20th August 2021
Pictured at the Buses Festival at the Peterborough Showground on 8th August 2021 were from left to right Stagecoach London Enviro 400 Hybrid 12345, Stagecoach West Enviro 200 36330, and Oxford Bus Company Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 35. © Luke Fisher.
Arriva Midlands
Wigston based Enviro 200 2001 has received the Arriva ‘Journey Mark’ livery, as have Thurmaston based VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2s 3766 and 3794.
Arriva Shires & Essex
Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse-Urban 3953 and 3964 have been repainted into Arriva ‘Journey Mark’ livery.
Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 3610 has received guide wheels to be used on the Luton-Dunstable Busway. DAF DB250/Wright Pulsar-Gemini 6042 has been withdrawn at Aylesbury following an RTC. VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 3786 has been loaned from Arriva Southern Counties at Stevenage to replace it. Further loans for other reasons to Aylesbury are similar 3778, along with Enviro 300s 3550 and 3574. Optare Solo 2546 YN53SVT has been loaned from Arriva Midlands to Milton Keynes depot to cover for Solo 2447 which has suffered accident damage.
Wright Streetlite MAX 3652 has returned to service at Luton from Voith in Germany where it had been receiving gearbox work since summer 2019!
DAF DB250/Wright Pulsar-Gemini 6042 was withdrawn earlier this month due to an RTC. It's been replaced by multiple single deck loans from Southern Counties' Stevenage depot. © Beds Transport.
Another repaint in to the newer Arriva livery at Luton is Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse-Urban 3953. There are now 14 out of 23 of the type in the livery, with work progressing quickly. © Beds Transport.
Centrebus
Eight Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evolutions have been acquired from Roberts Coaches. So far arrived here are 630 (BU16UWK), 631 (BU16UWN), 632 (BU16UWO), and 633 (BU16UWR). Further examples are BU16UWL/M/P/S which are yet to he allocated fleet numbers. 630 is at Grantham being prepared for service.
Optare Solo 281 is expected to transfer from Luton to Grantham and similar 378 is to be reinstated at Grantham following an engine transplant. Optare Solo 307 and Trident/ALX400s 887 and 888 have been withdrawn at Grantham.
Country Bus
Now acquired here, from Gateshead Central Taxis, is Optare Solo YJ64DYW. It has been given fleet number 328.
Optare Solo 328 is pictured in Exeter on 9th August 2021. © David Tozer.
D&G Bus
Volvo B7RLE 195 from the Chaserider allocation has been repainted into fleet livery.
DAF SB200/Wright Commander 97 has passed to Coastal Liner of Wolverhampton, having been recently withdrawn along with similiar 96.
No longer part of this fleet is DAF SB200/Wright Commander 96 (along with similar 97). © Dylan Jones.
DRM Bus
ADL Enviro 200 MMC DM21DRM is new here, their first new bus since 2016.
Notable members of this fleet includes rare Scania N94/East Lancs OmniTowns YN04AMK and YN04AMU, acquired from Nottingham City Transport, as well as East Lancs Esteem bodied Enviro 300 UK06DRM (ex RX06XFE).
East Yorkshire
Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Geminis 794 and 795 have transferred to Elloughton displacing Enviro 400s 778 and 779 to Hull.
Enviro 200MMCs 510 and 511 have moved from Scarborough to Hull in exchange for Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Geminis 788 and 789.
Volvo B7TL 200 from the Hull Coaching Fleet is delicensed.
Enviro 200 MMCs 506, 507 and 514 have been repainted into the new livery, with Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 729 in the paintshop, and Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro 362 awaiting repaint. Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro 361 is now in the bodyshop.
First Potteries
Now withdrawn here are Transbus Enviro 300s 67653, 67654 and 67662, the last in service of 37 new to First Midland Red. Also withdrawn is newer 67699. Similar vehicles 67631 and 67650 have passed into private preservation.
Tranbus Enviro 300 67662, one of the last remaining of the 37 strong batch new to Midland Red, has now been withdrawn. © Dylan Jones.
Grant Palmer
Dart SLF 857 has been withdrawn. It was one of the operator's longest serving buses and their last Euro 2 engined Dart.
Grant Palmer's final Euro 2 engined Dennis Dart was withdrawn earlier in the month. It's the end of an era - it was also one of the longest serving buses in the fleet. © Beds Transport.
Jorvik Tour Bus: As reported on our previous article, a new open top bus tour is now running around the city of Hull in East Yorkshire. The Enviro 400 used, LK08NVF is pictured on 26th July 2021. © Ian Knott.
Midland Classic
Now in service here is the MCV Evora BV21OPM, now numbered 10.
Optare Versa 20 and Enviro 200 34 have been repainted into the latest fleet livery.
Acquired here are 6 more Scania/Irizar i3, from Reading Buses. They are 14 (YN17ONF), 15 (YN17ONG), 16 (YN17ONH), 17 (YN17ONJ), 18 (YN17ONK), 19 (YN17ONL), previously 21-26 at Reading. At least 14 and 15 have been sent for repaint, whilst 16 and 17 are operating in base red currently.
MCW Metrobus 80 (TOJ592S), has had a fresh repaint into Stevenson’s livery, also carried by Leyland Olympian 96 (F96PRE). Both are expected to operate on special services on the 28th and 29th August.
Former 55, a Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka is now with Stantons of Stoke on Trent, registered BU54SOS.
Former Reading Buses Scania/Irizar i3 17 is pictured. © Dylan Jones.
National Express West Midlands
Now delivered are Wright Streetdeck FCEVs H1002, H1003 and H1004 (BX21DBU/V/Z).
Now in for repaint are West Bromwich based Enviro 200 757, Pensnett based Enviro 200 865, and Acocks Green’s Scania Omnilink 1797.
Red Rose Travel
Enviro 200 MMC JW65GSW has been acquired for use on the new route 17, which links Aylesbury and Bicester.
Silverdale of Nottingham
Now withdrawn here following extensive fire damage is Scania YT16JMU.
Stagecoach East
Busway Volvo B8L/ADL Enviro 400MMC 13907 returned to service in early August 2021 following major collision damage repairs at ADL Harlow. Scania/Enviro 400MMC 15291 remains the only Scania double deck now based at Fenstanton depot for Busway duties.
Volvo B8RLE/MCV eVoRA 21365 was moved to Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands) on loan on 8th August 2021 and had reached Orkney depot by 10th August 2021. It is expected to stay for around a week to enable driver familiarisation prior to the delivery of the type to Orkney.
Volvo B5TL/Wright Gemini 3 open top 13812, which had been on loan to Stagecoach South West had transferred to Stagecoach London by early August 2021.
Optare Solo SRs 48032, 48034, and 48035, returned here from Stagecoach London following almost 12 months on loan there are now painted all over white.
Volvo B11R 54306, 54307, and 54308 have been transferred to Stagecoach South West. They have been made surplus as the X5 no longer operates between Bedford and Cambridge, having been replaced last year by a new 905 service generally operated by Enviro 400 MMCs. The remaining Volvo B11Rs at Bedford are used on the X5 Bedford- Oxford and 99 Milton Keynes to Luton Airport service, although from early August 2021 ADL Enviro 400MMCs have also been working the X5 service covering for non-available coaches, although we believe that plans to replace the Volvo B11R coaches on the route with ADL Enviro 400MMCs are being considered.
Transferred to Bedford from Stagecoach South West is ADL Enviro 400MMC 10499.
The third Enviro 300 at Cambridge to receive Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery is 27853, which in the paint shop on 11th August 2021 was Bedford-allocated Enviro 300 27642.
Back at Bedford depot by 11th August 2021, following external repairs, was ADL Enviro 200 training bus 36045.
The first Stagecoach UK vehicle fitted with bridge warning technology, prior to fitment to all Stagecoach vehicles, was Bedford-allocated ADL Enviro 400MMC 11279.
Stagecoach East Midlands
MAN/Enviro 200 39691 is now here from Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire. It is in the Reserve Fleet at Lincoln, and will see use as a Covid Vaccination Bus.
Transferred from Worksop to Hull are Enviro 400s 10061 and 10062, swapping places with similar 19684 and 19685 which are now at Worksop.
Now repainted into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery are MAN/Enviro 300s 22798, 24194 and 24205, Enviro 200 MMCs 26262 and 37461, and Dart SLFs 34851 and 35143. Trident/ALX400 18391 is next into the paintshop at Lincoln depot. Of note is that Trident/ALX400 18122 has remained off the road after its repaint in May at Lincoln, due to electrical issues.
Two of the recent repaints in this group (part one). Enviro 200 MMC 26262 (left) and MAN/Enviro 300 24194 (right) are pictured in Hull on 12th August 2021. © Ian Knott.
Two of the recent repaints in this group (part two). Dart SLF 35143 is pictured in Scunthorpe on 11th August 2021 (left). © SimpliHull. MAN/Enviro 300 24205 (right) is pictured in Hull on 17th August 2021. © Ian Knott.
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire
Transferred here in early August 2021 from Stagecoach West are Scania/Enviro 400s 15850-855. 15850-852 were taken to Birkenhead with 15853-855 being taken to Gilmoss although we understand that all six will be allocated to Birkenhead.
Enviro 300 27116 spent a week on loan to Chester last week, but has now returned to Preston.
A departure from this fleet is Gilmoss-allocated MAN/Enviro 200 39691 which has moved to Stagecoach East Midlands.
Stagecoach London: ‘Selkent Ambassador’ Enviro 400 Hybrid 12345 is pictured at Buses Festival at the Peterborough Shrowground on 8th August 2021. © John Abbott.
Stagecoach Midlands
Now repainted into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery is Enviro 200 36215.
In service at Northampton by the start of August 2021 were former Stagecoach West Gold-spec Scania/Enviro 400s 15521, 15525, 15526 and 15841-845.
Just one MAN/Enviro 200, 39681, now remains operational here at Kettering. This follows the withdrawal of 39684, 39686, 39687, 39688 and 39692 which have been moved from Kettering to Corby for storage. Transferred from Leamington to Kettering are Enviro 200s 36843-847/849/850.
Leamington has received Trident/ALX400 18104 from Kettering and Enviro 400s 10040 and 10041 from Northampton. Now at Rugby, from Northampton, are Enviro 200 37057 and 37069.
Work has progressed this month on eradicating the MAN/Enviro 200s operating in the region, with one of those now stood down 39687 pictured (left). These have been replaced, at Kettering depot, by Enviro 200s from Leamington depot. One of those is pictured, 36844 (right). © Ben Wesley.
Now at Leamington, from Kettering, is Trident/ALX400 18104. © Ben Wesley.
Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands)
Volvo B8R/MCV eVoRa 21365 had arrived at Orkney depot from Stagecoach East on loan by 10th August 2021. It is expected to stay for around a week to enable driver familiarisation prior to the delivery of the type to Orkney and has been used in service.
Reserve Fleet Volvo B13R 54122 has been allocated to Skye allowing the transfer of Volvo B7R 53294 from Skye to Orkney.
Stagecoach South
Previously at Guildford, Enviro 400 MMC 10891 has been transferred back to Winchester.
Now carrying Coastliner branded Stagecoach ‘Distance’ livery is Enviro 400 10008.
Stagecoach South West
Now here from Stagecoach East are Volvo B11R 54306, 54307, and 54308, whilst ADL Enviro 400MMC 10499 has transferred to Stagecoach East.
Currently in the paintshop at Exeter depot is Open Top Enviro 400 19571.
Volvo B11RT 54308 (left), 54307 and 54306 are pictured in Exeter depot on 5th August 2021. © Adrian Roberts.
Stagecoach West
Scania/Enviro 400s 15850, 15851 and 15852 have now been transferred to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire.
Now repainted into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery is Enviro 200 37324. Currently in the paintshops at either Gloucester or Bristol are Scania/Enviro 400s 15856 and 15880, and Enviro 300 27905.
The latest repaint here, Enviro 200 37324 is pictured. © GlosBusSpotter.
Stagecoach West Scotland
Now in service here are new Volvo 7900Es 29301, 29302 and 29303, which are allocated to Kilmarnock. Enviro 300 27716 has transferred from Ayr to Cumbernauld.
Volvo B13RT 54107 has been repainted into Stagecoach ‘Distance’ livery.
The Green Bus
Acquired here from Abellio London to replace the ageing fleet of Dennis Tridents are Enviro 400s LJ09CCX (ex 9448) and LJ09CCZ (ex 9450). Many more are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
Uno
Two brand new Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evoras have been acquired for Hatfield: 358 (BV21ONO) and 359 (BV21ONU). 358 was displayed at Buses Festival on Sunday 8th August.
Optare Solo Hybrids 412 and 413, along with Wright Streetlite 55 have been withdrawn.
Wellglade Group
Scania/Wright Solar 683 (FJ55ABO) has been donated to Ladywood Primary School in Kirk Hallam (Derbyshire), whilst similar 685 remains in this fleet and has transferred to Sutton depot.
