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.