It is the first time that Ripley, where I live has featured in one of my Blogs.
From a transport point of view it is quite an interesting place what with The Midland Railway Centre just down the road at Butterley and Crich Tramway Village being about five miles or so away. Both I might add readily available by bus.
Many less well used bus routes in Derbyshire are provided under contract by Derbyshire County Council.
Two such are the 143 and 144 which, generally operated by a single bus working between Ripley, Belper and Crich.
Initially this contract was let to ‘McEwens Coaches’ of Mansfield who became part of the ‘Skills’ group in 2013.
‘Skills’, are much better known as a long established and much respected coach operator.
The usual vehicle is,
MX07 BBZ ‘Skills Coaches’ Optare Solo M780SE /1
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
For an image of this bus in ‘McEwens’ livery see my blog published 9th. of April 2014.
New to ‘Roberts’ of Hugglescote (Leicestershire).
MX07 BBZ ‘Skills Coaches’ Optare Solo M780SE /2
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
However, another Solo that turns up from time to time is
MX04 VLZ ‘Skills Coaches’ Optare Solo M920
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
New to ‘Hampson & Furness’ (Glossop) and previously with the defunct ‘Premiere’ of Nottingham amongst others.
There are times when the Solo’s are not available in which case a substitute is provided generally from ‘Skills’ contract hire fleet.
A requirement of the contract is that buses used on tendered services must be DDA compliant with flat floors etc.
This has lead to some interesting vehicles being used.
One of which was,
M418 UKN ‘Skills Coaches’ Volvo Olympian / Alexander RH
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’’
Formerly 95-D-222 with ‘Dublin Bus’.
Another of which was,
SN53 EUT ‘Skills Coaches’ Transbus Trident / Transbus ALX 400
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Formerly with ‘London United’ as its TLA 10.
One more,
SN53 EUX ‘Skills Coaches’ Transbus Trident / Transbus ALX 400
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Again, formerly with ‘London United’ as its TLA 14.
A very rare bus is
YD02 RJO ‘Skills Coaches’ DAF SB220 / Ikarus Polaris 489
on ‘Dennis Basford’s railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
Another ‘old’ Skill seen working a ‘Tesco Shuttle’ in the town.
New to ‘Aztecbird’ (Guiseley) but latterley with ‘Arriva Yorkshire’ as its No. 57.
VCZ 9811 ‘Skills Coaches’ Mercedes-Benz 0814D / Transbus Cheetah
on ‘Dennis Basford’s and anrailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
I do not think this coach was working on the 143/144, it was working as a feeder coach.
New to ‘Moore’ (Belfast), Northern Ireland.
