Over The Border

Former Yarmouth B7RLE 66950 now in its new Ipswich colours

A well earned day off from work meant I could give the camera a work out so i decided to visit the all change town of Ipswich to update my collection with all the recent activity of both First and Ipswich Buses.

I decided to travel by train for a change as I usually drive and then use the Park & Ride site at Martlesham just off the A12, Instead I

Ipswich Enviro 200 YX63KGE on Park & Ride Duties at The Buttermarket

boarded the 08.30 service from Norwich bound for Suffolk's county town.

I arrived around 9.15 and then made my way to the Old Cattle Market area as the sun is spot on for photos for most of the morning, most services run past here, some going into the Bus station others stop adjacent to it.

Within a few minutes, My good friend Jim Long appeared to greet me (our Suffolk reporter!) and I also met David Warren for the first time, an excellent photographer and well worth having a look at his Flickr gallery.

Galloway's Optare Solo YJ14BGE

The First Ipswich repaints are gathering pace and plenty of the fleet now wear the new "Air Force Blue" fronts or whatever else it has noted as! Ex Yarmouth Volvo B7RLE's 66950 & 66957 both carry the new colours.Yarmouth's 30888 remains here on loan also and was noted today on the 66.

Carters ex London Trident LR52KWH

Ipswich Buses fleet has become very colourful since my last visit with two versions of a new livery in use, the main livery is Green, Purple and White with a few vehicles in the same style but the Purple is replaced with Sky Blue as you can see from the photo of Enviro200 YX63KGE which was operating the 800 Park & Ride service alongside the ex Nottingham Optare Versas.

Plenty of smaller operators also run into Ipswich including Galloway of Mendlesham who were using Optare Solo's including YJ14BGE which is an SR version with the newer style front. Carters operate services serving Colchester and Manningtree and recent arrival Trident LR52KWH was noted at the bus station awaiting her next duty.

Ex Stagecoach Dart Y262FJN branded for X3 services

Observing the operations today it did strike me that both First and IB are trying to improve both vehicles and customer services in a very competitive market and I have to say all vehicles were well presented in their new liveries, still plenty of vehicles to be refurbished I know but impressed with the results so far!

An enjoyable day was had, 300+ photos added to the collection and a couple of friendly faces along the way! (Next time Coffee is on me Jim!)

Grahame.