17th February 2022
Arriva Midlands
Optare Versa 2996 has transferred from Shrewsbury to Oswestry. Scania Omnilink 3509 is another to transfer from Telford to Aylesbury, leaving just 3510 at the former depot. Scania OmniCity 3578 has returned here from Milton Keynes, and is currently at Thurmaston.
Enviro 200 MMC 3103 has been repainted into ‘journey mark’ and converted to single door at Thurmaston, formerly used at East Midlands Airport.
D&G Bus
DAF SB200/Wright Commander 187 is due to return to service here shortly, following repairs.
Transferred to the Chaserider operation are Optare Solo 260 (from Centrebus South at Luton), and Optare Solo 353 and Dart SLF 555 (from Centrebus North at Grantham).
Delaine Buses
Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking 140 has suffered extensive smoke damage and is off the road for long term repairs.
Diamond
Diamond are currently in the process of purchasing Claribels Coaches of Birmingham who have a fleet mainly consisting of VDL/Wright Pulsars.
East Yorkshire
The final Volvo B7TL/Plaxton Presidents in the fleet, former training buses 9916, 9917, and 9918 have been sold to Ellie Rose.
Ensign Bus
With thanks to Ross Newman at Ensign Bus we are able to summarise activity at the Essex dealership during January 2022
Vehicles in
From First West of England: Volvo B7TLs LK53LYR/ LZC/LZB/LZA/LYZ/LYY.
From Go Ahead London: E200s YX61FZT, LX09AZG/ AZJ/AZL/AYJ, SN57DWG; Volvo B9TLs LX59DAA/DAO/DAU/DBU/DBO/DBZ/DBV
From Metroline: Volvo B9TLs LK59CWR/CXP.
From Stantons of Stoke: Scanias YN53CFE/RYZ. From Lothian Buses: B9TLs SN59BGK/BGO/BGV/ BGX/BGY/BGZ/BHA/BHD/BHE/BHF.
From Arriva Southern Counties: Volvo B7RLEs GN07AVF/AVK/AVM.
Vehicles out
Volvo B7RLEs SN04NHY/NHU/NJE: VG Auto’s, Leicester.
Volvo B9TL LX60DXB: First Devon and Cornwall. Enviro 200s LX07BXV, SN57DWZ, SN57DWV, LX07BYA; Optare Solo MV07DWM: Galleon Travel, Roydon, Essex.
Enviro 200 GN58LVB; Volvo B9TLs SN09CUC/CUG: Stantons of Stoke.
Scania YN56FBY, LX59CRJ: Connexions Buses, Harrogate.
Volvo B9Ts SN59BHD/BHE/BHF: York Pullman. Enviro 400s LJ09CAE/CCD: Coastliner Buses, Blackpool.
Enviro 400 LX08DXP: Manchester Tours, converted to half open top.
Scanias YN53CFE/RYZ: Redfern Travel, Mansfield. Enviro 400s LJ09CCU/CAV: Chalkwell, Sittingbourne. Volvo B7TL LK53LZA: Greenslades Coaches , Exeter. Volvo B7TL LK53LZM: Sussex Coaches, Steyning, Sussex.
To Shelton Metals for Scrap
Trident LV52HFW; Volvo B7TL W543WGH; Enviro 200 SN57DWG.
Ensign Fleet
Enviro 200 790 went to Aintree Coaches, not 792.
First Midlands
Wright Streetlite 63103 is another refurbished and repainted for the 3/4 services at Adderley Green.
Elderly Volvo B7TL/ALX400 32066 at Adderley Green is assumed to be withdrawn, having last seen service in November. © Dylan Jones.
Johnson’s Excelbus: Pictured is one of the two new Enviro 400 MMCs, SK71CLJ, undertaking Rail Replacement work at Coleshill Parkway on 6th February 2022. © Dylan Jones.
Megabus/Scottish Citylink
Former Stagecoach East Volvo B11Rs 54301 and 54302 have received Scottish Citylink livery and are currently allocated to Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands) Inverness depot.
Midland Classic
Optare Versa 41 has been repainted into fleet livery, recently acquired from Go North East.
National Express West Midlands
ADL Enviro 200s 819, 822 and 823 have transferred from Pensnett to West Bromwich.
Now in for repaint are ADL Enviro 200s 762 and 763 (from West Bromwich), as well as Scania Omnilink 1793 (from Acocks Green), and 1817 and 1831 (from Perry Barr). Scania Omnilink 1834 at Walsall has received Walsall Corporation heritage livery (replacing now scrapped Dennis Trident 4601). It was their last single decker repainted out of the previous red and white livery.
Dennis Trident 4340 (from Walsall) and Volvo B7TL/ALX400s 4266 (from West Bromwich) and 4416 (from Coventry) have all now been withdrawn. Previously withdrawn Dennis Trident 4349 has been sold for scrap, whilst 4342 and 4344 have passed to Used Bus & Coach Sales in Warrington. All of the previously withdrawn Volvo B7RLEs 1750-1773 have passed to The Green Bus. Many will be retained and are currently being repainted by NXWM into a new dark green based livery, whilst some will be sold on. They are destined primarily for Rail Replacement use.
Wolverhampton based ADL Enviro 400 5410 is the next to be converted from Hybrid to straight diesel.
Walsall Corporation liveried Scania Omnilink 1834 is pictured on 14th February 2022. © Dylan Jones.
Select Bus Services
Optare Versa YJ64DZL has been acquired here, and will be numbered 35.
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
Lakes-liveried Reserve Fleet Optare Solo 47058, which had been on loan to Morecambe had been taken out of service by 15th January 2022.
Optare Solo 47452 has been sold, whilst Dart SLFs 34565 and 34708 (which had been for disposal) have transferred to the Reserve Fleet. 34709 was also for disposal and has moved to West Cumbria for training fleet use, although it remained delicensed in early February 2022.
Optare Versa training bus 25302 has been returned to Morecambe following a period on loan to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire.
Open top ADL Enviro 400 19161 entered service at West Cumbria in early February 2022. It carries Lakes livery and ‘Borrowdale Bus’ branding.
Stagecoach East
A Volvo B5TL/Wright Gemini open top vehicles is being used as a drivers rest room at Cambridge’s Drummer Street Bus Station.
Work is now underway to fit luggage racks to the Enviro 400 MMCs which will be allocated to Bedford depot for the X99 Milton Keynes-Luton Airport and X5 Bedford-Oxford services. Four vehicles are expected to receive large racks for use on the Airport route with others receiving a smaller width unit. The luggage racks will replace a number of tip-up seats. The 905 Bedford-Cambridge service is scheduled for operation with Enviro 400s.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinters 44019 and 44020, which had been on loan from Stagecoach South East, have been formally transferred here.
A reduction in Busway service frequency from 23rd January 2022 saw the removal of guide wheels from Scania/Enviro 400 MMCs 15291-294 and their transfer from Fenstanton to Cambridge. Also at Fenstanton, Volvo B7RLEs 21221-231 have officially been placed in the Reserve Fleet.
At Cambridge all of the former Stagecoach London Scania/Omnicitys, 15074/075/078/081/083/085/087/089/090/092 along with Enviro 300s 27520-523 and 27642-645 have been moved into a Reserve Fleet capacity. Similarly at Bedford Enviro 200s 36012/041/060/301/302/306/307/308 are now in Reserve Fleet. The company also shows Enviro 200 36061 in the Reserve Fleet at Bedford although this vehicle was latterly on the allocation at Cambridge. As of early February 2022 the Reserve Fleet comprised almost 18% of the company allocation.
Reserve Fleet vehicles transferred from Peterborough and now in the main fleet at Cambridge are Enviro 400 19591 and Enviro 200s 37213 and 37217. Enviro 400MMC 10871 has been transferred from Peterborough to Bedford in exchange for similar 10499.
Repaints into ‘Local’ livery are Enviro 400 19705, Enviro 300s 27522 and 27523 and Enviro 200 36012. Also now in ‘Local’ livery is former Norfolk Green Enviro 400 10053 (this vehicle also has tinted and bonded windows).
Transferred from Bedford to Peterborough - Enviro 400 MMC 10499 is pictured in early February 2022. © John Abbott / Luke Fisher.
Stagecoach East Midlands
Now repainted here are Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse-Urban 21263 (which has returned to Grimsby) and Enviro 200 MMC 26267 into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery, and Enviro 300 27792 into base white livery (awaiting vinyl branding application). At Lincoln, Enviro 200 MMC 37457 is being prepared for repaint.
Open Top Trident 17479 from Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire arrived at Hull depot in mid-January 2022 and is due to join the Skegness Seasiders fleet. The company has been running a competition to name a new Skegness Seasider character.
Volvo B7RLEs 21267 and 21270 have transferred from Grimsby, with 21267 now in the Reserve Fleet at Hull and 21270 in the Reserve Fleet at Skegness. Initially 21263 had been selected to move to Hull. The Volvo B7RLEs have been replaced at Grimsby by Enviro 200s 37202 and 37204 have transferred from the Reserve Fleet to the main fleet. Reserve Fleet Enviro 200 37200 has moved from Grimsby to Hull.
‘Pronto’ liveried Enviro 400 MMCs 10972, 11274 and 11275 have been transferred from Mansfield to Lincoln, Replacements at Mansfield are Tridents 18033, 18120 and 18121 from the Reserve Fleet. At Lincoln Tridents 18055 and 18433, and Enviro 400 19146 have moved to Reserve Fleet.
Recently repainted Enviro 200 MMC 26267 is pictured in Hull on 9th February 2022. © Ian Knott.
Stagecoach East Scotland
Further Volvo B9Rs transferred to Stagecoach West Scotland are 53732/736/737 whilst Volvo B11R 54317 is now allocated to Aberhill and following repairs Volvo B13R 54144 has returned to service at Glenrothes. Volvo B11R 54284 is out of service at Arbroath for repairs.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 44016, which had been in use as a staff shuttle vehicle at Arbroath is now in the main operational fleet following the start of a new contract. Optare Versa 25255 has been stood down following fire damage and has been replaced in the main fleet at Dunfermline by Optare Solo SR 47943.
Stagecoach Manchester
The Reserve Fleet Tridents in this fleet, 18357/358/360/361/385/440/441, are all stored at Wigan.
Now in the Reserve Fleet and stored at Wigan is Optare Solo SR 47825, from Middleton.
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire
Open Top Trident 17479 was transferred to Stagecoach East Midlands in mid-January 2022.
MAN/ALX300 training bus 22079, which had been based at Chester, has been in use briefly as a driver rest room at Liverpool One bus station. It has been adapted with a shore supply to provide heating and lighting without having to run the engine.
Scania/Enviro 400s 15466 and 15467 have transferred from Preston to Gilmoss allowing similar 15563 and 15564 to transfer from Gilmoss to Birkenhead to allow the two remaining operational Tridents here (18365 and 18372) to be transferred to the Reserve Fleet. Also now at Birkenhead are Scania/Enviro 400s 15852 and 15853 whilst Optare Solo 47517 has transferred from Chester to the Reserve Fleet with 47673 from the Reserve Fleet now at Chester.
Optare Versa 25302 has returned to Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire following a period on loan here.
Stagecoach Midlands
The latest repaint into ‘Local’ livery here is Enviro 200 37073, with similar 36209 and 37067 currently in the paintshop at Rugby depot.
Stagecoach North East
Vehicles sold to Alpha Recovery are MAN/ALX400 22066 and MAN/Enviro 200s 39669, 39724 and 39728. Similar 39703 from South Shields is now for disposal.
MAN/ALX300 training bus 22071 has been transferred from Sunderland to South Shields.
At Walkergate, Enviro 400H Hybrid 12080 is out of service for repairs whilst now on the main fleet at the depot is MAN/ALX300 22437. Returned to the main fleet at Sunderland are Enviro 300s 27730 and 27733 and MAN/Enviro 200s 39672/673/713/714/716 whilst similar 39723/725/727/729-732 are in the Reserve Fleet at Sunderland. Enviro 200 36976 is stood down at Sunderland for repairs.
Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird)
At Aberdeen being prepared for service in early February 2022 were BYD/Enviro 400 City 14035/037/038/039/041/043. 22 vehicles are due (14035-056) which will carry registrations LC71KUX/Y, KVA/B/ D/E/F/G/H/J/K/L/M/O/P/R/S/T/U/V/W/X.
Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands)
Former Stagecoach East Volvo B11R 54304, now repainted in ‘Distance’ livery entered service at Tain on 24th January 2022 with 54309 also here and allocated to Thurso.
Displaced from Orkney, Wright Streetlites 43011/012/013 are being transferred to Stagecoach South Wales.
Now for disposal are Volvo B7Rs 53254 and 53305; Volvo B9R 53624 and Optare Solo 47574 whilst Volvo B7RLE 21205 is reported as scrapped with Volvo B12B 53108 and Volvo B7Rs 53304/14 being sold to Ensign Bus.
Enviro 300 27807 is allocated to Skye following long term repairs whilst Optare Solo 47566 and Optare Solo SR 47813 and Volvo B9R 53623 are now in the Reserve Fleet. Transferring from the Reserve Fleet to Inverness has been Optare Solo SR 47812. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 44018 has been written off following fire damage.
Volvo B13RT/Plaxton Panther 54131, pictured in Wick on 6th February 2022. © Matt Towe.
Stagecoach South
Withdrawn Volvo B10M/Alexander PS 20937 has now been sold. We understand that Reserve Fleet MAN/Enviro 200s 39652, 39653, and 39654 are being prepared for disposal whilst 39651 has been sold.
Numerous allocation changes took place here during late January/early February 2022 with Enviro 400 19885 moving from Chichester to Andover whilst Enviro 400 MMCs departing Worthing are 19043 to Chichester and 10941 to Portsmouth. Now allocated to Chichester are Enviro 300s 27838/839/840/841/844. Enviro 300s 27648/755/756 along with Dart SLF 34631 are now allocated to Winchester. Enviro 400MMCs 10966-970 have been returned to the main fleet at Worthing. Enviro 200 MMC 26297 has transferred from Winchester to Basingstoke, whilst Enviro 400 19885 was transferred from Chichester to Winchester but has now been returned to Chichester.
A large number of vehicles were either stood down for repairs or delicensed at the start of January 2022 - Enviro 400 MMCs 10698/953; Volvo B7TL 16931; Tridents 18078/513/522/527; ADL Enviro 300s 27667/742/775; Dart SLF 34629, and 35125/127/260; ADL E200MMCs 37406/407/423; ADL Enviro 200 36432 and Optare Solos 47036/311/542.
Repainted into a special purple and silver version of ‘Local’ livery, to commemorate The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, are Andover allocated Enviro 400 MMC 10699 and Worthing allocated Enviro 400 MMC 10945.
Stagecoach South East
Mercedes-Benz Sprinters 44019 and 44020, which have been on loan to Stagecoach East, have now been formally transferred there. Now for disposal are Dart SLF 34545 and Trident 18169.
Dart SLF 34442, which had been at Eastbourne as a Paint Float vehicle has now been allocated to Hastings where it has displaced 35237 into the Reserve Fleet. Optare Solo 47118 at Dover has been stood down for repairs whilst former Stagecoach London short Enviro 200 36366 has been allocated to Ashford displacing the sole remaining Dart SLF there, 34650, to the Reserve Fleet.
Scania/Enviro 400 15777 has been returned to Herne Bay depot, after receiving repairs to fire damage it sustained during 2021. It has yet to return to service at the time of writing.
Stagecoach South Wales
Displaced with Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands) following the upgrading of the fleet on Orkney, Wright Streetlites 43011, 43012, and 43013 are being transferred here.
Stagecoach South West
Sold out of this fleet are Volvo B12Bs 54068 and 54070. Now for disposal are Dart SLFs 34612/614/777/859/877 and 35168/170, and Optare Solos 47698/699.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 44010 received from Stagecoach West Scotland is in the Reserve Fleet at Exeter. Scania/Enviro 400 15899 is out of use at Torquay for long term repairs. Enviro 200s 36253/254 and 37130/132/133 are due for transfer from Exeter to Barnstaple with 37131 likely to follow. Reserve Fleet Optare Solo SRs Exeter, 48016 and 48017 are expected to transfer to Plymouth.
Stagecoach West
Dart SLFs 34881 and 34882 at Banbury have been transferred to the Reserve Fleet.
Van Hool Astromegas 50235/237/250 have now been stood down from Oxford Tube duties and are in the Reserve Fleet (this leaves just 50233 of the older fleet in service here). 50235 and 50250 are regarded as Reserve Fleet vehicles whilst 50237 is for disposal. These four vehicles do not comply with the London Low Emission Zone requirements and pick up a penalty fine each time they go into London.
Transferred from Stroud to Cheltenham is Enviro 200 36132, whilst Optare Solos 47904 and 47910 have moved to the Reserve Fleet at North Bristol.
Dart SLFs 34733 and 34740 have been sold whilst now for disposal here are MAN/Enviro 300s 22844 and 22845 along with Optare Solos 47242 and 47596.
Scania/Enviro 300 28746 transferred from Banbury to Gloucester on 11th February 2022 in exchange for Enviro 300 27705.
Now for disposal here are Trident 18090, Dart SLFs 34733/740 and 35193, and Optare Solo 47451. Sold out of this fleet are Trident 18085, Enviro 200 37010, and Optare Solos 47241/244/556.
Scania/Enviro 400 15753 is currently being prepared for repaint
With our thanks as always to Dave Russell & Deric Pemberton for comprehensive updates on the Stagecoach West fleet.
Stagecoach West Scotland
Volvo B9Rs 53732, 53736, and 53737 have arrived from Stagecoach East Scotland and are being prepared for service at Stranraer. Volvo B13Rs 54101 and 54104 are now at Dumfries and have displaced Volvo B11Rs 54261 and 54262 which are understood to be due to transfer to Cumbernauld. Optare Solo 47459 has moved from Dumfries to Stranraer with 47462 at Stranraer out of service for repairs.
A further Enviro 400MMC stood down for repairs at Cumbernauld is 10513 whilst returning to service after repairs is Enviro 300 27223.
Transfers into the Reserve Fleet at Kilmarnock are Enviro 200s 36140/141/705 and 37247/248 and Optare Solo 47497, whilst Enviro 200 36738 has moved from Dumfries to the Reserve Fleet at Ayr.
