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June 29th 2020 @ 15:55: Fleet Ramblings

29/6/2020

 
East Yorkshire
Volvo B7TLs understood to have been returned to service at Hull are 669/70/71/73/77, whilst 
679/80/89 have been returned to service at Bridlington. Volvo B7TL 687 has been transferred from Bridlington to Hull and Volvo B9TL 714, the last of the delicenced vehicles at Pocklington, has also returned to service.
Picture
© Harrison Dethridge
​Stagecoach East
​
Volvo B8RLE/Wright 21311 has become the first of its type here to receive the all over Ocean Green livery, now adopted for Busway vehicles.
Further Busway Scania double decks have temporarily transferred from Fenstanton to Cambridge. Understood to have moved over the last few days are Scania/Enviro 400s 15216/19 and 15812/14. Also now at Cambridge from Fenstanton are Scania/Enviro 400MMCs 15292/93/94. At the same time Scania/Enviro 400s 15199 and 15200 have been returned to service on Busway duties at Fenstanton.
Single decks are also returning to service at Cambridge with Enviro 300s 27845/46/47/48 understood to be operational today.
Further Enviro 400s to return to Cambridge following a period on loan at Peterborough are 19680 and 19586.
Picture
© Harrison Dethridge
Stagecoach South East
Dart SLFs 34438 and 34442 have transferred away from Eastbourne depot with 34438 going to Dover and 34442 to the Reserve Fleet at Thanet.
 
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire
Reported transfers in the last few weeks are Enviro 300 27156 along with Optare Solos 47333/34/35 and 47620/22 from Chester to Preston whilst Enviro 300 27154 has been transferred from Chester to Birkenhead.

June 27th 2020 @ 10:50: Fleet Ramblings

27/6/2020

 
East Yorkshire
The latest repaint here into East Yorkshire livery is Volvo B9TL 746.
The company has confirmed that it is to ‘retire’ the orange-based ‘Humber Fast Cat’ brand here with the repainting of MCV Evolution-bodied Volvo B8RLE 395 into corporate livery. The company has added that the vehicle has done almost twice the mileage of the others from the same batch. In future vehicles will be cycled onto the Hull-Scunthorpe workings to even out the mileage. 

June 26th 2020 @ 19:25: Fleet Ramblings

26/6/2020

 
Stagecoach East
New reaches us that nine Enviro 400s have been transferred back to Cambridge this week after being in use in Peterborough. Confirmed as transferred are 19574/77/79/82/83/84/85/86/89. To replace them at Peterborough at least Enviro 200s 37210/17/19/23/33 are being returned to service. 37210/17/19 had been moved over to Bedford in May but we now understand this was only for parking up rather than a formal depot transfer.
 
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
New from here is that two of the company’s three Routemasters, 19957 (NML657E) and 19986 (CUV286C), are being stored pending a decision on their future.
​Also now for disposal are Volvo B10M training bus 20983, Dart SLF 34707 and Optare Solo 47057.
Now sold and no longer part of the fleet are Tridents 18138/40 and 18354, Volvo B10M 20457 and Dart SLF 34710.
 
Stagecoach West Scotland
Now sold are Optare Versas 25201/02/28. Relicensed and returned to service are Enviro 200 36148 at Dumfries and Optare Solo 47476 at Stranraer.

June 26th 2020 @ 19:20: This week on the Oxford and Chilterns Bus Page

26/6/2020

 
Picture
This week on the Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page
The latest news offering is now online
To visit the page directly click on this link:   
https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/Weekly%20nr%20110%20260620.html
This week’s stories include:
Shearings name acquired by Leger Tours
Update on COVID-19 situation
megabus, National Express and Oxford tube to restart
From Times of Old memories flood back - a weekly reminisce
House of Watlington in pictures by Keith Newton
Gavin Francis visits Redhill, Biggin Hill and Orpington
North of the Border from Gordon Scott, our man in Drum Brae
including fleet movements by various operators bringing unusual buses to our areas
Maybe a light at the end of the tunnel for PMU service in Oxford
Reading Buses oppose a six week closure of Reading Bridge
 …..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

June 25th 2020 @ 11:30: Fleet Ramblings

25/6/2020

 
Picture© Nathan Thorn
Stagecoach South Wales
It would appear that there is a slow ‘drip feed’ of vehicles being relicensed and returned to service here. Whilst we do not plan to generally list vehicles individually as they are being returned to service, we are making an exception for this fleet and using it as a case study.
At Cwmbran Scania/Enviro 400s 15964/65 and 15838 are back in use on the X3 service with Enviro 300 27279 back in use on the X24. Three Optare Solos, 47530/32/33, have been returned to operational status as spare vehicles and for use as duplicates when required.
Back in service at Porth are Enviro 200 37019 and Enviro 200MMC 26091 whilst Enviro 200s 36851/53 and a Dart SLF 34754 are now available for service at Blackwood.
Wright StreetLites returned to operational use at Merthyr are 43006 and 43007.
Few vehicles have received the new Stagecoach ‘Long Distance’ livery across Stagecoach UK fleets but several Scania/Enviro 300s have received this livery style at Stagecoach South Wales .

Picture
© Nathan Thorn
Stagecoach West
Now repainted into the Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery and in service here is Enviro 300 36139.
 
Stagecoach East Midlands
Another two early ALX400-bodied Tridents to be withdrawn from service and awaiting disposal here are 17713 and 17715, both from Mansfield.

June 23rd 2020: Fleet Ramblings

23/6/2020

 
Stagecoach South East
Following its recent repaint, Scania Enviro 400MMC 15287 has been operational from Folkestone depot where it has replaced paint float Enviro400 19051 which has moved to Herne Bay. 
Now at Thanet depot is Dart SLF 34442, which had been stored. We understand that Optare Solo 47113 is now awaiting disposal following the donation of its engine to another Solo. 
Volvo B9R/Plaxton Elite coaches 53703 and 53706 are understood to be approved for disposal here with similar 53702/04/05/08/16 being earmarked for Cascade within Stagecoach UK. We would expect these to transfer to Stagecoach East.
Gold-spec Scania/Enviro400 15189 has returned to Folkestone depot after being on loan to Dover. Enviro 400 19028 at Folkestone is reported as being out of service for repairs. 
 
Stagecoach West
Enviro 200s 36389/88 have both been painted into the Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery.
 
Stagecoach South Wales
Returning to service on June 22nd were Enviro 300s 27277/78 at Cwmbran, Mercedes-Benz Sprinters 44003/04 at Porth and Optare Solo 47316 at Aberdare.
 
Stagecoach Oxfordshire
The company has announced that Oxford Tube service will re-commence from July 6th 2020.

June 22nd 2020 @ 14:50: Fleet Ramblings

22/6/2020

 
East Yorkshire
Volvo B7TL Training Bus 9915 has regained its original registration mark - W499WGH.
 
Stagecoach South Wales
The relicensing of vehicles, as service levels and passenger demand increases continues to take place across many companies. We have had a report at Porth Enviro 200 37020 and Optare Solo 47193 are now both back in service.
 
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
Optare Versa training bus 25304, which has been stored here following a period on loan has now been returned to Stagecoach London.
 
Stagecoach South East
Recently repainted into Stagecoach ‘Local' is Scania/Enviro 400 MMC 15287.
 
Stagecoach East
Picture
Following the suspension of most Capital Expenditure this year by Stagecoach Group the planned replacement of five of the Volvo B9R/Plaxton Panther coaches in this fleet (53612/13/15/16/17) has been deferred Stagecoach East also have 53618 but it is a slightly newer vehicle having been a replacement following a RTC in which 53614 was written off when relatively new. As a result the company is reviewing fleet upgrade options for the coaches that are used on the 99 Milton Keynes-Luton Airport service. Currently there are a number of Volvo B9R/Plaxton Elite coaches surplus with Stagecoach South East. Could some, or all of 53702-06/08/16 be heading to this fleet? Of note is that 53706/08 were new to Stagecoach East fleet and based at Peterborough for National Express duties
Now confirmed as in service at Bedford is Volvo B8RLE/Wright 21301, which is on loan from Fenstanton for use on the X5 and 99 routes.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
​Other than the Volvo/Enviro 400XLBs and some of the Volvo/MCV saloons, none of the Volvo B7RLE/Wright or Scania/Enviro 400 and Scania/Enviro 400MMCs which have received the new-style all over Ocean Green livery have so far received the updated Busway branding.
Several Stagecoach UK companies have been making use of their training vehicles as temporary driver rest rooms recently to enable Social Distancing. Earlier today Enviro 200 36309 was in use as a driver mess room at Peterborough’s Queensgate Bus Station.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
​Enviro 200s 37222/23/25 remain the only operational vehicles of the type, and the only saloons, at Peterborough where the double deck fleet now numbers 66. The Enviro 400s received from Cambridge variously carry ‘Cambridge Citi’, ‘Stagecoach’ branding, or are devoid of branding.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
Stagecoach North East
The full list of vehicles here to receive the New Stagecoach livery so far, are as follows:-
February 2020:- 11501 (Launch vehicle/Mosiac version of livery), 19440, 19645.
March 2020:- 11502, 19670, 19680, 19683, 37315.
June 2020:- 19646
It is understood that 19672 from Walkergate depot is currently under repaint, whilst Enviro 200 37315 remains the only saloon here to receive the new livery.
Picture
© Iain Hardie
Go North East
Vehicle movements last week included the reinstatement of Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Myllennium Vyking 3971 at Washington, in a float/reserve capacity. Ahead of the delivery of the new double-deck buses for service X1, the existing allocation of ‘Red Arrows’ branded Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 vehicles are beginning to undergo repaint. 3971 will provide cover at Washington until the start of the school holidays while these repaints are ongoing.
The final vehicle repainted prior to 'lockdown' in March was Mercedes Citaro O530 5276 which lost its 'Blaydon Racer' livery in favour of the Go North East 2019 fleet livery. The repaint programme had been suspended from the last week of March until the first week of June.
Picture
© Iain Hardie

June 21st 2020 @ 12:00: From our archives

21/6/2020

 
We are concluding our look at archive images for now with this bumper selection from the West Midlands PTE in the mid-1970s. Our images from this period have not all survived in a pristine condition and most have substantial damage. We have tried to clean them up to at least make then suitable for this last dip for now into our archives. 
First up is a look inside Sheepcote Street garage in Birmingham. When new Sheepcote Street was an outstation of Midland Red’s Digbeth depot but later became a depot in its own right. In December 1973 it passed from Midland Red to the West Midlands PTE but was closed as an operational depot in 1975. Heading the view are Daimler Fleetline DD13 6265, which was new to Sheepcote Street in November 1970. It moved to the former Birmingham City Transport Acocks Green garage in November 1975 and was converted to single door layout in January 1977. IT ended its PTE days at Coventry Road garage and was withdrawn in March 1981. The BMMO D9 next to it, 5364, was new to Sheepcote Street in December 1963 and remained there until its transfer to Sutton Coldfield in July 1975. It was withdrawn in September 1977. Also visible are further Fleetlines from the former Birmingham City Transport and Midland Red fleets.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
​Next we drop into Dudley Bus Station where a former Coventry Transport Willowbrook-bodied Daimler Fleetline, 1360, had been drafted in to provide cover as a result of a shortage of serviceable vehicles. It is in the company of a Midland Red S22, 5886, and an unidentified former Midland Red D9 and former Midland Red Leyland National. The former Coventry Fleetline was from the first batch of Fleetline chassis ordered by Coventry Transport, although the Willowbrook bodywork style was also carried on a batch of Coventry Leyland Atlanteans.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
​The WMPTE’s East Division (Coventry) also loaned several Daimler CVGs to support operations at the former Midland Red Harts Hill garage. Here maintenance issues tended to see buses parked up whenever they needed major attention. The rear parking area was an oil-soaked mud-based surface which during our visit was home to a semi-cannibalised Midland Red D9, three Coventry Daimler CVGs, 246Y, 249Y and 254Y, as well as former Walsall Corporation Dennis Loline 845L.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
​At the former Midland Red Oldbury depot we find DD12 Daimler Fleetline 6009 on the depot forecourt along with D9 5344. 6009 sports a central blue band, although it doesn’t have the beading that is normally used to position the blue band. This was a trait of the PTE’s Walsall Works with the band being omitted on repaints at other locations. 5344 was new in October 1963 at Oldbury and remained there until withdrawal in July 1976.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
​Another former Midland Red garage inherited by the WMPTE in December 1973 was at Sutton Coldfield where we see two former Midland Red DD12 Daimler Fleetlines 6022 and 6078. Just visible inside the depot doors is Volvo Ailsa 4528, one of three prototype vehicles bought by the PTE. These were followed by an order for 50 which was split between Oldbury and Sutton Coldfield depots and enabled the replacement of some of the vehicles inherited with the takeover of the West Midlands operations of Midland Red in December 1973.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
​Included in the premises transferred from Midland Red to the WMPTE in 1973 was the parking area at Adderley Street, which was used as an overflow area for Digbeth depot. It was immediately opposite the PTE’s Liverpool Street garage. The PTE based its Birmingham area Plant team here but also made use of the area to park withdrawn buses prior to sale. Our 1976-dated image shows former West Bromwich Leyland Tiger Cub 250H and former Birmingham City Transport Guy Arab/Crossley 2606. The Guy has spent time on loan to the former Midland Red depot at Oldbury.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
​With the demands for replacement buses outstripping the availability from elsewhere in the WMPTE’s fleet the company turned to second-hand purchases. From Kingston upon Hull came a number of Leyland Atlanteans. Pictured at Dudley in what appeared to be an out of service condition was 1143 (6343KH) parked alongside former Midland Red vehicles 5870, an S21, and S17 5464.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
Finally an to end our archive selection for now and who remembers WUMPTY? The West Midlands PTE’s mascot from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The WUMPTY name came from the PTE’s initials WMPTE which were pronounced Wumpty!
Picture
© Steven Knight Media

June 19th 2020 @ 23:00: This week on The Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page

19/6/2020

 
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This week on the Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page
Malcolm says that there is much for readers to enjoy in this week’s news.
To view the page directly please click on this link:   
https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/Weekly%20nr%20109%20190620.html
Bicester Village reopens with new shuttle service
Update on COVID-19 situation
Oxford introduces one way pedestrianisation
From Times of Old memories flood back - a weekly reminisce
RML 2440 recreates the 441 to Windsor
Answers on A-Tax by Tim Walker & Matthew Bullock
Lewis Nagle in Thames Valley and Surrey
North of the Border from Gordon Scott, our man in Drum Brae
Another visit to ADL, Falkirk
and all your pictures and notes on operators covered
including fleet movements by various operators bringing unusual buses to our areas
X5 pictures using Volvo/EVoRa single decks
pictures from Aylesbury and Milton Keynes by Gavin Francis
…..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

June 18th 2020 @ 14:10: Fleet Ramblings

18/6/2020

 
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire
The Omnibus Society North West & Yorkshire reports that MAN/Enviro 300 24136, which has been in use by Stagecoach UK as it’s anti-bullying ‘Be Nice Bus’ has received the new Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery.
 
Stagecoach North East
We are surprised that the new Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery has still not been applied to ADL Enviro 400MMC 11299 which was seen yesterday still in the all-over-white livery in which it was delivered. A further recipient of the ‘Local’ variant of the new livery here has been Enviro 400 19680.
Further to our comment on 11299 remaining in all over white, local transport historian and our regular editorial contributor Richard Smiles reminds us that 11299 spent a period of time on loan to Inverness shortly after it was delivered to the North East and just a day or so after its return it was despatched on loan to Stockton to assist with Social Distancing measures. It finally returned to Walkergate on Saturday 13th June 2020, so there has not really been a chance to get it through the Paint Shop.
​We are also reminded that 11300 and 11503 also retain the all over white livery they were delivered in.
Picture
© Iain Hardie
East Yorkshire
The company has reported that Volvo B9Rs 81 and 82, from the East Yorkshire Coaches unit at Hull, have been relicensed. Also relicensed were the five Volvo B7TLs, 669/70/71/73/77, returned here over the last weekend from Go Ahead’s Plymouth CityBus operation, but this is likely to have been to enable their transfer north to Hull.
 
Stagecoach Yorkshire
We recently reported on the repaint of Scania/Enviro 400 into the new Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery and we can now bring a photo of the repainted vehicle.
Picture
© Alex Everitt
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