First Leicester.
Arriva Fox County.
* Lowlander 4704 Returned from Hinckley to Wigston having been replaced by 4703 which then moved to southgates on the 20th following damage to 4723.
* Volvo Citybus 4397 was on loan at Thurmaston for a couple of days before moving on again to Derby on the return of 4616 with its new roof !
Arriva Derby.
* Training vehicles 9502 & 9512 have left the fleet and been replaced by Lynx 3102, Volvo citybus 4355 has also been sold.
* Volvo Citybus 4397 is currently here.
First Northampton.
* Gemini's 32627 & 32628 have gone to Leicester with 66301 and 66313 arriving "on-loan" in return.
General.
* West End Travel ---> Plaxton Primo YN57BXM has been on loan here covering for West End's own vehicle.
First Leicester.
Arriva Fox County.
* In use here as a driver trainer is KX04HRE a Caetano Nimbus bodied Dart.
* The X3 service has been hit by major holdups due to Roadworks in the Kibworth area and extra buses are being used on the route with Wigstons Gemini's being favourite for back up duties !
* Lowlander 4704 has been in use at Hinckley recently.
Arriva Derby.
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First Northampton.
* Olympian 31453 is currently de-Licenced.
* Volvo Citybuses 38022 & 38131 have gone for scrap along with 66001 which was the last of the unloved Gas Powered Volvo B10L's.
General.
* Kinch ---> Optare Solo 436 has gone back to Trent.
* Roberts ---> The second East Lancs Cityzen Scania - RBZ494 has been sold to Astons.
* Paul Winson ---> Optare Versa Demonstrator FJ57EHE has seen some use here.
* Confidence ---> VRC611Y which was the last Leyland Leopard in the Fleet has joined other former members of this fleet in Preservation at Nottingham. Olympian JTY371X has been aquired from Dixons for spares.
First Leicester.
Arriva Fox County.
* Darts 2047 & 2050 have gone to Cannock from Thurmaston, Menwhile Minibuses 1156/78/80 have been sold and Sprinters 1001 & 1002 currently reside at Hinckley.
* Scania 4159 had arrived back at Thurmaston by the end of August after being at Cannock.
* As part of the Battle Fleet for the bus war on routes 14 & 22 Ten VDL saloons have arrived, Eight carry Plaxton Centro Bodies (3732-9) and Two (3740/1) Carry Wright Commander Bodies. Wigston operate route 22 with 3736-9 whilst Thurmaston do the 14 with 3732-5/40/1. Although 3735 has been noted on 22's and 3741 on the 84A's !
* Olympian 4616 Has lost it's roof after trying to fit under the Railway Bridge at Syston !
* A trio of Optare Solo's have arrived as 2900-2, two of which can usually be found on the 155 Coalville - East Midlands Airport route, Although 2901 recieved Accident damage shortly after entering service.
Arriva Derby.
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First Northampton.
* Five of the Half dozen gas powered Alexander Ultra saloons have gone to PVS (66002-6).
* Two Volvo Olympians have arrived here from Wyvern in the shape of 31454 N965SOS & (familiar) 34287 - P187TGD in exchange for Volvo Citybuses 38085 & 38097.
General.
* Confidence ---> The first Olympian to be purchased for the fleet No.38 - A511VKG has been scrapped.
* Nigel Jackson ---> Dominator C221WAJ has gone to Kingsley Coaches.
* Fleetline ---> A change around of Metrobuses has seen former West Midlands LOA379X arrive here from DeCourcey whilst POG540Y has been sold to former Fleetline owner Mick Franks for his Markfield Bus Fleet whilst similar A738WVP in Non standard red is being cannibalised.
* Roberts ---> Another batch of Metrobuses to turn up here are POG525Y & B785AOP from Travel West Midlands and a trio that started life in London Buses Harrow Fleet E473/4/7SON. On the minus side East Lancs bodied Scania X399WVO is now with Astons.
* Ausden Clark ---> A start has been made on repainting the Fleet in a silver based livery with pinky/purple flashes the Leicester team coach was one of the first to be done, Most of the Double deck coaches have gained BIG---- registration numbers!
* C & N Travel ---> Dennis Dominator GSB146Y has been scrapped whilst one of the very first fleet members tiger coach WIL3624 has been converted into a mobile home for a family to use on a tour right around the World ! ! ! (click here for details )
* Paul Winson ---> The Plaxton Primo has left the fleet but a replacement has arrived in the shape of Enviro 200 (Dart) No. 107 - XX57PSW.
* Beaverbus ---> In a change to the usual MCW deckers that are popular in Leicestershire A trio of Northern Counties bodied Volvo citybuses have arrived here in the shape of G123NGN, G129PGK & G130PGK which started life in London.
* Centrebus ---> Four East Lancashire Esteem bodied Scania's have arrived for Circle Line duties and are registered YN07LDC/D/E/F they join former demonstrator YN06TGE. On the minus side Darts XIL6081, M210EGF, P158MLE & P160MLE have headed to Centrebus South.
* Veolia ---> This company is to take over the Meynells Gorse Park & Ride from January.
* Thurmaston Bus ---> Metrobus POG566Y has arrived here from Dunn Line.
* Kinchbus ---> Seven new Optare Solo's have arrived in the shape of Nos.1-7 YJ07EFR-EFX, Optare Excel 228 has gone to Anglian, Beccles and 229 has gone to Connectbus, Dereham whilst Mercedes Mini;s 49 & 288 are now with Notts & Derby
* G.H.Watts ---> Another Metrobus here is LOA334X from DeCourcey.
First Leicester.
Arriva Fox County.
* Market Harborough depot closed after business on Sat 28th July with the 44 route going to Woods who used the two Dart's off the 140, the two sprinters previously used are now parked up at Wigston although 1001 had a fling on 46's during early June, the duo did have more than their fair share of breakdowns and it is unlikely that they will find further use here.
* Recent fleet changes have seen Minibus 1172 taken out of servives and stripped for spares, being replaced at Hinckley by 1179 from Cannock. Scania's 3467/9/74 have returned to Southgates along with the Spectra's and the X3 and X4 routes (X4 now being interworked with the X6 that no longer goes to loughborough). Scania's 3489/91/2 are now at Coalville in exchange for 3468/75/78 now at Burton/Swadlincote & Shrewsbury. Hinckley has gained a second Double decker in the shape of 4537 from Thurmaston which will work the 51A (4506 is also expected to appear on this route each evening). Dart 2096 has returned to Cannock along with unique 2214 both ex Hinckley, also at Cannock now are 4159/66.
* General news see's 3466 gaining a LED desti and Safety Advert vehicles 2052 + 3472 now in fleet livery. A daily service to Drayton Manor Park is running during the Holidays as the X58 and Southgates Lowlanders seem to be the norm although 3205 has also put in an appearance.
* Changes to Training buses have seen Lynx 9515 sold and replaced at Wigston by similar 3109 - G40YHJ and 9516 - K108OHF a Volvo B10B with Northern Counties Paladin bodywork that has come from Merseyside.
Arriva Derby.
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First Northampton.
* Another Verde' to arrive from Wyvern is 67252 whilst 67112 has been de-licenced.
* Mercedes minibus 51826 has gone to First manchester.
General.
* Kinchbus ---> Four new Optare Tempos have entered service on routes 11 & 12 Numbered 319-22 - YJ07VST,V,X,Y. Tempo demonstrator YJ55BLX has also been on loan. Seven Optare Solo's are also expected in September, These have bee delivered but some are currently at Work for Trent.
* Roberts ---> A new Optare Solo is MX07BBZ
* General ---> It Looks like a 'Bus War' is going to break out in Leicester during september with First starting a service from Leicester to Oadby (31) and tweaking a couple of other routes to compete against Arriva, Meanwhile Arriva is registering identical routes 14 & 22 (City to Ryder Road & Downing Drive). It remains to be seen where the extra vehicles and crew come from !!!!
First Leicester.
Arriva Fox County.
* A swop round of Darts has seen Coalvilles 2205 move to Hinckley in Exchange for 2239 whilst Thurmaston's 2219 & 2244 are also now at Coalville along with the Nomadic 2105 !
* Volvo 4623 has been repainted and is the first of its type to be fitted with a new Digital Desti.
* DAF 4771 was noted on the X1-3 group of services on the 1st, Thought to be the first of its type to appear on these diagrams, although Lowlanders are now appearing on a regular basis.
* Mercedes minibus 1168 has had a freshen up and gone to a new home at Cannock.
* YX06LJY the Plaxton Primo that was on loan here has found new employment with Central Connect.
Arriva Derby.
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First Northampton.
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General.
* C & N Travel ---> A second Optare bodied Olympian to arrive here is E500LFL, New to Cambus but latterly with Stagecoach West it has a Turbocharged Gargner 6LXCT and was originally fitted with coach seats, though upstairs is now thought to have normal bus seating.
First Leicester.
Arriva Fox County.
* Minibuses 1129, 1144, 1146 & 1176 are all now working for Dunn Line.
* DAF 4741 has been transferred to Southgates from Wigston, replacing 4178 which is thought to be heading for/gone to Cannock.
* The X3-5 group of services have seen a variety of vehicles this month with Lowlanders still popular, 2105 did three days between the 3rd & 5th, 2258 put in a couple of days and even 1178 got in on the act for at least one trip on the 23rd !. Another unusual working saw 2261 on 84's on the 5th.
* DAF 4724 & Volvo 4623 are now back in service after accidents earlier in the year, both have been repainted and have had new electronic destis fitted (all round in the case of 4623), on the subject of Destination equipment . . . . 4637 has been running around with it's fitted upside down, Strewth Mate ! ! ! !
* If anyone wants to purchase an Olympian the former 4513 is for sale at Used Coach Services, Warrington with a £5.000.00 price tag.
Arriva Derby.
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First Northampton.
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General.
* Centrebus ---> A start has been made on giving the vehicles fleet numbers.
* G.H Watts ---> Making a change to all the Metrobuses that seem to be drifting into the county is the Latest arrival here, A114KFX is a Metroliner that started life with Shamrock & Rambler as a double deck coach but is now a large open topper ! Purchased from the Origianl Tour in London it makes quite a contrast to the open top Atlantean.
* Macpherson ---> A new addition here is Optare Solo MX07JPJ which has replaced Mercedes Benz T156AUA on route 23 Ashby - Swad.
First Leicester.
Arriva Fox County.
* An alteration to the 46 route has seen Dart MPD's 2256/7/9 move from Thurmaston to Wigston whilst 2242/49/88 and ex Corby Rail Link 2274/5 have gone to Burton.
* An interesting vehicle working on route 46 during the 13th March was Mercedes Sprinter 1002 !
* Mercedes minibuses 1149 & 1160 have moved to Derby.
* As Market Harborough is now responsible for all workings routes X3, X4, X5 a trio of Scania saloons have been transferred from Southgates in the shape of 3474/89/91. All these routes intermix during the day generally using the two spectras alongside the Scania's plus the odd lowlander also appears when one is "borrowed" from Wigston.
* A couple of vehicles in the wars recently were DAF 4724 which had an argument with a large lorry near the Holiday Inn on the 5th Feb and Volvo 4623 which got a bit too close to First's 32649 on the 3rd March.
Arriva Derby.
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First Northampton.
* Accident damaged Vario 51825 has gone to PVS.
* Volvo B7 saloon 66305 is on loan from Leicester whilst decker 32627 recieves attention to Major accident damage.
General.
* Centrebus ---> A trio of Optare Solo's have recently arrived here in the shape of slimlines FN56BWV, FN56CZS and standard former demonstrator MX06BPO. It is also reported that 4 brand new Scania N230 double deckers with East Lancs Esteem bodies are expected.
* Roberts ---> Another Metrobus here is ROX633Y again ex West Midlands which has replaced similar ex London example KYV716X. Also former Derby Fleetline MTV310W which has been noted at Leicester Airport !
* Alantis ---> A Metrobus reported here is NOA453X bringing double deckers back into the fleet.
* Confidence ---> Leopard No.37 - PTV591X has been sold to Nottingham Heritage group and is expected to be used for spares meanwhile the last Leopard in the fleet No.36 is used by J. Coates Driver Training services from time to time.
* Confidence ---> Tiger coach No.43 - C248CKH has been scrapped following a transmission failure, its replacement is No.68 - L151HUD a Plaxton Premiere bodied Volvo B10M that like many vehicles in the fleet started life with Oxford and cane via Worth's of Enstone.
* Confidence ---> Olympian No.67 - BBW216Y has entered service following refurbishment and conversion to single door.
* Ausden Clark ---> The New Berkhoff Axial bodied Scania Mega-Decker arrived on 12th Jan registered YN56NNM, meanwhile slightly less galmourous Scania decker H211LOM is now re-seated to H45/23F due to its use as the FoxLot promotion bus at Leicester City home games.
* Woods ---> Recent Arrivals here are the first Dennis Darts in the shape of W871VGT & W872VGT short wheelbase examples with Alexander bodywork last operated by Richmond of Epsom, They appear to be for the 140 service. The last Plaxton Paramount coach in the fleet TJI1700 left at the end of 2006.
2006 News Archive