30th January 2024
Arriva Midlands
Optare Solo 669 which transferred in from Arriva Cymru has been renumbered 2511 at Tamworth.
Optare Solo SR 2505 has transferred from Telford to Hinckley. Scania Omnilink 3511 has transferred from Tamworth to Derby. VDL SB200/Wright Pulsars 3735 and 3736 have transferred from Telford to Tamworth, similar Pulsar 2 3737 initially moved to Tamworth before a loan spell at Derby, and is now also at Tamworth.
Withdrawals are Optare Solo SR 2512 and Scania Omnilinks 3502 and 3503 at Tamworth, Scania OmniCity 3560 at Derby and VDL DB250/Wright Pulsar Gemini 4751 at Thurmaston, following RTC damage.
Transfers out to Arriva North West are VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2 3767 from Derby (renumbered 3229), and ADL Enviro 400s 4418 and 4420-4425 from Thurmaston (renumbered 4735, 4738-4743 respectively). Transfers in from Arriva North West are ADL Enviro 400s 4411, 4419, 4420, 4425, 4427, 4428 and 4430-4434. Of these 4411 has been renumbered 4435, and 4420 to 4438, for use at Thurmaston. Also transferred in is VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2 2937, now renumbered 3739 and in use at Derby. It arrived with ‘Gives Bus A Chance’ branding on Cotswold Stone livery, but has since been repainted into Journey Mark.
Optare Versas repainted into Journey Mark at Telford are 2983 and 2997.
Further Wright StreetDeck Electroliners have been delivered with most remaining in store at Derby due to a lack of charging equipment at Thurmaston. Of the batch of 23, at least 8001-8014 have been delivered.
VDL/Wright Pulsar 3739 is seen at Sinfin on 5th January 2024. © Dylan Jones.
Centrebus
ADL Enviro 200 YX67VGJ last with Falcon Buses has been acquired. It carries fleet livery and has been numbered 502 for use at Luton.
D&G Bus
ADL Enviro 200 acquisitions are YX67UXO (previously with Kev’s Coaches of Bromsgrove), which remains allover white and is currently in use at High Peak Buses as 545, but is due at D&G. Acquired from First Midlands are YX18KUF, KYA, KYC, and KYF, which have been numbered 521-524 with all in use at Adderley Green, except 522 at Cannock.
Brand new ADL Enviro 200 MMCs are at Crewe are 573-576, which have been joined by 577 (YX68UNY) last with White Bus Service.
Repainted into updated fleet livery of red and blue are ADL Enviro 200 91 and Optare MetroCity 149 based at Adderley Green. Withdrawn at Cannock are ADL Enviro 200 51 and VDL SB180/MCV Evolution 132. Due to return to service at Cannock is Wright Streetlite DF 62.
Enviro 200 MMC 573 (YY73RFJ) is seen at Lichfield Trent Valley on 7th January 2024, after working a Rail Replacement from Birmingham New Street. © Dylan Jones.
Delaine Buses
Withdrawn from service on 22nd December 2023, exactly 23 years after entering service was Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking 130 (X7 OCT). Historically significant as the first low floor PSVAR vehicle in the fleet, it has been donated to the Delaine Heritage Trust. The acquisition of 130 by the Trust means that it now has the last step floor double deck to operate in service with Delaine (Volvo Olympian 116 M1 OCT), along with the first low floor double deck operated by Delaine.
Diamond
Optare Solo 20029, ADL Enviro 200 20524 and Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban 30850 have been withdrawn for scrap. ADL Enviro 200 31423 and Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 30901 have been withdrawn at Burton. Mercedes/Mellor Stratas 21210-21214 from Tividale have been returned to their leasing company.
Wright Streetlite DF 32238 has transferred from Tividale to Diamond North West, with 32278 moving in the opposite direction to Kidderminster.
Wright StreetDecks transferred from North West at Eccles to Burton are 40828 and 40837.
East Yorkshire
On loan at Hull from 27th November 2023 was Volvo BZL/ MCV demonstrator BV72 KPF, which was given temporary fleet number 6001. This was the second time this vehicle had been on loan here, previously being operated in July/August 2023.
Formally transferred from Go North East in the closing days of 2023 was Volvo B5/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6064 (NK62 CLZ). It had been on loan for a short period operating from Scarborough depot. Following repaint it will be given East Yorkshire fleet number 817. Transferred from Go North West and allocated fleet numbers 369-372 are Enviro 200s YX63 LKY/LKZ/LLC/LLJ.
Open Top Volvo B7TL 891 was delicensed at the end of December 2023.
The three Trident/Optare Olympus vehicles on loan from Go North East (LX58 CWR/CWZ/CXH) have now formally been transferred here and they have been allocated fleet numbers 930-32, replacing temporary numbers 6968/69/71.
First Midlands
Wright StreetDeck 35932 has transferred from Leeds Hunslet to Adderley Green, having been new to York for University services. Wright Streetlite DFs 47438, 47440 and 47442 are further examples to transfer from First West of England to Worcester.
Now withdrawn are Mercedes-Benz Citaros 64031, 64039, 64042-64044 and 64048 at Worcester and Scania OmniCities 65029 and 65032 at Adderley Green. Similar 65042 has been sold to Connexions Buses, now registered 7396LJ.
ADL Enviro 200 MMC 67180 is the first of the Solent Eclipse liveried examples to be repainted into Fushsia front fleet livery.
Lynx Bus
Previously unreported, the second ADL Enviro 400MMC delivered in 2023 was 67 (YX73 PHJ), which although expected in July/August actually arrived at the end of October.
Megabus/Joint Venture
Volvo B11R 54301 has transferred from Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands) to the Citylink fleet with Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird) at Aberdeen.
The latest stage of the rationalisation of Megabus service operated by Stagecoach took place from 7th January with Stagecoach Midlands’ Rugby depot losing its main Megabus vehicle allocation as did Stagecoach West at North Bristol. Transferred from Rugby to Stagecoach North East at Walkergate were Volvo B11Rs 54604-610 along with 54288-293 from Stagecoach South Wales at Cwmbran and 54280 from Stagecoach West at North Bristol. Volvo B11Rs 54273/274/275 transferred from Stagecoach West at North Bristol to Cwmbran. Scania/Levantes 59223/226/227/228 are all at Walkergate are in Reserve and expected to be authorised for disposal. Retained in Reserve and awaiting allocation are Volvo B11Rs 54207/208 (from Cwmbran) and 54218/219 (at Walkergate).
The new diagrams from 8th January call for three Volvo B11R spare vehicles. Nominally allocated to Stagecoach Yorkshire are 54220 at Barnsley (maintained at Chesterfield) as the Wooley Edge spare and 54221 at Chesterfield (maintained at Cwmbran) as the Tibshelf spare. Stagecoach Midlands has retained 54268 at Rugby as a strategic spare vehicle.
The Volvo B11R Megabus England/Wales fleet allocation is now,
Stagecoach South Wales (Cwmbran): Allocation = 8 vehicles - 54273/274/275/277/278/285/286/287.
Stagecoach North East (Walkergate): Allocation = 23 vehicles - 54269/270/276/280-283/288-293/601-610.
Stagecoach Yorkshire (Barnsley) Wooley Edge spare: 54220.
Stagecoach Yorkshire (Chesterfield) Tibshelf spare: 54221.
Stagecoach Midlands (Rugby) Rugby spare: 54268.
Spare for allocation = 4 - 54207/208 (at Cwmbran), 54218/219 (at Rugby).
National Express West Midlands
Further buses repainted into grey fleet livery are Volvo B7RLE 2166 at Acocks Green, ADL Enviro 400s 4762 and 4834 at Pensnett, and 4994 at Wolverhampton. Currently in for repaint are Volvo B7RLE 2154 from Coventry and 2174 from Acocks Green, and ADL Enviro 400s 4764 from West Bromwich, 4894 from Birmingham Central, and 4990 & 4995 from Wolverhampton.
Withdrawn buses sent for scrap are Dennis Tridents 4383, 4386, 4390, 4441, 4451 and 4578, as well as Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis 4483, 4501, 4516, 4638 and 4658. Similar 4531 and 4637 were sold on to Birmingham Busworks, 4531 being used for spare parts, whilst 4637 has passed to Swanbrook Coaches. Further buses earmarked for sale to Birmingham Busworks are Dennis Trident 4579, and Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis 4660-4662, 4664, 4669 and 4678. Dennis Trident 4567 has transferred from Walsall to Yardley Wood, replacing 4614 which is now withdrawn with arson damage. Similar 4630 is withdrawn at Wolverhampton.
Further BYD ADL Enviro 400EVs to be delivered are E193-E217 joining those numbered from E164, most are currently in store pending branding being applied and preparation for service. They are due to be allocated to Perry Barr and Yardley Wood depots, with E165, 167 and 170 currently at Perry Barr for driver training. Existing BYD ADL Enviro 400EVs to receive red stripe branding are Z4001, 4006 and 4007 based at Yardley Wood, from the Zenobe fleet of 8 used as and when required to meet the contractual requirements.
BYD/Enviro 400 EV Z4007, showing off its newly applied red branding, is seen at Birmingham Moor Street on 23rd January 2024. © Dylan Jones.
Select Bus Services
Optare Solo YJ56AOZ has been acquired and numbered 4, replacing VDL SB120/Plaxton Centro FJ56YBV.
Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse 2 BD14KXX has been acquired, last with Thames Valley Buses. It is allover white and is numbered 14.
Optare MetroCity YJ15AAV has been acquired as number 39 and carries fleet livery. It was last with Little Gem Buses.
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
Vehicles sold are MAN/Enviro 300 22610 and Enviro 300 27532.
Enviro 200 36069 has transferred from Reserve to the Main Fleet at Carlisle with Enviro 300 27142 moving the other way.
Stagecoach East
Enviro 200 37219 (from Peterborough) and Enviro 200MMC 37432 (from Bedford) were operating from Cambridge depot on loan during early January.
Stagecoach East Midlands
In late-December 2023 Volvo B7RLEs 21221/222/224/228 were due to transfer from Skegness to Lincoln in exchange for Enviro 400s 19115/116/117/118, the exchange of 21224/228 and 19115/116 took place a few days before the Christmas break. The transfer of 21221/222 and 19117/118 had not taken place by mid-January 2024.
Further Enviro 400 arrivals from Stagecoach North East have been 19379 (to Scunthorpe) and 19382 to Grimsby. The arrival of 19379 has seen 19060 transfer from Scunthorpe to Gainsborough. Also here from Stagecoach North East are 19114/204/211/380/381/84 which are in the Reserve Fleet at Hull.
Four more Enviro 400H Hybrids transferred from Stagecoach Manchester are 12030/032/050/052. Further withdrawals are Trident 17719 and former Road Car Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 16944.
Transfers from the main fleet to the Reserve Fleet at Hull during January were MAN/Enviro 300 22758 and Enviro 300s 27205/881/882 with 27205 and 27882 being sent on loan to Skegness along with 27192 and 27204.
Enviro 400 19382 is seen in Grimsby on 16th January 2024. © Sam Boothby.
Stagecoach East Scotland
Trident 18507, which has been in the maintenance bay at Stagecoach North Scotland (Highland)’s Inverness depot, was returned here and taken to Arbroath depot on 17th December 2023, where it was still parked up on the first day of 2024 along with 18508/509 and 18083. Also located at Arbroath on the same day were previously sold 18069/071/093/094/100/114/116/117/351. Reserve Fleet vehicles joining the main fleet at Aberhill have been Enviro 200 36194 and Scania/Enviro 300 28603.
Transferred from Stagecoach West, and allocated to Dunfermline in the week leading up to Christmas 2023 were Scania/Enviro 400s 15730/732/763/764. Transferred from Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands) is Scania/Enviro 300 28602.
Stagecoach Manchester
The final Enviro 400MMC due here as part of the 2023 order, 11745, was delivered to Ashton depot on 19th December 2023.
Further Enviro 400H Hybrids transferred to Stagecoach East Midlands have been 12030/032/050/052.
Enviro 400 19481 is the first of the type here to be repainted into yellow TfGM BEE Network livery. Enviro 400 19332 from Ashton has been withdrawn and is for disposal. The company reports that by 6th January the following had received BEE Network yellow livery, Enviro 400MMC 11256-271/504- 520/522-527/529, Enviro 400 19481, and Enviro 300 27235.
Enviro 400 Hybrid 12066 is seen parked at Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire’s Rock Ferry depot on 25th January 2024. © Barry McGuire.
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire
The company records report the transfer of Enviro 400s 19143 and 19534 from Chester to Gilmoss.
Ex-Peoplesbus Enviro 200 MMC 37329 is seen at Preston depot on 14th January 2024. © Paul Gallagher.
Stagecoach Midlands
Enviro 400 19129 has been moved to Kettering depot by the end of December 2023, whilst withdrawn Trident 18400 was moved from Northampton to Leamington a few days before the end of December 2023 before being reinstated and entering service. Transferred from Rugby to Kettering has been Enviro 200 37056, as a replacement for accident damaged 37040. Dennis Tridents 18103 and 18407 have been withdrawn at Northampton.
Scania N230UD/ADL Enviro 400s 15677 at Leamington and 15841 at Northampton have received Armed Forces livery of base white with red vinyls.
MAN 18.240LF/ADL Enviro 300s 22838 and 22839 have been sold on to City Transport Group, who has passed 22838 on to Viscount Travel (it has been reregistered P1OTL).
Dennis Trident 18400 is seen at Warwick University on 15th January 2024, working a service on route U2 from Leamington. © Dylan Jones.
Stagecoach North East
Reserve Fleet Enviro 400s 19432/435 were moved from Walkergate to Slatyford in mid-December 2023 with 19438 moving to Sunderland. Stored Enviro 400H Hybrid 12078 had moved from Walkergate to Stockton by mid-December 2023, joining 12079 which is in store there having failed during a planned transfer to Stagecoach Manchester. The final two Enviro 400MMCs due here as part of the 2023 order, 11775/780, were delivered to Walkergate depot on 19th December 2023.
Further departures to Stagecoach East Midlands have been Enviro 400s 19114/204/211/379/380/381/382/384. MAN/Enviro 200 39708 has received ‘Local’ livery.
Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird)
Enviro 400 19216 has transferred from Elgin to Peterhead. The sale of Volvo B9R 53628 was cancelled and it remains here awaiting disposal. Enviro 200MMC 26130, from Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands), was operating from Elgin depot in mid- January carrying Bluebird legals.
Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands)
A further Scania/Enviro 300 transferred to Stagecoach East Scotland is 28602, whilst Optare Solo SRs 47811/813 remain in this fleet in January 2023 with transfer to Stagecoach East Scotland still to take place.
Volvo B9R 53703 has transferred from the Reserve Fleet to Thurso. Volvo B11R 54301 has now formally been transferred to the Joint Venture fleet with Stagecoach East Scotland. Enviro 200MMC 26130 was reported operating with Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird) in mid-January.
Stagecoach South
Enviro 400s now for disposal are 19090 from Portsmouth and accident damaged 19063.
Transfers reported by the company are Enviro 400 10001 and Enviro 400MMC 11590 from Chichester to Portsmouth and Enviro 200MMCs 26294 and 26296 from Basingstoke to Portsmouth. Reserve Fleet Tridents 18118 (from Winchester) and 18527 (from Chichester) are now in the main fleet at Basingstoke.
Stagecoach South East
The company reports that Trident 18165 along with Dart SLFs 34493 and 34544 have been withdrawn and are for disposal.
Stagecoach South West
Enviro 200 36202, recently transferred here, has now entered service at Exeter but Optare Solo 47658 which had been transferred from Stagecoach West is now for disposal without entering service here. Also now for disposal are Dart SLFs 35169 and 35244.
Stagecoach West
Further Enviro 400MMCs transferred from North Bristol in December 2023 were 10750/751/752 to Cheltenham and 10982 to Swindon. Scania/Enviro 400s 15730/732/763/764 have been transferred to Stagecoach East Scotland with 15731/733/736 expected to follow.
Enviro 400MMC 11760 was delivered to Witney on 22nd December 2023. Enviro 400MMC departures from Witney are 11238/240/241 to North Bristol and 11239 to Oxford. Transfers from Swindon are Scania/Enviro 400 15984 and Trident 18313 to Gloucester with Scania/Enviro 400s 15737/738; Trident 18312; Enviro 200 36109 and Optare Solo 47553 moving to Stroud. Optare Solos now for disposal are 47297 and 47621 with Reserve Fleet 47735 from Witney now in the main fleet at Cheltenham.
Vehicles sold are Enviro 400H Hybrid 12004; Trident 18156; Dart SLF 34838 and Van Hool Astromegas 50271/272.
With many thanks to Dave Russell & Deric Pemberton, we can record fleet changes taking place during December 2023/ January 2024.
Stagecoach West Scotland
Out of service with chassis issues is Enviro 300 27614 from Ayr which has been replaced in the main fleet with Reserve Fleet Scania/Enviro 300 28669.
Stagecoach Yorkshire
A further Enviro 400H Hybrid allocated to Chesterfield is 12174. Further MAN/Enviro 300s now in the Reserve Fleet are 22619/630/640 whilst 22549/552/554/555/557/592/616/617/634/645/651/653 have been sold to PVS (dealer).
Now in the Seasonal Reserve Fleet at Chesterfield are Scania/Enviro 400 open tops 15718/719 and open top Trident 18467.
Vallances Coaches
Mercedes Benz Tourismo NH15 CDH has left the fleet and now with an operator over in Ireland.
Scania Irizar i6 YS16 LND has joined this fleet and carries Solus Coaches Red livery.
Wellglade Group
Trentbarton Optare Versa 827 is now in red trentbarton livery and is based at Meadow Road Depot in Derby. Similar 822 is now with Kinchbus. Optare Solo SR 499 is on loan to Notts&Derby owing to a vehicle shortage.
