Correction to Fleet Report 20th February 2021: The new Enviro 400 MMC Smart Hybrids for Stagecoach South East, will be allocated to Dover depot (not Canterbury which we incorrectly stated). There is only an outstation at Canterbury, which utilises vehicles from Herne Bay depot.

East Yorkshire

Now delicensed here is Enviro 400 MMC 929, after we understand it sustained accident damage. Volvo B7RLE/MCV Evolution 383 has transferred from Hull to Scarborough.

First West of England

The latest repaints here, into ‘Bathcity’ livery are Enviro 400 33833 and Enviro 200 44524.

Go North East

With thanks to Go North East, we bring you changes from the last three weeks here.

Repaints in the last few weeks include Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 682, 683 and 685 into a two-tone pink base livery for the new “Little Pinks” brand, Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5361 and 5366 into a two-tone pink and blue base livery for the new “Connections4” brand, Scania N270UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 9065 (YN57 FYP) into the “Voyager” livery, and Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6092 (NL63 YHV) and 6093 (NL63 YHW) into the two-tone orange and red base livery for the new “Cityrider” 56 brand.

Due to there being a requirement to operate six extra Metro Replacement diagrams, further re-allocations have taken place:

Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3962 (NK06 JXE) has transferred from Deptford to Riverside.
Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6115 (NL63 XBZ), 6116 (NL63 XCA) and 6117 (NL63 XCB) have transferred from Percy Main to Riverside.
Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6143 (YN04 GJU) has transferred from Chester-le-Street to Riverside.
Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6934 (LX54 GZZ) has been reinstated at Riverside.

Though not actually used in service during its allocation to Riverside due to it being off service, Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6135 (YN04 GJV) has returned to Washington.

Optare Solo M900/Optare 638 (NK12 HCE) and Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 672 (NK16 BXO) have transferred from Deptford to Washington to provide cover whilst Washington’s “indiGo” branded Optare Solos undergo repaint into the new “Little Pinks” brand.

Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5292 (NK08 CGO) has also transferred from Deptford to Washington, acting as the spare vehicle for the “ConnectorShuttle” and “MetroShuttle” services to the Nightingale Hospital.

In response to the UK’s third national lockdown, which has yet again seen a reduced demand for public transport, service reductions have taken place. Following the earlier fleet re-allocations which took place last month, the following vehicles have now been formally taken out of service:

Scania OmniCity 5249, 5268, 5269, 5271, 5272 and 5274 from Percy Main
Mercedes Citaro 5481, 5483, 5484, 5485, 5486 and 5487 from Deptford
Scania OmniDekka 6134 and 6135 from Washington
Volvo B7TL 6934 from Hexham
Volvo B9R 7108 from Riverside
Volvo B11RT 7124, 7125 and 7126 from Riverside
Volvo B11RT 7134 and 7135 from Chester-le-Street
Optare Versas 8295, 8296, 8297, 8298, 8299, 8300 and 8304 from Chester-le-Street

Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6091 (NL63 YHU) has now returned to service at Deptford, displacing Wright Streetlite DF/Wright Streetlite Max Micro-Hybrid 5440 (NK16 AZV) to Consett.

Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5251 (NK56 KHX), 5252 (NK56 KHY) and 5263 (NK56 KJY) have transferred from Riverside to Washington, enabling the return of Optare Solo SR M900/Optare 721 (KY63 VTL) to Hexham, and then Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6044 (NK12 GCU) from Hexham to Riverside.

Ex-Bluestar Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5482 (HW07 CXS) has been permanently withdrawn from service, having sustained defects uneconomical to repair.

Scania N270UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 9065 (YN57 FYP) has been re-numbered 6172, becoming a permanent member of the fleet. Similar 9066 (YN57 FYF) has now been taken out of service from Riverside for repaint and refurbishment.

To mobilise a 14-day Metro Replacement contract, a number of fleet re-allocations have taken place. These include:

Volvo B7TL 3941, 3942 & 3943 have transferred from Deptford to Riverside
Scania OmniDekka 6134 & 6135 have been reinstated at Riverside
Wright StreetDeck 6331, 6332, 6333, 6356, 6357 & 6358 have transferred from Consett to Riverside
Volvo B7TL 6912, 6913 & 6914 have transferred from Consett to Riverside
Volvo B7TL 6922, 6923, 6924, 6925, 6926 & 6927 have transferred from Percy Main to Riverside

To mobilise a week-long rail replacement contract in operation from Deptford, “Hadrian’s Wall” branded Optare Solo SR M890/Optare 635 (NK61 FJP) and 636 (NK61 FXD) have transferred from Hexham to Riverside to be used on the crew reliefs for service Q3, displacing Mercedes-Benz 516CDI Sprinter/EVM VS30 Cityline 729 (NK69 FAA) and 730 (NK69 FAF) to Deptford. Peterlee-based Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 666 (NK15 EMJ) has transferred to Deptford to act as the dedicated spare vehicle.

Changes have been made to crew relieffacilities, meaning there is no longer a requirement for ‘bait buses’ at some locations. As such, Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 4964 (NL52 WVV) has been taken out of service at Riverside and 4965 (NL52 WVW) from Hexham. Similar 4962 (NL52 WVT) is also surplus to requirements and is now being used in the Driver Training fleet, enabling Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5236 (NK56 KHD) to be taken out of service.

Go North East will commence operation of three diagrams on Arriva North East services 51/51A (Newcastle – Whitley Bay) due to their high staff sickness, associated with COVID-19. As such; Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5249 (NK56 KHV), 5268 (NK07 GJO), 5269 (NK56 KKE), 5271 (NK56 KKG), 5272 (NK56 KKH) and 5274 (NK56 KKL) have all been reinstated at Percy Main.

Oxford Bus Company Volvo B11RT/Plaxton Elitei interdeck coach 73 (OW15 WKA) has been delivered but are not yet in service. Now re-numbered as 7151 in Go North East’s fleet, it has been re-registered with cherished registration mark ‘GO02 NCL’ prior to entering service.

Volvo B11RT/Plaxton Elitei interdeck coaches 7150 (GO02 MBR), 7152 (XL09 NCL) and 7154 (X9 XLS) have now entered service at Riverside. This has enabled the fleet of ‘temporary coach’ branded Volvo B11RT/Caetano Levante 2 coaches, 7120 (BX65 WDA), 7121 (BX65 WDC), 7122 (BX65 WDD) and 7123 (BX65 WDE), to be taken out of service from Riverside.

The final six Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro due to transfer to Go North West, 5298 (NK08 CHC), 5299 (NK08 CHD), 5300 (NK08 CHF), 5301 (NK08 CHG), 5302 (NK08 CHH) and 5303 (NK08 CHJ) have now transferred.

Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5235 (NK56 KHC) has been sold for scrap to Alpha Recovery, Weetslade.

National Express West Midlands

Trident/ALX400s 4383, 4384, 4385 and 4388 have now been withdrawn from Yardley Wood depot. They have been transferred to Pensnett for storage.

Recently withdrawn Dennis Trident/ALX400 4385 is pictured. © Dylan Jones.

Portsmouth City Coaches

Recently acquired Scania Omnidekka SN04CPE has been reregistered M500ELK, with it due to be repainted and refurbished prior to entering service.

Stagecoach East

Currently in the paintshop at Bedford depot is Peterborough allocated Enviro 200 37216.

Also at Bedford, are Enviro 200s 36306/308/320/323 which have recently transferred from Stagecoach London.

Stagecoach East Midlands

Now repainted here into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery is Skegness allocated Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse-Urban 21216.

Stagecoach Manchester

Now repainted here into ‘Magicbus’ livery is Enviro 400 Hybrid 12049, and into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery is Enviro 400 19291.

Recent repaint here, Enviro 400 19564 is pictured at Sharston depot on 2nd February 2021. © El Kay.

Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire

Further vehicles repainted here into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery are MAN/Enviro 300 24153 and Optare Solo 47328.

Pictured at Gillmoss depot on 18th February 2021, is recently repainted Optare Solo 47328. © Graham Judge.

Stagecoach South

Now repainted into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery here are Enviro 200 MMCs 37418 and 37421.

Stagecoach South East

Now returned here, after their loan period at Stagecoach Midlands has come to end, are Enviro 400s 10063-066. It is expected they will be repainted before being redistributed across the region allowing older vehicles to be replace.

Also noted on the move, are replacement Canterbury Park & Ride Enviro 400 MMC Smart Hybrids 11557/558/559 which are now at Dover depot.

Recent repaints here are Optare Solo 47661, into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery, along with Volvo B9R 53708 into 'Stagecoach ‘Distance’ livery which has returned to service at Herne Bay.

23rd February 2021