Arriva Midlands

Optare Solo 2449 has transferred from Milton Keynes to Telford.

VDL SB200/Plaxton Centros 3733 and 3846 from Telford, and VDL DB250/Wright Pulsar Gemini 4766 from Thurmaston have been withdrawn.

Optare Versas 2952, 2953 and 2958, at Thurmaston, ADL Enviro 400 4405, at Derby, and Enviro 400s 4407 and 4411, at Tamworth, have been repainted into the latest journey mark livery,

Centrebus

Dart SLF 555 has been returned to Grantham, following a period of time operating with the D&G Bus fleet.

Delaine Buses

Another ADL Enviro 200MMC is due to join this fleet in September with registration AD72DBL having been reserved.

D&G Bus

Wright Streetlite DF 63, Optare Solo SR 167, Optare Solos 175 and 390, DAF SB200/Wright Commander 190 and Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 690 have all been withdrawn from service at Cannock.

Optare MetroCitys 149 and 151 have returned to service at Adderley Green, following repaint and upseating.

ADL Enviro 200 MMC YX68UMT has been acquired from Celtic Travel. Numbered 538 it is currently operating from Cannock in Centrebus’ new livery.

Dart SLF 555 has been returned to Centrebus.

DAF SB200/Wright Commander 190 pictured in Lichfield on 26th April 2022. © Dylan Jones.

Diamond East Midlands

This new division encompasses the former Midland Classic operation (with the sale completed on August 3rd). It is understood the Brighter Diamond livery will replace those of Midland Classic in time.

Wright Streedeck 40726 is the first bus to operate here in Diamond livery, and is being used on Midland Classic’s A52 and X11 works services into Birmingham, which require Euro 6 buses.

Wright Streedeck 40726 is pictured in Burton on 10th August 2022. © Dylan Jones.

Midland Classic Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 81 has been withdrawn whislt similar 85 has passed into preservation.

Fleetnumbers allocated for when the transfer to Diamond is completed are as follows:
Scania/Wright Solar: 76 - 30901, 79 - 30902, 78 - 30903, 74 - 30904, 82 - 30905, 81 - 30906, 83 - 30907, 75 - 30908.
VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar: 70 - 30909.
Optare Versa: 20 - 30910, 41 - 30912.
Scania K230UB/ADL Enviro 300: 21 - 30913.
Scania/Irizar i3: 28 - 30985, 27 - 30986 , 26 - 30987, 25 - 30988, 24 - 30989, 23 - 30990, 19 - 30997, 18 - 30998, 17 - 30999, 16 - 31000, 15 - 31001, 14 - 31002.
Optare MetroCity: 5 - 30991, 4 - 30992, 9 - 30993, 8 - 30994, 7 - 30995, 6 - 30996.
Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evora: 10 - 31003.
ADL Enviro 200: 34 - 31423, 35 - 31424, 36 - 31427, 37 - 31426, 38 - 31425, 2 - 31428, 1 - 31429, 3 - 31430, 22 - 31431, 40 - 31432, 39 - 31433.
Scania OmniCity: 62 - 40519, 61 - 40520.
ADL Enviro 400: 69 - 40521, 68 - 40522, 67 - 40523, 66 - 40524, 65 - 40525, 64 - 40526, 63 - 40527.
VDL DB250/Wright Pulsar Gemini: 46 - 40633, 47 - 40634.
Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President: 102 - 40636, 103 - 40635, 101 - 40637, 105 - 40638, 104 - 40639, 106 - 40640 (of these 101/106 have already been withdrawn).

Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 85, which carries Stevensons livery, is pictured in Burton on 10th August 2022. © Dylan Jones.

Diamond West Midlands

Optare Solos 20028 and 20733, Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro 30504, Dennis Dart 30961 and Optare Tempo 30981 have all been sent for scrap. Optare Solo 20735 from Tividale and Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro 30502 from Redditch have been withdrawn.

Scania Omnilinks 30121-124 are out of use at Redditch (pending sale), these had been acquired with the Johnsons operation.

Previously withdrawn Dennis Dart 30963 has been reinstated into service at Tividale. Wright Streetlite DFs 20177 and 20179 have transferred from Redditch to Tividale.

Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban 30413 has been sold to Alpha Coaches of Honiton.

Latest repaints into Brighter Diamond livery are ADL Enviro 200 20533, and VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2s 32129 and 32132, all based at Tividale. Similar 32130 now carries West Midlands Bus livery with route 40 branding.

Recent repaint - VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2 32132, is pictured in Wednesbury on 23rd July 2022. © Dylan Jones.

East Yorkshire

Further vehicles delicensed from the end of July 2022 are Volvo B9TLs 714 (Pocklington), 720 and 721 (Scarborough), 744 and 745 (Withernsea) along with Enviro 200s 358 (Bridlington), and 359 and 360 (Scarborough). Enviro 200 284 is due to transfer from Scarborough to Bridlington.

Recently withdrawn Enviro 200s 355/356/357/358/360 have left the fleet for fellow Go Ahead company Headingham Buses, whilst Open Top Volvo B7TL 895 has transferred from Scarborough to Hull. Volvo B7TL 696 has reverted to original registration YX05EOO.

With thanks to Richard Smiles, we can report that the ADL Enviro 400MMC, 97, with East Yorkshire Coaches has a seating capacity of H50/35F. It carries registration A7EYC, although had initially had mark SK71CKV reserved but which was never used.

Twelve Volvo B7TLs are to be transferred on loan to Go North East, to cover for an increase in contract work there. First to be relicensed and prepared for transfer were 696, 710, 711 and 713.

Further repaints into Eastrider livery are Volvo B5TL/MCV Evosetis 804 and 806.

First Midlands

Now withdrawn at Adderley Green are Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 32643, Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 65732, and Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urbans 69155, 69162, and 69172. Withdrawn at Worcester is Mercedes Citaro 64015.

ADL Enviro 200 MMCs 67145, 67146, 67148, 67149 and 67150 have transferred to Adderley Green from South Yorkshire’s Olive Grove depot, completing the batch of 19 consecutive E200MMCs.

ADL Enviro 400 33830 has been repainted into a new generic Potteries livery, with Fushsia front and Purple rear. This is identical to that carried by Worcester’s 69454 and 69455, with 69456 the next one to be so treated. Optare Solo 53065 based at Worcester has had its Riversider branding removed, but currently remains in two-tone purple livery.

Now withdrawn, Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 65732 is pictured in Hanley on 6th May 2021. © Dylan Jones.

**First South West:** Enviro 400 MMC 33302, along with two other examples, are pictured at Longbridge on 30th July 2022. These were being used on Commonwealth Games Park & Ride duties. © Dylan Jones.

Megabus/Scottish Citylink

Volvo B11R 54265 returned to Stagecoach West at North Bristol during July 2022 after a short period on loan to Stagecoach East Midland at Hull.

Metrobus

Two 8.9m Enviro 200s have been acquired, YX16OCU and SN65OFE which have been numbered 6703 and 6704 respectively. Also acquired are three ex Go-Ahead Ireland E200MMCs, in exchange for three Wright Streetlites. Only the first one, 6784 (awaiting UK registration) has arrived in the UK so far, in exchange for SK66HTE (6108).

Withdrawals reported here are Scania Omnicitys 6624 and 6625 (YN08DFJ/K), with 6553 (YN55PWK) due to be withdrawn. Enviro 200 6765 (YX63ZWZ) is currently out of service after sustaining fire damage.

National Express West Midlands

Latest repaints here into the new two-tone grey livery are ADL Enviro 200s 840 and 872 (at Coventry), Volvo B7RLEs 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 (at Wolverhampton), and ADL Enviro 200 MMCs 2209, 2222, 2230 and 2231 (at Acocks Green). Scania Omnilink 1819 (at Perry Barr) has been repainted into crimson, whilst similar 1952, 7020 and 7022 are further examples to be placed into reserve (from Perry Barr).

Volvo B7RLEs 2094 and 2095 have transferred from Pensnett to Wolverhampton.

Now departed for scrap are Dennis Tridents 4310, 4352, 4403 and 4439, as well as Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 4528.

Latest withdrawals here are Scania Omnilink 1868 at Perry Barr with accident damage, Dennis Trident 4365 at Walsall, Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 4524 at West Bromwich, and Dennis Tridents 4555 and 4557 at Wolverhampton.

ADL Enviro 400 5407 from Wolverhampton is now undergoing straight diesel conversion, completing the batch currently being treated.

ADL Enviro 200 MMC 2236 at West Bromwich has lost its route 40 branding, but retains base West Midlands Bus livery. ADL Enviro 400 MMC 6832 at Birmingham Central has lost its route X2 branding for standard red generic Platinum branding. Similarly Coventry based examples 6955, 6957, 6958, 6959 and 6963 have lost their 11/12X branding, which the sight of will soon be history.

Now delivered, and mostly in store at Birmingham Central at present, are BYD/ADL Enviro 400 EVs E044-E047 and E059-E065 for Coventry. E044 and E045 are the first to receive their full branding, and be moved over to Coventry.

Wright Streetdeck Electroliner LY71GJE is here on demonstration, and is expected to shadow various routes at Yardley Wood, though not enter service.

During the 2022 Commonwealth Games, a number of buses were loaned between depots to enable extra services to be run when required. These were,
ADL Enviro 400s 4752 and 4755, and ADL Enviro 400 MMCs 6916 and 6942 from Pensnett to West Bromwich.
ADL Enviro 400s 4861, 4862 and 4863 from Walsall to West Bromwich.
ADL Enviro 400 MMCs 6791, 6792, 6793 and 6794 from Wolverhampton to West Bromwich.
ADL Enviro 400 4925 from Yardley Wood to Birmingham Central.

Oxford Bus Compnay

On trial use here is Mercedes-Benz Citaro electric MB21 BUS, in preparation for the eventual conversion of Oxford City routes to electric buses.

Enviro 400 309 returned to service in early August, following conversion from hybrid to diesel. Wright Streetdecks 371-376 and Enviro 400 MMCs 609-614 now carry revised Park & Ride branding, whilst Enviro 400 MMCs 603-608 have gained branding for the City 100 route.

Thames Travel Mercedes-Benz Citaro 874 returned to service on 17th August 2022.

Carousel Buses Wright Streetlite 407 has returned to service following it's repaint into Carousel Red livery.

Select Bus Services

DAF SB200/Wright Commanded YJ56JXX has entered service here as fleet number 25, replacing the previous Commander numbered 25 (FJ06ZTE).

Dennis Dart/Super Pointer 15 (SK52OJG) have now been withdrawn.

Dennis Dart/Super Pointer 15 is pictured at Doxey Estate on 4th October 2021. This has now been withdrawn here. © Dylan Jones.

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire

To cover for the ADL Enviro 400MMCs released for Commonwealth Games duties, Morecambe received Scania/Enviro 400 15723 (from Barrow); Enviro 400 19569 (from Kendal); and MAN/Enviro 300s 22880/883 from Carlisle on loan. Now part of the main fleet at Morecambe are Tridents 18324/364, Dart SLF 35192 along with MAN/Enviro 300s 22876 and 24120 from the Reserve Fleet. At Carlisle Enviro 400 19144, Optare Versa 25213 and Optare Solo SR 47966 are all back in the main fleet from the Reserve Fleet, whilst Optare Versa 25227 is now in the Reserve Fleet.

Optare Solo 47966 at Carlisle has replaced 47921 which is a slimline version and has moved to Morecambe where there is a requirement for a narrow-bodied vehicle. Now sold are Optare Versa 25219 and Optare Solo 47394.

Morecambe-allocated ADL Enviro 400MMC 11150 received severe collision damage whilst away on Commonwealth Games duties and has been sent to ADL Anston for repairs.

Stagecoach East

Repainted into Pride livery is Enviro 400 19585.

After being back at Fenstanton depot for barely more than a month Scania/Enviro 4090MMCs 15291-294 were back at Cambridge in mid-May providing cover for ADL Enviro 400MMCs which are away on Commonwealth Games duties.

A further Dart SLF briefly back in service to provide Commonwealth Games cover was 34828 at Bedford. 34834 had not returned to service at Bedford by late July 2022 and was still undergoing MOT preparation work, whilst we understand that 34535 made it back into service at Cambridge at the end of July 2022.

The company issued a statement at the end of July confirming that the release of vehicles and drivers for Commonwealth Games duties is impacting on the ability to operate local advertised bus services. In an unusual move due to driver shortage the X12 Peterborough-Skegness seasonal service on 30th July 2022 and 6th August 2022 had been contracted out to Fowlers Coaches.

In late July 2022 Busway Volvo B7RLEs transferred to Cambridge from Fenstanton are 21223/226/231/232/234/235, initially seeing use on Ely services. Following a couple of day’s use at Cambridge, 21226/31/32 were further transferred to Bedford depot during the first week
of August 2022, but their stay was short lived with 21232 back at Fenstanton on 5th August 2022 followed by 21232 five days later. Returned to Fenstanton from Cambridge on 10th August 2022 was 21223 with 21235 following a day later.

Dart SLF 34536, which was re-instated at Peterborough on July 17th 2022 to provide Commonwealth Games cover has been withdrawn and was towed away from Peterborough depot for storage on August 4th 2022. It had suffered major engine failure on July 28th 2022. Meanwhile 34828 returned to service at Bedford on August 3rd 2022 following gearbox repairs. Enviro 400 19580 from Bedford has also been operating from Cambridge.

Following completion of collision repairs, former Norfolk Green Enviro 400 10054 returned to service at Peterborough on 9th July 2022. Also following repairs, Enviro 400 19702 returned to service at Peterborough in late July 2022.

‘Pride’ liveried Enviro 400 19585 is seen in Peterborough on 21st August 2022. © John Abbott.

Recently retuned to service, Enviro 400 10054 is pictured in Peterborough on 9th August 2022. © Luke Fisher.

Stagecoach East Midlands

Now in ‘Local’ livery are Scania/Enviro 400 15653, and Enviro 200s 36450, 37201 and 37204, whilst Enviro 400MMC 10734 at Hull has received ‘Pride’ graphics. Of note, Enviro 200 36450 remains out of service (as do Volvo B7TL 16939, Enviro 400 19147, and Dart SLF 35131) after being repainted.

Former Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire Volvo B7RLEs 21256/258-262 are all now operating from Skegness (some are seeing use based at the Long Sutton outstation).

At Gainsborough Dart SLF 34570 has moved to the Reserve Fleet and Trident 18027 from the Reserve Fleet to main fleet. Of note Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vykings 16907 and 16913 have been reallocated to Gainsborough (the latter into the reserve fleet), however as of late August they remain at Scunthorpe.

Stagecoach East Scotland

Former Stagecoach Manchester Enviro 400s 19182/192 are now allocated to Glenrothes, having displaced 19896/697 to the Reserve Fleet.

MAN/East Lancs training bus 22506 at Rennies has been sidelined with an engine failure and replaced by recent training bus conversion Enviro 300 27529. Optare Versas 25251/252/253 have been scrapped whilst Optare Solo SR 47956 has transferred from Glenrothes to Perth.

Stagecoach London

Now in the training fleet at Lea Interchange are former Tower Transit Wright StreetLites 39121/122 (DRZ 6181 and DRZ 9420) whilst Enviro 200 37552 is also for conversion to a training vehicle.

Reserve Fleet Enviro 400 19858 has been allocated to West Ham.

**Stagecoach Manchester:** Enviro 400 MMC 10411, along with three further examples from Manchester, are seen in Birmingham whilst on loan for Commonwealth Games duties on 26th July 2022. © Barry McGuire.

Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire

The two former Stagecoach South Wales Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, 44021/024 are allocated to Chester (44021 in the Reserve Fleet and 44024 in the main fleet). Reserve Fleet Optare Versas 25218/220/221 are now in the main fleet at Preston.

Reserve Fleet MAN/Enviro 300s returned to the main fleet at Gilmoss are 24129/130/134-139/154/155/157. Enviro 300 27298 has transferred from Chester to Birkenhead and has been replaced at Chester by 27900 from the Reserve Fleet. ADL Enviro 400MMC 10575 at Birkenhead is stood down into the Reserve Fleet for repairs whilst at Chester ADL 200MMC 26057 is back in the main fleet from Reserve with 26051 now in the Reserve Fleet.

Scania/Enviro 400 15743 at Birkenhead (Rock Ferry) has received a commemorative green based-livery with large cream Stagecoach logo at the rear to recognise the provision of bus services in the area by Crossville and Stagecoach.

Stagecoach Midlands

A number of assorted Optare Solos and Optare Solo SRs from Stagecoach South Wales were drafted in here to provide cover during the Commonwealth Games, which also coincides with a PVR increase. These were 47074/191/203/206/209/211/316/349/363/385/816-819.

Enviro 200s 36154/160/161/167 and 37059 are at Leamington, from Nuneaton with 36164 and 36746/748/749 also being transferred. Leamington also has 36215 from Rugby with 36216 to follow. 36950 from Rugby has been transferred to Kettering depot. At Kettering for use on the X4 service, from Northampton, are Scania/Enviro 400s 15196/841/842/844/845.

ADL Enviro 400MMC, 10732, which was part of the Commonwealth Games fleet, failed whilst in use there and was towed back to Northampton on August 5th 2022.

Most of the Reserve Fleet and the delicensed fleet here were returned to service in July. However, Enviro 400 10032 is out of service with fire damage and Dart SLf 34422 has been delicensed for repairs. However Dart 34421 is back in the main fleet at Kettering and 34831 is back in the main fleet at Rugby.

Back at Nuneaton on 10th August 2022, following repaint into retro-Stagecoach ‘stripes’ livery was Volvo B10M/Alexander PS 20215 for fitting of original features and branding.

Stagecoach North East

Enviro 400s 19179 and 19205 have transferred from Slatyford to Walkergate in exchange for 19388 and 19405.

MAN/Enviro 300s 22887/889, transferred from Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire have been allocated to Slatyford.

Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird)

ADL Enviro 400MMC 10533 has been severely damaged, including rear end fire damage, as a result of a road traffic collision on the M6 on July 19th 2022 whist being moved from Aberdeen to Birmingham for Commonwealth Games duties.

Volvo B7R 53610 has been sold.

Aberdeen allocated Enviro 400 MMC 10530 is pictured whilst on loan at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, on 26th July 2022. © Barry McGuire.

Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands)

Optare Solo SR 47749 had returned here by Mid-July 2022 following engineering attention in Manchester. It has re-entered service at Inverness.

Stagecoach South

Withdrawn Trident 18445 from Stagecoach West has been reported stored at Portsmouth depot.

Enviro 300 27562 has been stood down from service at Winchester and is for conversion to a training vehicle. Back in service at Winchester following completion of repairs is Optare Solo 47312. Reserve Fleet Enviro 300 27670 is now in the main fleet at Basingstoke.

Dennis Trident 18526 had transferred to Aldershot from Portsmouth, along with similar 18118 and 18513 from Winchester.

Stagecoach South East

Dart SLFs 34771/773 on loan from Stagecoach East finally entered service at Eastbourne in the latter half of July 2022.

Optare Solo 47663 is out of service at Eastbourne for repairs.

A large number of Scania/Enviro 400s have been transferred between depots, on loan, to provide cover during the Commonwealth Games. These included 15436/443/475/476/477/478/549 to Folkestone; 15441/492/540/541/548 to Hastings; 15437/493/498/501/538/539/542/548 to Herne Bay. Enviro 400 19005 was also on loan to Folkestone, whilst Dart SLF 34625 was on loan to Hastings.

Transferred to Ashford are Trident 18166 and Dart SLF 34697 whilst Enviro 300s 27572/574-579/891/921 are at Thanet and Dart SLF 34625 at Hastings. Now back in service at Dover is Optare Solo 47114.

Stagecoach South Wales

Assorted Optare Solos and Optare Solo SRs spent late July/early August on loan to Stagecoach Midlands. Those moved included 47074/191/203/206/209/211/316/349/363/385/816-819.

Further Enviro 200 to go on loan to Stagecoach West at Oxford are 36403 and 37014/021.

Dart SLF 34351 has received the latest training livery whilst Enviro 300 27284 now sports ‘Pride Cymru’ branding.

Stagecoach South West

Trident 18137 and Scania/Enviro 400s 15796/893 have transferred from Barnstaple to Torquay. Scania/Enviro 400 15782 is out of service at Exeter with roof damage.

Stagecoach West

Further Enviro 200s on loan from Stagecoach South Wales during late July/early August, based at Oxford were 36401/403, 37014/021. Following the return of vehicles used on Commonwealth Games duties, Enviro 200s 36401 and 37017/021/025 were moved over to Cheltenham depot on 13th August 2022 for onward movement back to South Wales.

Scania/Enviro 400s on loan from North Bristol are 15765/768/769 at Witney and 15736/766/966 at Oxford. Further Reserve Fleet Optare Solos moved to Witney in July 2022 were 47904 and 47910. They had been part of the Reserve Fleet at North Bristol.

Scania/Enviro 300s 28687 and 28688 were transferred to Swindon in mid-July 2022 with Enviro 400MMCs 10686/887 moving from Swindon and returning to the Oxfordshire fleet at Witney.

Reserve Fleet Optare Solos 47455 and 47555 are both now for disposal whilst Scania/Enviro 400MMC 15349 at Swindon and Scania/Enviro 400 15830 at Oxford are both out of service with collision damage.

With thanks to Dave Russell & Deric Pemberton for continued assistance with Stagecoach West information

Stagecoach West Scotland

Volvo B7Rs 53323/336 have been sold and Electric Solos 48903, 48904 and 48906 have entered service at Kilmarnock.

Enviro 400 MMCs 10515/518/520/522 spent the Commonwealth Games on loan at Kilmarnock, covering for vehicles away in Birmingham. Enviro 300 27227 has recently returned to service, whilst Optare Solo SR 48021 has returned to use at Ayr, and Optare Solo 47837 is now back in service at Kilmarnock.

A further sale is 19982 (RCS382) from the Heritage fleet - a former Western SMT (D1684) Leyland PD3A/3 with Alexander L35/32RD bodywork.

Stagecoach Yorkshire

Now delicensed are Optare Solo 47725 and MAN/Enviro 300 22539. Further MAN/Enviro 300s now for disposal are 22538/543/562/642/643/644/652.

Vallances Coaches of Kirkby-in-Ashfield

Trident/Plaxton President V70 LLN has now reverted back to registration SN04 AFZ and has passed to Ausden Clark of Leicester.

24th August 2022