You may notice this month that some changes have been made to the fleet news pages to bring the links and headers up to date. This is part of a wider change which is being worked on at present which will see a redesign of the website to suit mobile devices and enable all functions to be accessabile under the Equality Act of 2010. More details to come in future months ahead.
New Ł3 single bus fare cap now in force
The new Ł3 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 Ł3 will still be available, and at Ł3 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. Wheras it may be beneficial for some, passengers and operators, for others it will be a complete waste of time - moreso 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.Links:
Government website with details (Updated Ł3 link)
Trent Barton site with details
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Arriva Derby
NEWS This is list of VDL transfer as known. Disclaimer this not a confirm list of buses coming to Derby, but estimation based on resources available. Arriva Midlands Fleet Number Southport Fleet Number Reg Livery Known Status as of 1st January 2025 Tracking as in Bus Times 3708 2959 MX09 JHV Interurban In service at Derby 3708 3709 2977 MX09 OPH Journey Mark In service at Derby 3709 3712 2954 MX09 JHH Interurban In service at Derby 3712 3713 2955 MX09 JHK Interurban In service at Derby 3713 3717 2965 MX09 OOJ Journey Mark In service at Derby 3717 3718 2972 MX09 OPC Journey Mark In service at Derby SP DC 3719 2973 MX09 OPD Journey Mark Entered service 28th December 2024 3719 3724 3022 MX59 FGC Interurban In service. With thanks to William for the intial confirmation of this arrival 3724 3725 2989 MX59 JZE Interurban In Service as of 31st December as 2989. Now running as 3725 3725 3726 2993 MX59 JZJ Interurban Enter service on 2nd January 2025 3726 3727 3058 MX10 DCU Journey Mark Enter service on 7th January 2025 3728 3728 3061 MX10 DCZ Interurban Enter service on 6th January 2025 2329 ----- 2952 MX09 LXY Cotswold Stone Believe to be at Derby ----- ----- 2953 MX09 LXZ Cotswold Stone Believe to be at Derby ----- ----- 2956 MX09 JHL Journey Mark Believe to be at Derby ----- ----- 2957 MX09 JHO Cotswold Stone Believe to be at Derby ----- ----- 2958 MX09 JHU Cotswold Stone Believe to be at Derby ----- ----- 3000 MX59 AAE Journey Mark Believe to be at Derby ----- ----- 3000 MX59 AAF Journey Mark Believe to be at Derby ----- ----- 3003 MX09 AAK Cotswold Stone Ex Southport, confirmed into Service on 6th January awaiting Arriva Midlands Fleet Number (06/01/25) SP DC ----- 3004 MX59 AAN Journey Mark Moved to Derby awaiting entry to service in due course ----- ----- 3005 MX59 AHO Interurban Moved to Derby awaiting entry to service in due course ----- VDL Pulsar 3736 has now been repainted into Journey Check. It re-entered service on Christmas Eve. Bus Link NEWS Short Solo 34 is a new addition to the fleet. Former National Express West Midlands Gemini 52 (BX54 DGZ) is a recent addition to the fleet. Diamond East Midlands NEWS Harpurs Coaches NEWS Hulleys of Baslow NEWS
The Wellglade group NEWS Wellglade Fleet Number Reg Former Stagecoach No. Status 1147 YJ59 NRO 47810 In service with TM, December 2024 1148 YJ60 PFG 47987 In service with TM, December 2024 1149 YJ60 PFE 47985 in service with TM, January 2025 **** YJ10 EYH 47917 Awaiting entry to service **** YJ60 PFD 47984 Awaiting entry to service **** YJ60 PFO 47990 Awaiting entry to service 1153 YJ10 EYF 47915 in service with TM, January 2025 1154 YJ10 EYG 47916 In service with TM, December 2024 1155 YJ59 NRN 47809 In service with TM, December 2024 1156 YJ60 PFK 47988 In service with TM, December 2024 703 is seen here back in Burton, on High Street working the V3.
Toyota / Caetano H2 City demonstrator is seen here on the university of Derby U2 service.
Last Months News
VDL Fleet Update on 7th January 2025
5th January 2025
Omnicity 3556/3563/3571/3572 and 3576 now suspected withdrawn
1st January 2025
Omnicitys 3555/3565/3567/3574 have been withdrawn following the first batch of VDL Pulsars arriving from Southport entering service.
Omnilinks 3511/3512 also suspected withdrawn again following arrival of Pulsars from Southport.
Route changes are taking place in Alvaston and Chellaston on Saturday 4th Janaury. The details of the changes can be here
10th December 2024
Several VDL Pulsars should arrive from Merseyside this week, where they have been replaced by brand new E200 MMCs. The first to arrive is 2977, now 3709 (MX09 OPH) which already carries the latest livery.
Other that are expected carry older versions of the arriva livery. It remains to be seen if they are to be painted before entering service at Derby. A list of the new arrivals shall be published once confirmed.
1st December 2024
Omnicities 3575/7 have been withdrawn following the arrival of VDL Pulsars earlier in the year. More VDL Pulsars are expected to replace the rest of the Omnicities in the near future.
Citaro training buses T010/13 (BD12 DHZ/K) are amongst others in the training fleet at Derby.
31st October 2024
VDL 3795 arrived here earlier in October. Similar 3763 has also arrived this week.
6th October 2024
Another VDL Wright Pulsar to join the fleet is 3729 (YJ57 BPZ).
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7th January 2025
2 Volvo B7TL Alexander ALX400 have joined the fleet, both are ex Arriva Merseyside. 53 (CX55 EBG) (Ex 4113) is in use in Arriva livery, whilst 54 (CX06 EBD) (ex 4123) has already been painted yellow.
6th October 2024
Bus link have acquired two Ex National Express B7TL Geminis, 51 (BX54 DGE) and 52 (BX54 DGZ). Both retain NX livery and are used for school services.
Solo 31 (YJ12 GVV) has entered service and is in the bus link livery. Similar 32 (YJ12 GVX) has also been acquired. These are dual doored Solos previously operating in London with CT Plus, and laterly with Stagecoach.
Short Solo SR 33/4 (YJ67 FZS/T) have joined the fleet. 33 has been in service. Both were previously used at Aberdeen airport and are in plain white livery.
Š Mark Kinson 
Š Sam Walker - Walkers Transport
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10th December 2024
Minibus 15017 (WN74 YFO) is now in a pink livery for a new on demand service in the Lichfield area. The service began on 9th December.
4th December 2024
Two more minibuses to join the Burton fleet are 15017/8 (WN74 YFO/M). The Royal Hospital shuttle now appears to require 2 vehicles instead of 1.
Due to an emergency road closure in Branston, a shuttle bus is running on a temporary route 112 between Burton Town Centre and Regents Park estate.
31st October 2024
Two more Mercedes Sprinter minibuses have joined the Burton based fleet. 15014 (WX74 RXO) and 15015 (WN74 XVJ).
Two new services requiring a minibus are now undertaken, a car park shuttle in Derby for the Royal Hospital, and a service from Tamworth to the National Memorial Aboretum in Alrewas.
6th October 2024
The last Versa 30910 (JB08MCL) has been withdrawn.
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1st December 2024
Gemini (LF52 UTJ) is now back in use after many months off the road.
6th October 2024
Setra (NH09 HRH) left the fleet early last week, for its new life in Cyprus (sister vehicle (NH09 SRH) went there in May - not sure if to same operator).
Volvo B7/Wright (SN57 DCF) has joined the fleet. Currently white with blue skirt. New to Lothian.
(X424 PFE) was sold at the end of May to an operator in Bedford for further use.
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1st January 2025
E200MMCs 1 and 7530 have been return to the dealer.
E400 9022 has returned from Go Coach
31st October 2024
The 4th new E200 MMC arrived and entered service last week. 7530 (YX74 ODY).
6th October 2024
3 of the 4 new E200 MMCs arrived as planned last month, with a 4th yet to enter service:
7530 (YX74 ODY),
7531 (YX74 ODM),
7532 (YX74 ODN),
7533 (YX74 ODP),
Former Stantons of stoke e200 5719 (LJ09 KPK) now carries Hulleys livery, along with Solo 5025 (YJ57 XWP).
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trentbarton, Kinchbus, Notts+Derby,T M Travel and Littles.
Update on the 10 former London Solos which are set to join Wellglade fleet. List updated as of 1st January 2025
7th January 2025
468 has transfered from TM Travel to Notts and Derby
470 transfered from trent barton to notts and derby just before Christmas.
1st January 2025
486 has been repainted into Notts and Derby livery with a darker look around the destnation display. Branding is still to be applied.
Kinchbus E200MMC 151 re-entered service on Christmas Eve following repairs to vechicle after signficant damage it sustain in an RTC back in April
Correction from last month 105/106 do not carry every 10 minute branding, this is likely due to the increase in freqeuency to come
10th December 2024
Former Mickleover E200s 105/6 are now back at Derby, repainted in the new Mickleover livery (rejoining the newer e200s that replaced them).
They carry branding for the service being every 10 minutes, so an increase in frequency looks unlikely in the immediate future.
74 is also back at Derby, now in the black and red livery (like 73).
Former Villager Volvo 703 is currently on loan to Derby. It is still yellow, with im helping out vinyls.
Š Geoff Girling
Further to Sundays quick update:
E200s 101 to 104 are now in Keyworth Connection livery.
105/6 now carry the new Mickleover livery, and look set to run alongside the newer vehicles that replaced these earlier in the year, offering an increased frequency on the service in the near future.
Volvo 739 now carries Skylink Xprss livery. Once the branded Volvos have had new destinations fitted, the Scanias 662/3 and red 669 are likely to move to TM Travel. 712 is expected to join the Nottingham fleet as a mango liveried spare.
Some TM E400s have been noted at Littles Travel for maintenance, now part of Wellglade.
1st December 2024
Yutong E9 demostrator is currently in use with Kinchbus. Number 999 (YE74 VGO).
Citaro 906 is also back in use with Kinchbus with a new MOT. It is the last Citaro in use with Wellglade.
10 former Stagecoach London Solos have joined Wellglade, with many if not all destined to join the TM Travel fleet. All are single door:
1155 (YJ59 NRN), Stagecoach 47809. In service with TM, December 2024
1147 (YJ59 NRO), Stagecoach 47810, In service with TM, December 2024.
**** (YJ10 EYF), Stagecoach 47915,
**** (YJ10 EYG), Stagecoach 47916,
**** (YJ10 EYH), Stagecoach 47917,
**** (YJ60 PFD), Stagecoach 47984,
**** (YJ60 PFE), Stagecoach 47985,
**** (YJ60 PFG), Stagecoach 47987,
1156 (YJ60 PFK), Stagecoach 47988,in service with TM, November 2024.
**** (YJ60 PFO), Stagecoach 47990.
Versa 825 has joined the Notts and Derby fleet. It remains in Threes orange livery.
Solo 474 has moved from Notts + Derby to TM Travel.
19th November 2024
Wellglade are to operate Flixbus services from spring 2025. 19 Yutong GT12 coaches have been ordered, 9 for flixbus and 10 for the trent barton "red arrow" route, including a dedicated spare.
Former Mickleover E200s 101 to 104 have returned and are being prepared to enter service on the Keyworth Connection.
5 former Ilkeston Flyer Volvos are being painted in a bright orange and maroon/brown livery for the X38 service. At least 4 have already been painted. 723 is now in mango livery and continues to be based at Langley Mill.
Three of the short white e200s that have been on loan, 272/3/5, are now parked up at Langley Mill. 274/6 remain in use with kinchbus.
Former Villager Volvo 704 is now based at Derby in Mango livery.
Notts and Derby have acquired Solos 1169 (MX04 VLM) and 1206 (YJ56 WVN) from TM travel.
A new addition to the TM travel fleet is former Stagecoach London Optare Solo 1156 (YJ60 PFK).
To recap former threes Versas 810/3/6 and H1 828 are now all at TM. 811 set to join it soon.
Versa 848 has moved from Langley Mill to Sutton.
It looks asthough the last Citaros have been withdrawn at Kinchbus. 904 is for sale, and 906 appears to have been withdrawn (for now at least) due to the mot expiring.
7th November 2024
Littles Travel, Ilkeston has become part of the Wellglade Group. The operating name will continue to be used and there is not expected to be any immediate changes to the day to day operations.
This brings two former Trent Optare Tempos back into Wellglade ownership.
Former Connect Solo 486 has returned to service, now with notts and derby, and will soon be repainted in notts and derby livery. E200 52 has returned in notts and derby livery.
E200 (YX61 DVT) has become fleet number 54.
White E200 MMC 277 (YX23 OTA) is in use with trent at Sutton, on loan. 703 remains in use at Sutton, now with the villager branding removed. Both have "excuse my appearance, im helping out" branding.
Ex Mickleover 101 to 104 are expected to be rebranded for the Keyworth Connection.
Once 739 is ready for use on the Skylink Express, the remaining Scanias at Nottingham (662/3/9) are expected to transfer to TM Travel.
31st October 2024
A new arrival for notts and derby is former Newport Transport short E200 (YX61 DVT).
Former Villager Volvos 704 and 740 have been repainted into mango livery. 740 is now based at Derby.
Short E200s 274/6 (SN69 ZLO/V) are now in use with Kinchbus.
Former H1 Versa (and very briefly X38 branded) 828 has transferred to TM travel. Former trent barton orange "threes" Versda 810/3/6 have also joined the TM Travel fleet.
6th October 2024
Notts and Derby E400 1403 now carries the green and blue fleet livery.
Solo 510 has moved to TM Travel.
Plain white short E200s in use here, said to be on loan to TM travel until later in the year, are 273-6 (SN69 ZLK/O/U/V). 272 was also here but now with Kinchbus.
Š Geoff Girling
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