CARTERS OLYMPIAN SURPRISE

 

Olympian G727 XDL ex Damory, part of the Go Ahead Group photo copyright of Leon Wells

A surprise purchase well not really is of G727 XDL from Ensign to replace  449 L679 HNV. Below is a scanned picture i took in Isle of Wight back in 1989 of an Olympian and a VR from a batch of which some later came to Eastern Counties.

Olympian 695 WDL 695Y and Bristol VR 666 together at Ryde, part of Isle of Wights Southern Vectis fleet in 1989 copyright Clive Nixon 

REVIEW OF 2013

REVIEW OF 2013

Let's not forget that the both bus stations were closed at the same time!

The last P reg Scania to leave the fleet in 2013 was 65550

Well what one can say about 2013, in one blog, for me personally it's not been a good year, but in the heaven of the bus world, it's been one rollercoaster ride, in the main it's been the bus war which has captured the public's eye, so we have said goodbye to routes 56, 70, and 87 from First Ipswich while we have seen them take on Ipswich Buses on Chantry, with little success, while Ipswich Buses said goodbye to route 17 to the Hospital via Spring Road, as well as the last ECW Olympians departing and the beginning of an new era with four Enviro 200s and Optare Versas on Park and Ride. First Ipswich probably had the most changes as far as the fleet went, out went the original superoute 88 P Reg scanias, and the remaining R-GSF scanias, some only here for a short time, while coming in was more Scania single deckers in the form of 65628/30-32,65691/92,65670/76  from Basildon, while at the tail end of the year a further 2 Volvo B7TLs came from Lowestoft and out went two ex Park and Ride Volvo B7RLE's

Seen here in the height of the glorious summer is 65631  V831 FSC one of the transfers in from Basildon

69432 GETS A REPAINT AND IB'S NEW ROUTES

69432 AU58 FFV repainted at long last.

Well it's about time 69432 has finally been given a full repaint into the new livery after carrying only what one could call an hybrid livery of Barbie 3 livery on the front and a wraparound East Anglian Co-operative advert.

IPSWICH BUSES NEW ROUTES

As previously mentioned Ipswich Buses have launched on-line their new timetables for the 6 Ipswich Hospital service and the X1 to Greenwich(Holbrook Road) which will be in competition with First's 61, both will launch on the 6th January. Service 6 will divert back via Sainsbury's (Warren Heath) and Ravenswood as per original routing and will additionally serve Broke Hall off peak hours. Service X1 will operate Monday to Saturday daytime mirroring First's 61 service.

Enviro 200 82 YX63 LGF in hybrid livery on the 8 Whitehouse(ASDA) stand

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY VISITORS IN THE UK AND WORLDWIDE!

IPSWICH RECEIVE 32655/56

Ipswich Depot has received 2 Volvo B7TL/ALX 400s with Volvo B7RLES 69421/30 going to Colchester 

One other transfer which i haven't mentioned before is one of the awful numb bumb scanias in 65676 has departed to Clacton as someone once said "You are most Welcome". While in Ipswich today i bumped into Steve W whose blog recently had news from the First  Ipswich Engineering manager, so if you have missed it do go along and see his blog, whilst there 30887 popped up on the Felixstowe's and IB unusually had Optare Spectra 50 a step entrance bus on the 1 to the Havens. 

IPSWICH BUSES PROFILE

IPSWICH BUSES PROFILE PART ONE

Welcome to Part one of an Ipswich Buses Profile, unfortunately i have had to divide it up into parts as for some reasons unknown i can't add any more pictures to this blog. 

 9  MRT 9P Leyland Atlantean AN68/1R/ Roe 043/29D    

Open Top Atlantean 9 MRT 9P seen at ITM,Priory Heath

 10 PO51 UMK Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne H46/27F 

The only East Lancs Trident In the Ipswich Buses fleet is no 10 PO51 UMK

11-17 LG02 FCX/FDC/F/J/K/N/FEM Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX 400 H43/23F
18/19 V126/62 MEV Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX 400 H47/29F  Blue livery for schools 20/21 Y436/58 NHK Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX 400 H47/29F

One of the ex Transdev London B7TL/ALX 400 Tridents is 17 LG02 FEM

TWO FURTHER ENVIRO 200'S FOR IPSWICH BUSES

One of the first two enviro 200's in the new Hybrid livery is 82 YX63 LGF

Ipswich Buses have purchased a further two AD Enviro 200's numbered 79/80 YX63 ZVV/W arrived last Friday afternoon while Dennis Darts 133/34 R133/34 FBJ departed to pastures new. Transferred into Ipswich for First Ipswich from Lowestoft yesterday was 32656 AU05 MVA with 32655 AU05 MUY to come shortly, this has allowed the release of Volvo B7RLE 69421 to Colchester.

One of the ex Nottingham City Transport solo's  FP02 XMB has been repainted into Beestons rather nondescript blue livery 

BORISMASTER IN SERVICE

BORISMASTER ON TRIAL IN IPSWICH

New bus for London LTZ 1100 in service on Tuesday.

Borismaster aka "The New Bus For London" entered service on Monday on the free shuttle service which navigates around the town centre, passenger levels weren't actually high, considering what was on offer, unfortunately due to time constraints i couldn't experience it, so if any of my loyal readers have been out on it and wish to do a little report for me i would be most grateful.

FIRST IPSWICH SWAP TWO B7RLES FOR TWO VOLVO B7TLS

First Ipswich are to swap two of their B7RLES, one of which is 69430 and the other now confirmed as 69421 and has already departed to Colchester, while Ipswich will receive two Volvo B7TL's in 32655/56 from Lowestoft when their current repaints of the ex X1 Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini's is completed. 30887 will also be leaving shortly to Braintree, we won't miss it's numb bumb seats!, thanks to Steve W for the news.

An unusual visitor to Tower Ramparts this week was Norse's ex Dublin Bus Volvo/Alexander RH Olympian now registered R397 LHK.

Another unusual visitor to Ipswich was this very handsome ex Colchester Leyland Olympian H48 MJN in the fleet of Talisman on Ipswich to Felixstowe Rail Replacement.

BORISMASTER ARRIVES

BORISMASTER LTZ 1100 ARRIVES ON LOAN

Many thanks for this great picture from David Warren of LTZ 1100 arriving yesterday at the Ipswich Buses depot from London.

Ipswich Buses have on loan from TFL the 100th Borismaster LTZ 1100 aka the new bus for London on trial for the following week it will run Monday to Friday on the free shuttle 38 service whether Ipswich Buses purchase any is left open to debate. In other news Tower Ramparts bus station reopened last Saturday, with additional stops and better lighting, albeit with no real time information until January, one small complaint was there are no shelters outside the shopping centre, however this should be remedied again in January when the Iceland food hall opens. On Monday First Ipswich commenced service 53 to Chantry running every 10 mins, the destination of Brookwood was confusing most people and people were letting it pass, examining buses leaving Tower Ramparts most buses were leaving carrying very few if any passengers, which was widely predicted not helped by being interworked with the 60/61 to Gainsborough, the older Scanias were being used particularly on Tuesday was 61533/65672/73/65588. Ipswich Buses in retaliation have applied  to run an X1 to Greenwich(Holbrook Road) starting in January which will go up against First's 60/61. Two more withdrawals from the First Ipswich Fleet have been 61528 and the last Superroute 88 Scania 65550.

Ipswich Buses East Lanc Olympus Scania decker 69 YJ60 KGY in Tower Ramparts

SATURDAY AMENDMENT

69422 AU58 FFJ the last bus on the 56 to Broke Hall

Once again apologises for my mistake on this the five mentioned Scanias on yesterday's blog have moved to Spalls of Dallinghoo for storage, Spalls also act for First in Ipswich recovering buses after breakdowns. Last bus out tonight on the withdrawn 56 today should be 69422 as seen above. Hopefully next week i will report on the new 53 to Chantry/Pinewood.

FIRST TAKE ON IB ON CHANTRY AND IB RESPOND AND TAKE ON GREENWICH

First have began to apply Coop adverts to their B7RLES both in Norfolk and here on 69009 seen in the last week of operation of the 56 to Broke Hall

With First's challenge to Ipswich Buses to begin on Sunday with a new 53 to Chantry/Pinewood, Ipswich Buses have registered a new X1 service to Greenwich (Holbrook Road) which one can presume is to be similar to Firsts service 60/61, this will start on the 6th January other noticeable changes will be a rerouted service 6 after many complaints about the removal of the section between Sainsbury's Warren Heath and Ravenswood Doctors surgery from Bixley Road. In other news Tower Ramparts Bus Station will reopen tomorrow i have included a picture that i took on Thursday below, while Museum Street reopened today, hopefully resulting in fewer delays. 

A wide view and a rare one at that of the completed bus station which makes one wonder what the difference is!

FLEET NEWS

First have now removed the five Scania saloons withdrawn last week, 65528/29/40/42/65628 moved to Clacton and in the process the Ransomes Euro Park base become redundant and has since closed subsequently Scania 65532  has since departed to Essex but for service, leaving just 61528/33/65550 which have all seen service again this week, confirmed now is the transfer of B7TL/ALX 400 32652 to Colchester, which is strange considering Ipswich are short of deckers with 66850 and 65631 both appearing on the 66, not good.

However sister 32653 AU05 MUV remains here for the time being!

IPSWICH PARK AND RIDE - A NEW ERA

One of Ipswich Buses new to Park and Ride duties is Optare Versa 146 YK08 EPC

And 148 YK08 EPE both outside the Old Cattle Market

Monday heralded the beginning of an new era for Park and Ride services in Ipswich when Ipswich Buses took over the contract using eight ex Nottingham City Transport Optare Versas refurbished with leather seating and air conditioning, one was out of service which was 153 with Enviro 200 82 YX63 LGF taking it's place although i did see it on Tuesday out of service when the light making taking photos difficult. Meanwhile First utilised it's ex Park and Ride Volvo B7RLE's on town and country service with the last pink one 69428 still in pink on the 60/61/70 routes and again on Friday on the 55/56, while 69424 is currently undergoing its transformation this week into the new livery. Contrary to my previous blog four Scanias remained in services for reasons i can't fathom especially 65550 which looks an absolute wreck along with 61528/33 and 65532, sisters 61538/65528/29/40/42 are now up at Ransomes euro park.

And another First repaint is 69423 AU58 FFK on the 60 to Gainsborough.

CHANGES A FOOT- A BUSY WEEK OF CHANGES

One of the Scania's due to depart on Monday is 61528 R116 GSF seen here at Tower Ramparts in Mid October on the 88 to Stowmarket.

First up are the changes caused by the change of operator for the Park and Ride Contract finishing today for First Ipswich and the beginning of another for Ipswich Buses on Monday. With First's contract ending the 9 Volvo B7RLES will transfer to normal duties in time for the new services beginning on the 18th November, so far with the recent repaint of 69427 this leaves just 69424/28/32 to be completed.With these buses coming into the fleet plus the recent arrival of  Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 decker 32652(AU05 MUP) will mean that 10 mostly early Scanias 61528/33/38/65528/29/32/40/42/50 plus the recently confirmed engine failure victim 65628 will depart to Clacton for storage, this will leave 7 Scania L94UB/Wright Axcess Floline's left with 65579(T579 JNG) the oldest. Meanwhile timetables have been announced for First's adventure into Chantry the 53 will run Monday to Sunday daytimes only at a 10 min frequency during the day and every 30 mins on a Sunday, while Ipswich Buses 13 to Pinewood/Tesco will also go to an every 10 min frequency, 2 mins ahead of First. Other changes relate to changes to the 55 Bixley Farm service with an every 20 mins frequency during the day, and every 30 mins peak hours and no evening or Sunday service. Confirmed fleet numbers for the two new Enviro 200s for Ipswich Buses are 81/82 and the new Trident LR02 BBJ as 22, the Enviros are being painted into an Hybrid livery of Park and Ride colours and standard IB livery while the Trident will remain in it's current Metroline red livery.

69424 is one of the last B7RLE's in Park and Ride Livery seen on a very wet Thursday.

TWO NEW AD ENVRO 200'S FOR IPSWICH BUSES

YX 63 LGE an new AD Enviro 200 with it's sister YN63 LGF behind seen in Ipswich Buses Depot on Thursday. Photo Copyright Leon Wells.

Ipswich Buses have purchased two new AD Enviro 200 single deckers their first new ones since the batch of Scania Omnicites back in early 2007, registered YX63 LGE/F currently in dealer white livery it's unknown what livery they will be painted into. IB have also announced cut price tickets for the months of November and December, both ten trip and weekly tickets will be reduced to £10 presumably to win passengers over with the imminent arrival of First on Chantry next week. Confirmed repaints into the new First livery continue with 69421/22/25/26/27/29 having been done, with just 69423/24/28/32 to be done. Meanwhile Galloways have announced that they are to take over the Stowmarket town service from First on November 4th now being renumbered 387 in line with their other local routes. Just a quick plug here for my friend Steve W's new blog covering his rail and bus journeys in North Suffolk http://busandtrain.blogspot.co.uk/

Another recent repaint into the new First Livery is Volvo B7RLE 69422 AU58 FFJ

The last single deck bought by IB was Enviro 300 83 SK07 DYA

FIRST SPLIT EAST ENGLAND AND BRING BACK EASTERN COUNTIES!

69425 AU58 FFM is the latest repaint into First Ipswich livery seen today 

A recent First Ipswich repaint is 69421 seen earlier this week at the Copdock Park and Ride interchange.

As previously mentioned on previous blogs First our beginning a period of change, and was confirmed by a statement on their website that First East England will once again be split back into two operating companies, Essex and Eastern Counties, currently Ipswich depot is managed alongside Colchester, Clacton and Harwich depots and will revert back to Norwich control on the 4Th November and means once again that the legal lettering will revert back to a Norwich address. Meanwhile 32652 AUO5 MUPa Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 has turned up at Ipswich depot and will act as an additional double decker, this will probably mean the end for both remaining Scanias 65542/50 (P542/50 RNG) and also the last buses in the Eastern Counties fleet with roller blinds. Further reaction to the new Old Cattle Market bus station in Ipswich has been far from complimentary in the local press with most people disappointed at the lack of toilets, with the nearest toilets at Major's Corner this is hardly a good welcome to Ipswich, how funny that the council marked out a bay for the National Express service to London, and that National Express have decided to keep their temporary stop at Cardinal Park due to better facilities.

BUS STATION REOPENED

A side on view of the newly revamped Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich

The Old Cattle Market bus station in Ipswich reopened in Ipswich on Monday with a new forecourt area, paving and bus shelters, on my visit on Monday you would think that little has changed, with the left hand side bays as before, the bus station parking area also remains as before. Further news on the bus war is that Ipswich Buses have registered amendments to the 13 Chantry/Pinewood/Tesco service, no doubt upping the frequency back to every 10 mins and perhaps cheaper fares. Ipswich Buses have also purchased an further Dennis Trident/Plaxton President  in LR02 BBJ, note the old Ipswich registration in BJ! this has come from Ensign via Metroline, London. Also recently arrived are the ex Nottingham Optare Versas for Park and Ride duties, YK08 EPC/D/F/J/U/V painted in a light blue livery.

Galloways late registered Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart R80 PSW in the Old Cattle Market Bus Station.

OLD CATTLE MARKET BUS STATION TO REOPEN!

Many thanks to David Warren for this photo of 69426 AU58 FFN which has now been repainted into the new First livery

Old Cattle Market Bus Station will reopen next Monday after a prolonged rebuilding after utilities were found to be closer to the ground than expected. Meanwhile progress on Tower Ramparts is proceeding two weeks ahead of schedule with engineers expecting it to reopen in early November. However problems will persist within the town with three weeks of roadworks in St Helens Street and the London Road/Handford Road junction where traffic lights will be updated. In fleet news one of the last 3 original "Superroute" 88 Scanias in 65547 was withdrawn on the 21st September it's last day spent on town routes, while 65542 is thought to be the next to be withdrawn leaving 65550 to bravely soldier on.

BUS WARS II - FIRST FIGHTING BACK?

32490 AU53 HKH seen outside the currently being rebuilt Tower Ramparts Bus Station this week.
First Ipswich have given notice to withdraw services 56 to Broke Hall via Foxhall Road, 70 to Warren Heath Sainsburys and the 87 Stowupland to Ipswich Service from the 19th November but start running a new service the 53 to Pinewood Chantry in the South West of Ipswich. Ipswich Borough Council leader David Ellesmere has stated that First having already created problems with there running of services in the East of Ipswich are now trying the same tactics in the South West of Ipswich while cutting a badly needed service from Stowupland, he urged people to ignore Firsts new service and use the Ipswich Buses 13 to Pinewood Tesco via Chantry. The new 53 will run every 10 mins while the 55 to Bixley Farm via Foxhall Road will now run every 20 mins.

Ipswich Buses Lowlander 100 PN52 XBM  seen turning into High street whilst on diversion this week.

FIRST IPSWICH EX TRANSDEV LANCASHIRE VOLVO B7RLE'S IN VIEW

First Ipswich's two new B7RLE'S 69532/33 PL05 UBR/S

Pictured above is 69532/33 PL05 UBR/S at the rear of Foundation Street in Ipswich, now with First Ipswich branding and legal lettering, now i would imagine just waiting for it's destination screen to be programmed and it's ticket machine to be fitted.

FIRST IPSWICH PROFILE

FIRST IPSWICH PROFILE SEPTEMBER

With not too much to report this week, i thought i would put up the current First Ipswich fleet as it currently stands, although with changes due to coincide with the launch of the new Enviro 400's on October 25th for the X1 and the end of the contract for Park and Ride at the start of November it will soon be out of date. So far 69426 is currently up at the Ransomes Europark in preparation for a repaint so things are beginning to move. If anyone has any ideas for another fleet profile they would like to see let me know,will add the two arrivals shortly.

32491 AU53 HKJ one of the batch of 8 Volvo B7TLs for the 66 to Martlesham back in 2003.

CURRENT IPSWICH FLEET

Volvo B7TL/Transbus ALX 400 

30887 W742 DWX  note has a Alexander body and a capacity of H49/29F

32479/86-94 AU53 HJV/HKD-H/J-M capacity H47/29F

32653 AU05 MUV note has a Alexander Dennis body.

One of the current Scania L113/Wright Axcess ultralows is 61528 R116 GSF

Scania L113/Wright Axcess Ultralow

65542/47/50  P542/47/50 RNG all are B47F

61528/33/38  R116/21/29 GSF all are B40F

65528/29/32/40  R148/49/52/40 GSF all are B40F

65590 V590 DVF is a Scania L94UB example with a Wright Floline body

Scania L94UB/Wright Axcess Floline B40F

65579  T579 JNG

65588-90  V588-90 DVF

65628/30-32  V828/30-32 FSC

65690 YS03 ZKK is an ex Essex example of the Wrightbus Solar 

Scania L94UB/Wrightbus Solar 

65670/72-76  SN51 UYC/E/G/H/J/K

65690-92  YS03 ZKK-M

69425 AU58 FFM is a Volvo B7RLE with a Wrightbus body

Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse

66850 MXO5 CHD
66981/87 KX05 MHK/V
69005/7-10  AUO5 DME/V/X/Y
69421-33 AU58 FFH/J-P/R/S/T/V/W

TWO MORE VOLVO B7RLES FOR FIRST IN IPSWICH

TWO MORE VOLVO B7RLES FOR FIRST IN IPSWICH

69426 AU58 FFN edging its way through the roadworks in Crown Street, Ipswich

First Ipswich's 2 latest arrivals ex Transdev Blackburn via Ensign Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse PL05 UBR/S

Two ex Transdev Blackburn(Lancashire) Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse have turned up at Ipswich depot in the form of PL05 UBR/S, no fleet numbers yet, seemingly replacements for either 65542/47 or 65550 but not confirmed and only speculation at this time on my part both were stored at Dagenham and came via Ensign. This is part of an ongoing restructuring program which will see Ipswich depot being upgraded with newer buses over the next few months, with the vast majority of the Scania L113/L94UB's being withdrawn, out of interest 65528/29/32/40/88-90/65628/30-32,61528/33/38. It has also been confirmed that First East England and Midlands group will now be split back into two operating companies with two managing directors. Not reported elsewhere is that Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 30887 is now an Ipswich bus and will not be returning to Great Yarmouth as originally planned.

TOWER RAMPARTS BUS STATION WORK BEGINS

TOWER RAMPARTS WORK BEGINS!

IB DAF/East Lancs Lowlander 58 PJ53 OLA trying to turn left from the Crown Street Lay by on Tuesday morning.

Work has began rebuilding Tower Ramparts Bus station on Monday, with temporary bus stops positioned around Crown Street, with other stops located outside Christchurch Park and Wolsey Theatre, staff were on hand from Ipswich Buses and Suffolk County council to aid people to their respective shops. Monday was a disastrous day for many particularly as work has began on Norwich Road with Traffic lights not in tune with the volume of traffic, this has been changed to being operated by human hand, avoiding the 1 hour journey time from Whitton and Castle Hill, which interestingly had it's stop moved from outside the Cricketers pub to the Crown Street lay by, which is also now overcrowded.

CHANGES TO SERVICE 6 AND THE BROKE HALL AREA IN THE NEW YEAR?

IB's ex Stagecoach London Dart 141 Y273 FJN  on the 4 to Bixley and Broke Hall at the temporary stop in Crown Street.

A petition has been handed in to IB's managing Director Malcolm Robson this week after complaints that service 6 which served Sainsburys and Ravenswood was rerouted to serve Lindbergh Road instead, residents now can longer visit Sainsburys for shopping or visit Ravenswood surgery, IB have said that they have received loads of complaints about services around the Broke Hall area and are now in discussions with local councillors about improvements to services in the New Year.

TOWER RAMPARTS TO CLOSE ON SEPTEMBER 2ND

Cooperative Supermarket Advertising 69432 a Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse  AU58 FFV changing over from 70's Warren Heath to 60 Gainsborough.

Contrary to what has been said previously both bus stations will be shut over the next month to allow for work to be completed by the end of November in time for Christmas shopping. Suffolk County Council have asked the contractors Skansa to speed up the work by working extra shifts, with hopefully Tower Ramparts being completed by the middle of November. Work at the bus station will include enlarged bays, new shelters, paving and improved lighting. Real time information will also be installed in both bus stations, however they will not be switched on until January 2014. Bus station stand relocations are available at www.suffolkonboard.com and will based along Crown Street and Crown Street lay by currently used by visiting coaches.

Ipswich Buses Dennis Lance 162 L162 ADX unusually seen at Tower Ramparts in school holiday time now approaching it's 20th Birthday.