IB PROMOTION AND BEESTONS NEW 39 SERVICE

Optare Solo KX54 NLD on new service 39 to Rushmere Road operated by Beestons.

IB have just launched a new Summer Smiles ticket which sees one Adult and one Child travel on one journey for £2, promotion will last for the duration of the summer holidays. Service 39 operated by Beestons started last Monday with the use of a hired in Optare Solo KX54 NLD, loadings seem to be pretty high, although from the times i have seen it have been operating behind schedule, complaints however have been made in the Ipswich Star that certain sections of the 2 previous routes the 22/31 have not been included in the new one including the connection to Ipswich Hospital. As a result of recent changes which saw Carters no longer operating routes 30/31 has seen a few changes to the fleet including the sale of Dennis Dart MPD SN51 SXU, Dart/Marshall LT02 ZDO and Dennis Dart/EL Spryte P455 DCW to Ensign while Plaxton Primo BU08 ACV has also been withdrawn, which was often the spare bus for these routes, Carters now have only a fleet of 10 buses, 9 Double deck of which 6 are Dennis Tridents/ALX 400's, 3 Volvo Olympians and just the 1 single decker an MCV Evolution.

32494 AU53 HKM a Transbus/ALX 400 Trident looking rather smart in the sun in Great Colman Street in Ipswich

OLD CATTLE MARKET BUS STATION REBUILD DELAYED!

Carters ex Stagecoach London Dennis Trident LX51 FJN on the 92 to Brantham in April prior to the closure of the bus station for rebuilding.
Rebuilding of the Old Cattle Market Bus Station has been hit by major problems according to the Ipswich Star yesterday, when contractors discovered that the main services Gas, Water and Electricity were not as far down as previously thought, did the council not survey the area beforehand! Work which was was now due to be done by early August will now not be completed  until late September. This means that the work on Tower Ramparts bus station will now not be finished until February next year as work will be suspended prior to Christmas, you couldn't make it up could you.

APOLOGISES RUMOURS WERE TRUE

One of the former Park and Ride buses from when Ipswich Buses had the Park And Ride which is still  in service on town routes is Optare Excel 171 YG52 DHF.

Must apologise for my post yesterday that Ipswich Buses hadn't won the new contract for the Martlesham and Copdock Park and Ride, the article appeared on line in the Star in Ipswich in Saturday, unfortunately as the Star in Ipswich is not printed on Saturday, i missed the article, the link is here http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/ipswich_borough_owned_firm_wins_back_park_and_ride_contract_1_2277055
Unfortunately i can see other things happening, First will be as sore as anything in losing out, one can expect more retaliation from them in November so Bus Wars part 2 anyone?

Another ex Park and Ride Bus in X153 LBJ an DAF Optare Spectra parked up waiting to take on its daily lunchtime route on the 202 to Shotley.

PARK AND RIDE RUMOURS?

69431 AU58 FTT Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse was on Park and Ride duties on Tuesday in place of 69424

A lot has been said on groups and other pages about Ipswich Buses winning back the Park and Ride from First Ipswich and that 5 ex Nottingham Optare Versas  have been purchased as far as i am aware no announcement has been made by Suffolk County Council and for that matter nothing has been in the local press, so i won't speculate any further as it is purely conjecture at this point, and when it has been officially announced i will feature it on the blog. In route news in the latest Notice and Proceeding for the Ipswich area, Ipswich Buses have cancelled route 17 to Ipswich Hospital via Spring Road, Broke Hall and Bixley, as one who lives on the route this is hardly surprising as very few people actually use it, however First must be smiling as they will have Spring Road back to themselves.

IPSWICH BUSES 14/16 ROUTES SAVED

Dart 134 R134 FBJ usual route is the 16 to Belstead which has been saved along with route 14.

Ipswich Borough Council has saved two routes the 14/A to Gippeswyk Park and the 16 to Belstead Road and Halifax after Ipswich Buses cancelled both routes as uneconomical. The council will use funds from the annual public transport budget, both routes will remain unchanged, while the 19 to Castle Hill which was reduced to an hourly frequency will have a new 19A service to serve the Dales Road area. It was also announced that the 4/A Sunday service will be rerouted back via Broke Hall after complaints.

65542 A WELCOME RETURN?

65542 P542 RNG prior to it's loan spell at Clacton, is seen on the forecourt of the Ipswich garage

Scania 65542 P542 RNG which was on loan to Clacton depot has  re-entered service at Ipswich whether this is a temporary stay of execution i don't know.