Brighton & Hove / Metrobus Discussion

[Park47515]

Seems like they've given up repainting 435/436/437 with the expected arrival of more ADL E400MMC for regency routes

That they very much have. Which makes the lack of "new" livery repaints even more perplexing.

 

[Murray J]

That they very much have. Which makes the lack of "new" livery repaints even more perplexing.

B&H doesn't have a paintshop currently. Combined with the current priority being repainting the ex Regency Coaches and Southdown PSV fleets, this does explain why things are going pretty slowly.

 

[brightonbususe]

Does that mean the current Regency Route Geminis are leaving, or are these going to be repainted into the new livery? Hoping if they refresh the Regency livery they don't muck it up, not been a huge fan of their recent liveries.

 

[MotCO]

B&H doesn't have a paintshop currently. Combined with the current priority being repainting the ex Regency Coaches and Southdown PSV fleets, this does explain why things are going pretty slowly.

Have all of the Southdown buses either left or been repainted now? I haven't seen an original Southdown liveried bus for a little while.

 

[Park47515]

B&H doesn't have a paintshop currently. Combined with the current priority being repainting the ex Regency Coaches and Southdown PSV fleets, this does explain why things are going pretty slowly.

Is there an issue at Newhaven?

 

[ctrh136]

Have all of the Southdown buses either left or been repainted now? I haven't seen an original Southdown liveried bus for a little while.

There are still 4 Scania E400s that need doing. I believe 6986 is at Newhaven. There are 2 Enviro 200s that are also in Southdown livery still in service.

 

[Murray J]

Is there an issue at Newhaven?

No idea, by the sounds of things they don't have a paintshop there, only a body shop to do prep work for paint (which is presumably why 6986 is there).

There are still 4 Scania E400s that need doing. I believe 6986 is at Newhaven. There are 2 Enviro 200s that are also in Southdown livery still in service.

the E200s aren't getting done, they'll be withdrawn soon.

 

[brightonbususe]

B&H fleet list has been updated with details of 40-or-so new Enviro 400 MMC buses due for delivery over the coming months.

16 in the new Brighton & Hove livery.
3 in the Coaster livery
26 in what appears to be a new Regency livery

 

[Park47515]

B&H fleet list has been updated with details of 40-or-so new Enviro 400 MMC buses due for delivery over the coming months.

16 in the new Brighton & Hove livery.
3 in the Coaster livery
26 in what appears to be a new Regency livery

Which fleet list?
The 3 in coaster livery are meant to be for increases in the 12X apparently

 

[brightonbususe]

Which fleet list?
The 3 in coaster livery are meant to be for increases in the 12X apparently

Apologies I forgot the link: https://history.buses.co.uk/history/fleethist/2025buses.htm

 

[Park47515]

Apologies I forgot the link: https://history.buses.co.uk/history/fleethist/2025buses.htm

Ah, they weren't showing in there this afternoon!

I Would assume that the fleet liveried examples would see off the last of the Scania's

 

[ItCouldBeJae]

Does anyone know if 6003 was returned to Metrobus/B&H after being withdrawn from Kent fastway?

 

[stadler]

Does anyone know if 6003 was returned to Metrobus/B&H after being withdrawn from Kent fastway?

It appears to be with Brighton & Hove based at Lewes Road depot currently.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

B&H fleet list has been updated with details of 40-or-so new Enviro 400 MMC buses due for delivery over the coming months.

16 in the new Brighton & Hove livery.
3 in the Coaster livery
26 in what appears to be a new Regency livery

Total is 44 due - 17 in BH5, 3 Coaster, 24 Regency.

They appear to be enough to clear out the remaining Scanias, as well as a good number of the B9TLs - presumably the latter will move to Metrobus to help shift out the OmniCities there (although I'm sure there were more 'deckers in the next batch of 43 hydrogen vehicles - ZEBRA2 funded - too).

I also wonder if 221-223 will survive this influx.

Going on the way B&H usually procure vehicles for specific routes, the 17 in BH5 should be for a route group, but which one? My first thought might be the 49, the last of the core routes that's not had an upgrade in a while (the 1 and 5 groups got the Enviro 400ERs, the 6 and 7 are due electrics, the Coaster group 12/13/14 were upgraded last year, the 25 got the dual-door ex-London B9TLs).

 

[Hophead]

I would expect a couple to go to the 1X, to move 347/8 back to the 1, or other Whitehawk routes. That would leave 15 available, so the 49 is still possible, though single-door buses (if that's the spec) would seem to be a retrograde step. Perhaps the 2 might be a candidate?

An edited additional thought: another cross-city express route is expected this year, which will most likely get some of the new vehicles.

 

[Park47515]

I would expect a couple to go to the 1X, to move 347/8 back to the 1, or other Whitehawk routes. That would leave 15 available, so the 49 is still possible, though single-door buses (if that's the spec) would seem to be a retrograde step. Perhaps the 2 might be a candidate?

An edited additional thought: another cross-city express route is expected this year, which will most likely get some of the new vehicles.

The grape vine did have a suggestion that the 1X was getting a frequency bump, so it may need to keep 347/8 as well as a couple of the new ones

See I had wondered if the 5 electrics for the 5 would in practise end up on the A23 express in the longer term, but the 49 seems a more sensible suggestion - especially as I wouldn't be surprised if the 400ER were replaced in the longer term anyway.

If they are already on the fleet list - which in of its self is a change from normal, do we know if they are already in build?