About the Wellglade Group
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The Wellglade group consists of 5 different company identities. These are Trent Barton (the former Trent buses, and Barton), Notts + Derby, Kinchbus, Midland General and TM Travel. The group operates into many different counties the main ones being, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Leicestershire is mainly covered by Kinchbus, based in Loughborough and TM Travel operate around the Sheffield area and beyond.
The company is based on the border of Langley Mill and Heanor in Derbyshire.
There are many other depots around the operational areas. There are depots at, Derby (Meadow Road),vLangley Mill, Nottingham (Manvers Street), Sutton Junction (Midland Road).
The Derby depot houses many of the Notts and Derby buses although some are kept at other locations.
The Kinchbus depot is at Loughborough, with their services operated around the town and across the borders in Nottingham and Leicester.
TM travel are based in Sheffield, and operate services around the city aswell as local services in Chesterfield and throughout the Peak District.
Trent Barton
145 is the newest bus in the fleet at the time of writing, entering service early in 2020. It carries a livery which most spare buses now carry,
an orange and green livery advertising the mango travel card. Few spare buses are now red. (C) Geoff Girling
Trent Motor Traction and Barton Transport joined in the late 1980s. The standard livery is red, however most of the vehicles are now route branded, leading to a variety of liveries. The majority of the vehicles are now ADL E200 MMCs, alongside Wright bodied Volvos, Optare Versas, Optare Solos and a few Wright bodied Scanias. Volvo / Plaxton Elite coaches are used on the Red Arrow service between Nottingham and Derby, with 1 Scania Irizar coach as a sbranded spare.
notts&derby
Former Trent Paladin 136 in the Notts + Derby livery. Seen here in Ilkeston.
The Notts and Derby traction company is also owned by the Wellglade group. They operate Unibus network of services, serving the University of Derby and the High Peak Campuses aswell as low cost services with infrequent journeys on most. Free shopping buses, works services and a sizable network of school and college services are operated. Other contract work, including rail replacement, is also undertaken. The bulk of the fleet is now made up of Scania Omnideckers, Wright bodied Scania saloons, Optare Solos, Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL, and a mix of coaches. Most vehicles are in standard Green white and blue livery, although most coaches are plain white. Unibus blue and white is carried on a fleet of Volvo Plaxton Centros.
Kinchbus
A Scania, 603, in standard Kinchbus livery. (C) Alf Cundy
Kinchbus operates many routes in the Loughborough area.
It has only been part of the Wellglade group for the past few years since the late 1990s.
The fleet consists of a variety of vehicles, including Wright bodied Volvos, Wright bodied Scanias, Mercedes Citaros and Optare Solos.
New Mercedes Citaros currently operate the Derby to Leicester Skylink service.
The livery is blue and yellow. Route branding is carried on some buses.
TM Travel
TM Travel operate from their garage at Halfway, Sheffield. Routes around Yorkshire and into Derbyshire are undertaken along with school services and private hire. A mix of vehicles are operated, including double deckers, Scania saloons and Solos. Many vehicles have been transferred from the trent barton fleet, although others have been sourced from elsewhere.
Midland General
Midland General is the name that covers the door 2 door and minibus operation which operates from Meadow Rd as part of notts+derby.
For a complete fleetlist for the whole of the Wellglade group click here