A REVIEW OF THE TEMPO SR AND NEWS.

These are the current Tempo SR's in service: 87,88,89,90,91,94,96,97,98, and 99. Whilst 92 and 93 are already getting prepared for service; but nobody has found 95 unless there is something wrong with it, I don't know, although I am writing this blog at 21:53 on Sunday 5th May. 

Latest withdrawls: 8,70,71,72,73,75,87,88,134,136,137, 244. Although Monday 6th May, more could be withdrawn from service. Another point could be that 84 and 135 be a spare bus if a Tempo SR is out-of-service. 

But the review of one Tempo SR. 6/10.
Boarded 99, YJ12GWU, one of the nice drivers who I commonly chitchat to, and the driver didn't actuall like the bus as he was protesting about hard drivers chair, back hurts because of it, and also the bells are exceedingly quiet. I'd rather be on a MCV Evolution to be honest. In my personal opinion, for a customer (well, enthusiast), was satisfactory as the whole engine was level-headed which is powered from Mercedes-Benz. 

Now some of these photos are actually from myself with 99 at Tower Ramparts alongside with an interior shot take at Copdock Tesco's. Also one of the photos was on a Saturday when Lowlander 58 was employed onto the 8 service. Also, recently, Versa 152 going through the Old Cattle Market bus station due to closure of Dogs Head Street.

Also a photo of Tempo SR 94 employed onto the 16 service which this done 1 trip only and returned to the depot, and the next time is came out was 2 days later. Also, Dart 137 seen on its last day service with Ipswich Buses on the 13, the remaining Dart is brother 135 which remains as a spare.

Also 84, which was the first bus to be painted in that livery with the 'Waterfront' signage on the window, it was taken on May 1st. 

Also with Ipswich Buses, their travel office has changed their timings for customers who usually comes in for assistance if required. Monday to Fridays: 09:00 to 12:30 - 13:00 to 17:00. Saturday is now between 10:00 and 14:00. 

And before finishing this blog, I have some news regarding First Ipswich. 44517 is to return from Lowestoft, and also thanks to a nice driver from First who I seemed to bumped into the local shop, she told me that 4 Enviro 300's are coming from Colchester Depot, so probably get rid of those 2005 buses which needs a bit of a steam clean and interior clean. Also no news on replacing the B7TL's. 

69011 done a quick detour via Tower Ramparts bus station as driver disremembered to go down Civic Drive when Museum Street was closed, but will 69011 leave the fleet (Taken 8th April), meanwhile, SN62AHV, 67736 could even join the Ipswich fleet. (Taken 9th April)

TEMPO SR FLEET LIST

I have the current fleet list for the Ipswich Buses Optare Tempo SR's. 

87) YJ12 GWA 
88) YJ12 GWC 
89) YJ12 GWD 
90) YJ12 GWE 
91) YJ12 GWF 
92) YJ12 GWG 
93) YJ12 GWK 
94) YJ12 GWL 
95) YJ12 GWM 
96) YJ12 GWN 
97) YJ12 GWO 

98) YJ12 GWP

99) YJ12 GWU 

All of these buses are due within service after the Easter holidays as they need to be looked at before going onto a town service, and getting the branding of 'Ipswich Buses Taking You Places' which is plainly their latest eblem. At the moment (17th April), only 87, 88, 91, 94, 96, 98, and 99 are already here.

And in other news, Leyland Atlantean 9 has been sold you a new titleholder which was purchased at the tariff of £6,000 which is a bargain. 

Ipswich Observations and News

Hello and welcome to another post on this blog. First and foremost, Ipswich Buses' Tempo SR's have been arriving into the newest livery and have been spotted in the depot and also driver training commencing 2nd April 2019. Tempo SR's are unusual with only 17 been produced (13 for Trent Barton - now at Ipswich Buses - and some are still getting prepared) and also the remainder goes to Manchester Airport. 

Optare Tempo SR 99 doing driver trainng duties. (02/04/2019)

Monday, Optare Tempo SR 99, YJ12GWU has been doing fundamental driver training duties. When all Tempo SR's come into ceremonial service, they'll spontanously replace Darts (84/7/8) 85 will remain as a driver trainer which has replaced Excel 170. Lothian Darts 134/5/6 will also be leaving which 137 (SN53AVP) to remain as a spare.  

Over the weekend was quite interesting though as Lowlander 54 done an 8 duty for probable extra capacity due to the football - although Ipswich lost per usual. And it was also the weekend when First Eastern Counties done the 4 service which started a new-fangled contract for Bixley and didn't have a desination display. 

Also for Ipswich Buses, IB 77 (KX59GNY) will be leaving the fleet in September but currently has engine failure.

For the time being, I will get a Optare Tempo SR fleet list for Ipswich Buses as soon as possible. 

IB to Become Exact Fare

As a lot of you would know that municipal bus company Ipswich Buses to be 'Exact Fare' only scheme. Already, many customers ain't very pleased about this as many rely on the Credit Voucher which is ending and more information is here: www.ipswichbuses.co.uk/credit-vouchers-ending-on-31st-march/

In my personal views, its a bad and good idea because more people have technological solutions when acquiring a typical bus ticket from contactless and Ipswich Buses smartcard and its a useful solution as its quicker and more competitive, but the only problem IB don't have is M-Tickets - unless they have something in mind for the upcoming months and years. The bad thing however, is that customers still pay by cash and change and that's the upmost issue - this could basically cause quarrels between bus driver and customer as this will cause delays to their services. 

Some other bus companies do this as well, Cardiff Bus, and probably some more bus companies. 

As an employee at the Ipswich Transport Museum, AEC Swift 82 has signs, 'Exact Fare Only, No Change Given' and also Leyland Atlantean 6 has also git the same signs, and will those signs be seen on Ipswich Buses. 

IB's second-hand purchases

As the previous post raised about brand-new purchases, this blog post will raise about second-hand buses. 

First thing is first, I remember Ipswich Buses opting for ex-London Buses which were Dennis Tridents and they were numbered between 64 and 67, and also 49 - which done the 192 if anyone would remember. Now I loved the classic Dennis Tridents because they had splendor in them and were quite comfortable for the passengers and the driver. However, they then decided to re-number them between 11 and 17 (LG02FCX/DC/F/J/K/N/EM). However, an additional two Dennis Tridents were opted and were numbered 20 and 21 (Y436/58NHK). That was years 2010 and 2012 if I had that memory that far. 

Also in 2011/2, Ipswich Buses opted for Dennis Darts SLF's which were predominantly for the X1, X3, X5 and Fab 4 - these were numbered 138 to 144 (Y262/71/72/73/02/92/94/95FJN) and these buses were shockingly comfortable but some of the legroom where the wheelarch was was so extremely crammed, it was awful.

In 2012, came the arrival for an ex-demo E300 SK07DYA which was on-loan to Ipswich Buses around 2008/9.  

The next second-hand orders were Optare Versa's V1110's and these were only for the P&R services between London Road Copdock and Martlesham Heath P&R, and these were very comfortable indeed - coach style! These were numbered 145 to 152 (YK08EPA/C/E/F/J/U/V) and were painted in a horrific light blue scheme, a darker blue would of been much more nicer. Nowadays, these are allocated on Ipswich Buses town services and painted in purple and green livery. 

In 2015, Ipswich Buses purchased from Scotland anf these were Plaxton Presidents and Super Pointer Dennis Darts, and these were numbered 23 to 25 (Presidents) and 134 - 137 (Darts). Today, President 25 can be seen doing route 15 and the route 914 on weekdays. 134, 135, and 137 have had replaced engines due to their failures and continue to have problems to this accurate day. 

September 2016 also came the arrival of E200 KX59GNY which was Premiere Travel which is based in Nottingham and ex-Dawsons bus and coach. 

Also, Ipswich Buses subidiary Carters have also got two Dennis Tridents 7 and 8, MCV Evolution 156, and did have a Volvo Olympian 42, but renumbered 29. They all do Essex routes still, but in IB's brand. 

And in February 2019, it has it that Optare Tempo's have been opted to replace the Optare Excels and potentially the Scottish Darts and Vykings. Don't know if this is Nottingham or Yellow Buses.

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. 

The Changes, and other bits and bobs.

First and foremost, Happy New Year!


The previous post was about changes from the commercial manager of Ipswich Buses confirmed via email that there are some changes, to get larger vehicles out on routes during busy routes when the rush-hour. The main answer is a 'monoscopic' OK for the busy hospital route, the 5; normally, it would be a E200 doing the 5, but from 7th, it was a double-decker working.

Some other news which does include Ipswich Buses, this morning, I gained some news that Ipswich Buses isn't convinced if Leyland Atlantean 9 will be coming during the Summer Bus Tour 2019. 9 returned to the 2018 Summer Bus Tour during the last day of the extremely hot summer we had, but when we had rain on the eventual Wednesday before the last day of the Summer Bus Tour, 41 took over and IB claimed 9 had a failure when it didn't.

Also, First Ipswich are increasing bus tariffs later during the month of January (13th) and are persuading more customers to use their services using digital tickets; but the good broadcast is that they are freezing tariffs for weekly, monthly and annual tickets. The increase on a typical fare will rise to either 10p or 20p and that is the same of return journeys. The same procedure will also occur on Park & Ride services which operates between London Road P&R and Martlesham Heath P&R. 

Its certainly obvious that between the two main rivals of Ipswich Buses and First Ipswich have risen their fares as this is due to fuel rocketing through the roof, and wanting to invest in more environmentally and more fuel efficient diesel buses; it would be nice to have hybrid buses as well - even London are getting rid of some E400's which some are hybrid! 

And for First Ipswich, I don't think they'll get new buses anytime soon as they have 2003/5 B7TL's, 2005 B7RLE's, and 2008 B7RLE's, and a few E200's.

72, YN56NVD broken-down, awaitng for the spare bus

Ipswich Transport Museum update:

• The floors are being grinded and will gain new coats of paint to look fresh for the official opening day on March 17th.
• Dennis the bus is having a repaint from blue to green to match and identify the Ipswich Buses old colour scheme and new coated brown floor. 
• 1880 Cambridge horse tram is almost accomplished but might not go on display on the main hall during the 2019 season, as we ain't certain as the museum would have to move half of the museum - its a 50/50 possibility. 
• The hearse is receiving attention in the restoration hall.
• The shop is to gain some extra shelves.