First Edge It

After a neck and neck race all week First Eastern Counties have edged out Anglian in the first SB&TP poll as favourite operator. Well done to them with 15 votes to Anglian's 14. "Other" came thrid with 8 votes but I can only tell you who one of the votes was for - that being Ipswich Buses. Lord knows who the other 7 votes were for as the voters never told me who they voted for. Anyway thanks to everyone who voted and a new poll who be up soon.

First come first in the first poll!

Interesting Future

There have been a number of articles in local media this week about the future of bus services in the region. East Suffolk Travellers Association have submitted a plan to First and Anglian with proposlas to make Saxmundham a hub for connecting services, to link up with the East Suffolk Line. They want the link between Saxmundham and Framlingham restored - which would please me no end and better links between the coastal towns such as Aldeburgh and Southwold. Saxmundham has been chosen as trains go in both directions within 3 mins of each other, so buses would connect easily with both trains. The full report can be read here.

Clive Nixon of Ipswich Bus Blog also alerted me yesterday to an article in the Evening Star where First are proudly proclaiming a big investment in Suffolk and Norfolk, maybe involving hybrid vehicles. This all remains to be seen - as long as no more new vehicles with E in front of the number are bought that will do me! Anyway it's a very interesting article and can be viewed in full here.

Many thanks to Clive for bringing this to my attention, and contrary to what the link might indicate Clive regularly updates Ipswich Bus Blog so well worth a look.

Irregular Workings Everywhere

It has been an odd day as they say. Solos and deckers on the 7/61, an Olympian on the 8 as well as two Volvo saloons, the Scania gas heap on the 88's and a 3 car 170 on the 1057 from Lowestoft usually operated by the "short set".

We'll start on the railways. I stopped off at Lowestoft to see if the "short set" was on its regular run, and it wasn't. But in its place trundled in 170207, giving me the opportunity to take a pic of 2 different 170's in Lowestoft at the same time. The Conductor confirmed what I thought that a 3 car unit was unusual on the Norwich - Lowestoft run as one coach has to be deactivated at Haddiscoe due to the short platform.

170207 and 170273 at Lowestoft, but not on the routes you'd expect - 207 going to Norwich and 273 to Ipswich

170207 and 170273 sit side by side in the Lowestoft sun

So onto the buses, and after a pleasant ride into Yarmouth on 37577 - with very very few rattles which shows the Yarmouth team have been working on her - well done guys - there were some irregular workings spotted during my hour at Market Gates. Firstly a solo on the 7 to Norwich. It was running late so obviously a replacement for a failure, but I don't know what failed.

Anglian 902 Solo YN04 LWP leaves Yarmouth for Norwich

Then Scania Omnidekka 551 turned up going to other way to Southwold. Apparently major traffic problems in Bungay had caused a serious case of musical buses to take place in Norwich and the Scania gas heap had been transferred onto the 88's.

Anglian 551 Scania Omnidekka AO57 EZL on the 61 to Southwold

Then 34186 came in on the 8 to JPH. Very rare to see an Olympian out in service these days, but still a thrill when one shows its face.

34176 on the 8 to JPH

And finally while working my way back to Halesworth via Bungay I endured another boneshaking trip on Scania gas heap 999 which did have a moment of light relief as the destination screen is still giving problems. I have no idea what the driver wanted to put up but he drove off showing 53 to Wroxham! Unfortunately I was too slow to get a front view but did get a shot of it rattling merrily away.

Scania gas heap YT13 YUK in Saxons Way, Halesworth clearly showing 53 on the back!

Poll Update

So far there have been 5 votes for "other". Unfortunately I have no idea who the "other" operators are as no one has contacted me to tell me! I can't change the categories once a vote has been cast so please, if you have voted for "other" let me know who it is!! If you don't want to email you can comment anonymously under the post.

Here's a pic of Ipswich's ex Lowestoft ALX 400 32655 I took in Wickham Market today, quite unusually on the 1350 service 64 to Ipswich, which means she wasn't on a school run this afternoon.

First Ipswich 32655 AU05 MUY at Wickham Market

New Poll

Thought it was about time I had a poll on here. Unfortunately I can't do it on another page which would have 25 options on favourite vehicles etc, but this could be quite interesting too. Just say who your fav operator is. If your answer is "other" let me know who it is and I'll add them to the list. You are allowed to vote for more than one but to keep it fair no more than two please. The poll closes this time next Monday. I'll try and have a weekly poll on various aspects of transport.

Update: Have just tried to edit poll to include Ipswich Buses and it won't let me.  I will announce details of other operators voted for if everyone lets me know as and when they vote for an operator not listed. Cheers!