Ipswich Buses: Bridging the Past with Modern Solutions
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Presentation Transcript
Ipswich Buses Modern Challenges & Opportunities
Ipswich Buses - A Brief History • Origins can be traced back to 1903 as Ipswich Corporation • Commenced operating trams • Trolley buses introduced in 1923 to replace the trams • First motor buses introduced in 1950 • Transport Act 1985 • Assets of Ipswich Corporation transferred to new legal entity “Ipswich Buses Ltd” in 1986 • In May 2016 purchased Carters Coach Services
Ipswich Buses Today • Has a fleet of 75 buses with a PVR of 65 buses • Network of local bus services across Ipswich and into Suffolk & Essex • Employees 183 staff including 146 drivers across two sites • Almost 7 million passenger journeys per annum • 1.5 litres of diesel a year • 100% Owned by Ipswich Borough Council • One of only 9 remaining municipally owned bus operators
Deregulation of the Bus Industry • In early 1980’s most of the British bus industry was in public ownership • State owned National Bus Company or Municipally owned • Thatcher Government white paper implemented Transport Act 1985 • 26th October 1986 British bus industry was deregulated • Act allowed competition on local bus services for the first time since 1930’s • National Bus Company split into 70 separate company's and sold • Sell off created todays big 5 bus operators • Bus wars
Contributing Factors & Challenges • Rising fares • Congestion • Lack of accessibility • Anti social behaviour • Car ownership • Reduction in funding or reimbursement • Pop up / App based transport solutions
Opportunities for the Industry • Technology • Mobile phone apps – journey planning & ticketing • Contactless payment, ApplePay, GooglePay, M-Ticketing • Alternative fuels, electric vehicles, hybrid, gas • Employee travel schemes • Multi Operator / Multi mode tickets • Sizewell C
Making a Difference in Ipswich & Suffolk • Retail partnering & B2B relationships • Part of our local community • Building relationships • Supporting businesses • Sustainable network • Employment & education • Responsible procurement and disposal