After receiving their first DAF DB250 in 1996, with Optare Spectra bodywork, 26 years later they are saying goodbye to their last examples.
On Saturday 30th July 2022 the service 5 between Tower Ramparts Bus Station and Ipswich Hospital was operated by 3 of the 4 final East Lancs Lowlanders in the council owned fleet operating every 15 minutes throughout the day.
In October 2002, Ipswich Buses took delivery of 4 East Lancashire Coachbuilder bodied DAF DB250s (55-57 & 100). 55 (PN52 XBO) , 56 (PN52 XBK) and 57 (PN52 XBJ) were new for the 801 Park and Ride service to Bury Road Park and Ride whilst 100 (PN52 XBM) was new in a 100 years of Ipswich Buses livery.
100 was the first of the Lowlanders to be withdrawn and was scrapped in late 2020.
Ipswich Buses then took delivery of a further 2 a year later (PJ53 OLA & PJ53 OLB) and then the final one (PF04 WML) in June 2004 with fleet number 54.
Ipswich Buses ‘Centennial’ outside the Cattle Market Bus Station with a 7 for Ipswich Central.
Copyright: Steven Hughes
With the PVR of the 5 being limited to 3, the fourth Lowlander couldn’t join the others however operated the 16:45 93 to Colchester and the 18:10 return which made for a rather enjoyable journey given the tight timetable.
PN52 XBK departs the Cattle Market layover to begin operating its final journey into Essex.
The low-floor DB250s delivered in 2002 replaced the Optare Spectras that were already operating the Park and Ride service. The service was eventually lost to First Ipswich which displaced 55-57 onto normal service work and eventually exclusive to school work towards the end of their life.
First Ipswich took over the Park and Ride service with Volvo B7RLEs before the site closed in 2010.
54 (PF04 WML) pictured earlier this year at the Cattle Market Bus Station preparing to work the 997 school service to Suffolk One.
The only example without the sideways seats, being a VDL DB250 rather than a DAF DB250 like its sisters. 54 did not make it to the farewell, along with 58 and 100.
It is rumoured that 2 of the DB250s will remain in the fleet for now, however primarily for school service potentially meaning they will celebrate their 20th birthday still active.
P442 SWX was Ipswich Buses’ first DAF DB250 and was registered in late 1996 having been part of a rejected order from Istanbul’s IETT and was rebuilt from LHD to RHD specification, Ipswich later received 3 low-floor Optare Spectras in 2000 with X reg plates.
P442 SWX seen working the 1 to The Havens via Ravenswood. 50 was withdrawn in 2015.
Copyright: Leon Wells
Taken on Wentworth Road, September 2011.
The Lowlanders were repainted into the new Ipswich Buses theme in recent years. Further pictures of exterior and interior included below.
These vehicles performed magnificently for their age, and it is a shame that they won’t be around for much longer.
Thank you for reading.