‘Scene’ on October 26th. 2015

The 25th. had been busy enough with ‘trentbarton’s new Volvo B11Rs and B8R’s together with ‘the comet’ being introduced (see blog dated Oct 26th).

 

However that was not all that was new because on the 25th. of October a group of mid Derbyshire routes changed hands.

 

The 140,141and 142 had been operated by Heanor based ‘yourbus’ since the demise of K & H Doyle Coaches Ltd. almost two years ago.

 

The routes serve a number of villages as they link Matlock with the towns of Alfreton, Belper and Ripley.

 

Services are co-ordinated to allow a variety of inter-connections at the village of Crich. (The home of the Tramway Village).

 

The new operator is ‘Littles Travel’ of Ilkeston who have acquired a batch of Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 200’s for the work.

 

SN65 OEY

 

Is seen outside Sainsbury’s in Ripley which is the terminus waiting to depart on service 141 to Matlock.

 

 

 

 

The interior is bright and well laid out to seat 39 passengers.

 

SN65 OFA

Is seen loading in Alfreton for its next trip to Matlock.

‘Scene’ in Derby & Nottingham 25th. October 2015

It isn’t every day that my local bus company ‘trentbarton’ (tb) introduce one new type into service.

 

I cannot remember the last time they introduced two new types into service on the same day and on top of that.

 

They also re branded a further route albeit with older buses.

 

Of course I had to record it.

 

I had the pleasure of seeing ‘tb’s new Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B11R at the NEC a few weeks ago. (See blog dated 01/10/15).

 

I reported on them being used for training purposes last week (See blog dated 20/10/15).

 

On Sunday (the 25th.) they were introduced into service and so at last the public (including me) were able to sample them.

 

YX65 ZHL

 

Seen in Nottingham.

 

YX65 ZHP 

Seen in Derby Bus Station.

 

YX65 ZHM

 

Again in Derby Bus Station.

 

YX65 ZHT

 

Leaving Derby Bus Station.

 

The interior is airy, light, warm and comfortable.

Over in Nottingham a batch of Wright bodied Volvo B8R buses were being introduced on ‘the two’ which runs from Nottingham through Ilkeston and terminating in Cotmanhay.

BD65 EWB

 

 

BD65 EWE

 

All the above images were taken in or around Nottingham’s Victoria Bus station.

 

 

As if all this activity wasn’t enough, ‘tb’ also re branded what had been the Northern section of the ‘red arrow’ from Derby to Chesterfield as ‘the comet’.

 

I had hoped that a suitably branded vehicle would be in service on the first day but if it was, I didn’t see it.

 

The buses I saw were all Volvo B7RLE/Wright’s displaced from ‘the two’ by the new B8R’s.

 

No doubt suitably branded buses will soon appear in service and in later ‘blogs’ as time and other pressures allow.

 

FJ09 XPA

 

FJ09 XPD

 

 

All of the buses I saw carried the message

 

“EXCUSE MY LOOKS, I’M HELPING OUT ON COMET”.

 

A similar sign was displayed to the rear of the door.

 

In an effort to show how the buses might eventually look, I have taken the liberty of reproducing ‘tb’s own image.

 

 

 

‘Scene’ in Newark

An historic town which sits on both the river Trent and the East Coast main railway line. Apart from its magnificent ruined castle, it also has a new bus station which although small is well used attracting a variety of operators in addition to the main local player who is ‘Stagecoach East Midlands’ (SEM).

 

‘SEM’ came to be the major operator in Newark when in 2005 they took over the ‘Traction Group’ which had its roots in the old ‘Yorkshire Traction’ group based in Barnsley. 

 

The ‘Tracky’ as I always new it had in turn taken over ‘Road Car’ which had its roots in the old ‘Lincolnshire Road Car Company’ in 1988.

 

H4 DXA

 

A Volvo Olympian with Alexander bodywork that was formerly registered 97-D-367 with ‘Dublin Bus’ in the Irish Republic.

 

Now working for ‘Travel Wright’ (TW) a local operator.

 

A couple of ‘TW’ Optare Solo’s were out and about

KX53 SGY that at one time with ‘Thames Travel’.

 

and YJ61 JGZ

 

Another local operator is ‘Marshalls of Sutton on Trent’ who produced the following buses. 

 

FJ08 FYK

 

A Volvo B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodywork. It was bought new and carries the fleet number DD 85.

 

YJ11 EKY

An Optare Versa again bought new carries fleet number OP 89.

 

Seen working service 90 to Nottingham a service that ‘Marshalls’ took over from ‘Nottingham City Transport’.

 

The service starts at Newark Northgate railway station and runs through Newark without calling at the bus station.

 

YJ04 WBY

 

An Optare Solo which came from ‘TGT Holidays’ and is OP83 in the fleet.

 

FX13 ABO

 

A Dennis Trident with Alexander Dennis Ltd. Enviro 400 bodywork seen working for ‘PC Coaches’ on the infrequent service to Lincoln.

 

T148 CLO

 

A Dennis Trident with Plaxton President bodywork of ‘Centrebus’ seen leaving the bus station on service 24 to Grantham.

Formerly with ‘Metroline’ in London as its TP 48.

 

R923 JMV

A Volvo Olympian with Northern Counties bodywork of ‘Stagecoach in Lincolnshire’ showing signs of wear and tear.

 

YM52 UOW

A Dennis Trident with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork of ‘Stagecoach’ working the lengthy service 28 back to Mansfield.

 

FT13 ODL

An Optare Solo SR of Stagecoach. One of a number of the same wearing a livery which suggests that they ‘Love Newark’ and why not ? It’s a very pleasant place !!

 

FX07 LJA

 

An earlier Optare Solo wearing the same livery.

 

FX07 LJC

Whilst Another Optare Solo from the same batch is devoid of any branding whatsoever.

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ Out and About 20 October 2015

It was one of those bright Autumn days when the sun invariably either dazzles or casts deep shadows so I thought it ideal for a quick trip out with my camera.

 

Starting as usual in Derby, I next went to the East Midlands Airport’s small 4 bay bus station before finishing up in Loughborough.

 

YN53 CFK

A Scania N94UD with East Lancs bodywork. One of a batch bought by ‘Wellglade’ group member Notts & Derby from Nottingham City Transport where it was No. 724.

 

YX65 ZHK

A Volvo B11R with Plaxton Elite bodywork.

 

It has been some years since Plaxton bodied Volvo’s were introduced onto ‘red arrow’ work by ‘trentbarton’ so its nice to see the combination re entering the fleet.

 

Scheduled for introduction to full service this coming Sunday it was doing wheelchair training amongst other things today.

 

 

YRC 182

The last time that the Volvo/Plaxton (B10M/Interurban) combination joined the fleet is represented here and yes it was still working up and down the A52 today nearly 20 years later. 

 

I hope that the Elites last as long.

 

FN04 BTE

 

A Scania Irizar Century dating from 2004 still looks well and it will be interesting to see what its future holds.

 

L127 LRA

A Volvo B10B with Northern Counties Paladin bodywork of ‘Notts & Derby’.

Two weeks after the ‘Farewell’ running day ‘127’ was still earning its keep.

 

NH15 SDH

 

A Mercedes-Benz Tourismo of ‘National Holidays’ (NH). 

 

For some years ‘NH’ who are part of the ‘Shearings’ group have regularly bought Setra’s but with the non availability these days of that marque have switched to another German made product.

 

BX64 WJA

‘Wellglade’ group member ‘Kinchbus’ of Loughborough last year took delivery of a batch of Mercedes-Benz Citaro’s for the ‘skylink’ service linking Derby with Loughborough via The East Midlands Airport.

 

BN09 FWW

 

‘Wellglade’ (WG) group member ‘trentbarton’ took delivery of a batch of 6 Mercedes-Benz Citaro’s  in 2009 for the

‘Calverton Connection’ service operating in Nottingham.

 

They have recently been withdrawn and transferred to fellow ‘WG’ group member ‘Kinchbus’.

 

Here ‘FWW’ is working on the ‘skylink’ service deputising for a route branded vehicle.

 

FN04 HSE

A Scania L94UB with Wright Solar Urban bodywork of ‘trentbarton’ working the ‘skylink’ service from Nottingham to the East Midlands Airport deputising for what would normally be a route branded vehicle.

 

This ‘TEAM TRENTBARTON’ branding is an addition that I have not previously seen.

 

SW10 VNS

A Volvo B12R with Plaxton Elite bodywork working for Nottingham based ‘Skills Coaches’ on a ‘National Express’ (NE) service 240 to Bradford.

 

Acquired from ‘Parks of Hamilton’ and still carrying its ‘Citylink gold’ livery.

 

This coach was one of a number that have been purchased to enable ‘Skills to work ‘NE’ services previously operated by ‘Yourbus’ of Heanor.

 

X14 PSW

A Volvo B7TL with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork in the always immaculate 

‘Paul S. Winson’ fleet of Loughborough.

 

‘Scene’ in Mansfield Bus Station

It is two and a half years since Mansfield’s new bus station opened and whilst it is not that far from the old one in distance, it is miles away in terms of style and comfort. Built at an alleged cost of 9 million pounds, in my view it was money well spent.

 

It is also a genuine ‘Transport Interchange’ being linked to the railway station by an enclosed elevated walkway.

 

 

 

Since the images for this blog were taken, ‘Stagecoach’ group have started to remove ‘branding’ from buses. 

 

Whilst it simplifies the swapping of buses from fleet to fleet it also makes them less colourful and arguably less interesting.

 

T438 JJF

 

A Volvo Olympian with Alexander bodywork. New in 1999 to ‘Dublin Bus’ registered 99-D-524. 

 

Operated by ’Skills Coaches’ who apart from a large coaching operation also do a lot of contract bus work.

 

Unusually it retains its second door from its Dublin days.

 

FJ55 DZK

A Volvo B12B with Plaxton Panther bodywork. 

 

Working for ‘Silverdale Tours’ a long established Nottingham operator who have recently joined the ‘Skills’ group.

Although unbranded, it has spent some time on ‘National Express’ work.

 

YM52 UOW

A Dennis Trident with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork. Working for ‘Stagecoach East Midlands’ (SEM).

 

Still wearing branding for the ‘Mansfield Move’ which was used in the run up to the opening of the new bus station.

 

PX53 DJY

A Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork working for ‘SEM’. 

 

New to ‘Stagecoach Cumberland’ in 2004.

 

FX12 BSU

An Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) E20D Enviro 200 working for ‘SEM’

 

Wearing branding for route No. 1 the ‘Mansfield Miller’.

 

FJ55 AAF

 

A Scania L94UB with Wright Solar bodywork working for ‘trentbarton’ (tb). 

 

Seen deputising on the ‘pronto’ service from Chesterfield to Nottingham for what is normally a route branded vehicle.

 

W261 EWU

An Optare Solo working for TM Travel. It was new to ‘HAD Coaches’ of Shotts in Scotland.

 

YJ12 PJY

 

An Optare Versa of ‘tb’. 

 

One of 18 buses branded for ‘the threes’ which are a series of routes linking Mansfield with Nottingham.

 

YJ07 VSE

An Optare Tempo of ‘tb’.

 

Carrying branding for the ‘black cat’ route that links Mansfield with Derby.

 

Since this image was taken, the ‘Black cat’ Tempo’s have been withdrawn and are expected to re appear on another route.

 

SL64 HSX

 

An ‘ADL’ Enviro 300 looking pretty in pink.

 

Working on the ‘pronto’ service from Chesterfield to Nottingham which is jointly operated with ‘tb’.

 

FJ09 MVR

 

An Optare Solo of ‘tb’ on the lengthy route to Derby.

 

SN63 YPW

 

Another ‘ADL’ Enviro 300 in fleet livery.