COLCHESTER INTERLUDE

 First Essex have some of the same batch of ALX 400 Volvo B7TL as Ipswich have including this which was heading to Chelmsford 32481 AU53 HJY.

Seen in Osbourne Street and heading towards Brightlingsea on the 87 is Hedingham 1518 YN06 JYC.

 For a few years the Wright Streetlite was in vogue for First Group but subsequent problems with the type has now lead them not ordering anymore on local route 65 to Tollgate Retail Park is 63334 SK65 PXR.

Heading towards North Station on the 62A is ex First Scotland East 37139 SN57 HCY a Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini, now allocated to Colchester

Illustrating the hard worked Scania L94UB/Wright Solar type is 65685 YR52 VFO, the Essex fleet now also consists of ex Ipswich 65670-75 and 65690/1 but also recently transferred in from First Scotland East examples.

Since the loss of contracts Arriva Colchester Fleet consists of ADL Darts, Enviro 200's and Volvo B7RLE'S including ADL Dart/Plaxton Pointer 2 3413 SN54 HKE.

 Seen in Osbourne Street is Dennis Trident/Plaxton President 33080 LN51 GNP from the First Colchester fleet.

Seen waiting time is Panther Travel ADL Enviro 200 AB62 PAN on the 81A to Dedham.

LOWESTOFT INTERLUDE

Two literally for the price of one, Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 37564 AU58 ECC and ADL Enviro 200 45116 VT09 JPT outside Lowestoft Bus Station.

Still in Barbie livery is Ex First South West Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer 2 42943 WA56 OAS.

Heading into the Bus Station from the Great Yarmouth Allocation is Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 32206 LT52 WTL.

The highest number Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse 2 Is Yarmouth allocated 36185 BN12 JYH which came from West Yorkshire In 2016, seen here on an X1 short run.

Anglian have a diminished role in services in North Suffolk and Norfolk,seen here just about to pass the station is Scania Omnicity YN05 HFF on the 61 to Kessingland.

SCANIAS BEGIN TO ENTER SERVICE FOR IB AND AN UNSUAL VISITOR TO TOWN

So far only two of the 14 Scania Omnicity Double Deckers for Ipswich Buses have entered service those being 35 YR61 RTV which saw it on the X5 for the best part of the day before coming off and finishing the day on the X1 to Greenwich see above, usually prior to being on the X5 one particularly 40 starts the day with a solo trip on the 15. 40 YR61 RUW is seen below sweeping out of Tower Ramparts on the X5. Today I experienced 40 on the X5 and was fairly impressed, acceleration and stopping was very good, the only minus is the ridiculously hard seating which seems fairly common these days, but in London you wouldn't expect to be sitting for very long, currently these Buses have First Group interiors, being previously owned by them prior to Metroline. Thanks to Steve's Bus and Train page the total cost of the 14 comes to £1.1 Million from a loan by Ipswich Borough Council one mistake was mentioning them as Euro 6 when they're Euro 5, as a result of these newer Deckers being numbered 30-43, the Ex Carters Olympian 42 has been renumbered to 29.

An unusual catch for me was this on Thursday Volvo B9R Caetano Levante FN62 CCD of Galloways on National Express work, nowadays you have to go to Cardinal Park to snap them after SCC cocked up the bay in the Old Cattle Market seen parked up on St Franciscan Way.

Seen laying over in Crown Street is Fords of Althorne former Kings Ferry Scania K114EB6/Berkhof Axial 100 strangely my picture is the only one of it in this livery as currently this is not on Flickr.

NORWICH INTERLUDE

Seen at Norwich Railway Station is Volvo B9TL /Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36175 BD11 CFZ a batch new to Norwich.

From the ex First West Yorkshire batch is another Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36201    BN12 WOB, seen approaching the Railway Station on the 25.

Seen with Orange line branding is Dennis Trident 333157 LR02 LXS in Castle Meadow.

Illustrating the diminishing Volvo B7L type is 61148 MV02 VBU in Castle Meadow.

Seen in Castle Meadow is Wrightbus Streetdeck  35196 SK16GVV  on Pink Line duties to the Norwich and Norfolk Hospital 11/12 service.

Of local interest is ex Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 66980 KX05 MHJ with Yellow line branding on the 29 to Taverham.

You either love the design or hate it from last years orders is Wrightbus Streetdeck 35196 SK16 GVV.

Finally for today is 63321 an Wrightbus Streetlite from 2015 63321 SK65 PXB seen in Castle Meadow on the 15 to Acle.

MAJOR CHANGES TO SHOTLEY ROUTE

From today the Shotley route currently run by Ipswich Buses has undergone major changes with the 98/A reduced to a once a day journey in the afternoon, with the 202 now renumbered back to 97 the service for the most part will run every 90 mins with no journeys reaching the Marina, during Monday to Saturday, the Sunday service operated by First will remain as it is currently. Seen above is IB MCV Evolution 156 AY60 BVG today on the 97.

Poking out of the Ipswich Buses depot, this morning was Scania Omnideck YR61 RVF, shame about the barrier.

MORE SCANIAS ARRIVE FOR IB AND ONE TRIDENT DEPARTS

As one Trident 11 LG02 FCX departs Ipswich Buses in exchange for another Scania Omnideck arrives in the form of YR61 RSV photo courtesy of Leon Wells.

Whilst arriving yesterday was YR61 RUW, pictures from Hants and Dorset trim, whilst below YR61 RPV is still to arrive. Whilst the three that arrived some time ago are still to be found in the depot and the yard, these being YR61 RUC/RVF in the yard and YR61 RUH tucked up inside. The final picture shows another restyling of the livery for the Double Deckers, one looks like YR61 RPV which looks like the furthest away from the camera, comments anyone? Also in the yard was Tridents 16/17 and Lowlanders 55/56/58, whilst sister 59 spent the day on the 4 to Broke Hall and Bixley/Martlesham Tesco, also seen was Carters Olympian 42 and Trident 8 and Enviro 101which later appeared on the X3 alongside was Optare Excel 172 and Withdrawn Dart 86, inside was Trident 24 and Lowlander 100 and a ADL Enviro 200 81?, also not out today was Versa 148/152.

IB SCANIA OMNICITY SPOTTED

 It's extremely handy when you just live round the corner from the IB depot, and after being stuck round the back for the last week or so ex Metroline and First London Scania Omnicity YR61 RUH see above was moved to the front of the depot, in the rear of the depot was Transbus Dart 86 which i believe is now withdrawn, alongside sister 85 and three of the ex Lothian Darts although by mid afternoon 2 of the three were in service, also there was Optare Versa 152 and one other, 152 had by the afternoon moved to be spare at Tower Ramparts Lay by, with a shortage of single deckers Trident 11 LG02 FCX see below spent the day on the 4 covering for one of the two Versa's usually on this route, the best routes to spot them are usually the X1/X3/4 and in the afternoon one comes of the X1 and goes on the 6/A.