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

[tbone]

RE: Wellglade (Trent Barton, Kinchbus, TM Travel, Notts and Derby, Midland General)
The 'Trent Barton LIVE' Facebook, twitter and blogger pages have been refreshed to tie in with the new branding

Red Arrow Spare coach 62 and Derby spare Scania/ Solars 667 and 631 may also be fitted with wifi due to their regular use on Derby routes that are due to get it.

[tbone]

RE: Wellglade (Trent Barton, Kinchbus, TM Travel, Notts and Derby, Midland General)
The new Solo EVs have arrived and are due on the road very soon. They are being sponsored by Eon and the buses are in their variation of red, most of livery is the same as current. See BMB15's photo on Flickr here

[Metroline1511]

RE: Wellglade (Trent Barton, Kinchbus, TM Travel, Notts and Derby, Midland General)
It is significant that Nottingham has been named one of the top 3 cities in Englamd not dependent on a car. (The others are London and Brighton). This is a credit to Trent Barton as well as Nottingham City Transport, and the Kangaroo ticket must help.

[tbone]

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

(08/09/2012 21:19)Metroline1511 Wrote:  It is significant that Nottingham has been named one of the top 3 cities in Englamd not dependent on a car. (The others are London and Brighton). This is a credit to Trent Barton as well as Nottingham City Transport, and the Kangaroo ticket must help.

Very true, Nottingham is home to a number of quality bus operators, and the way in which NCT and Trent Barton work together is crucial to this success. It's a shame that other operators put the bus industry into disripute by using poorly presented vehicles and nasty tactics to try to wrestle their way in!

The Optare Solo EVs were officially launched by the Transport minister Norman Baker MP. They are suprisingly numbered in the 900 series as follows:

996: YJ12 GVD
997: YJ12 GVE
998: YJ12 GVF
999: YJ12 GVG

Scania Wrightbus Solar 664 has been repainted from standard Trent Barton red into Rainbow 1 livery (the livery it was delivered in) for an unknown reason!

Former Lothian double decker 33 has been handpainted into the Notts and Derby livery. Also fresh out of the paintshop for Notts and Derby is the second ex. Felix Centro 793, which has appeared in Unibus livery.

This weekend is Trent Barton's 'Big Weekend', which is being put on to raise funds for their charity of the year, the Rainbow's Childrens hospice. A number of events are taking place, there is an exhibit of former Trent and Barton buses at the Barton's PLC premesis in Chilwell and there will be a bus pull tomorrow. Rainbow's branded 724 is there representing the modern day. 5p from every journey made this weekeend will be donated by Trent Barton to the charity.

[tbone]

RE: Wellglade (Trent Barton, Kinchbus, TM Travel, Notts and Derby, Midland General)
The final two i4 Tempo SRs 334 and 335 have gone into service.

Excel 237 has been sold to Heartlands of Tamworth

Former Rainbow 4 Scania/ Wrightbus Solar 676 is one of the first buses in the new livery. It is not yet on the road, but Comercial Director Alex Hornby has tweeted a 'sneak peak', showing the front bumper, where the Wrightbus 'W' has been removed and "The Really Good Bus Company" has been applied in a silver/ reflective colour.

This vehicle is in red, somewhat unexpectedly, given the way branding has been used on the Trent Barton LIVE social network sites, which hinted at black. The vehicle has also been refurbished, presumably with the trent barton seat mottique having been fitted, the style that can be seen on the new buses that have gone into service this year.

As and when 676 is out in service, I'll try to link you a pic

[Metroline1511]

RE: Wellglade (Trent Barton, Kinchbus, TM Travel, Notts and Derby, Midland General)
Yes, it could be interesting to see how forthcoming refurbs pan out, in case Trent Barton decide on a new style or livery to mark the start of a new era without High Peak area services.

[tbone]

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

(22/09/2012 20:57)Metroline1511 Wrote:  Yes, it could be interesting to see how forthcoming refurbs pan out, in case Trent Barton decide on a new style or livery to mark the start of a new era without High Peak area services.

Trent Barton are changing their image, this has began with the buses entering service on i4, Allestree, Ruddington Connection and the Threes, as well as 500 and 727 which have been introduced in a new style mango livery. The new brand extends to the interior fabric used.

Two former Rainbow 4 Scania/ Wrightbus Solars are due to go into service around the same time, 676 and what is believed to be 680. One is branded for Trent Barton LIVE and the other is believed to be branded for the zigzag day ticket. They are wearing a slightly darker shade of red than the current buses.

One is due to go to Derby, whilst the other is due to go to Langley Mill and will replace Optare Excel 260.

The Solos currently being used on the Se7ens, 411 and 423, are due to be withdrawn. Solos 466 and 441 are due to be used in their place, in their current Trent Barton livery, as a temporary measure. It is believed that eventually, three solos will be branded for the sixes, one for the short 6.1 between Wirksworth and Matlock and two to go onto what is currently the se7ens, which will be branded as the sixes.

[tbone]

RE: Wellglade (Trent Barton, Kinchbus, TM Travel, Notts and Derby, Midland General)
Although it is due to be a Derby bus, Scania Wrightbus Solar 676 is now out in service, on loan to the Nottingham depot. It can be seen here, on the indigo service.

It's also been refurbished internally, with the new style seating, as can be seen here.

All photos © Matt Burley

[tbone]

RE: Wellglade (Trent Barton, Kinchbus, TM Travel, Notts and Derby, Midland General)
The second former Rainbow 4 Scania Wrightbus Solar out of the paintshop is 680, which has been repainted into a livery promoting the zigzag day ticket. It is currently at Nottingham. (Photo © Matt Burley)

I had a short trip on 676 on Thursday, and the insides have been refurbished to a high standard. The new seat fabric looks really good and the new internal adverts promote a very strong new brand.

Volvo Wrightbus Eclipse 726 has transfered to Derby. It is there to cover for Eclipses on the Mickleover whilst they go for a refurbishment into the new style livery. They are also likely to be the first buses in the fleet to recieve new init ticket machines, which are believed to allow features such as live bus tracking and also over 60s bus pass readers, meaning tickets won't need to be printed.

Eclipse 727 is also said to be at Derby, although it hasn't yet been out in service.

[Metroline1511]

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

(03/10/2012 15:15)tbone Wrote:  Although it is due to be a Derby bus, Scania Wrightbus Solar 676 is now out in service, on loan to the Nottingham depot. It can be seen here, on the indigo service.

It's also been refurbished internally, with the new style seating, as can be seen here.

All photos © Matt Burley

This new seating does indeed represent a change from the alternate gold/ blue seating introduced in 2003. Maybe I shall have another daytrip to Derby ca 2014 to ride some new and refurb buses.