Observations Thursday 31st March 16 / Exiting news for First Norwich

Today for Ipswich Buses has been a busy afternoon with different buses on different routes, I first noted that the Scannia N230UD/ Optare 68 was on the route 10 and the 69 on free shuttle around town at lunch time. The routes 8 and 13 had a Dennis Trident Alexander ALX 400 15, Scania CN94 Omni City 72 and 75 , branded route 4 Dennis Super Dart East Lancs Millennium 87, Dennis Dart SLF Alexander ALX200 143 , Dennis Super Dart East Lancs Spryte 93 and an Alexander Dennis E200 81 working this afternoon. 

Dennis Trident Alexander ALX 400 15 (LG02 FDK)

Leading on from this it observed that the route x3 was running double deckers with an DAF DB250 PF Euro 3 East Lancs Lowlander 53 showing an fault display board and the 56. Also an DAF DB250 Optare Spectra 53 was on the x3.

DAF DB250 PF Euro 3 East Lancs Lowlander 53 (PJ53 0LA)

In other news a brand route x3 bus Dennis Dart SLF Alexander ALX200 142 and an Dennis Trident Alexander ALX 400 13 working route x1 this afternoon. Also it has highlighted that the double deckers were back on route 4 with a Dennis Trident Alexander ALX 400 11. It seems to be a busy afternoon with most of the Dennis Dart SLF Alexander ALX200 and the Dennis Trident Alexander ALX 400 on different routes within the town centre.   

Dennis Dart SLF Alexander ALX200 142 (YS62 FJN) 

First Norwich have been quite busy in the last week having received two Alexander Dennis E200 from Ipswich and also receiving two brand new Wright StreetDecks 35193 and 35194 from Northern Ireland  , hopefully see them next week. 

One of last Alexander Dennis E200 at First Ipswich 45119 (RT09 JPT) 

My last observation of the afternoon was an Dennis Super Dart East Lancs Spryte 98 on the route 98 to Shotley and an Dennis Trident Alexander ALX 400 14 on the service 202 from the Old Cattle Market. More pictures of this afternoos observations on our Facebook page. 

Dennis Super Dart East Lancs Spryte 98 (X98 LBJ)

    

Ipswich First Alexander Dennis Enviro200's / East Lancs bodied Volvo Olympian last day of service

This weekend saw the ending of a selection of different buses in the Ipswich area. It was previously reported in a different post that Ipswich First buses Alexander Dennis Enviro 200's 44517 and 44519 are currently being de branded in preparation for their move to Norwich on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 44519 (YX09 ADD ) de branding completed 

On Friday it saw the end of the era of both the 40 and 41 East Lans bodied Volvo Olympian, it has been reported that the 41 is being preserved by Leon Wells.

East Lancs bodied Volvo Olympian 40 and 41, (M640EPV & M41EPV) at Old Cattle Market Bus Station 

In other news the Ipswich buses East Lancs Transbus Dart 86, branded route 4 was seen on a private contract last Saturday on Castle Meadow in Norwich. Thank you very much to Dan High for letting me  use his picture within this blog. 

East Lancs Transbus Dart 86 (PJ53 0LG) at Castle Meadow in Norwich

This weekend saw my Mum and Dad come up from Norwich and we went across to Felixstowe, my observation was the Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse-Urban 69423 ex Ipswich park and ride on the route 77 back into Ipswich town centre from Landguard Fort. Next week I will be traveling to Norwich, so hopefully more information about Norwich bus services. 

Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse-Urban 69423 (AU58 FFX) outside Landguard Fort

Ipswich Bus Rally 2016

AEC Swift/Willowbrook (82) JRT 82K 

Yesterday I went to the Ipswich Bus Rally at Portman Road , with a selection of new/old buses from across East Anglia. During the day there were tours around the Ipswich Buses depot and the Scania N230UD/Optare Olympus 68 was used for tours through the brand new bus wash. Also present in the depot was the brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro 200. 

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 SN16 OGH

East Lancs bodied Volvo Olympian (41 & 40) M41 EPV, M640 EPV

Throughout the day there were different trips across town to different locations for example Ipswich buses ran both of the  East Lancs bodied Volvo Olympian 40 and 41, which are being discounted this month over the Orwell bridge. 

Bristol VR OT (3) JNG 50N

Ipswich Bus Preservation Group attended the event with the Scania L94 DVF 65586 Ex First Essex the sister to the Ipswich Transport Museum 65589. One of the organisers also brought along his Carters of Bristol VR OT 3 JNG 50N. This event was particularly well organised. And finally an Ex London Transport RML 2401 JJD 401D was present at the Ipswich Bus Rally and was running the route 18 across the Orwell bridge in the afternoon.

London Transport (RML 2401) JJD 401D

Ipswich Buses Early Start

Over the last week I have been able to go and see the buses leaving the Ipswich Buses deport around 7am for school contract and buses going into service. Here are selection of my photographs and more will be added to the Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/ryansbusblog/ please like it. 

East Lancs bodied Volvo Olympian (40) M31 LPV

DAF DB250LF Optare Spectra (53) X153 LBJ

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 (80) YX63 ZVV

Dennis Dart (94) X94 LBJ

Optare M920 Solo (241) YN04 LWK

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 (80) YX63 ZVV

Thank you for your continued support I will heading to the Ipswich Bus Rally on Sunday 20th March 2016. There is more information on there Facebook page.

Unusual workings / New route for Norwich First

In the last couple of weeks I have noticed some unusual buses on different routes operated by Ipswich Buses and First Ipswich. My first sighting was the X5 branded Alexander ALX200 Dart 139 which was operating as the X3, while its 142 was on the X2 to Greenwich. 

 Alexander ALX200 (139) Y271 FJN

For the time being it has been highlighted that the Scania N94UB Omnicity 70 has been operating as the X3. In addition the Dennis Trident Alexander ALX400 19 is being withdrawn later this month and has been operating as route number 4.  It became apparent that the branded route 4 TransBus Dart SLF East Lancs Myllenium 85 and 86 have been working the routes 8 and 13. 

Scania N94UB Omnicity (70) YN56 NVB

Dennis Trident Alexander ALX400 (19) VI62 MEV

My last unusual sighting was a Volvo B7TL Transbus/Alexander Dennis ALX400 32490 which is usually on the route 66, which has been working the route 88 to Chilton Hall instead of the normal Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse-Urban. Finally it has been reported that First Norwich are introducing a brand new bus line which is going to be Charcoal between Norwich city centre and Poringland. This will see two Alexander Dennis Enviro200 leaving First Ipswich for Norwich, 44517 (picture below Summer 2015) and 44518. 

Volvo B7TL Transbus/Alexander Dennis ALX400 (32490) AU53 HKH 

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 (44517) YX08 ACY 

SOAMES (Forgot Me Not Travel) call it day / Suffolk Norse

Thank you for all the views over the last couple of days. 

Soames (Forgot Me Not Travel)

I received some sad news today the Soames (Forgot Me Not Travel) will cease trading after the school contracts end in July. 

 Plaxton Panther 2 bodied Volvo B9R (YM60 FM)

Suffolk Norse

VOSA have reported that Suffolk Norse have registered a new service. Numbered 108,  the route will take over Anglia's 60J which operation between Lowestoft town centre and James Paget hospital in Gorleston. The buses that will likely be used are the Alexander Dennis Enviro 300s, which are currently used on the service 107 within Lowestoft town centre. Recently I took my car for an MOT at Suffolk Norse Rougham at the depot there was a selection of buses, the photographs will added to the Facebook Page : 

https://www.facebook.com/ryansbusblog/. in due course.

 Alexander Dennis Enviro 300 (SN56 AYM)