Tuesday 26 August 2025 (1229) – Simonds of Botesdale Limited, Diss Simonds was acquired by the Vectare Group in May 2024 which now uses the name Transport Made Simple along with the Simonds name.

Simonds is the contracted operator of Flixbus service 007 that links Norwich and Stratford (East London). The service commenced on Thursday 17 April 2025 with two daily departures leaving Norwich Bus Station at 0700 and 1430 that call at UEA (University of East Anglia) 15 minutes later and Thetford (Bus Interchange) 65 minutes after Norwich Bus Station. The overall journey time is 2 hours 50 minutes. Departures from Stratford to Norwich are at 1100 and 1820.

It would appear that the regular vehicle that works the services, a Yutong GT12 in full Flixbus livery, was substituted today by YX68 UCA, a Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B8R new in December 2018. Circa 2021 this coach was adapted to comply with PSVAR requirements and fitted with a wheelchair lift etc. It was seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1100 service from Stratford to Norwich which is timed to arrive at Thetford at 1245, about 15 minutes away so the service was exactly on time.

The Flixbus liveried coach carries the legal name and address as Simonds of Botesdale Limited, Advanced Technology Innovation Centre, Loughborough LE11 3QF but on this coach it read Simonds of Botesdale Limited, Roswald House, Oak Drive, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4GX.