The Reading Buses thread
Dec 30, 2023 14:24:31 GMT
MetrolineGA1511, astock5000, and 2 more like this
Post by wirewiper on Dec 30, 2023 14:24:31 GMT
Vehicle News, December 2023
NEW VEHICLES
The new ADL Enviro400 City for lion 4/X4 were all delivered to Reading for Reading Buses on 22nd December, in base lion livery. They are to numbered in a new sequence 241-248 to avoid running out of 7xx-series numbers should the lion or London Line/Flightline fleets be expanded in future. They are to the same internal specification as 731-735 (two wheelchair spaces) apart from having white rather than green accent lighting.
Also delivered to Reading for Thames Valley Buses on 20th December were three more ADL Enviro400 City in Flightline base colours (738-740), these are to the same interior specification as 736/737 (extra luggage racks). Flightline-liveried ADL Enviros 781/782 (MMCs) and 795 (City) will go away for a retrim in time for the Summer season. A further ADL Enviro400 City in Reading Buses generic livery, to be numbered 741, is still to be delivered.
241 - YX73 PHA lion 4/X4
242 - YX73 PHF "
243 - YX73 PHK "
244 - YX73 PHN "
245 - YX73 PHO "
246 - YX73 PHU "
247 - YX73 PHV "
248 - YX73 PHY "
738 - FL73 LHR Flightline 703
739 - FL73 WND "
740 - FL73 LGO "
741 - RG73 BUS Reading Buses generic
Also new for Thames Valley Buses are four ADL Enviro200 MMC 11.8m (684-687), delivered to Reading on 11th December. These are to a higher specification than has been customary for TVB vehicles, featuring Reading Buses-style wood effect floor,s sky lights, USB charging and wireless seat back charging pods. 684-686 are in two-tone blue for Bracknell routes 171/172 whilst 687 is in TVB generic livery.
684 - YX73 PGZ 171/172
685 - YX73 PHZ "
686 - YX73 OYN "
687 - TV73 BUS generic
Two additional Volvo B8R/Plaxton Leopard coaches for Newbury & District have also been delivered to Reading in plain white, these are 72-seaters for additional school contract work and are numbered 1426/1427. The Irizar i6s coaches are due in January and will be numbered 1428/1429.
1426 - YX73 MVG
1427 - YX73 MVH
1428 - ND73 NBY
1429 - ND73 DST
OTHER VEHICLE NEWS
Following the entry into service of Flightline coaches 1422-1425, ADL Enviro400 MMCs 760-762 transferred from loan at Newbury & District to Reading during December. 760/761 went for repaint into Reading Buses generic livery on 28th December and 762 will follow in due course.
Of the ex-Stagecoach North East gas-powered Scania/Enviro300s, refurbished 438 and 439 have arrived back in Reading in a new Buzz green livery, which has been devised for routes funded by Reading Borough Council and HM Government (through BSIP). Once fitted with Reading Buses systems they will enter service on route 9 which is being extended to Green Park on 2nd January.
436 and 437 are still at Bus & Coach World in Blackburn and will also return to Reading in Buzz livery. Also in Blackburn is 309 which is to be converted into a driver trainer. 310 is at Hants & Dorset Trim for conversion. Also at H&DT being converted is former Reading Buses 411, which has been renumbered 311 and carries the registration RG53 BUS from a withdrawn Optare Solo.
Ex-Stagecoach North East 28032-4 (YR14 CFM/CFN/CFO) were taken out of service in December and are now in Reading Transport Ltd. ownership, numbered 440-442. They are currently being stored at Bus & Coach World.
Demonstrators: 1005 returned to ADL on 22nd November, 1002 on 20th December. An ADL Enviro400 demonstrator with ZF gearbox has not appeared due to production delays at the factory.
ADL Enviro400 214 (lion livery) has been withdrawn after its fire on 21st December.
All information is courtesy of Robert Williams, CEO Reading Buses via Bus Zone Forum (Google Groups)
NEW VEHICLES
The new ADL Enviro400 City for lion 4/X4 were all delivered to Reading for Reading Buses on 22nd December, in base lion livery. They are to numbered in a new sequence 241-248 to avoid running out of 7xx-series numbers should the lion or London Line/Flightline fleets be expanded in future. They are to the same internal specification as 731-735 (two wheelchair spaces) apart from having white rather than green accent lighting.
Also delivered to Reading for Thames Valley Buses on 20th December were three more ADL Enviro400 City in Flightline base colours (738-740), these are to the same interior specification as 736/737 (extra luggage racks). Flightline-liveried ADL Enviros 781/782 (MMCs) and 795 (City) will go away for a retrim in time for the Summer season. A further ADL Enviro400 City in Reading Buses generic livery, to be numbered 741, is still to be delivered.
241 - YX73 PHA lion 4/X4
242 - YX73 PHF "
243 - YX73 PHK "
244 - YX73 PHN "
245 - YX73 PHO "
246 - YX73 PHU "
247 - YX73 PHV "
248 - YX73 PHY "
738 - FL73 LHR Flightline 703
739 - FL73 WND "
740 - FL73 LGO "
741 - RG73 BUS Reading Buses generic
Also new for Thames Valley Buses are four ADL Enviro200 MMC 11.8m (684-687), delivered to Reading on 11th December. These are to a higher specification than has been customary for TVB vehicles, featuring Reading Buses-style wood effect floor,s sky lights, USB charging and wireless seat back charging pods. 684-686 are in two-tone blue for Bracknell routes 171/172 whilst 687 is in TVB generic livery.
684 - YX73 PGZ 171/172
685 - YX73 PHZ "
686 - YX73 OYN "
687 - TV73 BUS generic
Two additional Volvo B8R/Plaxton Leopard coaches for Newbury & District have also been delivered to Reading in plain white, these are 72-seaters for additional school contract work and are numbered 1426/1427. The Irizar i6s coaches are due in January and will be numbered 1428/1429.
1426 - YX73 MVG
1427 - YX73 MVH
1428 - ND73 NBY
1429 - ND73 DST
OTHER VEHICLE NEWS
Following the entry into service of Flightline coaches 1422-1425, ADL Enviro400 MMCs 760-762 transferred from loan at Newbury & District to Reading during December. 760/761 went for repaint into Reading Buses generic livery on 28th December and 762 will follow in due course.
Of the ex-Stagecoach North East gas-powered Scania/Enviro300s, refurbished 438 and 439 have arrived back in Reading in a new Buzz green livery, which has been devised for routes funded by Reading Borough Council and HM Government (through BSIP). Once fitted with Reading Buses systems they will enter service on route 9 which is being extended to Green Park on 2nd January.
436 and 437 are still at Bus & Coach World in Blackburn and will also return to Reading in Buzz livery. Also in Blackburn is 309 which is to be converted into a driver trainer. 310 is at Hants & Dorset Trim for conversion. Also at H&DT being converted is former Reading Buses 411, which has been renumbered 311 and carries the registration RG53 BUS from a withdrawn Optare Solo.
Ex-Stagecoach North East 28032-4 (YR14 CFM/CFN/CFO) were taken out of service in December and are now in Reading Transport Ltd. ownership, numbered 440-442. They are currently being stored at Bus & Coach World.
Demonstrators: 1005 returned to ADL on 22nd November, 1002 on 20th December. An ADL Enviro400 demonstrator with ZF gearbox has not appeared due to production delays at the factory.
ADL Enviro400 214 (lion livery) has been withdrawn after its fire on 21st December.
All information is courtesy of Robert Williams, CEO Reading Buses via Bus Zone Forum (Google Groups)