Arriva Midlands

‘Sapphire’ ADL Enviro 200 MMC 3127 from Milton Keynes is currently in use at Thurmaston.

D&G Bus

At the Chaserider operation, Optare Solo 260 has moved in from Luton, whilst ADL Enviro 200 548 has moved from Grantham.

VDL SB200/Plaxton Centro 743 has returned from Chaserider to Grantham, whilst Optare Versa 769 has returned to Leicester.

East Yorkshire

Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse-Gemini 718 is currently being repainted, whilst Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro 364 has been repainted into ‘EastRider’ livery and is now in the process of being refurbished.

Ensign Bus

With our thanks to Ross Newman at Ensign Bus for details of activity at the Essex dealership during February 2022.

Vehicles in
From First Essex: Volvo B7TLs WU02KVE/KVH, YN53EOK, AU53HJN/HJO/HKC.
From Go Ahead London: Enviro 200s SK07DZN/ LX09AYF
From Arriva London: Volvo B9TLs BN61MXW/MXX/ MXT/MXM/MYA/MXY/MXU/MXR/MXJ, BG61SXK. From First PMT: Scania YN05HCO.
From RATP London: Scania YT09ZCL, YT59RXR/RYB/ RYC/RYN/RYO/SFK/SFU/SFV/ SFX/SGO/SGU

Vehicles out
Volvo B7TL LK53LZB: Jans Coaches, Soham, Cambs. Volvo B7TL LF52ZNK: St Matthews School, Surbiton. Volvo B7TL W815PAE: Stephen Wilkinson, Weymouth.
Volvo B7TL LK53LYY/LYR/LYZ/LZH : Tiger Feet Playbus, Larne, N.I
Mercedes Cheetah KX60DWF: Candy Coaches, Slough.
Volvo B9TL LK59CWT: Wattsway Travel, Sutton, Surrey
Volvo B7TL KP51VZT: Mantra Logistics, Leicester. Olympian S265YOO: Flexit Ltd, Leeds.
Mercedes Cheetah KX60DWK: Lee Hitchcock, South Ockendon, Essex.
Volvo B9TLs SN09CVE/CVG/CVJ, SN59BFP: Applegates, Stroud.
Volvo B9TLs SN59BHA/BGV/BGF, SN09CVD.: Archway, Fleetwood.
Volvo B9TL SN59BGZ: Sleafordian Coaches, Sleaford, Lincs.
Enviro 200s LX09AYJ/AZG: Trainfor Group, Canterbury.
Volvo B9TLs SN09CVC, SN59BGX: Acklams Coaches, Beverley, East Yorks.
Volvo B9TLs SN09CVH/CUX: Hammonds Coaches, Nottingham.
Volvo B7RLE GN07AVF: Ambassador Travel, Great Yarmouth.

The following all to Shelton Motors for scrap: Volvo B7TLs WU02KVE/KVH, YN53EOK, AU53HJN/ HJO/HKC; DAF SB120 YJ07JTX; Dart LJ05GPF.

Ensign Fleet
Enviro 200 792: RSM Driver Training, Wickford, Essex.
Enviro 400MMC 132 returned ex loan from First Eastern Counties.

First Hampshire & Dorset

Noted at Southampton depot in mid February 2022 were Wright Streetdecks 35204, 35206 and 35209, which it is understood have transferred from First West Yorkshire. Of these, 35209 has been repainted into the Southampton ‘City Red’ livery.

First Midlands

Wright Streetlite 63111 is the next to be repainted and refurbished into the three-tone orange livery for routes 3/4, at Adderley Green.

Midland Classic

Scania K230UB/Wright Solar 75 has been repainted into new style fleet livery, and branded as ‘the Tutbury Minnie’ for route 1 (Burton to Tutbury), referencing the nickname of the now closed railway line linking the two towns.

Former fleet member Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 89 has recently been acquired by Dolphin Autos of Norwich, where it’s been reregistered KIG2473.

National Express West Midlands

Optare Solos 323, 324, 325 & 326 which had been stored since being acquired in 2019 with the former igo buses/WMSNT business, have passed to Bus & Coach Solutions of Drakelow, for resale.

ADL Enviro 200s 753 and 754 have transferred from West Bromwich to Pensnett. Similar 755 has transferred from West Bromwich to the National Express Accessible Transport operation at Aston, whilst 820 and 821 have transferred from Pensnett to West Bromwich.

A number of Scania Omnilink vehicles have moved into the reserve fleet due to them currently being surplus, and requiring expensive repairs. These are 1811, 1813, 1814, 1822, 7024, 7027, 7029, and 7032 at Perry Barr, and 1844 and 1891 at Walsall. To counteract this, Perry Barr has received 1948-1953 from West Bromwich.

Volvo B7RLEs 2110 and 2111 have transferred from Pensnett to Walsall, who have also received 2141 and 2142 after time at Coventry . Dennis Tridents 4577 and 4578 at Walsall have transferred to Wolverhampton and Yardley Wood respectively. Dennis Tridents 4619 and 4633 have transferred from Birmingham Central to Wolverhampton, having not been able to receive relevant Euro 6 upgrades. ADL Enviro 400s 4748 and 4749 have transferred from Pensnett to West Bromwich.

ADL Enviro 400 4896 has returned to service at Birmingham Central, having not been seen for an excessive amount of time. Similar 4951 at West Bromwich has had an internal refurbishment after arson damage, though retains red and white livery, due to continued issues with the paint-shop facility.

Now withdrawn are, Volvo B10Ls 1432 and 1434 (from the training fleet), Volvo B7TL/ALX400s 4241, 4254 & 4270 (from West Bromwich) and 4280, 4285 & 4291 from (Acocks Green), Dennis Tridents 4327, 4426 and 4457 (from Wolverhampton), 4387 and 4546 (from Yardley Wood), 4403, 4408 and 4412 (from Coventry), and 4568 (from Walsall), and Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 4673 from Coventry.

Previously withdrawn Dennis Tridents 4332 and 4359 have both been sent for scrap.

One of a number of Scania Omnlink vehicles to be stood down and placed into the reserve fleet, 1811 is pictured. © Dylan Jones.

Select Bus Services

VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar YJ57BOH has been acquired here, last with Compass Royston of Stockton-on-Tees, now numbered 33. VDL SB200/Wright Commander YJ56JXX has also been acquired, last with Llew Jones Coaches in Snowdonia. Both have Midlands history in being new to Claribels Coaches.

South Staffs Coach Hire

Dennis Trident LX04FXW has been acquired here, and reregistered SGZ3535.

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire

A further Optare Versa to receive ‘Local’ livery here is 25265.

Following entry into service of Enviro 400 open top 19161 at West Cumbria, open top Trident 17217 has been taken out of service.

Dart SLF 34712 is the latest addition to the training fleet and is receiving ‘Local’ livery with training decals whilst 34709 is due to be converted for staff accommodation for the Sellafield contract.

Stagecoach East

A further Transbus Enviro 300 to receive ‘Local’ livery is 27520, along with Enviro 400s 10053 and 19592, and Enviro 200s 36060 and 36937.

Former Norfolk Green Enviro 400 10053 is one of the latest recipients of ‘Local’ livery here, pictured on 2nd and 3rd March 2022. © Luke Fisher (l) / John Abbott (r).

Stagecoach East Midlands

At Scunthorpe, Dart SLF 34572 has transferred from the Reserve Fleet to the main fleet with 35139 moving across into the Reserve Fleet. At Lincoln, Enviro 400 19146 is now back in the main fleet having displaced Trident 18432 into the Reserve Fleet.

Volvo B7RLE 21270, which is in the Reserve Fleet, returned top Grimsby at the end of February 2022 following a short period based at Skegness.
The ‘loan’ of vehicles between depots for engineering and operational reasons continues here on a regular basis. Over several days in late February 2022 Scania/Enviro 400 15653 from Lincoln was operating from Gainsborough.

It has announced that its open top Skegness Seasider operation will resume on 2nd April 2022.

Repaints here into ‘Local’ livery are of Enviro 400 19301, Enviro 200 37187 and 37195, and Enviro 200 MMC 37457. Enviro 300 27792 has been repainted all over white (and is back in service), with Trident 18316 in the paintshop at Lincoln and Enviro 200 36706 due to follow. Of note, Enviro 400 19301 has yet to return to service following its repaint.

Stagecoach London

Scrapped is Enviro 400H Hybrid 12283, whilst Scania OmniCity 15114 is a further vehicle for open top conversion joining 15024-031/035/048.

Stagecoach Manchester

MAN/Enviro 300 22521 was at Hyde Road depot on 23rd February 2022 following conversion to a driver training vehicle. It has since received training branding.

ADL Enviro 400MMC 11510 has had ‘Pride’ graphics added to its ‘Local’ livery, with Enviro 400 19405 now repainted into ‘Local’ livery.

Sold to PVS (dealer) has been Enviro 200 36074.

Enviro 400 MMC 11510 has gained ‘Pride’ branding, and is pictured on 24th February 2022. © SimpliHull.

Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire

Open top Trident 17470 has been moved north and is with Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands).

Stagecoach Midlands

A clear out of withdrawn vehicles has seen Ensign Bus take open top Tridents 17412/417/494/527/575; MAN/Enviro 300s 22833/836/842/843; Dart SLFs 34533/549; MAN/Enviro 200s 38680/681/682/684/686/687/688/689/692/695/700 along with Optare Solos 47412/416/417/418. The remains of Dart SLF 35221 have gone to A H Hardwick.

MAN/Enviro 300 22841 has returned to service at Kettering as a replacement for 22833 which has been withdrawn and sold to Ensign Bus.

Dart SLFs 34421 and 34422 have transferred from the Reserve Fleet to the main fleet at Kettering but 34424, 35179 and 35226 are all now for disposal. Enviro 200s 36938-941 are due to transfer from Leamington to the Reserve Fleet at Kettering with similar 37045/048/050 moving to the Reserve Fleet at Northampton.

Nuneaton’s Gold-spec ADL Enviro 200MMC 26216 has been damaged in a road traffic incident in Bedworth on 17th February 2022.

Repainted into ‘Local’ livery is Enviro 200 36208.

Stagecoach North Scotland (Highlands)

Open top Trident 17470 has is now parked at Inverness following transfer in late February 2022 from Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire.

Volvo B7R training bus 53613, which is allocated to Kirkwall (Orkney) has been repainted into early Stagecoach Stripes livery.

Stagecoach South

ADL Enviro 400MMC 10894 has received ‘Pride’ branding on its ‘Local’ livery.

A correction to Fleet Report 17th February 2022, Enviro 300s 27755 and 27756 were transferred to Andover (not Winchester) and Dart SLF 34631 remains at Chichester.

Stagecoach West

Enviro 200 36768 is the first of several vehicles of its type at Banbury to be refurbished and repainted into ‘Local’ livery. The work is being undertaken by Read Commercials.

A modified ‘Pride’ Oxford Tube logo has been applied to Van Hool Astromega 50272.

Repaints here are of Scania/Enviro 400s 15734 (into ‘Distance’ livery) and 15981 (into ‘Local’ livery), and Enviro 200s 36128 and 36387 into ‘Local’ livery.

Following its repaint into ‘Local’ livery, Scania/Enviro 400 15981 has been adorned with a small pink flamingo graphic and has been named ‘Julie Roberts’ who sadly passed away recently. Pictured on 4th March 2022. © GlosBusSpotter.

Stagecoach West Scotland

Now in service at Dumfries are Enviro 200s 36141 and 37248.

Brand new BYD/Enviro 200 EV 30001-015 have entered service at Kilmarnock, allowing Enviro 200 MMCs 37482-495 to transfer to Ayr and Enviro 200s 36140 and 37247 to transfer to Dumfries.

Vallances Coaches of Kirkby in Ashfield

Joining this fleet is AEC Regal V UTC 672, formerly of Cumbria Classic Coaches.

9th March 2022