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.

NOT SUCH A GOOD FRIDAY

On what turned out to me a dull and later on, heavy rain day, services in Ipswich weren't working to plan, on what should have been at least a Saturday timetable, both First Ipswich and Ipswich Buses ran a Sunday service which quite clearly led to heavy loading's and long queues, at one stage all 3 allocated buses on the 60/61 saw the whole PVR of 3 all at Tower Ramparts, whilst Ipswich Buses had several problems particularly with the 13 Pinebrook Tesco and the 8 to Anglia Retail Park running late.Generally there hasn't been many unusual spots this week but yesterday saw Dart 93 out on the 3 to John Lewis and today on the 2/3/5/6 inter workings whilst Optare Versa 151 was on the 16 to Belstead Road and Halifax usually operated by the ex Lothian Darts 134-37 whilst sister 152 was on the 12. On other matters Dennis Trident 16 finished yesterday after completing it's day on the 1830 15A, whilst Optare Solo 243 has also finished now the PVR for the Solo's is down to two routes with 241 and 244 in Ipswich whilst 245 remains on Woodbridge/Felixstowe services,it has been reported that both Trident's 16 and 20 have been sold to Shoreline Suncruisers of Scarborough who took Trident 23, Lowlander 58 remains at the depot awaiting a decision on it's future after it's gearbox failed.

Trident 16 seen here 2 years ago on the X1 to Greenwich.

 Unusually for what was a Sunday service 3 Scania Omnicity Single Deckers saw action today including 73 on the inter worked 2/3/5 and 6 services, along with sisters 72 on the 15/15A and 12 and 75 on the 8's and 13.

A visitor to Ipswich yesterday was this Van Hool of Kings Tour's KC60 ABC. 

IPSWICH BUSES SCANIA OMNICITY DECKER 36 ENTERS SERVICE

Further to the report two days ago, another Scania Omnicity Decker 36 YR61 RUC entered service on Thursday on the 92-4 batch of services and has continued on these routes, today and yesterday keeping it company today was sister 30 and Scania Omnidekka 60/62, 60 was also on a late 97 to Shotley a regular working through the week. Saturday workings differ to week day workings for example the 15 and 15A is usually Decker worked, although ex Lothian Dart 135 was on today for a change, the 4 to Bixley swaps over to Optare Versa's on Saturday today with 146 and 147, whilst the 5 has 3-4 deckers working according to the service being every 15-20 mins, during the week there is one Enviro 200 working the 5 in the afternoon, which is frequently overloaded, Optare solo working is down to a PVR of only 2, usually 241 on 14's and 245 working from Woodbridge and Felixstowe as a result of the drop in PVR, 243 looks like it's career is over parked with the other withdrawn buses in the depot yard, from what i could see Dart 86 has now left, and Dart 94 remains with Lowlander 58, other buses there today was  Tridents 8/12/13/16/ 20/22/25 and 26, with Lowlander 59 and 100, Omnicity single decker 75, 2 Omnicity Deckers 46/47, Optare Excels 170/71 with 173 inside,Inside was Omnicity decker 34,44 or 45 and Dart 88.

Two deckers have substituted ailing Enviro 200'S on First Ipswich service 60/61 firstly, 32491 for 44519 whilst it was sister 44518 turn today with 32493 AU53 HKL.

TWO MORE SCANIA OMNICITY DECKERS ARRIVE AND OTHER NEWS.

Not a great shot but a further two Scania Omnicity arrived yesterday at Ipswich Buses which are believed to be numbered 46/47 YR61 RPX/RVA thanks to Nigel Diplock who sorted out the registration plates which had been taped partially over. The ex Carters routes certainly had a mixture of types on Monday and Tuesday including Scania/Optare 69 on Monday and Lowlander 56 on both days with Scania Omnidekka 62 on Monday. Currently 2 Ipswich Buses Scania Omnicity are off the road those being 71 and 72. As far as allocations to routes the 1 and 3 to John Lewis are Optare Versa operated for much of the day, whilst the 4 and 8 for the best part of the day are Enviro 200 worked however at 3.05 and 3.35 it changes to Optare Solo for 2 journeys then a Double Decker off schools and a Optare Versa off the 3, with the Enviro 200's swapping to the 3 and 2 respectively. Yesterday First had Mini Enviro 200 45119 out on the 60/61 instead of one the usually allocated Volvo B7RLE's, the allocation of 2 Volvo B7TL's to these routes has now ended since the roadworks in Melton finished last week.

Enviro 200 78 YX14 RWL was on service 13 today instead of Optare Versa with Stephen Hilton in charge see you're famous now for being on my Blog.

IB Scania/Optare Olympus 69 put in a rare shift on the ex Carters services 92-94 on Monday.

Seen on London Road this evening was Simmonds ex Travelmasters XIL 4072  a Volvo B10M-62/Van Hool new in 1998.