Leicester changes?

[Bruce_LOA400X]

Heard through the grapevine that Leicester 'are in line for some changes'

I'm taking it with a pinch of salt, I'll believe it when I see it, but what I have heard is as follows.

4742-4745 inclusive have been fitted with Wi Fi and are dedicated to the X3 service. South wigston depot is to become all Double Deckers except the Midi Darts required for the 86/87 for clearance issues. 10 Volvo B10BLE's are set to return to Leicester, these were new to Fox County about 12 years ago and were initially used to run the 84/A and 85 routes. 8 are said to be for the 53/A and 2 are to be converted to driver trainers. 4785 is to leave Leicester in exchange for 4023 to match the rest of the 51 reg batch which recently arrived in leicester. these buses are said to be dedicated and branded for routes 47 and 48. The Leicester based Plaxton centros and 7 Wright Commanders will leave the fleet from respective depots and replaced with 6 ALX300's. The numbers of the 300's are unknown at this point. Thurmaston based 2401 P514CVO Dennis Dart/ East lancs Spryte is to become the dedicated St. Mag's bus station spare bus.

Apart from that.... there's nothing else. Again, this is just info which has been given a lot of exposure in the county.

[andy]

Sounds like Bob has got his way and the V--- DBC's are out of Cannock! I would imagine this would in turn create wholesale changes at Cannock and the current mish mash will be tidied up.

[Bruce_LOA400X]

Sounds like Bob has got his way and the V--- DBC's are out of Cannock! I would imagine this would in turn create wholesale changes at Cannock and the current mish mash will be tidied up.

which works in both areas! Brilliant!

I think they are slowly trying their best to standardise certain parts of the fleet anyway. Bit like our centros, only 4 in Leicester or something daft, pointless having four, mainly split between 3 or 4 routes on any given day!

Let's see how it pans out, Might be a turn of good for arriva  :)

[Bob]

id imagine the Centros and Commanders are headed for Cannock then?

[Bob]

there were rumours a while back that Cannock was going to get double deckers for the Stafford services, is this still planned? would be good

[arrivaaston]

Apparently the 57 plates are being allocated somewhere else, and there's gona be a couple of those 51 plate gems for the 74 and the 75 is only going to run cannock to penkridge, can't see it myself, and back to leicester topic, 2401 still going? Its a wonder it hasn't gone yet or been sent to stafford and hope the V-DBC volvos come back to leicester and exchange them for the rest of the commanders and centros :)

[Bob]

wow! as if their planning to curtail the 75!

[arrivaaston]

I can't see it myself though because that can be quite busy running to staford but saying that its mainly afta penkridge and there's the 76 that goes the same way so maybe they could have the 75 as a cannock to penkridge service, would this be ideal? What's peoples thoughts on this?

[Bob]

The 75 used to be just cannock -penkridge before (875) then it was extended. but these days the 76 is a pretty quiet route so it would make sense for the 75 to finish at penkridge, and the 76 can pick up the custom. When are these changes planned?

[arrivaaston]

I'd say it would be january when all the midland take over is in process, it would make sense wouldn't it rather than do 2 seperate changes, do it all in 1 go

[Bruce_LOA400X]

Update for 2401 on those interested.

It was due to attend BAMMOT last weekend but its now sat in Thurmaston Yard out of use, somethings wrong with it, knowing the older darts, its either Electrics or its overheated too much

[Badger]

I thought this might interest you: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Leicester-bus-depot-site-set-student-flats-block/story-17175614-detail/story.html

The old Arriva depot at Southgates is going to be a plaza with the old archway retained, and "an old double-decker bus" in the middle of it turned into a cafe.

[nx4737]

I thought this might interest you: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Leicester-bus-depot-site-set-student-flats-block/story-17175614-detail/story.html

The old Arriva depot at Southgates is going to be a plaza with the old archway retained, and "an old double-decker bus" in the middle of it turned into a cafe.

Well that's a bit of good news...

[Bruce_LOA400X]

that is good news cause that area just near to the old depot looks a bit divey to be honest... could do with the regen there!

2401 is also said to now be no longer a fleet member. However it is still parked up at Thurmaston Depot. Apparently it seems that Arriva have no interest in repairing it, which is a shame as it is (was!) a good vehicle.

[Bob]

Anymore news on the V-DBCs coming back to Leicester? And the 5 stafford branded Vdl's? know whatll be happening to them?