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Post by wirewiper on Jan 21, 2018 11:59:22 GMT
This is a new thread for reporting and discussing buses in Suffolk's largest town, Ipswich.
As well as Ipswich Buses which still remains in Municipal ownership into 2018. Ipswich as also served by First Norfolk and Suffolk (who also have a depot in the town) and by a number of Independent operators.
Ipswich Buses also operates a number of services into the rural hinterland to the south of the town, many of which were acquired from Carter's in East Bergholt in 2016.
Ipswich Buses and its predecessors also has a rich history. The Corporation was famous for being an all-trolleybus operation for many years from 1926 and did not buy its first motorbuses until 1950. Many of the Town's vehicles are preserved at the excellent Ipswich Transport Museum, which is housed at the former Trolleybus Depot at Priory Heath, in the east of the town. Historical discussions are therefore welcome!
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Post by wirewiper on Jan 21, 2018 12:06:43 GMT
I will start off by reporting the forthcoming Ipswich Buses service changes, which take effect from Sunday 18th February 2018. www.ipswichbuses.co.uk/news/detail/18-february-2018-service-fare-changesAll buses after 20.00 on Sunday are planned for withdrawal due to lack of use, although some may get reprieved if the local Council agrees to fund them. There are a number of changes on services to the East of the town (again!), including splitting the circular 6/6a at the Hospital and resurrecting the number 2 for the southern section via Ravenswood & Cliff Lane. New routes 1 and 3 replace the X1 and X3 but in a different form, with the new 1 providing a more direct link to Greenwich. The 4 loses its Martlesham extension. The X5 to Ipswich Hospital is renumbered 5 and extends on Monday-Saturday evenings up to Northgate and Rushmere as route 5E to replace the 6 at these times. There is a new hourly route 7, which replaces the 19 to Dale Hall and also provides links across Castle Hill to ASDA at Whitehouse. This route also replaces the once-a-day 17. The 14 to Gippeswyk Park is withdrawn. There are timetable changes on most routes, and there will be a general fare revision within Ipswich Borough with some fare zone boundaries moved.
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Post by wirewiper on Feb 3, 2018 11:47:35 GMT
Also on Sunday 18th February, Ipswich Buses is revising its fares across all its services.
Zone boundaries within Ipswich Town are being tweaked so that the boundaries are more equal across different parts of the town. A few fares will rise as a result but others, notably to Dale Hall, will come down. An All Day Ticket will rise from £3.60 to £4.00.
Also for the first time Ipswich Buses is introducing a "Country Rover" day ticket for its Country services 92-98 and 111/111a out to Colchester, Manningtree, Shotley and Hitcham. This will cost £8.50 adult, £5.00 child and £15.00 family (1 or 2 adults and up to 3 children). The child rate is also available to young people aged 16-19 who can produce a valid Endeavour Pass. The Shotley Rover is superseded by the new ticket and will no longer be available. It is not clear if the new ticket will be issued and accepted on Town routes or not.
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Post by wirewiper on Feb 6, 2018 11:51:29 GMT
All buses after 20.00 on Sunday are planned for withdrawal due to lack of use, although some may get reprieved if the local Council agrees to fund them. The 14 to Gippeswyk Park is withdrawn. The 14 has been reprieved and will continue to operate with the same number of journeys, supported by Ipswich Borough Council. There will be changes to the route in Chantry to better serve the shops. Sunday evening services have also been reprieved on routes 5E (Hospital & Rushmere), 8 (Whitehouse), 9/10 (Castle Hill & Whitton) and 13 (Pinewood via Chantry). In each case an hourly service will operate after 20.00.
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Post by wirewiper on Feb 28, 2018 11:55:42 GMT
Snow update: Ipswich Buses managed to run most buses on Tuesday 27th February, with some delays due to the road conditions.
No service on the morning of Wednesday 28th February. They are hoping to run a limited service on route 5 to Ipswich Hospital and on routes 9/10 to Castle Hill and Whitton from midday.
First Norfolk & Suffolk has cancelled everything today (28th) except the Swaffham-Peterborough section of Excel.
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Post by wirewiper on Feb 28, 2018 18:09:30 GMT
Snow update: by 13.00 Ipswich Buses were managing to operate a service on most town routes. No service on routes 7, 14, 16 or any of the "country" routes.
Last buses will depart Tower Ramparts by 19.30 tonight.
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 1, 2018 9:06:01 GMT
Snow update: a better day today (Thursday 1st March). At 09.00 all town routes except 7, 14 and 16 are running, with slight delays. Country routes 92, 93 and 94 are running, 97/98 and 94a suspended, 111 running between Ipswich and Bramford Cemetery.
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 1, 2018 13:29:26 GMT
Snow update: the situation deteriorated after midday; routes 15/15a, 92 and 111 are now suspended completely, there are diversions on routes 1, 2, 12 & 13 and large parts of the outer sections of routes 8, 9 & 10 are not being covered - route 8 is terminating at Bramford Road, Red Lion, whilst the 9/10 is operating unusually to Whitton ASDA via Norwich Road and not running round Whitton and Castle Hill.
Ipswich Buses have not yet said if they will be attempting to run any services after 20.00 tonight.
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 1, 2018 18:15:46 GMT
Snow update at 18.15: the situation improved, with routes 1,2,8,9,10,12,13,15/15a and 92 largely back to normal route by 15.00.
Buses will finish early tonight, with last departures from Tower Ramparts by 21.00.
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 3, 2018 8:19:42 GMT
Snow update, Saturday 3rd March: yesterday most routes ran, although Chantry routes 12 and 13 came off around 18.00 due to road conditions and there were various other curtailments and diversions. As Thursday, last buses departed Tower Ramparts by 21.00. Today all routes are running except rural routes 173/174, and Shotley route 98 - the journey may operate as a 97 instead. Also the 111 is only operating as far as Somersham.
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 2, 2018 13:25:26 GMT
Ipswich Buses accepts contactless payment on all its buses from 1st April 2008.
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Post by YY13VKP on Apr 2, 2018 14:35:51 GMT
Ipswich Buses accepts contactless payment on all its buses from 1st April 2008. Didn't realise that technology was available 10 years ago
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 2, 2018 15:08:05 GMT
Ipswich Buses accepts contactless payment on all its buses from 1st April 2008. Didn't realise that technology was available 10 years ago Ipswich Buses was involved in a little-known trial. You hadn't heard of it? That shows how little-known it was
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Post by wirewiper on Apr 18, 2019 8:43:23 GMT
Credit Vouchers
Ipswich Buses has ended the long-standing issuing of Credit Vouchers for overpayments on its exact-fare town routes, with effect from 31st March 2019. Drivers no longer accept the vouchers as part-payment towards fares from the same date. Passengers are being encouraged to use contactless (which was introduced from 1st April 2018) or use ten-trip smartcards or period passes.
Unused Credit Vouchers can be redeemed at the Ipswich Buses Enquiry Office at Tower Ramparts Bus Station until Sunday 28th April.
Easter 2019
Ipswich Buses will operate a Sunday service on all routes on Good Friday and Easter Monday. Normal weekend services will operate on Saturday and Easter Day.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Apr 22, 2019 12:00:51 GMT
According to Buses mag, Ipswich Buses have purchased all ex-Trent Barton Tempo SRs.
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