Ipswich - 8 Jul 2022

Friday 8 July 2022 (0935) – A line up of vehicles parked in the Ipswich Buses yard of the Constantine Road garage. 54 (PF04 WML), an East Lancs bodied VDL DE02 new in June 2004 56 (PN52 XBK), an East Lancs bodied DAF DB250 new in October 2002 38 (YR61 RUU), a Scania N230UD OmniCity new to Centrewest (London) in October 2011 (SN36058) LX59 CRV, a Scania N230UD OmniCity that had been new to Stagecoach East London as their 15166 in February 2010. Window label states ‘On loan to Ipswich Buses’ 58 (PJ53 OLA), an East Lancs bodied DAF new in October 2003 60 (PJ54 YZT), an East Lancs bodied Scania N94 new January 2005

Friday 8 July 2022 (0940) – A line up of vehicles parked in the Ipswich Buses yard of the Constantine Road garage. 161 (SN57 DCX), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new to Lothian Buses (155) in October 2007 45 (YR61 RVE), a Scania N230UD OmniCity new to Centrewest (London) in October 2011 (SN36064) 105 (YX66 WCJ), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200D new in September 2016 59 (PJ53 OLB), an East Lancs bodied DAF new in October 2003 74 (DU60 LOJ), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new to Lloyds of Machynlleth in December 2010 registered LC60 WYN 64 (SGZ 6664), an East Lancs bodied Scania N94UD new to Thames Travel Limited in January 2005 registered OU54 PGZ 51 (SGZ 3351), a Scania N230UD OmniCity that was new to London United (SP31) in April 2008 registered YN08 DHX

Friday 8 July 2022 (1205) – Harlequin Travel of Ipswich X1 HTC seen at the Tesco store at Copdock, Ipswich. It is a Sitcar bodied Mercedes-Benz O 815D that was new to Easson’s Coaches of Southampton in April 2005 registered ES05 ONS.

Friday 8 July 2022 (0934) – The Old Pump House Yard in Sir Alf Ramsey Way, Ipswich is an operating centre of Harlequin Travel. The business also has a base in Felixstowe. Two Ferqui bodied Mercedes-Benz mini-coaches can be seen parked inside the yard. X11 HTC, a Mercedes-Benz O 815D new to Judge of Corby in August 2007 registered YX07 GYA X111 HTC, a Mercedes-Benz 515CDi new to Heffernan, West Harrow in July 2008 registered YX08 HXA

Friday 8 July 2022 (0934) – Harlequin Travel Ferqui bodied Mercedes-Benz mini-coaches parked at The Old Pump House Yard in Sir Alf Ramsey Way, Ipswich. The business also has a base in Felixstowe. X11 HTC, a Mercedes-Benz O 815D new to Judge of Corby in August 2007 registered YX07 GYA X111 HTC, a Mercedes-Benz 515CDi new to Heffernan, West Harrow in July 2008 registered YX08 HXA

Friday 8 July 2022 (1020) - First Eastern Counties Buses 69428 (AU58 FFP), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new in January 2009, seen at the Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich bound for Felixstowe on service 75. It carries the Ipswich Reds livery with Felixstowe Flyers branding for the Ipswich-Felixstowe group of services (75/77/X7).

Friday 8 July 2022 (1028) - First Eastern Counties Buses 44519 (YX09 ADO), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 new in May 2009 to First Essex Buses, seen arriving at the Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich. It carries the Ipswich Reds livery with ‘Village Links’ lettering.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1040) - First Eastern Counties Buses in Ipswich Reds livery seen at the Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich. 66950 (WX55 TZM) is a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE that was new in December 2005 and carries ‘Stowmarket Swift’ lettering. 32655 (AU05 MUY) is an Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL that was new in August 2005.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1020) – The Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich is from where buses most of the buses to out of town country destinations depart. Left to right: Ipswich Buses 62 (PJ54 YZV), an East Lancs OmniDekka bodied Scania N94UD new in January 2005, loading for the 1025 service 92 to Maningtree. The other buses are First Eastern Counties Buses (Ipswich Reds) vehicles. An Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL can be seen in the background. 44517 (YX09 ACY), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 new in May 2009 to First Essex Buses, passes through heading towards the garage in Foundation Street. 69428 (AU58 FFP), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new in January 2009, loading for Felixstowe on service 75. It carries Felixstowe Flyers branding for the Ipswich-Felixstowe group of services (75/77/X7).

Friday 8 July 2022 (1044) - Ipswich Buses 80 (YX63 ZVV), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in November 2013, which is branded for the ‘Nacton Nipper’ service 3. Seen in Dogs Head Street heading to Nacton Road (John Lewis/Waitrose store). This was one of a pair of buses delivered together (YX63 ZVV and YX63 ZVW). It would seem that some form of error may have occurred with the fleet numbering because both have operated carrying fleet numbers 79 and 80! They somewhat unnaturally now run as 79 (YX63 ZVW) and 80 (YX63 ZVV).

Friday 8 July 2022 (1013) - Ipswich Buses 81 (YX63 LGE), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in November 2013, which is branded for the ‘Nacton Nipper’ service 3. Seen in Dogs Head Street heading to Nacton Road (John Lewis/Waitrose store). In the background is 101 (SN16 OGG), a similar vehicle new in March 2016, working service 4 to Broke Hall.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1014) – With a strapline above the windows that could almost be sung to the tune of ‘Blaydon Races’, Ipswich Buses 81 (YX63 LGE) is branded for the ‘Nacton Nipper’ service 3. An Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D, new in November 2013, seen in Dogs Head Street heading to Nacton Road (John Lewis/Waitrose store).

Friday 8 July 2022 (1029) – Ipswich Buses 82 (YX63 LGF), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in November 2013, seen at the Old Cattle Market bus station in Ipswich about to leave as the 1025 service 118 to Framlingham. An unusual feature on this bus is the position of a fleet number halfway along the roofline.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1027) – Ipswich Buses 82 (YX63 LGF), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in November 2013, seen arriving at the Old Cattle Market bus station in Ipswich when working the 0930 service 119 from Framlingham. It would soon set out as the 1025 service 118 back to Framlingham.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1107) – On board Ipswich Buses 94 (YJ12 GWL) on Upper Brook Street (at Tavern Street) in Ipswich working service 13. I had a short ride on this bus from Dogs Head Street to Tower Ramparts Bus Station. It is an Optare Tempo X1200SR new to Trent Barton (trentbarton) in May 2012 as their 330.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1110) – Ipswich Buses 94 (YJ12 GWL) seen in Tower Ramparts Bus Station. I had taken a short ride on this bus from Dogs Head Street on service 13. It is an Optare Tempo X1200SR new to Trent Barton (trentbarton) in May 2012 as their 330 with branding for ‘Chantry Connexions’ service 13. A low bridge in Ancaster Road, Ipswich 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. (Can anyone spot the photographer??)

Friday 8 July 2022 (1112) – Ipswich Buses 89 (YJ12 GWD) seen in Tower Ramparts bus station showing the branding for ‘Whitton Wanderer’ services 9 and 10. It is an Optare Tempo X1200SR that was new to Trent Barton (trentbarton) in May 2012 as their 325.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1205) – Ipswich Buses 96 (YJ12 GWN), an Optare Tempo X1200SR new to Trent Barton (trentbarton) as their 336 in May 2012, seen at the Tesco Store at Copdock which is the outer terminus of service 13. The simple bus stop sign is a Tesco feature rather than one of Ipswich Buses. I had ridden on this bus from the town centre to re-join my car parked at the nearby Park and Ride site. Despite having a return ticket for the Park and Ride service operated by First Eastern Counties Buses I chose to ride back on service 13 which takes about 10 minutes more serving the Chantry Estate. In the background is Harlequin Travel of Ipswich X1 HTC, a Sitcar bodied Mercedes-Benz O 815D that was new to Easson’s Coaches of Southampton in April 2005 registered ES05 ONS.