Wellglade (Trent Barton, Kinchbus, TM Travel, Notts and Derby, Midland General)

[BHA]

RE: Wellglade (Trent Barton, Kinchbus, TM Travel, Notts and Derby, Midland General)

(04/08/2014 20:00)tbone Wrote:  Sorry that there hasn't been any updates for a while, I shall try to summarise what's happened this year!

The Sixes refurbishment was completed towards the end of March. Ten Scania Wrigthbus Solars carry the new Sixes livery with the much improved interior. In addition, Solo 466 has been given the "little sixes" livery. This bus is mainly used on the Matlock-Wirksworth shuttle and has been run by non-branded buses since the bus previously branded for the route burst into flames some time ago.

Also in late March, the Radcliffe Lines and Bingham Xprss routes were replaced with "The Rushcliffe Greens." The routes have been put under one brand so as to give flexibility with the different vehicle sizes. Initially branded for the route were former Xprss Tempos 301-305 and brand new Solo SRs 501-506. Due to changes to Nottinghamshire funded routes over the past few days, a number of routes, including the Trent Barton run 22 have been cut back. TO compensate, additional villages are now being served by the Rushcliffe Greens. Tempo 306 has therefore gone in a complete circle and is branded for the routes that it was branded for when it first arrived! Whilst the other Tempos have not been touched internally, 306 has been fitted with the new moquette and head rests.

The Solo SRs replaced 6 '10 plate standard Solos. Three of these have gone into service on the Amberline, relaunching the route with the new style livery and replacing three older Solos. Of these, ’02 plate 450 is to join the Trent Barton spare fleet, 427 has joined Notts and Derby in their standard livery and 412 is likely to go to TM Travel.

The other three have replaced recently refurbished ‘X’ plate Solos on Hucknall’s Connect. These Solos are to join the spare pool and will act as ‘rolling spares’ to cover for other spare solos whilst they are refurbished to the new standard. 428 was the first to go out, and is in the Trent Barton live livery. It is currently at Sutton.

The Trent Barton live livery promotes the live bus times service introduced last summer (as opposed to other spare vehicles promoting the social media services). It was first carried by former Indigo Volvo Eclipse 723. It is now also carried by Derby Volvo 751, Solos 446 and 428 (in service) and is likely to be followed by 429,430 and 450. Finally, Solar 602 is also in the livery, with a rear advert prompting the Zigzag play and Nottingham Theatre partnership and their upcoming showing of Shrek.

602 was, of course formerly a H1 Solar. The H1 received brand new Optare Versas in January featuring the new style inside and out. They also featured 4G Wifi, next stop announcements and full colour LED destination equipment- a Trent Barton first. As mentioned above, displaced 602 joined the Trent Barton spare fleet, whilst 603 and 604 are now Kinchbus backups, in their new style of livery. The last two, 601 and 631 joined the Nottingham Skylink fleet, as the service increased to every 20 minutes.

Also receiving new Versas (albeit the longer 40 seat version) was the Rainbow One and Rapid One. As well as the features on the H1 Versas, they also feature USB phone charging sockets, and some of the announcements are done by Peter Dickson, the voice of the X Factor. The routes are now differentiated by different coloured circles on the destination blind, Yellow being the Eastwood terminating route for example. The buses they’ve displaced are yet to be cascaded elsewhere, although it is believed that three Solars could be for Zoom.

Other new buses due this year are a fleet of Mercedes Citaro IIs for Skylink Derby Leicester which are due in the next month. In preparation for this, the Calverton Connection Citaros have been renumbered (again!) to 901-906.

Also at Kinchbus, the 11/12 Tempos have been repainted into the new Kinchbus style.

Former Trent Barton Solos that moved over to TM Travel have started to trickle back. 461 was the first which has been joined by 445, 463 and 464. 444 is also at Langley Mill in preparation for its return. Meanwhile, 460 is now with Kinchbus. Older Solos 413 and 414 have gone the other way.

TM Travel also received the first new buses under Wellglade ownership this year, with three Optare Versas for Line 30 in Sheffield. Two Solos have also been branded for route 31 in Rotherham with buses due to also be branded for Route 4, showing a change in direction at TM Travel, no doubt down to the appointment of Phil Stockley of Velvet fame.

The Excel numbers are now very low! 265 is at Derby whilst 257 (now in standard Trent Barton livery), 260 261 and 263 are at Sutton. 264 and 266 work out of Langley Mill and provide duplicates for the Two and i4 and are emergency spares for both depots, replacing Darts used previously in this role.

The Ilkeston Flyer route has reverted to being every 20 minutes, but now extends to Cotmanhay, after Yourbus’ competitive Y3 extended there.

All photos © Matt Burley

Thanks tbone for the comprehensive update. Not been to Derby for a while so will visit when the 38 Sapphire Enviro400s are in service with Arriva. The Trent fleet and its liveries certainly keeps one on ones toes!