‘Scene’ in Sutton Coldfield recently 1

I was in Sutton Coldfield (SC) on other business but seeing as it was almost three years since I had been there previously, the camera went with me as well.

 

It was a typically cold late winter’s day with strong sunshine set low in the sky creating all sorts of problems with shadows.

 

Challenging conditions then for photography.

 

‘SC’ seems a pleasant, prosperous town that is served mainly by ‘National Express West Midlands’ (NXWM) and ‘Arriva Midlands North ’(AMN).

 

Other operators include ‘Central Buses’ (CB), ‘Midland Classic’ (MC) who work in from Burton on Trent and ‘West Midlands Special Needs Transport’ (WMSNT). 

 

I was impressed by the new ‘Alexander Dennis Ltd.’ (ADL) Enviro 200 MMC when I saw the prototype at the NEC last October.

 

Today was the first time I saw a production sample in service.

 

What I saw confirmed my initial reaction to it last year. An elegant, well thought out bus that looks very attractive in the new ‘NXWM’ livery.

 

National Express West Midlands 2203 ADL Enviro200 MMC YX15 OYR

 

National Express West Midlands 2229 ADL Enviro200 MMC YX15 OZU

 

Midland Classic 76 Scania L94UB/Wright Solar YN05 GXL

 

This bus carried me to ‘SC’ and had previously worked in the fleet of ‘Reading Transport’.

 

National Express West Midlands 7030 Scania K230UB OmniCity SP10 CWW

 

Again wearing the new livery.

 

 

An earlier version of the ADL Enviro 200 was represented by

WMSNT Alexander Dennis Ltd Enviro 200 T13 GAJ

 

WMSNT Alexander Dennis Ltd Enviro 200 T16 GAJ

 

Both of which previously worked for ‘Leven Valley Bus’ in the North East.

 

Arriva Midlands North Wright Streetlite D/F micro hybrid 3302 FJ64 EVO

 

The first time I have seen ‘Sapphire’ branding on a single decker.

 

Working on the 110 from Tamworth to Birmingham which in my limited experience is usually worked by double deckers.

 

From the new and shiny to,

 

Arriva Midlands North 2152 Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton MPD LJ51 DBU

 

Previously employed by Arriva in London as PDL 54.

 

Central Buses Optare Versa V1100 YJ57 XVW

 

Which previously worked for ‘Transdev Burnley & Pendle’.