Ipswich Buses

Ipswich Buses Ltd is a bus company that operates in Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. It has been operating bus services in the town for over 100 years. Following the deregulation of bus services under the 1985 Transport Act, it became an "arm's length" limited company, with a board of directors responsible for managing and directing its affairs. However, Ipswich Buses is still wholly owned by Ipswich Borough Council and is one of 14 remaining municipal bus companies in the UK. Its depot is situated in Constantine Road, near Ipswich Town's football ground. The company does not compete directly with First Eastern Counties, which has its bus depot situated on Star Lane.

Routes

*1 - Rail Station - Town Centre - Gainsborough - Ravenswood - The Havens - Ransomes Europark

*2 - Town Centre - Priory Heath - Gainsborough - Town Centre

*3 - Rail Station - Town Centre - Gainsborough - Ravenswood - Warren Heath - Trinity Park (Murrils Road)

*5 - Town Centre - Foxhall Rd - Heath Rd Hospital - Northgate - Town Centre

*6 - Town Centre - Cliff Lane - Gainsborough - Warren Heath - Ipswich Hospital

*7 - Town Centre - Dickens Rd - Robin Drive - Thorington Park - Maidenhall - Town Centre

*8 - Town Centre - Bramford Rd - Ulster Avenue - Lovetofts Drive - Whitehouse ASDA

*8B - Town Centre - Bramford Rd - Ulster Avenue - Waterford Rd - Whitehouse ASDA

*9 - Town Centre - Norwich Rd - Whitton - Castle Hill - Norwich Rd - Town Centre

*10 - Town Centre - Norwich Rd - Castle Hill - Whitton - Norwich Rd - Town Centre

*11 - Town Centre - Northgate - Renfrew Road - Heath Rd Hospital - Foxhall Rd - Town Centre

*12 - Town Centre - Rail Station - Cambridge Dr - Rail Station - Town Centre

*13 - Town Centre - Rail Station - Chantry - Pinewood - Copdock (Tesco)

*14/14A - Town Centre - Rail Station - Gippeswyk Park/Tern Road - Rail Station - Town Centre (service 14A operates during peak hours only)

*15 - Town Centre - Maidenhall - Thorington Park - Robin Drive - Dickens Rd - Town Centre

*16 - Town Centre - Rail Station - Halifax - Belstead Rd - Rail Station - Town Centre

*18A - Sproughton - Bramford - Claydon High School

*19 - Town Centre - Dale Hall - Castle Hill

*22 - Town Centre - Brunswick Road - Chelsworth Avenue
*30 - "CitySightseeing Ipswich" (only runs in the Summer months)

*31 - Town Centre - Inverness Road - Heath Road Hospital

*38 - "Free Shuttle": Tower Ramparts - Russell Rd - Princes St - Old Cattle Market - Majors Corner - Tower Ramparts

*40 - "The Early Riser": Early morning circular service connecting the Town Centre with areas of Ipswich

*98 - Ipswich - Holbrook - Harkstead - Shotley

*73A - Ipswich - Sutton Hoo via Kesgrave & Woodbridge/Kesgrave High School - Ipswich

*113 - Ipswich - Creetings - Wetheringsett

*115 - Ipswich - Coddenham - Debenham - Wetheringsett

*116 - Ipswich - Coddenham - Debenham

*118 - Ipswich - Otley College

*163 - Ipswich - Nacton - Levington - Felixstowe

*171 - Ipswich - Kesgrave - Woodbridge - Sutton Heath - Bawdsey

*172 - Felixstowe - Trimley - Kirton - Martlesham - Woodbridge

*202 - Ipswich - Woolverstone - Chelmondiston - Shotley

*317 - Coddenham - Stonham - Pettaugh - Winston - Debenham High School

*405 - Great Bricett - Battisford - Stowmarket High School

*409 - Offton - Somersham - Little Blakenham - Claydon High School

*464 - Great Bricett - Wattisham - Barking Tye - Needham Market - Stowmarket High School

*465 - Willisham - Barking - Needham Market - Stowmarket High School

*511 - Bucklesham - Kesgrave High School

*603/605/606 - Shotley/Chelmondiston/Woolverstone/Freston - Holbrook High School

*800 - "Park & Ride" Martlesham - London Road

*801 - "Park & Ride" Bury Road

*802 - "Park & Ride" London Road - Martlesham

*914 - Coddenham - Crowfield - Pettaugh - Winston - Debenham High School

*978 - Ipswich - Trimley - Felixstowe schools

*983 - Sutton Hoo - Hollesley - Farlingaye High School

Some of the circular town services interwork with each other and other routes by starting/finishing journeys as a different route. These include 5/11, 6/16 and 7/15 during the day and even more routes interwork on evenings and Sundays.

Park and Ride

Ipswich Buses operated the three Charter Marked Park and Ride services in the town under contract to Suffolk County Council from 1997 [ [http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:b3rssEKsbbAJ:www.ipswich.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/11406A08-1A26-47EE-B44A-7926A7F8AEFB/0/QuestionsAnswers250608.doc+ipswich+buses+loses+park+and+ride+contract&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=uk Google cache of a council meeting minutes, 25 June 2008] ] . As of 2008 it operated this service in an allover purple livery with un-named single and double-deck buses, branded "Ipswich Park & Ride" with a bird logo, and the strapline "Fly into town" [ [http://stevemaskell.fotopic.net/p49117085.html Ipswich Buses park and ride double-decker] ] [ [http://stevemaskell.fotopic.net/p49117098.html Ipswich Buses park and ride single-decker] ] .

In 2008 it was announced the contract would pass to First Eastern Counties on 1st November [ [http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/easterncounties/easterncounties/news/index.php?item=2444&show=1 First Eastern Counties press release] ] , at a cost of £300,000 to the company's bottom line [ [http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=news&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=IPED30%20Jul%202008%2016%3A18%3A27%3A350 Evening Star] Anger at bus routes cut, 30 July 2008] .

Fleet

(w) - Withdrawn from service

References

External links

* [http://www.ipswichbuses.co.uk Official Ipswich Buses Website]
* [http://www.ipswichbus.co.uk Ipswich Bus Page]