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.