BUS passengers in Suffolk will today have to start re-planning their journeys following the announcement that some routes will be changed and others scrapped.

BUS passengers in Suffolk will today have to start re-planning their journeys following the announcement that some routes will be changed and others scrapped.

Bus operator First has said it will be changing a number of routes, and blamed the changes on problems with recruiting new staff.

First has also said it will be changing the fare zone structure in Ipswich, which will come into effect from August 14.

The inner zone has been extended to include Martlesham and Needham while the outer zone includes Felixstowe, Stowmarket, Woodbridge, Saxmundham, Framlingham and Aldeburgh.

It is hoped that changes to the range of season tickets available will mean many customers benefit from discounted rates.

While some routes will be changed, others have been stopped completely.

The changes will come into effect from August 28 and new timetables will be made available at the Old Cattle Market Bus Station.

Many of the routes no longer operated by First will be taken on by Suffolk County Council.

The routes affected by the changes will be:

Route 1 - Town Centre to Greenwich

Re-numbered 61. Changes to early morning timetable and evening and Sunday frequency increased to 20 minutes.

Route 4 - Town Centre to Bixley

Re-numbered 62. Route amended in Broke Hall and Bixley to take account of completion of Broadlands Way. It will now operate in two directions via Ashdown Way, Penshurst Road, Wimborne Avenue, Arundel Way, Foxhall Road and Bixley Drive. It then operates a one-way loop turning left into Broadlands Way, right into Bladen Drive and left into Bixley Drive. Changes to early morning timetable. Evening and Sunday journeys now operate under contract to Suffolk County Council as service 62A.

Route 64 - Ipswich to Aldeburgh

Revised timetable and route - now serves Peterhouse Crescent and Bredfield Road estates in Woodbridge. Will no longer serve Ipswich rail station.

Route 64A - Ipswich to Framlingham

Re-numbered 63. Revised timetable and route - will now serve Peterhouse Crescent and Bredfield Road estates in Woodbridge. No longer serves Ipswich Rail station.

Route 65 - Ipswich to Aldeburgh

Timetable revised to operate hourly between Ipswich and Rendlesham only.

No longer serves Ipswich rail station.

Route 66 - Ipswich to Martlesham Heath

Revised timetable special peak hour X66 journeys for BT renumbered 66B operating via Grove Lane and Foxhall Road instead of Woodbridge Road and Heath Road. Trips which bypass the Kesgrave BusWay are re-numbered 66A. Sunday service revised to operate every 30 minutes between Ipswich Rail Station and Martlesham Heath; Bourne Bridge now served by 62A.

Route 75-77 - Ipswich to Felixstowe

Revised peak hour timetable. Evening and Sunday journeys all operate as 75A to and from Grange Farm via Orwell Road, Sea Road and Langer Road. 76/77 re-routed between Nacton Road and Warren Heath via Ransomes Way.

Route 86 - Ipswich to Bury St. Edmunds

Service withdrawn. Replaced between Ipswich and Stowmarket by increased frequency on service 87. Replaced between Stowmarket and Bury St. Edmunds by new Suffolk County Council contracted service 385.

Route 87 - Ipswich to Stowupland

Revised timetable - frequency increased to 30 minutes as part replacement for 86.

Route 88 - Ipswich to Stowmarket

Revised peak hour timetable. Monday to Saturday evening journeys, which operate under contract to Suffolk County Council, will no longer be operated by First.

Route 93/94 - Ipswich to Colchester/Hadleigh

First will now operate between Ipswich and Capel St. Mary only. Suffolk County Council will be providing contracted services to replace other sections. No longer serves Tower Ramparts Bus Station on outward journeys.

Route 97 - Ipswich to Shotley

Timetable revised, but route and frequency unchanged except that Tower Ramparts is no longer served on outward journeys.

Route 977 Ipswich Schools to Felixstowe

Re-numbered 77A - morning journey revised to operate the same way in Felixstowe as evening journey.

The following services for schools and colleges will no longer be operated by First:

66B Ipswich to Northgate High School

68 Ipswich to Otley College

447 Finningham to Stowupland High School

964 Blaxhall to Leiston Schools

983/984/987 Bawdsey to Farlingaye High School

988 Ipswich to Claydon High School

Details about routes that will be operated by Suffolk County Council are available from the Public Transport Group on 01473 583000.