August 24th 2015

Information posted on August 24th at 15:50
News from Stagecoach East is that Volvo B10M 52486 at Bedford has joined the training fleet and has been repainted in corporate livery. Cancer Research UK-liveried Peterborough-based MAN/ALX300 22331 is now undergoing repaint into corporate livery. The 70-seat Volvo B10M coach not sold to Ensign Bus, 52483, is reported to have been sold to Herberts Travel. A further former Norfolk Green Optare Solo to turn up at Bedford, presumably for repaint, is 47889.
East Yorkshire Motor Services has now put the Volvo/Gemini 791 into service and it has also received X46 branding.
News reaches us from Stagecoach West Scotland that the last Mercedes 709D operated 40633 is no longer considered suitable for preservation. It has been removed from the Stagecoach UK Bus Heritage Fleet and is destined to be scrapped.
Not previously reported by us is that the former Wheels/Midland Red Coaches Bristol LH/Charabanc TR6147 was sold earlier this year to English Riviera Sightseeing Tours. Also sold to a private buyer for spares are the remains of BMMO S23 5969.
At Stagecoach Oxfordshire the three remaining ALX200-bodied Dart SLFs in the fleet, 33651/52/54 have been sold. Transferred into the Reserve Fleet at Banbury is Dart SLF 34472. Now out of service are seven MAN/Enviro 300s, 22765-71, which are being cascaded to Stagecoach Yorkshire.
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire has allocated the former Stagecoach West Tridents, 18378/85, 18440/41/42 to Gillmoss. Transferred to Gillmoss is Enviro 400 19031 (from Preston) and Trident 17113 (from Birkenhead). Solos 47081-83, which joined this fleet from Stagecoach South West, and 47655 from Chorley are now at Preston. Similar 47742/43/44 have departed Preston and are in the Reserve Fleet at Gillmoss. Tridents 18149/56 have moved from Chorley to the Reserve Fleet at Preston. Sold are LDV Convoys 49614/17 and Transit 49802. Scania N94s 28513/14 have transferred from Chorley to Gillmoss. It is reported that Dart SLFs 34602/16/18/19 have departed this fleet with 34602 believed to be heading for Stagecoach South West. 34617/18/19 are believed to have departed for Stagecoach South but may not be for service with that company.
At Stagecoach South Wales Dart SLF 34663 is now used as a staff shuttle at Caerphilly, whilst 35199 has replaced 34555 at Merthyr.
Turning to Stagecoach South East the four Scania/Enviro 400s received from Stagecoach Oxfordshire, 15436-39, are in the Reserve Fleet at Folkestone. MAN/ALX300s 22006/07 are now for disposal, with 22187 confirmed as in the Reserve Fleet at Eastbourne and similar 22279 in the Reserve Fleet at Thanet, where it is being used for type training. Enviro 300s 27517-19/21/22 are transferred from Dover to the Reserve Fleet at Eastbourne and are due to be repainted. 27518 is shown by the company as being for type training at Eastbourne. Moving from Eastbourne to Dover are 27571-74/76. All six ADL Trident/Enviro 400s received from Stagecoach Yorkshire,19648-53 are now in service at Eastbourne.
At Stagecoach West Scotland a large number of Optare Solos have been transferred in from other companies or re-allocated from the Reserve Fleet. Recent allocations are:
Dumfries – 47003, 47500/29
Glasgow – 47123/63, 47246, 47361, 47462/63/76, 47502, 47627, 47760, 47842-46
Kilmarnock – 47124, 47357, 47460
Ayr – 47506
Solo 47505 has been withdrawn from service and is due to be scrapped. Volvo B12Bs 54079-42 have transferred from Cumnock to Kilmarnock. Tri-axle Olympians 13624/50 have been sold whilst 13618/32/42/43/44 are allocated to Ardrossan and 13628 to Ayr. As predicted Volvo Olympians 16728, 16852/54 have been sold. Reserve Fleet Trident 18369 is now allocated to Dumfries. MAN/ALX300s 22836/88 are now allocated to Ayr and 22390 to Dumfries . MAN/Enviro 300s 22534, 22850 and 22861 are now in the Reserve Fleet whilst 22591-94 are allocated to Cumnock; 22851/63-70 to Kilmarnock and 22857-59/62 to Ayr. Enviro 300s 28703-08 are now at Cumnock.