DSCF6952 First Eastern Counties Buses 69008 (AU05 DMV) on the Kesgrave Busway - 22 Apr 2017

Saturday 22 April 2017 (1442) – First Eastern Counties Buses 69008 (AU05 DMV), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in March 2005, is equipped with guide wheels for operation on the guided busway track in Kesgrave, east of Ipswich. It was working the 1405 service 66 from Ipswich (Rail Station) to Martlesham Heath.

The guideway, opened in January 1995, gives a direct link between two housing estates and allows buses to avoid a busy section of the A12 trunk road. When first opened it could only be used by a selection of single deckers that were narrower than standard width buses. In 2005 the guideway was re-gauged to allow standard width vehicles. Over the ensuing years the somewhat bare landscape is now bordered by hedgerows and shrubbery.