark''Coach PATTERSON]& CompaniesBus HouseWeek'' Appointmentsissue 1178 3 March 2015 pages 46-51</ref>

Operations commenced for Lynx on 6 January 2015, with a school contract between [[Southery]] and [[Downham Market Academy]]. On 26 January 2015, their first public bus service began, operating hourly between [[King's Lynn]] to [[Hunstanton]], seven days a week.<ref name=B&CB/><ref name=C&BW1178/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180515120035/https://www.lynxbus.co.uk/news/newbuses/ Lynx is launched] Lynx 5 January 2015</ref>

Lynx expanded its network of routes with the takeover three Council-subsidised bus services from [[Stagecoach in Norfolk]] in September 2017,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180515120311/https://www.lynxbus.co.uk/news/new-bus-times-sept-2017/ New bus times from Sept 2017] Lynx</ref> 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]].<ref name=C&BW1340>"All change in King's Lynn as Stagecoach vacates the town" ''[[Coach & Bus Week]]'' issue 1340 1 May 2018 page 11</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180501131823/https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/east/norfolk-landing-page Stagecoach in Norfolk] Stagecoach</ref> 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]].<ref>"Stagecoach planning to shut King's Lynn depot" ''Coach & Bus Week'' issue 1328 6 February 2018 page 11</ref><ref>[http://www.route-one.net/articles/Bus_routes/Stagecoach_calls_it_a_day_in_Norfolk_and_plans_withdrawal Stagecoach calls it a day in Norfolk and plans withdrawal] ''Route One'' 6 February 2018</ref> A further three services were taken over from Stagecoach in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lynxbus.co.uk/news/new-services-54-55a-55b/|title=Lynx :: New Services 54, 55A & 55B|website=www.lynxbus.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-09-10}}</ref>

ADuring brand new2019, thoroughlyLynx redesignedfunded websitea (poweredrefurbishment/renewing byof the 'BusHub[[Queen MobilityElizabeth PlatformHospital, King')s launchedLynn]] inbus December 2019shelters, includingand a livenext bus tracker,information farescreen calculatorwas andprovided journeyby plannerNorfolk County Council.<ref>{{Cite web|date=06/12/2019-12-06|title=New Lynxlook Websitefor isQ.E Hospital bus Launched!shelter|url=https://www.lynxbus.co.uk/news/new-lynxlook-websitefor-isqe-launchedhospital-bus-shelter/|url-status=live|website=Lynx}}</ref>, with an iOS & Android app following shortly afterwards in January 2020<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-01|title=‎LynxLynx donates new bus shelter to hospital|url=https://apps.appleqehklmediahub.com/us2019/app11/lynx01/id1492112774|accesslynx-date=2021donates-07new-24bus-shelter-to-hospital/|website=AppQEH Store|language=en-USMedia Hub/QEH News}}</ref>

Since September 2016, Lynx has also operated double-deckers including [[Optare Spectra]] and [[Wright Pulsar Gemini]] bodied [[VDL DB250|DAF DB250LFs]] and a [[Leyland Olympian]]s.<ref>"Fleet News" ''Buses'' issue 745 April 2017 page 72</ref><ref>"Fleet News" ''Buses'' issue 754 January 2018 page 73</ref><ref>"Fleet News" ''Buses'' issue 756 March 2018 page 73</ref> Two new, bespoke [[Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC]]s arrived in spring 2021 for added capacity on the Coastliner route.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29/04/2021-04-29|title=ADL DELIVERSdelivers BESPOKEbespoke ENVIRO400Enviro400 DOUBLEdouble DECKERSdeckers TOto INDEPENDENTindependent OPERATORoperator LYNXLynx FORfor WESTWest NORFOLKNorfolk COASTALcoastal ROUTEroute|url=https://www.alexander-dennis.com/media/news/2021/april/adl-delivers-bespoke-enviro400-double-deckers-to-independent-operator-lynx-for-west-norfolk-coastal-route/|url-status=live|access-date=|website=[[Alexander Dennis]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=29/2021-04/2021-09|title=Lynx takes two new Alexander Dennis Enviro400s|url=https://www.route-one.net/deliveries/lynx-takes-two-new-alexander-dennis-enviro400s/|url-status=live|website=Route ONEOne}} </ref>

{{Bus companies in East England|state=collapsed}}