Fleet News

Bus Fleet News

June 2009

Latest News

***Trent: Transpeak coach goes up in flames.*** ***Arriva Derby: 2nd batch of Solos start to arrive*** ***Littles: 4 former trent ECW Olympians acquired*** ***Harpurs: 2 EY Olympians arrive***

Here you will find all the latest bus fleet news for many bus operators in and around the Derbyshire area. If you have anything to report please contact me by clicking here.

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| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Andrews of Tideswell

NEWS
June 6th
Former TM travel coach (HF51 CGG) has been re-registered (J2 AOT). Thanks Ian.

May 1st
DAF VAN HOOL registered (7529 UK) arrived here from Fraser Eagle late 2008.

Brand new Volvo B12 / Plaxton coach (YN58 NDF) has not yet been used, so has been re-registered as (YN09 AOT) ready for March.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Arriva Derby

NEWS
24th June:
Fleetline 301 (GTO 301) performed a few "farewell" run this Saturday 27th June.

301 on route 41.
(C) Mr Richard Woodhead

301 leaving Ascot Drive.
(C) Mr Richard Woodhead

301 has been sold for preservation, and it is hoped it will reappear in a historic livery soon..........

All 10 of the latest batch of Solos are now in service. They are:
2913 (YJ09 MLL),
2914 (YJ09 MLN),
2915 (YJ09 MLO),
2916 (YJ09 MLV),
2917 (YJ09 MLX),
2918 (YJ09 MLY),
2919 (YJ09 MLZ),
2920 (YJ09 MMA),
2921 (YJ09 MME),
2922 (YJ09 MMF).

Omnilinks 3810/1/2 have moved to Wigston.

23rd June:
Ensign have sold former Derby Citybus 135 (B135 GAU) to Fowlers, where it joins other DCT vehicles.

16th June:

New Optare Solo 2920 in Derby.
(C) Derby Bus Depot

Darts 2012, 2092 (accident damaged), 2094 and Vario 1150 have been withdrawn, making the entire front line fleet low floor.

10th June:
New Solo 2914 (YJ09 MLN) is now in service.

6th June:
Dart 2092 was involved in an RTA on Saturday, and is unlikely to return to service.
4 of the 10 new Solos arrived last week. They are (YJ09 MLL/N/O/Z).
Vario 1150 (R150 UAL) is here temporarily.
Olympian 4640 is another that has headed for the NE.

Former Derby Citybus 147 is now with Fowlers. it is seen here in Spalding.
(C) Derby Bus Depot

17th May:
A further 10 Solo SRs are due here very soon.
Dart 2011 (L511 BNX) has been withdrawn, after being in use at Derby very briefly.
Paladin Dart 2123 (L135 YVK) is currently at Ascot Drive, although it may not see service here.

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| Midland Classic |

Bowers Coaches

NEWS
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| Midland Classic |

Doyles

NEWS & Sightings
2nd June
Two more Darts here are (P304/8 HDP), both painted in fleet livery.

22nd May
Scania (E228 FLD), Bedford (LTO 701W), and Leyland National Greenway (JIL 2195) have all been towed to Wigleys scrapyard.

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| Midland Classic |

Felix

NEWS

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| Midland Classic |

G&J Holmes

NEWS
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| Midland Classic |

Glovers of Ashbourne

NEWS
1st May
the latest vehicle to join the fleet is (S602 ACT) a Mercedes Vario mini-"coach". Ex Slacks, Matlock?

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Harpurs Coaches

NEWS + SIGHTINGS

6th June
Olympians (N594 BRH) and (N595 BRH) have been acquired from East Yorkshire. Both now carry fleet livery. **(N593 BRH) is still at EY not here as previously reported**

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| Midland Classic |

Hawkes Coaches

NEWS
1st May
Another former TWM Metrobus has arrived here, thought to be (B846 AOP). It has been here a month or so now at least!

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| Midland Classic |

Hulleys of Baslow

NEWS + SIGHTINGS
1st May

New MAN Solo number 9, near Blue John Cavern.
(C) Ian Moorcroft

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| Midland Classic |

Johnson Bros / Redferns

NEWS & SIGHTINGS
4th July
Bristol VRs now withdrawn are ex Crosville Mark 2 (HTU 159N) and ex Yorkshire Traction Mark 3s (OWE 854R) and (OWE 857R).

5th June

One of the ten former London S-Class Scania/NC acquired recently bearing Stagecoach Manchester Magicbus livery. Seen here a couple of weeks ago in Mansfield Woodhouse.
(C) Tony Wilson

Freshly repainted Olympian (G213 SSL) leaves the garage. .
(C) Daniel Stone

Former Roadcar Olympian (B503 FFW) passes through Whitwell.
(C) Tony Wilson

22nd May
Alexander bodied Olympian (G213 SSL) has been painted in Johnsons Bros livery. The destination blind has been removed and replaced with a fixed school bus display.
Coach (SF07 XNU) has arrived from Parks of Hamilton and carries revised Johnsons Bros names on a black and gold livery.

Johnsons coach (SF07 XNU) in the black and gold livery.
(C) L H Transpot photos

1st May
(J132/43-5 HMT) and (K846-8/51/8/60/2/71 LMK), Scania/Northern Counties, in Magic Bus blue (apart from J132 HMT in Stagecoach livery) have arrived from Stagecoach Manchester.
Olympian (G864 XDX) is here from Ensign (dealer). This was last with Aintree Coachline, Bootle but was new to Chambers of Bures.
Olympian (G102 AAD) is also here from Stagecoach West, along with (K355 DWJ).

5th April
5 Leyland Olympians have been acquired. They are:
(F708 SDL)
(G804 SMV)
(H807 XMY)
and (H548/550 VAT).

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Linburg

NEWS + SIGHTINGS
9th May

Linburgs Olympian (OUI 4770) seen here at Lady Manners school, Bakewell.
(C) Ian Moorcroft

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Littles Travel

NEWS + SIGHTINGS
5th June
4 former Trent Olympians are here 12 (B712 HVO), 15 (C715 HVO), 16 (C716 LTO) and 17 (C717 LTO). All have been repainted, and re-registered as follows:
12 (LHZ 6351),
15 (LHZ 6352),
16 (LHZ 6353),
17 (LHZ 6354).

Former Trent Olympian (C717 LTO) now (LHZ 6354) seen here in Derby.
(C) Daniel Stone

1st May
Former Trent ECW Olympians (B712 HVO) and (C715 HVO) have joined the fleet. 2 more may be on the way.

2 Titans and the two MAN double deck coaches are liekly to be withdrawn as a result of the recent arrivals. Subject to confirmation!
2 Daf/Marcopolo have also arrived here.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Midland Classic

NEWS

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Route 9 branded Dart (R917 RAU) in Burton town centre. .
(C) Richard Woodhead

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Stagecoach East Midlands
Chesterfield, Mansfield, Worksop

NEWS
22nd May

All of the former Pronto liveried Darts have now been repainted into standard livery.
(C) Daniel Stone

Former pronto Darts 33760/2/3/4/7 are all repainted into standard livery and are back in service. 33765/6 are now at Grimsby.
Dart 32820 is now withdrawn form service following an engine failure. 32427 still awaiting scrap due to the same problem.
Step Darts 32818/9 and 32422 have been withdrawn. 32419 remains.
Olympian 14350 is shortly to go to scunthope depot were it will wait for sale or disposal.
Olympian 14351 now withdrawn leaving 14352/3 still in use, although they are likely to be withdrawn soon. 10 more Tridents are due here later in the summer.
34182/3/4 (W182/3/4 DNO) have arrived form Lincoln and 33765/6 have been transfered to Grimsby.

7th May
Pointer Dart 32532 (R702 YWC) has arrived from Stagecoach Manchester and is now in service.
NC Dart 32932 (N108 CET) has been withdrawn due to Engine Failure.
Dart SLF 35236 (YN56 OMS) is currently on loan at Ecclesfield and should then transfer back to Rawmarsh.

New here are MAN Enviro 300s for the pronto service:
22772 (FX09 DCE)
22773 (FX09 DCF)
22774 (FX09 DCO)
22775 (FX09 DCU)
22776 (FX09 DCV)
22777 (FX09 DCY)
And spare bus (in standard stagecoach livery:
22778 (FX09 DCZ)

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

TM Travel

NEWS
4th July:
Mansfield: Olympians sold are 14340 (G340KKW) to Go Whippet and 14355 (K355 DWJ) to Johnson Bros. (P148 KWJ) is now at Skeggy (ex Chesterfield).

Worksop: Some Volvo B10M/Paladins and MAN/Alexanders have been transfered to Worksop from Gainsborough and Grimsby. More soon.

5th June:
A further ex Dublin Olympian has arrived here, (R32 LHK).

Olympian (R32 LHK) in use in Chesterfield.
(C) L H Transpot photos

7th May:
Marshall bodied Dart (W371 ABD) has arrived here, and is in use in all over white livery. It is thought to be on loan.

Former Arriva London Leyland Olympian/Alexander decker (J353 BSH) as it left Chesterfield through Boythorpe today, on one of the college routes. This was originally L 353.
(C) Tony Wilson

Another two Olympians here are (R977/83 KAR). Both carry the new livery. They join (R973/4 KAR).
(R983 KAR) was previously Dublin (98-D-20394).

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Translinc

NEWS
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| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

The Wellglade group

NEWS

16th June:
The 6 black Mercedes Citaros for the Calverton Connection service have now begun to be branded for the service. The registrations are as follows (no numbers yet).
801 (BN09 FXL)
802 (BN09 FWV)
803 (BN09 FWW)
804 (BN09 FWX)
805 (BN09 FWY)
806 (BN09 FWZ)

The hospital link Solos have also begun to arrive at Langley Mill, painted in a blue livery. The first to arrive is:
480 (FJ09 MWF).

Former Mickleover Excel 224 is expected to be repainted into transpeak livery to replace fire damaged coach 56.
Former H1 Solos 432 and 435 are now painted into trent barton red, joining 433 and 434 at Langley Mill.
Solos 402 and 404 have transfered from LM to Sutton.

Darts 896/8, 905 and 909 are fairly recent withdrawals.
Many withdrawn Darts re-appeared in operation with notts+derby whilst Download Festival shuttles were in operation last weekend. These included Villager branded 927!

Goodwins have sold former Trent Lances 363 and 368 to W E Jones Llanrchymedd.

10th June:
Citybus 39 and ECW Olympian 23 are now back in use with notts+derby.
The 6 Citarios for the Calverton Connection have been delivered, some of the Rainbow 2 Volvos have arrived too.

2nd June:
Transpeak coach 56 was destroyed by fire in Ashford in the water on Friday (May 29th). The images below are provided courtesy of the Matlock Mercury. For more impressive photos, click here to go to their website.

The remains of 56 after the fire in Ashford in the Water last Friday.
(C) Matlock Mercury www.matlockmercury.co.uk.

The extent of the damage inside 56.
(C) Matlock Mercury www.matlockmercury.co.uk.

Too hot to touch, 56 awaiting recovery.
(C) Matlock Mercury www.matlockmercury.co.uk.

Citybus 39, Olympian 23, Dart 927 and several trent barton Darts are expected to make a return for use on the download festival shuttles.
Vario 288 has a damaged roof, due to a bridge being too low!
Paladin 106 now carries Notts+Derby livery, although the blue is a different shade.
Lothian Olympian number 10 is now back from repaint. Only 15 and 16 remain to be painted.

Paladin 106 has been painted a shade different to other N+D examples.
(C) Daniel Stone

Former Trent Vario 296 in Dorset where it is used on the County Councils door to Dorset service.
(C) John Moore

17th May:

Former Hospital Hopper MPD 950 (FP04 CFE) has recently been repainted for use on the Midland General route in Mansfield.
(C) Daniel Stone

Villager Dart 942 (S942 UAL) has been sold to Procters, Hanley.
MPD 950 has been repainted into notts + derby livery. It has Midland General names applied for use on route 145 from Sutton. It has replaced 910, which is currently at Meadow Road.
Lothian Olympian 11 has returned from repaint into nott+derby livery.

Former nines Solos 443 and 445 are at Langley Mill for repaint into trent barton red. They should be continue to be based at Sutton.
Dart 898 is now withdrawn and advertised for sale. Mini Excel 900 has been withdrawn too.

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