Page 24 - MBF Supplement Demo

Withdrawn are: 790 (EY02SPS) Volvo B10TL Super Olympian with an Alexander ALX500 H92F air conditioned body which was assembled in Singapore in 2002, one of a pair of demonstrators that were returned to the UK in 2006 and acquired by Reliance (the sister vehicle remains in use as 791 allocated to the Bus Solutions operation at Gillingham and is used on school and special operations as these vehicles are not DDA compliant); and 860 (X860BEL) an Optare Solo B29F.
Overhauls and repaints have been carried out on: Scania Omnicity 471, which is now in Solent Citylink livery ex Salisbury Park & Ride and has transferred from Amesbury to North Baddesley (Solent Citylink); Scania Omnidekka N94UD/ East Lancs 786, which is now in buses livery ex Solent Citylink and has moved across the yard at North Baddesley from the Solent Citylink contract fleet to the Reliance section of the depot; Volvo B7TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 789, which remains in buses livery; and Optare Solos 864/77/8 (864 remains in buses livery, 877 is the first Solo to receive Solent Citylink livery and moves from Salisbury to the five vehicle fleet on the Solent Citylink licence which are administered from Warminster depot, 878 remains in buses livery).
The two Electric Optare MetroCity MC1060EVs have finally been delivered as OME91/2 (YJ66AFE/F), but are still to enter service. The charging units had long been installed at Windsor Avenue garage.
One second-hand ESS class Enviro200 is due with the renewal of the U9 as ESS64 (registration to be confirmed) thus displacing MPD57 to Roundabout Country.
Six new Euro VI single-deckers are to arrive for the renewal of route U7, following which the MM class of MAN/MCV will be converted to trainers. These are still pending and existing fleet vehicles are still in use at present.
A surprise arrival is another Volvo B9TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 as WV122 (registration will be confirmed once it arrives, as it is away under preparation). The company is looking into the possibility of convertingits four older Volvo/ Wright double-deckers to Vantage Power Hybrids.
TfL routes U7 & U9 have been retained on retender; the U7 with new Euro IV single-deckers and an increase to the PVR to 5 (see above), whilst the U9 continues with the current ESS class Enviro200s.
Devon
Revised high capacity intercity services X1 and X2 are introduced from July 2nd by Southern General to the key route between Exeter and Plymouth, with the X1 replacing the X38 and the X2 Exeter - Torquay/ Paignton replacing the X66.
The X1 (PVR 2) has been allocated the pair of recently acquired MAN N323F A95 (WF17CEC/F) with German manufactured dual door Gemilang bodies. These impressive vehicles feature profiled leather seating, environmental air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and on board video information systems. The X2 (PVR 3) will feature three ex New World First Bus Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 Cummins ISLe Euro6/ ZF 6HP602c H82F (tri axle), re-registered as W8SGO, X8SGO and Y8SGO.
Long Term members of the Southern General fleet, convertible open top Bristol VRTSL3/6LXB/ ECW (FDV830/1/3) have been sold to a Lanark, Scotland based operator. The three were withdrawn three years ago and placed in storage until this recent sale. Sold to a Peterborough based operator is Southern Generals' last remaining Optare Delta (S307KNW) which had been withdrawn and stored for some time at the Totnes premises. Also sold back in late February to a Welsh operator, but not previously reported, are two other Optare Deltas (S306/9KNW) also previously stored at the Totnes premises. The pair were used as trainers having been acquired from
877 (HJ55 NDL) is the first Reliance Optare Solo to carry Solent Citylink livery and is one of the five vehicle that operate on the Solent Citylink operators licence, the rest of the vehicles operating Solent Citylink services are contract vehicles on their owners licences (including Reliance).
Additionally, ADL Enviro 200 916 has lost buses livery for a new Salisbury Park & Ride livery of lime green with a Brunswick green skirt and oak roof to the same style as Reliance buses (this is ahead of revisions to the Salisbury Park & Ride services in May with some services being amalgamated with Salisbury City services as Salisbury Council needs to make savings on the cost of operating the Park & Ride services) and has transferred from North Baddesley (Reliance) to Amesbury.
Two transfers not on overhaul are those of Volvo B7TL/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 795 and Optare Solo 874 both from North Baddesley (Reliance) to Devizes.
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Roundabout Bus & Coach Stuart Turner
Southern General Omnibus Company David Naylor - Devon, W Somerset & Dorset