This page is a brief history of vehicles which operated Ipswich Park and Ride since 1997 to this date.
Many vehicle types have been used on the Park and Ride from 1997-2010, these being (in order) Optare Excel Mk1s, DAF Optare Spectra's, Optare Excel Mk2s, DAF EastLancs, Dart EastLancs and finally Volvo B7RLE's. Extra vehicles and cover vehicles were also used, Leyland Olympians, Volvo Olympian's on extras, relief buses could be the same types or even Metrorider or Bristol B21s which have been known.
Since First took the P&R B7RLEs are used on it, with relief buses being B7TLs (801) and Scania L113CRL/L94UBs.

189 | R189DDX One of the four Excels which started the Park and Ride in 1997, It is seen on Service in Copdock P&R 800 11-97 (c) Jim Long

52 | X152LBJ One of three Spectras new in 2000 for the 801. Whilst working on the 801 in the Town Centre (c) Peter Horrex

187 | R187DDX One of the first batch of Excels which started the Park and Ride in 1997, This was de-branded of Vynils so could go on town routes and be a back-up spare for the Park and Ride. It is seen on Service 800 28-2-07

53 | X153LBJ One of the Spectras which started on the 801s in 2000, This was also de-branded like 187 so it could be used on town routes and is a back-up spare and extra christmas bus for the 801. It is seen covering for a Lowlander. 14-6-07

171 | YG52DHF One of the second generation Excels in use on the 800. Seen showing all its branding off outside Ipswich Buses Depot after a days service. 27-6-08

55 | PN52XBO The second lot of Deckers for the 801, These DAF DB250 with EastLancs bodies. Seen heading back to Bury Rd on diversion 29-5-08

88 | PJ53OLK One of five of the Martlesham Park and Ride vehicles,. Seen at the Hospital heading to terminal. 27-6-06

47 | D138FYM The Schoolbus which was painted into P&R colours for Extras/Spare. (c) Jim long

66794 | MX05CBF One of the loaned vehicles from First Essex in use before new vehicles to be delivered. At London Road P&R 1-11-08

66798 | MX05CCA One of the loaned vehicles from First Essex in use before new vehicles to be delivered. Seen in Town Centre On Bury Rd P&R 1-11-08

69429 | AU58FFR One of the third lot of new vehicles for the 800/1/2. Showing the new pink livery of the Park and Ride heading to London Rd. 15-1-09

69432 | AU58FFV The new B7RLEs on all three Park and Rides in this Pink livery Seen heading towards Town Centre then Marlesham P&R 15-1-09

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The Park and Ride is normally seen as a very important contract which is awarded by the Suffolk County Council, each contract is run for 5 years.
In 1997 Ipswich Buses won the contract for the First ever Park and Ride site in Ipswich, Copdock (London Road 800) which 4 high spec (to SCC spec) Optare Excels were ordered. Due to all four having problems (like most excels at that time) This lead to normal vehicles being used on the Park and Ride, with two Excel 2s come from Optare to cover, These were (X538NWT / W438CWX) Which operated on the Park and Ride and later found their way onto towns, presume to cover for the town Excels which also had to go back for warranty work.
In 2000 the Second Park and Ride site was built, this was up the other side of town next to the A14, Bury Road (801) Ipswich Buses again won the contract for the 801 which was added to the same contract as the 800. For this service it was deemed it would be popular (just like the 800) so the decision was double deckers would be purchased to cope with demand. The Optare Spectra was chosen (to the same high/SCC spec). These were chosen and deemed fit for the job that they were very accessible and was a clear choice of bus after Ipswich purchased a cancelled order Spectra (No.50) nearly a year before which proved a strong bus.
One of Ipswich Buses Schoolbuses was later decided to be painted out of Acquired livery into Park and Ride colours to act as a spare/extra for the 800/1, This being Ipswich No.47 (D138FYM)
In 2002, The 5 year contract was up for Park and Ride 800, seeing the 801 was combined with the 800 contract, new buses were purchased for both park and rides. Seeing the vehicles before them worked and were popular with drivers and commuters, The Excel and DAF was chosen again.
This time it was the newer Excel, with Mercedes Engines and these had more seats (B42F instead of B37F)
The 801 gained DAF EastLancs Lowlanders, These being the same underneath as the Spectras but had cheaper bodies, Ipswich Buses were also EastLancs buyers so it made perfect sense to change to EastLancs. Four of each were purchased, The fourth DAF EastLancs was for Ipswich Town services and to be painted into Centenary livery for Ipswich Buses 100 years.
In 2003 the Third site was opened, this time catching traffic from the other side at ipswich/A12, This was Martlesham (802) Same with the 801, Ipswich Buses gained the contract for it which was added onto the same contract as the 800/1. The size of the vehicle would be chosen by Suffolk County Council, if they needed Full size Singles, Double Deckers or even artics. It was later decided at the last moment to have Full size singles on this service, due the time this was agreed the only vehicles Ipswich could purchase in time was Transbus Darts with EastLancs bodies, this being chosen due to Ipswich operating some already on town services. Five of these vehicles were ordered and started on the Park and Ride late 2003.
The Martlesham Park and Ride was not a great hit as expected when started, and was considered to be closed if not used enough as expected, it was given time and later picked up custom. The Park and Ride fare was more expensive at 802 than 800 and 801 due to the longer route it is.
In June 2007 it was decided that Service 800 and 802 will interwork with each other.
In April 2007 the contract was up for re-tendering again, For some reason this didnt happen and Suffolk County Council extended the previous contract with Ipswich Buses for a year. In this time Ipswich Buses got in some Demonstrator vehicles in for the Park and Ride (some did go on town routes too) to see what vehicle type to order for the Park and Ride if they got it re-awarded to themselves.
Finally April 2008 arrived and the Council put the Park and Ride out for Tender (all 3 P&Rs in one tender)
It was announced that the Park and Ride from November 2008, would be a change of operator, this time First Eastern Counties winning the contract to run from all three park and ride sites. Due to the lateness of the Tender results, Brand new buses couldnt be ordered for the start date of the Park and Ride, at the time First Manchester was taking new vehicles in which some Volvo B7RLEs were cascaded within First Group. A fair size batch was heading to First Essex, of which First Eastern Counties took 13 of them on loan til the New Buses could arrive in January 2009.
In January 2009 new buses hit the road with First Eastern Counties, All Park and Ride Sites (800-2) were to be operated with full size single deck vehicles. These B7RLEs were to standard First Group Interior.

On 29th January 2011, Suffolk County Council closed Bury Rd Park and Ride Site due to financial reasons, Pics from last day can be found Four of the B7RLEs that operated Bury Rd (& 1 spare) were given all over adverts and put to work on First other services within Ipswich Depot.

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The Main vehicles used on the Park and Rides:
(in order on when on Park and Ride)

IB	186	R186DDX	Optare Excel Mk1 L1150	B37F	Purple P&R	Nov 97 - Oct 02
IB	187	R187DDX	Optare Excel Mk1 L1150	B37F	Purple P&R	Nov 97 - Oct 08^
IB	188	R197DDX	Optare Excel Mk1 L1150	B37F	Purple P&R	Nov 97 - Oct 02
IB	189	R189DDX	Optare Excel Mk1 L1150	B37F	Purple P&R	Nov 97 - Oct 02
IB	51	X151LBJ	DAF DB250LF Optare Spectra	H47/25F	Purple P&R	Nov 00 - Oct 02
IB	52	X152LBJ	DAF DB250LF Optare Spectra	H47/25F	Purple P&R	Nov 00 - Oct 02
IB	53	X153LBJ	DAF DB250LF Optare Spectra	H47/25F	Purple P&R	Nov 00 - Oct 08^
IB	170	YG52DGO	Optare Excel Mk2 L1180	B42F	Purple P&R	Oct 02 - Oct 08
IB	171	YG52DHF	Optare Excel Mk2 L1180	B42F	Purple P&R	Oct 02 - Oct 08
IB	172	YG52DGE	Optare Excel Mk2 L1180	B42F	Purple P&R	Oct 02 - Oct 08
IB	173	YG52DGF	Optare Excel Mk2 L1180	B42F	Purple P&R	Oct 02 - Oct 08
IB	55	PN52XBO	DAF DB250LF EastLancs Lowlander	H43/29F	Purple P&R	Oct 02 - Oct 08
IB	56	PN52XBK	DAF DB250LF EastLancs Lowlander	H43/29F	Purple P&R	Oct 02 - Oct 08
IB	57	PN52XBJ	DAF DB250LF EastLancs Lowlander	H43/29F	Purple P&R	Oct 02 - Oct 08
IB	84	PJ53OLC	Transbus Dart SLF EastLancs Millenium	B41F	Purple* P&R	Nov 03 - Oct 08
IB	85	PJ53OLE	Transbus Dart SLF EastLancs Millenium	B41F	Purple* P&R	Nov 03 - Oct 08
IB	86	PJ53OLG	Transbus Dart SLF EastLancs Millenium	B41F	Purple* P&R	Nov 03 - Oct 08
IB	87	PJ53OLH	Transbus Dart SLF EastLancs Millenium	B41F	Purple* P&R	Nov 03 - Oct 08
IB	88	PJ53OLK	Transbus Dart SLF EastLancs Millenium	B41F	Purple* P&R	Nov 03 - Oct 08
FEC	66794	MX05CBF	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66795	MX05CBU	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66796	MX05CBV	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66797	MX05CBY	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66798	MX05CCA	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66799	MX05CCD	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66800	MX05CCF	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66801	MX05CCJ	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66803	MX05CCN	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66804	MX05CCO	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66805	MX05CCU	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66806	MX05CCV	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	66813	MX05CDO	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B43F	First Group Livery	Nov 08 - Jan 09
FEC	69421	AU58FFH	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink P&R	Jan 09 -
FEC	69422	AU58FFJ	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink P&R	Jan 09 -
FEC	69423	AU58FFK	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink P&R	Jan 09 -
FEC	69424	AU58FFL	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink P&R	Jan 09 -
FEC	69425	AU58FFM	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink P&R	Jan 09 -
FEC	69426	AU58FFN	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink P&R	Jan 09 -
FEC	69427	AU58FFO	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink P&R	Jan 09 -
FEC	69428	AU58FFP	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink P&R	Jan 09 -
FEC	69429	AU58FFR	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink P&R	Jan 09 -
FEC	69430	AU58FFS	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink/Advert	Jan 09 - Feb 11
FEC	69431	AU58FFT	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink/Advert	Jan 09 - Jan 11
FEC	69432	AU58FFV	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Pink/Advert	Jan 09 - Jan 11
FEC	69433	AU58FFW	Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse	B44F	Black/Advert	Jan 09 - Jan 11

* = Wears Purple livery with white band relief | ^ = not a full time P&R bus til Oct 08, only spare back-up
69430-3 are spare vehicles for the P&R aswell as Rural services buses.

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''The Ipswich Park & Ride scheme provides a bus service which promotes more sustainable travel patterns, both at local and strategic levels, and improves the accessibility and attractiveness of the town centre.
These schemes are an important part of the planning and transport strategy for Suffolk. The strategy anticipates up to five sites around Ipswich serving the main transport corridors.
The sites at London Road, Bury Road and Martlesham are aimed at providing a sustainable form of transport to allow easy access into Ipswich, whilst reducing the number of cars, congestion and pollution in the town centre.
Ipswich Park and Ride has been designed with safety and security in mind. All three sites have secure fencing, are well lit, regularly patrolled during opening hours and covered by 24 hour CCTV.''

If you are looking for the Ipswich Park and Ride Website click the logo underneath:

If anyone has any Information, Photo's theyd like to add please get in touch.
Ipswich Bus Page can not guarrantee that all Information above is correct.
Thanks to Jim Long and Peter Horrex for use of Photo's