EASTERN COUNTIES COACHES RECALLED

Today we recall the early 1970's looking at Eastern Counties coach fleet, first up we see CB 848 one of 4 Bedford YRT Duple coaches, being pretty lightweight these only lasted a year being transferred to National Travel South East in 1975 and sold on after only 2 years. Much more successful were the Bristol RE Coach all though by reports they were pretty gutless, seen here parked overnight in a London Country garage is RE 855 LPW 855L. Finally at the bottom a Bedford VAM/Duple CB 845 PPW 845F from the second batch,freshly repainted into the hideous National Express livery, which certainly didn't do it's lines any good, note the Mascot National fleet name.

FIRST LOWESTOFT 45118 ON LOAN

 Due to both Mini Enviro 200's being out of service, First Ipswich have 45118 ST09 JPT on loan for the week, with Volvo B7RLE 66850 going the other way other spots of the day was First Ipswich Volvo B7TL 32489 AU53 HKG on the 60/61, while Ipswich Buses wise the 4 was back to Double Decker Operation with Trident 13 and Lowlander 55, while of the Route 4 Branded Darts 87 was on the 15/A and 85 on the 8/13. For the next 10 weeks of Summer, is that a joke 40 life sized Pigs will be seen around town as part of  Pigs Go Wild racing money for St Elzabeth Hospice a charity very close to my heart seen below is an Ipswich Buses Sponsored Pig championing the cause of the Ipswich Transport Museum.

CHANGES TO PARK AND RIDE THINKING

Optare Versa 152 YK08 EPV, part of the current Park and Ride Fleet for Ipswich Buses.

Courtesy of Steve's Bus And Train Blog /http://busandtrain.blogspot.co.uk and confirmation from my good friend Chris Speed of First Eastern Counties, is that the new thinking is for the current 63/4/5 and not the 66 as originally thought, to serve the Martlesham Park And Ride, with a 30 minute frequency, with an extra fast service between Martlesham and the Town Centre combining to give a 15 minute frequency.This as all subject to Confirmation. Seen below on the current 63 to Melton via Woodbridge is Volvo B7RLE 69428 AU58 FFP.

THURSDAY FLASHBACK: THE NINTIES

By the 1990'S I had become rather disillusioned with the bus scene, thinking it was time to grow up!, so i missed quite a lot during those years, although when my place of work moved sides in Tacket Street, i found myself during those long Winter Days making use of the rather big windows, to look at all the Buses coming past, during that time the 66 was launched by the privatised Eastern Counties,in 1994 , we see DP79 M379 YEX  a Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer with  branding on Ipswich Station forecourt from the James Long collection.  After many years of being in Julian Patterson's hand Eastern Counties sole Leyland National survivor has moved back to Suffolk in the ITM'S hands once again, LN 770 XNG 770S certainly spent it's time moving around, including a time with the Rosemary Coaches unit, which didn't last long before being phased out for Eastern Counties, 1770 by this time finished it's time with First Thamesway, before the ITM purchased her.

FAREWELL JIM

One from Jim's massive collection shows 414 N346 CJA a Volvo B6 Alexander Dash which had a short career with Ipswich before heading Leicester bound.

Many people who have followed the blog over the years will remember the contribution of photos over the years of Jim Long who i can announce passed away yesterday, not only was Jim a contributor to the blog, but just over 9 years he was a personal friend who was always around for me when my own mental health suffered, he too suffered from depression having had a breakdown earlier in his life, his catalogue of knowledge and photos was legendary particularly Eastern Counties and although he suffered from a fear of crowds was still able to get about with his devoted wife Eve, Jim was well known for chasing around for any new repaints, he was especially helpful when choosing a new camera Jim, helped me along considerably and as my photos have gotten better he was equally pleased, and above all he kept faith with me even though i spouted a lot of nonsense, Thanks Jim it was an honour to know you.

Jim also collected a massive collection of slides during his life including this very rare shot of a Bristol K LK 1 FAH 107 with it's original Strachans body from 1944, it was renumbered LK 31 in 1947 and fitted with an new Series 2 ECW L27/28R body in 1953, finally being withdrawn in 1967.

BEESTON SCANIA N280UD/ADL E400 MMC DEMONSTRATOR

Many thanks to Russell Young who contributes photos to the blog for this rather excellent shot of Beestons on loan Scania N280UD/ADL E400 MMC Demostrator YN16 CFU

on it's way to Sudbury from Ipswich on the 91 on Friday, unfortunately due to the bad weather this weekend i have been unable to get a shot myself, previously this has been on loan to Stephensons.

SUNDAY FLASHBACK

A nice chance to look back at the Tillings livery on a Bristol RE RL 508 CNG 508K, which was new in September 1971 before being repainted in 1974, this picture taken at Norwich Bus Station was taken roughly around a year before it was repainted into NBC livery.

CBW INTERVIEW WITH STEVE WICKERS FEC BUSINESS DIRECTOR

First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 66981 on the 61 to Greenwich in April this year.

Today i feature highlights from the interview with First Eastern Counties Business Director Steve Wickers, from which i have included the pieces concerning the Ipswich Operations, for the full interview you can purchase a copy of the magazine from WH Smith or http://coachandbusweek.net/

First the basics FEC have a turnover of £34 Million, with a fleet of 240 Buses, with just over 700 staff, the last year they recorded an increase of 1.7% growth with revenue up by 2.2%.
Over the last year £5.6 Million has been invested in new Buses, for Norwich. Later this year 22 Volvo B9TL/Wright Double Deckers will be cascaded to the company. Now on to Ipswich, in the past Customer and Stakeholder feedback for presentation of the fleet was poor, however over the last 2 years much time has been spent on changing the travel experience, this has seen investment in the fleet and drivers, now talking to the customers, as a result First Ipswich has seen the biggest improvement in customer satisfaction within the group, which recently lead to First Ipswich being runner up in the best depot within First, congratulations to the team there including Barry Spurling, Joe Thorpe, Chris Speed among others for this excellent achievement. As a ticketing initiative Ipswich now offer a Young persons ticket to Under 20's that discounts their fares by 30%. Below is Volvo B7RLE 69428 AU58 FFP which introduced an new livery to the Ipswich area, for faster journeys on the X7 to Felixstowe, but seen here on the 65 to Aldeburgh
 

IPSWICH PARK AND RIDE PROPOSALS APPROVED DESPITE OBJECTIONS

First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69428 AU58 FFP shortly before Ipswich Buses took over the scheme in October 2013.

Yesterday Suffolk County Council approved the changes previously mentioned in last weeks post on Tuesday with IB Service 13 to increased to about every 7 mins, with subject to confirmation First Ipswich to include the Martlesham Park and Ride in their 66 service. However currently the Travel Ipswich scheme is still ongoing and the Town's MP Ben Gummer and Borough Council Leader David Ellsemere are concerned that the launch of these services in January 2017 will not have the infrastructure in place to facilitate good journey times. As i have said before my stance is that we need a Park and Ride service as otherwise people will use there car to travel to Ipswich, it has already been mentioned in the press that the current scheme to transform the Town's traffic infrastructure has failed to alleviate traffic delay, and has been deemed a failure, that's putting it mildly.

RIDING THE 8 AND THE 4 PLUS IPSWICH BUSES FLEET UPDATE

Today i attempted a tricky manoeuvre with the aim to experience 4 different types of bus on 2 different routes and thankfully i managed it with the help of a £3.50 day rover ticket, which is certainly worth it as otherwise it would of been £6.80 in total. The first journey of the day was on the 4 and into town the best bus of all four Optare Spectra 53 X53 LBJ which while now being slightly down at heel gives the best ride of them all, comfortable seats and good acceleration, meanwhile on the 8 back and from Town i experienced Scania Omnicity 72 YN56 NVD above which i would put in 3rd place, comfortable leather seats but unfortunately a noisy rattle at the back spoilt it for me, returning i had East Lancs Dart 88 which i would put in last place, while seats are e leather they are bone hard and have very little leg room, pleasing that it didn't have any rattles, runner up for me was Trident 13 on the way back home, fairly comfortable  the old girl now 14 years old made easy work of Bishops Hill.

Goddard Road is home to the Suffolk Norse Fleet so it was nice to spot an Volvo Olympian R397 LHK heading out on a school run.
Now up is my fully updated Ipswich Buses Fleet list including the Carters Fleet.
http://ipswichbusblog.blogspot.co.uk/p/ipswich-buses-fleet.html

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

Well what a busy week it's been which kicked off with the Clacton Bus Rally last Sunday, followed by Tuesday's news on the Park And Ride, so today i round up what i have seen in Ipswich during the last week, yesterday for the first time i spotted one of the two Ipswich Buses Trident's which have been granted a short stay of execution, above we say 18 V126 MEV seen here yesterday on the 93 which are effectively on loan to Carters. The future of the Park and Ride was determined on Tuesday, with plans to split the two ends of the service with Ipswich Buses expected to enhance the 13 service, while First Ipswich are expected to take the Martlesham end with the 66, these presently are not set in stone and are subject to confirmation from both companies, seen below is Optare Versa 147 YK08 EPD. Finally i have my unusual spots for the week on Wednesday ex Lothian Dart 136 on the X1 and sister 135 on the X3, Trident 12 on the 4, Lowlander 59 on the X3, Branded 4 Darts 84 on the 15/A, 85/86 on the 13 and 87 on the 8/13, First Ipswich 44516/19 both on 60/61 although that's hardly unusual these days. Friday Dart 88 and Trident 11 on the 4.

Still looking rather handsome yesterday is First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69426 AU58 FFP heading out to Melton on the 63.

THE MANY COLOURS OF EASTERN COUNTIES

During the 1990's Eastern Counties used the Bristol VR's and Leyland Nationals for all over adverts both today's pictures portray the VR in Norwich one advertising the company's Sixer Ticket VR 277 VAH 277X the other is VR 258 RAH 258W with the Eastern Evening News and finally not forgetting Ipswich we see Leyland National LN 782 DPW 782T, advertising the virtues of Connells an DIY chain which has disappeared into the mists of time,arriving on the 16, which later became what is know the 70/71 services now ironically back in the hands of First Ipswich.

IPSWICH PARK AND RIDE TO CHANGE

Ipswich Buses Optare Versa 145 YK08 EPA one of eight buses dedicated to Park And Ride, what will there new home be.

Announced today in the Ipswich Star is the current single Park and Ride service from Copdock to Martlesham will be axed saving a total of £700,000, Ipswich Buses will absorb the Copdock service increasing the service to 9 buses an hour, while the Martlesham end is due to be picked up by First Ipswich all subject to confirmation, the principle of the deal will be discussed by the County Council next week with talks with the respective bus companies to follow, however there will be at least 6 months notice given, before any changes will occur. My own opinion is that this will be the death knell for the future of the Town Centre we already have problems with frequent delays bought about by the delays in the Travel Ipswich scheme with the various roadworks.

Currently the 66 is run mainly by First Ipswich's 53 Reg Volvo B7TL's with some journeys utilising Volvo B7RLE's seen earlier this year is 32487 AU53 HKE.

CLACTON BUS RALLY

Today's blog is featuring the many and varied display taken from yesterday's bus rally in Clacton, firstly thank you to Joe Thorpe and Chris Speed for allowing the use of  First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69425, on what was an extremely hot day in complete contrast to last years rain, thanks must also go to the organisers the Suffolk Bus Preservation Group. We kick with a series one Bristol VR from Southern Vectis which was one of few that escaped Eastern Counties net in 1973, OSF 307G has recently entered the preservation scene and was sister to Eastern Counties VR 324-26.Continuing the VR theme we see the pre Deregulation Wilts And Dorset livery on 3425 JJT 437N in Clacton Town Centre.

 Below we have ex Western National Leyland National 2813 HTA 844N which transferred in 1986 to Southern National.

Two London Buses for the price of one Leyland Titan KYV 447X and Leyland National KJD 535P.

Finally my chariot for the day First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69425 AU58 FFM. Congratulations must go to the team at Ipswich who one again have been nominated in the First Bus UK awards for best depot of the year, lets hope that this year they can win!

BRISTOL LH RECALLED

Two years apart, but a totally different look came in 1972 when the Bristol LH was totally revamped from the previous squarer look shown by Eastern Counties LH 915 YPW 915J, note the interim Eastern Counties NBC fleetname applied to the Tilling's livery, whilst LH 537 HAH 537L was the prototype introduced at the Commercial Vehicle show in 1972, and was the first bus in the country to be delivered in NBC Poppy red, note too the different seat covers.

FIRST IPSWICH 32479 ON LOAN AT YARMOUTH AND OTHER BITS

First Ipswich Heritage Bus Volvo B7TL 32479 AU53 HJV is currently on loan to Great Yarmouth for 2 days, finishing tomorrow and if you are at the Clacton Rally on Sunday it should be also attending, in regards to the Suffolk Show there was very little to see as i believe that it has been trimmed back from previous years on the first day Open Top Atlantean 9 MRT 9P, was used for one trip before being taken off as it got caught in a torrential downpour, other buses used were mainly DAF Lowlanders 54/59/100. For a time Crown Street lay-by was rather full up, see picture below, headed up by Trident 16, two ALX 200 Darts 138/41, Ex Lothian Dart 136 which later replaced Scania Omnicity 75 on the 8/13, and to the rear Trident 12 and Spectra 53 which also later appeared in service, surprisingly 111 branded E 200 78 was used on the 10 to cover a late running bus.