Double Decker Changes

Brand New Enviro400s 5446-54 KX15 DKG/H/J/K, OU15 CJK/L/M/N/P have entered service at Luton depot (5446-49) and Aylesbury depot (5450-54) over the past week or so and they are all mainly allocated to routes 61 and X60 between Aylesbury and Luton.

Due to the arrival of all of the new double deckers during the month of March, there have been may changes to the rest of the double decker fleet. These changes are as follows:

Aylesbury depot

Alexander ALX400 5622 T672 KPU has transferred here from Norwich and sister 5623 T673 KPU has been allocated to the school workings of route 110 (Aylesbury-Worminghall).

Scania OmniDekkas 5600 YN54 AFU and 5601 YN54 AFV have been withdrawn along with East Lancs Myllennium Lowlanders 5611-13 YJ05 PZE, YJ55 WPA, YJ07 JPV.

Optare Olympus' 5932-4 YN08 OBZ, OAM/P are due to transfer here after 'crimson' refurbishment for upgrade to route X60. However, it is likely these buses will be replaced within the next year.

Luton depot

Volvo Olympian 5744 N36 JPP has been withdrawn and Optare Olympus 5931 YN07 LHT has been allocated to route 823 instead.

Optare Olympus' 5932-4 YN08 OBZ, OAM/P are due to transfer to Aylesbury after refurbishment to 'crimson' specification.

East Lancs Myllennium Lowlanders 5614/5 1394 RU, YJ53 VBM have been withdrawn after recently transferred Enviro400s 5414/5 SN58 CGU/V took over there workings on route 99.

Norwich depot

Alexander ALX400 5622 T672 KPU has transferred to Aylesbury from here. Sisters 5620/1 T670/1 KPU are expected to be converted to open-top layout and be transferred to Great Yarmouth as 6903/4.

Plaxton Presidents 5751/2 LK03 CGF/G are now allocated to route 55 from Norwich with sister 5753 LK03 CGV allocated to route 33 until the service changes. Similar 5755/6 LK03 CFX, GJY are withdrawn and sister 5754 LK03 CFV is acting as a spare at Norwich depot.

Great Yarmouth depot

Alexander ALX400s 5620/1 T670/1 KPU are expected to be converted to open-top layout and be transferred here as 6903/4.

In other news...

Aylesbury based Optare Solo 2118 MX09 MJE has been withdrawn after being involved in a fire whilst running out of service on Saturday. No one was hurt during the incident.

Brand New Route X1

On Monday 16th March, brand new route X1 was launched between Aylesbury and Hemel Hempstead and then express to London Victoria. This new service operates every hour to the capital and the coaches used on the route have there own dedicated livery. At the moment, the route is just for trial purposes and the route will be reviewed in six months time. Currently, Levantes 9851-6 FJ06 GGK/V/Y-Z, FJ06 URG are currently allocated to the route with a PVR of 4 coaches.

Fleet Update

Aylesbury depot

ADL Enviro200 2139 SK07 HLV has now retuned to service after its repaint into fleet livery.

 

ADL Enviro400s 5420 AU14 DOA and 5421 AU14 DOD have now entered service at Aylesbury after repaint but 5420 saw brief use in service in Norwich Park & Ride purple.

 

Devises depot

Dennis Dart 2141 MM51 YCB has been withdrawn and is currently replaced by loaned ADL Enviro200 2109 AU63 FLR from Norwich. It has been given 'Wiltshire Buses' fleet names for its stay.

 

Norwich depot

 

As part of a batch of 14 ADL Enviro400s due with the group this month, the first five have arrived at our Norwich depot and will later seen use on our route 33 once the Rainbow Norwich network has been launched. These five are 5441-5 AU15 LGV/X/Y/Z, LHA and are in a blue variant of fleet livery. The date for these to enter service with us is currently unknown.

 

 

More from this batch of Enviro400s are due to arrive with us soon for Luton and Aylesbury depots.



Coaches Update

On Monday, the eight Plaxton Panther 2s will be entering service on 'britcoach' service B6 between Oxford and Portsmouth alongside two 60-plate tri-axle Levantes currently in the fleet. They are in the latest 'britcoach' livery.

These will oust out the 06-plate Levantes on the route which are to be repainted into a new 'x1' livery for a new route into the capital ran from Aylesbury. Repaints for these will begin early next week. Route 'x1' will be using these coaches during a trial period with its frequency of every hour. The trial period will last for six months and then the service will be reviewed and any needed changes will be made.  

New Bus Orders, More 'Crimson' Routes Announced and Fleet Movements

New Bus Orders* and More 'Crimson' Routes Announced

We can now announce the groups bus orders for the first half of 2015 and which routes they are expected to be allocated to. The full list is as follows:

ADL Enviro200s (B29F)
Five for Aylesbury for route 19
Two for Devises for routes 20, 22 and X20

ADL Enviro200s (B38F) 
Six for Southampton for route 15 ('Crimson' specification)
Five for Luton for route 81
Three for Aylesbury for route 321
Two for Thetford (allocation currently unknown)

ADL Enviro400s (H45/31F)
Five for Norwich for Park & Ride services (in service)

ADL Enviro400MMCs (H45/27F)
Five for Norwich for route 33
Four for Luton for routes X61/61
Twelve for Aylesbury for routes X61/61 (five buses) and route 200 ('Crimson' specification)

Wright Eclipse Gemini 2s (H45/28F) (ex-dealer stock)
Four for Great Yarmouth for a new route

Fleet Movements

Norwich based Alexander ALX400 5623 T673 KPU has transferred to Aylesbury depot.

 



Brand new ADL Enviro400s 5436-40 AU15 LGE/H/K/O/P entered service today as planned on Norwich Park & Ride services.

ADL Enviro400s 5414/5 SN58 CGU/V and 5420/1 AU14 DOA/D arrived at Aylesbury today for repaint into fleet livery with 5414 and 5415 then moving onto Luton. 5420 and 5421 will stay at Aylesbury depot.

* Plans are subject to change