ZOOM !!

On Sunday the 8th of September 2013 'trentbarton' finally ZOOMED into Derby from Long Eaton.

With a running time of around half an hour including being non stop between Derby and Borrowash Post Office, this will give the residents of Draycott, Breaston and Long Eaton probably the fastest service they have ever had. As for the residents of Borrowash, the service can only be described as spectacular.

I could not get into Derby on the Sunday so today, Monday the 9th. I had a ride as far as Borrowash Post Office and back and Zoom is the right word.

I watched a number of arrivals in Derby and 15 to 20 passengers on board was commonplace.

The first image was taken at Borrowash, the rest in Derby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Scene' in Ashbourne & Derby 5th September 2013

It is a while since I visited either of these two places. It was a very pleasant day so why not?

I had arrived in Ashbourne by way of 'yourbus' service (yb) 111 which originates in Matlock that I had picked up in Wirksworth.

The route branding applied for this service to Wright Streetlite WF MX62 GVL is seen to good effect.

I said almost a year ago when 'yourbus' introduced these buses that I thought them solid and well made.

I still do!

 

 

Ashbourne was a bit quiet, These two Optare Solo's from the High Peak Buses (HPB) fleet put in an appearance MX53 FDG wearing its 'Centrebus' (Cb) livery.

HPB being a joint venture between Centrebus and trentbarton (tb)

While S276 AOX still carries its 'Bowers' livery. (Bowers being part of Cb).

 

 

 

Local operator 'Glovers of Ashbourne' sent along Plaxton Primo AIG 2912 to have its picture taken. Formerly withTM Travel, the Primo has never met with real success. 

 

My transport to Derby was this (tb) Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse bodywork FJ09 BXA.

 

Derby was as busy as ever but there were a some vehicles worth highlighting.

Recently (Cb) closed its 'Kimes of Folkingham' operation. Today a former Kimes bus turned up on the HPB trans peak service. 

YN51 MJE is a Scania L94UB with Wright bodywork that was new to 'Fowler's of Holbeach Drove'.

 

I do not like 'contravision' wrapped buses but they have to be recorded when seen.

Here we have Arriva's Dennis Dart MPD with Plaxton Pointer bodywork SN03 LGD shuttling between Derby's bus and railway stations.

 

When Wardle Transport  (part of Arriva) introduced its X50 service from Hanley to Derby it was run with two Wright Gemini Pulsar bodied VDL SB250's. Then a couple of 'older' double deckers came on the scene (all in Wardle's red livery) and today we had this.

W103 EWU A Volvo B10BLE with Wright's Renown bodywork that at one time worked for Arriva Yorkshire.

I wonder what next week will bring?

 

YN05 GZV a former 'Felix' Scania L94 with Wright Solar now with 'notts and derby' has a partial nearside advert for 'Turkish Airlines' flights out of Birmingham.

 

'yourbus' were much in evidence with Mercedes-Benz Citaro's on a variety of services.

Here we can see BF62 JYU on the Y5 to Beeston, BF62 JYW on the 'citylink ' to Nottingham and BK13 XYE on the Y3 to Ilkeston.

 

I had expected a 'Streetlite' to Ilkeston on the 59 but instead A3 UOB was in use. Another Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban bodywork which at one time worked in and around Bath.

 

tb are still in the process of refurbishing buses on the 'sixes' services. There seems to be a couple in service that are partially done but equally there still seems a lot more to do.

 

Finally, I finish with what is my favourite modern?? double decker.

The Plaxton President. If any bus could tempt me into becoming a preservationist. This is it.

 

More buses 'Scene' in Derby and Ashbourne here Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'trentbarton's 'Frio' to go

‘Frio’ to go.

 

I notice from ‘trentbarton’s (tb) website that no more ‘Frio’ promotional tickets will be sold from August 17th. 2013.

 

‘Frio’ saw the customer buying ten tickets between particular points at face value and getting a further three for the same journey free.

 

The reason being is that the sale ‘Frio’ tickets have been in decline as the rise of ‘Mango’ sales has increased.

V199 ERA 

An Optare Excel in ‘Frio’ promotional livery pictured in the ‘old” Derby bus station.

'Scene' today, August 3rd 2013 in Ripley and Derby

For those who may not know. Ripley is where I live and it sits astride the B 6179, (the old A 61) about 10 miles North of Derby.

It has been rumoured that 'trentbarton' (tb) are to refresh the Wright Solar Urban bodied Scania L94UB's working on 'the sixes' services. This is to include more comfortable seats, wifi, a general refurbishment inside and out and also a fresh coat of paint. 

This particular one  FJ55 BZT (seen in Ripley) has been in service for a couple of days this week and seems to give a foretaste of what is to come. The most obvious difference is the brighter and richer of shade of yellow being used. (See below for comparison).

I understand that there another 9 buses to be so treated.

I look forward then to seeing the finished article, fully vinyled in service sometime in the near future.  

 

Also 'Scene' in Derby today is Optare Solo YJ11 EKU working on the 'Harlequin' service via Littleover to Heatherton.This must be one of (tb)'s least known routes because its city terminus is tucked away on Gower Street just off Babbington Lane

 

 

Further buses 'Scene' in Derby today may be seen here Flickr 

 

'Scene' in Derby July 26th. 2013

Whilst many enthusiasts and passengers do not like ‘Contravision’ decorated buses. There must be some money in it somewhere because their numbers are on the increase!

Further images can be found on Flickr 

FK 58 KXP   Volvo B9TL Wright EclipseGemini

 YJ61 CFM   Optare Versa V1100

YT09 ZBU   Scania N230UB Omnilink

Further images can be found on Flickr 

Y5, Y not ?

Sunday the 14th. of July saw ‘yourbus’ of Heanor launch its latest route, the Y5. Running from Derby via Spondon, Borrowash, Draycott and Long Eaton to Beeston. 

 

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro’s that I saw were branded for the route and it runs every 20 minutes during the busier part of the day.