Fleet News

Bus Fleet News

January 2014

Latest News

***trent barton: Versas for H1 in the new year. More buses on Skylink.*** ***Gills: Ceases trading*** ***notts and derby: Darts re-join fleet. *** ***Arriva: Bew VDLs for Burton. *** ***Yourbus: Citaro demo joins the fleet. ***

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.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Andrews of Tideswell

NEWS
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Arriva Derby

NEWS
23rd January:
3815 (YR59 NNV) entered service last Tuesday (14th) followed by 3813 (YR59 NNT) this Tuesday (21st). Dart 2235 reported at Burton. At present it is unknown if other Darts have moved / been withdrawn.

3814 is the is currently on loan from Hinckleybus to Derby.
(C) Geoff Girling

6 new Wright bodied VDLs are on delivery for use at Burton, for route 9, after being prepared for service at Derby. They are:

3770 (FL63 DXA) XMGDE02FS0H022572.
3771 (FL63 DXB) XMGDE02FS0H022573.
3772 (FL63 DXC) XMGDE02FS0H022574.
3773 (FL63 DXD) XMGDE02FS0H022575.
3774 (FL63 DXE) XMGDE02FS0H022576.
3775 (FL63 DXF) XMGDE02FS0H022577.

Coalville are having three for the same service:

3776 (FL63 DXG) XMGDE02FS0H022578.
3777 (FL63 DXH) XMGDE02FS0H022579.
3778 )FL63 DXJ) XMGDE02FS0H022580.

11th November:
3 Wright bodied Scanias, 3813-5 are expected to transfer from Hinckley bus to Arriva Derby soon to replace 3 Darts. 3814 is said to be in the paintshop at Derby.
There may be some news for route 38 soon.

17th October:
Deckers 4208 and 4211 have returned from Burton to Derby for use on the 44/45, which now requires 2 additional vehicles due to a frequency increase.

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| Midland Classic |

Bakewell Coaches

NEWS
22nd November:
(T179 AUA) has returned to Warringtons of Ilam.

20th October:
(SN57 VPL) Setra S415HD has left the fleet.
SCZ9652 (T179AUA) DAF SB3000 / Van Hool Alizee T8 is currently on loan from Warringtons Coaches of Ilam.

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| Midland Classic |

Bowers / High Peak

NEWS
23rd January
377 (YJ05 XMU) has now also moved to Corby. An 08 SOlo due at High Peak soon.

Former Trent Excel (transpeak) 231 went for scrap last week.

15th January
2 brand new Solo SRs have arrived here and are in service. 3 more are on order. The two now in use are:

279? (YD63 VDC),
280 (YD63 VDE).

Solo 266 has moved to Corby.

26th December
New Solos are on order for High Peak, and are due for delivery in January 2014. They are Mercedes engined. More details soon.

742 has been returned to service to replace Excel 688 (ex trent 231), which is withdrawn following a fire.

Ex Kimes Excel 701 (V394 KVY) has arrived here to replace 742.

18th November
Optare Solo (YJ11 EKV) is now in use here as fleet number 281.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Doyles

NEWS & Sightings
Tuesday 14th January
Doyles coaches ceased trading at the end of Monday 13th January 2014. Many services in and around Mansfield have been taken over (in the short term at least) by Stagecoach. Service 228 in Hucknall is being operated by Littles. A&S Coaches are operating a reduced 331 service (Selston to Phoenix Park).

The 332 and services around Alfreton are not operating today (Tuesday 14th). Derbyshire County Council are looking into alternatives.

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| Midland Classic |

D W Coaches

NEWS
23rd January:
Former Stagecoach Western Darts 33443/4 (X613/4 JCS) have arrived here. 613 is awaiting repaint. Dart (T131 MGB) has left the fleet, and (V327 ) will follow once 613 is in service.

2nd January:
The latest Olympian here is ex Stagecoach (N709 LTN).

22nd November:
The latest addition to the fleet is Dennis Javelin / Plaxton Paramount (H160 DJU) which has arrived from Vixens Travel (East Sussex). I previously listed this under Bakewell coaches in error.

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| Midland Classic |

G&J Holmes

NEWS
26th December
The 2 new Enviro 200s here are (MK63 WZZ) and (YX63 GYK). Solo (MX59 AVR) has been sold to PC Coaches, Lincoln.

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| Midland Classic |

Glovers of Ashbourne

NEWS
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Harpurs Coaches

NEWS

7th November 2013
(R309 WVR) has been painted and now in service. Similar (R319 WVR) is currently in stock, but not prepared for use.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Hawkes Coaches

NEWS
2nd January:
An arrival in the last few months is East Lancs bodied Olympian (R343 MFR), ex Metrobus, Orpingdon and still in their blue/grey livery.

20th October:
Starliner (PO63 FLP) has been re-registered as (DH63 DEH).

Brand new Starliner (DH63 DEH) is seen here leaving Derby bus station.
(C) Geoff Girling

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Hulleys of Baslow

NEWS + SIGHTINGS

Hulleys currently have E300 (KX10 DVH) on loan. It is seen here in Bakewell.
(C) Ian Moorcroft

26th December
A temporary addition to the fleet from Dawson rentals is ENVIRO 300 (KX10 DVH). New to Order of Malta, Stirling, it is here in place of Volvo decker no 4 (V140 LGC), which has been withdrawn after being involved in an RTA. It islikely to replaced by another decker in the near future.

Hulleys Streetlite 22 (MX61 BCK).
(C) Ian Moorcroft

17th October
A temporary addition to the fleet is Wright Streetlite 22 (MX61 BCK). It is on loan from Mistral.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Johnson Bros / Redferns

NEWS & SIGHTINGS
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| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Linburg

NEWS + SIGHTINGS
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| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Littles Travel

NEWS + SIGHTINGS
24th January
Former Gills Wright bodied Dart (YAZ 8645) is in service here. The other from the same batch is in service with AOT of Nottingham.

Former Gills Dart (YAZ 8645) on former Doyles route 228 in Hucknall.
(C) John Moore

2nd January
Ex London Central VDL SB120/Wright (FJ54 ZTX) has been here since around last April, but has not been previously reported.

7th April
Excel (V202 ENU) has been reregistered as (XIB 1908).

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Midland Classic

NEWS
26th December
Olympian 90 (L649 MYG) is said to be withdrawn.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Paul S Winson

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NEWS

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Skills, Nottingham

NEWS -

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

TM Travel

NEWS:
See Wellglade section.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Translinc

NEWS

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

The Wellglade group
trent barton, kinchbus, notts+derby and T M Travel.

NEWS
28th January:
Scanias 601 and 631 (former H1 branded) are now at Nottingham branded for the Skylink, which now operates up to every 20 minutes.

The Zoom route has been extended to Sawley replacing the Sawley Xprss. The frequency has also been reduced, resulting in one less vehicle being required. Solo 446 is expected to be rebranded and used elsewhere.

6 green Solo SRs have arrived at Langley Mill, destined for the Radcliffe Line. One is (YD63 VDR).

23rd January:
113 has been withdrawn, and will be scrapped soon.
109 has left Meadow Road on its final journey to the scrap yard.

Expressway Coaches, Wath-on-Dearne have Olympians 718 and 719 (C718/719LTO) in their yard. 719 still has its TM livered front, 718 in full Notts and Derby livery.
Stotts depot at Milnsbridge still use all 4 ex Kinch Darts (L401/402 CJF) and (M405/406 HFP).

15th January:
H1 Scanias 602 and 603 are currently on loan to Kinchbus. In use on Sprint and Skylink today.

Unibus Centro 1198 now in service after repaint (no branding yet).

14th January:
5 new Optare Versas (sH1iny new buses) are now in service on the H1. They are:

828 (YD63 VCV),
829 (YD63 VCW),
830 (YD63 VCX),
831 (YD63 VCY),
832 (YD63 VCZ).

828 and 830 were the two used on Sunday.

SH1NY NEW BUS, Optare Versa 831 prior to leaving Derby on the H1 route on Sunday 12th January.
(C) Geoff Girling

5th January:
Coach 55 has been withdrawn due to corrosion, 793 following its accident, and 403 following a small fire. All three have been scrapped.

2nd January:
Brand new Versas enter service on the H1 on Sunday 12 January. "Preview Parties" are taking place at Heanor Market Place on Friday 10 January and at Derby Market Place on Saturday 11 January.

Ex Trent Villager Dart 927 (R927RAU), which is now in Southern Ireland, is with Geraghty, Castlerea and is re-registered 97-RN-6012.

Enviro 200 (MX12 DYV) is currently on loan to Kinchbus for use on the Skylink (Derby - EMA - Leicester) service.
(C) Dennis Basford Rails, roads, and runways blog.

26th December:
The first Versa for the H1 route has arrived in the shape of (YD63 VCY). A Mercedes Citaro demonstrator is also at Langley Mill, although it may not be used in service.

687 is the latest sixes Scania to be put back on the road after refurbishment.

Solo 413 is now in use with TM Travel after a short spell with notts and derby. Centro 1198 is being repainted into unibus livery, and 794 into notts and derby livery.

TM have sold withdrawn ex Dublin Olys 1112 (J619CEV) and 1123 (L726SNO) and Solo 415 to Geoff Ripley, Carlton for scrap. Ripley's have also bought ex NCT Scanias 1119 and 1120 (L351/352MRR), but as these are operational, they may be sold on.

More ex Dublin Olys withdrawn are 1111 (H784PVW), 1113 (J628CEV) and 1125 (P487SWC) along with ex Armchair/Thompson Travel Oly 1105 (G370YUR). Of these, 1111 and 1125 are now stored in Hucknall Trent depot.

5th December:
New Versas are expected for use on the H1 route early on in 2014.

ADL Enviro 200 (MX12 DYV) is currently in use at Kinchbus.

Two extra Scanias should be needed for Nottingham Skylink at the end of January when the frequency of the route is increased. At the same time the Sawley Xprss is being withdrawn, the Zoom extended to Sawley and the Club Class route extended to Borrowash.

Dart 934 is back in use with notts and derby along with Solo 413 (from trent barton). These are for use on new school contracts (former Gills ones). Dart 935 is being repaired at Langley Mill and looks likely to rejoin the fleet at notts and derby.

Lance 367 has been scrapped and is currently in Looms, Spondon.

National 534 (FRA 534V) is due to return to the area later this month.

Door to Door Transits:

1010 (BK07 HSN),
1011 (BK07 DXD),
1012 (NM07 OMC).

1013 (HX53 OKM) is another minibus in the fleet.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Yourbus, Nottingham

NEWS
23rd January 2014:
Volvos 3605/3606 have been withdrawn. 3603/3604 should be withdrawn very soon (if not already).

Centros 3601/3602 are now regularly allocated to service 59, and E300s 1402/1403 to service 140/141.

The Citaro demo 3032 is now allocated to the 114 (Derby to Ashbourne) most of the time.

Using larger buses on these routes has allowed 4 DF streetlites to be used on the former Doyles services around Alfreton.

Keep up to date on the Yourbus Yahoo Group.

15th January 2014:
A number of routes have been acquired in the Alfreton area, building on the Derbyshire network, following the demise of Doyles coaches on Monday.
Former University Hopper Centros 3601/2 (BK10 MFX/Y) and E300s 1402/1403 (SN10 CDF/K) are all back in use here. All will be repainted soon.

Enviro 1402 now back in service with Yourbus.
(C) Dennis Basford Rails, roads, and runways blog.

5th December 2013:
Enviro 200 1401 Has now been repainted in fleet livery.

Levante 4002/05/09/13/14/15/16 have now passed to Go North East along with some NX Diagrams.

Durham Depot has now closed (November).

4021 was written off In January 13 after an RTA.

4101/02/03/04/05/06/08/09/10 along with 4201/02 have been sold To Ensign Bus.

4107 has been scrapped after it caught fire at Gatwick in August.

Mercedes Citaro Demonstrator (BF60 OEZ) is due to join the fleet shortly and will become 3032.

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