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The First Northampton reductions happen this weekend.  One hopes Stagecoach employs any redundant staff, but which vehicles have gone? It must be curtains for the two Dennis Lances and two Volvo Citybuses, plus a handful of ageing Scanias.

sconehead85

I am surprised its still around with the new/used arrivals.  3613-9 alone could see off the last step Scanias.

sconehead85

Number 1 reply!

sconehead85

I mentioned these due buses in the Arriva Derby thread some weeks ago!

sconehead85

The ex Jersey Darts are 43854-75.

sconehead85

Surely First could find five Volvo Olympians as an interim replacement for the G-XREs and 38125?  Whats the point of spending money on a 24-year-old bus which will soon be in breach of the DDA?  By all means preserve one of the G-XREs as the last remnant of PMT, but the rest should be pensioned off.

sconehead85

I will answer my own query by stating that according to the uk buses fleetlists Leyland Olympian 30038 is withdrawn.

sconehead85

According to the uk buses fleetlists 30038 (G762 XRE) , 1989 Leyland Olympian is withdrawn.  I cant say if this is the start of the curtain falling for the other four G-XREs.

sconehead85

Any recent step entry sightings?  2038 has been spotted, but now I am interested in Scanias 34xx, and Wardles three Leyland Olympian tri-axles and four Volvo Olympians.

Thanks in advance.

sconehead85

Would I be correct in saying the ex London PDLs 45-49 are now 2163-2167 ?

sconehead85

I wonder if ex Yorkshire Volvo B10BLEs 3613-9 are here to see off the last step entry Scanias? The latter have got to be gorn by the end of 2014.  BTW all Arrivas B10Bs are now low floor.

sconehead85

I dont know about Potteries, but on busandcoach.com by coincidence there is an article about First Northampton cutting four services, 12 buses and consequently jobs.  Stagecoach are replacing two of the routes.   First Northampton currently has only 32 buses and that would drop to 20.   Im surprised they havent sold the Luton Airport allocation of five buses to TGM.

sconehead85

AFAIK  the Volvo Citybus fleet is down to 38098, 38121/2 at Northampton and 38125 at Newcastle.  These cannot have long to go but First seems to like hanging on to elderly buses.  There are some open toppers 38000-6/15 but obviously these are in Cornwall and I have read some Volvo Olympians without roofs may be replacing these.

There are still five Leyalnd Olympians at Newcastle, PMT's last new buses G753/5/7/8/62 XRE  new in 1989.  Ive got a feeling First will keep these until 2016, despite their age.

Other Leyland Olympians are at Plymouth and one remains in Scotland.

sconehead85

This is not in the West Midlands I know, but is there any news about First's intentions here?

sconehead85

bob- Fair enough. There is another reason those buses are going - they're also 15-16 years old, although in the light of the present fleet I was perplexed by  Arriva Midlands swapping Volvo Olympians for SLF Darts of the same age.

sconehead85