July 30th 2015

Information posted on July 30th 2015 at 10:00
With the entry into service of the new Optare Solo SRs (48003-20) at Exeter, Stagecoach South West has placed older Solos 47084-94 into its Reserve Fleet along with 47576/78. 47095/96 have transferred from Exeter to Barnstaple, releasing 47585/88 into the Reserve Fleet. Three Solos, 47081-83 have been transferred to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire. It is believed the new Optare Solo SRs are B29F, but confirmation is being sought.
The transfer of Scania K340 coach 59303 on loan from Stagecoach Midlands (Megabus Fleet) to Stagecoach South East at Dover is to provide cover for Volvo B9R 53708 which has sustained collision damage. Volvo Olympian 16022 has been withdrawn from Dover and is now awaiting disposal. In its place Dover has received Volvo B10M 20675 from the Reserve Fleet. Back in service from the Reserve Fleet at Eastbourne is MAN/ALX300 22008 although we understand that similar 22187 may now be out of service there. We have not received any reports of new ADL Enviro 200 37327 entering service at Hastings.
Heading to Hull news reaches us that the training school at East Yorkshire Motor Services is to get a second double deck training bus in the shape of Volvo B7TL 648, which following conversion will be given fleet number 9916.
Further to yesterday’s Fleet Ramblings on changes at Stagecoach Manchester, we are informed that the transfer of the Tridents from Sharston to Hyde Road are for a Metrolink tram replacement service and that they are expected to return to Sharston for the start of the academic year in September. We also now understand that the three Tridents transferred to Wigan are cover for contracts which will transfer to that depot from Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire when the latter closes Chorley as a main depot.

Information updated on July 30th 2015 at 10:25
We can now confirm that Stagecoach Midlands has transferred Optare Solos 47407/08 from Northampton to Kettering, as replacements for 47123/24 which has been shipped out to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire.
We understand that Dart SLF 34717 and open top Trident 17449 are both now in service with Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire at Kendal depot and news also reaches us that the open top conversion work on Plaxton President-bodied Trident 17692 is now complete and it should be in service within the next week.

Information updated on July 30th 2015 at 17:15
Its been a busy day for Fleet Ramblings, but with here we go with more news.
Stagecoach Yorkshire has reduced its fleet of operational Dart SPDs to just one, 33402 at Ecclesfield, with 33401, 33840/41 now awaiting disposal along with 33403, 33837-39. Also now for disposal are MAN/ALX300s 22934 and 22940 from Rawmarsh with similar 22801 (Rawmarsh) and 22812 (Barnsley) now in the Reserve Fleet. The cull of East Lancs-bodied MAN saloons appears to have started with 39621 and 39630 now in the Reserve Fleet at Barnsley and 39628 awaiting disposal. Also for disposal are Dart SLFs 33096 from Chesterfield and 33240 from Rawmarsh. With all of the ex-Carlisle Enviro 200s now in service at Rawmarsh there has been a swap around of Dart SLFs with 34361/65, 34583 and 34722 now at Chesterfield and 35115, 35261-63 now at Barnsley.
It has been a fairly quiet month at Stagecoach South with Enviro 19071 now in service at Portsmouth whilst Enviro 300 27663 moves from Worthing to Chichester in exchange for 27655. Reserve Fleet Optare Solo 47545 moves from Basingstoke to Chichester whilst Volvo Olympian 16303 has been sold to T Wigley.
At Stagecoach Midlands the cull of Volvo Olympians continues – 16460, 16683/85, 16755 and 16873 are now in the Reserve Fleet and 16162, 16223 and 16495 which had been delicenced for repairs are now awaiting disposal. Also now for disposal is Dart SLF 34121, whilst similar 34120 has been sold. The transfer of Scania/Caetano Levante coach 59303 to Stagecoach South East is now regarded as permanent rather than a loan. Several of the Tridents which have been converted to single door layout are now in service here, 17567 at Stratford, 17511 at Leamington and 17486 at Rugby. Dart SLF 34496 has transferred from Nuneaton to Corby, whilst MAN/Enviro 200 39692 has moved from Northampton to Rugby. Several Optare Solos are now in the Reserve Fleet here – 47010/15/32/34/35/36/37/44, 47128. Of the Reserve Fleet vehicles three are being used as cover for the repaint programme – 34491 (at Rugby), 47032 (at Northampton) and 47128 (at Nuneaton). Delicenced for body repairs is Trident 17615 at Corby and for engine repairs is Enviro 200 36212 at Rugby. Enviro 36153 has returned to service at Nuneaton after collision repairs.