Gruson Autobus (De Lijn contractor) 550144 (TCM 711) in Ieper - 3 Sep 2007 (DSCN1003)

Mon 3 Sept 2007 (approx 0825) – In the background at the far end of Menenstraat is the Menen Gate Memorial dedicated to over 54,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in World War 1 whose graves are unknown. Each evening at 2000 (8pm) the road is closed off and the last post is played by a bugler. A small group of local children participate in the ceremony representing the citizens of Ieper in expressing their gratitude to those that had given their lives for Belgium’s freedom.

In addition to running its own buses (which have four digit fleet numbers), many services of De Lijn - the National bus/tram company of northern Belgium, are worked by contracted operators (these have six digit fleet numbers).

Gruson Autobus of Ieper, which is now owned by the Veolia Group, is the operator of 550144 (TCM 711), a Jonckheere Transit 2000 bodied Volvo B7RLE (new Apr 2005) seen in the Grote Markt, Ieper when working the 0753 service 60 from Abele and Poperinge.