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5009/5010 are for D&G Bus at Crewe

I've just seen the picture - they are at D&G at the moment but in Centrebus livery, and apparently destined for Leicester. 5011 and 5012 are for D&G

According to images and comments on facebook, these are the IDs for the new solos and mmcs
3005 YJ25 EFA
3006 YJ25 EFB
5009 YX25 OJG
5010 YX25 OJH

MMCs?! That's a surprise! Guess those might be what's replacing the YX68s for their rumoured transfer to Luton

Noted in Thurmaston depot tonight parked in the alleyway was Solo YJ25EFA and 2007/9, looks like the 2 minibus's haven't seen service yet but I could be wrong.

Looking at their Instagram, YJ25EFB has also arrived today

Also worth noting that a further 4 haven't been out in several days (or at least haven't tracked)

There not DRT they are original routes re numbered

The FoxConnect ones which track as FOX1 and FOX2 are DRT. They don't have a dedicated route page on bustimes but they do track, for example: https://bustimes.org/vehicles/cbnl-202?date=2025-03-21

Surely, minibuses won't track if they're DRT as they don't use ticket machines?

The Melton FoxConnect ones do track, so I'd assume these are supposed to as well

Who did 578 - Grantham ?

578 hasn't been repainted since Centrebus acquired it in 2022. It went straight into the new livery, so I'm not counting it as a repaint in the same way

Makes me wonder if any of the Versas are going to see it into the new livery.

Honestly probably not. Leicester hasn't been repainting vehicles lately with the exception of new vehicles, despite some needing it! I think the last they did was 314?

A few more LC routes have appeared in Centrebus' timetable data (and thus bustimes), apparently starting on 17th March:

• LC5 and 5X replacing 27 and 27X respectively, going between Loughborough and Sileby. The timetable looks to be identical.
• LC10 replacing 58, going between Market Harborough and Lutterworth. A similar service with a couple of additional late afternoon/evening journeys added.

The 44 is also finishing on 15th March. Not sure if anything is replacing this one, possibly that Market Harborough FoxConnect which I think was announced?

As a completely wild guess, I think these 4 might end up with fleet numbers 2101-2104. These ones aren't Iles-bodied are they?

According to the Leicester Buses website, the extra two will be for extra capacity on the 31/31A, which they have plans for to start serving the racecourse.

Which page does it say that on? I'm trying to find it but the site is incredibly illogical in its structure making it rather difficult to navigate.

Interestingly they have opted for the corner windows this time which is nice to see! Not sure why they skimped on those last time round, Streetdecks are far better with them.

Correct: RJ74 EYH and RJ74 EYV.

I did wonder though, if they don't enter service prior to March 1st, whether they could end up as 25-plates.

I don't think so, as they are already registered. That usually happens when a vehicle has been allocated a plate but isn't officially registered with DVLA until after the rollover date.

Noted all white Mercs RJ74EYH/Y in the yard in Leicester today

Presumably these are for FoxConnect, so that all the loaned minibuses from Grantham can be returned

Let's boost customer experience by replacing 2 year old buses by 16 year old sheds which almost certainly won't be repainted due to age and can just trundle around in a pointless defunct livery just like the Sapphire one.

At least they're supposed to just be temporary until the electrics for the 127 and 5/5A arrive (that's what I've heard anyway). Bit silly Arriva couldn't just wait until these arrived before sending off the 72 plates though!!

Also I've noticed that a lot of the vehicles with full-sized rear displays (that show number and destination) have just been showing the route number as of late - I'm assuming this is because someone loaded the same set of blinds on all vehicles, without bothering to attention to the size of displays actually fitted in the vehicles. Y'know, the Arriva way!