Bus Fleet News
February 2013
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.
Andrews of Tideswell
NEWS
2nd July
28th April
Volvo B9R / Plaxton Panther (YN11 AXX) is here.
Arriva Derby
NEWS
26th February:
The traffic commissioner has ordered Arriva to run routes 44 and 45 for free after 7pm for one year from 1st March: Traffic commissioner orders free travel on Arriva Derby routes after inquiry into service failures.
24th December:
Omnicity (YT09 ZBW) is in an all over advert livery (white and yellow, looks a bit Maltese).
Scania Omnicity (YT09 ZBV) in its new advertising livery.
(C) Geoff Girling
21st October:
Deckers 4217/9 should be back at Derby shortly following their trial at Burton on X38. X38 branded Versas 2985/6 will be back at Burton.
5th October:
Geminis 4211/5 now carry all over adverts for Vodafone.
Geminis 4211 and 4215 now have adverts applied for vodaphone. 4211 is seen here leaving Derby Bus Station
(C) Jon Ridge
Gemini Volvo B7 4018 in Burton. These four vehicles have now had "the one" branding applied.
(C) Geoff Girling
Bakewell Coaches
NEWS
16th January:
Toyota Coaster / Caetano Optimo IV (R852 SRY) has been sold to McEwens of Mansfield.
For more details on this operator see: The Bakewell coaches website (link works now).
24th December
Leyland Tiger (D229 HMT) has been sold to McEwens at Mansfield.
Bedford YNV / Duple 320 (D66 ONS) has been purchased from Fords Coaches at Althorne.
17th December
Bakewell coaches are back. See the website for details of their excursions and holidays during 2013: Bakewell coaches website.
The following vehicles are in the fleet:
Laura Kaye, Setra (RJI 4525). Previously (X63CNY).
Belgian Betty, Bedford YNV / Van Hool Alizee (TIL 6709), previously (C658 KVW).
Lady Janet, Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Paramount (A62 OJX).
The following are also in the fleet, but currently out of use:
Leyland Tiger / Van Hool Alizee (B42 FCV).
Leyland Tiger / Van Hool Alizee (D229 HMT).
Toyota Coaster / Caetano Optimo IV (R852 SRY).
Bowers / High Peak
NEWS
3rd January
Solo 367 (V110 LVH) appears to be being broken for spares, and was towed away a few days ago.
Excel 687 (old 227) appears to have returned in Centrebus livery, but is not for use here, and is set to return to Hinckley.
White Omnicity 789 is still in use here.
17th December
Recent additions to the fleet are Solos 265 (YN03 ZXA) and 367 (V110 LVH), the latter was new to Bowers, and the former ex Veolia in 2011.
12th December
Decker 904 has returned to Leicester.
Centro 753 (YJ58 FFC) was on loan for a short while, though it has now moved back to Arriva (was on loan to Centrebus Leicester).
All high peak vehicles are now operated out of Dove Holes garage, although the two operations are still quite divided!
31st October
Daf Northern Counties 737 (KUI 9266) (originally (M844 RCP)) is on loan from K-line whilst Excel (X233 WRA) is repaired.
Transpeak will no longer operate between Derby and Nottingham from November 18th. White Omnicity 789 and decker 904 are set to leave the fleet.
7th September
Former trent barton Excel, now High Peak 689, has had a repaint into transpeak livery. It is seen here in Matlock.
(C) Tony Wilson
Scania 748 in Ashford in the Water.
(C) David Harrison
Excel 689 (X232 WRA) has returned repainted in transpeak livery.
Excel 687 (X227 WRA) is going to Hinckley.
Scanias 697 and 698 are likely to be painted for transpeak soon.
Former Kimes Scania / Wright Solar 703 (YN51 MJE) is due here soon as a spare for Skylink.
D & G
NEWS & Sightings
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Doyles
NEWS & Sightings
18th December:
MPDs (V331 CVV), (W365 ABD) and (W793/4 VMV) sold to Leven Valley.
MPD (V268 BNV) sold to Glamorgan Bus, Cwmbach.
12th December:
Following the loss of some tendered work this autumn some of the fleet has been sold / withdrawn:
MPDs (V263/4 BNV) are now with Gills Travel.
Trident (T183 CLO) is currently not in use.
14th October:
Dart (W793 VMV) is back in service, but Dart (X712 CCA) and Solo (T344 FWR) appear to have been sold after being canibalised.
There is likely to be further withdrawals soon with services 330, 59, 78, 81 and 585 ceasing by the end of the month, requiring 7 less buses.
30th July:
Solos (YJ54 UBP) and (YJ54 UBT) entered service in June / July respectively.
Another new bus in service is (W296 EYG) Optare Solo M850 B23F, originally HAD of Shotts.
Darts withdrawn are (W793 VMV) and (X712 CCA) both last used early May and declared SORN from June, but still at the depot.
D W Coaches
NEWS
17th December:
Wright bodied Dart (P664 PNM) is here, ex University Bus, Hatfield.
The R reg PS is for sale on ebay, whilst similar (N818 DNE) has been scrapped. This was never used after repaint!
D W Coaches has begun operating route 150 from Clay Cross using two vehicles.
Three vehicles have joined the fleet for this, East Lancs Dart (P212 DCK) and (P213 DCK) (both ex Rossendale) and Pointer Dart (V327 KMY).
Another Dart to join the fleet is (P664 PNM).
(C) A Wilson
Dart (P213 DCK) on route 150.
(C) Ian Moorcroft
Dart (P213 DCK) on route 150.
(C) Tony Wilson
Former Finglands Leyland Tiger / Duple 300 LUI9958 (F301JNC) has been sold for disposal due to a failed gearbox.
Former Stagecoach United Counties Volvo B10M / Plaxton Premier Interurban K150DNV has been sold for disposal and did not see use during its time here.
Former Stagecoach Manchester Vovlo B10M / Alexander PS N818DNE has arrived and this is has now been repainted into full fleet livery.
Dennis Javlin / Berkhof Excellence N858XMO has now left the fleet.
Felix
NEWS
28th May
The two red Iveco coaches have been sold. The W reg Volvo coach is now on loan to Swiftsure in its place. The Bova below was purchased by Swiftsure to be used on the acquired Felix work.
This Swiftsure Travel Bova (RBZ 2567) now carries the Felix name.
(C) Geoff Girling
21st April
Strider (M301 KRY) has been preserved.
Volvo (V708 GRY) has passed to Harrogate Coach Travel who have named the bus Felix: Photo of Felix
One of the coaches has been on loan to Swiftsure, all others are thought to be stored since operations ceased.
Gills Travel
24th December 2012:
MPDs (V263 BNV), (V264 BNV), Dart (R931 RAU), Metrorider (R228 SCH) and Darts (L134 YVK), (CAZ 6619) and an LDV minibus appear to make up the operational fleet.
Metrorider (R232 SCH) is currently SORN, off since November stored in the yard with a white Dart.
Darts (CAZ 6641), (M146 VVS), (N612 LGC) and Metrorider (R609 XAO) appear to have moved on.
MPD (V264 BNV) is a recent addition to the fleet from Doyles, Alfreton. It is seen here in Long Eaton.
(C) Guy Guy Arab photostream
12th December 2012:
Former Doyles MPDs (V263/4 BNV) are here.
20th October 2012:
Former NCT Metrorider (R228 RCH) is in service here.
16th April 2012:
Former Trent Dart 931 (R931 RAU) is here. It was recently with Belle Vue, Stockport.
G&J Holmes
NEWS
-
Glovers of Ashbourne
NEWS
28th May 2012
Coach (AIG 1346) is here. It was formerly (L776 LUJ) with Welsh operator Owens of Four Crosses.
18th August 2011
Former Winsons Volvo Plaxton coach (FJU 973) arrived here in June.
A Mercedes Plaxton Cheetah is also here.
Harpurs Coaches
NEWS
17th December 2012
Olympian (N595 BRH) has passed to PVS Carlton Barnsley
Harpurs (CN55 MUE) looking smart after repaint into fleet livery in Great Yarmouth.
(C) J Armstrong Jamie Armstrong's Photostream
16th July 2012
(G363 YUR) has been sold to Routemaster Travel of Lymm. Cheshire.
28th May 2012
Volvo coach (S315 SRL) has been painted and ready for the road, the third Dublin decker is also nearly ready.
(D922 UOD) has been sold for scrap and (RIL 5084) is expected to go soon. (G379 REG) is expected to stay on until schools finish at the end of July.
Olympians (N595 BRH_ and (G362 YUR) are now withdrawn.
Hawkes Coaches
NEWS
5th July:
A third PS to arrive here is (R978 XVM).
10th May:
The two Alexander PSs have been painted into blue fleet livery.
21st April:
One of the Volvo Alexander PS has been painted blue.
8th Feb:
Former Stagecoach Manchester Volvo / ALexander PS (P851 GND) is reported here from Ensign.
1st December:
Former Stagecoach Volvo / ALexander PS (P134 XCN) is here, still in stagecoach livery. The vehicle has arrived from Stagecoach Cumbria,
and was originally fleet number 472 in the Ribble fleet.
Hulleys of Baslow
NEWS + SIGHTINGS
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Johnson Bros / Redferns
NEWS & SIGHTINGS
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Linburg
NEWS + SIGHTINGS
17th January
Former T M Travel Tiger (G435 EWU) is here, and is expected to be used in service!
Littles Travel
NEWS + SIGHTINGS
3rd January
A correction to last years fleet news regarding the 4 former Trent ECW Olympians. 712 reported as scrapped, 715 stored at Littles For Sale, and 716 and 717 were exported to America (San Francisco area, 717 at least).
Excel (V202 ENU) is for sale on ebay.
Excel (V202 ENU).
(C)Rob Hadfield The Bus Parade
Scania (M60 LTL).
(C)Rob Hadfield The Bus Parade
30th November
An Excel has joined the fleet in the form of former notts+derby D1 Park and Ride Excel 202 (V202 ENU). It has been repainted into Littles livery.
17th October
Read Andy Izatts review of the Cheetah in route one last week: www.route-one.net
New here is Cheetah (YN62 AKO). This carries new style fleet names.
Three new Enviro 200s are here in white, branded for use on the 111 Pride Park and Ride. The three vehicles are (YN62 AOD/H/V).
Enviro 200 PR1 (YN62 AOH).
(C)Littles Travel littlestravel.co.uk & twitter @littlestravel
8th October
Former Trent Olympians D54/5 (LHZ 6354/2) former (C717 LTO) and (C715 HVO) have moved to America for further service along with former NCT Citybus (SIL 1324) former (E318 BVO).
Ex Trent Lances 366/9/70 (N366/9/70 VRC) have all been scrapped.
Littles are to operate the 111 Pride Park and Ride from 22nd October. 3 Enviro 200s, branded for the service are expected here for this. More details soon.
21st April
The Solo that was used on route 9 has passed to Centrebus (high peak).
Midland Classic
NEWS
26th February
Dart 41 has been withdrawn from service, and Olympian 90 has been painted into fleet livery (was done a while ago).
Premiere, Nottingham
NEWS
31st January
Premiere ceased trading on Friday 25th January 2013 after administrators took control on the previous Monday.
Many vehicles remain stored at the site off Meadow Lane, whilst they are prepared to be sold or returned to the leasing companies.
Many contracted services have passed to other operators, and the Red 9 service between Nottingham and Loughborough has been taken over by Kinchbus.
Enviro 300 (SK52 USS) is now in operation with Silverdale, Nottingham.
Most of the University of Nottingham vehicles should transfer to Yourbus (who now run these services), although the 57 reg Gemini is beleived to be excluded from this.
A more comprehensive list of whats ended up where will be added in a few weeks.
3rd January
ADL enviro 200 3300 (YX61 EKO) has been on loan here.
BMC Falcons 3302 and 3303 are now withdrawn from service.
Former Red5 Trident 4603 is still on site, but withdrawn to be sold in January.
Solo 2281 (V281 DRC) has been sold, with Solo 2278 has been reinstated as a result.
Former Local 17 branded vehicles 2216, 2252, 3352, 3353 remain in use as spares.
24th December
Enviro 200 demo (YX61 EKO) is on loan here.
12th December
Enviro 300 3337 (PT59 JPT) has arrived here in red.
E300 3337 (PT59 JPT) is the latest addition to the fleet.
(C) John Moore
30th November
A new addition here is Scania Omnicity 3363 (YN56 NNA).
Deckers 4603/4 havew been withdrawn and passed to Stafford Bus Centre. An unidentified ADL E300 has arrived here in exchange.
Also now withdrawn from service:
Solo's 2278, 2281 and 2291.
Darts 3332, 3383, 3389.
These are all placed into the reserve fleet and may soon be sold along with already withdrawn Dart 3331.
MAN 3326 is also withdrawn due to engine failure.
17th October
Three silver Scania Omnicities have arrived here for the red 5, with another 5 similar vehicles due before the end of the year. The 3 here and in service are:
3360 (YN03 ZKX),
3361 (YN53 GGA)
3362 (YN53 GFZ).
3340 is currently in paint back to University livery for increased PVR on the Hopper Services.
5th October 2012
Gemini 4637 (FJ57 CZB) has been painted into Uni Hopper livery.
Some silver Scania Omnicities have arrived for the red 5 with more on the way soon. More details soon.
Omnicity 3360 Fri on Friar Lane, Nottingham.
(C) John Carnell
4637 now carries University Hopper livery.
(C) John Carnell
Stagecoach East Midlands
Chesterfield, Mansfield, Worksop
NEWS
6 new Enviro 400 deckers have entered service at Chesterfield, 4 of which are branded for service 43. (YN12 GYR) is seen here in Chesterfield on route 70.
(C) Ian Moorcroft
To keep up to date with Stagecoach in Chesterfield, and many other operators in the area, take a look at the excellent Transpire website.
TM Travel
NEWS:
See Wellglade section.
Translinc
NEWS
:
The Wellglade group
trent barton, kinchbus, notts+derby and T M Travel.
NEWS
26th January:
Centro 1198 is now in service at Nottingham, with "helping out on Skylink" names applied to the old Free Bee (sheffield) livery. 2 of these MAN Centros are expected to be painted for the Long Eaton Express service.
All the former Rainbow 4 Scanias are now in use:
670 Trent Barton Live (Derby),
671 You Told Us (Sutton),
672 Trent Barton Live (Sutton),
673 You Told Us (Langley Mill),
674 Zig Zag (Langley Mill),
675 Zig Zag (Derby),
676 Trent Barton Live (Nottingham),
677 You Told Us (Sutton),
678 You Told Us (Nottingham),
679 Zig Zag (Langley Mill),
680 Zig Zag (Nottingham),
681 Zig Zag (Sutton),
682 Trent Barton Live (Langley Mill).
31st January:
Excels 234, 264 and 266 are now based at Kinchbus and have had route 9 branding applied to the trent barton livery. The service started last Saturday to replace Premieres Red 9 between Nottingham and Loughborough.
Solo 452 is on loan to Kinchbus. It is in plain red livery.
Volvos 741 and 751 are now based at Derby.
55 (R812 NUD) is at Langley Mill for repaint into notts+derby livery. Olympian 20 is currently off the road again, but should be back in use in the next few weeks. Centro 1185 is at Langley Mill awaiting repaint into N+D livery.
Excel 266 is now based at Kinchbus and used on route 9 along with 234 and 264. All are still in trent barton livery, and have hastily been branded for this replacement service for Premieres Red 9 following their demise.
(C) John Moore
14th January:
55 (R812 NUD) has been painted into notts+derby livery and should be in service very soon along with similar 56 (R813 NUD), which still carries West White Livery.
Centro 792 is now in Unibus livery.
10th January:
An Envio 350 demo, (SN62 DNJ), said to be at Langley Mill, possibly for trial on the Rainbow 1 route.
More Excels have been sold, 238, 241, 242, 247, 252, 253 and 262 have all been sold to Red Kite, Sutton, St Helens.
3rd January:
Excel 234 now off, parked at Meadow Road. 260, 262 and 266 also now withdrawn, reported stored at Langley Mill (last 2 possibly for training fleet).
Ex Skylink spare Scania 672 now out in new red livery and based at Sutton Junction.
28th December:
Some news on former Wellglade vehicles, courtesy of Chris Gaskin:
Blackpool have sold their remaining ex Trent Olympians, (XAU702/703/705Y) and (A707/708/710 DAU) to Parton, Carlton. More than likley for scrap.
Excels 216 to 219 and 229 are being transfered from Konnect to Headingham.
Over in North Wales, Llew Jones Have sent ex Trent/Hulleys Vario 281 (R281 RAU) for scrap.
And ex TM Varios (YN54 WWU) and (YN54 WWV) have been sold by Reay, Carlisle to Plaxtons at Anston for resale.
Yourbus, Nottingham
NEWS
26th February 2013:
Citaros 3015 to 3023 are branded for Citylink and fitted with Wi Fi. 3014 also has Wi Fi.
Here for the Uni Hopper service are ex Premiere Travel Centros 3601/2 (BK10 MFX/Y), Enviro 200s 1401 (SN10 CDE/F/K), E300s 1402/3 (SN10 CDF/K) and Geminis 2101/2 (BK10 MFU/V).
New arrivals from Wessex Connect (new to Whitelaws) are 4 Volvo B7RLE: 3603/4/5/6 (A3/4/5/6 UOB) formerly (SJ04 DVH/K/L/M). The private plates should be lost soon, reverting to the original regs. 3604 is now in Yourbus livery, the rest are still blue.
As a result Citaro 3014 & Streelites 1202 & 1302 are back at Heanor.
Most / all the Tuxford area work ceases in a few weeks time, which will see a few vehicles become suplus. Remaining Tridents may transfer to Wessex Connect.
Citylink branded Citaro (BF62 JYY) in Nottingham.
(C) Geoff Girling
Former Wessex Connect Volvo (A6 UOB).
(C) John Moore
31st January 2013:
Yourbus have taken over the University of Nottingham contracts. Some of the branded vehicles used by Premiere on these services are due to be tranfered into the fleet soon.
The following brand new Citaros have recently arrived in preparation for the Citylink launch later in February. Some have already seen use this week on the recently gained university work:
3017 (BF62 JYT),
3018 (BF62 JYU),
3019 (BF62 JYV),
3020 (BF62 JYW),
3021 (BF62 JYX),
3022 (BF62 JYY),
3023 (BF62 JYZ).
Dennis Darts 30636/7 (X636/7 AKW) Dennis Dart and MAN Plaxton Centros 30802/3/4/5 (KX08 HMZ, BU08 DBO, KX57 OVV, KX08HMY) have been on loan from Diamond bus for use on the University work earlier this week.
28th December 2012:
A new Citylink service will be launched on 18th February. The service will operate between Derby and Nottingham every 10 minutes Mon to Sat and every 30 minutes on Sundays. The service will be limited stop only calling at Derby bus station, Nottingham QMC, Upper Parliament St and Victoria bus station.
7 Citaros are due soon 3017-23. They will be branded for the new Citylink service, along with 3015/6.
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