‘Scene’ in Bath Part 2

 

Bath is one of those cities on the English tourist trail that apart from being a magnet for tourists is the same for buses.

 

‘First’ group and ‘Wessexbus’ are the major players in the City whilst ‘Bath Bus Company’ is also very active. (See blog dated 06/04/2015).

 

In addition of course there are the day and tourist coaches which quite literally are here today and gone today.

 

 

PN09 HMJ

A Volvo B12B with Plaxton Paragon bodywork working for Lancashire based ‘Alfa Travel’.

SO10 CJT

 

A Scania K340EB4 with Irizar Century bodywork. Operated by ‘Turner’s of Bristol to whom it was new.

BU12 CNK

 

Another ‘Turner’s of Bristol coach. This time a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo. Again new to the company.

BU13 ZVD

 

They must have liked the last one because they bought another....!

 

YR13 PPX

 

A Scania K380EB with Finnish built Lahti Eagle bodywork. Working for ‘Omega Travel' a London based tour company.

 

 

 

R555 JVA

A Volvo B10M with Plaxton Premiere bodywork. currently working for Somerset based operator ‘Chivers’ (JVA Sunseeker Tours) of Midsomer Norton.

 

I first saw this coach in Weymouth in 2014 and it appeared in my ‘blog’ of ‘Southwest Coaches’ dated 17/09/2014. I will repeat what I wrote then.

 

It has an interesting history being new to ‘The Londoners’ as R986 MGP in 1996. Moving to ‘Hearn’ of Harrow Weald in 2001 as R1 HRN before finally moving to ‘Chivers’ in 2007 and being given its current registration in 2008.

 

It is surprising to me that whilst being given a new identity in 2008, they didn’t go the whole hog and give it a dateless registration.

 

SK52 URX

A Dennis Trident with Alexander ALX 400 bodywork working for the ‘RATP Bath Bus Company’ on its service to Bristol Airport.

 

It previously worked for ‘RATP London United’ as its VA 301.

 

BX07 KPN

A Volvo B7RLE with Plaxton Centro bodywork in service with ‘Rotala’ group subsidiary ‘Wessex Bus’.

 

44871 & 45407 

 

Bath railway station played host for a short time to two former LMS Stanier ‘Black Five’s when these turned up double heading on a railtour.

 

 

Coaches 'Scene' in the Southwest

A few days holiday based in Weymouth allowed me to have a look at what goes on in that part of the world. The buses of the Southwest will feature in a later ‘blog’.

 

Many coaches in this part of the world are like me and just visiting. We start however with one that ‘lives’ there.

 

JSK 262

A Volvo B10M-62 with Plaxton Paragon bodywork was new to ‘Plymouth citycoach’ as Y314 NYD in 2001 and gained its dateless registration in 2011.

 

‘Plymouth Citybus’ of which ‘citycoach’ is a part has a history dating back a hundred years and for most of them it was owned by Plymouth Corporation. These days however it is part of the ‘Go-Ahead’ group having been purchased by them in 2009.

 

SJ08 WAC

 

A Volvo 9700 of ‘Platinum Express’, a Wolverhampton based operator.

 

At one time it was 08-G-805 operated by ‘Callinan Coaches’ of Claregalway, County Galway in Southern Ireland. At that time it carried a ‘Eurolines’/‘National Express’ joint livery.

 

 

YT13 AMU

A Scania K380EBF with Irizar i6 bodywork of ‘Solus Coaches’. ‘Solus’ are a Tamworth, Staffordshire based operator.

 

With a history going back only as far as 2001, they have come along way in a short time with a current fleet of over 30 vehicles.

 

2011 saw them take over ‘Protours’ of Swadlincote and revert the company back to its original name of ‘Viking Coaches’. A widely known and respected name in the East Midlands with a history dating back almost 90 years.

 

YJ06 LCY

A VDL SB4000 with Van Hool Alizee bodywork. It has been with ‘Mid Wales Travel’ of Penrhyncoch since new in October 2006.

 

NH06 GEH

A Volvo B12M with Plaxton Panther bodywork operated by ‘National Holidays’ who these days are part of the ‘Shearings’ group.

FJ10 DPX

A Volvo B12B with Jonkheere bodywork new to and operated by ‘Brent Thomas Coaches Ltd.’ of Tonypandy in South Wales.

 

HSK 654

A Volvo B9R with Plaxton Elite bodywork operated by ‘Parks of Hamilton’ on ‘National Express’ work.

 

Seen in the rather bleak confines of Bridport bus station the dateless registration has been used before most recently on another Volvo/Plaxton product a B12M/Panther.

 

 

 

 

GIL 8494

 

Another VDL SB4000 with Van Hool Alizee bodywork working for ‘Pencoed Travel’ of Pencoed in South Wales. 

 

Before gaining its dateless registration it was YJ54 CHG and was new to ‘Bradshaw’ of St. Annes on Sea.

 

WA14 EJK

 

A Mercedes Benz Vario with Plaxton Cheetah bodywork working for ‘Sewards Coaches’ of Axminster in Devon.

 

 

R555 JVA

A Volvo B10M with Plaxton Premiere bodywork. currently working for Somerset based operator ‘Chivers’ (JVA Sunseeker Tours) of Midsomer Norton.

 

It has an interesting history being new to ‘The Londoners’ as R986 MGP in 1996. Moving to ‘Hearn’ of Harrow weald in 2001 as R1 HRN before finally moving to ‘Chivers’ in 2007 and being given its current registration in 2008.

 

It is surprising to me that whilst being given a new identity in 2008, they didn’t go the whole hog and give it a dateless registration.

 

HY53 DVO

A Neoplan N316SHD Euroliner of ‘South Coast Travel’ (SCT) seated to carry 70 passengers (presumably children). ‘SCT’ are based in Bournemouth.