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.

BUS WARS II - FIRST FIGHTING BACK?

32490 AU53 HKH seen outside the currently being rebuilt Tower Ramparts Bus Station this week.
First Ipswich have given notice to withdraw services 56 to Broke Hall via Foxhall Road, 70 to Warren Heath Sainsburys and the 87 Stowupland to Ipswich Service from the 19th November but start running a new service the 53 to Pinewood Chantry in the South West of Ipswich. Ipswich Borough Council leader David Ellesmere has stated that First having already created problems with there running of services in the East of Ipswich are now trying the same tactics in the South West of Ipswich while cutting a badly needed service from Stowupland, he urged people to ignore Firsts new service and use the Ipswich Buses 13 to Pinewood Tesco via Chantry. The new 53 will run every 10 mins while the 55 to Bixley Farm via Foxhall Road will now run every 20 mins.

Ipswich Buses Lowlander 100 PN52 XBM  seen turning into High street whilst on diversion this week.

FIRST IPSWICH EX TRANSDEV LANCASHIRE VOLVO B7RLE'S IN VIEW

First Ipswich's two new B7RLE'S 69532/33 PL05 UBR/S

Pictured above is 69532/33 PL05 UBR/S at the rear of Foundation Street in Ipswich, now with First Ipswich branding and legal lettering, now i would imagine just waiting for it's destination screen to be programmed and it's ticket machine to be fitted.

FIRST IPSWICH PROFILE

FIRST IPSWICH PROFILE SEPTEMBER

With not too much to report this week, i thought i would put up the current First Ipswich fleet as it currently stands, although with changes due to coincide with the launch of the new Enviro 400's on October 25th for the X1 and the end of the contract for Park and Ride at the start of November it will soon be out of date. So far 69426 is currently up at the Ransomes Europark in preparation for a repaint so things are beginning to move. If anyone has any ideas for another fleet profile they would like to see let me know,will add the two arrivals shortly.

32491 AU53 HKJ one of the batch of 8 Volvo B7TLs for the 66 to Martlesham back in 2003.

CURRENT IPSWICH FLEET

Volvo B7TL/Transbus ALX 400 

30887 W742 DWX  note has a Alexander body and a capacity of H49/29F

32479/86-94 AU53 HJV/HKD-H/J-M capacity H47/29F

32653 AU05 MUV note has a Alexander Dennis body.

One of the current Scania L113/Wright Axcess ultralows is 61528 R116 GSF

Scania L113/Wright Axcess Ultralow

65542/47/50  P542/47/50 RNG all are B47F

61528/33/38  R116/21/29 GSF all are B40F

65528/29/32/40  R148/49/52/40 GSF all are B40F

65590 V590 DVF is a Scania L94UB example with a Wright Floline body

Scania L94UB/Wright Axcess Floline B40F

65579  T579 JNG

65588-90  V588-90 DVF

65628/30-32  V828/30-32 FSC

65690 YS03 ZKK is an ex Essex example of the Wrightbus Solar 

Scania L94UB/Wrightbus Solar 

65670/72-76  SN51 UYC/E/G/H/J/K

65690-92  YS03 ZKK-M

69425 AU58 FFM is a Volvo B7RLE with a Wrightbus body

Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse

66850 MXO5 CHD
66981/87 KX05 MHK/V
69005/7-10  AUO5 DME/V/X/Y
69421-33 AU58 FFH/J-P/R/S/T/V/W

TWO MORE VOLVO B7RLES FOR FIRST IN IPSWICH

TWO MORE VOLVO B7RLES FOR FIRST IN IPSWICH

69426 AU58 FFN edging its way through the roadworks in Crown Street, Ipswich

First Ipswich's 2 latest arrivals ex Transdev Blackburn via Ensign Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse PL05 UBR/S

Two ex Transdev Blackburn(Lancashire) Volvo B7RLE/Wrightbus Eclipse have turned up at Ipswich depot in the form of PL05 UBR/S, no fleet numbers yet, seemingly replacements for either 65542/47 or 65550 but not confirmed and only speculation at this time on my part both were stored at Dagenham and came via Ensign. This is part of an ongoing restructuring program which will see Ipswich depot being upgraded with newer buses over the next few months, with the vast majority of the Scania L113/L94UB's being withdrawn, out of interest 65528/29/32/40/88-90/65628/30-32,61528/33/38. It has also been confirmed that First East England and Midlands group will now be split back into two operating companies with two managing directors. Not reported elsewhere is that Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 30887 is now an Ipswich bus and will not be returning to Great Yarmouth as originally planned.