Since the last update I provided back in January I have not really made major progress with the website. In order to manage the transition going forward I am looking to focus on updating and tidying the fleet news page. In addation fleet lists will be updated over the coming months too. This will be done to enable the transition to the new page to be much smoother when this is ready. You will also notice some pages will be come down in due course to enable these to be worked on in the background and enabled that out of date information is taken down.

This latest update as of 10/06/2025 has seen the width of the fleet news pages reduce and images reduce slightly to match. This has been done ahead of implementation functionality for adapting to mobile devices. We would welcome feedback on this to help shape this going forward. In order to enable this the photos will be place to the left of the page to enable these to work when on mobile device. This as a consquence will likely make some images smaller which will be resloved in due course with stylesheets being added.

If you have got any suggestions of pages to link to, particuarly photo websites, please use the contact link and send these over for consideration.

More updates will come in due course, either via fleet news or through the home page. Thank you once again for your patience as we work through this.

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New £3 single bus fare cap now in force

The new £3 single cap is now in force, although it is not fully known how many operators will take part in this scheme longer term.

Single fares below £3 will still be available and at £3 it will reduce the price of fewer trips, especially shorter distance ones.

A hike of 50% is a considerable increase and it remains to be seen how this will affect bus usage. It has been the case all along, one size does not fit all.

Where as it may be beneficial for some, passengers and operators, for others it will be a complete waste of time - more so now operators who only operate local, short distance routes.

For trentbarton, Night buses and Red Arrow are the only services where the discounted fare will not be available.

It was confirmed on Wednesday 11th June 2025 that the £3 bus fare cap.will be extended until March 2027.

Links: Government website with details (Updated £3 link) Bus News article about the extension of the £3 bus fare cap

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| Andrews |

| Arriva (Derby)|

| Bus Link |

| Diamond |

| D & G |

| Harpurs |

| High Peak |

| Hulleys |

| South Derbys |

| South Staffs |

| Wellglade |

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PEAK SIGHTSEEING

Stagecoach Chesterfield recommenced its operations on the Peak Sightseer services on Saturday 24th May 2025. Red route is once again operating every 30 minutes, daily from Chatsworth House on a circular loop calling at Bakewell and Ashford in the Water. This is the route operated for the last two years and again is being operated on a commercial basis.

For the second season running the Blue route between Chatsworth House and Mam Tor on an hourly basis. The open toppers also run trips from Chesterfield and South Sheffield in the morning, and return trips late afternoon. The last trip of the day from Castleton to Chesterfield which had previously ran last year no longer runs this year.

Again 5 buses are needed, with a 6th being parked at Chatsworth as a spare in case required. Thiss year this provided through 3 Scaina N230UD ADL E400s, 3 Dennis Trident Alexander ALX400 and a ADL E400 all liveried in Peak Sightseer branding.

The service is marketed as a premium/special service and as such Gold Cards and Derbyshire Wayfarer tickets are not accepted. Both can be used however to discount the standard Day ticket price from £12 to £7. In addation 48 hour tickets at £22 for Adults and £55 for group tickets. Chatsworth House or gardens can get £5 off a group or group 48 hour tikcet.

Further details of Peak Sightseer can be found here.

Peak sightseer E400 (YN60 CKP) in Baslow.
© Jon Ridge

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| Andrews |

| Arriva (Derby)|

| Bus Link |

| Diamond |

| D & G |

| Harpurs |

| High Peak |

| Hulleys |

| South Derbys |

| South Staffs |

| Wellglade |

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SOME NON OPERATOR BUSES

Monday 16th June 2025

RML2313 of Vintage Vehicle Hire was seen on Saturday in Derby Market Place for a wedding.
© Jon Ridge

Atlantean (A671 HNB), ex Manchester, is seen leaving of the Museum of Making Road heading back to base, having been at an event on the square outside the museum, last Saturday 7th June. This bus now a party play bus.
© Jon Ridge

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| Andrews |

| Arriva (Derby)|

| Bus Link |

| Diamond |

| D & G |

| Harpurs |

| High Peak |

| Hulleys |

| South Derbys |

| South Staffs |

| Wellglade |

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Arriva Midlands (Derby)

NEWS

Monday 16th June 2025

4420 is seen here passing by the former Normanton Barracks on Sinfin Lane on the 38 heading to Derby.
© Volvo 142

Tuesday 10th June 2025

E400 4420 (YJ58 FHM) is an addition to the Derby fleet. Formely with Arriva Yorkshire, and more recently in use in Leicester. It has been repainted into journey mark livery.

Volvo 4221 is reported to be going for scrap in due course. 4221 was last seen in use in mid March.

Tuesday 3rd June 2025

Omnicity 3557 has an expired MOT. 3559 has not been in use since Saturday 24th May. 3505/52/69/70 remain in use, 3552 gaining a new MOT last month.

An update as of 3rd June 2025 on the VDL transfers between December 2024 to February 2025.

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Arriva Midlands Fleet Number	Southport Fleet Number	Reg	Livery	Known Status as of 16th May 2025	Tracking as in Bus Times
3706	2950	MX09 LXV	Journey Mark	Entered service in Derby late January 2025 repainted into Journey Mark before entering service.	3706
3707	2951	MX09 LXW	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3707
3708	2959	MX09 JHV	Interurban	In service at Derby	3708
3709	2977	MX09 OPH	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3709
3710	2952	MX09 LXY	Journey Mark	In service Feb 2025	3710
3711	2953	MX09 LXZ	Interurban	in service in Derby	3711
3712	2954	MX09 JHH	Interurban	In service at Derby	3712
3713	2955	MX09 JHK	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3713
3714	2956	MX09 JHL	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3714
3715	2957	MX09 JHO	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3715
3716	2958	MX09 JHU	Journey mark	In service at Derby	3716
3717	2965	MX09 OOJ	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3717
3718	2972	MX09 OPC	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3718
3719	2973	MX09 OPD	Journey Mark	Entered service 28th December 2024	3719
3720	3000	MX59 AAE	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3720
3721	3003	MX59 AAK	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3721
3722	3004	MX59 AAN	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3722
3723	3005	MX59 AAO	Journey Mark	In service in Derby	3723
3724	3022	MX59 FGC	Journey Mark	In service at Derby	3724
3725	2989	MX59 JZE	Journey Mark	In Service at Derby	3725
3726	2993	MX59 JZJ	Interurban	Enter service on 2nd January 2025, off since Feb 2025 and MOT expired at the end of March. Any information of known status would be welcomed.	3726
3727	3058	MX10 DCU	Journey Mark	Enter service on 7th January 2025	3727
3728	3061	MX10 DCZ	Journey Mark	in service at Derby	3728

Couple of clarifcations from the post on Thursday 27th March 2025.

5/5a Increased from hourly to every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday and a new Sunday service has been introduced along with a new Sunday 6 service. The 6 being interworked with 7 and 38 resulting in Streetlites on 38 on a Sunday!!

38 - Increased to every 10 minutes on Monday to Fridays. Saturdays are every 15 minutes.

To note the journies for the 21 are still showing as 20 in Bus Times.

VDL Pulsar Mark 1 3771 had a fire whilst working X38 on Saturday 22nd March 2025, still awaiting confirmation as to whether has been declare uneconical to repair or to use spares from other VDLs. If anyone has any information this would be appericated.

VDL Pulsar Mark 1 3729 has been off road since Monday 24th February. Bus times reports this has been withdrawn however awaiting confirmation from other sources so any information on this would be welcomed.

Recently transfer 3726 has been off the road since Friday 21st February persumed for a repainted but has not appeared out since this date. If anyone has any information to help aid this would be much appericated.

E400 4403 is currently off long term beleive awaiting engine replacement. If anyone can confirm or deny this would be appericate.

Onmicity 3554 is believe to of been transfer to Tamworth. Replacing recently transfer Onmicity 3553 which has now been withdrawn.

Thursday 15th May 2025

Omnilink 3505 remains in use here alongside Omnicities 3552/9 and 3569/70. 3569 had a new MOT last month. 3554/7 have not been in use since the end of April, so may well now be withdrawn.

Thursday 27th March 2025

Arriva are extending their services to serve Spondon from 19th April, when they will be making other changes to the Derby network. The more major alterations are:

20/21 - these two services will provide a reduced 30 minute frequency between Derby and Chaddesden on what is currently route 20. Both services will then extend to Spondon, calling at Asda before taking different routes around Spondon and returning to Derby via Chaddesden.

20 will serve Sandringham Drive/Sandcroft Rd and Locko Rd in Spondon, covering most of the old trentbarton spondon flyer service.
The 21 will serve Arnhem Terrace. The services will run 7 days a week until late in the evening.

26 - Reduced frequency from every 15 to every 30 minutes 7 days a week.

5/5a Increased from hourly to every 30 minutes.

38 - Increased to every 10 minutes.

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| Andrews |

| Arriva (Derby)|

| Bus Link |

| Diamond |

| D & G |

| Harpurs |

| High Peak |

| Hulleys |

| South Derbys |

| South Staffs |

| Wellglade |

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Bus Link

NEWS

Thursday 19th June 2025

Former Sanders Scania (YN57 FWH) has joined the fleet and entered service as number 84. It currently retains Samders livery.

Monday 2nd June 2025

Metrocity (YJ68 FYM) has joined the fleet as number 20.

Geminis (FJ06 ZSF) and (FJ06 ZSG : Now registered B26 LNK) have been numbered 60 and 61. 61 carries fleet livery with additional Stevensons white and black stripes.

Omnidekkas (YT59 OZO) and (YT59 OZR) are registered now as (B22 LNK) and (B24 LNK) respectively.

Scania 78 (CN58 FFW) has been repainted.

StreeLite SN14 FGO is believed to be back at Bus Link.

Former Arriva Midlands DAF Gemini 61 has now been repainted into Stevensons livery and re registered as (B26 LNK).
© Sam Walker - Walkers Transport

Wednesday 12th March 2025

Bus Link have moved to a new depot on Stanton Rd, Burton.

Solo 34 is now in fleet livery.

Former Arriva Leicester DAF Geminis (FJ06 ZSF/G) have been acquired.

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| Andrews |

| Arriva (Derby)|

| Bus Link |

| Diamond |

| D & G |

| Harpurs |

| High Peak |

| Hulleys |

| South Derbys |

| South Staffs |

| Wellglade |

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Centrebus - Chaserider and D & G

We are looking to provide more regular updates of D & G and Chaserider fleet news. If you are able to or live locally to Chaserider or D & G and can provide updates do get in contact via the details above.

Thursday 19th June 2025

Chaserider have acquired Solo SRs 3009 (YJ13 HNW) and 3010 (YJ13 HOH). VDL Plaxton centro 745 which briefly operated here (previously at Centrebus), has now been withdrawn.

D&G bus: recent withdrawals are: Versas 157 (YJ57 XWA) and 160 (YJ57 XVZ). solos 45 (YJ56 WUU) and 145 (YJ56 WUW).

Tuesday 10th June 2025

Former Transpeak (High Peak) and recently Chaserider Scania K230UB Wright Solar 748 (B6 WER) has been reported as withdrawn.

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| Andrews |

| Arriva (Derby)|

| Bus Link |

| Diamond |

| D & G |

| Harpurs |

| High Peak |

| Hulleys |

| South Derbys |

| South Staffs |

| Wellglade |

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Diamond East Midlands

NEWS

Monday 16th June 2025

39006 is seen here on Ashby Road East not far from the Stanhope Arms on a 9 heading towards Ashby.
© Jon Ridge

39005 (BX25 GNU) and 39006 (BX25 GNV) have entered service today, albeit on short diagrams due to the batteries running down quickly.

39007 (BX25 GNY) is the first Custom Denning Elements 2 electric vehicle to enter service in Burton. It is seen here in Ashby on route 9.
© Geoff Girling

Streetdeck 40840 (MX21 AUH) has moved from Burton to Kidderminster.

E400 40525 has been repainted into Diamond blue.

Recent service changes have seen a reduction to the evening service on the 401. These are the trips previously funded by BSIP funding.

Diamond will not be operating tendered route 1, most 12E trips or Leicester routes 125 and 129 from later this month. Route 1 will be operated by South Derbyshire coaches, whilst the 12E will be operated by LA Travel (South Staffordshire coaches).

Minibus 15015 (WN74 XVJ) now carries branding for the National Memorial Arboretum service (NMA).

The first Custon Denning electric bus has arrived at Burton.

Metrocity 30996 is back in service in Diamond livery following extensive repairs following at RTA.

Volvo B7TL/ALX400 (X811 DDA) is back in use here whilst similar (LJ53 BDU) is repaired. Volvo (B204 COX) is now withdrawn, but still stored.

A new addition to the fleet is Temsa (AK17 ATK), ex Caledonian Travel.

The previous report about 297 being repainted to Buxton Buzz appears not to be happening and was reported in error. Most likely the repaint for 806 is unlikely at this time too.

Recent arrival Optare Solo SR 3303 is seen here departing Derby Bus Station on Transpeak.
© Jamie Armstrong - Jamie Armstrong Flickr

545 YX67 UXO has been repainted to Buxton Buzz livery.

Citaro 807 is now in High Peak (Centrebus) livery (formely skyline).

E200MMCs 5203/4 (YX25 OJV/W) are now here and branded for the skyline service.

E200MMCs 5009/10 (YZ25 OJG/H) have now moved to Leicester (Centrebus).

Optare Metrocity 795 (YJ66 APY) was on loan here, now replaced by similar 796 (YJ68 FYT). Both were loaned from D & G.

E200 91 (YX16 ODJ) was on loan here, now replaced by similar 90 (YX16 ODG). Both were loaned from D & G.

Optare Metrocity 797 (YJ68 FYU) is on loan from D & G.

Optare Solo SRs 3003/4 (YJ25 EFC/D) are in use here along with short E200MMCs 5009/10 (YZ25 OJG/H).

Solo 238 (YJ07 VRW) has been withdrawn.

As the former Hulleys fleet are going into tracking app with there respected operators we have put togehter a summary of the buses which were with Hulleys on or around the final day of Tuesday 25th March 2025 and where they are now.

Hulleys ceased trading on Tuesday 25th March 2025 after 104 years! They were expected to cease trading after the end of service on Wednesday 26th March 2025, however following issues with lorries blockage access inside the depot yard on Tuesday 25th. No buses were in service from Hulleys on Wednesday. A number of the services were picked up straight away, including by Andrews who have acquired several buses from Hulleys.

Fleet wise, Evoras 12 (BV23 NVH) and 21 (Y100 HOB) are reported with Connexions. E200 (YX12 DHN) also now in use at connexions. Loaned Solo 18 (YJ60 PFN) now reported to have passed to TM Travel to join others from the same batch.

Solo 25 (YJ57 XWP) remained on site at Baslow.

The rest of the fleet appears to have moved to Andrews of Tideswell who will use them on many of the services that they have taken on.

A number of services will be taken over by other operators over the next few days:

6 - No overall daytime service, school runs may be covered?

55 - Notts and Derby now provide a service on this route. Although some sections are missed on the new route and there no late evening or Sunday buses.

63 - Stagecoach Yorkshire

110/111 - Ashbourne Community Transport. Requires larger vehicles that the operator does not currently have.

170 - Stagecoach Yorkshire - a more direct service missing some stops. High Peak registered the full route but have decided not to operate it. It is unlikely there be enough demand for both variants to succeed.

172/173/178 - Andrews of Tideswell

257 - Sheffield to Bakewell - Andrews of Tideswell. Hourly Monday to Saturday daytime. South Pennine Community Transport are now operating a Sunday service on the Sheffield to Bamford section.
271/2 - Joint service with First. Update 28/05/2025 High Peak are now running the former Hulleys trips.

StreetLite (SN14 FGO) on the last day of operations Tuesday 25th March 2025. Seen here on Anchor Square in Bakewell.
© Geoff Girling

E400 number 3 has been withdrawn following a collision with a bridge in Chesterfield on Saturday 8th March.

E200 (PFZ 222) seen here in Burton on route 1.
© Geoff Girling

South Derbyshire Coaches MAN ADL E300(TFZ 222) (former(KX09 BHD).
© Mark Kinson

Brand new short E200 MMC (YX25 OGV) has joined the fleet, seen here on a 12E.
© Sam Walker - Walkers Transport

South Staffs have recently taken over the 12E. Seen here about to turn out of New Street, Burton is Volvo Evora 135 LF23 DTN departing on a 12E for Lichfield
© Jon Ridge

Volvo 734 re-entered service over the weekend working the DPA service during the Download festival.

E200MMC 154 has been off the road since Monday 2nd June following a fire which occured whilst working a Skylink Derby towards Leicester.

E200MMC 109 has been off the road since Sunday 8th June following an RTC in the Kegworth area. This has been removed from the Kinchbus list on bustimes.

Volvo 734 has been repainted into the now standard red livery. Seen here operating download festival shuttles.
© Geoff Girling

9998 (BV72 KPF) a Volvo BZL is currently on loan to Kinchbus. 9998 is seen here on Baxer Gate, Loughborough before working a 2 for Sileby.
© Adrian Healey

On its first day back in service in Notts and Derby livery. 826 is seen on Burton Road on a Royal Derby working to Florence Nightgale hosptial.
© Jon Ridge

Volvo 734 has been repainted into trentbarton livery. It is expected that 733 will be shortly going in for repaint.

Brand new Kinchbus Skylink branded E200 MMC 333 (YX25 OFD) is seen here on the Morledge in Derby following the lauch event in Leicester on Saturday.
© Jamie Armstrong - Jamie Armstrong Flickr

Brand new Kinchbus Skylink branded E200 MMC 333 (YX25 OFD) was on display in Leicester on Saturday, prior to the new vehicles entering service in the near future.
© Geoff Girling

727 is seen here at Canning Circus, Nottingham on an i4 to Sandiacre. It has recently been repainted and re-entered service at Nottingham, being off the road since last August when it was replaced by new E200 MMCs on the H1 service.
© Jon Ridge

Wellglade are expected to commence operating Flixbus services from the 12th June, with more to follow later in the month.

Few things missed over last few months or so.

Solo 474 from Notts and Derby to TM Travel.

Saw the welcome return of Volvo 712 to Nottingham depot having been off the road since late August 2024
739 re-entered service at the end of January on skylink express.

Solo 473 transfered from Trent to TM Travel as a result of the arrival of Volvos 728 to 731 for Ilkeston town services.

Volvo 704 transfer to Nottingham depot from Langley Mill.

Volvo 740 was transfer to Kinchbus to help with ongoing shortage. This has occasionally appeared in Derby on skylink Derby since transfer.

Scanias 676/677 have been withdrawn at TM Travel.

Solo 1202 transfered from TM Travel to Notts and Derby.

Solo 1169 and 1206 have both been withdrawn. 1206 has been sent for scrap having been transfer to Notts and Derby from TM Travel in November 2024. 1169 is presently at Langley Mill.

5 of the new E200s on order for Skylink Derby are reported to be at Langley Mill. These are believe to be the following:
YX25 OFC
YX25 OFD
YX25 OFE
YX25 OFJ
YX25 OFM

Versa 816 has now return to use back at Trent based at Langley Mill. 816 has been repainted into trentbarton red, having been off the road since January when 816 was at TM Travel.

Versa 826 has been sent away for repaint into Notts and Derby on Friday 16th May.

Versa 827 has returned to service W/B 19/05/2025 having been out of service for the past month.

Volvo 727 is now painted into trentbarton red and is at Nottingham and entered service yesterday Tuesday 27th May. It is envision that E200MMC 145 will be repainted for the Cotgrave route following the fire on Cotgrave 143 2 weeks ago.

Volvo 724 has been on loan at Derby on Tuesday 20th May covering for ongoing fleet issues at Derby. Solos 468, 471, 497 and 499 were on loan back to trentbarton at various points the week w/b 12/05/25 covering varitey of Meadow Road based routes.

Some details have been amended to the post on Thursday 15th May post. These have been inculded in the orignal post below.

These changes and ones since December 2022 will be reflected in the upcoming Wellglade Fleet list which will also inculde the addation of Littles Fleet.

Kinchbus have announced their order for 21 Yutong E9L and E12 Electric buses for use on their services in Loughborough, due for delivery later this year. They are part funded through Leicestershire County Council who succesfully bid for ZEBRA funding. New diesel powered E200 MMCs are also expected to be introduced on the skylink Derby Leicester service. This will see most of the Kinchbus fleet replaced in a relatively short period of time, making it the most modern Wellglade fleet.

Cotgrave E200 MMC 143 was destroyed by fire along the A52 east of West Bridgeford on Wednesday 7th May 2025.

733 is in use at Derby as a spare (ex X38 - in use minus branding) to cover for Swift 737 which is currently off the road long term.

Former X38 Volvos 742/5 are now with Notts and Derby.

X38 will be rebranded and Xprss38 from Easter Sunday 20th April 2025. Volvos 718-22 have been repainted in a bright orange livery for this.

Volvo 703 is now painted red and in service at Nottingham.

722 is seen in Derby repainted into the base livery for the new look Burton Xprss X38 route.
© Geoff Girling

E200 54 now carries Notts and Derby livery.

Solo SR 499 has transfered from Trent to Notts and Derby.

Skylink Nottingham E200MMC 125 suffered a serious fire today (25/3/25) in Shepshed. It is unlikely to return to service.

728-31 are now all in service at Langley Mill.

500 is now in use at Derby.

Notts and Derby Versa 823 now carries fleet livery.

Former Keyworth Volvos 728-31 are now repainted in the bright red trentbarton livery (like ex threes Versas). 729 is now in use at Langley Mill with the others expected to join it there shortly.

Volvo 703 has gone to Bus and coach world Blackburn for repaint.

Solo 472 has moved from Trent to TM Travel.

Withdrawn at TM are Scania decker 1175, Omnilink 1207, Scania 675 and Solo 1202. Versas 813/6 are also no longer in use at TM, they may appear else where within Wellglade.

Versa 823 now carries Notts and Derby livery. It is seen here at Meadow Road after arriving back from the paintshop.
© Adrian Healey

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