Lynx (bus company): Difference between revisions

|locale = North West Norfolk

|service_area = [[Norfolk]]<br />[[Cambridgeshire]]

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

|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 would 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'' issue Appointments1178 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>

During 2019, Lynx funded a 'comprehensive' refurbishment/renewing of the [[Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn]] bus shelters, and a next bus information screen was provided by Norfolk County Council.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-06|title=New look for Q.E Hospital bus shelter|url=https://www.lynxbus.co.uk/news/new-look-for-qe-hospital-bus-shelter/|website=Lynx}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-01|title=Lynx donates new bus shelter to hospital|url=https://qehklmediahub.com/2019/11/01/lynx-donates-new-bus-shelter-to-hospital/|website=QEH Media Hub/QEH News}}</ref>

[[File:T29 KLN (ex R17 TYB) refurbed interior.png|alt=View down the saloon of Lynx's T29 KLN, refurbed R17 TYB, showing an ashy woodgrain flooring under seats upholstered in fiery moquette suspended from gleaming white saloon walls behind sweeping partitions with bright white LED uplighting above|left|thumb|Saloon view of fully refurbished former [[Yellow Buses]] bespoke [[Optare Tempo]], featuring Lynx's own moquette design]]

Lynx commenced operations with a fleet of four single-decker [[Optare Tempo]]s, including an experimental prototype purchased directly from Optare.<ref name="B&CB" /><ref>[https://cbwmagazine.com/lynx-effect-in-norfolk/ Lynx effect in Norfolk] ''Coach & Bus Week'' 9 December 2014</ref><ref>"Lynx links Lynn" ''[[Buses (magazine)|Buses]]'' issue 720 March 2015 page 10</ref> It has standardised on the type and by AprilDecember 2018 it was operating the largest fleet of Tempos in the United Kingdom with 2627.<ref>National now Lynx ''Coach name=C&BW1340 Bus Week'' issue 1371 4 December 2018 page 45</ref>

Since September 2016, Lynx has also operated double-deckers including [[Optare Spectra]] and [[Wright Pulsar Gemini]] bodied [[VDL DB250|DAF DB250LFs]] and [[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=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/|access-date=|website=[[Alexander Dennis]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-09|title=Lynx takes two new Alexander Dennis Enviro400s|url=https://www.route-one.net/deliveries/lynx-takes-two-new-alexander-dennis-enviro400s/|website=Route ONEOne}}</ref>

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