Ipswich Buses Purchases (1997 to Today)

In 1997, I was born at the Ipswich hospital and didn't know what a bus was because I didn't know like any other new-born child, however when I was born, Ipswich Buses purchased quite a few buses then which were East Lancashire bodied Dennis Dart Sprytes (P-reg), Optare Excel Mk1 L1150 also P-reg as well as a Optare Spectra which was ostensibly going to Istanbul originally but the order got aborted which then Ipswich Buses acquired it and it was fleet number 50. Today, the P-reg buses are presumably scrapped, preserved or left in a field already decaying to eradication. 

A year later, in 1998, Ipswich Buses acquired two further Dennis Dart Sprytes, and these were R133FBJ and R134FBJ which were 39 seated. They did numerous routes and with the rest of the Darts, these were quite positive in everyway. They were nicknamed Caroline and Coronation. But in 1999, IB acquired yet another 3 Dennis Dart Sprytes which were T135KPV, T136KPV & T137KPV 

in 2000 were possibly the largest acquisitions as these were Optare Spectra with DAF DB250LF chassis, and alongside with Dennis Darts between 89 and 99, which lasted until 2018 (93, 94 & 98). I adored them, but didn't authentically love the 'purple and green with white striped livery', preferred them with the classic white and green. 

From 2001 to 2010, Ipswich Buses glanced the purchases of DAF Lowlanders, Scania OmniDekka's, Scania OmniCity saloons, ELC Vykings/Minelliums, Optare Excels, Optare Solo's, and Optare Olympus's. Now these-days, the majority of these purchases can be seen in 2019, apart from the 02/03/04 reg Solo buses, alongside with DAF 100 which 'isn't' returning to service as its sadly going to the scrapyard. (Note: PN52XBM was originally numbered 54, but renumbered 100 due to the anniversary - PF04WML is now 54)

2011 to Present, Ipswich Buses saw the purchases of Enviro 200's, Mercedes-Benz Citaros, now I am not a fan of the Mercs' as they are too expensive and bloody uncomfortable - even the bell is so quiet, it rings once, you can't press it continuously!

Now the fleet, today, sees some of the buses still in service like Lowlanders, OmniDekka's, three Optare Solo's, but the Excels have officially been withdrawn. 

This blog post doesn't mention second-hand purchases.