IPSWICH RECEIVE 32655/56

Ipswich Depot has received 2 Volvo B7TL/ALX 400s with Volvo B7RLES 69421/30 going to Colchester 

One other transfer which i haven't mentioned before is one of the awful numb bumb scanias in 65676 has departed to Clacton as someone once said "You are most Welcome". While in Ipswich today i bumped into Steve W whose blog recently had news from the First  Ipswich Engineering manager, so if you have missed it do go along and see his blog, whilst there 30887 popped up on the Felixstowe's and IB unusually had Optare Spectra 50 a step entrance bus on the 1 to the Havens. 

IPSWICH BUSES PROFILE

IPSWICH BUSES PROFILE PART ONE

Welcome to Part one of an Ipswich Buses Profile, unfortunately i have had to divide it up into parts as for some reasons unknown i can't add any more pictures to this blog. 

 9  MRT 9P Leyland Atlantean AN68/1R/ Roe 043/29D    

Open Top Atlantean 9 MRT 9P seen at ITM,Priory Heath

 10 PO51 UMK Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne H46/27F 

The only East Lancs Trident In the Ipswich Buses fleet is no 10 PO51 UMK

11-17 LG02 FCX/FDC/F/J/K/N/FEM Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX 400 H43/23F
18/19 V126/62 MEV Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX 400 H47/29F  Blue livery for schools 20/21 Y436/58 NHK Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX 400 H47/29F

One of the ex Transdev London B7TL/ALX 400 Tridents is 17 LG02 FEM

TWO FURTHER ENVIRO 200'S FOR IPSWICH BUSES

One of the first two enviro 200's in the new Hybrid livery is 82 YX63 LGF

Ipswich Buses have purchased a further two AD Enviro 200's numbered 79/80 YX63 ZVV/W arrived last Friday afternoon while Dennis Darts 133/34 R133/34 FBJ departed to pastures new. Transferred into Ipswich for First Ipswich from Lowestoft yesterday was 32656 AU05 MVA with 32655 AU05 MUY to come shortly, this has allowed the release of Volvo B7RLE 69421 to Colchester.

One of the ex Nottingham City Transport solo's  FP02 XMB has been repainted into Beestons rather nondescript blue livery 

BORISMASTER IN SERVICE

BORISMASTER ON TRIAL IN IPSWICH

New bus for London LTZ 1100 in service on Tuesday.

Borismaster aka "The New Bus For London" entered service on Monday on the free shuttle service which navigates around the town centre, passenger levels weren't actually high, considering what was on offer, unfortunately due to time constraints i couldn't experience it, so if any of my loyal readers have been out on it and wish to do a little report for me i would be most grateful.

FIRST IPSWICH SWAP TWO B7RLES FOR TWO VOLVO B7TLS

First Ipswich are to swap two of their B7RLES, one of which is 69430 and the other now confirmed as 69421 and has already departed to Colchester, while Ipswich will receive two Volvo B7TL's in 32655/56 from Lowestoft when their current repaints of the ex X1 Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini's is completed. 30887 will also be leaving shortly to Braintree, we won't miss it's numb bumb seats!, thanks to Steve W for the news.

An unusual visitor to Tower Ramparts this week was Norse's ex Dublin Bus Volvo/Alexander RH Olympian now registered R397 LHK.

Another unusual visitor to Ipswich was this very handsome ex Colchester Leyland Olympian H48 MJN in the fleet of Talisman on Ipswich to Felixstowe Rail Replacement.

BORISMASTER ARRIVES

BORISMASTER LTZ 1100 ARRIVES ON LOAN

Many thanks for this great picture from David Warren of LTZ 1100 arriving yesterday at the Ipswich Buses depot from London.

Ipswich Buses have on loan from TFL the 100th Borismaster LTZ 1100 aka the new bus for London on trial for the following week it will run Monday to Friday on the free shuttle 38 service whether Ipswich Buses purchase any is left open to debate. In other news Tower Ramparts bus station reopened last Saturday, with additional stops and better lighting, albeit with no real time information until January, one small complaint was there are no shelters outside the shopping centre, however this should be remedied again in January when the Iceland food hall opens. On Monday First Ipswich commenced service 53 to Chantry running every 10 mins, the destination of Brookwood was confusing most people and people were letting it pass, examining buses leaving Tower Ramparts most buses were leaving carrying very few if any passengers, which was widely predicted not helped by being interworked with the 60/61 to Gainsborough, the older Scanias were being used particularly on Tuesday was 61533/65672/73/65588. Ipswich Buses in retaliation have applied  to run an X1 to Greenwich(Holbrook Road) starting in January which will go up against First's 60/61. Two more withdrawals from the First Ipswich Fleet have been 61528 and the last Superroute 88 Scania 65550.

Ipswich Buses East Lanc Olympus Scania decker 69 YJ60 KGY in Tower Ramparts

SATURDAY AMENDMENT

69422 AU58 FFJ the last bus on the 56 to Broke Hall

Once again apologises for my mistake on this the five mentioned Scanias on yesterday's blog have moved to Spalls of Dallinghoo for storage, Spalls also act for First in Ipswich recovering buses after breakdowns. Last bus out tonight on the withdrawn 56 today should be 69422 as seen above. Hopefully next week i will report on the new 53 to Chantry/Pinewood.

FIRST TAKE ON IB ON CHANTRY AND IB RESPOND AND TAKE ON GREENWICH

First have began to apply Coop adverts to their B7RLES both in Norfolk and here on 69009 seen in the last week of operation of the 56 to Broke Hall

With First's challenge to Ipswich Buses to begin on Sunday with a new 53 to Chantry/Pinewood, Ipswich Buses have registered a new X1 service to Greenwich (Holbrook Road) which one can presume is to be similar to Firsts service 60/61, this will start on the 6th January other noticeable changes will be a rerouted service 6 after many complaints about the removal of the section between Sainsbury's Warren Heath and Ravenswood Doctors surgery from Bixley Road. In other news Tower Ramparts Bus Station will reopen tomorrow i have included a picture that i took on Thursday below, while Museum Street reopened today, hopefully resulting in fewer delays. 

A wide view and a rare one at that of the completed bus station which makes one wonder what the difference is!

FLEET NEWS

First have now removed the five Scania saloons withdrawn last week, 65528/29/40/42/65628 moved to Clacton and in the process the Ransomes Euro Park base become redundant and has since closed subsequently Scania 65532  has since departed to Essex but for service, leaving just 61528/33/65550 which have all seen service again this week, confirmed now is the transfer of B7TL/ALX 400 32652 to Colchester, which is strange considering Ipswich are short of deckers with 66850 and 65631 both appearing on the 66, not good.

However sister 32653 AU05 MUV remains here for the time being!