Arriva Midlands

The first of a batch of 22 Wright Streetdeck Electroliner has been delivered at Thurmaston, 8000 (BK23 LUO). It carries a revised version of fleet livery with lime green separated by a grey band.

Now withdrawn at Telford is Optare Solo SR 2520. Enviro 200 4036 has become T036 as a driver training vehicle at Telford. VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2 3803 is another to be repainted into journey mark at Thurmaston.

Optare Solo SR 2512 is currently on loan at Tamworth, from Telford. It is pictured on 8th September 2023. © Glen Austin.

**Aaron’s of Wick** - Recent acquisitions here are of two former **Lothian Bus** Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urbans SN04 NHC and SN04 NHX. Both have had an interesting history. SN04 NHC started life as Lothian’s 112 and was bought for preservation in 2019 and put back into the original Lothian White Diamonds livery. In 2020 it was taken out of preservation and purchased by Pullhams before moving to AC Williams in 2021. SN04 NHX started life as Lothian’s 126 before being withdrawn in 2019. It was moved to Pullhams for school contracts and repainted into the current Red & Cream colour scheme, and then in 2021 it was moved to AC Williams. © Henri Towe.

Butlers Brothers Coaches

Now here from Harpurs of Derby is Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini LJ05 BHV.

D&G Bus

Enviro 200 592 has transferred from Centrebus (at Leicester) to Cannock. Similar 593 at Adderley Green has received fleet red livery.

Diamond Bus

Mercedes/Mellor Strata 21217 has transferred from Tividale to Kidderminster. Former First Group Wright Streetlite DFs 32284, 285, 287, 291 and 292 have entered service at Kidderminster. Optare Solos 20868 and 20912 at Redditch, and 20869 at Kidderminster have been withdrawn.

Wright Streetdecks 40824 and 40826 have transferred from Tividale to Burton. Similar 40819 and 40834 are due to return to Diamond North West from Tividale.

East Yorkshire

On loan from Go North East are Trident/Optare Olympus 6968, 6969, and 6971 (LX58CWR/Z, CXH), originally with Go Ahead London.

Transferred to Hull are Enviro 200 MMC 396 from Pocklington, along with Enviro 200s 388 and 503 from Bridlington, and 374 and 390 from Scarborough. Further transfers due to take place are of Volvo B9TL 780 from Scarborough to Hull, 770-772 from Hull to Elloughton and 777 from Hull to Pocklington. Now at Pocklington, from Hull, is Volvo B7RLE/MCV Evolution 394.

First Midlands

Wright Streetdecks 35152-155/168 have transferred from Leicester to Worcester, whilst 35151/169-173/175/178 have transferred from Leicester to First West of England. Wright Streetlite 63096/098-100 have transferred from Adderley Green to First Manchester. Now here from First West of England, and operating from Worcester, is Wright Streetlite DF 47442.

Wright GB Kite Electroliners 63544/557/559-568 have entered service at Leicester.

Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Geminis 32645 and 37147 have been withdrawn at Worcester leaving just 32644 in service. Also withdrawn are Mercedes-Benz Citaro 64036 at Worcester and Scania N94UB OmniCitys 65034/035 at Adderley Green.

In debranded Leicester Frequent Fourteens livery, Wright Streetdeck 35153 is seen in Worcester on 25th August 2023. © Dylan Jones.

Hulleys of Baslow

Now here is brand new Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evora 12 (BV23 NVH), which is operating in white. Also joining this fleet is Optare Solo 19 (YK05 CAO) from CT Coaches, and Enviro 400 LK09 EKP.

Departing this fleet for scrap is Enviro 200/MCV Evolution 19 (LK58 CRV).

Lichfield City Coaches have recently started two new routes from Tamworth, a Tuesday only service to Drayton Bassett and a daily service to Clifton Campville. Mercedes-Benz Vario VCZ 221 is pictured working one such service. © Glen Austin.

Megabus

Van Hool Astromega 50264, based with Stagecoach East Scotland at Perth, is now for disposal.

Sold out of this fleet is left hand drive Volvo B11R 55023.

National Express West Midlands

Latest buses to enter the paintshop are recently transferred Volvo B7RLEs 2167, 2169 and 2177, formerly at Coventry and now based at Acocks Green. Recently completed are Acocks Green based Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Geminis 4667 and 4672 into red and white, Enviro 400s 4765 and 4768 at West Bromwich and 4833 at Pensnett.

Recently withdrawn are Scania Omnilinks 1799 at Acocks Green, 1945 and 1946 at West Bromwich. Dennis Tridents 4331, 4360, 4460 and 4578 at Walsall, 4383, 4390 at Yardley Wood, 4451 and 4576 at Coventry. Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Geminis 4504 and 4638 at Acocks Green, 4664 at Coventry.

Further transfers out of Coventry are of Enviro 400s 4842 and 4985, and Enviro 200 832 and 833 to Wolverhampton, Volvo B7RLEs 2166-170/172/173/175-177 to Acocks Green, Dennis Trident 4450 to Walsall, Enviro 400s 4885, 4889, 4890, 4893 and 4894 to Birmingham Central, Enviro 400 MMCs 6951-6954, 7540, and 7541 to Acocks Green, and 6965 and 6967 to West Bromwich. This leaves just 2 diesel double deckers allocated to Coventry which are not serviceable, Enviro 400 4770 and Enviro 400 MMC 6966. Other recent transfers are Enviro 200 831 from Pensnett to Wolverhampton, Scania Omnilinks 1789 and 1793 to Yardley Wood, 1795 and 1796 to West Bromwich, and 1810, 1812 and 1815 to Perry Barr.

BYD ADL Enviro 400 EVs E004, 017, 018 from Yardley Wood are currently off-lease for repairs, with some of the 8 Zenobe spare fleet being utilsied. These are allover grey and will be provided to meet the contractual vehicle requirement as and when required - Z4001, 4006 and 4007 are covering at Yardley Wood.

Dennis Tridents 4574 and 4575 have passed to Birmingham Busworks for onward sale, where former 4571 has been sold to Howard’s Travel.

Dennis Trident 4450 seen in Walsall on 23rd August 2023. It is helping to cover for a number of their red examples reaching terminal failure recently. © Dylan Jones.

Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse-Urban 2173 is seen in Digbeth on 26th August 2023. © Dylan Jones.

Select Bus Services

Recent acquisitions here are ADL Enviro 200 MMCs GW65GSW and JW65BUS from Red Rose Travel, the latter having entered service as bus 40 in its former operator’s livery. Optare Versas SV60CCO and SV60CCX acquired via Ensignbus, have entered service as fleetnumbers 27 and 11 respectively.

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire

Now here from Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands) is Enviro 300 27101, which is at Carlisle.

Transferred from Morecambe to Barrow is Scania/Enviro 400 15822.

Stagecoach East

Peterborough allocated Enviro 400 10013 has been repainted in ‘Local’ livery.

Now back in service at Peterborough, following repairs, is Enviro 400 19600. Enviro 400 19578 has transferred from Reserve Fleet at Bedford to Cambridge. The latest Enviro 200 training bus conversion, 36012, is now at Peterborough. The transfer of Enviro 400s 19618/697 from Peterborough to Cambridge followed the transfer of Enviro 200s 36934/936 from the Reserve Fleet to the main fleet at Peterborough. Enviro 400 MMCs 10792 and 10806 have been transferred from Cambridge to Bedford in exchange for Enviro 400s 19576 and 19705.

Enviro 200s 36935/937 and 37210 from the Reserve Fleet at Bedford are due to transfer to Peterborough where they will oust three Enviro 400s to Cambridge. Enviro 400MMC 10810 will transfer from Cambridge to Bedford following repaint.

Recently repainted Enviro 400 10013 is seen at Peterborough on 10th August 2023. © Luke Fisher.

Recently returnee to service, Enviro 400 19600 is pictured on 17th August 2023. © John Abbott.

Stagecoach East Midlands

Now allocated to Skegness are Scania/Enviro 400s 15812/813, whilst Volvo B7RLE 21221/222 are to be allocated to Grimsby and 21224/228 to Scunthorpe. All six have been repainted into a new InterConnect livery (a two tone purple version of ‘Local’ livery). As a result, Enviro 300 27765 has transferred from Scunthorpe to Lincoln.

Enviro 200 MMCs 26256-261/264/266/267/269/270/273-275 have been transferred from Hull to Grimsby - with Enviro 300s 27191/192/195-197/201-203 and Enviro 200s 37197/198/201-203 moving from Grimsby to Hull. Enviro 400s 19086 and 19092 from Grimsby, are now at Mansfield.

Enviro 300s now at Lincoln are 27191/201/757/781 from Hull, 27785/787/788 from Mansfield and 27758/879 from Worksop. Now at Worksop are Enviro 200s 36455 and 37206, from Lincoln, whilst now at Gainsborough from Lincoln is Trident 17717. Gainsborough have received Enviro 200 37200 from Grimsby. Enviro 400s 19130 (from Hull) and 19194 (from Skegness) are now at Scunthorpe, enabling Volvo B7TL 16916/918/919 to be stood down (see below). Enviro 400 19189 has transferred from Hull to Gainsborough.

Enviro 400s 19686-692 have transferred from Hull to Lincoln (19687 remains on loan at Skegness). These have been traded with Enviro 400s 19124/142/146/147/148/201/202/307/308, and Enviro 200 37205. MAN/Enviro 300 22772 has moved from the reserve fleet to the main fleet at Hull.

A last minute move has seen Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking 16916 and 16918 move to Skegness - covering for a vehicle shortage there. Enviro 400s 19181/317/318 were due to move from Skegness to Worksop, however this move is yet to take place. Following a major engine re-build Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 16939 has returned to service at Skegness.

Enviro 400 19308 now carries a purple version of Consortium Academy livery. Dart SLFs 35133/137/146 have been sold to Peter Smythe Transport Training, Sutton in Ashfield.

Enviro 200 MMC 26258 is seen in Grimsby on 5th September 2023. © Sam Boothby.

One of the Enviro 200 MMCs transferred from Hull, which was initially due to stay allocated to Hull, is 26274. It is seen in Cleethorpes on the morning of 13th September 2023. © Sam Boothby.

Stagecoach East Scotland

Former Stagecoach East Scania/Enviro 400s here are 15456-459 (at Aberhill); 15460-462 (St Andrews), and 15463-465 (Glenrothes). Also now transferred here from Stagecoach East is Scania/Enviro 400 15637 which is at Aberhill. Tridents transferred to Dunfermline are 18061/069/071/093/094/096/097/099/100.

Optare Solo 47161 is a transfer from Glenrothes to the Rennies fleet whilst similar 47228/235 have been sold to Moffatt & Williamson. Former Stagecoach Manchester Enviro 400s now allocated to the Rennies fleet are 19622-626/628-635. Recently transferred from Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands), Enviro 400 19031 is allocated to Blairgowrie.

Now for disposal are Trident 18098; Enviro 300 27540 and Optare Solos 47253/258.

Stagecoach Manchester

Enviro 400 transfers from Hyde Road are 19339/397/405/406/413/456/457 to Stockport; 19448-453 to Sharston and 19454/455 to Middleton. Enviro 200s reported transferred to Middleton are 36784 from Wigan and 37149 from Stockport. Enviro 200s transferred from Stockport are 37151-153/161 (to Ashton), 37162 (to Hyde Road) and 37163-166 (to Sharston). Enviro 400MMCs 10411/413-422 have transferred from Sharston to Hyde Road.

A further transfer to Stagecoach East Scotland is Enviro 400 19627, with just 19621 reported at Manchester awaiting transfer.

Due to be returned from Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire, where they had been on loan, are Enviro 300s 27624/625/826/827 for Stockport. and Enviro 200s 36781 (for Stockport) and 37148/50 (for Ashton).

Sold out of this fleet are Trident 18441, Enviro 400 19408, and Optare Solo 47824.

Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire

New Enviro 400 MMCs delivered here so far are 11621/622/624 to Rock Ferry and 11629-646 to Preston. Currently on loan here are brand new Enviro 400 MMCs destined for other regions - 11652/653 for Stagecoach South East, 11679 for Stagecoach East Midlands, and 11700/701/704 for Stagecoach Yorkshire.

Enviro 400 MMC 10551 is now stood down at Gillmoss depot after sustaining severe fire damage.

Brand new Enviro 400 MMC 11621 is seen on its first day service, at Bromborough on 4th September 2023. © Barry McGuire.

On loan from **Stagecoach East Midlands**, brand new Enviro 400 MMC 11679 is seen outside Rock Ferry depot on 6th September 2023. © Barry McGuire.

Stagecoach Midlands

The latest former Stagecoach West Scotland Enviro 300s to enter service here are 27217 and 27228 at Nuneaton, and 27211-213/216 at Leamington (of note 27212 retains full Fastlink branding from its West Scotland days). MAN/ADL Enviro 300 22840 has been withdrawn at Kettering, and Enviro 200 36157 has transferred from Leamington to Kettering.

Gaining double deckers on its allocation since 2006 is Nuneaton, with Enviro 400 MMCs 10729, 10731 and 10733 moving over from Northampton.

Stagecoach North East

New Enviro 400 MMCs 11607-617/619/620 are now at Walkergate, displacing Enviro 400H 12061-067/070/072/074 which are due to be cascaded to Stagecoach Manchester.

MAN/Enviro 200s now for disposal are 39670 and 39711.

Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird)

Now for disposal are Optare Solos 47601/603/605/606 whilst Enviro 200 36032 has been scrapped. No longer part of this fleet are Volvo B9TLs 16946 and 16948 which have been sold.

Now here from Stagecoach East Scotland and at Peterhead is Scania/Levante 59226.

Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands)

New Enviro 400MMCs 11786-792 are now at Inverness with 11793-795 at Aviemore, whilst new Scania/Mobi People coach 59002 is at Tain.

Joining this fleet from Stagecoach East Scotland is Scania/Levante 59223, which is allocated to the reserve fleet. Volvo B9R 53708 is here from Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird) and is in use as a paint float vehicle.

Transferred to Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird) are Enviro 400s 19172/176/558, whilst being prepared for transfer are Enviro 400s 19214/215/216. Enviro 400s 19031/038/040 have transferred to Stagecoach East Scotland.

Enviro 300s 27537/810/811/917 are at Inverness from Tain, having been exchanged for Enviro 200MMCs 26127-130. Now allocated to the training fleet is Enviro 200 36204.

Now for disposal are Enviro 300 27536 and Volvo B13R 54121, whilst now sold for scrap is Volvo B9R 53631.

Stagecoach South

Enviro 400MMCs 10433-38 received from Stagecoach West have been allocated to Basingstoke - initially displacing Tridents 18081/193/311/510/511/514 to the Reserve Fleet. Enviro 300 27756 is a transfer from Andover to Chichester in exchange for similar 27835. Enviro 300s 27650/653/654 have transferred to Guildford, allowing 27564/565/570 to transfer to Stagecoach Yorkshire.

For disposal are Trident 18063, Enviro 200 36017, and Optare Solo 47586.

Stagecoach South East

Former Stagecoach East Midlands Enviro 200s 36119 and 36120 are now allocated to Herne Bay - displacing Dart SLFs 34438 and 34646 to the Reserve Fleet. Enviro 400 19049 has moved from Herne Bay to Thanet.

At least one Scania Omnicity from the training fleet, 15037, is currently on loan to Stagecoach London. As a result Enviro 200 training bus 36042 from Stagecoach East is currently on loan to the South East training fleet.

Now for disposal are Enviro 400 19029 and Dart 34653. The company no longer records the following vehicles which are assumed to have been sold: Scania Omnicity 15032/073; Trident 18171; Dart SLFs 34492/654; Enviro 200 36328 and Optare Solos 47371/377/387/479.

Enviro 200 MMCs 37408-414 have been transferred from Guildford to Portsmouth - covering an increase vehicle requirement after taking over five former First operated routes.

Following the closure of Folkestone depot on 2nd September, the following moves have taken place;

Folkestone to Ashford: Scania/Enviro 400s 15701-704, Enviro 200s 36880/895/896.
Folkestone to Dover: Scania/Enviro 400s 15180-189/490/496/502/554/750, Enviro 400 MMCs 10706-708/710/712/714-716/719, Enviro 200s 36876-879.
Folkestone to Hastings: Enviro 200s 36881/897.
Folkestone to Herne Bay: Enviro 400 MMC 10720, Scania/Enviro 400 15280/283/287/289/773.
Folkestone to Thanet: Enviro 400s 19019/021/023-028/030/048/051, Scania/Enviro 400 15279.
Folkestone to Reserve: Dart 34493/773/792.
Ashford to Hastings: Trident 17734.
Dover to Herne Bay: Enviro 400 MMCs 11556-559, Enviro 200 MMCs 26354-356.
Hastings to Reserve: Trident 18160
Herne Bay to Ashford: Scania/Enviro 400s 15557-559/705.
Herne Bay to Dover: Scania/Enviro 400 15553.
Thanet to Eastbourne: Enviro 200 MMCs 26252-254.

Stagecoach South West

MAN/Enviro 300 24148 has transferred from Exeter to Barnstaple joining recently transferred 24149-151 there. Transferred from Barnstaple to Exeter is Enviro 200 37135.

Former Stagecoach East Optare Solo SR 48035, out of use since transfer, has entered service from Exeter.

***WE’RE HIRING!*** Enviro 200 MMC 37471 showing off its new look on 4th September 2023. © David Tozer.

Finally in service - Optare Solo SR 48035 is seen in Exeter on 2nd September 2023. Of the other former **Stagecoach East** Solo SRs, 48032 has been out of service of service since mid-August and 48034 has not yet entered service since arriving with South West back in February. © David Tozer.

Stagecoach West

Dave Russell & Deric Pemberton report that Dart SLF 34815; Optare Solo 47686 and Astromegas 50301/303 have been sold.

Stagecoach West Scotland

MAN/ALX300 training bus 22406 is now for disposal, with Scania/Enviro 300 28644 being converted for training use.

Optare Solo 47497 from Stranraer is now in Reserve at Kilmarnock having been replaced by Optare Solo SR 47839 from Dumfries. Following repairs Enviro 200 36705 has returned to service at Dumfries.

Stagecoach Yorkshire

Now withdrawn is MAN/Enviro 300 22629, which along with MAN/ALX300 training bus 22085 and Optare Solo 47465 have been sold to PVS.

Wellglade Group

Trentbarton Scania L94UB 669 is now based at Sutton Junction, along with Optare Solo 474. Volvo B7RLE 743 has been repainted into ‘Skylink Express’ livery. Optare Versa 821 remains long term VOR.

The first of twenty brand new Enviro 200 MMCs have now been delivered here, 177, 179 and 180 (YX73 OUB/D/E). Of these 18 will carry branding for ‘the threes’ and the other 2 will carry ‘Mango’ spare livery (of which 177 is one of these).

Notts and Derby Optare Solos 475 and 484 have been repainted into the blue and green fleet livery.

13th September 2023