Fleet News


April 2004


Arriva Derby

Thurs 29th:
Scania (F28 JRC) reappeared today as a driver trainer.

Mon 26th:
Citybus 4384 (B134 GAU) was today on the Chellaston routes.
One of the Chellaston branded Darts was on the 22/24/26 routes.

Fri 23rd:
Several withdrawals have been made due to the service changes earlier in the week.
Mercedes minibuses 1382/5/6/90/2 (P482/5/6/90/2 CAL) are all withdrawn.
2 of the oldest Citybuses 4377/8 (YAU 127/8Y) are withdrawn and sold. Fleetline 4312 (MTV 312W) has also been sold.
Mercedes minibus 1163 (R163 UAL) was on the 53. MPDs will become standard on the route when the former Health Hopper MPDs, 2217/8 (T47/8 WUT) return from the paintshop at pickfords.
Cutybus 4376 (YAU 126Y) and Mercedes minibus 1163 (R163 UAL) are expected to be withdrawn, possibly when the Health Hopper MPDs return.

Mon 19th:
101/102 route branded Mini Pointer Dart 2277 (SE53 ESO) was around Derby Bus Station this afternoon out of service.

Tue 13th:
FleetLine 4315 (MTV 315W) has ended up with Beardsmore, Rudheath. The Fleet List has just been updated.

Sat 10th:
Fleetline 4301 (GTO 301V) is confirmed to still be in use here, not withdrawn as reported earlier in the week.
Citybuses were reported on low floor routes today, 4340 (B140 GAU) on the 60/61, 68/69 Chellaston routes and 4334 (H684 GPF) on the 22/24/26 Oakwood routes.

Wed 7th:
The last two Fleetlines 4301 (GTO 301V) and 4312 (MTV 312W) are reported withdrawn, along with Citybuses 4377/8 (YAU 127/8Y) due to a reduction in school contracts.
Mercedes mini buses 1386 (P486 CAL) and 1390 (P490 CAL) are also reported as withdrawn.


Doyles

Sun 4th:
Dart (T443 EBD) is on loan here to cover for one of the MPDs.


Felix of Stanley

Tue 27th:
Dart (X711 GJU) was on the Ilkeston Flyer.

Tue 13th:
The New Wright Scania in all over white livery was today on the Ilkeston Flyer to which it seems to have been assigned to.

Fri 2nd:
Dart (X711 GJU) was on the 59 today in place of the Merc Vario.


Harpurs

Mon 26th:
Two Metrobuses have arrived here from Travel West Midlands. They are (B808 AOP) and (B809 AOP). They should replace two Atlanteans (DEM 777/9Y).

Tue 13th:
Atlantean (JKW 298W) has been sold to Albert Looms, Spondon for scrap. It is still in its former operators, Stotts, livery.


Littles Travel

Fri 23rd:
Leyland National (TAE 638S) was used on the 9 today, although the MetroRider replaced it later in the day.

Fri 16th:
MetroRider (R232 SCH) has recieved Littles names on the side.

Wed 7th:
A white MetroRider mini bus was on the 9 today. It was (R232 SCH), and has been aquired from NCT (Nottingham City Transport).


trent barton, notts + derby, Kinchbus

Thurs 29th
Merc Vario 291 (S291 UAL) has been sold to Norfolk Green.
Preserved Leyland Tiger Cub was at Meadow road depot this evening, arriving there this morning from Belper.
Frio Excel 199 (V199ERA) was on the Spondon Flyer and a Merc (287?) was on the Borrowash Flyer.
Yesterday saw a very odd working - trent barton coach 62 on the R61. Derbys Frio Excel 199 was on the Spondon Flyer and Solo 447 was on the Borrowash Flyer.

Tue 27th
B10B/Paladin 111 (L911 LRA) was on the Unibus route 6 today. This bus still carries the trent livery with the N+D names.
Another B10B/Paladin - Trent buses 127 (L127 LRA), was on the 125.
Solo 448 (FE02 KDU) was on the Villager 2.

Mon 26th
B10B/Paladin 131 (M131 PRA) is the latest to transfer to Kinchbus.
Derby Solos - 447/8 (FE02 KDO/U) were on the R63 and the second on the Allestree.
Mercedes minibuses sold are: 277/9/82 (R277/9/82 RAU).
Excel 205 (V205 ENU) continues as a driver trainer from Belper garage.

Fri 23rd
Further details on the Wright Solar/Scania L94s.
For the Rainbow 2 are 640/1 (FN04 HSK/V), 642/3 (FN04 HTP/U), 644-6 (FN04 HSC/L/X) and 647-8 (FN04 HTC/T).
And for the Rainbow 1 649 (FN04 HTV), 650-3 (FN04 HSY/U/D/Z), 654 (FN04 HTA), and 655-7 (FN04 HSE/F/G).
Borrowash flyer Mercedes Minibus 286 has moved from the side of Meadow Road depot possibly to be repaired!! It has been there for a few months.
Transpeak branded Volvo B10M/Alexander Q 53 (M53 PRA) was on the 107 today, and 55 (M455 TCH) was on the D1 P&R.
Solo 448 (FE02 KDU) was on the Mickleover.

Thurs 22nd
Transpeak B10M/Alexander Q 55 (M455 TCH) on the D1 P&R.
Red Arrow Scania/Irizar, 67 (FN04 BSV) taken off the route for some reason - parked at the back of the bus station this afternoon at Derby.
B10B/Paladin 138 (M138 PRA) was used on the XR6.
Dart 919 (R919 RAU) broke down on the R63 to Ripley this morning.
Merc mini 39 (L809 CJF) was on the pride park shuttle.
Dart 920 (R920 RAU) was on the Allestree BLU route - another Dart being on the Mickleover BLU route.

Tue 20th
On the transpeak was B10b/paladin 110 (L110 LRA) which carries N+D names on trent livery.
Both spare B10M coaches, Trent buses 56 (P56 ETO) and trent barton 62 (R62 RAU) were on the Red Arrow.
Dart 924 (R924 RAU) on the Borrowash Flyer.
Solo 448 (FE02 KDU) on the Mickleover.

Mon 19th
Excel 234 (X234 WRA) and Scania 625 (FJ03 VWM) were on the Rainbow 4.
B10B/Paladin 135 (M135 PRA) was on the D1 P&R.
The first ex Red Arrow Volvo B10M coach has arrived at Meadow road in the revised transpeak livery. it is 60 (R960 RAU).
Dart 931 (R931 RAU) and later Merc Vario 47 (R47 LNU) were on the Borrowash Flyer.
A Kinchbus Mercedes minibus was today in the bus park on the bus station.

Sat 17th
The registration for the Volvo demonstrator is (FJ04 ETY) not FN...

Fri 16th
B10B/Paladin 135 (M135 PRA) was on the Red Arrow today at some point along with Trent buses B10M 56 (P56 ETO).
Transpeak B10M 55 (M455 TCH) was on the D1 P&R.

Thurs 15th
Yellow Scanias are about - three of these are reported at East Midland Commercials a Scania dealership in Lenton, Nottingham. The three reported there are 640/1 (FN04 HSK/V) and 642 (?).
The Wright Volvo Eclispe demonstrator mentioned the other day is (FN04 ETY). It is at langley Mill and has been on the rainbow 1 for some of this week. It is expected to stay for a few weeks.
Dart 931 (R931 RAU) was on the Allestree.
Volvo B10M/Plaxton coach 56 (P56 ETO) was on the Red Arrow.

Tue 13th
Solo 448 (FE02 KDU) was on the R63.
Transpeak B10M 55 (M455 TCH) was on the D1 P&R.
B10B/Paladin 135 (L135 PRA) was on the Red Arrow.
Barton Excel 253 (Y253 DRC) was on the rainbow 4. A New (04 plate) Wright Eclipse demonstrator is on loan at Langley Mill. It is said to be used on the Rainbow 1.
Dart 910 (P910 CTO) has been repainted into the new Keyworth Connection livery, with 909 due to follow shortly.
Darts are thought to be on the hit list once all B10B paladins, and Mercs have been sold or re-shuffled into Kinch/N+D fleets. It is expected that Darts on the Belper routes will be replaced by new Wright/Scanias - or maybe something different at some point in 2005. The Darts are getting old, and are begining to become unreliable, especially those that have been worked hard such as those off the SF route.

Thurs 8th
Frio Excel 199 (V199 ERA) was on the V2 today and a Transpeak B10M/Alexander Q was on the X38.
Red Arrow coaches were following each other today. Volvo B10M 56 (P56 ETO) and Dart 922 (R922 RAU) were on the route.
An R5 Excel complete with all the old branding was in Derby this morning - possibly on driver training?
Changes are expected for the Belper routes in 2005. More Scania L94/Wright Solars are likely and the Belper depot will not be entered via the ramp as a result of the size of the bus.

Wed 7th
Excel 198 and B10M 56 were reported on the Red Arrow.
Transpeak B10M/Alexander Qs 51-5 are reported to be sold.
Kinch National (RSG 820V) is reported sold for scrap. To be collected this week.
Frio Excel 199 (V199 ERA) was on the V1.
Dart 920 (R920 RAU) was on the Mickleover Blue route.
Another Dart 921 (R921 RAU) was seen heading into Derby from Belper - possibly for driver training?
Merc Vario 284 (R284 LNU) was on the Borrowash Flyer.
Lance 359 (N359 VRC) was on an extra Transpeak journey.
A Kinch Merc Vario was on the Airline Shuttle in place of the usual branded example.

Mon 5th
B10B/Paladin 128 (L128 LRA) was on the 125.
Frio Excel 199 (V199 ERA) was on the Borrowash Flyer.
Trent buses Solo 447 (FE02 KDO) was on the Red Arrow.
Ex Red Arrow B10M coaches 59-61/3 are all reported at Langley Mill for painting. 56 and 62 are spares for the red arrow and transpeak at Derby.

Sat 3rd
Trent buses Dart 917 (R917 RAU) was on the Spondon Flyer.
Trent buses B10M 56 (P56 ETO) and Trent Barton B10M 62 (R62 RAU) were on the Red Arrow.

Fri 2nd
Volvo B10M coach 56 (P56 ETO) was on the Red Arrow.
Solo 447 (FE02 KDO) was on the Mickleover.

Thurs 1st
B10B/Paladin 125 (L125 LRA) is on loan to Notts + Derby.
New Red Arrow Scania/Irizar 66 and 68 are still off the road. It is reported that the two were involved in an accident on Sunday. 67 has got a mistake on the off side - "very 15 minutes".
A Derby Solo was on the R63 again today - think it was 447 (FE02 KDO), but may possibly have been 448.


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