Page 29 - MBF Supplement Demo

West London Transport C9835, entered service on March 1st. It carries Superbus style livery for use on service Speedlink 'F'.
Seen at Aldenham works is newly deliverd 'facelifted' Gemiling bodied MAN A95 Hybrid.
PD761/5/93, Dennis Trident/ Duple Metsec TD677/702-4/6/39 and Wrightbus boded Volvo B10BLEs VW684/7.
10th March 2017 was the last day of operation of route 205X by WLT. Additional 'heritage' buses were operated which included all of the types used on this route by WLT over the years. Thus, MCW Metrobuses, Aldenham bodied Volvo Olympians, as well as a Routemaster, RT, Regent V and a VL class three axle Olympian all appeared.
Aldenham Bus Sales
ABS had arranged for ten buses to be hired to Crossways for use at the Cheltenham Festival. Five Dennis Trident/ Plaxton Presidents PD672/866/7/71/2, three tri-axle Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Tridents TD676/82/703, as well as Volvo/ Wrightbus Gemini VG958/9 (fresh from the 205X) were all used. This is the first year that WLT vehicles took part, but hopefully not the last.
Hired to CITS in Ireland are coaches C9720/7 (Neoplan Cityliners), 9729 (Bova Futura), 9731/3 (Neoplan Cityliners) and Plaxton Presidents PD762/3/8. All are being used as extras during the Bus Eireann strike. At the time of writing, this dispute is escalating so further vehicles may well go to Ireland.
ABS has received a demonstrator in the form of a MAN A95 Hybrid with Gemeling H77D bodywork. This vehicle has a revised design of bodywork, so is noticeably different to the vehicles on order for WLT later this year. The demonstrator carries a distinctive silver livery with large MAN Lion logos on the sides and is expected to be used by WLT for training at least in advance of the arrival of the ordered buses. Fleet number MG9825 has been allocated to this bus.
WLT China Motor Bus
Alexander bodied Dennis Trident TA21 has been withdrawn from service, whilst similar Duple Metsec
bodied Dennis Trident TD32 has been de-licensed as a franchised bus from the start of May 2017. This bus is now being used as a driver trainer.
Alexander bodied Olympians OA12/3/5/9/34/37 have all been sold.
The sightseeing fleet at Tuen Mun has Volvo Olympians OA14/8, Leyland Olympians 35 & 40, Dennis Dragon DM33, along with open top Metrobus ML70 and part open top Dennis Jubilant JA5 available for use. The company regards both the Metrobus and Jubilant as preserved, so they do not appear in the WLT fleetlist and their use is occasional.
2017 has seen an influx of second hand buses as well as one new vehicle. 243 (CLI243) is an Alexander Dennis E20D with Alexander Dennis B28F bodywork, a late Euro 5 vehicle ex-dealer stock. The second hand arrivals are 1408/9 (S791RWG, X609NSS), Volvo B10BLE with Wright bodies (B41F and B44F respectively, both ex-First); 2308 (W308JND), an ex-First Manchester Citaro B41F; 2336 (CLI336) another Citaro but B32D; 4640 (T640GXJ), a Dennis Trident 3/ Duple Metsec CH87D, ex-Citybus (Hong Kong); 4664 (S825BWC), a former Stagecoach Dennis Trident with Alexander H69F body; 4916 (LX55FFE), a Volvo B7TL with East Lancs body, previously used by the Metropolitan Police as a recruitment vehicle; and 4935 (LF52ZNN), another B7TL but with Wright H63D body, ex-London General. 2336 came from RATP, Paris 4372 (BX-915-FG); it was fire-damaged and is to be rebuilt to right-hand drive for use at Avonmouth. 4916 will be rebuilt to H71D before it can be used. However, 2308 was swiftly repainted into Cheshirelink colours, while 4935 has entered service at Manchester depot, still in its London General livery.
Volvo B10BLE 1414, which had been in store, has
Western Clipper Group Brian and Sue Rowney
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