• Following various problems with my old PC, I invested in an entirely new computer earlier this month, this resulting in the gap between updates as I got the new PC sorted!  With all the files and software I require now on this new PC, updates should hopefully become a bit more frequent as they will be easier to do, without the PC overheating every time I try to run Dreamweaver!

• Arriva NW&W having continued to receive its supply of VDL SB200CS/Wright Commander, with vehicles up to 2606 now expected, of which up to 2602 have already arrived.  Surprisingly, of these at least 2601 CX06 BKF & 2602 CX06 BKG were repainted shortly after arrival into AirLink 500 livery (as per the Scania Omnicities), but arrived already with larger luggage racks, resulting in a B40F layout, compared to the usual B44F on the Commanders.  The highest number I have personally seen so far is 2599 CX06 BKD [photo], the Arriva NW&W list does have all the registrations and expected allocations for the Commanders, but the list is due a major update overall, removing all the allocations to Crewe depot and many now withdrawn buses.

• Arriva NW&W also announced a few weeks back that its Huyton depot was due to close in June.  Sadly this is an end to the Liverbus depot after many successful years, with most routes expected to move to Green Lane (the 8/9 (City Centre - Huyton) already has), though the 192 may move to Speke depot.  Vehicles from the depot will move accordingly, this being the first time the Volvo B10B/Northern Counties have ever been allocated to any other depot, having been bought new by Liverbus!

• Arriva NW&W provided the buses for the Liverpool FC homecoming tour last Sunday, following Liverpool FC winning the FA Cup in Cardiff against West Ham United.  The Team Bus was Atlantean 3980 (1449) GKA 449L, but very unusually the Press Bus was Rhyl allocated Bristol VR 3992 YMB 512W [photo:Karl Sutton], masquerading as 'LFC'.  The Atlantean was wearing the registration plate 'ARRIVA', coupled with the photos shown in the Echo of the tour in the rain (during which the team were given a nice selection of blue/white Arriva branded umbrellas), Arriva took every opportunity to promote themselves at the event!

• First Cheshire & Wirral for the last two weeks have been trialling Optare Tempo demonstrator YJ55 BLX from its Chester depot, the vehicle having been used exclusively on the 1 (Chester - Liverpool).  Seen in Liverpool by showing its nearside [photo:Alex Hornby] and its offside, seen in the Wirral [photo:Dave Root] - Thanks to everyone who reported and sent in photos of the Tempo, sadly due to space constraints I can't get all the pics on!

• Stagecoach Merseyside are starting to receive W reg Dennis Dart SLF 9.3M/Plaxton Pointer 2 from Stagecoach London.  So far reported are 34213 W213 DNO, 34214 W214 DNO, 34215 W215 DNO [photo:Andy Rigby] (on arrival) - [photo:Karl Sutton] (after repaint), 34218 W218 DNO [photo:Karl Sutton] & 34219 W219 DNO [photo:Karl Sutton].  Also now at Gillmoss are a number of Volvo B10M/Plaxton Première to operate the new X2/X59 joint Stagecoach Merseyside/Stagecoach North West (Liverpool - Southport - Preston) services.  Those seen by Karl so far are 52172 L582 JSA [photo:Karl Sutton] & 52179 L579 HSG [photo:Karl Sutton] another coach arrival at Gillmoss, though for megabus.com services (as the Liverpool - London megabus.com service is now operated by Stagecoach Merseyside instead of Stagecoach Manchester) is Volvo B10M/Jonckheere 52622 S902 CCD [photo:Karl Sutton], though it is thought that an ex Oxford Tube MAN 24.350/Jonckheere Monaco in megabus.com livery did at least visit Gillmoss, not sure if it is allocated here though!  One temporary allocation at Gillmoss from Manchester was 'confused' magic-megabus Leyland Olympian/Alexander 13632 H778 VHL [photo:Karl Sutton] which was used for the Cup Final weekend to take supports from Liverpool to Cardiff and back again!

• Stagecoach Merseyside are not starting to dispose of its Volvo B10Bs, with the M reg examples steadily moving to Stagecoach Yorkshire (both the Alexander Strider and Wright Endurance models), with the two N reg ones expected to move soon too!  The ex CMT Dennis Dart/Northern Counties that all moved to Gillmoss earlier this year are now all moving back to Aintree, as are the Optare Solos, but the Dart SPDs have moved over to Gillmoss - A start has now been made on repainting these, with one amazingly having been to Kilmarnock for repaint!

• Eazibus have now bought another new Optare Solo, this time an Optare Solo M720 Slimline model, MX06 ACJ [photo:Mark Haldon] seen in Heswall Village!

• Arriva NW&W continue to get yet more VDL SB120CS and VDL SB200CS, with recent deliveries including VDL SB120CS/Wright Cadet 2570 CX06 BGU, 2571 CX06 BGV [photo:Mark Haldon], 2572 CX06 BGY & 2573 CX06 BGZ [photo:Mark Haldon] which are all at Chester, with 'conventional' blue Arriva interiors, rather than the green ones in the recent deliveries to Runcorn.  Nevertheless, the seats in these are the same type (minus the headrests) and are indeed very comfortable!  Last time I reported that Llandudno and Rhyl depots were due some VDL SB200CS/Wright Commander imminently, now whilst these have arrived, they are being allocated to Green Lane and Speke depots, the first of which entered service on Southport Rail Replacement late last month, but are now entering normal service too.  2574 CX06 BHA, 2575 CX06 BHD, 2576 CX06 BHE [photo:Andy Rigby], 2577 CX06 BHF [photo:Andy Rigby], 2578 CX06 BHJ [photo:Andy Rigby] & 2579 CX06 BHK are all believed to be for Green Lane depot, but have yet to enter proper service, the photos taken are whilst they were on Rail Replacement work, interestingly with incorrect white Arriva logos on the fronts!  Those allocated to Speke, and now in service from the depot are 2580 CX06 BHL [photo:Mark Haldon], 2581 CX06 BHN [photo:Mark Haldon], 2582 CX06 BHO, 2583 CX06 BHP [photo:Mark Haldon], 2584 CX06 BHU [photo:Mark Haldon], 2585 CX06 BHV & 2586 CX06 BHW whilst noted today on another Rail Replacement contract in Liverpool (as the Loop Line is closed for six weeks IIRC) were 2587 CX06 BHY, 2589 CX06 BJE & 2591 CX06 BJJ!  Further even to these, another VDL/Wright (believed to be an SB120CS/Cadet) noted at Fleetwood Docks on delivery is 2598 CX06 BKA, whist even with this flood of new buses, Arriva NW&W have apparently ordered 12 VDL SB120CS/Plaxton Centro from delivery this summer, the first SB120CS for Arriva that aren't bodied by Wrights, believed to be for Winsford depot!  As a result of the massive deliveries, Darts 2601 - 2608 are now finally being renumbered as 2101 - 2108, as suggested last year when other Darts from Arriva North East were numbered into the 21xx series.

• Arriva aren't just buying new buses at the moment, as they have been refurbishing the Scania N113/Wright Pathfinders, converting them from B37D to B39F, as seen in this photo of 2048 RDZ 1708 [photo:Mark Haldon], whilst three vehicles that had severe accident damage have all recently been repaired, apparently by S&T Works (a division of ELC), those being DAF SB220/ELC Myllenniums 2454 Y454 KBU & 2474 Y474 KNF, both of which had sustained severe front end damage and are back in service, notable by the way that the area below the windscreen is now cream, not black, whilst another vehicle which sustained severe front end damage (which I'm surprised didn't write the bus off!), was Dennis Dart SLF 10.7M/Marshall Capital 7650 V650 DVU [photo:Mark Haldon] which was amazingly repaired to a high standard, notable from the others as its blinds are the opposite way around, with the front number box on the offside, rather than nearside!

• Whilst many of the Arriva depots get new buses, St Helens depot which is due new buses soon I believe, it improving the destinations on some of its buses by using fixed destination displays to cover the awful old type destination screens, as specified by North Western on some of its buses in the mid nineties.  Seen with a fixed 'stick-on' destination for the 362 is Scania N113/Northern Counties Paladin II 1057 R57 XVM [photo:Mark Haldon], whilst with a destination for the 20 is Scania L113/Wright Axcess Ultralow 2003 N103 YVU [photo:Mark Haldon].  Clearly this has caught on in St Helens, with Ogdens Travel also using a similar set up on at least ex Go North East Dennis Dart 9.8M/Plaxton Pointer M814 HCU [photo:Mark Haldon] which is seen with its destination for the 14, probably as Go Ahead used the same screen as North Western did!  Most of the MetroRiders acquired from Blue Bus have now been withdrawn due to the massive intake of vehicles, allowing cascades of older stock, but one remaining in service from Bolton depot is 95 P310 XCW [photo:Mark Haldon], still looking quite smart in Blue Bus livery, one of only five vehicles reportedly remaining in this livery with Arriva!  Thanks to Mark for all the excellent pics he has provided for this website!

• Cumfybus Solo 66 MX55 WDF as reported in the last update suffered at the hands of vandals/arsonists last month, after a car that was on fire was intentionally pushed into the Cumfybus depot.  The Solo was taken to a dealers shortly after, but whilst its fate is currently unknown, it has been suggested it may end up being an insurance write off due to severe damage to the structural frame at the rear.  Another Solo advertising Edge Hill college at Cumfybus (and currently working the EL1 in lieu of 66 MX55 WDF), is 68 MX06 ABK [photo:Mark Haldon] which is in a general advert livery, rather than the orange livery, used on the two Solos usually employed on the EL1.  Another interesting Cumfybus livery seen recently is on Optare Alero 48 YS02 UCE [photo:Andy Rigby] which is seemingly being used for executive use, now bearing Cumfy Carriage lettering - A bit OTT for an Optare Alero I think!

• Hardings Coaches of Huyton was recently purchased by Selwyns Travel of Runcorn. Although the Hardings depot and name are being retained, Selwyns have already begun to modernise the fleet, with a recent delivery of two MAN 14.220/Caetano Enigma C39F coaches registered FJ06 GGA & FJ06 GGO, of which FJ06 GGA has been dispatched to Hardings Tours, FJ06 GGO staying at Runcorn!  Another new vehicle, allocation unknown is Mercedes Benz Vario O.814/Plaxton Cheetah C29F YN06 OPS.  Thanks to Arthur Hogan for this info!

• Another local operator with a new minicoach is Hiltons Travel, and our very own Andy Rigby reports they have a new Mercedes Benz Medio O.815/Tommoassini C24F PN06 TKA [photo:Andy Rigby], which was delivered to their site in December, but stored pending registration (and a nice local sounding one it had too!) - Thanks to Andy Rigby for his continued updates on Hiltons Travel and photographs!