Fleet News

Bus Fleet News

May 2013

Latest News

***trent barton: Excels back in service*** ***notts+derby: Black Cat Scanias repainted*** ***Hawkes: Just one Metrobus remains. *** ***Midland Classic: Volvos sold, more Scanias join 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.

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| Midland Classic |

Andrews of Tideswell

NEWS
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Arriva Derby

NEWS
9th May:
The 3 VDL SB200s are due at Burton early June for the X38. Two will be branded for the service.

SOme former Derby Olympians have recently changed operators. Two of the former Countryliner Olympians have found new homes. (R627 MNU) has gone to Sunray Coaches, Epsom, (R631 MNU) to Reptons, New HAw, Surrey.
(R625 MNU) is now in Wales with Lloyds of Machynlleth (mid Wales). It also now carries Irish plates.

7th April:
3 VDL SB200s are due in June for use on the X38 (2 pvr 1 spare). These will be 3767 (FJ13 FYM), 3768 (FJ13 FYW) and 3769 (FJ13 FYX).

22nd March:
Volvo B7 Geminis 4015/6/7/8 are now at Derby, with Volvo B9 Geminis 4208/11/12/17 going to Burton in their place.

4211 in Burton.
(C) Geoff Girling

4016 in Derby.
(C) Geoff Girling

10th March:
4212 is now at Burton with one more B9 to come. 4015 has gone to Derby with 4016 to follow.

6th March:
Volvo Geminis 4208 and 4217 have moved to Burton, in exchange for older 4017/8.

The traffic commissioner has ordered Arriva to run routes 44 and 45 for free after 7pm for one year from 1st March: Traffic commissioner orders free travel on Arriva Derby routes after inquiry into service failures.

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| Midland Classic |

Bakewell Coaches

NEWS
16th January:
Toyota Coaster / Caetano Optimo IV (R852 SRY) has been sold to McEwens of Mansfield.
For more details on this operator see: The Bakewell coaches website (link works now).

24th December

Leyland Tiger (D229 HMT) has been sold to McEwens at Mansfield.
Bedford YNV / Duple 320 (D66 ONS) has been purchased from Fords Coaches at Althorne.

17th December

Bakewell coaches are back. See the website for details of their excursions and holidays during 2013: Bakewell coaches website.

The following vehicles are in the fleet:

Laura Kaye, Setra (RJI 4525). Previously (X63CNY).
Belgian Betty, Bedford YNV / Van Hool Alizee (TIL 6709), previously (C658 KVW).
Lady Janet, Leyland Leopard / Plaxton Paramount (A62 OJX).

The following are also in the fleet, but currently out of use:

Leyland Tiger / Van Hool Alizee (B42 FCV).
Leyland Tiger / Van Hool Alizee (D229 HMT).
Toyota Coaster / Caetano Optimo IV (R852 SRY).

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| Midland Classic |

Bowers / High Peak

NEWS
24th April
Solos 334 (VIL 4051) and 347 (VU52 UEC) have arrived here.

2nd April

Centrebus decker 904 has returned to High Peak repainted into transpeak livery. It is seen here leaving Derby Bus Station.
(C) Matt Burley Matt Burley's photostream

6th March
Solo 347 (VU52 UEC) arrived from Grantham last month.

3rd January
Solo 367 (V110 LVH) appears to be being broken for spares, and was towed away a few days ago.
Excel 687 (old 227) appears to have returned in Centrebus livery, but is not for use here, and is set to return to Hinckley.
White Omnicity 789 is still in use here.

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| Midland Classic |

Doyles

NEWS & Sightings
18th December:
MPDs (V331 CVV), (W365 ABD) and (W793/4 VMV) sold to Leven Valley.
MPD (V268 BNV) sold to Glamorgan Bus, Cwmbach.

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| Midland Classic |

D W Coaches

NEWS
6th March:
A surprise addition to the fleet is Ribble National (TRN 808V). The vehicle was formerly preserved by Premiere, Nottingham.
Another Dart has joined the fleet in the shape of Marshall Dart (T131 MGB).

Dart (T131 MGB), Clay Cross.
(C)John Moore

17th December:
Wright bodied Dart (P664 PNM) is here, ex University Bus, Hatfield.
The R reg PS is for sale on ebay, whilst similar (N818 DNE) has been scrapped. This was never used after repaint!

D W Coaches has begun operating route 150 from Clay Cross using two vehicles. Three vehicles have joined the fleet for this, East Lancs Dart (P212 DCK) and (P213 DCK) (both ex Rossendale) and Pointer Dart (V327 KMY).

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| Midland Classic |

Gills Travel

17th May 2013:
MPD (YT51 EAP) is now here.

7th April 2013:
A new addition to the fleet is former Countryliner of Guildford Dennis Dart / Caetano Nimbus (KU02 YBG).
Volvo B10M-60 Plaxton Paramount III (K830 KAU) is also here, ex Quackers Community Transport and previously with Country Bus of Devon.

Metrorider (R228 SCH) is still active, but Dart (L134 YVK) is now unlicenced and being canibalised. (CAZ 6619) has also left the fleet.

24th December 2012:
MPDs (V263 BNV), (V264 BNV), Dart (R931 RAU), Metrorider (R228 SCH) and Darts (L134 YVK), (CAZ 6619) and an LDV minibus appear to make up the operational fleet.

Metrorider (R232 SCH) is currently SORN, off since November stored in the yard with a white Dart.

Darts (CAZ 6641), (M146 VVS), (N612 LGC) and Metrorider (R609 XAO) appear to have moved on.

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| Midland Classic |

G&J Holmes

NEWS
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| Midland Classic |

Glovers of Ashbourne

NEWS
28th May 2012
Coach (AIG 1346) is here. It was formerly (L776 LUJ) with Welsh operator Owens of Four Crosses.

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| Midland Classic |

Harpurs Coaches

NEWS

17th May 2013
New here is ex Arriva Olympian (R310 WVR), 2 more expected to follow.
Volvo B10M (RIL 5084) has passed to PVS Carlton, Barnsley.

9th May 2013
Former Barton Leopard (LNU 571W) has been sold for preservation.

6th March 2013
Ex Lothian Olympian (M234 VSX) is here from Kinchs of Minety (Wiltshire).

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| Midland Classic |

Hawkes Coaches

NEWS
14th April:
Metrobus (ROX 646Y) has been withdrawn.

5th July:
A third PS to arrive here is (R978 XVM).

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| Midland Classic |

Hulleys of Baslow

NEWS + SIGHTINGS
6th March
Lance 11 (N360 VRC) has been withdrawn. It is being stripped for spares to keep the other two going for now!

Hulleys no 16 seen here in a snowy scene near Wadshelf.
(C) Ian Moorcroft

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| Midland Classic |

Johnson Bros / Redferns

NEWS & SIGHTINGS
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| Midland Classic |

Linburg

NEWS + SIGHTINGS
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| Midland Classic |

Littles Travel

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

3rd January
A correction to last years fleet news regarding the 4 former Trent ECW Olympians. 712 reported as scrapped, 715 stored at Littles For Sale, and 716 and 717 were exported to America (San Francisco area, 717 at least).
Excel (V202 ENU) is for sale on ebay.

Excel (V202 ENU).
(C)Rob Hadfield The Bus Parade

Scania (M60 LTL).
(C)Rob Hadfield The Bus Parade

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Midland Classic

NEWS
24h April
Former South Lancs Scanias 82 and 83 are now in fleet livery.
Open top Olympian (D245 FYM) has also joined the fleet.

Scania 82 after repaint, in Lichfield on the X12.
(C) John Moore

26th March
4 scanias have arrived from South Lancs Travel:
81 (S24 SLT) 19/3,
82 (S25 SLT) 22/3,
83 (S26 SLT) 19/3,
88 (S200 SLT) 22/3.

Scania 81 (S24 SLT) is now in service.

Volvos 81 (JB08 MCL), 82 (AE57 FXW), 83 (KX57 MTE) have been sold to Diamond Bus, and departed today.

Scania 81 (S24 SLT) is a new addition to the fleet.
(C)

Volvo 81a in the snow on Saturday.
(C) Geoff Girling

26th February
Dart 41 has been withdrawn from service, and Olympian 90 has been painted into fleet livery (was done a while ago).

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| Midland Classic |

Paul S Winson

19th May
At least one new E200 is here in the form of (WW13 PSW). It is thought to have replaced one of the leased Streetlites.

6th March
Coaches 57 and 58 , (T7 PSW) and (T8 PSW) have been refurbished, by receiving new fronts and interior trim, to uplift the image. They have been registered (HOD 76) and (YNR 778) respectively.
Both the plates were previously on fleet numbers 108, the Scania ELC Cityzen and 115 The ex Nottingham Trident. These have received 108 (T7 PSW), 115 (T8 PSW).

StreetLites here are: 901 (MX12 DZA) and 902 (MX12 DYM).

Streetlite (MX12 DZA).
(C)Calumbus Calumbus

(C)Calumbus Calumbus

NEWS

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Premiere, Nottingham

NEWS

Premiere ceased trading on Friday 25th January 2013

6th March
A number of vehicles are for sale, see the John Pye website for details. Buses include MAN 3304/5 Enviros 3337, 3358, Shoplink branded 3308/9, Uni Gemini 4637, Omnicity 3363, and decker 4603 - plus one other (ex nottsbus Dart, see picture in link).

Solo 2204 (MX04 VLZ), Volvo / Spryte 3336 (FE51 RBX), E300 3341 (SK52 USS), Citaro 3351 (OK51 BUZ) and decker 4636 (FE51 RCZ) are all understood to be with Silverdale.

Most other vehicles have been returned to leasing companys. Some of the derelict Falcons are still at the garage site.

31st January
Premiere ceased trading on Friday 25th January 2013 after administrators took control on the previous Monday.

Many vehicles remain stored at the site off Meadow Lane, whilst they are prepared to be sold or returned to the leasing companies.

Many contracted services have passed to other operators, and the Red 9 service between Nottingham and Loughborough has been taken over by Kinchbus.

Enviro 300 (SK52 USS) is now in operation with Silverdale, Nottingham.

Most of the University of Nottingham vehicles should transfer to Yourbus (who now run these services), although the 57 reg Gemini is beleived to be excluded from this.

A more comprehensive list of whats ended up where will be added in a few weeks.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Skills, Nottingham

NEWS 19th May
Skills have acquired a new VDL Futura.
Omni Express coaches (YT10 VZC/F) are now in Nottingham City Coaches livery.

26th March
5 Omni Express coaches to arrive here are (YT10 VZA-E). Ex Bowen group.

Omni Express coach (YT10 VZD).
(C)Calumbus Calumbus

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Stagecoach East Midlands
Chesterfield, Mansfield, Worksop

NEWS

6 new Enviro 400 deckers have entered service at Chesterfield, 4 of which are branded for service 43. (YN12 GYR) is seen here in Chesterfield on route 70.
(C) Ian Moorcroft

To keep up to date with Stagecoach in Chesterfield, and many other operators in the area, take a look at the excellent Transpire website.

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| Midland Classic |

TM Travel

NEWS:
See Wellglade section.

| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

Translinc

NEWS
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| Arriva Derby |

| Midland Classic |

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

NEWS
17th May:
Centro 1185 now in use with notts+derby.

A number of vehicles have been scrapped at Looms, including a TM Olympian thought to be (D192 FYM), former transpeak coach 61, and one of the yellow liveried former Lothian Olympians (bought for spares only).

Solo 462 looking splendid in the new livery.
(C) John Moore

5th May:
Solo 462 is now in use with trent barton, based at Sutton. It carries new style trent barton livery (red), complete with Mango adverts.

All the double deckers in the notts and derby fleet are now in fleet livery. They also have a new website nottsderby.co.uk.

24th April:
Excel 260 has returned to service with trent at Sutton. 266 also reported back in trent barton livery.
724 is now in use at Derby.

Scanias 598 and 600 are now in notts+derby livery.
All the Lothian deckers are now in notts+derby livery, even the former Drayton Manor branded bus 37. 38 remains in dark blue.
Coach 56 (R813 NUD) has had the front end repainted into notts+derby livery.

639 has joined 638 as a branded Scania for route 9. 623 is expected to be the third bus branded for the route. 260 has returned to trent barton at Sutton.

Former "Felix Black Cat" Scania 600 has been repainted into standard notts+derby livery. It is seen here in Derby on the Ilkeston Flyer.
(C) John Whittingham

22nd March:
741 and 751 are once again at Derby.
667 has moved to Langley Mill.

10th March:
Volvo 724 is now in gold Trent centenary livery. Currently based at Nottingham.
Bargain bus Dart 911 has been scrapped at Looms.

Volvo 724 now carries this gold livery to mark 100 years of Trent buses. It is seen here leaving Derby on its way to Nottingham on the indigo service, historically Barton route 5.
(C) John Moore

6th March:
Scania 638 is now in Kinchbus 9 livery. 639 and one other Scania are also being painted for Kinchbus.

Former Trent Excel (X228 WRA), now with Anglian, caught fire recently on the way back to the garage. Another one up in flames!

Former Trent Olympian 714 is another ECW example gone for scrap. Unconfirmed, but 718 and 719 may have been sold for export!

Three Scanias are being painted and branded for Kinchbus route 9. The first to appear in the new look Kinch design is Scania 638, seen here leaving Nottingham.
(C) Matt Burley Matt Burley's photostream

Coach 55 following repaint, seen here on cross country rail replacements between Nottingham and Derby .
(C) Geoff Girling

Coach 56 is awaiting repaint.
(C) John Whittingham

MAN Centro 1198 is currently with Trent Barton in Nottingham. Still in the base livery for the Sheffield Free Bee service, from when TM ran it many moons ago, the vehicle has been fetched out of storage. It has temporary branding for Skylink, and is used on additional journeys added to the timetable, filling the gap left by Premieres Red 5.
(C) John Whittingham

26th February:
Centro 1198 is now in service at Nottingham, with "helping out on Skylink" names applied to the old Free Bee (sheffield) livery. 2 of these MAN Centros are expected to be painted for the Long Eaton Express service.

All the former Rainbow 4 Scanias are now in use:

670 Trent Barton Live (Derby),
671 You Told Us (Sutton),
672 Trent Barton Live (Sutton),
673 You Told Us (Langley Mill),
674 Zig Zag (Langley Mill),
675 Zig Zag (Derby),
676 Trent Barton Live (Nottingham),
677 You Told Us (Sutton),
678 You Told Us (Nottingham),
679 Zig Zag (Langley Mill),
680 Zig Zag (Nottingham),
681 Zig Zag (Sutton),
682 Trent Barton Live (Langley Mill).

31st January:
Excels 234, 264 and 266 are now based at Kinchbus and have had route 9 branding applied to the trent barton livery. The service started last Saturday to replace Premieres Red 9 between Nottingham and Loughborough.
Solo 452 is on loan to Kinchbus. It is in plain red livery.

Volvos 741 and 751 are now based at Derby.

55 (R812 NUD) is at Langley Mill for repaint into notts+derby livery. Olympian 20 is currently off the road again, but should be back in use in the next few weeks. Centro 1185 is at Langley Mill awaiting repaint into N+D livery.

Excel 266 is now based at Kinchbus and used on route 9 along with 234 and 264. All are still in trent barton livery, and have hastily been branded for this replacement service for Premieres Red 9 following their demise.
(C) John Moore

New arrivals for the door to door fleet are numbers 1023 and 1024. Both additions arrived in the last month or so. 1013 has departed.

14th January:
55 (R812 NUD) has been painted into notts+derby livery and should be in service very soon along with similar 56 (R813 NUD), which still carries West White Livery.
Centro 792 is now in Unibus livery.

10th January:
An Envio 350 demo, (SN62 DNJ), said to be at Langley Mill, possibly for trial on the Rainbow 1 route.

More Excels have been sold, 238, 241, 242, 247, 252, 253 and 262 have all been sold to Red Kite, Sutton, St Helens.

3rd January:
Excel 234 now off, parked at Meadow Road. 260, 262 and 266 also now withdrawn, reported stored at Langley Mill (last 2 possibly for training fleet).

Ex Skylink spare Scania 672 now out in new red livery and based at Sutton Junction.

28th December:
Some news on former Wellglade vehicles, courtesy of Chris Gaskin:

Blackpool have sold their remaining ex Trent Olympians, (XAU702/703/705Y) and (A707/708/710 DAU) to Parton, Carlton. More than likley for scrap.
Excels 216 to 219 and 229 are being transfered from Konnect to Headingham.
Over in North Wales, Llew Jones Have sent ex Trent/Hulleys Vario 281 (R281 RAU) for scrap.
And ex TM Varios (YN54 WWU) and (YN54 WWV) have been sold by Reay, Carlisle to Plaxtons at Anston for resale.

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| Midland Classic |

Yourbus, Nottingham

NEWS

(A6 UOB) loking smart in fleet livery.
(C) Geoff Girling

Gemini (FJ57 CZB) in the new University Hopper livery.
(C) Robbie Hadfield The Bus Parade

Streetlite 1204 with branding for the Ashbourne services.
(C) Ian Moorcroft

Streetlite 1204 with branding for the Ashbourne services.
(C) Ian Moorcroft

24th April 2013:
Following the closure of Tuxford depot at the end of March 2501/2/3/5/6/7.

Dual door Citaros 3501-06 are for sale.

Nottingham Uni hopper buses are receiving a new look livery. Gemini 2103 is now in service in new livery, Enviro 1402 set to follow.

Door forward Streetlite 1204 is branded for Ashbourne to Matlock routes 110/111.

3605 is set to be painted into standard Yourbus livery, and 3606 into Uni Hopper livery.

7th April 2013:
Wright Streetlite door forward (MX62 ARU) is on loan from Wrights.
Former Premiere Volvo B9R Caetano Levante II (FJ61 EWX) is on loan here from Volvo.

Former Premiere Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini 2103 (FJ57 CZB) is now here. This vehicle was auctioned, and didn't come with the University contract.

Streetlites 1204/5 are now in fleet livery and should be in use on the Ashbourne contracts.
1303 & 3603 are also now in fleet livery.

26th March 2013:

Yourbus Streetlite in the snow, Lea near Crich.
(C) Pete Charles

26th February 2013:
Citaros 3015 to 3023 are branded for Citylink and fitted with Wi Fi. 3014 also has Wi Fi.

Here for the Uni Hopper service are ex Premiere Travel Centros 3601/2 (BK10 MFX/Y), Enviro 200s 1401 (SN10 CDE/F/K), E300s 1402/3 (SN10 CDF/K) and Geminis 2101/2 (BK10 MFU/V).

New arrivals from Wessex Connect (new to Whitelaws) are 4 Volvo B7RLE: 3603/4/5/6 (A3/4/5/6 UOB) formerly (SJ04 DVH/K/L/M). The private plates should be lost soon, reverting to the original regs. 3604 is now in Yourbus livery, the rest are still blue.
As a result Citaro 3014 & Streelites 1202 & 1302 are back at Heanor.

Most / all the Tuxford area work ceases in a few weeks time, which will see a few vehicles become suplus. Remaining Tridents may transfer to Wessex Connect.

Citylink branded Citaro (BF62 JYY) in Nottingham.
(C) Geoff Girling

Former Wessex Connect Volvo (A6 UOB).
(C) John Moore

31st January 2013:
Yourbus have taken over the University of Nottingham contracts. Some of the branded vehicles used by Premiere on these services are due to be tranfered into the fleet soon.

The following brand new Citaros have recently arrived in preparation for the Citylink launch later in February. Some have already seen use this week on the recently gained university work:

3017 (BF62 JYT),
3018 (BF62 JYU),
3019 (BF62 JYV),
3020 (BF62 JYW),
3021 (BF62 JYX),
3022 (BF62 JYY),
3023 (BF62 JYZ).

Dennis Darts 30636/7 (X636/7 AKW) Dennis Dart and MAN Plaxton Centros 30802/3/4/5 (KX08 HMZ, BU08 DBO, KX57 OVV, KX08HMY) have been on loan from Diamond bus for use on the University work earlier this week.

28th December 2012:
A new Citylink service will be launched on 18th February. The service will operate between Derby and Nottingham every 10 minutes Mon to Sat and every 30 minutes on Sundays. The service will be limited stop only calling at Derby bus station, Nottingham QMC, Upper Parliament St and Victoria bus station.

7 Citaros are due soon 3017-23. They will be branded for the new Citylink service, along with 3015/6.

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