Ipswich Transport - Past & Future

IPSWICH TRANSPORT  –  IT’S PAST

The Corn Exchange was almost full for the first lecture of 2002. Presented by Ipswich Arts Association, the lecturer was Mr. Barry Moore. He began his career at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, but switched to transport management first at Leicester, then Plymouth, finally coming to Ipswich. We were shown slides of a horse bus, horse and electric trams, then trolley and motor buses. The latest buses have low floors and ramps for easy access and these were introduced from the mid 90s. http://www.ipswichtransportmuseum.co.uk/

The bus evolved from the stagecoach - adapted to carry more passengers. With the Industrial Revolution came new rapidly expanding populations, all needing transport within the town. The first horse trams were in Birkenhead in 1860 and were on raised rails. The first in the eastern region were at Cambridge and then Ipswich in 1880. The first route was from Cornhill to the Railway station and the depot was in Felaw Street (now a car park). A new route was laid (3 foot gauge) to Derby Road with a trace horse available at the lower end of St. John’s Road. The Horse Tram Company was formed in Ipswich in 1901. Ipswich is one of the 17 remaining Municipal Transport Companies publicly owned.

In 1903 a modern municipal complex of bus depot and electricity plant was built at Constantine Road, refuse and coal was used to produce power and trams built at Loughborough were obtained (3 foot 6 inch gauge). New routes went to Whitton and Rushmere. However the whole system deteriorated during and after World War I due to lack of maintenance.

AND IT'S FUTURE

The last trolley bus route was to the Sidegate Lane area in 1947.

In 1950 the first motor bus service went to Chantry and Maidenhall.

In 1963, 70 motor buses were purchased (60 double deckers and 10 single deckers), several being one man operated. The last conductor left employment in 1985. Dales Road had the first Midi-Bus in 1986.

Growth of public transport follows the growth of the town. For the future Mr. Moore said the motor bus is here to stay. The 66 Route has expanded to run night services and has good loadings. The recently introduced Park and Ride will be further developed in the future and he exhorted everyone to visit the Ipswich Transport Museum.

      Ipswich busses in pictures from the 1950s to present day.

     >>> Click images to enlarge <<<                    

             Ipswich Buses web site

In 1920 Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies started to build buses. In 1923 the rails between the Cornhill and the Railwlay Station were taken up and by 1926 the last tram went out of commission. The new “trackless” buses were introduced with overhead wires. All were single decked. In 1933 the routes were expanded to the Gainsborough and Bixley Road areas of the town. 26 miles of road were “wired”.  Double decker buses were built by Garrets of Leiston and Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies.  An example of the RSJ bus can be seen at the Transport Museum at Priory Heath, the former depot which was purchased for storage and repairs in  1936.