BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE?

Ipswich Buses Scania Omnidekka 60 PJ54 YZT at Broke Hall Shops heading towards Bixley on the 4.

Now i thought i would try and do something a bit different this time, It's a sort of end of the year awards but more or less my version called the Ipswich Bus Blog Awards sorry to Steve W for stealing his thunder my aim is not just to find this time the most popular livery or best company but to find who gives the best customer service, customer service is something i should know about as i have spent the majority of my career in the industry, this is for the people who drive the buses, the people who work in the various shops dealing with enquires, basically the unsung hero's we all know who the company's bosses are as they are in the firing line, so let's find out who excels at customer service.

First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69423 AU58 FFK back in April shortly before the of the 55 route.

Could First Ipswich be your choice, we shall have to wait and the poll box should you wish to vote will be in the upper corner of the page.

SCHOOL DAY BUSES AND COACHES

As i often visit my mum in Anglesea Road there is often a selection of Coaches/Mini Coaches and Buses to be seen starting off we see Beestons Baby Daf Van Hool YJ64 ATV. While below we see Beestons ex Baker of Weston Super Mare in 2009 ,Volvo B12BT/Van Hool 523 FN previously WA07 KYB.

Also seen regularly on Ipswich School contracts which are mainly in the hands of Beestons and JR Travel is Norse AD Enviro 300 SN56 AYO. While below we see yet another Beestons Volvo B12BT this once was previously WA09 AZD now of course 524 FN.

MONDAY WANDERINGS/FLASHBACK

Tracking all of the strange allocations on Ipswich Buses services lately is beginning to become a favourite pastime, for example the 4 only requires a PVR of 2 allowing anyone of 84-87 to appear on other services as illustrated by 85 PJ53 OLE above on the 8/13, although on Saturday none of 84-87 were on the 4 instead there was East Lancs Dart 88 an ex Lothian Dart SPD 135 instead. While on the X3 there was X5 branded 139 and DAF Lowlander 100.

                              MONDAY FLASHBACK                                  

Today we see Eastern Counties Bristol MW LM 987 487 DAH inside what was then the old running shed on the Old Cattle Market which disappeared in the mid 1980's in those days buses would enter from Dogs Head Street, while the Eastern Counties office is now what has become the Yahoo clothes shop, LM 987 was withdrawn in 1977 after 14 years use and was scrapped 2 years later.

FIRST IPSWICH FINALLY DEPART BROKE HALL

First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69011 AU05 DMY at Broke Hall Shops on the 28/12/14

Almost sixteen years since First took over services on Broke Hall when they took over the 1/4 from Ipswich Buses and they have finally left the area, although they basically pulled out of Broke Hall two years previously when the 56 was axed and after Ipswich Buses restarted the 4 in 2012, leaving First Ipswich with the Sundays only 4/A for a brief time last year the 4/A didn't serve Broke Hall when Ipswich Buses diverted the 5/11 through Broke Hall for a short period from last Autumn through to May this year, the 6/A service from Ipswich Buses will now serve Broke Hall from next Sunday and also operate on evenings as well.  Seen below is Ipswich Buses AD Enviro 200 79 YX63 ZVV seen on the 5 again on the 28/12/14.

60813 AND 65572 WANDER NORTH AND RECALLING 2003

Sadly due incompetence on my part i can't find any photos of the buses involved, so instead i have put up one that's still going strong in Essex 65565 S565 TPW at Colchester, all though it's day's are numbered once the next batch of Streetlite's arrive. From news generated else where Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown 60813 S664 RNA has emigrated north this time to Aberdeen from Buses of Somerset now this bus has had a chequered history, starting it's career in Manchester then down to Bradford, Norwich, Ipswich,Great Yarmouth, Taunton and now Aberdeen! Meanwhile Scania 65572 S572 TPW is on the move from the Potteries at Stoke, for a short term move to Glasgow whilst they await new buses, 65572 has an Ipswich connection being here for a short time before moving on to Norwich, then Northampton and the Potteries. Below is well a puddle jumper oh i mean a Wright Handybus bodied Dennis Dart 45426 LDZ 9126 not on my list of favourites , this one is seen in Kings Lynn in 2003 and for once it has a full destination blind set unlike the ones at Ipswich had!.

THREE MERCEDES CITARIOS ARRIVE AT IPSWICH BUSES

Taken from Ipswich Buses PCV Training on Facebook.

All three Mercedes Benz Citario's for Ipswich Buses 9/10 service to Castle Hill and Whitton have arrived as i revealed last night on twitter should be 153-55 with two of the three currently at Constantine Road registered BV65 HVT/V, as can be seen they have been delivered in current fleet livery. The date of their entry into service has now been pushed back two days to October 7th a Wednesday. I should be visiting the depot next week to get a sneaky peak at what they are like quickly followed by a report on October 7th with Steve W to give you a unbiased view as an on the road report.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cliveabrown

Well this was how we travelled in my young days, from the age of 11 i was fascinated by the Bristol RE okay they rattle, the windows vibrate but who cares when they produce the magnificent Bristol engine whine. Here we see the first one in the batch of five Ipswich purchased from Leicester 118 TRY 118H, one of my claims to fame was seeing 118 i think leaving Constantine depot for it's final journey in revenue earning service back in 1987. 

THURSDAY RAIN AND SUN ALL IN ONE MORNING!

Well i did promise a picture of Ipswich Buses repainted Dennis Trident 24 SN51 AXO and so i have many thanks to Ipswich Buses for telling me what route it was on it certainly helped not sticking around in the early morning rain, there's a slight difference on 24 in that it hasn't had the telephone number attached to the upper right on the offside as yet. Meanwhile sister 25 SN51 AXP was also on the 10 in a photo from Russell Young. A little later and a move down to the Old Cattle Market saw me just about catch Galloways recent loan MCV Evolution YJ62 JWF while Russel Young managed to photo of in my case one the elusive Optare Solo SR's that are on loan here we see KX15 BLN heading back into Ipswich on the 113 from Diss. Other odd allocations were IB Dart 139 on the X1 whilst Scania Omnicity 73 was on the 16.

EASTERN COUNTIES 1950'S ODDITIES

 A chance today to see some of the rather exotic buses and coaches that Eastern Counties bought or inherited, firstly we see an Dennis Lancet /Duple C33F DS 982 new in 1950 to Metropolitan Coaches of Great Yarmouth in 1950 and taken over in 1951, this picture would have been taken in Great Yarmouth after 1953 when Eastern Counties fleet names were applied but before its relegation to bus work in 1957, this was withdrawn in 1960.

 This was rather a strange choice for Eastern Counties in 1949 as most buses bought were of the Bristol/ECW marque, however these Beadle Bedford's were purchased primarily for working rural routes, seating 35 they were converted from petrol to diesel engines a Gardner 4LK in 1952,this particular one CB 816 HPW 801 was allocated to Ipswich and withdrawn in 1959 replaced by the Bristol SC/ECW class

Finally a one off coach this was again acquired with the Metropolitan Coaches takeover in 1952 was a Bedford SB with a rather rare Gurney Nutting body with 33 coach seats, BS 925 EX 7107 was converted to a Gardner 4LK engine soon after the takeover gaining Eastern Counties fleet names in the process this coach had a short existence being withdrawn in 1957.

IB TRIDENT 24 IN SERVICE

Photo from Stuart Ray https://www.flickr.com/photos/86020500@N06/

Today saw another Ex Lothian Buses Dennis Trident 24 SN51 AXO enter service on the X5 to Ipswich Hospital which myself just managed to see leaving town just before ten to four leaving town, this now leaves just 23 to enter service, something i didn't add yesterday was the new style numbers in white on the front and the Ipswich Buses telephone number added to the top offside corner.

Above we see another classic view this time of Eastern Counties RL 735 AAH 735J which was painted into this advertisement to send your parcels by bus just over a year from new in 1972 and from then on in was sent just about everywhere within Eastern Counties and survived the massive cull of the type in late 1982 ending it's day's with Cambus after the split of the Cambridge/Peterborough operations in 1984, seen here in Peterborough in 1983.

IB TRIDENT 25 IN SERVICE

Seen today after completing one trip back and forth on the 4 to Bixley this morning was freshly repainted Ipswich Buses Dennis Trident 25 SN51 AXP, 25 entered service on Friday on the 6/A. Other wanderings today included DAF Lowlander 59 PJ53 OLB on the X3, whilst X3 branded Dennis Dart/ALX 200 142 Y292 FJN was on the 12, and 138 was on the X1 so much for dedicated buses being on the right routes.

EX EASTERN COUNTIES OPEN TOP BRISTOL LODEKKA GETS A NEW HOME

After serving Quantock for many years ex Eastern Counties Ipswich/Felistowe allocated Open topper Bristol Lodekka OT 2 VDV 753 has acquired a new owner in the Bristol Vintage Bus Group. Seen here at Felixstowe Ferry.

ITM EVENTS FOR OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

Just time to today to plug two events that the Ipswich Transport Museum are hosting over the next two months to brighten up your Autumn months! Firstly on Saturday October 3rd there's the Classic Vehicles day an event with  classic cars and light commercials as well as some visiting buses including Dave Hale's excellent Eastern Counties Bristol RELH RLE 747 GCL 349N which would have spent some time in this area. Above we see ICT AEC Regent III 24 EPV 24 at Electric House on the 4 to Kingsway, photo by Stuart Ray which should be attending the museums 50 years event on Sunday November 15th both events will be open from 11AM-4PM, with Chris Speed's and Danny Beales Great Yarmouth AEC Swift 85 WEX 685M will also be attending, an AEC Swift head of with Ipswich's 82 JRT 82K should make an interesting comparison.

TWO FURTHER EX IPSWICH VOLVO B7RLES RECEIVE NEW COLOURS/HISTORIC PHOTO SPECIAL

EX Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 66980 KX05 MHJ has now received Turquoise line colours, photo by Dan High via Kieran's Norwich Bus Blog. Whilst below we see 66978 KX05 MHE on Purple Line 37 to Mulbarton, again thanks Kieran.

A REAL PIECE OF HISTORY

Now today's photo is a real piece of history as we travel back to before the formation of Eastern Counties with this picture likely to be taken around the late 1920's of a Reo Sprinter which passed to them from Bowyer and Topper from Ely in 1928 when a year old and withdrawn pretty much after takeover by the newly formed ECOC in 1931/2 as R65.

RECALLING THE PARK AND RIDE CHANGEOVER IN 2013

Raiding the archive today and looking back only two years on this one, here we see First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69424 AU85 FFL on Park and Ride duties shortly before it's repaint into the Olympia livery although it was repainted and refurbished into it's current livery the following year and below sister 69432 AU58 FFV now of course with First Essex freshly repainted in December 2013.

And a bonus photo to finish with recalling Lowestoft during the 1970's we see Eastern Counties FLF 475 KPW 475D in Lowestoft Town Centre heading for Oulton Village on the 687.

EASTERN COUNTIES TILLINGS LIVERY COMPARISION

 Due to what i can only call incompetence on my part i have lost all of today's camera photos when i left my camera gain some water ingress hopefully i have fixed the problem, so today i have an comparison for you with many thanks to Chris Munden for letting me use this, First West Yorkshire have repainted 37575 YJ58 RTX into the West Yorkshire Tillings livery, however if you compare it to Eastern Counties Bristol K LK 133 HPW 133 it's not quite the same! Anyway i can bring you photos so i will have to put it down in words, today's surprise was IB Open Topper Leyland Atlantean 9 MRT 9P complete with Leon Wells on the X3, Dart 86 was on the 15A instead of the 4 and a Decker which i didn't identify was on the X1. Deckers which i have spotted in use on the 4 this week include 68 yesterday afternoon, 22 on Monday Morning and again this morning and afternoon and 62 yesterday see picture below.

200,000 VIEW SPECIAL

A special blog tonight which charts some of my favourite pictures some are on here for the very first

time others are not above we see the classic Bristol MW/ECW on Eastern Counties LS 808 808 PW when allocated to Bury St Edmunds Cotton Lane when still in the Cream/Maroon livery and not the awful National Express White livery. Below was my highlight of last year was the allocation for only one Journey of First's Private Hire AEC Routemaster RML 2623 on the 77 complete with appropriate blinds made for the day, this years highlight was actually being able to conduct this very bus on the Norwich Running day back in March, well pushed into it by Chris Speed anyway it was good experience for my duties at the ITM later that year, mentioning Mr Speed his and Danny Beales Great Yarmouth AEC Swift 85 WEX 685M made it's re appearance this year and won best bus at the ETCS bus rally in August, no surprise really, see picture below. At the bottom you will see IBT AEC Regent V 60 SDX 60 back in 1980, no excuse other than it's my favourite type of bus and what got me into buses, in those days i would hang around town until one would pop up on the 4 to Broke Hall that or one of the ex Leeds Atlanteans, little did i realise all those years later i would conduct 63 ADX 63B for the ITM, boyhood dream achieved. Finally my favourite Single Decker Bus i know some people say they were cold and draughty at times and they rattled as well, but for someone who was brought up on the Bristol RE's there's nothing like waking up in the morning and hearing that distinctive Bristol engine, so below being aired for the first time is Eastern Counties Bristol RE RL738 AAH 738J on the forecourt of Felixstowe Bus Station in July 1981. The following i would like to thank for all there help over the last 3 plus years, Chris Speed of First, the bloggers Steve W, Kieran, Sam, Cameron, Grahame, from the bus companies Jeremy Cooper at Ipswich Buses, Viv Carter at Carters Coaches and all my loyal supporters of course.

CHRIS SPEED AND JEREMY COOPER ANSWER QUERIES ON BBC SUFFOLK

Part of Ipswich Buses investment in Buses this year has seen 4 ex Transbus SPD Darts and 3 Transbus Trident/Plaxton President arrive from Lothian, all three ex Lothian deckers should be in service in the next week, seen above in August is Transbus SPD Dart 137 SN53 AVP.

Both Chris Speed from First Eastern Counties and Jeremy Cooper from Ipswich Buses this morning answered queries from members of the public on the morning show on BBC Suffolk with Mark Matthews.
Questions asked included cuts to the 19 service on Dale Hall, which was cut due to lack of public funding however buses on the Whitton/Castle Hill area now operate every 7/8 minutes and from 7th October will be operated by the three new Mercedes Benz Citarios and two Double Deckers so more elderly people should be able to use these services, services which currently occupy the stands closest to the shopping centre in Tower Ramparts will have seats fitted once work on the shopping centre is completed. Chris Speed answered questions on the poor connection of services on the 64 which don't link to the trains at Saxmundham, whilst service 66 was mentioned in regard to staff in the travel shop not knowing what was the correct timetable whilst a question on service 76 to Felixstowe in regard to no longer having a bus going down Nacton Road, was answered that its something that may happen in the future if people demand it. The show can be heard here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030yll2#play

On the aforementioned service 76 from First Ipswich is Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 32491 AU53 HKJ.

MONDAYS BITS AND PIECES AND A WELSH VISITOR

Suffolk Norse MAN coach AY56 BJO, Carters Alexander bodied Olympian R156 LHK and Beestons Scania Omnidekka YN54 OAH lined up in Ipswich OCM.

Not a great lot to report today, just a few oddities to report, so here we go Carters Alexander bodied Olympian took the place of Trident 451 LX51 FJN while also strangely on IB's 98 service to Shotley

was East Lancs bodied Dart 96 X96 LBJ, whilst on town services IB had ALX 200 Dart 138 with X3 branding yes very confusing on the 15A whilst Transbus Enviro 83 was on the 16.

 Whilst below we see a strange combination and a rare one at that Silcox of Pembroke Dock in Wales visiting Ipswich on a tour, this unusual beast is a Dennis Javelin/Caetano CN06 ANP. Silcox back in the 1970's took on several ex Eastern Counties buses if my memory is right!

LEYLAND ATLANTEAN WINS THIS WEEKS POLL

https://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_addison/3535583182/in/photolist-bUNtTp-9EzNRJ-6oqMGJ-nFCz1y-6omzWv-5cooT2-7Ymqwy-7CijYk

The winner of this weeks Favourite Double Decker poll has concluded it's final week although it has been fun to do the lack of people polling has forced me to pull an idea to do a further one until the end of year poll in December, anyway the result was as followed the Leyland Atlantean finished first with 44%, the Olympian in second place with 35%, then the Titan in a distant third with 17% and last was the Fleetline with 2%, above in an evocative photo from 1982 before the Tower Ramparts Shopping Centre was put up we see Ipswich Borough Transport's Roe Bodied Atlantean 98 TRT 98M on the 2A to RSJ Works now of course long gone. Below we see one from my own collection of Atlantean 16 RDX 16R with a bright offside advert for Home Choose Carpets.