FIRST IPSWICH FUTURE PLANS

Great Yarmouth's Routemaster 39623 NML 623E on the Forecourt yesterday after a private hire, photo copyright James Long.

Usually i don't like to contradict what other blogs have said, but in this instance i have to point out some from Steve W's Bus and Train blog with the Ipswich Engineering Manager, most of this information was not meant to have been broadcast over the internet. According to First Business Manager Chris Speed at present these are just plans and for instance the plans for the heritage liveries have changed several times since my chat with him, when he knows for definite you will hear it here.The plans for improving the network of services i believe is a no go for a start most of the routes mentioned such as Ipswich to Diss are under contract to Suffolk County Council and as such are unlikely to be profitable. One thing i can confirm is the use of what First South Yorkshire describe as courtesy buses for buses being repainted at Rotherham Works, the two currently listed for this programme are 60622/26 R785/89 WKW Volvo B10BLE/ Wright Renown as seen below,again subject to change both recently have been repainted, refurbished internally and fitted with LED blinds while the current Volvo Fleet of B7RLE's and B7TL's are refurbished.

Volvo B10BLE 60622 R785 WKW of FSY on the 62 to Ecclesall route

60626 R789 WKW the second Volvo B10BLE this time on the 66 to Intake

IB SOLO 242 DEPARTS FOR GALLOWAYS AND 69005 PICTURE

69005 AU05 DME a Volvo B7RLE seen here at First's Rotherham open day on Sunday has appeared on most people's blog so unashamedly i have put it up too many thanks to Callum Phelan for his permission to use it and in who's copyright it remains. 

69005 arrived home yesterday evening and at some point will go back into service this week, while long withdrawn Scania L94UB/Wright Axcess 65628 V828 FSC departed for one assumes the scrapyard or for storage. IB Solo 242 YN04 ZWA which we thought was being repainted has departed to Galloways so expect to see that one out and about, in further addition you can read all about the changes to First Ipswich's May 25 online http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/ipswich_new_timetables_published_for_first_bus_services_including_the_66_89_and_77_routes_1_3597267

Mulleys 72 seater Double deck coach SF07 OSG any ideas on make and body anyone?

69005 RETURNING HOME

69532 PL05 UBS a Volvo B7RLE seen here at Tower Ramparts on Friday in the livery scheme that 69005 will appear in.

In another exclusive piece of news we can tell you that 69005 AU05 DME which was involved in a collision with a Florist's shop in Stowmarket has returned or should be within the next 24 hours after a full refurbishment and repaint in the current livery, by all accounts it should be pretty good, many thanks to Chris Speed for the news. 

At last the sun, IB open top Leyland Atlantean 9 MRT 9P looking rather splendid after it's winter hibernation!

EXCLUSIVE IPSWICH BUSES EXTEND THE 4 THREATENING FIRST'S 66

Spare dart 143 Y294 FJN for the town routes in general seen here loading up for route four which currently terminates at Bixley Farm.

News reached me this morning which hasn't been released even for the Ipswich Star as yet, of Ipswich Buses registering an extension to the 4 to Bixley Farm which operates Monday to Saturday 7 am to 7 pm, the extension which is due to begin on the 7th July to Martlesham will take in BT, Marks and Spencers/Tesco this will partly take on First Ipswich 66 which will also now be extended to Maidenhall Green, Ipswich Buses are obviously worried enough to take on what is First Ipswich's busiest route as First have encroached onto part of their 15 to Thorington Park route, ding ding round four of the Bus Wars?

Seen here last summer on the 66 is First Ipswich Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 32488 AU53 HKD.

UPDATED FIRST CHANGES FOR MAY

First Ipswich 32653 AU05 MUV the last 05 reg Volvo B7TL/ALX 400 in the old First livery.

The following update is to one of my previous blogs the information has now been added to the First site http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/suffolk_norfolk/travel_news/service_updates/?item=11561&conf=0 . The following is the shortened version, service 53 Tower Ramparts to Pinewood will now run every 12 mins,route changed inwards via Princes Street, Friars street, Dogs Head Street, Upper Brook Street, Northgate Street to Tower Ramparts. 65 Ipswich to Aldeburgh will now have a additional departure from Aldeburgh at 1545 daily. 66 from Ipswich Rail Station to Martlesham will now extend to Maidenhall Green, Stoke Park on Mondays to Saturdays and will no longer extend to Bourne Bridge on Sunday.

A rare visitor to the Old Cattle Market yesterday was Carters ECW Leyland Olympian 427 G727 XDL alongside Beestons Scania Omnidekka YN54 OBX.

IPSWICH TRANSPORT MUSEUM ROAD RUN

Ex Lowestoft Corporation Leyland PD2 PBJ 2F

These are the highlights bus wise from today's Ipswich to Felixstowe road run, some local interest and some from further afield.

A London Country AEC RF109? LYF 464

An ex Westcliff on Sea/Eastern National Bristol K AJN 825.

A rather rough looking AEC Routemaster JJD 463D

Leyland National 1924 of Eastern National JHJ 150V 

Not Vintage but modern is First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69431 AU58 FFT

A brand new coach for Suffolk Norse is a Volvo B12B/Plaxton not sure whether this is the new body style anyone know.

Close behind was AD Enviro 400 YX63 ZXH taking people up to Felixstowe.

FIRST BUS LIVE CHAT AND CATCH THE BUS WEEK

First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 69429 AU58 FFR standing at Tower Ramparts this PM in the pouring rain.

FIRST BUS LIVE CHAT

First Eastern Counties Managers Chris Speed and Steve Fountain answered questions on First Ipswich live on the Ipswich Star on Tuesday afternoon, full chat is available on this link http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/home/first-bus-live-chat, in general it was a good chat with questions on fares, next bus announcements, route changes, First Bus apps, vehicle refurbishments and cleanliness of buses.

CATCH THE BUS WEEK 

It's also catch the bus week around Britain this week with different offers all to lure the customer onto the buses, Ipswich Buses are offering free travel with there 'Happy Hour' between 10 and 11 am and First offering 20% off all there weekly network tickets.

OTHER NEWS

IB Optare solo is currently out of service being repainted i would imagine into fleet livery, Carters have recieved a new Dennis Trident/Plaxton President see picture below.

Carters latest Trident 405 LR52 KWH seen in Greenfinch Avenue on a school run, picture copyright James Long.