16th December 2020
Compass Travel
An update to the report we posted earlier in the week, the three Streetlies reported as sold by the company (2101-03) have been sold to D&G Bus. So far, only 2103 has been moved to its new owner. They will see use on the Cannock area operations which the company has recently acquired from Arriva Midlands.
Go North East
With thanks to Go North East, we bring the latest changes the company has reported.
Repaints during week ending 6th December 2020 included Wright Streetlite DF Max Micro-Hybrid 5418 (and Optare Versa V1110 8316 into the 2019 fleet livery; as well as Optare Versas 5380/81 into the new ‘Quaycity’ livery, marking the completion of the latter batch.
Following its repaint, Optare Versa V1110 8316 has now returned to service at Riverside, with Scania OmniDekka 9065 being taken out of service in lieu. The batch of four OmniDekkas on loan from Brighton & Hove will now remain in the fleet permanently, although the three coaches on loan to Brighton & Hove will eventually return here. All four OmniDekkas will be repainted and have their seats re-trimmed.
Following completion of engine repairs and repaint; Wright Streetlite DF Max Micro-Hybrid 5418 has now transferred from Consett Depot to Deptford, together with former ‘Red Kite’ branded sisters 5416 and 5417 from Riverside.
Wright Streetlite DFs 8339/40/41/42/43 have all transferred from Riverside Depot to Deptford, following the entry into service of the new Yutong E10 vehicles on ‘Saltwell Park’ services 53/54. They will be allocated to service 9 (Sunderland-Lukes Lane via Jarrow), and are will to be fitted with free Wi-Fi and ‘next stop’ audio-visual announcements.
Ex Go South Coast Mercedes Citaros 5337 and 5338 have transferred from Deptford to Riverside, while native Citaros 5306/07/08 have all been taken out of service from Deptford (though remain available to be reinstated if required for extra duplicate services in operation in the lead up to Christmas). Similar 5309 and 5310 have both transferred from Deptford to Percy Main, allowing 5311 to be taken out of service and similar 5312 to be withdrawn from service. 5312 did not enter service at Percy Main as planned due to requiring major engine repairs.
Wright Streetlite DFs 8344/45/46 have all transferred from Riverside Depot to Chester-le-Street, for use on service 34. This has displaced Scania Omnicity 5272/73/74 from Chester-le-Street Depot to Percy Main, for temporary allocation to ‘Cobalt & Coast’ service 311, due to low passenger numbers on this service, which will in turn allow the displacement of double-decks to be more appropriately used.
Scania OmniDekka 6132 has transferred from Percy Main Depot to Riverside, displacing Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6099 to Deptford.
Scania N94UD OmniDekkas 6134 and 6135 have transferred from Percy Main Depot to Washington, allowing one running board on services 5/50 to be upgraded to double-deck which will allow better social distancing, as well as allowing the transfer of Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6050 to Deptford.
Scania Omnicity 5250 has transferred from Washington to Riverside, displacing dual-door Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6934 to Hexham for use on the 680S scholars duplicate service, in turn allowing the release and re-allocation of Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6043 to Deptford.
The inward transfer of the three Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 to Deptford has displaced similar ‘Fab Fifty Six’ branded examples 6091/92/93 to be taken out of service for repaint and seat re-trim at Bus & Coach World, Blackburn.
Ahead of the impending launch of the new vehicles, ADL Trident 2/ADL Enviro 400MMC 6337 has transferred from Consett to Hexham.
Several swaps of minibuses have been undertaken. These are Optare Solo SR M890 634 from Deptford to Washington, and Optare Solo SR M925 678 to Deptford in lieu.
Megabus
We can confirm that Volvo B11Rs 54201/202/207/208 remain at Stagecoach South East’s Thanet depot where they are based whilst operating a contract for Kent County Council.
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
The company has three ‘Santa Buses’ this year, including Enviro 200 37094 and Optare Solo 47147, both at Carlisle.
Adorned in its festive branding, ‘Santa Bus’ Enviro 200 37094 is pictured in Carlisle on 9th December 2020. © Alan J.
Stagecoach East Midlands
Previously reported as having been sold out of this fleet, Volvo B12B 53033 is now parked at Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire’s Carlisle depot where it has been painted all over white. It is understood to have been sold to McColls of Dumbarton.
Plaxton President-bodied Trident 18029 has been reported as parked up at Hull depot.
Pictured on 8th December 2020 at the Stagecoach C&NL depot in Carlisle is former East Midlands 53033, prior to its repaint out of East Midlands Trains Rail Replacement livery. © Lee Wardle.
Stagecoach London
Reports have been received of two 10.2m Enviro 200s heading along the motorway near Kilmarnock on 10th December 2020. Further details are awaited as to the identity of the vehicles and their intended allocation.
Stagecoach Midlands
Enviro 400 80073, which has been on loan from Ensign Bus and in use at Northampton, was returned to Ensign Bus on 9th December 2020.
Whilst still on loan at Stagecoach Midlands, Enviro 400 80073 is pictured in Northampton on 11th November 2020. This has now been returned to Ensign. © Derek Elston.
Scania/Enviro 400s 15857/858/968/969/970 are now operating from Northampton depot, on loan from Stagecoach West. They are expected to remain here until 2nd January.
One of five Scania/Enviro 400s to move to Northampton depot from Stagecoach West, 15858 is pictured in Northampton on 14th December 2020. © Richard Denny.
Stagecoach North East
Latest repaints here into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery are MAN/ALX300 22348 and Enviro 300 27172.
Stagecoach Oxfordshire
Scania/Enviro 400 15533 is due to be taken out of service here next week and is then due to finally transfer to Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire between the Christmas and New Year period.
To expand on previous reports, new Volvo B11RLE/Plaxton Panorama coaches 50421-431 had been accepted for service here by the end of the first week of December 2020, with a further three examples, 50432-434 being delivered on 4th December 2020.
Stagecoach South East
By early December, the four Canterbury Park & Ride branded Enviro 400s (10063-066) had been returned to Dover from Stagecoach Midlands, where they had been on loan.
Volvo B9R 53704 was parked at Stagecoach East’s Bedford depot on 11th December 2020 and it is confirmed that it is currently ‘on loan’ there.
Stagecoach West
Latest repaints into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery here are MAN/Enviro 300 22745 and Enviro 400 19167.
Scania/Enviro 400s 15857/858/968/969/970 have moved on loan to Stagecoach Midlands, where they are operating at Northampton. They are expected to remain there until the New Year.
Now in new ‘local’ livery, is former Manchester Enviro 400 19167 captured in Swindon on 12th December 2020. This previously carried ‘Magic Bus’ livery. © Karl Oakley.
