Recent content by _sSamuel

This would be a massive blow to First, considering that many duties are worked around the Suffolk One services (such as having different duties throughout the week as the college doesn't have a consistent, daily end time) and more importantly, just how much revenue this provides to Ipswich...

Some upcoming changes and 'improvements' to the Ipswich Buses network... Service 1 - Route Adjusted: No longer serving the loop it did in Greenwich, mainly due to 'congestion' in the area (presuming that's a polite way of saying poorly parked cars!). Service 2 - Running Time Changes, still...

As mentioned previously, Norfolk is clearly succeeding whilst Suffolk is failing, as now evidenced in their recent bus patronage figures... This clearly demonstrates that when a council has a strong (and committed!) team behind its BSIP, it can lead to success even in rural areas, where the...

Ipswich Buses are in an interesting situation at the moment, from my perspective. With devolution on the horizon, Ipswich Borough Council will likely be no more, and this new 'combined authority' will now own the operator. Will this new combined authority want the burden of owning such a...

I find this article from the BBC in 2024 of particular interest, which summarises the scrutiny committee of West Suffolk Council: For context, 'Mr. Munson' is the owner of Mulleys Motorways. In my opinion, the whole attitude of Suffolk County Council towards bus services in the county has...

First's upcoming timetable changes have been discreetly posted on their website (source: https://www.firstbus.co.uk/norfolk-suffolk/news-and-service-updates/updates/bus-service-changes-ipswich-norwich-and-great), below is a summary: Services 63,64 and 65 Service 64 retains its hourly...

UEA (Uni of East Anglia, Norwich) still maintains its every 7 minute frequency by First Eastern Counties' Blue Line 25,26 and 26A services, all year round.

Presumaly no O10 as the O11 and O12 are just the duplicate O1s and O2s re-routed to serve more areas.

I’m guessing the Rendlesham extensions may replace the existing route 65, which was introduced once the 800 to Rendlesham was withdrawn. The 7 vehicle PVR was for a 4 bus per hour frequency however, so maybe 6 will be appropriate? The Enviro 300s have been rumoured to all be moving to Essex for...

Suffolk County Council has now announced where its 2025/26 round of BSIP funding will be going to: Ipswich Buses: Route 1 - New Sunday Service Route 3E - New Sunday Service (evenings) Route 92 - New AM Peak Trip, Planned service reductions withdrawn. Route 93 - Planned service reductions...

1) I believe 67774 is currently awaiting repairs, the reliability of our E300s has never been great to say the least! 2) Yes, rather so. The vehicles are regularly found in 'limp' mode, and regularly struggle to last a full day in service. For example, 47680 couldn't even last one trip in...

The restoration of the Lowestoft town network to it's pre-pandemic service levels are funded using Suffolk County Council's BSIP budget, it should be noted.

The 972 is a separate contract I believe, only runs either side of the 14 as it only requires a midi enviro, and makes operational sense.

Wouldn't put it past them to bid for what First formerly branded as their 'Village Links' services (59,70,73 and 116). To my knowledge, the contract for these routes is due to end in August. Although, the amount of dead milage that would be required on some of these routes (not the 116 of...

Drivers have been known to take non-guided vehicles down the busway before, works fine as long as you're going slow enough.