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It's the Allestree's turn for new buses this Sunday, and one of the new Optare Solo SRs was on show in Derby city centre today. It features a blue colour scheme (that replaces grey which hasn't really aged very well) and as well as the outside being blue, the leather headrests are two shades of blue. Below are two photos, courtesy of Matt Burley:

Exterior

Interior

From the same date, the 'red' route will become the 'green' route. Here's a Spondon Flyer and a Mickleover on the new 'green' routes

Two of the former Rainbow 4 Scania/Wrightbus Solars may be going onto the 21, replacing two Tempos which will go onto the Black Cat, when Trent Barton take over the Midland General short workings (Derby to Ilkeston Hosptial). This is only rumoured at this stage, nothing has been confirmed

Olympian 18, which has spent time at Trent Buses, Kinchbus and more recently Notts and Derby, has transfered to TM Travel, along with 1109, which is still in Notts and Derby livery but with TM Travel names

Also from the Notts and Derby fleet, Pride Park and Ride dart 935 and D1 Park and Ride Excel 202 have been withdrawn and are in storage at Langley Mill. Their respective P&R duties are being carried out by a wide range of other vehicles from the Notts and Derby fleet.

Notts and Derby are currently operating 4 VDL/ Plaxton Centros, two former Felix examples (one in Notts and Derby livery and the other still in Felix livery) and two former TM Travel examples, both still in TM Travel livery with Notts and Derby fleetnames. 3 more former TM centros are expected to join the Notts and Derby fleet

TM Travel Plaxton Premiere 59 has been withdrawn due to corrosion damage.

One more thing, the Rainbow 3 will be rebranded as "The Threes", a sneak preview can, as always, be seen on the Rainbow 3 micro site here

Solo SR 500 is now in service at Derby in the new mango livery, as a spare bus.

Kinchbus' Loughborough depot suffered yesterday in the flooding, head to their facebook page for some pictures of the damage

Optare Solo SR 500. It is also worth noting that this is the only spare bus to be fitted with a part coloured LED blind,is is unknown what will be shown when its not in use on the 4 Derby routes that use colours (Mickleover, Spondon Flyer, Allestree and X38) as this obviously takes up a sizeable amount of the blind.

500's introduction means that there are three different Solo SR liveries on show in Derby, and here are all three together:

The Rainbow Three became 'The Threes' on Sunday (23rd July) with the introduction of 18 brand new Optare Versas (See here). The route structure has been simplified, with three routes, A,B and C (which are now displayed without the '3'. The new network means that there is a ten minute frequency between Nottingham and Hucknall and Sutton and Mansfield.

The changes have had knock on effects to other routes- the 146 has been withdrawn and the Ninety will no longer run between Sutton and Mansfield. The latter will also no longer serve the East Midlands Designer outlet and the branding has been slightly modified to reflect this. This has also reduced the PVR from three to two- 449 is the bus that is to be taken off the route.

Notts and Derby are providing drivers and buses for Park and Ride shuttles for Olympic matches at Old Trafford. Buses are being outstationed at the Dove Holes depot for this. Notts and Derby are also providing drivers for Olympic Park shuttles- a First Gemini double decker was at the Derby depot for familiaristation purposes a few weeks ago.

Former Rainbow 4 Scania/ Wrightbus Solar 672 is now with Kinchbus, still in its Rainbow 4 base coat, but with temporary skylink Derby Leicester names, along with writing informing customers that their usual bus is having a makeover.

Some (or all) of the former Allestree Solos are said to be destined for the 141 route (Sutton to Nottingham).

Dart 896 has been withdrawn due to gearbox problems. This was the last bus remaining in the fleet that Kinchbus bought prior to being bought by Wellglade.

Former Rainbow 4 Scania Wrightbus Solar 673 has joined sister 672 on skylink Derby Leicester to cover for the Centro refurbishments. It carries temporary branding.

Olympians 19 and 20 have joined 18 at TM Travel. A special send off event took place, with the buses being used in service on the D1, 111 and X17 services (they're normally restricted to school work)

A bus in the new Trent Barton livery should be on the road in the next week. The design is being kept very secret, but it is thought that it will be an ex Rainbow 4 Scania that carries it.

Bingham Xprss is the next route to be fitted with wifi, with further routes expected to get it in the future.

(18/08/2012 10:51)tbone Wrote: [ -> ]Olympians 19 and 20 have joined 18 at TM Travel.

Both have gone back to Derby, W418 YAL is now at Halfway.

(27/08/2012 22:06)R977KAR Wrote: [ -> ]

(18/08/2012 10:51)tbone Wrote: [ -> ]Olympians 19 and 20 have joined 18 at TM Travel.

Both have gone back to Derby, W418 YAL is now at Halfway.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bens_transp...212067876/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bens_transp...212067876/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bens_transp...212067876/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bens_transp...212067876/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bens_transp...212067876/

The final two i4 Tempo SRs are said to have finally arrived at Langley Mill and are currently being branded. They are:

334: YJ12 GWP
335: YJ12 GWU

The original plan was for 727 and 726 to transfer to Derby once these go into service, i'm not sure as to whether this is still the case.

The Sixes and the X38 are the next services to gain wifi.

From today, Stagecoach are running all of their journeys on pronto 5 minutes earlier and are adding buses 5 minutes before the Trent Barton journeys, causing a 'bus war' along the route. This is thought to be in retaliation to Trent Barton running extra journeys between Sutton in Ashfield and Mansfield, with the introduction of 'The Threes' in July.