Page 26 - MBF Supplement Demo

Hong Kong Trolleybus Co Ltd
A Wrightbus 'New Bus for London' is understood to be on order for local conversion. Four Guy Arab buses were bought from CMB for use on a new contract in the territory providing tree lopping and typhoon clearing-up to the Transport Dept. Based at Aberdeen depot, they are (DE8218/3487/8393/5006) respectively, being numbered in the UK head-office works series as W8218/3487/8393/5006.
Intercity
Countrywide: Service 586 (Edinburgh - Manchester Airport) was re-launched in association with SDT. Suitably acquired and registered is Irizar 7329 (586SWE). A further five Kassbohrer Setra GT coaches have joined the fleet, ex Doncaster dealer, as 7330-4 (NK14CAN/P/R-T) for use in part on 'restored' Countrywide services (see Countrywide report).
Network North Yorkshire
Scarborough division: Some slight service revisions and registrations took place ahead of the formal operational launch on 01/04/17.
The revised network comprises (all start/finish at Scarborough): 1 (Cayton via Wheatcroft); 2 (Evelyn Drive via Falsgrave); 3/3A: (Circular via SeaLife Centre, Alpamare Water Park, Peasholm Park); 4 (Falsgrave); 5 (Barrowcliff); 6 (Eastfield); 7 (Hospital); 8 (Northstead); 9 (Throxenby/Rosette Inn via Yorkshire Coast College); 10 (Cloughton via Yorkshire Coast College); 11 (Ravenscar); 12 (Primrose Valley via Filey); 13 (Filey via Eastfield); 15 (Hutton Buscel); 20-23 (Scarborough P&R services); X22 (Hull) and X28 (Helmsley).
Transmotion Group Ireland Ltd
Belfast: Five open-top Routemasters have been bought (ex ADT) for use on a tour of Belfast city. The five are: RM2731 (SMK731F), RM2459 (JJD459D), RM1982 (ALD982B), RM2691 (SMK691F) and RM1031 (31CLT) which is used as a driver trainer. The tour started at Easter and a second is under consideration for Derry-Londonderry.
Dublin Bay Bus Co: (11-D-10185), Scania Omnidekker (ex Capital & Provincial) is in use on route 190 (Howth - Heuston Station) on a trial basis. Unusually, it is single-door.
Transmotion Group Portugal
Autocarros Eléctricos de Cascais (Cascais Trolleybuses): Located 34km from Lisbon in the resort of Cascais, this company was added to the Group's European portfolio on 01/04/17. The fleet comprises 6 BUT trolleybuses ex Arnhem 1-6 (DL- 84-01/6) and 10 ex Brandstof trolleybuses 10-19 (EU-21-10/19), all single-deck, step-entrance. The system operates mainly as a tourist attraction and there are curently no plans to upgrade the fleet.
A further ex London operator Scania Omnicity CN230UD H61D (YR61RVA) joins the trio of Scania OmniCities here. All four of the double deck vehicles have an all over red livery with dual door specification and are specifically allocated to the revised RED1 route (Newport - Cowes) where they join Enviro 200s operating RED1 services 1A and 1B. The double deck vehicles terminate at Cowes Co-Op, whereas the single deck Enviros continue to the Red Jet 'Pontoon' ferry terminal.
Wright Gemini 2 HEV H69D (HF65BXB), an ex development 'dealer stock' vehicle, is currently withdrawn following disappointing engineering performance on service 'Red1' (Cowes to Newport). Its future with the company remains unclear.
Three ADL MPDs (HW56HYG/K/L) are currently undergoing extensive overhaul and refurbishment at Hants & Dorset Trim, the last of a batch of the type to be so treated. Meanwhile ADL Pointer 2 MPDs (HW56GTU/V and HW56HVH/J) have returned from the refurbishment and are now back in service.
The East Lancs Lolyne Dennis Trident 2 (Y665BDV) transferred to the Vectis General fleet from Southern General, Torbay is being converted to open top by Hants & Dorset Trim. It has been joined by a second East Lancs Lolyne Dennis Trident 2 (Y568LRN, ex Irish operator 01-D-71334) which is also subject to an identical conversion. The pair will not return to the island but will join the 'remote' Portsmouth depot stock for use locally.
Following a review of the School Transport Contract with IOWCC, the schools fleet will replace its current Mercedes Vario 2 minibuses in the next six months. The Varios are to be replaced with DDA compliant Optare Solo M850s (YJ61JFP-T) reallocated from sister company Southern General following withdrawal from the Torbay operation.
The seasonal open top tourist routes return again this year with the popular Needles Viewfinder, recently introduced South Wight Viewfinder and the new, for 2017, cross island 'Island Viewfinder' all commencing from early April and running until mid October.
The New Year started off much the same as the old year ended with further investment in new buses, these being a third Wright Streetdeck Integral dual door as 18 (PL66BLK) and a further Volvo B5TL with Wrights Gemini 3 body as 37 (YM17JMW), plus two Volvo B8RLE on Wrights Eclipse 3 body as 460/1 (YM66ATK, YM17 JMX) and four ADL 9.8 Enviro 200s as 247-50 (YM66BSA-C, YM17JMS). The
Vectis General David Naylor - Isle of Wight
Wardonian Stephen Ward
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