Dennis Basford's Rails, Roads and Runways: ‘Scene’ in Coalville

Wednesday 17 February 2016

‘Scene’ in Coalville

A pleasant town set between Burton on Trent and Leicester that has its history as its name implies in the ‘Black Stuff’.

Coalville’s outstanding feature is its War Memorial which is one of the highest I have ever seen.

Very much an ‘Arriva’ town with a through service from Burton to Leicester. Another main service is to Leicester via Loughborough while there are local services serving points around the town.

‘Robert’s of Hugglescote in Leicestershire operate a service to Coalville from Castle Donnington which runs via the ‘East Midland Airport’ (EMA).

What attracted me to visit was the the decision by ‘trentbarton’ to extend its Nottingham, ‘EMA’, Loughborough ‘skylink’ service on an hourly basis to Coalville.

The extension starting at the ‘EMA’.

‘trentbarton’ Scania L94UB/Wright Solar Urban FH54 VRX.

Roberts Coaches Optare Solo MX57 UPD.

A sizeable operator with a large depot in the village of Hugglescote, Leicestershire.

I was fortunate to visit their depot a couple of years ago on a PSV Circle outing at which time they had just bought a large batch of MCW Metrobuses (or should that be Metrobi ?).

Arriva Midlands VDL DB250LF/Wright Pulsar Gemini YJ56 KFK.

Seen loading on service 126 to Leicester via Loughborough.

At one time this bus operated in the red livery of ‘Wardle Transport’ on the X50 service from Derby to Hanley which was not a success. (see blog dated 28th. April 2014).

Arriva Midlands VDL DB250LF/Wright Pulsar Gemini FJ06 ZSN.

Another VDL SB250LF with Wright Pulsar Gemini bodywork seen in an older livery.

Arriva Midlands VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar FL63 DXF.

Working on route 9A. This route operates from Burton on Trent through to Leicester but because of licensing requirements it is worked as two separate sections with the destination indicator being changed at Coalville.