Wellglade Group

[joieman]

Probably ideal for the Campus shuttle, maybe even the Sprint, but little else....

The Sprint and campus shuttle do get quite busy sometimes, but the width of the roads on the university campus means that running larger buses over the campus all the time would be rather challenging. Perhaps this is why the slimline Solos didn't get replaced sooner.

 

[Trainman40083]

The Sprint and campus shuttle do get quite busy sometimes, but the width of the roads on the university campus means that running larger buses over the campus all the time would be rather challenging. Perhaps this is why the slimline Solos didn't get replaced sooner.

The only time I have ever ridden those slimline Solos was when they were new on the Allestree route in Derby in August 2007. When I went to catch the Sprint it was the recent demonstrator.

704 is now Langley Mills transferred over earlier this week

Maybe Versa 820 has been sent in exchange.

 

[Davidsb3]

The only time I have ever ridden those slimline Solos was when they were new on the Allestree route in Derby in August 2007. When I went to catch the Sprint it was the recent demonstrator.


Maybe Versa 820 has been sent in exchange.

820 is at Derby for a new engine apparently and will head back once complete

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

820 is at Derby for a new engine apparently and will head back once complete

Didn't think 820 had moved to Derby. Langley Mill seem to be struggling a lot at the moment, so not like they'd want to give one of their spares to a depot which seems to be performing better atm.

In other news though, all the red arrow Plaxton Elites were out today for the full day (aside 84 which came off in Derby at about 4pm but was imminently replaced by a standby 74).

 

[Cesarcollie]

Ah well, they broke the first replacement ramp for 73, and had to source another. Maybe coaches 80 to 88 feared being shown up by the two Irizars so started behaving. Ah Solos, there can't be too many major operators still running the classic Solo now. Of course TM Travel have just acquired 10 that were once with Stagecoach London. One was even in A garage at Derby earlier "NRN". That all said, is there a reliable alternative to the kind of work the Solo does? Let us have a picture of a classic Solo; in this case Notts and Derby 468 at rest in Full Street earlier

The alternative could be…… a new Optare Solo

 

[YX73OUB]

820 is at Derby for a new engine apparently and will head back once complete

Are they fitting the engine at Meadow Road? Would've thought it would've gone away to Foxwood.

 

[Trainman40083]

The alternative could be…… a new Optare Solo

You can see why Switch cum Optare restarted production of the Solo....

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

You can see why Switch cum Optare restarted production of the Solo....

Because they bent over backwards because Stagecoach wanted a lot of them.. but I wont stray off topic.

 

[Cesarcollie]

Because they bent over backwards because Stagecoach wanted a lot of them.. but I wont stray off topic.

Yes but they are available to anyone.

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

Yes but they are available to anyone.

Yes I am aware.. just saying that was the main reason they brought back the Solo SRs.. and to make some money as well in the process.

 

[Davidsb3]

Are they fitting the engine at Meadow Road? Would've thought it would've gone away to Foxwood.

That's what I would of thought but from what I was told that's why it's here. But if I remember correctly 828 got its new engine here before heading to TM

 

[Trainman40083]

That's what I would of thought but from what I was told that's why it's here. But if I remember correctly 828 got its new engine here before heading to TM

Probably cos a certain driver blew 828 engine in Derby. Best not say who.

The 11/12 are very busy indeed, whenever I've ventured to the yellow and blue team for a loan spell I've always been very surprised by how busy they actually get.

The Tempos were regularly full on there.

733 was a regular (well semi) performer on there, too https://www.flickr.com/photos/midla...dS1Ro-2oiJHPN-2odPtsg-2naV6Xe-2o8gKaT-2ocnTZ2

As the picture shows. I used to enjoy having 618 on there, too - not to mention when I was asked to stay on one shift and it was agreed that I would if I could have one of the Citaros on the 11/12 late .


Don't forget not all MOTs are done in-house.


This is an interesting point - the plans with the Versas have been subject to many revisions over the last 16 months.

Don't forget 819 remains parked up untouched, too.

I noted that despite Versa 819 being off the road for a while ....lots of months.. it is still taxed to 1 July 2025.

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

314 is currently tracking on mickleover for the first time in a few months. Can this be confirmed that it is definitely out and not a machine issue/swap?

 

[bringiton]

314 is currently tracking on mickleover for the first time in a few months. Can this be confirmed that it is definitely out and not a machine issue/swap?

Certainly out, making some weird noises while accelerating but that's probably from the accident damage

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

Certainly out, making some weird noises while accelerating but that's probably from the accident damage

Surprised they didn't cover the 7-8 with a 10 like they did on 105. Nice to see it back out on the road though!

 

[mesub]

The Sprint and campus shuttle do get quite busy sometimes, but the width of the roads on the university campus means that running larger buses over the campus all the time would be rather challenging. Perhaps this is why the slimline Solos didn't get replaced sooner.

I do hope they get replaced sooner rather than later...

 

[PickleInRail]

Talking new yutong coaches, as this displaces the readarrow plaxtons is there any plans to keep to replace older coaches, and standardize the coach fleet with the B11RT plaxtons from redarrow as you could replace all TM and notts derby coaches which there's 9 of at the moment not including 2 irizar i4s with trent (73, 74) which won't be needed with new coaches, allowing to replace 76, 72, 67, 66, 65, 64, 63, 56, and 55
Edit: plus if trent wanted keep 2 coaches to replace 73, 74 which I don't see happening if they are getting a new dedicated spare yutong you could potentially have notts derby keep the 2 Volvo B11RT Plaxton Elite i as I'm not sure but I'll assume there's alot parts not too dissimilar to the Volvo B11RT Plaxton Elite from redarrow although I know the shapes are different

It's not all about the age of the vehicle, Notts+Derby won't be getting the elites due to them being low capacity compared to many of our other coaches some of which are 70 odd seats. We do a lot of private hires which take 70 people at a time.

 

[Trainman40083]

It's not all about the age of the vehicle, Notts+Derby won't be getting the elites due to them being low capacity compared to many of our other coaches some of which are 70 odd seats. We do a lot of private hires which take 70 people at a time.

And the more people on the coach, the greater the profit

Looks like Kinchbus Optare Versa 832 (YD63 VCZ) might be on the way back from Derby today. Seen it a couple of times going down the Morledge.

 

[Cesarcollie]

And the more people on the coach, the greater the profit

Looks like Kinchbus Optare Versa 832 (YD63 VCZ) might be on the way back from Derby today. Seen it a couple of times going down the Morledge.

well, not with a private hire. If a customer wants to hire a 70 seat coach they’ll go to a company that has one!

 

[m79900]

Is 836 actually under repair, or has it been given up on?

 

[43055]

Mickleover goes back to every 7-8 mins from 2nd March. Calverton also gets more evening journeys.

timetable changes from 2 March

From Sunday 2 March, we're making the following timetable changes.

www.trentbarton.co.uk

timetable changes from 2 March
From Sunday 2 March, we're making the following timetable changes.

the mickleover

Frequency restored to every 7-8 minutes with two additional buses. Some re-timing at morning and evening peaks. Tweaks to improve reliability, including on Sundays.

the calverton

In partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council, we're increasing the evening frequency to hourly Mondays to Thursdays and every 30 minutes Fridays and Saturdays. We've also added an additional early morning journey Monday to Saturday. We've also made some timetable tweaks to improve reliability based on team feedback.

 

[station_road]

Much earlier first bus on The Mickleover on Sundays in the new timetable - a new 07.13 from the hospital into Derby (2 hours earlier than now), which then runs back on the full route as 7.25 from Derby - the first bus at the moment is 8.45

 

[Brightsidio]

I have been thinking about Trent Barton's Comet route lately, and it has given me a possible suggestion for buses going into Chesterfield. What if The Comet ran into Clay Cross Bus Station on the way back from Derby instead of using the full southern path of the A61?

 

[bringiton]

780 has working announcements and has the next stop screen that use to be used.

 

[Teapot42]

I have been thinking about Trent Barton's Comet route lately, and it has given me a possible suggestion for buses going into Chesterfield. What if The Comet ran into Clay Cross Bus Station on the way back from Derby instead of using the full southern path of the A61?

Access to the bus station is pretty poor. Turning right on / off the A61 can be a pain at times as the junctions are give-way, not traffic light controlled.

I'm surprised the link with Bridge Street was broken, as at least that would give access to the Harris Way roundabout, albeit with conflicts with the Tesco traffic.

Clay Cross is one of those places crying out for a bypass but unlikely ever to get one. That said, Derby Road through Birdholme and on to Horns Bridge can cause as much delay as anything else. The Comet bypasses part of that, but not the worst bit.

 

[swinny1990]

780 has working announcements and has the next stop screen that use to be used.

The volvos being fitted now?

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

The volvos being fitted now?

Probably ahead of the legal requirements. Better get it done before they absolutely have to (to the point where it becomes illegal to not have them). May also explain why the B8s are being off the road for long stints.. apparently the electrics have to be partially/completely rewired in order for them to work.

 

[tram21]

780 has working announcements and has the next stop screen that use to be used.

Excellent news they are fitted now.

As an aside, does anyone else think some of trentbarton's announcements are really unclear, mainly due to the voices used? They always appear quiet and hard to hear, even when at a high volume.

 

[MCR247]

Excellent news they are fitted now.

As an aside, does anyone else think some of trentbarton's announcements are really unclear, mainly due to the voices used? They always appear quiet and hard to hear, even when at a high volume.

I think the fact they don’t just use a standard format doesn’t help - it varies between say ‘next stop’ and ‘we are now approaching’ ‘we will shortly be calling at’ etc

 

[Brightsidio]

I have been thinking about Trent Barton's Comet route lately, and it has given me a possible suggestion for buses going into Chesterfield. What if The Comet ran into Clay Cross Bus Station on the way back from Derby instead of using the full southern path of the A61?

Certainly out, making some weird noises while accelerating but that's probably from the accident damage

I am surprised about this change happening, as I thought The Mickleover would still be every 10 minutes.