September 6th 2020 @13:50: Fleet Ramblings

6/9/2020

Stagecoach Oxfordshire
The Oxford & Chiltern Bus Page reports that two Dart SLFs, 34832 and 34882, have arrived at Oxford depot from Stagecoach East. 34832 had been in store at Stagecoach East’s Bedford depot whilst 34882 had been in store at Ely.

Stagecoach Midlands
Two further Dart SLFs at Rugby from Stagecoach East are 34773, which had been in store at Haverhill and 34831 which had been stored at Bedford.

Stagecoach North East
Former Stagecoach Yorkshire Optare Solo 47318 was not for use here and it has been transferred to Stagecoach North Scotland [Highlands].
Two MAN/ALX300s 22018 & 22026 arrived at Walkergate from Stockton last night, & were expected to be accompanied by 27723 re-joining its sisters, but it apparently had a failure en-route. 27723 is understood to have been an exchange for 22070 which has moved down to Stockton.
With the increase in vehicles required in Tyne & Wear for duplication & school contract work, Stagecoach North East is hiring in 15 vehicles from Go North East with, we understand, other operators also being involved involved. Wilkinsons Coaches are assisting with operations in the South Shields Area. Weardale Motor Services also appear to have been hired in as well, not only by Stagecoach North East, but also by Arriva North East. This situation, repeated in other areas of the country is totally unprecedented.
South Shields-based Enviro 200 37304 has now been completed in the new Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery, as has Slatyford-based MAN/Enviro 300 24104.
The last remaining Stagecoach North East overall white liveried E400MMC here in all over white livery, 11300 and based at Walkergate, finally made it to the paint shop earlier this week for application of the Stagecoach ‘Local’ branding.

Stagecoach South West
A surprise arrival here is Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 44023 from Stagecoach North Scotland [Bluebird]. It was moved south to Exeter yesterday and is due to complete its move to Plymouth today.
Dart SLF 34687 is another of the type to be relicensed and transferred from Plymouth to Barnstaple whilst 34689 has transferred to Exeter from Torquay. Also at Exeter are Tridents 18134/36 and 18394/95. Transferring from Exeter to Torquay are Optare Solos 47084, 47100 and 47101.
Volvo B9R training coaches 53603 and 53604 are due to join the main fleet at Exeter for schools contracts.
We also understand that Barnstaple’s Dart SLF 34776 is currently at Exeter although we await confirmation on whether it is a transfer or is there for repaint.

Stagecoach East Midlands
Former Stagecoach Manchester Enviro 400 19181 at Hull has now lost its magicbus livery and is currently operating in all-over white, whilst 19189 is currently in service in Hull in full magicbus livery.
Now repainted here into Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery are Enviro 200s 36059 and Enviro 400MMC 10739. Enviro 400s 19014/61 have transferred from Grimsby to Lincoln.
An update on the remaining Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vykings confirms that 16910 entered service at Scunthorpe on September 3rd, but 16907 is yet to enter service there. We also understand that 16913/15 have not been in service recently and that one of them is currently parked up at Hull.

Stagecoach East
Now back in service and allocated to Bedford are Enviro 200s 37212/14/15. Another Volvo B11R/Plaxton elite returned to service at Bedford is 54318. We understand this just leaves 54312 and 54313 to return to service.
Another departure to Stagecoach London, on loan, is Optare Solo SR 48023 from Bedford.

Stagecoach Yorkshire
Seven ex Lothian (East Coast Buses) - green and cream liveried Wright Gemini Eclipse Volvo B7TLs are on loan here for Supertram replacement work. SN56AEU/V/W/X/Y/Z, SN56AFA were initially delivered to Stagecoach North East’s Slatyford depot being collected from there on 5th September and taken to Holbrook depot.
The Volvo B7TLs on loan replace seven Enviro 400s, 19220/21/22/24/25/26/27, which had been on loan here and are being returned to Stagecoach Manchester.

Stagecoach West
God-spec MAN/Enviro 300s 22745 and 22753 have also now transferred from North Bristol to Gloucester with the latter going straight into the workshop for repanelling and rubbing down in preparation for repaint.

Transport for Greater Manchester
A large number of duplicate school journeys are being operated and details can be found here. The TfGM web page also details the operator.
https://tfgm.com/public-transport/schools/duplicate-school-bus-services

Merseytravel
A large number of duplicate school journeys are being operated and details can be found here. The Merseytravel web page also details the operator.
https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travel-updates/additional-school-bus-services/

Go North East
The company reports that it will have 56 buses on schools duplicate journeys with some of those on hire to Stagecoach North East and others to Arriva North East.

Whippet, Swavesey
Whippet have now repainted a recently acquired Plaxton Centro WS327 (YX59BZF) into the new blue and yellow scheme and it is has also received ‘Whippet Express’ branding.