Bus Fleet News
February 2024
last update 2nd February 2024
Many thanks to all who have contributed news and photos to the website. Without this the site would not be possible.
Latest News
***Diamond: Former yellow buses Geminis in service, fleet upgraded with more Streetdecks. Last Scania Wright Solars remain ***Trent: New buses for threes arrive. Versas retained.
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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£2 bus fare cap extended to end of December 2024
Many local bus operators are taking part in the governments £2 bus fare cap scheme, which will mean passengers pay only £2 for a single journey until the end of December 2024.
The government will reimburse the operator on a monthly basis (up to a pre agreed limit between government and each individual operator).
Locally, Trent Barton and Arriva are the two main operators that have agreed to take part along with Stagecoach and many other operators in the surrounding area.
For trent barton, red arrow is the only route where the discounted fare will not be available.
On the one hand the scheme may encourage new passengers to try the bus, and reduce the cost, short term at least, for others.
However some may use the bus less as a result, taking cheaper singles in place of the weekly or monthly tickets - allowing greater flexability to use other methods of travel.
The other potential issues are that services may not be able to meet the demand, and how passengers respond to what will be percieved as a major price increase when the scheme ends - and fares return to current levels or higher.
The lack of clarity throughout has led to operators announcing they are joining/continueing with the scheme at very short notice.
Fares are now set to be £2 single until end of December 2024.
Links:
Government website with details
Trent Barton site with details
Arriva Derby
NEWS
2nd February 2024
3739, and 3740 have been repainted in the standard livery. 3738 is currently being repainted. 3737 remains in use here, perhaps until repaints are completed.
3560 withdrawn, unviable to repair. 3511 appears to be its replacement.
15th January 2024
Omnilink 3511 (YN08 HZY) now in use at Derby. This was new to Derby. Last in use at Tamworth until just before Christmas, it has just gained a new MOT at Derby.
Sapphire liveried VDL 3737 (MX09 LXT) is now in use here.
"Give bus a chance" VDL 3739 (MX09 EKT) has arrived, with 3767 (FJ13 FYM) transferring to Liverpool in its place.
14th November 2023
VDLs 2917 and 2926 have been renumbered 3738 (CX58 EXJ) and 3740 (CX58 FZH).
26th October 2023
2917 (CX58 EXJ) has now arrived at Derby and is in use. 3768 has gone the Liverpool.
VDL 3738 (CX58 EXJ) is seen here in Derby near the bus station.
(C) Geoff Girling
3rd October 2023
VDL 2926 (CX58 FZH) has arrived in Derby from Liverpool in exchange for newer VDL 3768. There is now an age restriction of 15 years for buses operating into the centre of Liverpool.
3767 and 3769 are also expected to be exchanged (2917/37 expected to come to Derby, but are still in use in Liverpool as of today).
VDL 2926 (CX58 FZH) is seen here near the Spot in Derby.
(C) Geoff Girling
CT4N
NEWS
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Derby Community Transport
3rd October 2023
Many larger vehicles have joined the fleet now that many of the tendered services around Alfreton are operated by the company:
Former Littles short E200s (KX59 CYY) and (KX59 GKV).
Solo (KX14 FJP).
Short Solo (MA07 BUS) from Star Travel, Aylesbury.
DW Coaches, Clay Cross
G&J Holmes
NEWS
9th September 2017
Glovers of Ashbourne
NEWS
6th July 2023.
Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown (Y162 HRN) left here a while ago, but has turned up with Workington Transport Heritage Trust where it will be used in service.
Harpurs Coaches
26th October October 2023
A correction to the news earlier this month: of the two white DAF Geminis sold, (LJ05 BHV) to Butler Bros, and (LJ05 BHP) to Freeway, Pinxton (previously got them the wrong way round - my error).
3rd October 2023
All three of the recently acquired Volvo ALX400s have been or are away for painting.
21st September 2023
Three Volvo B7TL/ALX400 (LJ53 BDU/X) (LJ53 BFN) have joined the fleet. New to Arriva London, they were last in use with 1st Bus Stop, Gravesend. BDX is in use in red, the two others have been/are away for repaint into fleet livery.
Hawkes Coaches
NEWS
-
High Peak
News
2nd February 2024
White E200 545 (YX67 UXO) is in use here.
14th November 2023
Citaro 805 has been repainted into High Peak livery.
Citaro 805 has been repainted into Transpeak livery.
(C) Geoff Girling
19th September 2023
A second Citaro, 804 (BN12 EOX) now carries Buxton Buzz livery.
Hulleys of Baslow
NEWS + SIGHTINGS
2nd February 2024
The latest loan from Go Coach is London Country liveried E400 9001 (SK07 DZA).
Solo SR (YJ62 FUD) has recently returned to Go Coach. The optare Tempo and Versa that were at Baslow at some point have also now returned.
On loan from the Go Coach fleet is London Country liveried E400 9001 (SK07 DZA). Seen here in Chesterfield.
(C)Geoff Girling
17th Janaury 2024
E200 5714 (YX11 AEN) now carries fleet livery.
Another Solo in use here from Go Coach is (YJ11 EKB).
22nd December 2023
Hulleys of Baslow have purchased Go Coach, an operator of around 40 vehicles in Swanley, Kent.
A number of their vehicles have previously been loaned to Hulleys, and more have arrived in recent weeks to assist with a vehicle shortage.
The two companies will retain their individual identitites, but will assist each other.
The chronic vehicle shortage has led to poor reliability lately, but it is hoped things will improve, and settle down with numerous go coach vehicles now on loan.
The old fleet numbers are now prefixed with the total capacity of the vehicle, creating a 4 digit number.
Optare Tempo (YJ11 EHN) has been in use here.
Solo SR (YJ62 FUD) is also on loan from Go Coach.
An addition to the Hulleys fleet is E200 (YX11 AEN) from Vision Travel, Bolton.
Johnson Bros / Redferns
NEWS & SIGHTINGS
Linburg
Littles Travel
NEWS + SIGHTINGS
-
Midland Classic / Diamond East Midlands
NEWS
2nd February 2024
Two new arrivals here are blue Streetdecks 40828 (MX21 AVD), and 40837 (MX21 ATZ). The former retains its pink diamonds, part of its route branding when based in Bolton routes 36/7. The later was previously in use on the Bee network.
Streetdeck 40828, complete with pink diamonds, is now in service in Burton.
(C)Mark Kinson
23rd November 2023
Latest repaint into Diamond livery are Metrocitys 30991/2 (YJH16 DXU/T). Repaints are now expected at a quicker pace, as they have been over recent weeks.
17th January 2024
Scania 30901 (YN05 GXL) has been withdrawn. The remaining Scanias are due to replaced soon.
Streetdeck 40830 (MX21 AVE) is on loan here.
14th November 2023
Evora (BV21 OPM) has been repainted into Diamond livery.
E400 40522 (SN11 BNE) has been repainted into blue diamond livery.
Former Yellow buses Gemini (BF15 KFC) is now also in Diamond livery.
Evora .
(C)Geoff Girling
E400 (SN11 BNE) has been repainted into Diamond livery.
(C)Chris Broom
Nottingham buses
-
Paul S Winsons Loughborough
NEWS
-
Skills, Nottingham
NEWS
26th October 2023
9 new Scania Levante 3a complete with mirror cameras have arrived for National Express work. They are:
(BV73 ZTO),
(BV73 ZTL),
(BV73 ZTM),
(BV73 ZTN),
(BV73 ZTP),
(BV73 ZTR),
(BV73 ZTS),
(BV73 ZTT),
(BV73 ZTU).
TM Travel
NEWS:
See Wellglade section.
Vectare East Midlands
NEWS
3rd October 2023
Vectare East Midlands now operate service 9/9a Derby to Borrowash/Ockbrook. Diamond bus have operated the route for the last year.
Minibus (RX23 TKV) seen here in Derby on the 9a.
(C)Adrian Healey
The Wellglade group
trent barton, kinchbus, notts+derby and T M Travel.
NEWS
2nd February 2024
Littles Tempos B1 (YJ07 VSE), B2 (YJ07 VSF), and Volvo B7/Plaxton President D10 LX54 GZT are currently on loan to notts and derby.
Solo SR 499 is currently also in use with notts and derby.
At Trent Volvo 733 now carries H1 livery. 741 has been replaced by 827 at Derby. Skylink Express Scania 663 is back in use with new MOT.
17th January 2024
Former Threes Versa 827 has been repainted red.
Former Threes Versa 823 is a second on loan to notts+derby.
Former Threes Versa 823 is now in use with notts and derby, seen here leaving Belper bus station on town service 72.
(C)Geoff Girling
22nd December 2023
Several services continue to be cancelled at short notice, primarily due to bus availability issues. Vehicles tend to be off the road awaiting parts/repair for long periods, putting strain on the remaining vehicles.
Around 7 of the threes Versas are still in use at Sutton, as spare buses for all routes.
Scania 669 is back in use at Nottingham.
14th November 2023
All of the Threes E200s have now been delivered (see below). Some of the threes versas are now being used as spare buses. All are expected to be kept within the Welglade fleets.
Solo 462 is now in use with Trent at Derby - where it was new on the Allestree route over 20 years ago.
Former Threes Versa 826 is now in use with notts and derby.
(C)Geoff Girling
Former Connect Solo 485 is now in use with notts and derby.
(C)Geoff Girling
7th November 2023
Most of the threes E200s have now been delivered and are in use, see updated list below.
Threes Versa 826 and Connect Solo 485 are now in use with notts and derby.
Indigo 207 suffered fire damage in Beeston in September. It is unlikely to return to service.
New E200s MMCs arrived/in use here so far:
176 (YX73 OUA) - Mango - Sutton.
177 (YX73 OUB) - Mango - Sutton.
178 (YX73 OUC) - Threes - Sutton.
179 (YX73 OUD) - Threes - Sutton.
180 (YX73 OUE) - Threes - Sutton.
181 (YX73 OUF) - Threes - Sutton.
182 (YX73 OUG) - Threes - Sutton,
183 (YX73 OUH) - Threes - Sutton,
184 (YX73 OUJ) - Threes - Sutton,
185 (YX73 OUK) - Threes - Sutton,
186 (YX73 OUL) - Threes - Sutton,
187 (YX73 OUM) - Threes - Sutton,
188 (YX73 OUN) - Threes - Sutton,
189 (YX73 OUO) - Threes - Sutton,
190 (YX73 OUP) - Threes - Sutton,
191 (YX73 OUS) - Threes - Sutton,
192 (YX73 OUU) - Threes - Sutton,
193 (YX73 OUV) - Threes - Sutton,
194 (YX73 OUW) - Threes - Sutton,
195 (YX73 OUY) - Threes - Sutton.
Yourbus, Nottingham
NEWS
YOURBUS ceased trading on Friday 4th october 2019
For a list of former vehicles, where they moved on to, and one or two photos see previous news pages.
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