Ipswich - 8 Jul 2022

Friday 8 July 2022 (1114) – Ipswich Buses 73 (YX59 BZN)) seen arriving back at Tower Ramparts bus station, Ipswich on circular service 14. This service operates hourly from 0930 until 1430 six days a week linking housing close to Gippeswyk Park with the main part of the much larger Chantry Estate and the town centre (each circular takes 39 minutes). The large Chantry Estate is served by the all day higher frequency services 12 and 13 which, together with service 14, form the ‘Chantry Connexions’ group of services. YX59 BZN is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 (Dart chassis?) new to Mid Wales of Penryncoch in January 2020

Friday 8 July 2022 (1013) – Ipswich Buses 87 (YJ12 GWA), an Optare Tempo X1200SR new to Trent Barton (trentbarton) in May 2012 as their 323, seen in Dogs Head Street, Ipswich. Branded for ‘Chantry Connexions’ service 12.

Friday 8 July 2022 (0954) – Ipswich Buses 57 (PN52 XBJ), an East Lancs bodied DAF DB250 new in October 2002, seen crossing the bridge over the River Gipping heading towards the town centre from the railway station. This is now one of the oldest buses in the Ipswich Buses fleet which stands at just under 80 vehicles and visually is quite standardised. At the time of this visit the main body types were: Double deckers (33) of two body types: Scania N230UD OmniCity (23) East Lancs Myllenium/OmniDekka (10) Single deckers buses (41) of four body types: ADL Enviro200 (23) Optare Tempo X1200SR (13) Mercedes-Benz Citaro (3) Wright Eclipse Urban (2) To complete the fleet there were also three single deck coaches.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1021) – First Eastern Counties Buses (Ipswich Reds) 44517 (YX09 ACY), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 new in May 2009 to First Essex Buses, seen in the Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1021) – First Eastern Counties Buses (Ipswich Reds) 44517 (YX09 ACY), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 new in May 2009 to First Essex Buses, seen in the Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1008) – A comparison between the route 12 and route 13 ‘Chantry Connexions’ brandings carried by two Ipswich Buses Optare Tempo X1200SRs seen in Dogs Head Street. 87 (YJ12 GWA), branded for service 12 leads 98 (YJ12 GWP), branded for service 13. A low bridge in Ancaster Road which carries the railway tracks out of Ipswich railway station has long been an obstacle for Ipswich Buses (and Ipswich Corporation before it) on the services to the large Chantry housing estate restricting operation of services 12, 13 and 14 to single deck operation. During the main part of the day service 12 runs every 20 minutes and service 13 every 10 minutes. Service 14 operates hourly from 0930 until 1430 six days a week serving housing close to Gippeswyk Park. In early 2019 Ipswich Buses bought all thirteen of the batch of these newer style Tempos that were new Trent Barton (trentbarton) in the early summer of 2012.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1121) - Ipswich Buses 95 (YJ12 GWM), one of the thirteen Optare Tempo X1200SRs acquired from Trent Barton (trentbarton) in early 2019, seen in Tower Ramparts Bus Station, Ipswich. This had been new in May 2012 and was their 331. ‘Chantry Connections’ branded service 13.

Friday 8 July 2022 (0936) – Ipswich Buses 55 (PN52 XBO), an East Lancs bodied DAF DB250 new in October 2002, seen in the yard of the Constantine Road garage. This is now one of the oldest buses in the Ipswich Buses fleet which stands at just under 80 vehicles and visually is quite standardised. At the time of this visit the main body types were: Double deckers (33) of two body types: Scania N230UD OmniCity (23) East Lancs Myllenium/OmniDekka (10) Single deckers buses (41) of four body types: ADL Enviro200 (23) Optare Tempo X1200SR (13) Mercedes-Benz Citaro (3) Wright Eclipse Urban (2) To complete the fleet there were also three single deck coaches.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1049) – Ipswich Buses 103 (SN16 OGJ), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in March 2016, which is branded for the ‘Greenwich Greyhound’ service 1. Seen in Dogs Head Street heading to Nacton Road (John Lewis/Waitrose store).

Friday 8 July 2022 (1056) – First Eastern Counties Buses (Ipswich Reds) 32654 (AU03 MUV), an Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL new in August 2005, seen entering the Old Cattle Market Bus Station.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1101) – First Eastern Counties Buses (Ipswich Reds) 69009 (AU05 DMX), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new in March 2005, seen in Dogs Head Street, Ipswich.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1013) - Ipswich Buses 101 (SN16 OGG), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in March 2016, seen in Dogs Head Street, Ipswich working service 4 to Broke Hall.