Handily enough, there exists a direct public transport service, Route 66, from Ipswich to Martlesham Heath. Before I converted to two wheels, I used to catch it every now and then. Back in the day, it would take a frustrating three-quarters of an hour due to (a) numerous stops and (b) slow-dancing in and out of the pristine Grange Farm development. And that was when it turned up at all.
Thankfully it's all much improved now. For starters, there ain't only one bus. We have various services on offer from the First Group:
* 66 -- goes via Town Centre, Kesgrave & Grange Farm
* 66A -- goes via Town Centre & Grange Farm
* 66B -- goes via Town Centre & Foxhall Road
First two of these, 66 and 66A, start at Ipswich Station. I could have headed up to the railway this morning for the 08:17, seen the hospital & Kesgrave & Grange Farm before landing at Adastral around 08:57. Much like the old days, in fact.
Smart money, however, as recommended by Robert Peston, is on the 66B, where the "B" stands for bullet. Starting point is the Old Cattle Market, opposite Pals meat market. I was down there shortly after 8am and joined the queue for the 08:10, which left dead on time. Curious route down Turret Lane and onto the Star Lane bus lane (enough with the lanes), then past swish new UCS building and up Back Hamlet.
Quite a few folk got on at the Foxhall Road / Grove Lane stop, then a handful more outside the Railway pub near Derby Road, leaving no more than half a dozen free seats on our single decker. Of course, Foxhall Road takes you nearly all the way to your destination, once you're past the Nuffield and the speedway. Boom, we decanted at 08:32, like what the timetable says, and the stop is right outside Adastral.
BTW, friend of a friend, a 66 regular, apparently stood waiting for 2 hours yesterday at the bottom of Grove Lane, not realising that roadworks had forced a change of route. Oops.
Let's mention the obvious point that most of the passengers these days are Indian guys and gals, probably working at BT for a limited time. These daily commuters all flashed their passes at the driver; no coinage passed hands, which helps to speed things up still Furthur.
Journey back at 5:10pm was also painless and took the requisite third of an hour. And it's good to see that most people take the time & trouble to thank the driver when leaving.
Cost - £4.60 bought me an Ipswich area day ticket, i.e. a return; regulars buy a batch of 10 tickets or a weekly pass, which works out a fair bit cheaper
Duration - ~20 mins (8:10 - 8:32), plus 15 mins walk into the town centre
Pros - 66B is quick, regular & reliable, and you can read
Cons - great if you live near the bus route, less so otherwise
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