‘Scene’ in Tamworth

Midland Classic ‘MC’ are a relatively new company on the bus scene having been created in 2005 by James Boddice.

 

Normally operating in and around Burton on Trent (BoT) and Swadlincote in Staffordshire, the company has built up a wide range of routes locally in competition  with ‘Arriva’ and ‘trentbarton’.

 

The company has also looked to widen its area of operations by extending its X12 service to Lichfield on to Sutton Coldfield on the edge of the West Midlands.

 

In May this year, further expansion saw the introduction of service X13 from ‘BoT’ to the town of Tamworth. It was this service I used recently to take a look at buses in Tamworth.

 

X94 USC

 

A Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork that at one time worked for ‘Nottingham City Transport ‘which proved to be my transport to and from ‘BoT’.

Not the comfiest of buses with particularly hard seats.

 

Tamworth is an ‘Arriva’ stronghold with a number of the fleet’s standard types represented.

 

BJ12 YPZ

 

A Mercedes-Benz Citaro. YPU and YPV also put in an appearance.

 

YN08 HZL

A Scania Omnicity working on the Tamworth-Nuneaton service for which it carries specific branding.

 

Other Omnicity’s were present wearing variations on ‘Arriva’s livery were.

YN08 HZV

 

YN08 HZT

 

Other single deckers in the fleet were,

BF52 OAE

 

Which is a DAF SB200 with Wright Commander bodywork.

 

MX61 AWV

A VDL SB200 with Wright Pulsar bodywork.

 

‘Arriva’ has brought its ‘Sapphire’ standard to Tamworth to work on service 110 to Birmingham.

YX64 VMC

 

An Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E40D which carries Enviro 400 bodywork. VMF, VMH and VMD all put in appearances.

 

Also working on the service was fleet liveried

FJ08 LVL

 

A Volvo B9TL with Wright Gemini Eclipse bodywork.

 

Other operators in the town were ‘Central Buses’ who had a pair of ‘ADL’ Enviro 200’s wearing different liveries.

YX63 ZXK

 

Branded for the service 55 to Lichfield. The route number being cleverly worked into the ‘expre55’ branding.

 

SK15 GYA

 

In fleet livery. 

 

The driver of this bus entered into the spirit of things by positioning his bus especially for me. 

 

If you read this sir,

 

Thank you, it was appreciated !

 

‘Stagecoach in Warwickshire’ came from and went back to Atherstone with.

KX60 DUA

 

Another ‘ADL’ Enviro 200.

 

MX12 CGE

Yet another ‘ADL’ Enviro 200. 

 

This one having previously worked for both ‘Sheffield Community Transport’ and ‘Quantock Motor Services’.

 

Now working for ‘Solus Coaches’. A local Tamworth based operator.

 

KX07 HFJ

This Mercedes-Benz 813 minibus carried ‘FLEXIBUS’ branding, with ‘Warwickshire County Council’ legal titling whilst its crew wore ‘West Midlands Special Needs Transport’ Hi-vis vests.

 

No doubt it was on Community Transport type work.