Bus Fleet News
May 2008
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Latest News
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.
Former Hulley's of Baslow MCW B47D bodied Leyland Panther (PSUR1A/1), (RKA 955G) which for the last quarter of a century has been in use as
a roadside cafe alongside the A6 between Ambergate & Whatstandwell has been sold to the Merseyside Transport Trust for £500.
It was collected on the morning of Thursday 7th February and is believed to be used as a source of spares to assist
in the restoration of Liverpool Corporation 1054, (FKF 933G). (RKA 955G) was of course new to Liverpool Corporation as a total of
110 new to that operator.
Leyland Panther (RKA 955G) in its final year as a roadside cafe in Ambergate.
(C) Andrew Bagshaw
Andrews of Tideswell
NEWS
Sat 3rd May:
Former Trent (and Bowers) National (FRA 535V) is on long term loan here from Nottingham preservationists. It still carries Bowers livery.
Andrews now have ex TM Volvo (HF51 CGG) in fleet colours. (EAZ 2598) has now also repainted.
(EAZ 2598) in Bakewell.
(C) Ian Moorcroft
Arriva Derby
NEWS
9th June:
Fleetline 4301 (GTO 301V) is awaiting repair. It should be fixed before it is sold on, whether it sees further service with Arriva is another matter.
Scanias 3467 (N167 PUT), and 3471 (N171 PUT) are set to join 3469 (N169 PUT) at Derby.
All four Scania deckers have entered service at Derby, 4159 and 4194 were off the road today though.
RAM FM Citybus 4354 seems to have disapeared as do the two Optare Excels.
Citybus 4336 it at Staford Bus Centre (not scrapped!) along with Citybus 4397.
6th June:
Fleetline 4301 (GTO 301V) has been withdrawn from service.
Citybus 4397 (G647 BPH) has been sold.
Scania / East Lancs single decker 3469 (N169 PUT) has arrived at Derby from Southgates, and was out on the 109 today. Another two are expected here.
Citybus 4336 (B136 GAU) has gone fro scrap.
3rd June:
Fleetline 4301 has continued in service so far this week, but broke down on station approach this afternoon, and was stuck there for a few hours!
The end of Fleetline operation in Derby?
Here is an updated summary of the expected forthcoming fleet developments:
IN (in service / in service soon
Scania Omniciti:
3810 (YN08 HZX)
3811 (YN08 HZY)
3812 (YN08 HZZ)
Scania deckers:
4159 (M159 GRY)
4160 (M160 GRY)
4194 (M834 SDA)
4195 (M835 SDA)
Optare Spectras:
4698 (49 XBF)
4699 (816 DYE)
OUT (withdrawn / to be withdrawn)
Fleetline:
4301 (GTO 301V)
Marshall bodied Volvo Citybus:
4335 (B135 GAU)
4336 (B136 GAU)
4342 (B142 GAU)
4343 (B143 GAU)
Northern Counties Volvo Citybus:
4345 (C145 NRR) - withdrawn after RTA.
Alexander bodied Citybus:
4354 (F114 TML)
30th May:
Fleetline 4301 is said to have been withdrawn.
Optare Spectras 4698 (49 XBF) and 4699 (815 DYE) should be at Derby soon from Leicester. Both were new to Stevensons.
A fourth Scania decker may also be due here.
28th May:
A third Scania decker here is 4194.
27th May:
A second Scania decker has arrived here in the shape of 4195 (M835 SDA). This will be a replacement for 4335 (B135 GAU), leaving just 2 Marshall bodied Citybuses in the fleet.
Citybus 4345 (C145 NRR) has been withdrawn following an RTA.
16th May:
The latest bus to arrive in Derby is Scania decker 4159 (M159 GRY) from Leicester. On 40/41 today. It replaces Citybus 4336 which was withdrawn a few weeks ago with engine trouble.
3rd May:
East Lancs Darts 2012 (L512 BNX) has been arrived here.
22nd April:
Citybus 4336 (B136 GAU) has been withdrawn.
Minibus 1381 has also been withdrawn and replaced by Vario 1159 (R159 UAL).
SIGHTINGS
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Bowers Coaches
NEWS
Sat 3rd May:
Former Trent Varios 823 (R823 MJU) - the one that received trent barton livery - has transfered here from the Centrebus fleet.
It still carries centrebus colours.
Mon 25th February:
The Mercedes Plaxton beavers here is in fact (M70 TGM), from the Centrebus fleet, NOT (N70 TGM)!
Doyles
NEWS & Sightings
3rd May
LDV Convoy (P568 PRE) has been withdrawn and is stored at the Ripley yard along with Minibus (L525 BDH) and national greenway (JIL 2195).
9th April
Minibus (H198 JVT) has been withdrawn (engine now in (M455 EDH)!) and replaced by former Fox County Vario (R167 UAL).
Felix
NEWS
May 8th:
Lynx (E260 TUB) has been sold to W E Jones Llanerchymedd (Wales).
The new Centro is now in service and has fleet names applied.
April 16th:
The new VDL Plaxton Centro here is (YJ08 EFL). It is now in service minus fleet names. The fleet names will be similar to those on the 56 plate Centro.
Lynx (E263 TUB) is now officially withdrawn. (E260 TUB) is still in use, but For Sale.
G&J Holmes
NEWS
Fri 29th Feb
Two more slimline Solos are expected here later this year. They would replace Vario (YN54 XXP) and long Solo (YG55 YGZ).
Thanks Andy.
Glovers of Ashbourne
NEWS
March 29th
Acquired is Volvo B10M/Plaxton coach (L979 UAH).
Cheetah (W635 MKY) is new here.
Harpurs Coaches
NEWS + SIGHTINGS
Tues 18th Dec
New here from Burtons, Haverhill is Volvo B10M / Plaxton (T300 BCL). It still carries its former operators livery. Thanks Chris.
Hawkes Coaches
NEWS + SIGHTINGS
March 2nd
Metrobus (ROX 646Y) has arrived here from Travel West Midlands.
Hulleys of Baslow
NEWS + SIGHTINGS
Wed 16th April
The new MAN Centro here is (YN08 JWY).
Hulleys new MAN / Plaxton Centro, on 178 to Over Haddon.
(C) Ian Moorcroft
Johnson Bros / Redferns
NEWS & SIGHTINGS
19th April
MAN double deck coach (T616 DWL) is due to be painted green soon. Olympian (G762 UYT) has gone for painting.
The remaining (TSO-X) Olympian appears to have been dragged to the edge of the field suggesting imminent disposal.
Only one scrap (OWG-X) Olympian remains with (OWG 607X) still in service. Many thanks to Adrian for the above information.
Littles Travel
NEWS + SIGHTINGS
-
Midland Classic
NEWS
9th June
Darts 917, 919 and 922 (R917/9/22 RAU) have arrived here from trent via Stafford Bus Centre.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Midland Classic
22nd May
Delta (G738 RTY) is on loan here from Midland Rider. It is in Ensign livery.
The Volvo B6 is back in use. Thanks James.
16th May
Metrobus (E468 SON) has arrived here from Reading buses. It still carries Reading livery.
Lynx (E72 KBF) is another addition to the fleet!
Stagecoach East Midlands
Chesterfield, Mansfield, Worksop
NEWS
3rd June
9 more MAN Enviro 300's are apparantly due this month to replace the remaining Step-Entrance Darts at Chesterfield.
All Chesterfield's remaining B10m's (L339 KCK), (L340 KCK), (L344 KCK), (M412 RRN), and (M606 VHE) have now been transferred to Doncaster.
Doncaster Step Dart (R714 YWC) has arrived here. This has replaced Pointer Dart 32068.
32118 (K118 SRH) was sold, and 32415 (N415 MBW) was also withdrawn following 32073 (M73 VJO)s reinstatement to service in Chesterfield.
27th May
Pointer Dart 32073 (M73 VJO) was withdrawn, but was reinstated back into service last week. Dart 32415 (N415MBW) has been withdrawn.
20440 (L340KCK) is repainted into full Stagecoach livery now (This was the former B_Line bus).
22nd May
2 new Enviros reported in Mansfield garage. Thanks John.
Details on recent additions to the fleet coming soon!
16th May
The last of the K-reg Darts, (K118 SRH) is now withdrawn and reported sold to Ensign along with the other K-SRH Darts.
Dart, (M73 VJO) is also reported withdrawn.
Former Chesterfield Lynx 60 (E60 WDT) was reported on suspended tow earlier this week in Borrowash, Derby - on route to the scrap yard.
New Enviro 300 (YN08 JGV) in Chesterfield.
(C) Ian Moorcroft
8th May
3 Enviro 300s in service in Chesterfield today on service 43. Jonkhere coach 52631 also reported on the service.
3rd May
The Enviro 300s have been delivered, but aren't expected in service for another week.
Minibus (J214 AET) has been preserved, and is likely to be painted into Spire Sprinter livery.
Dart (K110 SRH) is now at the garage on Upper Sheffield Rd.
22nd April
The 6 new MANs due at Chesterfield will be numbered 22612-22617
6 tridents are expected for the Mansfield fleet.
18th April
Chesterfield
Some single deck Enviros are due here soon. They will be branded for the improved service 43. They should be on the road by 28th April.
28th April also sees route 243 transfer from Chesterfield to hobrook garage (Sheffield). This is likely to see some of the older salloons leave the Chesterfield fleet.
Volvo B10M (L340 KCK) has lost its all over B line advert, and has been repainted in to Stagecoach livery. Thanks Jack.
The remaining K1xxSRH darts have been withdrawn, save for (K118 SRH). Thanks Dave.
Worksop
Of particular interest in Worksop is the arrival of Dennis Dart/Alexander Dash (K713 PCN) to the fleet.
Some may remember that this vehicle worked in Chesterfield during 2006 before re-allocation alongside other Dart/Dash combinations
(J506 FPS) and (J507 FPS). Thanks Dave.
SIGHTINGS
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HERE
TM Travel
NEWS
June 6th:
Excels (R211/2 DKG) have arrived here. One of the two is in service in all over white livery.
June 3rd:
Several vehicles have now moved to the new halfway garage in Sheffield. More details soon.
Van Hool Alizee T8 bodied DAF SB3000
(YIL 4058) (former (R256FBJ) has appeared at Bob Vale Coach Sales in High Wycombe.
May 16th:
New here is Volvo B10M / Van Hool coach (K482 VVR). New to Shearings, it is now painted all over white.
2 more ex Lothian Alexander bodied Olympians are now here, (J844 TSC) and (J850 TSC), still currently in Lothian livery.
(J854 TSC) is now in TM colours. These are expected to replace ex London D-FYM Olympians.
Tiger coach (A111 TRP) is now back in service after being fitted with a new engine.
Dart (W923 JNF) has been repainted into the new livery.
(C) Ian Moorcroft
May 8th:
Dart (W923 JNF) and Solo (Y897 PWT) now carry the revised fleet livery.
April 22nd:
Another new coach here is (YN08 NKW).
Vario (S276 LGA) is now in service with Vales of Manchester.
Olympian (G531 VBB) has had a repaint (same livery as before).
Varios (R668/71 LFV) have been withdrawn and are likely to depart soon.
April 19th:
Further news is that Wessex Connect Olympian (P350 ROO) has arrived here.
The move to the Sheffield Halfway depot is now scheduled to take place in May - some vehicles are already in store there. Thanks Adrian.
April 18th:
The ex-Lothian Olympian here is (J854 TSC). This still wears Lothian Maroon and White livery.
ALexander ALX100 Vario (T455 HNH) may be set to have a repaint!
Fleet names have been applied to at least one of the plain white MAN / Centros that recently arrived here. They will be painted into TM livery eventually.
The Numberplate from Volvo B10M/Van Hool Coach (1294 RU) has now been given to VDL DB250 / ELC Lowlander (YJ53 VBM). Thanks Jack.
April 5th:
The coach fleet is expected to be cut back very soon.
Two former Cardiff bus Excels (R*** DKG) have arrived here (via another operator).
Northern Counties Olympian (P335 ROO) has arrived here, but has been returned to the dealer.
A former Lothian J reg Olympian arrived here, with 2 more expected soon.
Ex Nottingham Volvo B10B Alexander Strider (M664 KHP) and Plaxton Verde (N779 DRH) have gone to Ensigns (dealer), along with DAF SB220/Paladin (KUI 9267).
Olympian/Optare (E152 OMD) has been sold for scrap.
Tiger/Plaxton (A111 TRP) was withdrawn through engine failure and us currently engineless.
April 1st:
New buses here are: Optare Versa (YJ08 PFN) (B40F) in new style livery, and MAN/Plaxton Centros (YN08 JWC/D/E), (B38F).
Solo (R13 DBY), (B27F), has arrived from Redby, Sunderland. Thanks Adrian.
TM Travels new Optare Versa in Sheffield.
(C) South Yorkshire Bus Photos
MAN / Plaxton Centro (YN08 JWE) entered service in plain white livery, along with two others. All will be painted soon!
(C) South Yorkshire Bus Photos
March 23rd:
New white Plaxton coach (YN08 DNU) has arrived here.
Tiger coach (A111 TRP) is now withdrawn.
Former South Notts (K482 GNN) has been repainted into the same livery it was in before (not new style).
Excel (R379 DJN) is off with engine trouble!
TM Travel Excel (R374 DJN).
(C) Ian Moorcroft
Translinc
NEWS
:
The Wellglade group
NEWS
4th June :
Sixes Solo 419 caught fire in Blackbrook on Tuesday evening and as a result whats left of it has been withdrawn.
3rd June :
Barton celebrate 100 years in October. For more details of the planned celebrations CLICK HERE.
Red Arrow coach 68 is away for refurbishment (not 70!).
Former Kinch minibus 818 (N818 RFP) is now with Bankfoot Buses of Perth.
Heartlands Travel have purchased Vario 275 (R275 RAU). It is now all over white livery.
1st June :
Red Arrow coach 71 back after refurbishment and repaint.
Paladins 132/3 have been fitted with seat belts and also have tachographs fitted. Olympian 723 has also had a tachograph fitted, and are available for private hire work.
transpeak coach 60 is having alot of welding done to pass MOT.
27th May :
Paladin 129 is away for repaint into revised Unibus livery.
Red Arrow coach 71 is next in line for refurbishment.
16th May :
Paladins 132 and 133 have been repainted into revised Unibus livery.
transpeak branded coaches 59 and 61 are currently off the road. 61 is having accident damage repaired.
3rd May :
Red Arrow coach 69 has returned to service after receiving an interior face lift andrepaint into the new livery.
Unibus Paladin 132 is away for repaint into revised Unibus livery.
30th April:
Former Unibus Dennis Lance 366 is said to have been sold.
Frio branded Excel 199 is currently working from Sutton. It appears this has not been sold, as earlier reported.
Varios 284 and 275 are at Stafford Bus Centre. 290 seems to appear on High Peak Unibus services (operated from Derby).
Paladin 120 is now in Lancashire working for moving people from Clayton-Le - Dale. Thanks Johnathon.
Paladin 120 with its new owner.
(C) Johnathon
.
(C) John Moore
22nd April:
Former Kinch Airline Shuttle Darts 907 and 922 are on loan to Derby due to a bus shortage. Excel 900 is on loan to Sutton (Ashfield).
Vectas 808 and 811 are going to carry passengers again! Maythorne Farm, Southwell are to use them as passenger carrying trailers - pulled by a tractor.
Former Kinch Vario 288 (S288 UAL) has been painted into Unibus livery for route 5. It is seen here on Ashb ourne Road in Derby.
(C) DBD
16th April:
Excels 208/9 (V208/9 ENU) have turned up at Powells. They have been painted in their blue and orange livery, but are not yet in service.
It is still not known where Paladin 120 (L120 LRA) has been sold to. Ideas anyone?
For those interested, the former Trent Excel shown operating in New Zealand in buses mag, is former Rainbow 1 185 (T185 LCH) -
now registered (CQU 981) and fleet number 136 in NZ.
16th April:
Kinch minibus 822 is on loan to notts + derby.
Minibuses 288 and 49 have returned from repaint, and carry the blue, white and orange Unibus livery..
The regular sixes Scanias are now back on the 6.1, after last weeks road closure.
Daisy at University - yes Minibus 49 is Daisy....
(C) Daniel Stone
SIGHTINGS
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