Lynx 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.[1][2][3]
Lynx expanded its network of routes with the takeover three Council-subsidised bus services from Stagecoach in Norfolk in September 2017,[5] 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.[6][7] 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.[8][9] A further three services were taken over from Stagecoach in September 2018.[10]
During 2019, Lynx funded a refurbishment/renewing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn bus shelters, and a next bus information screen was provided by Norfolk County Council.[11][12]
A brand new, thoroughly redesigned website (powered by the 'BusHub Mobility Platform') launched in December 2019, including a live bus tracker, fare calculator and journey planner,[13] with an iOS & Android app following shortly afterwards in January 2020[14]
Lynx commenced operations with a fleet of four Optare Tempos, including an experimental prototype purchased directly from Optare.[2][15][16] It standardised on the type and by December 2018 it was operating the largest fleet of Tempos in the United Kingdom with 27.[17]
Since September 2016, Lynx has also operated double-deckers including Wright Pulsar Gemini bodied DAF DB250LFs, Enviro 400 and Enviro 400MMC's .[18][19][20] Two new, bespoke Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMCs arrived in spring 2021 for added capacity on the Coastliner route, Another 5 have been delivered, with all of them having next stop displays and announements, USB-A and 2 tables upstairs (with wireless charging inplanted into them) (on each bus), these buses having amazing design's (6 are designed for the Coastliner 36 and 1 for the 34/35/36 which does make an appearance on the Coastliner sometime's) (These double deck buses are on the Coastliner full time with the occasional single deck).[21][22]
Lynx has recently bought and referbished 2 Alexander Dennis Enviro400's (81 - DU61 FVY & 82 - UWW 2X (DU62 FHK)), the 2 double deck buses cost £80K (each) to referbish, which are usually on the 34/35/36 to Hunstanton from King's Lynn and back, they sometime's make an appearance on the Coastliner 36 between King's Lynn and Fakenham via Hunstanton, Burnham Market & Wells - Next - The - Sea.
Lynx has started slowly fading out the older Optare Tempo's by replacing them with brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC's (they have 4 as of Dec '24) for the 34/35/36 which go to Hunstanton from King's Lynn and back, These new buses feature next stop display and announcement's, they also have USB-A sockets for the passenger's comfort.
These new buses have a stop-start technology which make it safer for the environment.
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.
As at December 2024 the fleet comprised 38 vehicles.[23]
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