Fleet News

Bus Fleet News

September 2009

Latest News

***Trent: Royal Solos now in service*** ***Arriva Derby: 2nd batch of Solos now in use*** ***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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Andrews of Tideswell

NEWS
9th September
All over white Neoplan Skyliner has been re-registered (J1 AOT) (former (SF56 UAE)). Thanks Ian.
Andrews Scania/Plaxton Derwent (RIL 4615) departed their yard this afternoon on the back of Trevor Wigleys tow truck.

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

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Arriva Derby

NEWS
9th September:

Former Arriva Midlands Olympians (N166 XVO) and (P611 CAY) are now with yourbus, Nottingham.
(C) John Moore

Ex Ludlows Omnicity 3580 (YN04 AHA) is now is service, painted in inter-urban livery.
Former Derby Citybus 135 (B135 GAU) has moved on from Fowlers, to Tourmaster Coaches of Crowland, near Peterborough.
All of the Scania deckers based at Derby are now withdrawn following the loss of school contracts.

16th August:
MPDs 2217/8, 2221/2/3/4 remain in use at Derby. 2223 has had an orange LED fitted. The others have moved elsewhere:

2242 to Burton,
2246/9 to Cannock,
2274 to Shrewsbury (or Wellington).

Olympian 4667 now withdrawn at Derby after its brief spells in both Coalville and Thurmaston.

Scania deckers 4161 and 4194 are on loan to Cannock, and 4161 and 4181 are on loan to Burton. All are short term loans to release single deckers for use on the Shrewsbury Flower Show (route has a low bridge i believe). The future of these buses at Derby is doubtful, as they now operate very few, if any school contracts from Derby.

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Bowers Coaches

NEWS

Brand new MAN / Plaxton Centro (FJ59 FYT) is seen here in Buxton Market place on route 61 to Glossop. It carries Huddersfield Bus Company livery, which like Bowers, is associated with Centrebus.
(C) Ian Moorcroft

1st September
Dennis Lance 358 (N358 VRC) is now in Cornwall with Roselyn of Par.

6th August
Former Ipswich Solo (X233 MBJ) repainted allover red and numbered 333 is currently being used by Centrebus subsidiary Bowers of Chapel-en-le- Frith on the 27 group of services (Macclesfield- Knutsford) in place on one of the regular SB120/Wright Cadets.

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Doyles

NEWS & Sightings
9th September
Solo (T344 FWR) has been repainted into the new fleet livery.

1st September
Dennis Dart SLF / Marshall (R695 MEW) and (R697 MEW) arrived here last month. The first still carries legal lettering of former operator Click Services of Skelmersdale, both carry their former red livery with a blue skirt (Metroline). It is not certain whether or not these two buses will go into service with Doyles.
Solo (MX53 FDZ) has just recently been repainted in the new Bright Green livery.

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Felix

NEWS

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G&J Holmes

NEWS
September 9th
Solos (YJ55 YGX/Y) passed to Hatts Travel on Tues 1st September. The three new Solos are due this Friday (11th).
September 1st
White Solo (MX08 DJF) was on loan here from Sheffield Community Transport last week.

G & J Holmes has three new Optare Slimline Solos on order for delivery in September, B25F + 2 tip ups. (YJ55 YGX) & (YJ55 YGY) have already been sold to Hatts Travel of Devizes in Wiltshire, but will not be released until the new buses arrive. (YJ55 YGZ) is still for sale. Thanks Andy.

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Glovers of Ashbourne

NEWS
1st September
A "LCB" bodied Merc has been acquired and registered (P13 PSV). It is branded for the free Ashbourne Shopper Hopper service.
Short Plaxton Paramount (JIL 3710) has arrived here, painted in a light blue livery with Glovers vinyls applied.

7th July
Former Blue Star Volvo B10B / Northern Counties Paladin 623 (K123 BUD) has arrived here.

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

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Harpurs Coaches

NEWS + SIGHTINGS

22nd September
Metrobus (B808 AOP) was sold for scrap to one of the Barnsley breakers some time ago. (B809 AOP) is being used for spares.
Ex London Metrobuses (B204 WUL) and (C317 BUV) are delicenced.

7th July
Metrobus (B809 AOP) is now in reserve.

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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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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Hulleys of Baslow

NEWS + SIGHTINGS
1st May

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Johnson Bros / Redferns

NEWS & SIGHTINGS
22nd September
Ex Roadcar VR (LVL 804V) is now in service following refirbishment and repaint into Redfern green. This vehicle should appear at Showbus 2009.

1st September
The coaches previously reported here were just stored prior to auction:
From West Coast Coaches, Kirkaldy: Volvo B10M/Jonckhere (L942 LBV) and (M667 VAJ) and Scania/Irizaars (SK07 BNF) and (SN57 BMV), DAF coach (YJ51 EKK).
Olympian (K879 XGS) and a Ford Transit mini (EN08 ECF) are recent arrivals.

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

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Linburg

NEWS + SIGHTINGS
9th May

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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).

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Midland Classic

NEWS

9th September
Metrorider 31 (W675 DDN) now carries fleet livery.

(XBZ 7737) was on loan from Swiftsure on Wednesday 5th August. It is seen here in Burton .
(C) Tony Wilson

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Stagecoach East Midlands
Chesterfield, Mansfield, Worksop

NEWS

Preservation News: Dennis Falcon (TWJ 340Y)

Dennis Falcon (TWJ 340Y) has been purchased by Daniel Shaw and Steve Crossland for preservation. The vehicle will be moving to Sheffield where it will be restored back to its original green and cream, and hopefully being ready for the middle of next year (2010). Express Motors also operated number 42 (TWJ 342Y) aswell as 40 and 41.

9th September
Additions to the fleet are: DAFs 26121-3 (X851-3 HFE) from Skegness. Similar 26124-6 (X854-6 HFE) are set to follow.
Olympians 16486/8 (N136/8 AET) have gone to Skegness.

22nd Aug

Chesterfield:
More Darts transfered from Yorkshire (one of the Sheffield depots) are Plaxton Pointer 33095 (T965PVR) and East Lancs Spryte 33097 (Y952XRN).

Mansfield:
Former Sheffield Omnibus/Roadcar Olympian/Alexander 14994 (L604 NOS) has been transfered from Lincolnshire.
16719 now transferd to Mansfield, freshly repainted.

Worksop:
16818 (M818 KRH) has had a repaint and transfered to Worksop.

Ten Volvo B10Ms have been acquired from Stagecoach Warwickshire to replace older examples in the the Stagecoach East Midlands Fleet. 5 of these at Worksop are:
20541 (P541 ESA),
20557 (P557 ESA),
20558 (P558 ESA),
20559 (P559 ESA),
20560 (P660 ESO).

Olympian 16818.
(C) L H Transpot photos

Volvo B10M 20560 (P660 ESO).
(C) L H Transpot photos

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TM Travel

NEWS
22nd September:
2 more Dublin Olympians acquired are (R93 LHK) and (R94 LHK), both still in Dublin livery.

9th September:
Solo (MX53 FDD) is now with Norfolk Green.

6th August:
Olympian (R32 LHK) is here to stay. It is currently being painted.

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

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

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Translinc

NEWS
:

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The Wellglade group

NEWS
9th September:
Solos 453/4 and 456 are now with notts+derby for Unibus work. All three have been re-registered:
453 is now (A20 UOD),
454 is now (A12 OUD),
456 is now (A18 UOD).
454/6 are branded for route 5.

Solo 453 has been re-registered (A20 UOD) after passing to notts+derby where it is used on the Unibus 4 service.
(C) Daniel Stone

notts+derby Solo 456 has been re-registed (A18 UOD) for use on the Unibus 5 service.
(C) Daniel Stone

There was a small piece about notts+derby on Shane O'Conners Breakfast show on Tuesday. To listen to the Radio Derby show again click below (starts approx 34 mins in): notts+derby drivers paint buses by hand. Radio interview.

Former "nines" Solos 444 is one of 3 buses branded for Nottinghams new free City Centre shuttle service, branded Centrelink. It is seen here near Old Market Sq.
(C) Daniel Stone

2nd September:
Excel 236 has been painted in Unibus livery for use on route 6. It is set to be used alongside the existing Paladins.
Solo 454 has been painted into Unibus livery. 453 should also be painted for use on Unibus 5.
Excel 230 is now with notts+derby, although de-branded, it still carries Mickleover livery.
Solos 446 and 452 are to be branded for the Nottingham Centrelink service, which starts on 7th September.

Excel 236 has been painted in Unibus livery for use on notts+derbys Unibus 6 service.
(C) --

Dennis Lance 358 (N358 VRC) is now in Cornwall with Roselyn of Par. Sister vehicle 359 (N359 VRC) is in the same area, with Girlings coaches, of Ivybridge near Plymouth.
Trent VR (YRC 125M) is still going strong with Enterprise Boats, this shuttles ferry passengers between Truro and Falmouth in the High Season.

22nd August:
A surprise sale is of Dart 946 (T946 BNN) to Redline, Aylesbury. Sold straight out of service.

Calverton Scania 627 has been at Loughborough, but has not yet been painted. All 6 former Calverton Scanias are to transfer to Kinch in the next few weeks.

Vario 290 has recieved 288s engine. 288 is being broken for parts after its (very) low bridge incident.

Villager Dart 943 at Meadow Road in A garage - being prepared for sale or further service perhaps?

All 9 former R2 Scanias are expected to go to Dove Holes for the Skyline 199 service, 7 branded 2 spare. The current spares, Excels 225/6 can then be used on the town services displacing Darts 928/32.

932 is back in use at Dove Holes (for now - reported withdrawn last week). It had no destination blind fitted, believed to be in 901 which is on loan to Dove Holes.

Former pronto Excel 254 repainted red and based at Sutton. 255-7 should be going onto amberline soon.

16th August:
456 is at Langley Mill being repainted for the Royal for the extra peak time journeys. Solo 423 is on loan whilst this is away (one less bus needed on Ruddington Connection now the City loop is not operated).

Lothian Olympians 22, 23 and 25 have had the front ends painted by hand at Meadow Rd - they may be fully painted by September!

905 being broken for spares.

Barton are to operate a new "Centre Link" service in Nottingham from 7th September, linking the Victoria and Broadmarsh shopping centres via Old Market Square.

12th August:
The 6 Citaros entered service last Sunday on the Calverton Connection service.

Citaro 801 (BN09 FXL) on its first day in service.
(C) Stephen Whiteley

5 Volvo Olympians with Alexander Royale bodywork have arrived from Lothian. They are:
21 (N402 GSX)
22 (N404 GSX), (406 not here as previously listed)
23 (N407 GSX).
24 (P409 KSX),
25 (P410 KSX),

The former 23, ECW Olympian (C723 NNN) is now numbered 17.
Citybus 39 (B139 GAU) has been renumbered as number 9.

Former Lothian Olympians (P409/10 KSX) at Meadow Road.
(C) DBD

The 6 black Mercedes Citaros for the Calverton Connection service hit the road this Sunday, 9th August. The 6 buses are:
801 (BN09 FXL)
802 (BN09 FWV)
803 (BN09 FWW)
804 (BN09 FWX)
805 (BN09 FWY)
806 (BN09 FWZ).

Sixes Scania 690 was involved in an RTA on Tuesday 4th August - the bus ended up in a ditch and has suffered some accident damage. It is expected to be off the road for a few months. Thankfully no one was injured too seriously in the incident.

690 following its accident.
(C) Matlock Mercury Click here for more on this story

Excel 235 is on loan to Nottingham.

26th July:
Solos 406-10 are reported as sold to Nottingham City Transport!
Paladin 107 has been repainted into notts + derby livery.

"the TWO" is now the new name for the Rainbow 2 route. 742 is seen here on its first day in service.
(C) South Yorkshire Transport Photos

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