Ipswich Buses[1][2] is a bus company that operates in Ipswich, Suffolk. It is owned by Ipswich Borough Council.

Ipswich Buses
A Scania OmniCity in a livery commemorating Ipswich Buses' 120th anniversary in July 2023
ParentIpswich Borough Council
FoundedNovember 1903; 121 years ago (1903-11)
HeadquartersConstantine Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DL
Service areaIpswich, Babergh, & Colchester
Service typeBus services, Contracts, Rail Replacement & Private Hire
Routes37 (April 2023)
Depots1
Fleet74 (April 2023)
Fuel typeDiesel
Websitewww.ipswichbuses.co.uk

The company operates buses throughout the town and surrounding villages. Its depot is situated in Constantine Road, near Ipswich Town's Portman Road football ground. First Norfolk & Suffolk also operate bus services in the town on complementary routes.

History

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Roe bodied Leyland Atlantean in November 1982
 
Optare Excel in September 2007

The origins of Ipswich Buses can be traced to November 1903 when Ipswich Corporation commenced operating trams. In 1923 the trams were replaced by trolleybuses. Buses were introduced from August 1950. To comply with the Transport Act 1985, in 1986 the assets of Ipswich Corporation were transferred to a new legal entity, Ipswich Buses.[1]

In February 2016, a deal was finalised to take over the staff, bus routes and most vehicles of independent operator Carter's Coach Services.[3]

Park & ride

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Ipswich Buses operated the Ipswich park & ride system under contract to Suffolk County Council from 1997 until 2008 when First Eastern Counties took over the service.[4] In November 2013 Ipswich Buses recommenced operating the park and ride service.[4][5] In July 2017 First Norfolk & Suffolk took over its operation.[6][7]

Fleet

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As at April 2023 the fleet consisted of 74 coaches and buses.[8]

Services

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As at April 2023 Ipswich Buses operate 37 town, country, and school routes.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Companies House extract company no 2000058 Ipswich Buses Limited
  2. ^ Sinclair, Ashleigh (18 April 2023). "Ipswich Buses marks 120 years of history". CBW. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Ipswich Buses set to buy Carter's routes". Coach & Bus Week. 29 February 2016. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b Ipswich: Borough-owned firm wins back park-and-ride contract Archived 19 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine East Anglian Daily Times 13 July 2013
  5. ^ Ipswich Buses awarded Park and Ride contract Ipswich Buses
  6. ^ First Group takes over Ipswich park & ride in July with fewer buses Ipswich Star 26 April 2017
  7. ^ "Changes to buses around Ipswich from 2nd July 2017" FirstGroup
  8. ^ Fleet list access portal at official website.
  9. ^ "Ipswich Buses services".
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  Media related to Ipswich Buses at Wikimedia Commons

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