IPSWICH UPDATE

Time to update on the Ipswich scene after last weeks Colchester interlude, we kick offf with the good news of Ipswich Buses Lowlander 58 re entering service after gearbox failure on one trip on Wednesday on the 2 before taking up a school service to Shotley, before having a full day out on Colchesters on the Thursday and today it worked the 15A. Lowlander 100 has taken it's place in the withdrawn line this again has suffered Gear Box Failure also the chassis is in poor shape, meanwhile Trident 16 has departed leaving just the 3 Tridents to be withdrawn, 22 is believed to be the next to depart.

IB Scania Omnicity 42 entered service late on Wednesday with one trip on the 6 before settling down 2 days on the trot on the 5 to Ipswich Hospital.

Today saw plenty of buses straying from there normal routes including IB Excel 173 on the 4 which had replaced an ailing Optare Versa.

Usually Double Decked worked on Saturday is the 5 to Ipswich Hospital instead Optare Versa broke away from it's usual routes the 1 and 3.

Even First Ipswich joined in by using ADL Enviro 200 45119 on it's town services the 60/61 usually it will be found on the 59 to Rushmere or the 70 to Woodbridge. Other things noted today included IB Scania Omnicity Decker 35 filling in on the 1 to John Lewis due to the same old problem of cars queuing up as usual in the Buttermarket when will someone like the police take care of this it's just not this week it occurs but every Saturday without fail. IB Trident 13 spent the day on the 2whilst Lowlander 55 was on the 6, and Enviro 105 was on the 13. First Ipswich wise E300 67406 started the day on Park and Ride before a trip out on the 75 to Felixstowe, then the 88 to Stowmarket. Beestons new Enviro 400 MMC YX18 KOH has entered service this week, today it was on the Tiptree contract.

MORE FROM COLCHESTER

Representing the Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse Urban of First in Colchester is this ex First Manchester 66816 MX05 CDY.

 One of the oldest buses i spotted yesterday was this Dennis Dart SLF Hedingham 251 PJ02 RHE.

You can not escape the Wrightbus Streetlite where ever you go including this longer version the MX DF 63244 SN65 EFC. Below is the Plaxton President bodied 33184 LR02 LZB of First Colchester on the 61.

Hedingham ADL Enviro 400 EU07 GVY still in original Hedingham livery.

Arriva Colchester run the only Park and Ride there with Enviro 200's including SK15 GXT.

IPSWICH BUSES SCANIA OMNICITY ARRIVES AND COLCHESTER PICTURES

Ipswich Buses latest Scania Omnicity Decker to arrive is 42 YR61 RVJ which just leaves the arrival of 39 and of course 44-47 to be converted to single door and be repainted.

Familiar to most in Colchester being ex Eastern Counties is First Essex  32475 AU53 HJJ a Volvo B7TL now allocated to Colchester.

Arriva Colchester is now all Single Deckers mostly Dart SLF's of all sizes as well as some ex Wright Cadets seen here is Caetano Nimbus bodied Dart SLF 1562 RX07 XPG.

Still in the original Hedingham livery is ADL Dart SLF 256 EU55 BNC.

Representing the diminishing First Essex fleet of Scania L94UB/Wright Floline some of which came from First Ipswich is 65682 YR52 YEP.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The other new IB Scania Omnicity Decker reappeared yesterday in YR61 RVA which is either 46 0r 47.

Now to the questions regarding First Ipswich and the attention to what is happening this year, well First have now gained a longer term lease on the depot and work such as removing the ramp to the rear of the depot and the installation of a perimeter fencing are among the the items to be done as far as the depot's height nothing is going to happen so the Volvo B7TL's will be staying for the foreseeable future, as for newer vehicles again the answer is no, many look to Norwich and see the investment there, the reason being the running of the city services must justify regular replacements here in south Suffolk we have to face facts that First Ipswich is largely operating rural services with not a lot of profit being made and also we have a higher number of OAP's using there Concessionary passes, it's interesting to note that it's four years since the whole fleet was repainted and one would hope that they may get repainted as externally some are looking down at heel, positives are the Park and Ride which seems to be doing well and the introduction of the M Tickets, i believe also that they may also be setting up for contactless payments as Ipswich Buses have. As far as IB are concerned they have purchased 18 Scania Omnicity Deckers which are 6 years old, my only quibble is the hard seats, timetables are to be altered in May again although this is i believe down to shift patterns, the Felixstowe Open Top Tour has been cancelled this year whether the Ipswich one will run i don't know, both companies have changed uniform this year and i must say i prefer First's over Ipswich Buses who are going down the leisurely path with Polo Shirts and Baseball Caps while First's striking Pale Blue shirts and Tie and various Navy jackets gets my vote, i like my drivers to be smart, however i can also see the viewpoint of IB of having there drivers be comfortable.

IB 244 YN53 ELW performed to 2 return journeys on the 8 in the late afternoon. Today saw Citario 154 out on the 9/10 routes with Scania Omnicity 75 which is unusual whilst MCV Evolution 156 seen below on the Colchester run yesterday was on the 2/3/5/6 group of services while Enviro 200 103 returned to service today. Today and yesterday also saw First Ipswich 45119 on the 60/61.

ANOTHER RED IB SCANIA OMNICITY IN VIEW AND ANOTHER LOAN FOR GALLOWAYS

Two new Buses to take a look at tonight above we see Ipswich Buses Scania Omnicity Double Decker 46 or 47 YR61 RPX at the depot yesterday, whilst below we see the latest loan for Galloway in Dennis Dart SLF EG02 KZD from Stephensons was on the 119 to Framlingham today

Today saw very few of the new Scania Omnicity Deckers on both town and the ex Carters routes so both Scania Omnidekka 60 and 61 together with Lowlander 57 and Dennis Tridents 7/8 were seen on the 92-94 routes, in other observations the 2.33 5 from Tower Ramparts works dead back to town then operates 3 journeys on the 15A finishing at 1830, whilst the bus used for the 37 shuttle service does 2 journeys on the 4 from 1715.

ANOTHER ARRIVAL FOR IB AND OTHER NEWS

 After many weeks of not seeing any new arrivals i was pleasantly surprised on Thursday lunchtime to see a new arrival in the Ipswich Buses depot of Scania Omnicity Decker 33 YR61 RRV, which now leaves the arrival of just 39 and 42, 45 remains in the depot i presume this entered service briefly but have seen no evidence of it, one of either 46 or 47 remains in the depot, whilst 44 continues in service in London red with double doors. In other news DAF Lowlander 100 is now withdrawn after suffering from transmission failure on Tuesday whilst on the ex Carters routes, 58 which has the same problem will more than likely be the one that will be repaired, currently IB will be sending back all the ADL Enviro 200's for warranty on a weekly/bi weekly basis, currently ADL Enviro 200 103 is over the pits, DAF Lowlander 54 is currently being repaired in the depot after accident damage and will be back in service during the following week. Below are both coaches for the Ipswich Town supporters for the away trip to Brentford which we lost 1-0 the first one is 327 YJ14 CEX  a Van Hool TX16, while the other is possibly a Volvo B13R 561 PP the photo isn't the best,which i can't match up on my fleetlist so if anyone knows.

TWO DAYS OF OBSERVATIONS

Today a recap of the last two days, of Ipswich town services, starting with yesterday, two Ipswich Buses Optare Versa's escaped the confines of their usual services and ventured out in 146's case on the 13's and 151 on the 4, on the 3 to John Lewis instead was Dart 93 and Enviro 200 104, and on the 9 in place of Citario 154 was Optare Excel 170, and after a period of about a week on 92-94'S Scania Omnicity Decker 36 has appeared on the 15/A, both yesterday and today. On the ex Carters routes was Lowlander's 57 and 59, Trident 7 and Scania Omnicity Deckers 30/34/35. Whilst on First services 60/61 an eclectic mix of buses were operating the 60/61, 3 Volvo B7RLE'S 66984/66957 and 69424, with Volvo B7TL 32488 and Enviro 200 44519 which later on in the day was substituted for a baby Enviro 200 45119 RT09 JPT see below. Today saw an unlikely substitution on the 15A when Optare Solo 243 did one round trip after Scania Omnicity Decker 43 broke down on the stand, apart from that very little differed from normal allocations with just Lowlander 59 appearing on the 9, whilst on the 92-94'S from the OCM saw both remaining ex Carters Trident's 7 and 8 see below, with Lowlander 55, Scania Omnidekka 60 with 4 Scania Omnicity Decker's in 37/38/41 and 44.

In the afternoon today 3 First Ipswich Volvo B7TL's were on the 60/61 services 32479/32487 and 32492.