End of an Era for Independent Bus Operator

 Dennis Trident 2/ Alexander ALX400 403 LG02FCA & Dennis Trident 2/ Plaxton President 405 LR52KWE

On Friday 27th May 2016 Ipswich Buses concluded their takeover of Carters Coach Services with the final fleet listed below.  The last service under Carters Coach Services ownership was the 17.55 from Colchester to Ipswich. The buses left Capel St Mary on Saturday morning and returned back to the Ipswich Buses depot in the evening. The only fleet change so far is the Ipswich Buses, 18 & 19 Dennis Trident II Alexander ALX 400 withdrawn replacing Caters Coach Service coaches. 

Ipswich Buses depot : Dennis Trident 2/ Alexander ALX400 406 LX03 BTF, DAF DB250/East Lancs 55 PN52XBO, Dennis Trident 2/ Alexander ALX400 402 LG02FEV & Scania CN94 Omni City 71 YN56 NVC

DAF SB180/MCV Evolution 260 AY10BVD

Caters Coach Services Fleet List Update 

260 DAF SB180/MCV Evolution AY10BVD 

351 VolvoB10M/Caetano Enigma NK51 ZSR

402 Dennis Trident 2/ Alexander ALX400 LG02FEV

403 Dennis Trident 2/ Alexander ALX400 LG02FCA

404 Dennis Trident 2/ Alexander ALX400 LG02FCE

405 Dennis Trident 2/ Plaxton President LR52KWE

406 Dennis Trident 2/ Alexander ALX400 LX03BTF

407 Dennis Trident 2/ Alexander ALX400 LX04FYB

415 Volvo Olympian/Northern Countries P915RYO

456 Volvo Olympian/Alexander Belfast R156LHK 

Richard Walker's recently acquired from Caters Coach Service : Bristol VE Open Top OT3 JNG50N

East Anglia Transport Museum's 1940s Weekend

Leyland PD2 66 (EX6566), AEC Regent 21 (GBJ192), AEC Reliance 85 (AEX85B) & AEC Regent RT3125 (KXW234)

Last weekend saw East Anglia Transport Museum hosts its 1940s weekend. First Eastern Counties supported the event by laying on a free park and ride service. The service was operated by a brand new First Norwich Wrightbus Streetdeck 35200.

Wrightbus StreetDeck 35200 (SK16GVZ)

Through out the two days there were trips out and about to Beccles and Lowestoft. These were worked by the home fleet of buses, representing the Great Yarmouth Corporation was the Leyland PD2 66 (EX6566) and AEC Reliance 85 (AEX85B) and for the Lowestoft Corporation was the AEC Regent 21 (GBJ192). To make up the foursome of buses there was another AEC Regent RT3125 in form of the London County . 

Photograph captured at Beccles Bus Station AEC Reliance 85 (AEX85B), AEC Regent 21 (GBJ192) & Ex First Great Yarmouth Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse-Gemini 37576 (AU58EDC)

Photograph capture outside Lowestoft Train Station - AEC Regent 21 (GBJ192)

AEC Regent RT3125 (KXW234)

Finally, was the East Anglia Transport Museum ex Ipswich Buses Olympian 446 which was parked within the Transport Museum as it is in need of some restoration work.The whole event was very enjoyable and I will be adding more pictures to the Facebook Page in due course. 

Ex Ipswich Bues Leyland Olympian 446 (C101CHM)

The only way is Cambridge

Volvo B11RT Plaxton 54314 (YX64WCY)

On Wednesday I traveled to Cambridge City Centre from Ipswich with Suffolk Norse on a Enviro300 to explore the bus the network and the busway (that will feature in different post, coming soon). Cambridge City Centre bus network is dominated by Stagecoach East, which operates city centre and rural services. In addition to this they also operate five different park and ride services across Cambridge. I have always been quite fan of Stagecoach and the way in which they encourage bus use. 

Alexander Dennis Trident2 Enviro400 19579 (AE10BWW) & Alexander Dennis Enviro300 27854 (AE13EEA)

Alexander Dennis Trident2 Enviro400 19310 (AE07KZM) & 19306 (AE07KZH)

One of most promoted services from Cambridge is the X5 which run between Bedford, Milton Keynes, Buckingham, Bicester and Oxford. The X5 runs every 30 minutes using state of the art Volvo B11RT Plaxton fitting with leather reclining seats, air conditioning and power points etc. Another highlighted for Stagecoach East is the Stagecoach Gold route 13, 13A, 13B and 13C between Cambridge and Haverhill which run every 30 minutes. Stagecoach Gold buses operating on this service are Scania N230UD Alexander-Dennis Enviro's400 and feature leather seats, extra legroom, wifi, etc. 

Volvo B11RT Plaxton 54317 (YX64WDC)

Scania N230UD Alexander-Dennis Enviro400 15956 (YN14OXG)

Stagecoach East operate an modern fleet, which I noted while visiting cambridge. One of the liveries that I was highlighted by was the Stagecoach East greener,smarter and travel as it is very smilier to Norwich Park and Ride service livery which is used. 

Alexander Dennis Trident2 Enviro400 19584 (AE10BWV)

Scania N230UD Alexander-Dennis Enviro400 15460 (AE09GYM)

Although Stagecoach East has a strong influence in Cambridge City Centre bus network there is an other bus company which runs a number of city centre and rural bus services this is in form of Go-Whippet who are based in Swavesey. Please continue to LIKE our Facebook Page and more pictures from Cambridge  will be added in due course. 

Ex Impact of London, Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart SLF WS316 (GX57AUT) 



Ex First London Wright Eclipse Gemini WD436 (LK54FLF)

Mid Norfolk Railway Vintage Bus Day 16

Bristol MW LS789 (S789AH) & LS829 (APW829B) , Crosville ERG53 (UFM53F), Alexander Dennis Enviro 623 (SN65OAH) & 617 (SK15HKA)

I am so sorry this post is bit later due to being away with family. On Sunday saw Mid Norfolk Railway organising it's first vintage bus day from Dereham in Norfolk. In total twenty-two different bus and coaches were present with three coming from the event's supporters Konectbus. This was in the form of one Mercedes Benz Citaro 800, which was freshly painted in the Norwich Park and Ride Service livery and two Alexander Dennis Enviro400s, with the 617 in Konect express livery and the 623 looking very smart wearing the Norwich Park and Ride service livery.  

Mercedes Benz Citaro 800 (BD57WDA)

In addition to Konectbus present, there were five Bristol RE's in attendance with the LS829 traveling up from the Ipswich Transport Museum. Recently preserved by Leon Wells ex Ipswich Buses double decker East Lancs bodied Volvo Olympian 41 was attending. Leading on from this, Richard Walker's recently acquired from Caters, Bristol VR Open top double decker bus OT3 was also present within the event. 

East Lancs bodies Volvo Olympian 41 (M41EPV)

Bristol VR OT3 (JNG50N)

Four former London Transport Routemasters arrived on the day, with three of them owned by Bus and Us Ltd, this included the JJD480D acquired from First and Coaches Services CUV151C.

London Transport  Routemaster RM2151B (CUV151C) 

Throughout the day there were trips out and about across Dereham itself, this including a brief trip to Konectbus premises in outskirts Dereham. The whole event was very enjoyable and it was a very hot and sunny afternoon. The last picture to leave you with is the Ipswich Transport Museum Bristol MW LS829 on Norwich Road in Ipswich.  

Bristol MW LS829 (APW829B)

46th Ipswich to Felixstowe Vehicle Road Run Picture Special

AEC Routemaster, RML2463 (JJD 463D)

Today saw the 46th anniversary Ipswich to Felixstowe Vehicle Road Run, which included 500 different types of vehicles. These included cars, lorries, motorcycles, buses and military vehicles. The vehicles assembled in Christchurch Park at approximately 10.30am, then started to leave for Felixstowe at 11.30am, where they were displayed along the promenade. 

With the sun shining, I ventured out to Felixstowe to focus on the buses/coaches on display along the promenade. I came across selection of buses/coaches from the Ipswich Transport Museum and private ownership. On this post I have shared my best shots of the afternoon. 

Bedford OB Duple (LUR 446) 

Bristol L4G (KAH 407) 

AEC Regent II (GBJ 192)

Daimler Fleetline (KMW 175P)

Bristol RE SVF, RE896 (SVF 896G)

Bristol K5G (AJN 825)

AEC Regal IV, RF326 (MLL 963)

Volvo B8R Plaxton Leopards (YX16 NWT)

More pictures will be added to the Facebook page.