• Alexander Dennis have relaunched the Dart as the Alexander Dennis Enviro200Dart!  Unlike the original Enviro200, which had a completely flat floor with an offside engine compartment, the Enviro200Dart retains the classic Dennis Dart layout (though now with Euro4 engines and disk brakes), and with a new Enviro200Dart body!

• An example of a brand new Enviro200Dart, and the sole diesel Enviro200 built were at Showbus International last weekend, Andy Rigby kindly obtained a nice range of photos of each vehicle!  From this excellent from view showing each side by side [photo:Andy Rigby] it can be seen that the Enviro200Dart body has a different from to the original Enviro200, the present front on the Enviro200 is much like the Enviro400 front such as on Stagecoach Manchester 19047 MX56 FRP [photo] - The Enviro300 is also expected to have its front changed to match this to give them a family resemblance, much like the Alexander ALX range did, which structurally is what the whole Enviro range is based on.  Answers on a postcard as to which Enviro200 front you prefer, I like each, though the Enviro200Dart is more Alexander like - In my personal view the best front end on a Dennis Dart was the final ALX200 version, built from around 2000 onwards.  The rear [photo:Andy Rigby] of the buses is quite different though, as the Enviro200 has its offset engine and rear doors, whilst the Enviro200Dart has the standard Dart rear layout.

• Looking at the Enviro200Dart on its own [photo:Andy Rigby] much of the ALX design can be seen, giving a much neater roofline than the Pointer has.  The filler under the cab window, as far as I aware, is the AdBlue filler.  Cummins Euro4 engines require the AdBlue additive to keep within the allowed emissions levels.  The reason for the first window being higher up on the offside is due to the way the wheelarch seats fit in, so as rubbish and whatever cannot get stuck down the seat backs.  When fitted with bonded glazing (as the original Enviro200 is), although the seats are the same, the glass fits over this area anyway, giving a neater look.  The interior which [photo:Andy Rigby] is largely based on the Pointer interior, it even appears that the exact same windows are used.  The revised chassis does tidy up the floor slightly, as the step mid way down the bus now goes right across the bus, resulting in a more even seat layout.   The ceiling seems to be new, while the cab and wheelarch seats are based on those on the rest of the ALX/Enviro range.   The Enviro200 interior [photo:Andy Rigby] is quite similar really, apart from the different layout due to the rear doors and offset engine, most of the parts seem to be the same.  The cab on the Enviro200Dart [photo:Andy Rigby] much like the rest of the Enviro range, is now fully adjustable and more modern looking that the previous Dart cab.

• The new chassis is available in the same five lengths as the previous Dart SLF, those being 8.8M, 9.3M, 10.2M, 10.7M & 11.3M.  All variants, except the 11.3M model, are now available with either the 4 cylinder Cummins ISBe Euro4 engine, or the 6 cylinder Cummins ISBe engine.  Likewise, all variants, again except the 11.3M model, are available with the standard Allison 2100 gearbox, or the Voith DV500 gearbox.  Those Darts fitted with the 6 cylinder engine result in an extended rear overhang of 242mm, thus the 6 cylinder engine fitted lengths, according to Alexander Dennis are, 9.1M, 9.5M, 10.4M & 10.9M.  The 11.3M model is only available with the Voith box and 6 cylinder engine, much like the existing SPD, simply due to its length - It seems the older Allison World Series gearbox that was available for the SPD/11.3M Dart is now dropped.

• The chassis will still remain available to other manufacturers to build on, at present those being the East Lancs Esteem, Caetano Nimbus & MCV Evolution.  As far as I am aware, the chassis, when not with an an Enviro body, will be called the Dennis Enviro200Dart, the Alexander being dropped on buses not bodied at Falkirk.  I'm not yet sure about the details regarding the narrow Darts chassis, but I guess they will be much the same as before, with Caetano and East Lancs bodying these, Alexander may well also build an Enviro body, who knows!  Interestingly the Pointer is still in build, and has even been modified (albeit only slightly) to accommodate the Euro4 engine!  Will the Plaxton Pointer 2 make it to ten years, which would be August 2007 I believe?

• Arriva's new deliveries continue, with two new Tempo X1260 delivered recently, the registration of the two are now confirmed as 2868 YJ06 YRZ & 2869 YJ06 YRO, details of their rather lavish layout are in the previous news update!  Other new deliveries, which are believed to be due to enter service next week are of 12 VDL SB120CS/Plaxton Centro for Winsford depot, these are B39F much like the Wright Cadet bodied versions and look quite smart in Arriva livery.  Registrations details are believed to be as follows, 2608 CX56 CDY, 2609 CX56 CDZ, 2610 CX56 CEA, 2611 CX56 CEF, 2612 CX56 CEJ, 2613 CX56 CEK, 2614 CX56 CEN, 2615 CX56 CEO, 2616 CX56 CEU, 2617 CX56 CEV, 2618 CX56 CEY & 2619 CX56 CFA.

• Arriva Speke depot continue to get even more low floor double deckers, having already had 30 new Volvo B7TL/Alexander Dennis ALX400 & 7 DAF DB250RS/Alexander ALX400 from London, the three Dennis Trident/Plaxton President from Bolton depot, new to Blue Bus, are now moving to Speke, with 4000 Y46 ABA & 4002 Y48 ABA already in service, whilst 4001 Y47 ABA is due soon!  Bolton depot is very nearly without double deck buses altogether too, as all its Volvo Olympian/ELC Pyoneer have been transferred to Southport, except the newest 3361 V41 DJA (which incidentally is the only V reg Olympian built, apparently), but that too is expected to move so Southport shortly.  They are have replaced the Volvo B10M Citybuses at Southport (all those within Arriva NW&W are now withdrawn), and so are working a large mix of different Southport services, such as the 43 on which Olympian 3365 S45 SNB [photo:Mark Haldon] was seen recently.

• Arriva seem to be reducing the amount of Le bus branding being used for now, with most of the Le bus 14 vehicles losing their branding, whilst some Le bus 1 have also done.  They are beginning to repaint the DAF SB220GS/Alexander ALX300 again, and those such as 2415 V415 ENC [photo:Mark Haldon] that were branded are not regaining branding on repaint.  Interestingly, 2414 V414 ENC at Birkenhead has also had a repaint and lost its overall Police livery, this was apparently as a lot of panels on the bodywork replaced, the rest of the Police livery buses should be around for a while yet!  Meanwhile the four Darts that have 'replaced' the four Eco Optare Solos on routes S2/S3 (City Centre Circular) have yet to gain their CATCH branding, despite having been in overall white for some months now.  The four painted for this are Dart SLF 9.3Ms 803 S873 SNB [photo:Mark Haldon] (which is the 6000th Dart built!) & 806 S876 SNB and Dart MPD 8.8Ms 811 T63 JBA & 813 T65 JBA.  I do hope when the order the branding they realise that the S reg pair are a tad longer than the T reg ones, even though they have one seat fewer!

• On the subject of Darts on Merseytravel routes, Andy Rigby was recently able to photograph former CNG powered Dart SPDs roof 2294 S251 UVR [photo:Andy Rigby], which shows even though it is a very tidy bus inside, the roof its quite as tidy as a brand new Pointer would be!  Meanwhile Mark Haldon was able to photograph the oldest Dennis Dart in the Arriva NW&W fleet, the sole surviving Dennis Dart/Duple Dartline 1133 G123 RGT [photo:Mark Haldon] which is meant to be at Rhyl depot for driver training, but clearly is running and service - very smart it looks too!

• Arriva have also now withdrawn its very last Leyland Atlantean/Alexander, that being open topper 3980 GKA 449L from Southport depot, which was withdrawn on the Summer Bank Holiday Monday.  Similar 3981 OLV 551M was withdrawn at the end of last year, stored and subsequently acquired by the Merseyside Transport Trust earlier this year.  The fate of 3980 GKA 449L (aka 1449) is as yet unknown, but it will almost certainly also be preserved.

• Stagecoach Merseyside have recently had two buses painted in one off liveries for the Liverpool Biennial 2006 art event.  Those painted in the liveries are shown here at Gillmoss depot, first to be completed was Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown 21118 W467 CRN seen from the front [photo:Karl Sutton] and rear [photo:Karl Sutton], whilst second to be completed was Optare Solo 47157 S22 ABC, again seen from the front [photo:Karl Sutton] and rear [photo:Karl Sutton] as each side is different and nicely unique!  Stagecoach, rather surprisingly, have stored six Dennis Dart MPD 8.8M/Marshall Capitals 33164 T602 JBA - 33169 T607 JBA at Stagecoach North West Preston depot.  They are believed to be getting retrimmed, but their eventual fate (or more so were they may move too) is unknown.

• Stagecoach Merseyside has recently been disposing of the Volvo B10Bs it acquired from the former CMT Buses side of GTL.   So far, all of the Alexander Strider bodied B10Bs have gone to Stagecoach North West, whilst the Wright Endurance have gone to Stagecoach Yorkshire.  Seen operating former Yorkshire Traction routes is former CMT B10B 21008 M647 YLV [photo:Neil Hilton] still in CMT livery, with the faded outline of the 'CMT High Quality Buses' vinyls still clearly visible!  A repainted example is 21009 M648 YLV [photo:Neil Hilton].  Each of these also has a three digit Yorkshire Traction fleetnumber, as their main system still isn't using the five digit Stagecoach numbers.

• Halton Transport have recently just sold another three of its Dennis Dart SLF 10.7M/Marshall Capitals, the latest departures being Darts 2 R713 MEW & 3 R714 MEW were sold to D&G, Stoke on 9th September, whilst 4 S196 FFM was sold to Countryliner, Guildford on 11th September!  Similar 90 R410 XFL and 1 R712 MEW were sold to Rossendale Transport for use as School Buses in June, Dart 1 R712 MEW [photo:Andy Rigby] was seen in its new guise as Rossendale 12 at the recent Heaton Park Trans Lancs Rally event.

• Cumfybus have acquired yet more new Solos, the most recent arrivals being two overall silver M950 (Cummins engined) models, MX06 YXV & MX06 YYA - No fleetnumbers are yet known for this pair, but at least one has had yet another different Edge Hill University College overall advert applied to it.  On the subject of Edge Hill University College Solos, 68 MX06 ABK which is another in an overall silver advert for them, now has an cherished registration to match its advert, and is now EH06 UNY [photo:Mark Haldon].

• Avon Buses are due six new buses this weekend, details still not confirmed as to what they are, but some are expected to be on the Dart SLF chassis!  One is at least expected to be at the Wirral Bus and Tram show, so as long as they arrive, the best way to find further info is to attend the event!  Details will of course be on this website as soon as full details of the deliveries are known!

• The National Express 060 (Liverpool - Manchester/Leeds) service, is now operated almost entirely with Volvo B12B/Caetano Levante coaches, from both companies that operate on the route, Swans Travel and Selwyns Travel.  Seen in Manchester, Selwyns 114 FJ56 PAO [photo], they must contend for possibly the strangely looking modern coaches built!  These coaches are amongst the first recent coaches to be wheelchair accessible, as they have the 'NX Magic Floor' fitted onto the first step, which allows wheelchairs to be lifted to the normal floor height, with a bay on the front nearside for them to travel in.  To allow for the wheelchair bay, without compromising on total capacity, these coaches are 12.6M long, 0.6M longer than the average National Express coach.  The interiors of them are very nice and have the now standard National Express full leather interior with all seats fitted with three point seatbelts.

• Terravision are competing against the Arriva 700 (Manchester City Centre - Liverpool John Lennon Airport) service, by operating its own A40 (Manchester Shudehill Interchange - Liverpool John Lennon Airport) service which is operated using Scania K114EB/Irizar Centurys such as YN04 YJJ [photo].   So far this service doesn't appear to be doing as well as the Arriva service, which apparently is now so busy on certain diagrams that Speke depot are sending a Volvo B7TL/Alexander Dennis ALX400 to duplicate the working by the Manchester based Mercedes Citaros!

• Maghull Coaches have now converted the first of its three Dennis Trident/ELC Lolyne to single door layout, the first converted being V413 KMY [photo:Mark Haldon] looking very neat for a modern single door conversion!  V412 KMY is apparently also in this overall cream livery, but at present is still in dual door format, I'm not sure as to how V414 KMY is at present.

• Peoplesbus are continuing to update its fleet, and have recently purchased two Volvo Olympian/Northern Counties Palatine II from London Central, those being 0803 R374 LGH & 0804 R386 LGH which are to be re-registered R70 BUS & R90 BUS respectively.  Another recent (well, not yet reported anyway!) arrival here is of Optare Solo M920 0104 MX03 YDG, which is believed to be overall white still.  When the Olympians enter service the two remaining Titans are to become back-up buses, with the Olympians running most school bus contracts.  Metrobus 0805 NUI 6145 which was deroofed in an accident at Newton-le-Willows last year, is apparently to be converted to a 'proper' open topper, whilst National 0701 JIL 8216 is to be a company show vehicle.  All other vehicles, including two Titans and three Atlanteans are withdrawn for disposal, the Peoplesbus fleetlist will be updated tomorrow with more detail!

• Napier Point have also bought two Volvo Olympian/Northern Counties Palatine II from London General, those being R375 LGH & R378 LGH which much like those at Peoplesbus have high backed seating and I believe, at least for now, remain dual door.  Meanwhile, Volvo B10M/Alexander G149 TYT has been sold to Ashton, Freckleton

• Finally, remember tomorrow, 01/10/2006 is the annual Wirral Bus & Tram Show event, some surprises may well be in store, including some rather new buses from a certain local operator, but even today, details remain sketchy!  Hope everyone who goes enjoys the event and big thanks to all those involved in the running of the Wirral Bus & Tram Show!

• Slightly later than planned update, but this has been because the Scania OmniLink I was waiting for photos of arrived at Gillmoss depot only this weekend gone, rather than two weeks ago!

• The Scania CL94UB4x2/Scania Omnilink, XMX 884 which is owned by Swebus, arrived at Gillmoss on Friday afternoon, and I believe (although I am not entirely sure) that is runs on BioDiesel, similar to the MPDs that Norbus operated for a short period last year.  Seen at Gillmoss is on Friday by Karl Sutton is XMX 884 [photo:Karl Sutton] and from the rear [photo:Karl Sutton]. Not sure on the three door layout, but I think some counties have much more relaxed rules on standees, in which case that would be ideal!

• One Eco scheme that came to an end at the weekend was the use of the Tecnobus Gulliver 9 seater electric buses in Birkenhead. The final working was apparently 18:36 off Woodside on Sat 02/09/2006, operated by 50009 S253 AFA.  This now means the total number of vehicle in Smart Eco livery is again reduced, with only the St Helens Tecnobus Pantheons and a handful of MPDs at Supertravel remaining!

• During the end of July (I know I'm a bit late on this one!), the Open Golf tournament took place on the Wirral, which required a massive park and ride scheme, for which most of the vehicles were supplied by Stagecoach.  Those noted varied massively in age and character, including several Leyland Titans (even an ex GTL example in Stagecoach livery) and a brand new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 from Stagecoach Manchester.  A run down of the vehicles noted is below, thanks to Mark Haldon and Karl Sutton.

Leyland Titan 10056 WYV 56T [photo:Karl Sutton] - In stripes!
Leyland Titan 10686 OHV 686Y [photo:Karl Sutton]
Leyland Titan 10698 OHV 698Y [photo:Karl Sutton]
Leyland Titan 10699 OHV 699Y [photo:Karl Sutton]
Leyland Titan 11003 A603 THV [photo:Karl Sutton]
Alexander Dennis Enviro400 19005 MX06 XAD [photo:Mark Haldon]

• I have been sent many more Stagecoach photos taken around the summer, so these will all be added into the photo galleries shortly, any received in the last few days will make it onto the next news update!

• Maghull Coaches have now begun to upgrade its fleet, and have bought at least four Mercedes Benz Vario/Plaxton Beaver 2 and four LDV Convoy 400s.  Seen by Mark Haldon is Mercedes Benz Vario KE53 HGX [photo:Mark Haldon] and LDV AE53 KVZ [photo:Mark Haldon], strangely branded as a Beaver 1!  Further investment has seen three ex Metrobus Dennis Trident/ELC Lolyne arrive, one of which is V414 KMY [photo:Andy Rigby].  Full details of the new buses at Maghull are on the fleetlist update!

• More news and photos soon!

• Very much later than planned, thanks for sticking with the site and reading the news!  I've been very busy, which has caused the delay of around 10 weeks between news updates, but big thanks to all those who have continued to send in photos and news items!  PC and Dreamweaver are now working a-okay, so the main restriction on updates is getting time to do them!  Due to the number of photos, this news update will be split over two days, half today and more on either Monday or Tuesday, whenever a photo of the alternate fuel demo bus that is going to Stagecoach next week for 2 days is available!  More details on that as soon as possible!

• As you may have noticed, due to the massive amount of 'spam' messages that were being posted to the guestbook, mainly trying to advertise various explicit websites and the like, I have been forced to put all guestbook posts on moderation, such that I review any post before it goes online.  At the moment, this is averaging one genuine post for every 5 or so spam messages, but please bear with any delay in getting a post online, all bus related post will make it online, usually within 48 hours, often quicker!

• Arriva NW&W since the last update have closed its Huyton depot, with the services being largely split between Green Lane and St Helens depot, with the 192 moving to Speke.  The buses that have moved to Green Lane include most of the step entrance Dennis Darts, all of the ex Liverbus Volvo B10B/Northern Counties Paladin (first time these have moved depots), including the final member of the batch, 6913 M113 YKC [photo:Mark Haldon].  Also seen on the 8 (I think that B10B is meant to be on the 8, not 80!), is a more native Green Lane bus, Dennis Dart SLF 10.7M/Marshall Capital 7629 V629 DVU [photo:Mark Haldon].  Many other reallocations have happened of late, that are not directly related to Huytons closure, including moving many B10Bs into Bolton (from depots such as Speke, which have lost its due to the arrival of new Commanders), withdrawal of DAF SB220/Ikarus Citibus and Dennis Lance/Alexander PS from Bolton, withdrawal of almost all Volvo Citybuses, moving of Boltons Volvo Olympian/ELC Pyoneer to Southport and Boltons Mercedes Benz Vario/Plaxton Beaver 2s to Rhyl.

• Further new VDL SB200/Wright Commander at Speke include 2603 CX06 BKJ [photo:Mark Haldon] and 2606 CX06 BKN [photo:Mark Haldon]. The final member of this batch is 2607, it is expected that 2608+ will be the forthcoming batch of VDL SB120CS/Plaxton Centro for Macclesfield.  Speke are also imminently due 7 DAF DB250RS/Alexander ALX400 from Arriva London which have been converted to single door format. Those expected are as follows:

4025 S265 JUA DAF DB250RS/ALX400 H45/20F - Ex Arriva London DLA 65
4026 S266 JUA DAF DB250RS/ALX400 H45/20F - Ex Arriva London DLA 66
4027 S267 JUA DAF DB250RS/ALX400 H45/20F - Ex Arriva London DLA 67
4028 S268 JUA DAF DB250RS/ALX400 H45/20F - Ex Arriva London DLA 68
4029 S269 JUA DAF DB250RS/ALX400 H45/20F - Ex Arriva London DLA 69 (To have been renumbered 4020)
4030 S270 JUA DAF DB250RS/ALX400 H45/20F - Ex Arriva London DLA 70 (To have been renumbered 4021)
4031 S271 JUA DAF DB250RS/ALX400 H45/20F - Ex Arriva London DLA 71 (To have been renumbered 4022)

• Of note the last three that (which were delivered first) were going to be numbered 4020 - 4022, but plan was changed when more were delivered here.  The new numbers do at least tally with the registrations, but as 4000 - 4002 are Dennis Tridents, its surprising they didn't use the 42xx series for these, with the 41xx series already in use for Volvo B7TLs.  When converted these look really nice (though as with many modern bodywork designs, you can still see where the door was), but they appear to be done to a high standard, with a nice tidy interior conversion.  Seats are kept as original with Lazzerini high backed seats downstairs, steel frame bus seats upstairs, all in Arriva moquette.  LED destination screens replace the original London style destination blinds.  The impending arrival of these at Speke has allowed more of its DAF DB250RS/Northern Counties Palatine II to leave, some of these are now at Manchester and St Helens.

• With the summer holidays on at the moment, Speke depot currently has a slack in its vehicle usage (as the 81 had a reduced frequency in the summer), which is allowing the move of buses out of Speke before replacements arrive.  In the meantime the DAF SB220/ELC Myllenniums which are usually only used on routes 81/81A are being seen on other Speke routes, one day this week I saw four at the same time, with 2462 Y462 KNF and 2463 Y463 KNF on the main 79 and 2454 Y454 KBU and 2474 Y474 KNF [photo:Mark Haldon] on the 79D.  This pair were both on the 79D again today, strange how these two 'beat up' Myllenniums stay together now!  I travelled on 2454 today on the 79, seems quite nice inside, first DAF SB220/ELC Myllennium I've been on that isn't a native Speke one, the most notable piece being its Smart Timechecker that survives, telling us we were on Smart 10000!

• Arriva NW&W have also just received another two Optare Tempos for Aberystwyth depot, one of which is 2868 YJ06 YRZ, again in Traws Cambria livery.  These two are for the longer distance Aberystwyth - Cardiff services, so have a very much upgraded interior, including leather seats and one table each side at the rear, each with two laptop/mobile phone power supply sockets! - Very nice!  This pair are also longer than the others, 12.6M, the X1260 model, rather than the 12M X1200 model like the first lot, the extra window being the half bay ahead of the rear set of openers!

• Halton Transport have sold Darts 90 R410 XFL and 1 R712 MEW in June to Rossendale Transport, Dart 1 being of note as it was completely rebodied the year it was built, after allegedly suffering an electrical fire while at the depot on November 5th 1998, only 4 months old - Despite the date, arson is NOT believed to have played any part, Marshall apparently rebodied the vehicle at their expense.  No replacement vehicles have yet been ordered, as these were sold due to a reduction in Merseytravel Schools work from September, as they were sold before the end of the school term though, Leyland Lynx were again noted on services 14 and 61, including 61 J924 MKC [photo:Mark Haldon] and 64 K852 MTJ [photo:Mark Haldon] both on the 61, but as the 14s and 61s interwork, these would have ended up on the 14 also.

• HTL Huyton Travel have been on a buying spree of late, having received six new MPDs as noted in the a previous update, another one since acquired, probably at the same time but not noted is SN06 BLX [photo:Mark Haldon] which of note unlike any of the other new ones has high backed Lazzerini seats with seatbelts!   The other 06 reg MPDs here have the not so comfy Urban 90 seats!  They have also received two new Optare Solos (in white), MX06 BSZ and MX06 BPV and an older one in fleet livery, V980 XUB [photo:Mark Haldon].  An older Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer with HTL also seen on JobLink services (which should be low floor?) recently is the smart J139 DUV [photo:Mark Haldon].  HTL have apparently now moved down the road from their previous depot and are now residing in what was Liverbus Huyton, Wilson Road, whose railings are still a fetching shade of aquamarine!

• More news on either Monday or Tuesday, including plenty of photos from the Open Championship Park and Ride (including a Stagecoach Alexander Dennis Enviro400), more on Stagecoachs Scania alternate fuel vehicle as well as more plenty of other news and photos from other operators!