Press release quoted below. Sounds very much like Arriva wanted to retain the
Leighton's buses contract.
They did bid for it, but Centrebus put in a better one.
Related to Arriva: Red Rose will launch a direct service to Leighton Buzzard from Aylesbury in June. That will more than likely kill off the X4 which takes the most stupid route between the two towns. 55 minutes it can take compared to a previous run of 30.
This would be good. I hate using the X4 because it is so unbelievably long-winded. I doubt it will kill off the X4, though, as a lot of school kids use it for the school in Wing, which I can never remember the name of, and Sir Henry Floyd in Aylesbury.
Isn’t there an outstation in Leighton Buzzard?
Yes, there is as far as I'm aware.
I assume the baby MMCs might move elsewhere as a result?
They will be moving elsewhere. There are no plans for them yet, though. I do see them moving to Milton Keynes, as sometimes they sneak onto the 33.
Send the MMCs to Hemel to kill off the ancient E300s (will never happen)
The E300s are slowly but surely going, dropping like flies and replaced by the Merseyside Pulsars.
I have also seen that Luton are getting 30 brand new Evoras for busway operation, with 10 being in the UK at the minute getting painted, and we are also due YJ08 EER/S/V from Telford, bringing practically the whole family of Olympuses to Luton. Still no idea what has happened to EEB though, hasn't been since it was in MK and hasn't been spotted in Luton at all. Wish we could have some E400s added into the mix though.
These Evoras are mirrorless which will be interesting to see, not a fan of the interior though from what I've heard! YJ08 EEV won't be coming to Luton, Telford spent a lot of money getting it fixed and don't want to send it away so soon, which is fair enough! And EEB is now finally tracking in Luton.
