25th December 2023
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Christmas Lights. Stagecoach East Midlands Enviro 200 MMC 37458 is seen in Cottingham on 16th December 2023. © Paul Davey.
Arriva Midlands
Optare Solo 668 at Tamworth from Arriva Wales, has been renumbered 2510. Enviro 300s 2741 and 2747 have transferred to Tamworth from Arriva North West, they were previously operated at Wythenshawe and have renumbered 3581 and 3582. VDL SB200/Wright Pulsars at Derby have been renumbered as 3737 (ex North West 2917) and 3740 (ex North West 2926). Newer Pulsar 2 3769 has left Derby, and is now with Arriva North West (as 3231 based at Bootle). Leicester based ADL Enviro 400s now transferred to Arriva North West (Bootle) are 4416, 4417 and 4419, renumbered to 4734, 4735 and 4737 respectively.
Newly transferred in from Arriva North West, Enviro 300 3582 is seen in Sutton Coldfield on 3rd December 2023. © Dylan Jones.
Centrebus
New here at Leicester are Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evoras 642 (BV73MKA) and 643 (BV73MKC).
D&G Bus
Newly acquired and in use at Macclesfield are a trio of former Cardiff Bus ADL Enviro 200 MMCs - 570 (CN17BHA), 571 (CN17BHD) and 572 (CN17BHE), which were previously numbered 558-560. They have been repainted into base red.
ADL Enviro 200 506 has transferred from Crewe to Cannock for use on West Midlands tendered services, if retains Centrebus livery.
New at Cannock are further Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evoras, with 638 BV73MKD and 639 BV73MKE in a new Centrebus group format livery, and 640 BV73MJX in allover red.
Optare Versa 774 from Centrebus Leicester is currently operating at Crewe, and has also spent short periods at Adderley Green and Cannock.
Bran new Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evora 638 (BV73MKD) is seen in Walsall on 27th November 2023. © Dylan Jones.
Diamond
Mercedes-Benz/Mellor Stratas 21205, 21207 and 21209 have all been off-leased.
ADL Enviro 200 21106 and Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro 30816 have been withdrawn.
Wright Streetdeck 40832 has returned here from North West at Eccles.
Now repainted at the Diamond East Midlands division are Optare MetroCity 30991 and 30992, Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evora 31003 and ADL Enviro 400 40522, into Brighter Diamond from Midland Classic livery.
East Yorkshire
Open Top Volvo B7TL 891 was in use as a ‘Santa Bus’ in early December.
First Midlands
Wright Streetlite DFs 47474-47481 have transferred from First York to Worcester.
Wright Streetlite DFs 63109 and 63110 are back at Leicester from Adderley Green, whilst vehicle requirement is increased in the lead to Christmas.
Further Mercedes-Benz Citaros withdrawn are 64030, 64033, 64034, 64035 and 64038 at Worcester, and Scania N94UB OmniCity 65038 at Adderley Green.
Now withdrawn - Mercedes-Benz Citaro 64033 is seen at Worcestershire Hospital on 4th September 2020. © Dylan Jones.
Megabus/Joint Venture Operations
Volvo B11R 54301, which had been in use as part of the Joint Venture fleet at Perth (Stagecoach East Scotland) has returned to Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands) at Inverness.
Volvo B11R 54206 from the Citylink fleet at Perth (Stagecoach East Scotland) is away at Ferrymill Motors for repairs.
National Express West Midlands
Further buses repainted into two-tone grey fleet livery are Volvo B7RLEs 2165 at Coventry, 2170 and 2172 at Acocks Green. ADL Enviro 400s 4769 at West Bromwich, 4836 at Pensnett, 4840 and 4841 at Wolverhampton. Now in for repaint are Volvo B7RLEs 2025 from Wolverhampton, 2147 from Coventry, 2173 and 2176 from Acocks Green. ADL Enviro 400s 4772 from West Bromwich, 4835 and 4838 from Pensnett, 4885 from Birmingham Central and 4986 from Wolverhampton.
Now withdrawn are Scania Omnilinks 1914 at Yardley Wood, 1947 at West Bromwich. Dennis Tridents 4334 at Walsall and 4450 at Wolverhampton. Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 4516 at West Bromwich and ADL Enviro 400 MMC 7508 at Perry Barr, the latter suffering arsonist fire damage and due to be converted into an engineering training vehicle.
Short-wheelbase ADL Enviro 200s 754 and 755 have transferred from Wolverhampton to West Bromwich, with longer 824 and 825 going the other way. Volvo B7RLEs 2112-2116 have transferred from Walsall to Wolverhampton. Dennis Trident 4570 which was briefly withdrawn at Walsall, has been reinstated to service at Yardley Wood. Similar 4628 has transferred from Birmingham Central to Wolverhampton after a loan spell at Walsall.
ADL Enviro 400 4770 is due to transfer from Coventry to Walsall once repairs are completed. Covering for it is 4959 from West Bromwich which has been on extended loan at Walsall. ADL Enviro 400s 4847, 4859-4861 have transferred from Perry Barr to Birmingham Central. ADL Enviro 400 MMCs 6825-6828 have transferred from Birmingham Central to Perry Barr.
Route branding has been removed from Perry Barr based ADL Enviro 400s 4845 (route 33) and 4827 (route 101) with electrification of the depot nearing.
Now delivered are new BYD ADL Enviro 400EVs E164-190 and 192, with E170 the first to be allocated at Perry Barr for driver training.
Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Geminis 4502 and 4517 are further examples to be sold to Birmingham Busworks for onward sale or component recovery.
Birmingham Busworks has sold former fleet member Dennis Tridents 4574 and 4575 to Oxford Taxis.
Recently repainted Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse-Urban 2170 seen in Birmingham on 28th November 2023. © Dylan Jones.
Reading Buses
A further three Scania/Enviro 300 (Gas) buses, YR14 CFM/N/O, are due here from Stagecoach North East.
Select Bus Services
Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer 12 KX06LNU has been withdrawn and replaced with Optare MetroCity YJ15AAU.
Optare Solo 16 YJ54BTV has been withdrawn and replaced with Optare Tempo YJ60LSL, last with Lichfield City Coaches.
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
Enviro 36149 at Carlisle gained ‘Santa Bus’ graphics during December, with Morecambe adding similar decoration to MAN/Enviro 300 22607.
Trident 18364 from Morecambe was parked at Stagecoach North East’s Stockton depot on 9th December, whilst 18330/356/381 have been transferred to the Reserve Fleet at Morecambe and Enviro 400s 19256/257/259 have been returned to Stagecoach Manchester after a period on loan here.
Enviro 200 26068 has been allocated to the Reserve Fleet at Kendal with 36106 moving from Kendal to Barrow in early December.
Sold are open top Trident 17489 and Optare Solo 47721.
Stagecoach East
A vehicle shortage at Peterborough resulted in the loan of Busway Volvo B7RLE 21235 from Fenstanton on 24th November 2023. It was used on Peterborough routes 2 and 3.
Volvo BZL/MCV 86016 was observed on-tow on 1st December with front- end accident damage and is currently awaiting repairs.
Stagecoach East Midlands
Enviro 200 36998 was branded as a ‘Santa Bus’ for the 2023 Christmas Season, whilst Open Top Volvo B7TL 16943 has lost its Lincoln Tour branding for a red-based Christmas charity ‘Fill The Bus Tour’ livery.
On borrowed time is Volvo B7RLE 21215 at Skegness, which was authorised for withdrawal (again) at the beginning of December. There is better news for Trident 17719, which is now formally back in the main operational fleet at Gainsborough. Now in service at Hull are new Enviro 400MMCs 11762/764.
Vehicles due to move to the Reserve Fleet are Enviro 300 27594 (at Gainsborough); Tridents 18434/435 (at Worksop) and Enviro 200 36059 (at Scunthorpe). Hull-allocated Enviro 400s 19304/305/306, which have been on loan to Skegness, have formally transferred from Hull to Lincoln with the delayed transfer of 19686/687 from Lincoln to Skegness also taking place. Enviro 400 19070 is due to move from Scunthorpe to Gainsborough.
Trident/Plaxton President 18040, which is withdrawn, was moved to Stagecoach North East on 11th December and is being donated to Northumbria Police. Transferred here from Stagecoach North East on the same day were Enviro 400s 19179 and 19205 (19179 will be allocated to Scunthorpe with 19205 joining the fleet at Skegness).
‘Santa Bus’ Enviro 200 36998 is seen in Mansfield on 15th December 2023. © Sam Boothby.
Stagecoach East Scotland
Tridents 18094, 18116 and 18351 have been sold to the Birmingham Busworks, who currently have them up for sale. Further Tridents withdrawn and sold to Birmingham Busworks are 18069/071/093/100/114/115/117.
Trident 18507 from Perth was in the engineering bay at Stagecoach North Scotland (Highland)’s Inverness depot in early December. Now here from Stagecoach Manchester and allocated to the Rennies fleet is MAN-engined Enviro 400 19621.
Scania/Enviro 400s 15465/640/641 are allocated to Aberhill with 15944/945 now allocated to Dunfermline. 15463/464/642/643 are at Arbroath (Reserve Fleet). Enviro 400s 19022/057/062 have moved to the Rennies fleet while 19031/042 are now allocated to Perth. Now in the Strategic Reserve Fleet are Enviro 300 27131, Enviro 200 36194 and Volvo B13R 54110. Other allocation changes are Scania/Enviro 300 28604 to Aberhill, Solo SRs 47748 and 47812 to Glenrothes, and 47954 with Volvo B11R 54311 to Arbroath. Trident 18179 was on loan to Perth during December.
Stagecoach Manchester
ADL Enviro 400MMC 11745 remained outstanding on 6th December for delivery from ADL Scarborough to Ashton.
Enviro 400s 19256/257/259 have returned here following a period on loan to Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire, with 19256 being allocated to Hyde Road and 19257/259 to Stockport. The company reports that Enviro 200s 36102/103 are earmarked for conversion to training buses. Enviro 400 19621 has now transferred to Stagecoach East Scotland.
Sold to PVS (Dealer) have been Enviro 400H Hybrids 12014/015/028/033/225; Enviro 400s 19330/427/561 and Optare Solos 47649/650.
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire
Recently transferred from Stagecoach Manchester, Enviro 200s 36791/796 are at Preston with 36797/799 at Gilmoss.
Stagecoach Midlands
Stagecoach Midlands has told its staff that it is submitting applications for three electric bus projects with partners North Northamptonshire Council, West Northamptonshire Council and Warwickshire County Council. The funding bid is for 92 electric buses, which is part of the `Government’s ZEBRA2 funding competition. A decision on whether the bid has been successful is expected in March next year. If it is, the buses will need to be delivered and in service by 2026. This bid is in addition to the 64 buses that the company is working towards as part of the All Electric Coventry Project.
Former Stagecoach East Scania/Enviro 400 15199 was repainted into ‘Local’ livery at the end of November 2023, as has Enviro 200 36938. The final Enviro 400MMC due here, 11672, was delivered from ADL at Scarborough to Northampton at the end of November.
Tridents reported as for disposal are 18108/151/152/158/198/199/322/399/400/402/405/409/410. Also reported for disposal are Enviro 400s 19012/085/089/091/129, initially leaving just 19010 of the type allocated to Northampton before it was subsequently moved to Leamington joining 19004/080/082 there. 19020/083/084/087/108 are at Kettering. Dart SLF 34880, which had been prepared for use as a training bus at Nuneaton is reported as being for disposal.
Enviro 400MMC 10732 received extensive roof damage when it collided with the canopy at Northampton General Hospital on 3rd December 2023. Dart SLF 34878 has been sold for preservation.
Just four operational Tridents remained at Northampton by 1st December Reserve Fleet 18106 and main fleet 18404/407/408 with 18103/128 being stood down. Darts 35181/182 are both understood to have been sold to A H Hardwick, with further Darts and some Tridents also being sold.
Recent transfer from Stagecoach East - Scania/Enviro 400 15197 seen in Stratford on the Park & Ride service on 29th November 2023. © Dylan Jones.
Stagecoach North East
Enviro 400MMCs outstanding delivery from ADL Scarborough to Walkergate depot on 6th December were 11775/780.
Trident/ALX400 18364 from Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire was parked at Stockton depot on 9th December, moving a few days later to Walkergate. It is understood to be for donation to charity. On 11th December, withdrawn President-bodied Trident 18040 from Stagecoach East Midlands was at Walkergate depot. 18040 is being donated to charity. In return, Enviro 400s 19179 and 19205 have transferred to Stagecoach East Midlands. Open Top Trident 17645 was returned from Stagecoach Yorkshire, where it had been on loan, on 11th December and is now stored at South Shields.
Slatyford’s Enviro 200MMC 26068 received window decorations as a Santa Bus during December. Enviro 400 19645 has transferred from South Shields to Walkergate in exchange for Enviro 400MMC 10631. Enviro 300s 27688/698/699 have been allocated to Sunderland as replacements for withdrawn Scania/Enviro 300 (Gas) 28032/033/034, which have been sold to Reading Buses. Enviro 400s 19389/432/433/434/435/437/438 at Walkergate are being prepared for cascade within Stagecoach.
Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird)
Transferred to Stagecoach South West are Enviro 200s 36202/206. Transferred here from Stagecoach West Scotland is open top Enviro 400 19046.
Volvo B9R 53735 has been allocated to Elgin. Following MOT expiry Enviro 300 27799 has transferred to the Reserve Fleet being replaced at Stonehaven by 27601, which had been in the Reserve Fleet and had previously been offered for cascade within Stagecoach Group.
Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands)
Back in the fleet and allocated to Inverness is Volvo B11R 54301, which had been with Stagecoach East Scotland’s Joint Venture fleet at Perth.
Stagecoach South
Enviro 200MMC 37407 at Winchester, Enviro 200s 36919 at Andover, 36839 at Guildford and 36912 at Aldershot along with Enviro 300 27876 at Portsmouth were branded as ‘Santa Buses’ for the 2023 Christmas Season.
Enviro 200s 36022/053 have been stood down for maintenance requirements. Enviro 300 27834 is now in the main fleet at Andover. Reserve Fleet Trident 18081 has been reported operating from Basingstoke. Trident 18193, Enviro 300 27648 and Enviro 200 36132 were transferred to the operational fleet at Winchester during December as cover for increased Park & Ride vehicle requirement.
Stagecoach South East
Recent repaints here are of Enviro 400 MMC 10719, Scania/Enviro 400s 15493/547/562/775/779, Enviro 200s 36867/880, and Optare Solo 47682 - all into ‘Local’ livery. Enviro 200s 36500/501 now carry a new red and yellow livery with branding for Route 1066.
Withdrawn and now for disposal is Dart SLF 34411 from Hastings - it was the lowest-numbered Dart still in service with Stagecoach.
Enviro 400 19005 is due to be transferred from the Reserve Fleet at Dover to the main fleet at Thanet following repairs. Enviro 200 36905 at Eastbourne has received ‘Santa Bus’ branding. Now in the reserve fleet are Enviro 400 MMC 11606, and Enviro 200s 36490/507.
Scania/Enviro 400 15547, recently repainted into ‘Local’ livery, is seen in Folkestone in late November 2023. © Leon Frampton.
Stagecoach South Wales
Enviro 300s 27690 and 27696 had both been converted for driver training use by early December.
Stagecoach South West
Trident 18110, recently transferred from Stagecoach East Scotland and initially earmarked for use as a training bus, initially entered normal service at Torquay before being moved to storage at Exeter. At Exeter, and transferred from Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird), are Enviro 200s 36202/206.
Stagecoach UK Bus
It has been confirmed that an order has been placed with ADL for 20 Enviro 100EVs. They are for delivery in the first half of 2024 and represent the first order placed with ADL for the type. They will all be allocated to Scottish operating companies.
Stagecoach West
Enviro 400 MMCs outstanding delivery to Witney on 6th December were 11760/761. With 11747-754 in service at Witney by 1st December, older 11233/234 had transferred from Witney to North Bristol with 11235/236 following a few days later before being joined by 11237. 11243-247 have transferred from Witney to Oxford. The transfer of Enviro 400MMCs to North Bristol from Witney saw 10749 and 10902 returned from North Bristol to Cheltenham whilst 10986 has transferred from North Bristol to Swindon.
Oxford Tube 50426 was used to take management and staff to ADL Falkirk in December 2023. The coach went from Oxford to Cumbernauld on 4th December, where an overnight stay was made and then on to Falkirk the following day before returning to Oxford later in the day.
Enviro 200 36984 has transferred from Oxford to Cheltenham. Scania/Enviro 300 28681 has moved from Cheltenham to Gloucester in exchange for 28742. Withdrawn are Enviro 400H Hybrids 12004/005 and Oxford Tube Astromega 50272.
With many thanks to Dave Russell & Deric Pemberton for providing much of the fleet movements for Stagecoach West over the past few weeks.
Brand New Enviro 400 MMC 11747 is seen in Oxford on 25th November 2023. © Jacob Tuson.
Stagecoach West Scotland
Open Top Enviro 400 19046 has moved to Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird).
Enviro 200 36144 is a transfer from the Reserve Fleet at Dumfries to the main fleet at Ayr. Also reported at Ayr (in the Reserve Fleet) is Scania/Enviro 300 28669 from Dumfries.
Stagecoach Yorkshire
Enviro 200MMC 37608 was branded as a ‘Santa Bus’ for the 2023 Christmas Season.
Enviro 200MMC 37605 was transferred to Barnsley at the end of November. Now at Rawmarsh, from Holbrook, are Enviro 200MMCs 37606/613 with MAN/Enviro 300s 22557/634 moving to the Reserve Fleet. Now at Barnsley are Enviro 200MMCs 37609/614 with 37608 in the Reserve Fleet. MAN/Enviro 300s 22649/653 are in Reserve. Now at Chesterfield are Enviro 400H Hybrids 12173/175 and Enviro 200 36993. MAN/Enviro 300 22633 from Chesterfield is now in the Reserve Fleet.
Open Top Trident 17645, which had been on loan from Stagecoach North East was returned on 11th December.
