Click here for previous news

January 2004

Happy New Year

Click HERE for December 2003 Fleet News

? ? ? ?

Mon 26th:
The Metrobus was aquired from Arriva London by Harpurs. The registration is (C317 BUV).

Mon 26th:
A Red (ex Arriva London?) Metrobus has been seen around Derby several times. Ive seen it several times around Derby - presumably on School services. The registration is unknown, but it has a fleet number on the side which is something like M1317. I think Harpurs are the most likely operator. Any help/info appreciated.

Arriva Midlands (Derby)

2003 Summary: Click HERE for a summary of 2003 Fleet News.

Sat 31st:
East Lancs Citybus 4379 (A179 DTO) was on the 22/24/26 routes.

Wed 14th:
Fleetline 4301 (GTO 301V) was today working on School bus routes, and was parked up at Derby Bus Station for much of the day.

Doyles

Mon 26th:
Ex Trent Vecta (M801 PRA) is reported here. It is being prepared (repainted) by Stafford Bus Centre, who recently aquired it from Bowers.

Felix

Thurs 22nd:
Dennis Dart (X711 GJU) was on the Ilkeston Flyer route today.

Wed 21st:
Dennis Dart (X711 GJU) was on the Ilkeston Flyer route today.

Tue 20th:
Dennis Dart (X711 GJU) was on the Black Cat route today.

Fri 16th:
Dart (X711 GJU) has been in use on the Ilkeston Flyer today, and on Thursday this week.

Harpurs

Tue 27th:
Metrobus (C317 BUV) has been aquired from Arriva London.

Hawkes Coaches

Fri 16th:
Two coaches are expected to be sold soon and replced by newer vehicles. The coaches expected to depart are (C747 RKB) and (PIJ 5751). Both remain in use though at present.

Littles Travel

Fri 23rd:
Leyland National (TAE 638S) was on route 9 this morning.

Thurs 22nd:
Leyland National (TAE 638S) replaced the usual Excel on route 9 today.

Wed 21st:
Leyland National (TAE 638S) was on route 9 today.

Sat 17th:
Littles Travel only have ex Kinch Excel 149 (P201 BNR). 150 (P202 BNR) has not been sold to Littles as reported in the fleet news in February Buses.

Thurs 15th:
Leyland National (TAE 638S) was on route 9 in the morning.

Mon 12th:
Leyland National (TAE 638S) was on route 9 in the morning.

Fri 9th:
Leyland National (TAE 638S) was again on route 9 in the morning.

Tue 6th:
unibus liveried Leyland National (TAE 638S) was on the 9 all day today. It still carries its trent buses fleet number (553) inside.

trent barton, notts + derby, Kinchbus

2003 Summary: Click HERE for a summary of 2003 Fleet News.

Sat 31st:
Trent buses B10M 56 (P56 ETO) was on the Spondon Flyer.
New Scanias were reported out today, 636 (FD53 WWH) on the Rainbow 5 and 639 (FD53 WWL) on the Rainbow 1.
B10Bs were also out today, with 116 (L116 LRA) on the Red Arrow and 121 (L121 LRA) on the Villager V2 route.
The two Trent buses Solos at Derby, 447/8 (FE02 KDO/U) were out on Belper routes. They were reported on the R61 and R71, but I think most routes are interworked anyway so they were probably on most of the Belper routes during the day.

Fri 30th:
Solo 448 (FE02 KDO) was on the R61.
On the Spondon Flyer were Dart 918 (R918 RAU) and Excel 198 (V198 DRC).
X38 Dart 929 (R929 RAU) is off the road today, at the back of Meadow Road depot with the front panel removed. On the X38 in its place for at least part of the day was Transpeak B10M 53 (M53 PRA).
An Olypian was on the D1 P&R, and a trent barton Scania was on the Rainbow 5.

Thurs 29th:
Solo 448 (FE02 KDO) was on the Mickleover.
Driver training Excel 205 (V205 ENU) was working from Derby depot today.

Wed 28th:
This snowy Wednesday saw Solo 448 (FE02 KDU) on the Borrowash Flyer and Excel 198 (V198 DRC) on the Ilkeston Flyer.

Tue 27th:
Excel 205 (V205 ENU) was on driver training duties - currently being operated from Belper depot.
Wright/Scania 636 (FD53 WWH) was on the Rainbow 5.
Merc vario 47 (R47 LNU) was on the Borrowash Flyer. The usual Merc (286) appears to be off the road again.

Mon 26th:
trent barton Dart 932 (R932 RAU) was on the Ilkeston Flyer.
Trent buses Solo 447 (FE02 KDO) was on the Borrowash Flyer and 448 (FE02 KDU) was on the R61.
Wright/Scanias 637/8/9 (FD53 WWJ/K/L) are all reported at Langley Mill - and were reported on the Rainbow 1 on Saturday.
A Kinchbus Merc Vario was parked up at Derby bus station today.
Wright/Scania 636 (FD53 WWH) was on the rainbow 4 today.
Merc Varios 281/2 (R281/2 RAU) are reported Sold to Hulleys of Baslow, whilst 825/6 (R825/6 MJU) are sold to MK Metro.

Sat 24th:
New Wright Scania Solars are 636-9 (FD53 WWH/J/K/L). 636 is based at Nottingham, and was reported on the Rainbow 5 yesterday and on the Rainbow 4 today. 639 is working from Langley Mill, reported on the Rainbow 1 today. Allocations for 637/8 is unknown - at a guess one at Derby for the SF and the other at Hucknall for the CC.
Trent buses Excel 205 (V205 ENU) is reported at Belper, working as a driver trainer.

Fri 23rd:
Trent buses Solo 447 (FE02 KDO) was on Notts + Derby route 10.
Trent Solo 448 (FE02 KDU) was on the BF (Borrowash Flyer).
Excel 236 (X236 WRA) was on the Rainbow 4 and Scania 625 (FJ03 VWM) was on the Rainbow 5.
Several Unibus vehicles were used as shuttles between the University and the Assembly Rooms for the graduation celebrations day. I think this is tommorrow too.

Thurs 22nd:
Excel 198 (V198 DRC) was on the Belper routes today.

Wed 21st:
Trent buses Excel 198 (V198 DRC) and Frio Excel 199 (V199 ERA) were on the Spondon Flyer.
Frio Excel 201 (V201 ENU) was on the Rainbow 4.
A Trent buses Dart was used on the Mickleover.
Olypian 717 (C717 LTO) was on route 10 yesterday.

Tue 20th:
Belper Dart 924 (R924 RAU) was on the Spondon Flyer.
Trent Barton Excel 234 (X234 WRA) was on the Rainbow 4.

Sat 17th:
Kinch Dart 894 (M406 HFP) is on loan to Paul Winson.
Merc Vario 286 was back on the Borrowash Flyer again today.
Frio Excel 199 (V199 DRC) was on the Ilkeston Flyer in place of the branded Dart.
4 New Scanias are reported at Langley Mill in Trent Barton red. They are 636-39.
Merc Varios for sale are 275/7 - 284 (R275/7-84) and 824 (R284 LNU). 825 (R825 MJU) and 826 (R826 MJU) are reported to be sold.

Fri 16th:
Borrowash Flyer Merc 286 was on the route this morning, but was replaced by another Trent buses Merc Vario later in the day.
Trent buses Excel 189 (T789 XVO) was on the Rainbow 4.
More Scanias may have arrived, or arrive shortly. These are thought to be in trentbarton livery, and be used as back up buses for the current branded ones. More details, hopefully soon.
The Keyworth Connection Darts are to be "modernised", or rather repainted as part of a re-launch of the route in February.

Thurs 15th:
Frio Excel 199 (V199 ERA) was today on the TP, Transpeak route.

Wed 14th:
Excel 198 (V198 DRC) was on The Allestree.
A Solo, 448 (FE02 KDU) was on the Borrowash Flyer. The branded bus, Merc Vario 286 is currently out of use due to an ongoing problem. A different bus isnt planned to replace it on this route.
Other news is that the next two batches of Scania L94/Wright Solars are due later this year. The first batch on 6th June for the new Rainbow 2 replacing 22, and the second on 31st October for the Rainbow 1.

Sat 10th:
Dart 939 (S939 UAL) was on the Allestree.
N+D, unibus B10B/Paladin 107 (L107 LRA) was on the RC Royal Connection service in place of the usual Merc.
It was all Olypians on the D1 P&R today. 712 (B712 HVO), 715 (B715 MVO) and 716 (B716 LTO) were on the route.

Fri 9th:
Dart 906 (P906 CTO) has been repainted into Trent Barton livery. It was today in Derby on driver training duties.
Trent buses Volvo B10M coach 56 (P56 ETO) was on the Transpeak route.
A Trent buses Mercedes Vario was on the Ilkeston Flyer in place of the usual Dart.
Notts + Derby Merc 41 (L811 CJF) has now been withdrawn and is for sale. It is reported to be at parked up at Meadow Road (Derby depot) with blinds removed. Other Mercedes Varios including 275/277 are expected to be sold.

Tue 6th:
Transpeak B10M 54 (M54 PRA) was on the D1 P&R today.
A Dart was reported on the Borrowash Flyer.
It is thought that Darts 904/5 (P904/5 CTO) and 928 (R928 RAU) are now at Langley Mill for routes 25/27. Can anyone confirm/unconfirm this?

Mon 5th:
Dart 904 (P904 CTO) has been repainted into TrentBarton livery. It was reported at Belper on Saturday for Driver Training.
R5 Excel 157 (S157 UAL) and Kinchbus Vecta 812 (M812 PRA) were today on Driver training duties in Derby.
Trent buses Volvo B10M 56 (P56 ETO) was today on the Borrowash Flyer.
Mercedes minibus 47 (R47 LNU) and Dart 917 (R917 RAU) were on the Mickleover, and Dart 931 (R931 RAU) was on the Allestree.
Excel 198 (V198 DRC) was on the Spondon Flyer.
Notts + Derby had B10B 116 (L116 LRA) on the 73, and Merc 274 (M274 URC) on the Pride Park Shuttle that they operate from today.

Click here for previous news