East Anglia Bus Scene

[F Great Eastern]

In addition Beestons have had 523 FN a Plaxtom Leopard delivered in 70 seater school bus 3+2 configuration.

According to Bustimes.org route 90 Hadleigh to Sudbury is to be cancelled from the end of the school academic year with 91 remaining between Hadleigh and Ipswich only..

PF0000003 – BEESTONS (HADLEIGH) LTD – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

I know the vast majority of passengers making the Sudbury leg viable were students, so makes you wonder if they will have a closed door service like is becoming increasingly common in Suffolk these days.

 

[buslad1988]

Arriva Southend have announced a raft of changes from 24th July (see link below). These offer some interesting alternatives/retaliation to First’s recent changes in the area.

Arriva Bus

www.arrivabus.co.uk

Service 1 – Revised timetable to improve reliability

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/find-a-service/1-southend-to-rayleigh

Service 2 – Increased frequency now up to every 10 minutes Monday to Friday.

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/find-a-service/2-shoeburyness-to-southend

Service 4A – Due to change of operator this service will no longer be operated by Arriva.

Service 6 – Revised timetable and service extended to Garon Park Leisure Centre.

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/find-a-service/6-southend-to-temple-sutton

Service 7/8 – Revised timetable to improve reliability. This service will no longer serve Wakering and Landwick, the service will now terminate at Shoeburyness Renown. (See service 9A below)

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/find-a-service/7-8-rayleigh-to-shoeburyness

Service 9 & new service 9A. Revised timetable to improve reliability. Service will operate every 15 minutes between Rayleigh and Shoeburyness Asda, with service 9 operating every 30 minutes to Shoeburyness East Beach and service 9A every 30 minutes to Wakering and Landwick.
Saturday frequency increased up to every 15 minutes between Rayleigh and Shoeburyness Asda with service 9 operating every 30 minutes to Shoeburyness East Beach and service 9A every 30 minutes to Wakering and Landwick.

Colchester however has been left untouched.

 

[TAS]

Essex County Council has announced its tender results, effective from 28 July 2024.

The full list is in the pdf at the bottom of this page, but the changes of operator and new/withdrawn services are (I transcribed this myself, apologies for any errors):

Changed Operator
Arriva Kent Thameside > Central Connect
1 (Harlow)	(Mon-Sat eves & Suns)
2 (Harlow)	(Mon-Sat eves & Suns)
3 (Harlow)	(Sat eves)
4 (Harlow)	(Suns)
6 (Harlow)	(Suns)
23 (was 10) (Harlow)	(Mon-Sat eves & Suns)
28 (was 8) (Harlow)	(Mon-Sat eves & Suns)
Arriva Kent Thameside > First Essex Buses Ltd
4 (Harlow)	(Mon-Sat eves)
4A (Rochford)	(Suns)
59 (Harlow/Chelmsford)	(Suns)
Central Connect > Arrow Taxis
322/323/324 (Uttlesford)	(Mon-Sat)
Central Connect > Stephensons of Essex
301 (Uttlesford) - currently operated by Stephensons of Essex and A2B Travel Group on an emergency basis	(Mon-Sat)
316/318 (Uttlesford) - currently operated by Stephensons of Essex and A2B Travel Group on an emergency basis	(Mon-Sat)
319/320/321/59/590 (Uttlesford) - currently operated by Stephensons of Essex on an emergency basis	(Mon-Sat)
Essex and Suffolk Dart > Flagfinders
DaRT 299 (Uttlesford/Braintree)	(Mon-Sat)
First Essex Buses Ltd > Hedingham & Chambers
11 (Colchester)	(Mon-Fri)
14 (was 4) (Colchester)	(Mon-Fri)
40 (Braintree)	(Mon, Wed, Sat)
74B (Colchester/Tendring)	(Mon-Sat eves)
76 (Colchester/Tendring)	(Suns)
80/80A/81/81A (Colchester)	(Mon-Sat)
82A/82B/83A/83B (Colchester)	(Mon-Sat)
907 (was 17) (Colchester)	(Schs)
First Essex Buses Ltd > NIBS Buses
14 (Basildon)	(Mon-Fri)
21 (Basildon)	(Mon-Sat)
104/106 (Basildon)	(Mon-Fri)
First Essex Buses Ltd > Stephensons of Essex
174/175 (Colchester)	(Mon-Sat)
Hedingham & Chambers > First Essex Buses Ltd
15 (Colchester)	(Mon-Fri)
50/50A (Colchester)	(Mon-Sat)
50B (Colchester)	(Mon)
69 (Colchester)	(Tue)
79 (Colchester)	(Fri)
85/92 (Colchester)	(Wed)
694 (Colchester)	(Schs)
Hedingham & Chambers > NIBS Buses
71/72 (Brentwood)	(Mon-Sat)
94/94A/94B (Basildon)	(Mon-Sat)
Hedingham & Chambers > Stephensons of Essex
C3 (was 101) (Tendring)	(Schs)
Panther Travel > Hedingham & Chambers
22 (was 2) (Tendring)	(Mon-Sat)
118 (Tendring)	(Schs)
Stephensons of Essex > Central Connect
5 (Harlow)	(Mon-Sat)
Stephensons of Essex > First Essex Buses Ltd
7 (Rochford)	(Mon-Sat eves)
14 (Harlow)	(Mon-Sat)
Stephensons of Essex > Flagfinders
306 (Uttlesford)	(Schs)
Stephensons of Essex > Hedingham & Chambers
D1/D2 (Maldon)	(Mon-Sat)
Vectare Ltd > Central Connect
10 (Basildon)	(Mon-Sat)
13 (Epping Forest)	(Mon-Sat)
18 (Harlow)	(Mon-Sun)
31 (Harlow)	(Mon-Sat)
505 (Harlow)	(Mon-Sat)
Vectare Ltd > NIBS Buses
61 (Brentwood)	(Mon-Sat)
New Service - Arrow Taxis
45 (Maldon)	(Mon-Fri)
New Service - First Essex Buses Ltd
407/417 (Harlow)	(Mon-Sat)
Renumbered - First Essex Buses Ltd
13/13A/13B (was 13/13A/14) (Chelmsford)	(Mon-Sat)
Withdrawn - replaced by DigiGo
9/9A (Braintree)	(Mon-Fri)
21 (Braintree)	(Mon-Sun)
345 (Braintree)	(Wed)
SB21 (Braintree)	(Mon)
Withdrawn - replacement service
DaRT 4/5 (Maldon) replaced by new 45	(Mon-Sat)
F315 (Braintree) incorporated into DaRT 3	(Mon-Sat)
6 (Harlow) replaced by enhanced 407/417	(Mon-Sat eves)
Withdrawn - no replacement
84B (Colchester)	(Thu)
94 (Chelmsford)	(Suns)
99 (Tendring)	(Mon-Sat eves)
256 (Basildon)	(Tue, Thu, Sat)
552 (Basildon)	(Mon-Fri)
804 (Epping Forest)	(Schs)
C56 (Chelmsford)	(Suns)

All in all, a bit of a mixed bag for most operators, but Arriva has lost everything, as has Panther. Despite falling out with Essex County Council over their Uttlesford services, Vectare/Central Connect have won and retained work elsewhere, now all under the Central Connect banner (as has Flagfinders, which is 75% owned by Vectare).

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Essex County Council has announced its tender results, effective from 28 July 2024.

The full list is in the pdf at the bottom of this page, but the changes of operator and new/withdrawn services are (I transcribed this myself, apologies for any errors):

All in all, a bit of a mixed bag for most operators, but Arriva has lost everything, as has Panther. Despite falling out with Essex County Council over their Uttlesford services, Vectare/Central Connect have won and retained work elsewhere, now all under the Central Connect banner (as has Flagfinders, which is 75% owned by Vectare).

Very interesting. First loses its last trips to Clacton (?) but now gets the runs out to Tollesbury. Lots of swapping between them and Hedingham. First perhaps a little down on things with Basildon area but overall, its Arriva that's lost out whilst NIBS has won where you might expect them too.

Thanks for posting

 

[F Great Eastern]

Beestons are set to drop route 90 between Hadleigh and Sudbury from 22nd July. The 91 between Hadleigh and Ipswich will continue to a revised timetable based on their website.

Passenger notice - With effect from Monday 22nd July 2024 Beestons will no longer operate the service 90 between Hadleigh & Sudbury - Chambers will be offering a reduced level of service on this route from that date.

School & College services to and from: TGS, Hadleigh High & Suffolk One will continue to be offered by Beestons from September 2024 as route 91C (operating on school days ONLY).

From September, Beestons will operate the following School Day only journeys to ensure schools do not lose out from the cancellation of the 90 service

- 07:30 Sudbury to Suffolk One Sixth Form (Via Hadleigh)
- 07:45 Hadleigh to Thomas Gainsborough School
- 14:55 Hadleigh High School to Boxford
- 15:30 Thomas Gainsborough School to Hadleigh
- 15:45 / 16:30 Suffolk One Sixth Form to Sudbury (via Hadleigh)

It is believed Suffolk One are set to start a new closed door service (via Kura) between Sudbury and Ipswich. With the whole 90 service essentially being propped up by student revenue, a big cut to students travelling on the public bus service in favour of a closed door service is likely to have been the final straw.

 

[buslad1988]

Recent arrivals at Ipswich Buses are the companies first Enviro 400MMC’s in the form of SN65OHZ and SN65OJA/B. Also Enviro 200MMC YX18KNW (fleet no 73) - with allegedly more of these on the way. Photos below courtesy of their authors on Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/20686471@N04/53927840655/

Ipswich Borough Transport 73 YX18 KNW

Ipswich

www.flickr.com

All recent arrivals (including the classic E200’s from Nottingham) are sporting plain dealer white whilst a decision is being taken on a rebrand for the company. How radical this will be isn’t known at the moment… personally I’d like a best impressions styled return to two-tone green/cream however it’s rumoured a brand new colour palette will be applied. Watch this space…

 

[MotCO]

Recent arrivals at Ipswich Buses are the companies first Enviro 400MMC’s in the form of SN65OHZ and SN65OJA/B.

Originally with Johsons, Henley in Arden and latterly Yellow Buses, Bournemouth.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Originally with Johsons, Henley in Arden and latterly Yellow Buses, Bournemouth.

Not forgetting a stint at Cardiff Bus, which is where they were in use most recently.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Some further updates from this neck of the woods.

Ipswich Buses
All three recent Enviro 400 MMCs are in service SN65 OHZ / SN65 OJA / SN65 OJB with a livery with a temporary livery of IPSWICH BUSES all in capitals on otherwise plain white.

As stated upthread, it's similar with E200 MMC YX18 KNW and classic Enviro 200s YX63 GXS and YX63 GXY but they do look noticeably higher quality than the other E200s in the fleet, with a much better spec.

What is happening with the 2 longer length OmniDekkas? Not seen them for a couple of weeks?

Suffolk One
Two new Kura routes have started, now making it 8 in total.

O7 Woodbridge to Suffolk One (operated by First Eastern Counties)
O8 Sudbury to Suffolk One (Not sure who operated by, but I think Chambers)

Beestons
- New Arrival in Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2 (OBR 297, NL60 AAY) which has bee re registered DRM 195S in the new Silver fleet standard livery.
- YN05 HFY has been repainted into the Silver new fleet standard livery.
- BUS 91A (Scania N94UB East Lancs OmniTown, ex YN04 AMX) is now withdrawn and SORN
- Student tickets now introduced on the 91/91C with 25% off.

Chambers
- Chambers in July took over the 90 route Hadleigh to Sudbury after Beestons dropped it commercially. SCC are forking out subsidy approx £300 per day to keep it afloat.
- A new timetable on the 90 is in operation to provide an early morning journey from Hadleigh to Ipswich from the start of this month that wasn't there previously.

 

[_sSamuel]

Suffolk One
Two new Kura routes have started, now making it 8 in total.

O7 Woodbridge to Suffolk One (operated by First Eastern Counties)
O8 Sudbury to Suffolk One (Not sure who operated by, but I think Chambers)

Route O8 is operated by ‘Suffolk Travel LTD’, and is very similar to Beestons’ 91C. From a reliable source, I am informed that route O8 is rather empty at the moment.

It should also be noted that route O4 has been changed, to now serve East Bergholt. The new PVR for First’s Zeelo (no longer Kura) services is 8 (2 O1, 2 O2 and the rest for others).

 

[F Great Eastern]

Beestons/Kura
I'm surprised that Suffolk Travel were able to meet all the requirements that Kura asked for in terms of qualification bearing in mind some bigger operators weren't able to meet them in a financially viable way, which is why Go-Ahead and First had a clean run at the other routes. However I see Kura has now been took over by Zeelo (wasn't aware) so maybe the qualification criteria has changed.

Can't say I'm a huge fan of these closed door services running alongside already existing commercial routes in rural areas. The end result will be significant revenue being taken out of public bus operations that will mean service cuts for the general public as I would say routes like the 91/91C are in large part funded by students and most of the other passengers being concessionary pass holders.

What are Suffolk Travel using on the service? I don't recall them having anything that modern. Surely using something better than the Eclipse or ex Beestons Omnidekka?

National Express Ipswich Services
On another note I noticed today that National Express service between Ipswich and Stansted Airport now appears to be given a new timetable and a new number '717' (rather than 250/482) and doesn't appear to be being operated by Galloway anymore. Anybody know who operates that now?

It seems no services are extended to Heathrow anymore and the through services to London have also been dropped in favour of connections at Stansted, which is probably sensible.

 

[markymark2000]

National Express Ipswich Services
On another note I noticed today that National Express service between Ipswich and Stansted Airport now appears to be given a new timetable and a new number '717' (rather than 250/482) and doesn't appear to be being operated by Galloway anymore. Anybody know who operates that now?

It seems no services are extended to Heathrow anymore and the through services to London have also been dropped in favour of connections at Stansted, which is probably sensible.

I believe the 717 is still operated by Galloway. The buses which track on the 717 (using bustimes.org) are vehicles, did used to run the former Galloway routes. Also the 02:30 and 05:30 trips track the buses from the Galloway depot all the way into Ipswich.

Here is the tracking which shows the bus running from Galloways depot: https://bustimes.org/vehicles/natx-bv73zxk?date=2024-09-08#journeys/627466078

 

[F Great Eastern]

There was a vehicle with a BV73 plate on it yesterday with a fleet number beginning TS rather than GA.

Galloway vehicles are BF68 starting.

 

[markymark2000]

There was a vehicle with a BV73 plate on it yesterday with a fleet number beginning TS rather than GA.

Galloway vehicles are BF68 starting.

The tracking on that vehicle still shows the bus running from Galloways depot and so I'd presume it's a transfer from Travelstar European.

 

[Cesarcollie]

There was a vehicle with a BV73 plate on it yesterday with a fleet number beginning TS rather than GA.

Galloway vehicles are BF68 starting.

The 717 is operated by Galloway, replacing 250/482.

 

[F Great Eastern]

The 717 is operated by Galloway, replacing 250/482.

So I assume the non Galloway vehicle that had a fleet number for a different NX contractor was a one off or a vehicle on loan? It's on it again today, along with a Galloway vehicle.

 

[Cesarcollie]

So I assume the non Galloway vehicle that had a fleet number for a different NX contractor was a one off or a vehicle on loan? It's on it again today, along with a Galloway vehicle.

It is a transfer to Galloway - the first of three to replace the 68 plate coaches.

 

[buslad1988]

Park and ride site saved from closure after bus contract shake up

Norwich's Postwick park and ride site has been spared the axe after a new company was picked to run its bus services.

www.northnorfolknews.co.uk

As already mentioned in the First Eastern Counties thread; they have won three Park & Ride sites in Norwich and Simmonds (Central Connect) have won two.

This will be a hammer blow to Go East Anglia having had some/all (most recently) in one capacity or another for the past 20 years.

 

[stuart81]

I've done some workings out and I think Konectbus's off peak PVR is 46 so losing the Park and Ride reduces that to 36, I assume they are keeping the 512 (Airport to N&N Hospital).

 

[F Great Eastern]

Expected that Galloway's BF68 plates on National Express work will finish up either today or tomorrow, after which the service will be run by Levante 3As

Can someone explain to me how Chambers constantly seem to be winning new business recently from contracts to tenders over the last few months? They are cancelling significant numbers of services ever day and have reliability issues due to both driver shortages and issues with vehicles.

The service that they are providing in the area is far from acceptable, but the industry is totally screwed when they are able to continually bid for more work and get more BSIP, local authority and taxpayers money when they're not able to provide a proper service on existing routes.

There needs to be new rules brought in to say that operators who are not able to operate a certain percentage of services are not allowed to tender for other services.

 

[buslad1988]

Ipswich Buses three Mercedes Benz Citaro’s have been advertised for sale: https://the-bus-shop.co.uk/buses/citaro-12-1m-bf65-hvt-operator-owned/

Does anyone know what’s due to replace them?

 

[F Great Eastern]

I guess more Enviro 200 MMCs.

Various rumours about the 90/91 in terms of who will run it going forward, Chambers now have a page up advertising a Hadleigh to Ipswich route but under the Beestons four letter DFT code in the URL and without a timetalbe.

91 - Hadleigh to Ipswich

Timetable for 91 - Hadleigh to Ipswich

www.hedinghamandchambers.co.uk

Which doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

[buslad1988]

I guess more Enviro 200 MMCs.

Various rumours about the 90/91 in terms of who will run it going forward, Chambers now have a page up advertising a Hadleigh to Ipswich route but under the Beestons four letter DFT code in the URL and without a timetalbe.

91 - Hadleigh to Ipswich

Timetable for 91 - Hadleigh to Ipswich

www.hedinghamandchambers.co.uk

Which doesn't make a lot of sense.

Hopefully Go Ahead will give the full route a go in due course - makes sense to offer through journeys.

The 90/91 really missed out with Beestons not taking part in the £2/£3 fares cap either - could of been a real opportunity to tempt people over.

Go Ahead do seem to be keen to get into Ipswich - they bid for funding to introduce a Bury St Edmunds - Ipswich via Stowmarket and Needham Market route but have so far been unsuccessful. Details here:

https://www.suffolkonboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-12-BSIP2-Schemes-Summary.pdf

What’s interesting is apart from the 8B Ipswich Buses didn’t put in to make any improvements to their core town network - improving the 6, 15/15A for a start would have been good with better evening and Sunday frequencies across the board removing the ‘E’ services.

Arguably the 15/15A should be split into two seperate routes and the 15 extended to Tesco. The new 20 to Wolsey Grange seems pointless and that new estate could have been included in a replacement for 15A (maybe numbered 14).

Also to note in those funding bids was calls for improvements for Felixstowe - they should increase the core frequency and create a Felixstowe town service (like has been done in Stowmarket) to provide better cross-town connections and include the ever expanding estates.

The document also alludes to the 64/65/66 maybe not fully covering their costs and needing support to keeping them going in the long term. Surely this corridor hasn’t deteriorated that much?

 

[F Great Eastern]

It always surprises me that Go-Ahead are constantly looking to expand in Suffolk, rather than focusing on upping their game on the existing corridors.

I believe that the payment terms on offer for smaller operators on the £2/£3 scheme and the frequency of said payments is not very attractive and favours larger operators.

Beestons are well known to always make sure that every service on the timetable runs no matter how late since they have been running it. If there is huge disruption and nobody else around then one of the owners will take a spare bus out to recover the service, which has also meant that there have never been any cancellations due to driver shortages. Their fleet is also exceptionally well maintained both inside and mechanically to the point where even the 13 year old Eclipse 2 on the 91 looks like new inside and their drivers are always polite and customer focused.

At the end of the day if people think that having an operator on the route that has cancelled services quite often over the past few months due to a lack of drivers, had to have a non standard vehicle transferred in to run a contract service because of bad press in the local media due to unreliability of their existing fleet to save £1 on a day return, then personally that's a choice I would not make. Reliability and punctualiity to me is more important than a fiver a week

People would want to be careful what they wish for because independent family run companies always care more than these big groups. Perhaps it is indeed true, you get what you pay for.

 

[buslad1988]

It always surprises me that Go-Ahead are constantly looking to expand in Suffolk, rather than focusing on upping their game on the existing corridors.

I believe that the payment terms on offer for smaller operators on the £2/£3 scheme and the frequency of said payments is not very attractive and favours larger operators.

Beestons are well known to always make sure that every service on the timetable runs no matter how late since they have been running it. If there is huge disruption and nobody else around then one of the owners will take a spare bus out to recover the service, which has also meant that there have never been any cancellations due to driver shortages. Their fleet is also exceptionally well maintained both inside and mechanically to the point where even the 13 year old Eclipse 2 on the 91 looks like new inside and their drivers are always polite and customer focused.

At the end of the day if people think that having an operator on the route that has cancelled services quite often over the past few months due to a lack of drivers, had to have a non standard vehicle transferred in to run a contract service because of bad press in the local media due to unreliability of their existing fleet to save £1 on a day return, then personally that's a choice I would not make. Reliability and punctualiity to me is more important than a fiver a week

People would want to be careful what they wish for because independent family run companies always care more than these big groups. Perhaps it is indeed true, you get what you pay for.

I’m surprised Go Ahead hasn’t made an offer to Arriva for its Colchester operation. That would give them a base with easy access to Ipswich.

Since ex First managers have moved to Go Ahead with some experience of the area it’s no surprise they are looking to expand towards Ipswich. The loss of Norwich Park & Ride would also free up a few vehicles. They’re clearly committed to the area which the bid to replace the entire Chambers fleet with electric vehicles proved.

Also on the cards was a Newmarket/Thetford to Norwich service.

It was around 15 years ago that Go Ahead made an offer for Ipswich Buses. There’s nothing stopping them trying to muscle in. I’m not sure how much profit Ipswich Buses makes? It clearly doesn’t go into brand new vehicles - a few mid life enviro’s here and there isn’t a long term solution. The Omnicity DD’s are coming up to 13/14 years old now and there’s still no sign of them thinking about electric vehicles? The newest ordered stock was the Citaros and they’re on the way out. Maybe they’ll go for the ex Warrington Enviro 200mmc’s which are now available with the awful sofa seating at the rear.

 

[Lynford1976]

I’m surprised Go Ahead hasn’t made an offer to Arriva for its Colchester operation. That would give them a base with easy access to Ipswich.

Would it be worth Go-Ahead spending the money on buying Arriva Colchester? Nearly all of the local services are now duplicated by First. Wasn't there talk of the Park & Ride contract being up for grabs again?

 

[stuart81]

Hopefully Go Ahead will give the full route a go in due course - makes sense to offer through journeys.

The 90/91 really missed out with Beestons not taking part in the £2/£3 fares cap either - could of been a real opportunity to tempt people over.

Go Ahead do seem to be keen to get into Ipswich - they bid for funding to introduce a Bury St Edmunds - Ipswich via Stowmarket and Needham Market route but have so far been unsuccessful. Details here:

https://www.suffolkonboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-12-BSIP2-Schemes-Summary.pdf

What’s interesting is apart from the 8B Ipswich Buses didn’t put in to make any improvements to their core town network - improving the 6, 15/15A for a start would have been good with better evening and Sunday frequencies across the board removing the ‘E’ services.

Arguably the 15/15A should be split into two seperate routes and the 15 extended to Tesco. The new 20 to Wolsey Grange seems pointless and that new estate could have been included in a replacement for 15A (maybe numbered 14).

Also to note in those funding bids was calls for improvements for Felixstowe - they should increase the core frequency and create a Felixstowe town service (like has been done in Stowmarket) to provide better cross-town connections and include the ever expanding estates.

The document also alludes to the 64/65/66 maybe not fully covering their costs and needing support to keeping them going in the long term. Surely this corridor hasn’t deteriorated that much?

The 66 certainly doesn't seem anywhere near as busy as it used it to, I'm guessing home / hybrid working has reduced the number of people working at BT. Going back quite a few years it was every 15 minutes plus peak hour extras with deckers.

The 65 has also reduced from when it was an hourly extension of the Park and Ride to essentially a peak journey in each direction with some extras during the day as school positioning journeys (wasn't there a time both First and Anglian were going hourly to Rendlesham?)

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I’m surprised Go Ahead hasn’t made an offer to Arriva for its Colchester operation. That would give them a base with easy access to Ipswich.

Apart from not knowing if they are interested (or haven't made an offer already), the question is why would they buy a Colchester operation to give them an Ipswich base? Especially so when they have an existing Sudbury base anyway

Would it be worth Go-Ahead spending the money on buying Arriva Colchester? Nearly all of the local services are now duplicated by First. Wasn't there talk of the Park & Ride contract being up for grabs again?

Exactly. I don't know about the P&R - was only relet in 2022 (though that's nearly 3 years ago)

 

[buslad1988]

The 66 certainly doesn't seem anywhere near as busy as it used it to, I'm guessing home / hybrid working has reduced the number of people working at BT. Going back quite a few years it was every 15 minutes plus peak hour extras with deckers.

The 65 has also reduced from when it was an hourly extension of the Park and Ride to essentially a peak journey in each direction with some extras during the day as school positioning journeys (wasn't there a time both First and Anglian were going hourly to Rendlesham?)

First will no doubt be wanting to keep their hands in for the huge housing development which is about to begin on the BT site. A simple extention of the 66 wouldn’t cut it though; potential new passengers will be put off if they have to travel all around Grange Farm/Kesgrave.

At one time Aldeburgh, Framlingham and Rendlesham were all served hourly with peak extras. Maybe government funding would be better spent improving the existing network to previous levels? Likewise Felixstowe to every 15 minutes again.

How about an Ipswich - Martlesham - Felixstowe route? Connecting the towns with the retail parks etc. via the A12/A14. (The 73/74 are too infrequent and round the villages).

A totally re-writing of services is probably overdue anyway - An hourly express to Woodbridge / Aldeburgh? or maybe extend 2 hourly to Southwold or Lowestoft (for Summer) shared running with Lowestofts 99/99A to reduce dead mileage.

Nobody at First seems willing to think outside of the box unless it’s in the Norwich/Great Yarmouth areas.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Beestons have had another couple of MCV triaxle Evoseti's delivered, these ones at a shorter 12m length to make four in total.

Some Ominidekka's expected to be withdrawn in early 2025.