Arriva Midlands

VDL SB200/Wright Pulsars 3729 and 3730 are further examples to transfer to Aylesbury, from Tamworth.

Thurmaston based Enviro 400 MMCs 4504, 4508 & 4512 have all lost their 84/85 branding.

Shrewsbury based Optare Versas 2943 and 2944, and Thurmaston based VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2s 3777 and 3778 have all received the ‘Journey Mark’ livery.

Most former Wigston based vehicles have now transferred to the sole Leicester depot, Thurmaston. Hinckley have notably gained 2 Enviro 400 MMCs from Thurmaston (4549 and 4551) for use on route X84. VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2s 3799-3809 have transferred to Hinckley to operate route 158. They’re also operating most of the Enviro 200 MMCs in the division, with Sapphire examples 3119 and 3120, as well as standard 3110, 3111 and 3136 transferring in from Thurmaston.

Temsa Safari HD12 7102 (YJ69AAU), 7103 (YJ69AAV), and 7104 (YJ69AAX) are now allocated to Hinckley.

D&G Bus

Optare Solo 178 is another to gain the black based Cannock FM livery in the Chaserider fleet.

Diamond

A number of buses here are for sale, some remaining in service (shown with *) whilst others have been taken out of use.

At Kidderminster: Optare Solo 20733, Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointers 21109*, 30930* & 30932.
At Redditch: VDL SB120/Plaxton Centro 30009, Volvo B7RLE/Optare Esteems 30408* & 30493, DAF SB200/Wright Commander 32101 and VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 32122.
At Tividale: Optare Solos 20732*, 20839* & 20840*, Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointers 30885, 30887* & 30888*.

Previously unreported is the repaint of Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro 30503 into ‘Brighter Diamond’ livery at Redditch, whilst another MAN/Plaxton Centro to have undergone battery electric conversion is 30804, now reregistered ‘WET859’.

MAN/Plaxton Centro 30922, one of a number of this type to have undergone battery electric conversion, is pictured. © Dylan Jones.

East Yorkshire

Currently in the bodyshop here is Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 777. In the paintshop Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro 366.

Recent repaints include Enviro 200MMC 512, and Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 716.

Allocation changes recorded during the first week of November have seen Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse-Urbans 346, 347 and 348 delicensed. Further departures from the Hull fleet include Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse-Urban 345 transfer to the training fleet and Volvo B5TL/MCV Evoseti 793 transfer to the coaching fleet. Transferred from Scarborough to Hull are Volvo B7RLE/MCV Evolution 382, 383, 384, and 385, and Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 699, 700, and 701. Stood down from the Scarborough fleet and now delicensed are Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 686, and Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 698.

Recently repainted Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 716 is pictured. © Ian Knott.

First Midlands

The next Wright Streetdecks at Leicester to have been repainted into ‘Frequent Fourteens’ livery are 35155 and 35168.

Another Transbus Enviro 300 last operated in the Potteries, to have passed into preservation, is 67659.

First West of England

Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Geminis 37587-601 are all noted as carrying the blue based ‘citylines’ livery.

Midland Classic

Scania/Irizar i3 25 (YN64FWW) has entered service here.

National Express West Midlands

Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse-Urban 2093 has transferred from Pensnett to Wolverhampton.

Dennis Trident 4565 has transferred from Yardley Wood to Walsall, ousting 1761 which became the last of the Mark 1 Volvo B7RLEs to operate in service for the company on 23rd October 2021. Also withdrawn are Dennis Tridents 4354 and 4461 at Walsall, as well as 4437 at Wolverhampton.

Wright Streetdeck 3305 has reentered service at Walsall, the last to do so following their long term absence.

The latest repaints are Enviro 200s 859 (at Walsall) & 870 (at Pensnett), and Scania Omnilink 1795 at Acocks Green.

Further buses sent for scrap are Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400s 4274 and 4298, and Dennis Tridents 4306, 4315, 4323, 4328, 4345, 4347, 4351, 4367 and 4400.

Wright Streetdeck FCEV H1001 has been reregistered as NX21HEV. Further deliveries of these are H1013-1016 registered BX21DDE/DDJ/DDK/DDL. H1010 is the first to receive full branding, which includes the Birmingham Coat of Arms, in line with the local council funding these vehicles.

The final Mark 1 Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse-Urban to see use here, 1761, has now been stood down. © Dylan Jones.

Stagecoach East Midlands

Now repainted into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery are Dart SLF 35131, and Enviro 200 37202. Now being prepared for repaint at Lincoln is Enviro 200 37004.

Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vykings 16905, 16908, 16909, and 16912 are no longer part of this fleet, having been disposed of for scrap. Only 16902 remains awaiting disposal at Scunthorpe, minus a number of parts. Notably 16915 has not seen service since 25th November 2020 and is now stood outside the depot (now regarded as being withdrawn).

After being repainted last month, Enviro 400 19299 is now back in service at Lincoln. Dennis Trident/ALX400 18122 is now in the workshop at Lincoln and it is hoped it will reenter service imminently (after its repaint back in May 2021). At Grimsby, Enviro 400 19092 has been parked up possibly awaiting repairs for a number of weeks.

Two corrections to our report on 28th October 2021. Firstly, the Plaxton President delicensed for engine rebuild is 18042 (not 18022). Secondly, the MAN/Enviro 200 repainted for use as a Covid Vaccination unit is 39690 (not 39693 - which retains ‘Beachball’ livery).

The most recent repaints for Hull allocated vehicles are of MAN/Enviro 300 24197 into ‘Specialist’ livery (for the Hull Park & Ride service), and Enviro 400 19060 into ‘Local’ livery. © Ian Knott (both).

Stagecoach East Scotland

Currently parked up at Aberhill are Van Hool Astromegas 50272 and 50273, with similar 50270 and 50271 noted at Dunfermline.

**Stagecoach London:** Now carrying a ‘Poppy Appeal’ livery is Enviro 400 MMC Hybrid 11363. © Craig Meppem.

Noted parked at Kilmarnock recently were a number of BYD/Enviro 400 City vehicles awaiting delivery to **Stagecoach London**. © Jamie Armstrong.

Stagecoach Midlands

Dennis Trident 18471 reappeared on the Stratford Tour service during mid-October, following repairs from a collision.

Now withdrawn here are Dart SLFs 35219 and 35221, from Kettering.

MAN/Enviro 300 22836 has been transferred to reserve, being replaced at Kettering by similar 22840. Now back in service at Kettering are Dart SLF 34425 and 35177. Similar 34831 and 34833 are now at Kettering, with the latter being in service.

Gold spec Enviro 200 MMCs 26202-208/215 are now at Nuneaton, having returned from a period of loan at Northampton. Enviro 200s 36951, 37058, 37061 and 37071 are now back at Northampton from Nuneaton. Enviro 200s 36948-950/952, and 37065 has transferring from Nuneaton to Rugby, allowing similar 37050/055/057/062/069/072 to move from Rugby to Northampton. Trident/ALX400 18102 has transferred to Leamington from Northampton.

After four months out of service, which included a repaint, Scania/Enviro 400 15455 is now back in service. © Ben Wesley (left) / Graham Kiddle (right).

Stagecoach South

Aldershot allocated Enviro 400 19081 has received Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery, making it the first vehicle to carry ‘Local’ livery at Aldershot. Now sporting a Royal British Legion ‘Poppy Appeal’ variant of the new livery design is Portsmouth’s Scania/Enviro 400 15989.

Stagecoach South West

Now repainted into Stagecoach ‘Distance’ livery are Scania/Enviro 400s 15252 and 15259, and Volvo B11RT 54323.

Scania/Enviro 400 15251 is pictured in Exeter on 28th October 2021. © Adrian Roberts.

The next vehicle to be repainted here will be Volvo B11RT 54324, pictured at Exeter on 4th November 2021. © Adrian Roberts.

Stagecoach West

Now repainted into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery is Scania/Enviro 400 15756.

The latest repaint for the former ‘Oxfordshire’ division is Scania/Enviro 400 15756. © Andy Churchill.

The Green Bus

Another Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President due to pass to Confidence Coaches is 397 (V97MOA).

Notably one of the most elderly Dennis Tridents the company has operated remains in use currently, being 107 (T201CLO), and is still for sale like the rest of their older deckers.

Still in service here for the time being is Trident/ALX400 T201CLO, pictured. © Dylan Jones.

Wellglade Group

Trent Barton ‘the threes’ Optare Versa 821 is now back in service at Derby.

Noted providing shuttles for the COP26 summit at the end of October were a number of loaned and native Enviro 400 MMCs, including Stagecoach Manchester 11541 (left) and Stagecoach East 10806 (right). © Jamie Armstrong. — Noted providing shuttles for the COP26 summit at the end of October were a number of loaned and native Enviro 400 MMCs, including **Stagecoach Manchester** 11541 (left) and **Stagecoach East** 10806 (right). © Jamie Armstrong.

10th November 2021