A visit around the headquarters of Chambers in Sudbury

I was very excited as I got the opportunity to look around the headquarters of Chambers which are based in Sudbury.  

Let's look at the history of Chambers: 

In 1877 Chambers commenced a horse-drawn bus business in Bures. Leading on from this in 1918 the first bus was purchased and a twice weekly service between Sudbury and Colchester was created. In the late 1930s routes started to operate to Halstead and Haverhill. 

As of October 2010, Chambers operated seven services, which cover both urban and rural areas, with many of the routes running into Sudbury, and serving the bus station and railway station.

In 2012 Chambers was sold to the Go-Ahead with 27 buses and coaches however the depot was not included in the sale so the operation was moved to fellow Go-Ahead company Hedingham Ommibuses. As of June 2012 the fleet consisted of 27 buses and coaches. Since Go-Ahead purchased the company a new red and maroon fleet livery has been introduced. 

My Visit: 

It was a quite busy afternoon in the yard, I firstly was given the opportunity to look around the garage, there was the Hedingham Volvo B10M-62 Plaxton Premiere 320 10 and the ex Metrobus Scania OmniDekka East Lancashire 1500 having safely checks within the garage. 

Scania OmniDekka East Lancs 1500 (YN53 RVP)

Volvo B10M-62 Plaxto Premiere 320 10 (S291 TVW)

My next point of call was to look around the parking area for the buses , this was quite busy. I note there were three different type of buses in the parking area these were a Scania OmniDekka East Lancashires , Volvo B7TL / Plaxton Presidents and one Dennis Dart SLF 252 on site at the time of my visit of Chambers. 

Dennis Dart SLF 252 (EU03 BZK)

A ex Hedingham Dennis Dart SLF 252 was parked up along side the Scania OmniDekka East Lancashires and Volvo B7TL / Plaxton Presidents buses. 

Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President 566 (W428 WGH) & 569 (W484 WGH)

Scania OmniDekka East Lancashire 1507 (YN55 PZJ)    

The bus wash was busy at present there was the ex London Go-Ahead & Konectbus Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President 563 in the bus wash. 

Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President 563 ( V307 LGC)    

Also I note an ex Go-Ahead London Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President 583 still in its original livery parked up to one of side of the yard.

Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President 583 ( Y731 TGH)    

In addition to the Scania OmniDekkas , Volvo B7TL / Plaxton Presidents and one Dennis Dart SLF there were 3 coaches , these were a Volvo B10M/ Van Hool Alizee T8 3 and two Volvo B10M Plaxton Premiere 320 5 & 9. 

Volvo B10M/ Van Hool Alizee 3 (M655 KVU), Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President 565 (W425 WGH) , Volvo B10M Plaxton Premiere 320 5 (N664 THO) & 9 (S290 TVW)

A warm THANK YOU  to all the staff at Chambers for showing me around the headquarters. 

Ipswich Transport Museum 50th Anniversary Event Summary - Sunday 15th November 2015

On Sunday 15th November 2015 Ipswich Transport Museum held an event to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. I was lucky enough to attend this event with my Mum and Dad, who came down from Norwich for the weekend. The event was attended by 22 different buses turning up, one of these was Chris Speed's buses, which is  Great Yarmouth Transport  AEC Swift 85, it was it's first trip to Ipswich.  

Outside The Cricketers pub in Ipswich Town Centre - London Country Routemaster L2419 (JJD 419D)

At the Ipswich Transport Museum - Great Yarmouth Transport AEC Swift 85 (WEX 685M)

First time ever that all three First Eastern Countries Heritage liveried Alexander Dennis ALX400 have been together at one event, Great Yarmouth 32059, Lowestoft's 30888 and Ipswich 32479. The latest addition on show at the Ipswich Transport Museum was the former First Ipswich Scania L94UB 65589 which was withdrawn from First Essex last week. 

Outside the Ipswich Transport Museum - Alexander Dennis ALX400 32059 (W219 XBD)

In the yard of the Ipswich Transport Museum - Alexander Dennis ALX400 30888 (W743 DWX), 32479 (AU53 3JV) & Bristol MW6G LS 829 (APW 8298).

Also attending the event was the Ipswich buses brand new Mercedes Benz Citaros 154. 

Outside the Ipswich Transport Museum from a trip to Broke Hall : Mercedes Benz Citaros 154 (BF65 HVU) & on Park and Ride Service: Alexander Dennis ALX400 32059 (W219 XBD)

Throughout the day Ipswich Transport Museum organised different routes for the 22 buses  to undertake for a example a Park and Ride Service from the Orwell Clinic and services around the town centre. 

Naton Village : Belfast Citybus 2526 (XOI 2526) 

Town Ramparts, Ipswich  : Bristol VR 1448 (KRU 848W)

Lindbergh Road, Ipswich : Leyland National Greenway 587 (WAH 587S)

It was a delight to attend and a credit to the organisers Mark Smith and Owen Smith for doing  a really good job. 

Ipswich Transport Museum 50th anniversary - Sunday 15th November 2015

A summary of the 50th anniversary at Ipswich Transport Museum will be upload in due course. 

Bristol Lodekka FL6G LFL57 (557 BNG)

Bus Replacement Service - Thursday 12th November 2015

For the last few days there has been a bus replacement service in operation between Marks Tey & Sudbury and between Ipswich & Felixstowe , the latest information tells me that bus replacement will be in service between Ipswich & Felixstowe until the end of service on Sunday 15th November 2015. 

Outside Sudbury train station Thursday 12th November 2015 : Caetano bodied Volvo B12B 604 (FN04 FSE)

Outside Ipswich train station Thursday 12th November: Van Hool bodied coach (VLT 177) 

A very busy day in Norwich Full Report - 5/11/15

On a visit to Norwich on Thursday 5th November I was greeted with the First Norwich Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2, 36177 & 36175  at  forecourt of Norwich rail station. Outside Norwich rail station I board the Konectbus Alexandra Dennis Enivro400 619 to Norwich Bus Station.

Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 36177 (BD11 CGF) & 36175 (BD11 CFZ)

On the top deck of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 619 (SK15 HKC) 

After a quick chat with the driver he gain me permission to take some photographs of the top deck of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 619. The vehicles features leather headrests and traditional moquette seating, wood-effect flooring, free wifi, and USB charing points.
At Norwich Bus Station I was given permission to take photographs, it was very busy couple of hours especially with Konectbus having alot of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400s on service operating Norwich Park and Ride, Konectbusexpress 8  & route 3 to Watton. 

Alexander Dennis Enviro400 630 (SN65 0AL)

In additional to this at Norwich Bus Station was Stagecoach Norfolk Green Alexander Dennis Enviro300 27642 in its new livery & the Optare Solo 47907 in its Coasthopper livery which were both on the X29 service between Norwich & Fakenham. 

Alexander Dennis Enviro300 27642 GX10 HBU & Optare Solo 47907 (YJ09 LBF)

At the end my visit of the Norwich Bus Station today the Megabus (Freestones) Scania K114EB4/Irizar Century arrival and then I move across to see what bus activities where happening on St Stephens street. I firstly notice First Norwich Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Slimbus 43861 was still in its Lowestoft livery on the Purple Line route 39. 

Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Slimbus 43861 (EG52 FGJ)

While I was walking along up St Stephens Street it came to my attention one of the brand new Wright Streetlite Max 63322 on the Green Line service. The batch of Wright Streetlite Maxes are number 63317-63327, there are much larger vehicles than current batch with 45 seaters and free wifi as well.

Wright Streetlite Max 63322 (SK65 PXC)

In other news I came across the Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse-Urban 66977 looking very smart in its purple livery working the Purple Line to Mulbarton. The 66977 firstly was used on the streets of Colchester and then was transferred to First Ipswich in early 2014 before being painted into Ipswich livery. In May 2015 it was transferred again to First Norwich and paint into the purple livery. 

Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse-Urban 66977 (KX05 MHA)

While walking along Castle Meadow I noted that an other Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse-Urban 66976 which within just a month was repainted twice. In September 2015 the 66976 was painted a darker yellow which lead to some confusion as to weather it was on the Orange Line or Yellow Line. 66976 was repainted into a lighter shade of yellow so no confuse was made. 

Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse-Urban 66976 (KX05 MGZ)

Approaching me on the top of Castle Meadow was an old National Express coach now forming a First Lowestoft ex X1 Volvo B12M Plaxton Paragon 20515 which is used on rail replacement services these days, was heading up to Castle Meadow showing the 'Out of Service' on its display board.

 

Volvo B12M Plaxton Paragon 20515 (WV02 EUR)

A very busy day in Norwich - 5/11/15

A full report coming up soon from Thursday 5th November 2015.

Wright Streetlite Max 63322 (SK65 PXC)

Ipswich Park and Ride Report

A park and ride service was established to serve the town in 1997 with the initial car park site at Copdock Mill (still in use now) south of the town. Ipswich Buses operated the park and ride until 2008 when it was taken over by First . As of August 2013 until now there are two park ride sites, the original site at Copdock Mill and at Martlesham to the north-east of the town, with services running from one side to the other through the town centre. 

Optare V1110 Versa 150 (YK08 EPJ)

Optare V1110 Versa 145 (YK08 EPA)

Following a five year absence Ipswich Buses took over the park and ride service in November 2013. Ipswich Buses acquired eight ex Nottingham City Transport MAN powered Optare Versas 145-52 YK08 EPA/C/D/E/F/J/U and V to run the park and ride service for Ipswich, which all carried the new blue park and ride livery. These buses have also been fitted with leather seats and on board 'next stop' announcement systems. 

Optare V1110 Versa 148 (YK08 EPE)

Ipswich Bues also used extra vehicles for park and ride service in the form of using town service buses, two Scania N230UD/Optare Olympus 68/69 YJ60 KGX/Y, one Alexander Dennis Enviro300 83 SK07 DYA  and two new brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 81/82 YX63 LGE/F, these five different buses have a half blue and half green livery.   

Dennis Dart SLF/East Lancs Myllennium 87 (PJ53 OLH)    

 Scania N230UD/Optare Olympus 61 (PJ54 YZU)

Alexander Dennis Enviro300 83 (SK07 DYA)    

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 83 (YX63 LGF)

The buses that were used by First on the park and ride service between 2008 and 2013 most of them were reallocated to town services and painted in the new Ipswich livery. 

 Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse-Urban 69422 (AU58 FFJ), 69426 (AU58 FFN) & 69425 (AU58 FFM)