Ipswich Area Changes

First have announced changes to their services in Ipswich coinciding with the launch of the new Park & Ride. As details are on their website I hope I'm not breaking any confidences by publishing my own details, which I've known for some time now. These changes to come into effect 2nd July

I have good news for you if you live in Wickham Market, Little Glenham, Saxmundham and especially Easton and Campsea Ashe. I have not so good news if you live in Eyke, Rendlesham, Tunstall and Snape.

First the good news. The 64 between Ipswich and Aldeburgh is returning to its former hourly frequency, thus doubling the service for the good folk of Wickham Market, Little Glenham and Saxmundham. Better still if you live in Leiston and Aldeburgh the timetable I devised making realistic connections with the trains at Saxmundham has been implemented, leaving time for both bus and train to be a little delayed. I hope this will prove to be of great benefit to residents of those areas. Sadly the same can't be said at Woodbridge, but the difference between train and bus running times preclude that. The one downside is the last bus from Ipswich to Aldeburgh will leave at 1750, and not the current 1815. Also the 64 will revert to its former route in Woodbridge via Bredfield Road, which will add a little time to the journey. It will also operate via Tesco Martlesham off peak.

Now the not so good news. Due to very low patronage on the section of route between Rendlesham and Leiston the 65 is reduced to 3 journeys a day - one inbound during morning peak leaving Aldeburh at 0645 and two return journeys evening peak leaving Ipswich at 1720 and 1820 but these journeys only running as far as Leiston. This means that folks in Eyke and Rendlesham will lose their link to the coast, and those in Tunstall and Snape most of their buses altogether. However not is all lost.

It was reported that the PF Travel operated 62 between Framlingham and Woodbridge was being scrapped, Well it has won a reprieve. The route has been extended to start at Snape, and will run via Tunstall, Campsea Ashe, Parham, Framlingham, Easton. then Wickham Market and Woodbridge, thus giving Campsea Ashe and Easton their first regular bus service in donkeys years. It also, as pleaded for in a post a couple of weeks ago gives a bus link from Framlingham and Wickham Market to Wickham Market station in Campsea Ashe (have to call it Wickham Market or I get abused!).Ok it doesn't actually connect with any trains, is of know use for Campsea Ashe market on a Monday, and it is only one a day, well except Wednesdays, but it is a start, something to build on. Something is always better than nothing.

As for Rendlesham and Eyke, they will soon be part of Ipswich Park & Ride, as one P&R service an hour is being extended from Martlesham to Woodbridge, Melton, Eye and Rendlesham, effectively doubling Rendlesham's service to Ipswich. The 800 will run fast Melton to Woodbridge as the 64/65 do now. I will be posting more on this once I have checked a few of the ticketing details out, as it could be quite complicated with differing conditions applying depending where you board and where you're going to, so bear with me on that one.

There are other minor changes in the Ipswich area. The X7 express service between Ipswich and Felixstowe is becoming peak only, and the 77 will operate via Felixstowe seafront.

The 60'61 will be re-timed to leave Tower Ramparts every 10 minutes at 00, 10, 20 etc past the hour, and evening buses on the 66 will be timed to connect at Ipswich Station with trains from London.

Overall these are positive changes but I also feel there is scope there for more. I'm really pleased to see my suggested timings at Saxmundham implemented, I just hope they prove useful.

I'll clarify the P&R position when I get the details.

First Norwich Reaping Rewards

Any gardener will tell you a seed doesn't become a flower overnight. Farmers sow their fields in the Spring, to reap the crops in Autumn. It's a gradual process, with the farmers having to be prepared to give nature a helping hand if needed, which it quite often is. It's all part of the nurturing process to generate the greatest yield.

Changing attitudes in the workplace is similar. Again it's not an overnight process. Long standing practices and traditions have to be gradually eroded away, and personnel, through nurturing, gently prodded in the new direction in a way that makes them all feel part of the process. It's a skill that not everyone can achieve, but when someone does the rewards can be truly bountiful.

First Eastern Counties have been doing just that over the last few years and now are beginning to see their efforts recognised in high places. I was contacted a couple of weeks ago by Cliff Hussey, Operations Manager at First Norwich, to inform me that FEC had been nominated at the Be First Awards, which recognise contributions fro within the whole of First Group, including the rail sector, which encompasses some 110,000 employees. FEC, specifically the Norwich Safety Committee , were nominated for the "Dedicated to Safety Award", which I'll be honest thought meant everyone wore their yellow vests correctly, or the yellow lines in the depot were painted bright enough. Not so, however, and I'm delighted to be able to quote the official citation from the awards ceremony that took place in Manchester a few weeks ago.

"The brainchild of Operations Manager Cliff Hussey, the Norwich Safety Committee has developed a fun and engaging process to discuss, deliver and plan all aspects of safety in the workplace. With invitations to a Teddy Bear's Picnic, a Punk Party, and a Mad Hatter's Tea Party, employees are encouraged to attend meetings and discuss delivering results in a relaxed environment."

"The concept has seen a significant increase in engagement from staff in contributing to improving safety. It has empowered and encouraged them to think, act, and improve safety for themselves, their colleagues, and customers."

"More importantly, it has created an environment where safety is no longer seen as someone else's responsibility, it is now seen as everyone's responsibility."

I'm delighted to report that the Norwich team came runners up in the category to Hull Trains, making them by default the best in UK bus. Many congratulations to Cliff and his team for gaining national recognition and putting FEC on the national map.

Yesterday I went to Norwich to meet Cliff, who I haven't seen since he relocated from Ipswich, having done much to transform that depot into a much more customer friendly depot. Quite ironic then that I had to get to Norwich using Anglian, but it did give me the chance to ride one of the Mercedes Citaros on loan to Anglian while their own fleet undergoes an overhaul.

Go Ahead 2413 at Halesworth

Apologies - the last letter of the alphabet key has given up the ghost on my laptop so I won't be quoting any registrations that include it, but these ex Southampton Bluestar Citaros are strange beasts. Like all Citaros they give the impression of being cavernous inside, yet there are only 35 fixed seats which is a tiny amount for a bus that big. Some serious tightening of roof and side interior panels is required to stop the loud rattling, but the seats they have got are comfortable and the ride is excellent. A driver told me Anglian have the 13 Citaros on loan for 8 - 10 months, which is longer than I first thought, so plenty of opportunity to get to know them better.

Ok back to First, and it was great to meet the Norwich team again, in particular Lee Howells, who always welcomes me like an old mate - was good to see you again, Lee. The commercial team were extremely hospitable and trusting, which I truly appreciated, and I could sense a really happy atmosphere.

But it is Cliff I want to concentrate on. You could describe Cliff as old school. He acknowledges that the basic concept of buses is to transport the public from A - B in the most convenient way, in return for a fare. We happily talked about the old days but Cliff is a man hopelessly in love with his job, and sees his staff as his children that it is his job to look after. He told me his philosophy is that you shouldn't only see your staff when they've been "naughty and are up in front of you for a telling off", but they should see him when they've been good, or have any questions or suggestions to make. In short Cliff doesn't want a workforce but a family, at the same time changing the attitude of those not used to a customer friendly or team playing approach. This is the nurturing I was talking about - it takes time. I saw a very simple yet effective notice board with up to date information on how each route was running, with easy to access colour coded pigeon holes containing any diversions or other information the drivers needed to know. Little things like that, making drivers' lives easier have enormous impact on staff morale.

Cliff also told me he is intent on creating the same environment he did at Ipswich, which includes converting drivers to the belief that they should be happy someone wants to take a picture of their bus, not negative not aggressive, as every photo taken by enthusiasts is positive advertising. I know that's something Cliff feels very strongly about, and I'm sure everyone welcomes that stance.

As I said at the top of the post none of this will happen overnight, and regardless of how cheerful they normally are drivers are human and will still have bad days - as enthusiasts we need to remember and recognise that too. But it's good to know we have management on our side. This region may lag behind the rest of the country in some respects, but as far as bus operators accepting and embracing enthusiasts is concerned I think the operators here are pioneers that the rest of the country ought to take note of and copy. Yes operators such as Reading Buses have the same attitude, but quite a lot don't, and to have a major player such as First appreciating the role enthusiasts have to play is outstanding and needs to be applauded.

Many thanks, Cliff, and congratulations on your achievements. I'll be popping in regularly to chew the cud and keep up to speed (in both senses) of what's going on.

I promised Cliff I would split my return journey and go to Bungay on the new Charcoal Line X41. Wasn't a difficult promise to keep as I had intended to do that anyway. So I made my way to St Stephen's St, joined by Cameron, and we waited for the X41 to come along, rather praying it wouldn't be a substitute like the one we saw on the 40 to Poringland.

Very hard seated 66340 in charcoal white!

Thankfully it wasn't, and shortly after ex Leeds Gemini 36181 showed up looking rather splendid in her new colours..

36181 in St Stephen's St

You know what you're getting with B9's. Quiet, smooth, comfortable - everything a bus should be. Unfortunately the WifI so clearly advertised was absent, but as a fast route to Bungay both the route and vehicles are superior to anything else running that corridor at present. I expect Anglian to respond in time, but maybe not immediately due to their current fleet constraints. I also hinted rather strongly that the X41 should be extended to Halesworth. My fingers are crossed!

This is the most positive I've felt about bus services in East Anglia for a long time. Now we need to start seeing the return of some of the routes lost over the last 7 years, and operators targeting new custom from those communities currently without a bus service, rather than targeting other operator's customers. Engagement with those communities is key, and given the positivity of management in the area now maybe, just maybe all is not lost and there s a glimmer of hope.

Just A Random Thought But...

It has been a week that has cruelly put life into perspective. Suddenly it didn't matter what loan registrations were, when the latest repaint was being completed, or what loco was on what train. It just didn't matter and I couldn't have cared less. I postponed plans for hoped meetings and remembered what I do is a hobby and no more. Sometimes it's all too easy to forget that, and treat it like life and death. It's not. My heart goes out to those affected by the Manchester murders this week. To call it terrorism gives credence to the imagined justification for it. It wasn't terrorism it was murder. May the victims rest in peace, and their families find peace and strength in the love and support the entire nation has, and will continue to express.


Another rural route is about to be axed. The little known Paul Frost Travel 62 from Woodbridge to Framlingham is going from the end of June. There are rumours it may still operate a couple of days a week but there is no confirmation as yet. It's not for bad service - Nigel the regular driver couldn't be a nicer bloke, and to have a bus service playing ClassicFM is a welcome change from personal iPods blaring Lord knows what out. You can literally time your watch by the service. It has a loyal band of passengers which has clearly not proved enough. So what has been the route's downfall? Quite simply the route itself.

It was not designed for major use so no surprise it hasn't been majorly used. Where exactly was it linking Framlingham to and why?  3 hours in Woodbridge isn't easy to fill. It won't ever attract custom from Wickham Market with only 3 journeys a day. So it has served its extremely limited market to the best of its ability.

I have advocated for years now a bus service linking Wickham Market and Framingham to Campsea Ashe Station. If you live in Framlingham, which is expanding at quite a rate there is not a bus to any station anywhere except the Wednesday 62 to Saxmundham, which only gives you a couple of hours anyway so pointless for the station. And is being axed. Why not? If you live in Wickham Market there is no bus to your nearest station, you have to go to Melton ( a walk from bus) or Woodbridge then double back if you're heading towards Lowestoft unless you go to Saxmundham but of course the buses don't connect with the trains and the timetable I discussed with First to alter that was never implemented. It's hardly going to encourage passenger growth is it.

It's not even confined to the sticks either - there are no buses to Great Yarmouth station either can you believe. Want to catch a train if you live in Gorleston? Well you can go to Yarmouth Police Station and walk, or go to Lowestoft, and walk again unless your house is on Anglian's 61 that week! Surely that's not right. I thought the entire concept of "public transport" was the conveyance of passengers easily and conveniently from A - B in return for a fare. That concept seems to have gone out of the window when you see company Tweets like this one I saw today from an operator whose identity I shall keep secret.

"Great to catch up with X & Y to discuss further alignment of local transport to economic development"

What??????? How is that going to help Mrs Smith do the shopping or get to the station, or the kids to get back from the cinema without relying on their parents. The basics of public transport have been entirely forgotten, and if the future for bus services outside major towns and cities has any future then basics have to be resurrected with some tinkering, and that got me thinking.

Now I imagine when most of the great ideas of the world were first proposed they were met with incredulity and ridicule - let's put a man on the moon, let's build a passenger plane that goes twice the speed of sound, let's put dill pickle in a burger, let's put giant windmills 20 miles out to sea to generate electricity - so I'm not expecting universal cheering and acceptance of this idea, but it just might save rural bus services, increase public transport usage, and just for once show someone was serious about generating it. The idea is this;

As part of future rail franchises make compulsory bus links to stations from a 10 mile radius a condition, to connect with first and last trains. Give people a reason to use public transport, rather than reasons not to. Obviously those buses would be tendered out by the Train Operating Company, but let's face it - who are the major TOC's in the  country? Oh yes First, Stagecoach, Arriva and Go Ahead. So instead of Councils tenderng the bus services it woud be the TOC as part of their franchise. Then my elderly friend in Wickham Market can keep her alarm in her sheltered flat, which is being taken away as the Council are no longer funding it. (Yes Smurf I know!) There has been a precedent to this - London Transport.

I asked a very knowledgeable contact of mine who has worked in the transport industry in London all his life if he could think of a single station served by either tube or train that didn't also have a bus serving the station. He couldn't. Not one. He said there must be but he couldn't think of any. That's because London Transport were an interested party in both modes, and realised that both had to link together if they were to be really attractive. Combined tickets were available and the rest is history.

Now obviously I'm not suggesting that Framlingham gets a London Transport type service to Campsea Ashe station. But what's the point in getting the train into town for a night out if you have to drive to and from the station. Defeats the object of the exercise. I bet anything that if TOC's were responsible for local bus services they would make darn sure everything linked up together - timetables, ticketing, frequencies etc to get those bums on seats. Places like Beccles, Thorpe-le-Soken, and Sheringham would have buses connecting with last trains, and authorities with real teeth, unlike the Traffic Commissioners who only seem to hit the small guys, and the Rail Regulator - who as far as I've seen has done diddly squat over the various industrial disputes, could fine and withdraw franchises if necessary.

That is the basic idea. It couldn't be achieved overnight, but then nor was putting Neil Armstrong on the moon. It would take time to take off and get the public enthusiastic so initial losses must be expected. It would require investment, but that would pay for itself with the extra revenue generated. Never mind "further alignment of local transport to economic development", put buses where new houses are built, remember who public transport is for, who uses public transport, and the basic reason public transport was created in the first place.

Anglian Come Up Trumps For Lena

Thursday was a poignant day. It was the funeral of Lena Sadler, bus campaigner and friend. She was also a member of the 165 club, a group of passengers and drivers who remained in touch after Anglian's 165 Aldeburgh - Ipswich route was axed in 2013. I thought it would be a nice idea if Anglian could supply a bus as a tribute to Lena so I approached Mickey Amey, Depot Manager at Anglian who couldn't have been more accommodating, saying that yes, as long as a spare vehicle was available he would be happy to help out.

It wasn't going to be easy to find a suitable Anglian liveried vehicle though, with 13 blue loan vehicles being brought in while Anglian's fleet gets a much needed overhaul, so my hopes weren't high. However I'm delighted to report that Mickey managed to find an Optare Versa - which had seen service on the 165 - and although it was too late to programme the destination screen, Paul the driver printed out a couple of sheets to go in the window which was quite common on the 165! And so we gathered at the Church of St Andrew, Aldringham

Anglian 308 at Aldringham Church

The tribute from Anglian

The church was packed, and a short, simple but moving service took place, with Lena being laid to rest in the churchyard after. There were no frills about Lena, and I know she would have appreciated the simplicity of the occasion, and would have laughed herself silly at the sight of the bus blocking the car park.

Members of the 165 club - Mike, Paul, Robin, Jane and Peter

Peter also took some pics, a couple of which I'm delighted to be able publish here.

Thanks, Peter.

It was fantastic to see so many people there, including some who knew Lena just from chatting on the bus. Lena was that type of person. She left her mark on whoever she met and I predict many glasses will be raised in her memory for years to come.

My heartfelt thanks and gratitude go to Mickey and Dave Smith at Anglian. I'm not sure regimes of the past would have been as willing to accommodate, and it is another indication of the positivity that has started to flow through Anglian's veins. The gesture was truly appreciated by all and certainly turned a few heads. Thanks to Paul for doing the driving, and it turned a sad occasion into a nice one too.

Tales Of The Unexpected!

Quite simply 24 hours ago I had no idea of anything contained in this post, so it's all happened a bit suddenly. First of all I was contacted last night by a BorderBus driver who rather vaguely said there was a red double decker parked up in the yard, and it could be ex London. So as I had to go to Ellough anyway today for other reasons I popped in fully expecting to see a Gemini when a rather striking Scania Omni Citi decker came into view. I have been on several of these in London and they are great buses, at least they would be if it wasn't for one tiny problem - the seats are what Satan would design if you had to spend the rest of eternity on a bus being punished. I have spent 90 minutes on one and it felt like 90 days. So it's fair to say I had mixed feelings when I saw ex Stagecoach London 15137 LX59 CNA gleaming in the Suffolk sun. COULD be ex London? Seriously!!

The Scania at BorderBus depot.

The Scania is on loan to BorderBus for fuel economy evaluation. It will be used on the 146 over the next few days, and if the fuel data is satisfactory it is likely that a number of the Scanias will be purchased. They would be converted to single door, probably have more seats added upstairs as the amount of legroom is way beyond coach standard. I'm not normally in favour of reducing legroom but with these it makes sense. And yes, the seats will be either replaced or upgraded to include foam to boost comfort. I'm not joking - those Scanias give seriously good rides, and with decent seats will really give the Geminis a run for their money. I hope the evaluation goes well, and I'll report back when the decisions have been made. My thanks to Andrew and Dave for the info and I'll watch this space with interest. In the meantime check BorderBus's Twitter account for info on what the Scania will be doing.

One thing we couldn't do, however, was imagine the Scania in BorderBus Livery. Enter Sam Larke and his computer and voila! Thanks Sam, might not look too bad!

How the Scania could look

A quick postscript now - the E300's for Ipswich P&R have coe fro the ex First Borders operation in Scotland, which is now run by a new company called Borders Bus. You probably know where this is going - Andrew Pursey has had to field multiple daily complaints about buses in Galashiels. I just wonder how many complaints are being received in Scotland - or compliments even - about buses in Wangford!

Rear view of the Scania

Next something nice, really nice. It has been sometime since I had anything positive to say about Anglian Bus. The last 3 years has seen a slow painful demise for all concerned. Blame lies entirely with Go Ahead who failed spectacularly to understand how a rural operation functioned, and also failed equally spectacularly to learn from their mistakes. If it wasn't for the drivers and staff at Anglian the company would have been history months if not years ago.

However, today it was my pleasure to meet Mickey Amey, the new Operations Manager at Anglian. I admit I wasn't sure what reception I'd receive, but the welcome couldn't have been warmer. I was there primarily on non blog related business, but obviously the subject turned to the current state of affairs at Anglian. For the first time ever I had the feeling I was talking to someone who wanted to turn the company around, put new flesh on the bare bones, and had the enthusiasm and man management skills to achieve it. Just a quick word to the Go Ahead supremos - GIVE HIM THE TIME TO ACHIEVE!!!!  With backing and investment the phoenix could yet rise from the ashes with a man at the helm who understands how a rural depot works. That was how Anglian became successful in the first place under the Purseys and if Go Ahead let Mickey Amey get on with things it can again.

Most of what I discussed with Mickey cannot be published yet, but one thing I can do is reveal why Konect have registered Beccles as an operating centre. Anglian will also be registered at Rackheath and it's purely so in exceptional circumstances such as breakdown either operator can use each other's vehicles. This will help at Norwich for example and will save time getting spare buses out from depots resulting in less loss mileage and fewer cancellations.

It was a real pleasure chatting to Mickey Amey, and I will only be too pleased to report anything positive coming out of Anglian. Let's hope the bad times are over and the rebuilding can begin.

Switching to the rails and I decided to nip into Norwich as I knew there was a test train in the sidings. Hopefully I'll be seeing a lot of it tonight, but I wanted to see it iin daylight, and so I did, with Colas Rail 37421 heading the train and DBSO

Colas 37421 in Norwich sidings

I thought that was it but no. As I was having lunch Tim rang me to tell me the Class 37 short set, which had been off the track, was coming back with an added DBSO, for storage and braking purposes. So back to Norwich Station I went and sure enough there was the set with DBSO 9705 backing onto 37403.

37403 with DBSO 9705

Apologies for sun interference

I took a video of the train leaving Norwich - with only 37423 active, and just as well as the set promptly failed at Lowestoft and was taken out of service!

So there we are, a full day, none of it expected, and all of it enjoyable and rewarding. If only all days could be like this!