CONCESSIONS FOR GOOD OR BAD

First Ipswich Volvo B7RLE 66950 WX55 TZM at Great Eastern Square, Felixstowe on Tuesday.

It's not often that i discuss matters on here but i believe it's worth a blog, as many may or not now that due to circumstances i find myself, shall we say in need of making savings, what i find is that the concession pass is in general dished out to the wrong people, many people can afford to travel by bus and i certainly understand that elderly people and the disabled who are financially poor should have free passes, than there are the unemployed and people who are in work but are at the lower end of the wage scale, shouldn't we have a system that's fairer and help the people who need it, with thanks to Chris Speed at First the amount of concessions is about 50% to fare payers in the Ipswich area, and about 35% in Norwich, currently local government in Suffolk are giving the bus companies around a 25% rebate, so on a fare from my current area which is £3 single, First would receive only 75p and then we moan at companies who pull out of country services.

 Returning from Lowestoft after a few weeks VA 479 aka First Ipswich Volvo B7TL 32479 AU53 HJV.

IPSWICH BUSES DOUBLE DECKER DAY

Due to a road closure affecting IB services in Holbrook, Single Decker Darts were used on the ex Carters routes, 139 was noted on the 202 Shotley whilst the town routes particularly the 8 to Whitehouse Asda and the 4 to Bixley/Martlesham had a return to Double Deckers including Scania/Optare 68 see above picture on the 4 with Dennis Trident 13, Deckers on the 8 included Dennis Trident 20, Lowlander 58/100 supplemented by 2 ADL Enviro 200's 79/102. Other routes including the 15 and the 15A also had additional deckers, on the 15 was Scania/East Lancs 60,Trident 11 and Lowlander 57 whilst the 15A had Trident 15/Scania/East Lancs 62 with a solitary ADL Enviro 200 103. Other spots were Excel 171, Scania Omnicity 71 and Dart 85 on the 10 and Excel 172 on the 9, the 16 had Excel 173 and Dart 94, Solo 245 was on the 19, Dart 98 on the X1, Scania Omnicity 75 on the 6 and now the Scania/ADL E400 MMC bus has returned to Scania, the X5 consisted of Scania/ East Lancs 61, Trident 16 and Scania/Optare 69.

 One of 3 Double Deckers on the 8 to Whitehouse Asda, was DAF Lowlander 100 PN52 XBM

IB Optare Solo 241 YN04 LWK had a day off town routes and was gainfully employed on the Real Ale Runabout.

THE NEXT IB VERSA ENTERS SERVICE

The third of the eight Optare Versa's has re entered service in the new fleet colours, in 147 YK08 EPD, interestingly behind is an Dennis Dart showing the more recent application of the colours, this leaves 5 left in Park and Ride livery in 145/46/48/50/51, of which 145/46?/48/51 were in service today complemented by just 152 in the new colours, also involved was Hybrid liveried Enviro 200's 81/82 and ADL Enviro 300 83. Other observations today include IB Solo 244 YN53 ELM putting in a rare appearance on the 15 in the afternoon, Scania/Optare 68 was also on the 10.

IPSWICH BUSES VERSA 149 AND A SUFFOLK NORSE TRIDENT

The next Ipswich Buses Optare Versa to be repainted into the new style livery is 149 YK08 EPF which entered service during last week, the delay in posting has been due to working out how my new camera works and after several mishaps i managed a decent shot. I must admit the new colours are beginning to grow on me, although i will be always be a fan of the 1990's livery of Green and Cream with a darker green skirt. Today's poor light certainly didn't help, this was taking very quick so it's slightly out of focus caught at Tesco's Martlesham on the petrol forecourt is Suffolk Norse ex Norwich Park and Ride(Norse)Transbus Plaxton President PN03 UME which has been with them for a while this is used on their contract 912.

RIDING THE WHITE SWAN!

I always like to use song titles if it can fit in with what i am reporting, yesterday i experienced the IB Scania/E400 Demo currently into it's last week on the X5 running from Tower Ramparts to Ipswich Hospital, unfortunately i didn't enjoy, i hate to be critical but i will give an honest opinion, it will be interesting to hear other's thoughts, as soon as the bus pulled away, you could hear the panels rattling at the front, the acceleration was particularly slow as was the speed between stops, you also could barely hear the bell when it was rang, now the ADL E400 MMC that was on loan last year was so much better. With thanks to Justin Wythe at Ipswich Buses July 1st will see the end of IB's participation on the park and Ride route with First Ipswich taking over commercially on Monday the 3rd July, buses to be used on the route is currently unknown however you will be the first to know.
A Further Optare Versa has been repainted in 145.
GALLOWAYS DEMO

As i haven't a picture, the best i can do is show said coach at the German Coach show, currently Galloway have on loan a Scania Touring Hyger registered YN17 OMW, meanwhile on the Bus side of the business 354 YJ62 JWF an VDL SB180/MCV has returned to it's dealer after 18 months use, while coming in from sister company Stephenson of Rochford are Volvo Olympian/Northern Counties Palatine M409/10 RVU which have replaced 253 1842 PP a Alexander bodied Olympian and 351 N827 FKK also Alexander bodied. Many thanks to David Green for the update.

IPSWICH UPDATE FOLLOW UP: IB NEW LIVERY

Well this afternoon was rather fortunate, after yesterday's rather idiotic misfortune of leaving of my camera on the train, unfortunately Greater Anglia haven't located it, so no Lowestoft scene feature so until i can afford an new one, it's the I Phone 5 camera, nevertheless i managed to catch Ipswich Buses 152 YK08 EPV now in the new colours, any comments below will most be welcome.

IPSWICH UPDATE

Most of this information has been published elsewhere, but for those who don't view them this is a sort of recap for those who haven't seen the news this will bring you bang up to date, Ipswich Buses have currently two Demonstrators one which was announced on the last blog, which i have to slightly correct being an Scania chassis with an ADL E400 body, also being used currently is Optare Solo SR YJ16 DDA which has been featured here previously with Beestons and is numbered for it's stay as 501 and is mainly employed on the 16 or the 19. Ipswich Buses have also an new version of the current livery with the first recipient Optare Versa 152 YK08 EPV which has been painted out of Park and Ride livery into a new scheme in preparation for the switch over to First, unfortunately at present there seems to be no news on the planned change over. Picture can be seen on David Warren's Flickr pages  //www.flickr.com/photos/77011412@N04/32844712740/in/dateposted/

On another note Ipswich Buses have begun to add IB logos to the Carters Fleet of which i have noted three Buses so far including the below Trident 8 LX04 FYB along with Transbus Trident 26 and MCV Evolution 156 which was done last year.

Galloways have added an a further Optare Solo to the fleet in 360 MX59 AWF this was formerly with Hatch Green Coaches who operate in the Taunton area, with one Solo believed to be withdrawn if anyone knows anymore please contact me through the regular e mail address or via Twitter or Facebook.