Stagecoach East Midlands
The increase in services from June 1st will see Gainsborough depot return to operational status with Enviro 400MMCs 10896-10901 being returned to the allocation there. Moving back to Lincoln from Worksop are ADL Enviro 300 36707 and ADL Enviro 200MMCs 37457/58.
The four Enviro 200s that were on loan to Skegness are now back on the books at Grimsby although 37204 is in the Reserve Fleet there. Enviro 400s which had been on loan to Skegness, 19684/86/87/88/89/90/91/92 are all now officially allocated to Hull.
Former Stagecoach North East Enviro 400s 19197 along with 19200/06/07/09 are all now officially allocated to Skegness where the remainder of the Volvo B7TL fleet allocated there remains stood down and unlikely to return to service. 16904/06 are officially for disposal whilst 16907/08/09/10/11/12/13/15 are currently stored pending disposal authority. Also for disposal here is Trident 18021 from Gainsborough with 18039 and 18041 expected to follow. The remaining coach from the Lincoln-based Rail Replacement Unit, 53033 is also now for disposal here.
We understand that the first driver training Dart SLF to be returned to operational status here is 34457 at Mansfield.
 
Stagecoach East
Five Enviro 400s 19584/89/91/96 and 19699 were moved yesterday from Bedford to Peterborough in exchange for Enviro 200s 37210/12/17/18/19. Enviro 400s 19584/89/91/96 are nominally Cambridge-allocated vehicles which had been on loan to Bedford. 

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
A few vehicle re-allocations are taking place today in readiness for service increases.
Transferring to Barrow are Scania/Enviro 400 15697 from West Cumbria and Optare Solo 47140 from the Reserve Fleet at Morecambe.
Due to move to Carlisle from Morecambe are Optare Versas 25222, 25223 and 25224.

Stagecoach West Scotland
Now sold and no longer part of the fleet are MAN/Enviro 300s 22531 and 22533.

As May 2020 draws to a close we recall May 2010 when a reunion was held for former Coventry Transport and early years West Midlands PTE Coventry staff. The event saw a large number of former Coventry bus workers attend and included the sight of three former Coventry Transport Daimler CVGs, 239, 333 and 334 which were joined by a former Coventry Transport Fleetline and also a former WMPTE Metrobus 2 in Coventry Transport colours. 
Following a trip to the Earlsdon area of Coventry a number of the buses continued to Nuneaton where a what might have been scenario  of an abandoned idea for a Nuneaton-Coventry joint service operation between Midland Red and Coventry Transport was staged. To assist with the photo-shoot in Nuneaton a Midland Red S16 saloon and a Midland Red D9 double deck were provided.
We were also pleased to have former BBC West Midlands and BRMB radio presenter Les Ross on board and who obliged by donning a jacket, ticket machine and cash bag to recreate a typical scene from the past.
Here is a selection of images from May 16th 2010.
We dedicate this posting to the growing number of former bus staff who joined the event on the day but who, sadly, are no longer with us. 

This week on the Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page
Malcolm and his team of reporters have had a very busy week and this week’s news page contains over 200 images with lots of additional information.
To go direct to the latest news page use this link:
https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/Weekly%20nr%20106%20290520.html
Included in this week’s issue are:
Botley Road upgrade revealed
Home Start overall wrap unveiled by Oxford Bus Company
The Government details on a large financial package for local bus
Update on COVID-19 situation including  more resurfacing in the City of Oxford
Bus levels to increase from June 1st
Changes to maximum number of passengers during the pandemic - more detail
VCS in Lockdown by Mark Wakefield
SLG (Shearings) finally closes down - the end of a chapter
From Times of Old memories flood back - a weekly reminisce
Tony Bungay treats us to pictures from more than 30 years ago
David Bell on a visit to Oxford
Michael Wadman with more on Chiltern Queens
Matt Cooper remembers summer months in 2002 driving for OBC
Binders Yard with Gavin Francis
Guildford from Adam Baker
Overseas Interlude
Singapore SBS Transit with Joel Forey
North of the Border from Gordon Scott, our man in Drum Brae
…..plus all the local news and some pictures of other operators. 
Don’t forget that you can check out the Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page at any time by visiting
www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk

Stagecoach UK Bus
Stagecoach Group has this morning issued a statement in which it says that following a review of its liquidity position, which it says is ‘strong’ it has revised its Capital Expenditure plans. The statement says: “Recognising our strong liquidity position, we have since revised that cash capital expenditure up by around £14m, principally to acquire additional vehicles available for delivery in the short-term”.
Steven Knight Media contacted Stagecoach and asked for more details of the additional vehicle order(s) and also where they would be deployed. There was no confirmation forthcoming from Stagecoach Group who merely said: “we aren’t able to provide any more details at the moment”.
Following the scaling back of the new vehicle investment as a result of the COVID-19 reduction in business Stagecoach told Steven Knight Media that the new vehicle Capital Expenditure programme had been significantly scaled back with the majority of contracts deferred. At that time we understood that the only new vehicles remaining on the order books was the 52 ADL Enviro 400s for Stagecoach Manchester.
 
Stagecoach South West
Some late news. Optare Solo SR 48019 was involved in a rear fire on 29th April on the FOX route in Paignton. The vehicle is now stored at Exeter. Another vehicle requiring repairs is accident damaged Dart SLF 34866 which was involved in a road traffic accident on May 9th.
 
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
​Enviro 200 36416 is now here from Stagecoach Manchester and is allocated to Kendal it has ousted Dart SLF 34801 which is currently parked up at Morecambe.
 
East Yorkshire
The company is gearing up for an increase in service frequencies on Monday June 1st which will also include the return to operational status of the depots at Bridlington, Elloughton, Pocklington and Withernsea.
Buses due to be transferred in the next few days are Enviro 200MMC 515 from Scarborough to Bridlington and 512 from Hull to Withernsea. Also due for transfer are Volvo B9TLs 747 and 748 from Hull to Bridlington and Enviro 300 396 from Hull to Pocklington.
The company advises that following vehicles will be re-licenced from June 1st:
Hull: 342-48/63-69/78-80/89/95, 687/88, 696-99, 700/03/05/07/08/09/13/19/20/27/43/53/67/69/70/71, 906.
Scarborough: 282/83, 353/56/59/60/73/74/76/82-85/90, 504, 741/42/81/82.
Bridlington: 358/81, 702/04/10/12/34/66, 807/15.
Elloughton: 388/91, 701/06/16/36/50/51/59/78/79/88/89.
Pocklington: 386/87/93, 805/14, 728/29/52/65.
Withernsea: 513, 755/72/73/74/75/76/98/99, 800/01.

COVID-19 Contingency Plans
Following the Governments move to a new stage in its Coronavirus plan, a number of bus and coach operators are expected to start the process of relicensing and readying mothballed vehicles for a return to service. 
Whilst service frequencies are set to be increased, the Government message remains to only use public transport if absolutely necessary. Social Distancing on board buses will continue to apply and operators will be reducing maximum carrying capacities. 
A Notice to Staff issued by Stagecoach quotes the following temporary carrying capacities for vehicles:
Double Deck - 20 
Single Deck - 11 
Midibus (Dart/E200) -10 
Minibus (Solo) – 7
In London fares will again be charged from tomorrow, whilst several Stagecoach Companies are temporarily operating an exact fare system for cash fares with no change given. Any excess money from fares is being donated to charities.
 
East Yorkshire
Volvo B5TL/MCVs 802 and 803 are the first of the COVID-19 mothballed vehicles to be relicensed here.

Stagecoach South Wales
A further repaint here into Stagecoach 'Local' livery is Enviro 200 36842 at Blackwood.
 
Stagecoach West
Temporary COVID-19 arrangements saw Enviro 200s  36258/59/60, 36386/87/93/94 and 37239/46 moved from Cheltenham to Stroud.
Withdrawn and now for disposal here is Dart SLF 34665 from Swindon, which has been replaced with 35114 transferred from North Bristol. Former Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire Dart SLF 35193 is now allocated to Stroud having lost its Lakes green livery for the old version of the Stagecoach corporate (Beachball) livery.
Following on from the repainting of Enviro 300 27719, 27553/55 and 27517 have all now received the new Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery. 27517 was completed yesterday.

Stagecoach Midlands
The company has confirmed to us that it is currently removing route branding from the X46/X47 Scania/Enviro 400s along with Enviro 200s and Enviro 300s at Northampton. Following route revisions some of the branding was dated and no longer applicable to the routes.
 
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
The new Sellafield contract start date has been deferred but several of the new minibus vehicles were on site at West Cumbria yesterday including:
Mercedes-Benz 516 Sprinter 44038 with a further two now also delivered along with Mercedes-Benz EVM Trend examples 44048/49/50/51/52/53. Also confirmed at West Cumbria are 11.8 metre Enviro 200MMCs 26001-05 from Stagecoach East Scotland along with Optare Versas 25265/67 with 25266 due to transfer to West Cumbria next week. 26001-03 are expected to re-enter service from June 1st 2020.
We understand that Enviro 200 36416 is back in Manchester for engineering work . On its return it will join 36417/19 at Kendal. 36422 will initially be allocated to Carlisle.

This week on the Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page
You can access the latest news page at:
https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/Weekly%20nr%20105%20220520.html
Reports and features this week include:
Update on COVID-19 situation including completion of resurfacing in the City of Oxford
Changes to maximum number of passengers during the pandemic 
From Times of Old memories flood back - a weekly reminisce
Malcolm Crowe with pictures from 1989 and 1993
Michael Wadman & Keith Newton bring us memories of Chiltern Queens
Overseas Interlude
Brampton buses by Paul Bateson in Canada
North of the Border from Gordon Scott, our man in Drum Brae
…..plus all the local news and some pictures of other operators. 
Don’t forget that you can check out the Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page at any time by visiting
www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk

We have just two archive images today from the mid 1970s. Both vehicles were entering Pond Street Bus Station in Sheffield. First up is 727 (3280HE) from the National Bus Company’s Yorkshire Traction fleet. It is a Northern Counties-bodied Leyland PD3A/1.

​Next up is an unidentified image for a former Sheffield Transport ‘L’-registered Leyland Atlantean which was, by the time of the photograph, part of the South Yorkshire PTE fleet.