‘Scene’ in Derby, ‘Kinchbus’ Mercedes-Benz Citaro’s

Which are for operation on the Derby-East Midlands Airport-Leicester service.

 

They have followed on from the 6 Citaros’ that ‘trentbarton’ operate on the ‘Calverton Connection’ from Nottingham by being numbered in the same sequence and registered.

 

907  BX64 WHU

908  BX64 WHV

909  BX64 WHW

910  BX64 WHZ

911  BX64 WJA

912  BX64 WJC

913  BX64 WJD

914  BX64 WJE

 

The following images were taken today in Derby (17th. October 2014).

They really are lovely buses.

Surprisingly perhaps some of the older Plaxton Centro bodied Volvo B7RLE’s were sharing the duties and even an elderly Scania/Wright turned up at one stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Scene' recently in Loughborough part 1

This small selection of bus images taken recently brings together two brief visits. One at the very end of 2013 and another in the first week in February 2014.

 

Loughborough, a small compact town sits astride the A6 North of Leicester and South of Derby.

 

It is blessed with a wide selection of bus operators who provide a busy and colourful scene.

 

There are a couple of locally based operators.

 

‘Kinchbus’ (Kb), a ‘Wellglade’ group subsidiary has the highest profile.

 

‘Kb’ has a history dating back to 1987 when Gilbert Kinch started trading as GK Kinch. At that time his operation was based in Barrow on Soar.

 

Expansion followed in the 1990’s and in 1998 the company was sold to the ‘Wellglade’ group.

 

Apart from local services in the Loughborough area, longer distance services operate as far as Leicester, Nottingham and Derby.

 

At the time of writing ‘Kb’ operates approximately 30 vehicles.

 

‘Kb’ took 4 Optare Tempo’s and 7 Optare Solo’s in 2007 and both deliveries are represented here.

 

 YJ07 VSV

 

YJ07 EFW

Seen in the dedicated livery of the ‘sprint' service which links the town with the University and the railway station.

FE02 KDZ

Another Solo, came from 'trentbarton's (tb)s main fleet having previously been painted in both fleet and ‘Harlequin’ liveries.

'tb' being another 'Wellglade' group company.

In 2008, 'Kb' took 6 Volvo B7RLE’s with Plaxton Centro bodies for the ‘skylink’ service that links Derby to Loughborough via the East Midland Airport. 

 

These were supplemented by another of the same which came into the fleet when (tb) took over ‘Felix of Stanley’ in January 2012.

 

YN08 CWV

Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro.

 

FJ03 VWM

The route has since been extended to Leicester which necessitated the addition of one of 'tb's Scania L94UB's with Wright Solar Urban bodywork.

 

It is also anticipated that more of them will follow.

 

FJ03 VWM

 

 

X234 WRA

An Optare Excel. Now in the twilight of its career and helping out on Town Service No.11. It still carries the remnants of the old 'tb' fleet livery.

 

 

FJ03 VWN

Other Scania/Wright buses work on service 9 to Nottingham. At one time it worked on 'tb's Rainbow 5 service.

 

Route 9 was originally a ‘Premiere’ travel route that came to ‘Kb’ when ‘Premiere’ ceased to operate in early 2013.

 

 

FJ03 VVP

Another Scania/Wright working for 'Kb'. 

 

The livery it carries is for ‘tb’s  H1 Derby, Heanor and Alfreton service.

 

This bus and others in the same livery have been displaced on the H1 by new Optare Versa’s. See my blog

‘H1 New Shiny Bus’ dated 11/01/14.

Another ‘Wellglade’ group bus in town was,

 

FJ03 VWY

Another Scania L94UB with Wright Solar Urban bodywork working for (tb) on the lengthy ‘skylink’ service from Nottingham via the East Midlands AirportThis vehicle previously worked on and carried the liveries of the ‘Calverton’ and ‘H1’ services.

The other local operator ‘Paul S. Winson’ always operates buses and coaches that are superbly turned out.

 

I have never seen a dirty bus in service.

 

W647 SNA Dennis Trident 2 with East Lancs Lolyne bodywork came from ‘Nottingham City Transport’.

W563 RSG

A Dennis Trident with Plaxton President bodywork that was previously operated by ‘Lothian Buses’.

XX12 PSW and XX13 PSW PSW

ADL Enviro 200’s, Both purchased at the same time. 

 

The company makes regular use of PSW suffixed registrations.

 

‘Scene’ in Derby today 3rd. January 2014

The weather was not at its best but a trip into town to buy a new mobile phone gave me the opportunity to capture a few images.

 

MX12 DYV

An Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) Enviro 200 currently working for Wellglade group subsidiary ‘Kinchbus’ on the Derby to Leicester ‘skylink’ service which travels via the East Midlands Airport and Loughborough.

 

For a 12 plate it is much travelled having already worked for ‘City Sprinter’ in Glasgow, ‘Utopia Coaches’, Aberfoyle Coaches, ‘Maytree (Manchester)’ and ‘Stephensons of Easingwold’.

 

Its travels suggest one of two things and they are that maybe it is an ADL demonstrator and perhaps ‘Kinch’ might be considering an order or that it is owned by a dealer and it is being rented out to cover temporary shortages in the fleets where it has worked.

 

Only time will tell !!

 

R932 RAU

A Dennis Dart with Plaxton Pointer bodywork which by coincidence is also connected to Wellglade. Previously with ‘trentbarton’ (tb) as its No. 932.

 

Now working for ‘Littles’ of Ilkeston, it is deputizing for an ADL Enviro 200 on the Derby Pride Park Park and Ride service. 

 

A close look at the removed lettering on the cove panel would suggest that it was used on competetive services into Nottingham when ‘tb’ were facing stiff competition from former competitor ‘Premiere’.

A coupe of now elderly veterans still able to earn their keep are this pair of Optare Excels.

 

Y266 DRC 

Doing a stint on the ‘tb’ ‘Zoom’ service to Long Eaton and soon to be extended to Sawley.

 

Y264 DRC

In between journeys on the V3 traveling via Repton and Willington to Burton on Trent.

 

Derbyshire County Council’s timetable shows route this as being operated by ‘notts & derby’.

‘tb’ have a large number of Northern Counties bodied Volvo B10B’s parked alongside Meadow Road depot in what I have come to regard as the ‘Departure Lounge’ for buses shortly to leave the fleet.

 

That being so, it seemed to be a good time to record them while there is still an opportunity.

 

M133 PRA

New in January 1995 in normal ‘notts & derby’ livery operating service 17 to Borrowash.

 

L133 LRA

Which is a year older in Derby ‘unibus’ livery also on the 17.

 

It was a good day for elderly buses

 

 

Y492 UGC

 

A DAF 250 with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork on a short working of the X50 going to Uttoxeter.

 

Originally in 'Arriva London' service complete with two doors. It lost its second door when it came to work for ‘Wardle Transport’ of Stoke On Trent in the days before they were taken over by ‘Arriva’.

P256 PSX

Retaining its second door is former ‘Lothian Transport’ Alexander ‘Royale’ bodied Volvo Olympian which considering the poor and dirty weather looks immaculate. ‘notts & derby’ livery sits well on these buses.