Bus Fleet News

June 2025

Last update Thursday 5th June 2025



Latest News

*** Hulleys : Ceased trading on Tuesday 25th March

*** Arriva: Now operating into Spondon

*** Andrews: Buses now tracking on bustimes and timesbus

*** Wellglade Volvo 727/Versa 816 have been repainted to trentbarton red

*** Kinchbus: Order for 21 Yutong E9L and E12 Electric Buses.

*** New Skylink Derby E200MMCs are starting to be delivered at Langley Mill.

*** Diamond East Midlands: First electric buses are at Wetmore Road.

*** South Derbyshire : Now operating the 1 Tutbury to Burton having taken over from Diamond.


Here you will find all the latest bus fleet news for many bus operators in Mid and South Derbyshire and soon East Staffordshire. If you have anything to report please contact me by clicking here.

A big thanks to all of you who contributed news and photos for Derby Bus Depot. Without these the site would not be able to be to inform about the bus scene in this area, so thank you.


| Andrews | | Arriva (Derby)| | Bus Link | | Diamond | | Harpurs | | High Peak | | Hulleys | | Wellglade |

An update on changes a foot at Derby Bus Depot by Jon Ridge - update on 28/05/2025

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notice some pages will be come down in due course to enable these to be worked on in the background and enabled that out of date information is taken down.

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.


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.

Links:
Government website with details (Updated £3 link)
| Andrews | | Arriva (Derby)| | Bus Link | | Diamond | | Harpurs | | High Peak | | Hulleys | | Wellglade |

Arriva Midlands (Derby)

NEWS

Tuesday 3rd June 2025

Omnicitie 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.

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.


| Andrews | | Arriva (Derby)| | Bus Link | | Diamond | | Harpurs | | High Peak | | Hulleys | | Wellglade |

Bus Link

NEWS

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.


| Andrews | | Arriva (Derby)| | Bus Link | | Diamond | | Harpurs | | High Peak | | Hulleys | | Wellglade |

Diamond East Midlands

NEWS

Wednesday 4th June 2025

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



Minibus 15010 (WM24 KHF) has transferred to Redditch. It is also understood one of the Lichfield pink minibuses will be debranded as only one will be required.

E400 40524 (SN11 BNA) now carries Diamond livery.

Correction to 12th March 2025 post. Minibus 15015 now carries branding for National Memorial Arboretum.

The following E200s have move to Kidderminster joining Streetdeck 40840:

31418 (YY15 NJK)
31419 (YY16 YLK)
31422 (SN66 WJZ)

E200s 31428 to 31430 have recently been re-registered from former Midland Classic private plates as follows:

31428 now FL14 OAO from KW14 MCL
31429 now FL14 OBB from JB14 MCL
31430 now YY64 YKC from JB64 MCL

4 of the electric Custom Denning buses are now at Wetmore Road. 14 are due in total, although they may arrive and enter service in smaller batches. They are for use on routes 9 to East Midlands Airport, X12 Burton to Lichfield and local services 8 and route 2.

The first to be registered is
39007 BX25 GNY

Other UNCONFIRMED may be following
BX25 GND
BX25 GNE
BX25 GNG
BX25 GNH
BX25 GNL
BX25 GNM
BX25 GNR
BX25 GNS
BX25 GNT
BX25 GNU - In DVLA database
BX25 GNV - In DVLA database
BX25 GNW
BX25 GNZ - In DVLA database

The above will be update as and when fleet numbers or if registrations changes in due course.

Thursday 15th May 2025

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).

Wednesday 12th March 2025

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

The first Custon Denning electric bus has arrived at Burton.

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


| Andrews | | Arriva (Derby)| | Bus Link | | Diamond | | Harpurs | | High Peak | | Hulleys | | Wellglade |

Harpurs Coaches

NEWS

Thursday 15th May 2025

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.

Wednesday 16th April 2025

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


| Andrews | | Arriva (Derby)| | Bus Link | | Diamond | | Harpurs | | High Peak | | Hulleys | | Wellglade |

High Peak

NEWS

Tuesday 3rd June 2025

545 YX67 UXO has been repainted to Buxton Buzz livery.

Citaro 807 is now in centrebus livery (ex skyline).

It is anticipated that Solo 297 will also be repainted to Buxton Buzz Livery in due course and will also see Citrio 806 into Transpeak.

Thursday 15th May 2025

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.

Tuesday 8th April 2025

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

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.


| Andrews | | Arriva (Derby)| | Bus Link | | Diamond | | Harpurs | | High Peak | | Hulleys | | Wellglade |

Hulleys of Baslow

NEWS

Tuesday 3rd June 2025

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 Fleet Number

New operators Fleet Number

Reg

Bus Type

Livery now worn

Known Status as of 19th May 2025

Tracking as in Bus Times

4

J29

YJ11 EJA

Optare Solo

Hulleys with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

J29

5

J21

LK09 EXP

ADL Enviro 400

Hulleys with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

J21

6

YJ09 OTH

Optare Solo

Hulleys with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

J31

7

YK09 HZJ

ADL Enviro 200

Hulleys with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

J27

8

DHN

YX12 DHN

ADL Enviro 200

Hulleys

Transfer to Connexions on Tuesday 25th March 2025

DHN

9

J30

MX09 AOF

Optare Solo

Hulleys 110/111

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

J30

10

J18

YJ09 MHN

Optare Solo

Hulleys with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

J18

12

NVH

BV23 NVH

Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora

Super 13

Transfer to Connexions on Tuesday 25th March 2025

NVH

13

WK11 APY

Optare Solo SR

Hulleys with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

14

J25

YX11 AEN

ADL Enviro 200

Hulleys with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

J25

15

J15

MK63 XAU

ADL Enviro 200

Hulleys New with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

J15

17

J24

MX11 CZM

ADL Enviro 200

Hulleys New with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

J24

18

YJ60 PFN

Optare Solo

Hulleys with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to TM Travel on Tuesday 25th March 2025, awaiting new engine before entering service

21

100

Y100 HOB

Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora

Super 13

Transfer to Connexions on Tuesday 25th March 2025 and subsquentally repainted to Super 13 livery

100

22

J22

LK57 AYB

ADL Enviro 400

Hulleys New with Andrews fleetnames

Transfer to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025

J22

25

?J25

YJ57 XWP

ADL Enviro 400

Hulleys with Andrews fleetnames

Transfered to Andrews on Tuesday 25th March 2025. Currently not entered service awaiting new engine.

34

BZT

FJ55 BZT

Scania L94UB Wright Solar

Connexions X1

Was on loan to Hulleys at the time of Clourse transfer back to Connecxions.

BZT

36

SN14 FGO

Wright StreetLite DF

Newbury & District Buses

Transfer back to Bus Link on Tuesday 25th March 2025

Tuesday 8th April 2025

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

Wednesday 12th March 2025

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


| Andrews | | Arriva (Derby)| | Bus Link | | Diamond | | Harpurs | | High Peak | | Hulleys | | Wellglade |

The Wellglade group
trentbarton, Kinchbus, Notts + Derby, TM Travel and Littles.

NEWS

Tuesday 3rd June 2025

Solo 1169 is close to being back in use with Notts + Derby.

Omnidecker 1173 is at Notts + Derby in prepration for Download and not at Littles as previously reported.

The continuing bus shortage at Derby resulted in Volvo 746 being on from Langley Mill last Friday 30th May. 746 ended up working on Red Arrow.
Versa 818 was on loan from Sutton during Friday 30th and Saturday 31st May. Friday saw 818 working on Red Arrow. Whilst on Saturday 818 helped out on the allestree.

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

Monday 2nd June 2025

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

Update as 02/06/25:

Few things missed over last few months or so.

December 2024:

Solo 474 from Notts and Derby to TM Travel.

February 2025:

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.

March 2025:

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.

April 2025

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.

Thursday 15th May 2025

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.

Wednesday 16th April 2025

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.

Tuesday 8th April 2025

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

Wednesday 12th March 2025

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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