16th January 2023
Next Update: Saturday 25th February.
Arriva Midlands
New buses received here are Enviro 200 MMCs 3145-3152 (YX72 OFA/OFB/OFC/OFD/OFE/OFG/OFH/OFJ), and Enviro 400 MMCs 4552-4579 (YX72 ODT/U/V/W/Y, OEA/B/C/D/E/FG/H/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/R/S/T/U/V/W/Y/Z). These are to be allocated to Thurmaston - however only 3145-3152 and 4552-4559 have so far entered service.
Optare Versa 2996 is currently at Tamworth from Oswestry, whilst departures from Tamworth are Scania Omnilink 3512 to Derby and similar 3500 withdrawn, and DAF SB200/Wright Commander 3741 to Arriva Shires & Essex (3741 had been the last Commander in the Midlands operations). DAF SB200/Wright Commander 3483, 3484, 3486, 3497 and 3498 used at East Midlands Airport now out of use with the contract ending. Optare Versa 2996, along with similar 2964 from Shrewsbury was noted at Tamworth during early January 2023.
A week long trial at Telford in November saw ADL Enviro 200 2150 move to Arriva Merseyside at Speke, numbered 2167 for its stay, in return for Speke based Optare Solo SR 717. They have since returned to their home depots with the potential swap deemed unsuccessful.
VDL DB250/Wright Gemini 4759 has been on loan at Arriva Shires & Essex (Aylesbury).
Newly repainted are ADL Enviro 400s 4408, 4410 and 4412 at Tamworth into Journey Mark from Sapphire livery.
With the East Midlands Airport shuttles contract coming to an end, it means the fleet of Arriva DAF SB200/Wright Commanders have been stood down. 3483 is pictured on 27th August 2022 at East Midlands Airport. © Dylan Jones.
Optare Versa 2964 is seen in Tamworth on 11th January 2023. © Glen Austin.
Carousel Buses
Mercedes-Benz Sprinters 978-980 remain in this fleet, which is a correction to what we reported on 30th November 2022.
Centrebus
Yutong E12 YD21NFR has joined the Leicester fleet from Roberts Travel Group, numbered 824 and carrying the standard ‘Greenlines’ branding.
Enviro 200 YX61DOU is a new acquisition numbered 578, last with Faresaver (originally new as an ADL demonstrator). Initially operated from Leicester, it’s currently at Cannock with Chaserider. Another Enviro 200 from Faresaver is YX09AEU, now numbered 579 and currently at Grantham. Both carry the latest orange and blue diagonal livery.
D&G Bus
Former Arriva Optare Solo 178 has been withdrawn at Cannock. New at Cannock is currently allover white Enviro 200 MMC YX72ONL (numbered 542).
Existing E200MMCs 538 and 539 have been vinyled with a new Travel Telford livery of grey/yellow/purple. They are operating a new service 100 linking various suburbs of Telford.
Diamond
Now returned to service is MAN/Plaxton Centro 30802. It hasn’t been converted to Electric unlike others in the fleet and carries the Brighter Diamond livery.
Enviro 200 31428 at the former Midland Classic operation has lost X12 Flyer livery for Brighter Diamond. Scania/Irizar i3 30997-999 have returned off-lease to Reading Buses (where they have been passed onto Cardiff Bus - numbered 781-783).
Wright Streetlites 32238 and 32240 have lost 31/32 branding with PVR reduction, whilst 32316 has lost route 16 branding.
Recently withdrawn are Optare Solos 20732/734/839, Dennis Dart 30963 and Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centros 30809/950 (both with fire damage). Now sold for scrap are Optare Solo 20840, Dennis Darts 21109 and 30897, and Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro 30502.
One of the three Scania Irizars which have recently left this fleet - 30998 (Midland Classic 18) is pictured in Brnaston on 16th December 2021. © Dylan Jones.
East Yorkshire
Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 739 is now back in service at Scarborough, with similar 737 now delicensed.
Volvo B5TL/MCV Evoseti 804-8067 have transferred from Hull to Bridlington, and Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 748 has transferred from Bridlington to Hull.
Recent repaints have been of Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 739, 740, 741, and 742, and Volvo B5TL/MCV Evoseti 805 and 809.
Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 696, 702, and 708-713, have been returned here from Go North East. 710 is to be renumbered 9710, and will be used as a driver training vehicle. The other seven vehicles are all delicensed.
Sold out of this fleet are Volvo B9R 81 and 89, and Enviro 300s 273 and 275.
Falcon Buses
A new addition to this fleet is brand new Enviro 200 MMC YX72OJZ.
First Midlands
Enviro 400s 33712 and 33720 have transferred from Leicester to First South West. The first new double deckers for several decades at the Potteries operation at Adderley Green are Wright Streetdeck Micro-Hybrids 35939-950. These are branded ‘Constellation’ in a tri-tone blue livery for route 25 to Keele University.
Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Geminis now withdrawn at Adderley Green are 32633, 32648 and 37159, whilst similar 37160 has lost its Kingfisher route specific branding.
Optare Solo 53207 which has recently been withdrawn at Worcester has been sold to Lakeside Coaches of Ellesmere. Also withdrawn are Optare Solo 53802, and Mercedes Citaros 64014/016/018/045 at Worcester, Scania OmniCities 65028/030/033 at Adderley Green, and Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro 66695 at Worcester. Previously withdrawn Scania OmniCity 65040 has been sold for preservation.
Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urbans 69249-252 that has been based at Leicester for Saffron branded services, are transferring to First Greater Manchester to become driver training vehicles.
Further repaints into fleet livery are Enviro 400 33829 at Adderley Green, and Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse 2s 69453 and 69460 at Worcester.
New addition at Hanley, Enviro 400 33830, along with soon to be withdrawn Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 32630, are pictured on 2nd December 2022. © Dylan Jones.
High Peak Buses
Now in service here are new Enviro 200 MMCs 534-537 (YX72 ONP/ONO/ONM/ONN), whilst withdrawn is Citaro 810 (BK13 XYH).
Megabus/Scottish Citylink
Stagecoach East Midlands (Hull) no longer holds any Megabus allocation on its fleet - with Volvo B11RT 54214/215/266/267 transferring to Stagecoach South Wales (Cwmbran), and 54268 moving to Stagecoach Midlands (Rugby).
Volvo B11R 54263 has transferred from Stagecoach West (North Bristol) to Stagecoach South Wales (Cwmbran)
National Express West Midlands
Enviro 200 movements are 803 and 804 from Pensnett to Walsall, 824 from Pensnett to West Bromwich and 834-838 from Pensnett to Wolverhampton. Scania Omnilinks 1890, 1892-1897 have transferred from Walsall to Perry Barr, whilst Volvo B7RLEs 2087-2095 have transferred from Wolverhampton to Pensnett. Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Geminis 4491 and 4492 have transferred from Perry Barr to Acocks Green. Tridents 4613 and 4614 have transferred from Birmingham Central to Yardley Wood, whilst similar 4594, 4595, 4627 and 4632 have transferred from Birmingham Central to Wolverhampton. Enviro 400 MMCs 6107-6109 have transferred from Pensnett to Acocks Green, and 6113 has transferred from Perry Barr to Acocks Green, and 6958, 6959 have transferred from Perry Barr to Wolverhampton.
Further Enviro 400s to transfer out of Coventry are 4763 and 4764 to West Bromwich, 4771 to Yardley Wood, 4832, 4833, 4836, and 4837 to Pensnett, 4881-4883 to Birmingham Central, and 4983, 4986, 4987-4991 and 4995 to Wolverhampton. Further BYD Enviro 400 EVs delivered and in service at Coventry are E075, 081, 090 and 106.
Volvo B7RLEs 2124-2126 at Walsall have lost their route specific 31/32 branding, now in base West Midlands Bus livery. Enviro 400s 4988-4995 have all lost their Coventry route 13 branding, though some initially retained this whilst operating at Wolverhampton. Enviro 400 MMCs 7523 and 7524 have received red Platinum generic branding, having been plain grey since new. Similar examples rebranded to red generic are 6858/6859 ex 23/24 and 6951-6954, 6965-6967, 7539-7541 ex Coventry Sky Blue.
Latest repaints are Enviro 200s 831 at Pensnett, 838 at Wolverhampton, 841 and 842 at Coventry, Volvo B7RLEs 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015 at Wolverhampton, and Enviro 200 MMCs 2214, 2216, 2218, and 2220 at Acocks Green.
Withdrawals are Scania Omnilink 1802 at Acocks Green, 1832 and 7025 at Perry Barr, Volvo B7TL/ALX400s 4240, 4244, 4271, and 4272 at West Bromwich, 4281, and 4284 at Acocks Green, and 4417, 4418, and 4420 at Coventry, rendering this type extinct here. Also withdrawn are Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Geminis 4488 at Perry Barr, 4505, and 4517 at West Bromwich, 4531, 4635, 4636, 4641, 4645, and 4652 at Acocks Green, and 4668 at Coventry, along with Dennis Tridents 4311, 4428, 4429, 4431, 4433, 4435, 4440, 4448, 4464, 4536, 4540, 4542, 4553, 4556, 4559, 4560, 4562, 4563, 4577, and 4634 at Wolverhampton, 4392, 4581, 4582, 4583, 4588, and 4592 at Yardley Wood, 4565, 4571, 4574, and 4575 at Walsall, and 4407, 4409, and 4414 at Coventry.
Sent for scrap are Volvo B7TL/ALX400s 4241, 4270, 4278, 4279, 4286, and 4291, Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Geminis 4482 and 4524, and Tridents 4365, 4406, 4407, 4413, 4455, 4456, 4458, 4463, 4546, 4549, 4550, 4557, and 4591.
Scania Omnilink 1837 has returned to use, painted overall blue with DRIVR lettering, to be used for virtual driver training.
Mercedes-Benz eCitaro demonstrator MB21BUS has been on loan here for around 3 weeks in December. Numbered 1908 for its stay, it spent most time on the Coventry 20 routes, though was also tested at Yardley Wood on routes 2/3.
Mercedes-Benz eCitaro MB21 BUS (1908), is pictured in Coventry City Centre on 1st December 2022. © Dylan Jones.
Select Bus Services
Recently acquired here are Optare Versas YJ08PKX and YJ08PKY. The former from Vision Bus, retaining their livery, and numbered 37. The latter from The Big Coach Company, painted overall white, and numbered 3. Also acquired is Enviro 200 YX13BNU, numbered 3, retaining Nottingham City Transport livery, and Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse 2 BD14KXU. This has yet to enter service though arrived overall white from Thames Valley Buses, where it was 453.
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
Transferred to Stagecoach North East are MAN/Enviro 300s 24117, 24119 and 24123.
Trident/ALX400 18327 at West Cumbria is now for disposal and has been replaced by 18364 from the reserve fleet. Optare Solo SR 48033 (formerly with Stagecoach East) is now at West Cumbria, which has allowed Optare Solo 47616 to transfer to Carlisle.
MAN/Enviro 300s 22872/876/880 and Optare Solo 47009 are now awaiting disposal, whilst transferred to reserve fleet are MAN/Enviro 300s 22596/597/874/884 and Optare Solo 47474.
Now for disposal from the Heritage Fleet is AEC Routemaster 19986 (CUV286C).
Alexander ALX400 bodied Tridents were once a stronghold of the Stagecoach fleets nationwide, but numbers continue to fall. One of the few examples allocated to C&NL, 18381, is pictured in Cockermouth on 11th November 2022. © Paul Gallagher.
Stagecoach East
Tri-axle Leyland Olympia ‘Megadekka’ 14000 has now left storage at Ely depot, and has joined Sir Brian Souter’s collection at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.
Enviro 200 36061 has now joined the training fleet and has been allocated to Cambridge, whilst similar 36041 is undergoing training conversion.
Following the end of the ‘ting’ DRT scheme Mercedes-Benz Sprinters 44008/016 are being prepared for transfer to Stagecoach South East with 44011/019/020 due to transfer to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire.
Making an unusual appearance in Huntingdon on 9th December 2022 was BYD/Enviro 400 EV 14033. © Robert Tarling.
Seasons Greetings from Stagecoach East. Showing off one of the many seasonal destination blinds used by Stagecoach - Enviro 400 MMC 10794 is pictured in Cambridge on 15th December 2022. © Jacob Tuson.
Stagecoach East Midlands
Corrections to our post dated 30th November 2022 is that Volvo B7TL 16920 was not withdrawn and remains in service - however similar 16910 was withdrawn. We also stated 35142 and 35148 had been stood down, but they actually remain in service at Scunthorpe. However, Dart SLF 35149 is withdrawn. Enviro 200s 36001-003/005/006 have not been stood down at Worksop yet, however 36007 has been withdrawn from service. Enviro 300s 27195/198/794 are still in service at Skegness (only 27199/879 have transferred from Skegness to Worksop), and Enviro 300 27196 is out of service and has not seen active use at Skegness since September.
Further repaints into ‘Local’ livery are Trident/ALX400s 18344, and Scania/Enviro 300 28612, along with Enviro 200 36524, Scania/Enviro 400 15508, and Enviro 400 19125 by Lincoln depot.
Driver Training MAN/Enviro 300 22742 is now allocated to Worksop, whist former training vehicle Dart SLF 34459 is now for disposal. Further Enviro 300s for driver training use here transferred from Stagecoach South East are 27571/574/575. MAN/Enviro 300 training conversion 22573 is now allocated to Grimsby. Driver Trainer Dart SLF 34457 is withdrawn at Lincoln, having not been in use since August 2022.
During early December 2022, Enviro 400MMCs 11197/198/199/200/201 and Enviro 200MMCs 26257/258 were loaned to Lincoln depot for use on park & ride services for the Lincoln Christmas Market. Of note, is that Enviro 400 19297 reentered service at Lincoln depot on 11th January 2023 (after spending two months out of service for repaint and repairs), and has been on loan with Skegness since then. Enviro 300 27635 is also back in service at Lincoln depot (out of service since mid-June 2022), and Enviro 200 36710 has now been transferred to Gainsborough (entering service on 13th January 2023). Enviro 400 19101 has been transferred from Hull to Scunthorpe, and Enviro 200 36058 remains out of service at Scunthorpe depot (not been in use since July 2022).
Vehicles sold out of this fleet are MAN/Enviro 200s 39676/679/690/691/693, Volvo B12M 52678, and Volvo B12B 53030.
Dart SLF 34459 has been reported as scrapped with similar 34850 at Gainsborough now for disposal. Enviro 200 EV 30017 was only temporarily stood down, whilst Enviro 200 MMCs 26263/272 have transferred from Hull to Mansfield to provide cover for withdrawn Enviro 200 EV 30016.
During early December 2022 Open Top Trident 18467 was used by Stagecoach and local radio station LincsFM to promote a Christmas toy appeal they were jointly running, by touring the region and visiting various towns in Lincolnshire. On the first day of said tour (6th December 2022), it is pictured at the Grimsby Auditorium. © Sam Boothby.
Stagecoach East Scotland
Now for disposal here are Tridents 18000/009/011/013/014/017/019/020/053/056/086/095/129/197/352, Scania/Enviro 400 15628, Enviro 400 19154, Optare Versa 25212, Optare Solo 47217/250, Van Hool Sleeper 50312, Volvo B9R 53724 and Volvo B13Rs 54124/126/127/128/129.
Reserve Tridents 18061/069/071/-75 have returned to main fleet with Rennies and Scania/Enviro 400 15817 has been allocated to Dunfermline.
Reserve Fleet Van Hool Astromega 50261 has now joined the Citylink Joint Venture fleet at Perth, but similar 50270/273 which had been stored since transfer from Stagecoach West (at Oxford) several years ago are now for disposal.
Stagecoach London
Enviro 400s 10346/347 and 19739/40 have transferred Romford to Rainham in exchange for 19829-832.
Withdrawn Enviro 200 36328 has been sold to T Wigley (Dealer)
Stagecoach Manchester
Now for disposal here are Tridents 18357/358/361/385/440/441, Enviro 400 19515, Enviro 400H Hybrids 12019 and 12020, MAN/Enviro 300 22582, and Optare Solos 47671/824/825. Enviro 400 19408 is currently stood down for collision repairs.
Transferred to Stagecoach Midlands are Enviro 200s 36424/425/426/427/429/430/480/481/483/484.
Enviro 200 36075 has been donated to charity whilst MAN/Enviro 300 22586 has now joined the training fleet.
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire
Scania/Enviro 400 15598 has been repainted into ‘Local’ livery.
Stagecoach Midlands
Latest repaints here into local livery are Enviro 400 10038 from Leamington, Scania Enviro 300 28621 at Northampton, ADL Enviro 200s 36217 and 37070 at Rugby, and 37074 at Leamington. ADL Enviro 200 MMC 26217 has received Distance livery at Nuneaton.
Now withdrawn at Rugby are Dart SLFs 34421, 34422 and 34425, whilst similar 34878 and 34880 have transferred to Nuneaton for driver training use. Now at Rugby from Stagecoach East are Enviro 200s 36044, 36062 and 36063, as well as similar 36207 from Nuneaton. Transferred to Nuneaton from Northampton are Enviro 200s 37041-37043. Transferred here from Stagecoach Manchester are Enviro 200s 36424/425/426/427/429/430/480/481/483/484.
Stagecoach North East
Now transferred from Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire are MAN/Enviro 300s 24117/119/123.
Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird)
Enviro 300H Hybrid 29017 is currently out of use pending modifications/repair and as a result Reserve Fleet 29010 has been returned to the main fleet at Aberdeen.
Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands)
Sold to Moffat & Williamson are Volvo B9Rs 53618 and 53714.
A large number of vehicles have been displaced into the Reserve Fleet and these include Tridents 18337/446/449 along with Enviro 400s 19038/041/043.
Enviro 200s 36200/202/205/206/324/583/953 and 37076 have transferred to Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird).
Stagecoach South
Latest reported repaints here are of Enviro 300 27876 into ‘Local’ livery.
Reserve Fleet Tridents 18084 and 18527 are now at Winchester, whilst Enviro 400 19884 has been withdrawn.
Stagecoach South East
Scania Omnicity vehicles received here from Stagecoach East are 15074/075/078/081/083/085/087/089/090/092. Three similar vehicles transferred from Stagecoach London, 15032/033/073, are for disposal and have not been used here. 15081 and 15083 have been allocated to Herne Bay allowing Scania/Enviro 400s 15560/562 to transfer to Eastbourne
Dart SLF training bus 34418 has now been taken out of use and is for disposal. New Enviro 300 training buses now in use are 27561 at Worthing, 27562 at Aldershot and 27567 at Winchester.
Dart SLF 34773 has been reinstated from the Reserve Fleet and has joined the main fleet at Folkestone as a replacement for 34789 which requires repairs.
Trident 18166 is now for disposal whilst Heritage Fleet Leyland PD2 19978 and AEC Regal II 39911 are reported by the company as having been sold. Also now for disposal is Enviro 200 36328.
Stagecoach South West
Enviro 200MMCs 37468/469 have transferred from Exeter to the Reserve Fleet at Plymouth with MAN/Enviro 300s 24150/151 moving from Plymouth to Exeter.
Vehicles sold out of this fleet are Dart SLFs 34849/875 and 35164.
Stagecoach West
Recent service changes have allowed Enviro 200s 36127/128/132/134/390 and 37008 to transfer to Stroud which have ousted Darts 34590/734/829 to Disposal, and 34635/786/815/816/817 to Reserve.
Now for disposal are Tridents 18089/182/377/414. Enviro 300 27553 is currently being converted to a driver training bus with 27555 earmarked to be next up for conversion.
We thank Dave Russell and Deric Pemberton for some of the information provided in this section.
Stagecoach West Scotland
Vehicles sold out of this fleet are Enviro 300 27512 and Van Hool 50313.
Stagecoach Yorkshire
Enviro 200s 36409 and 36410 are now earmarked for driver training conversion. Now for disposal are MAN/Enviro 300s 22548/553/627/636 and Enviro 200 37105. MAN/Enviro 300 22632 has been sold out of this fleet and scrapped.
Wellglade Group
Trentbarton Optare Versa 812 has been stood down after sustaining fire damage during December 2022.
