Ipswich - 2 February 2018

Friday 2 February 2018 (1128) – Old Cattle Market, Ipswich. Left is First Eastern Counties 32656 (AU05 MVA), an Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL new in October 2003 and right is First Eastern Counties 67760 (SN62 AUC), an Alexander Dennis Enviro300 that was new to First Glasgow No 1, Scotland in February 2013. It was working the cross town Park and Ride service 800 to Martlesham P&R. Tucked between them is Ipswich Buses 80 (YX63 ZVV), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 new in November 2013.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1235) – Reflections of Ipswich Buses 12 (LG02 FDC) in the black glass panels of the iconic Willis Insurance Building. I am there somewhere. The bus is an Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident new to London United (TAS268) in July 2001 and now one of the last buses to wear the old livery. The building was constructed in the early 1970s as one of the first projects of Foster Associates designed by Norman Foster and Wendy Cheesman. It has a rather bulbous footprint and sits within the area bordered by Princes Street, Friars Street, and Franciscan Way (and a footpath connecting the latter two). The rooftop features a rectangular unit housing the staff restaurant which is surrounded by a roof garden.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1218) – Three generations of former London buses parked in the Ipswich Buses garage yard from left to right: 29 (P915 RYO), a Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian new to London General (NV115) new in March 1997 7 (LX03 BTF), an Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident new to Stagecoach East London (17751) in March 2003 40 (YR61 RUW), a Scania OmniCity N230UD new to First Centrewest (First fleet number SN36060) in October 2011

Friday 2 February 2018 (1157) – Ipswich Buses 41 (YR61 RVF) seen leaving Tower Ramparts bus station. It is a Scania OmniCity N230UD new to First Centrewest in October 2011 (First fleet number SN36065).

Friday 2 February 2018 (1148) – Ipswich Buses 155 (BF65 HVV), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro new in September 2015, seen at Tower Ramparts bus station, Ipswich. Beyond that is 85 (PJ53 OLE), an East Lancs Myllenium bodied Transbus Dart new in November 2003.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1147) – Ipswich Buses 155 (BF65 HVV), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro new in September 2015, seen at Tower Ramparts bus station, Ipswich. It is a little difficult to see the word ‘Ipswich’ above ‘Buses’ with it being applied on the black background of the windows.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1241) - Ipswich Buses 12 (LG02 FDC) seen leaving Tower Ramparts bus station operating circular service 37, a free shuttle service that links the town centre with the bus garage and the administrative buildings of Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council. Optare Solo 244 (YN53 ELW) stands beyond working service 16 Stoke Park Circular.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1207) – Ipswich Buses 54 (PF04 WML), an East Lancs bodied VDL DE02 new in June 2004, seen on Crown Street about to enter Tower Ramparts bus station, Ipswich. In the background are 137 (SN53 AVP) and 20 (Y436 NHK).

Friday 2 February 2018 (1205) – Ipswich Buses 24 (SN51 AXO) seen at Tower Ramparts bus station. It is a Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident that had been new to Lothian Buses (Edinburgh) as their 606 in September 2001.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1157) – Ipswich Buses 153 (BF65 HVT), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro new in September 2015, seen on Crown Street about to enter Tower Ramparts bus station, Ipswich. In the background is bus 20 (Y436 NHK), an Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident new to Stagecoach East London (TAS436) in August 2001.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1157) – Ipswich Buses 153 (BF65 HVT), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro new in September 2015, seen on Crown Street from Tower Ramparts bus station, Ipswich.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1130) – Ipswich Buses 148 (YK08 EPE) passing First Eastern Counties 67760 (SN62 AUC) at the Old Cattle Market in Ipswich. 148 is an Optare Versa new in May 2008 to Nottingham City Transport (310) that was working the 1130 service X3 from Tower Ramparts to the Waitrose/John Lewis store at Priory Heath . 67760 is an Alexander Dennis Enviro300 that was new to First Glasgow No 1, Scotland in February 2013 and was working the cross town Park and Ride service 800 to Martlesham P&R.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1211) – Crown Street lay-by in Ipswich is used by various operators whilst their vehicles are on layover in the town. In this photograph, taken from the upper deck of Ipswich Buses 12 (LG02 FDC) as it was passing by, are coaches operated Cooks of Southend, Dabbs Felixstowe Travel and Mulleys of Ixworth plus a Beestons of Hadleigh bus.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1209) – Ipswich Buses 69 (YJ60 KGY) seen at Tower Ramparts bus station, Ipswich. It is an Optare Olympus bodied Scania N230UD new in October 2010.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1156) – Ipswich Buses 244 (YN53 ELW), an Optare Solo M950 first registered by Optare in October 2003, seen at Tower Ramparts bus station about to leave on the 1155 service 16 Stoke Park Circular.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1146) – Ipswich Buses 85 (PJ53 OLE) seen at Tower Ramparts bus station, Ipswich. It is an East Lancs Myllenium bodied Transbus Dart new in November 2003.

Friday 2 February 2018 (1215) – Ipswich Buses 31 (YR61 RPY) seen in the doorway of the garage in Constantine Road. It is a Scania OmniCity N230UD new to First Centrewest in October 2011 (First fleet number SN36034).

Friday 2 February 2018 (1133) – The layover bays at the Old Cattle Market bus station in Ipswich. From left to right the buses are: Ipswich Buses 35 (YR61 RTV) had just parked up after arriving from Colchester on the former Carters Coaches service (service 93). It is a Scania OmniCity N230UD new to First Centrewest in October 2011 (First fleet number SN36050) Ipswich Buses 78 (YX14 RWL), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 new in March 2014 Beestons Coaches YN55 NJZ, an East Lancs Omnidekka bodied Scania N94UD new to Reading Buses as their 818 in November 2005