Wellglade Group

[43055]

Quite surprising really as you'd think people from Mackworth would use a direct bus to the hospital. At least it is quite well coordinated with the swift, to offer a roughly 30 minute service to and from Radbourne Lane and the new housing estates to Derby. And there are bus stops installed on the route now, something that was lacking when the services first commenced!

Worth also noting that L1, L2 and Royal are now mostly not interworked since the L2 was extended to Derby. There is also a 2 hour gap on L1 in the morning and afternoon, possibly so the bus can be used on a school run.

If it is funded by the hospital I'm sure it will cease once the new multi storey car park opens. They must be losing alot at the moment operating a free car park and 2 free shuttle buses.

The L1 is regularly decker operated now and looking at yesterday's vehicles they do indeed work school services in the morning and afternoon.

 

[Trainman40083]

Agreed, it feels like Meadow Road is just too deeply ingrained in Trentbarton Derby ops to be easily switched.

I suspect DCC have maybe changed their position on flood defences and the regeneration on that side of the river has failed to gain traction.

Without significant resale value in the land, I can’t imagine it makes any financial sense to move operations.

Maybe TB said to the Council "we aren't moving unless you pay us a lot of money, so you'd best change your plans". That all said, work on the flood defence works on that side of the river are about to start. I am sure there is talk of a drainage channel to take flood water away. I'd guess Chequers Road would not impact Notts and Derby so much. Maybe a shame the bus gate near Costco is not two way

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2025 ==

Must've been a very recent change then, the last poster we saw said that it was owned by them still and they were awaiting a 'suitable' use for it, so if things have changed I'm happy to be corrected! Hopefully this is the start of a resolution for the rather snug Meadow Road.

Always thought it was a pity that Heanor Gate wasn't acquired when Yourbus went.

How big is the yard at Littles? I've not been down there for about 20! Years or so.

Littles is a two road maintenance shed. Maybe room at the back for 20 odd buses, then lots of Community Transport minibuses down the side.. Doubt much room for staff parking.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2025 ==

Notts and Derby Solo 468 on V3. 477 on Comet 10.05 ex Derby with Kinchbus Mango 498 on the 09.05

 

[bringiton]

Notts and Derby Solo 468 on V3. 477 on Comet 10.05 ex Derby with Kinchbus Mango 498 on the 09.05

724 seems to be on red arrow too

 

[Np13]

143 has left Langley Mill, presumably for scrap

There is also a grey Yutong coach there

732 has entered service today as a red spare on the Ilkeston network

 

[Jackoram06]

Presumably that will help to create some more room on the site seeing it is basically full already. To me where it says 'three buildings' it makes me think the whole lot is planned to be brought down.

Trentbarton bus depot demolition plans sent to Derby City Council

Planning documents say the buildings are "poorly suited to modern vehicular requirements".

www.bbc.co.uk

The original plans showed everything to be getting demolished however they were revised the next day to the current stance of garage c the back of garage b and a few other bits to make space round the back of the depot. I’ve attached the link to the council planning site re medow road if anyone wanted a read.

Planning Application Documents

 

[Trainman40083]

143 has left Langley Mill, presumably for scrap

There is also a grey Yutong coach there

732 has entered service today as a red spare on the Ilkeston network

The grey Yutong must be the generic spare. Presume in YB25 UM? batxh

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2025 ==

724 seems to be on red arrow too

496 and 497 on Sixes. 499 on V3.... Even 491 is tracking on X38. The bad news was Solo SR 500 came off the Allestree just before I came home.

 

[Np13]

The grey Yutong must be the generic spare. Presume in YB25 UM? batch

Reg is YB25 ULR

 

[SSmith2009]

The grey Yutong must be the generic spare. Presume in YB25 UM? batxh

Could it be there to allow driver familiarisation training to take place so once all the red arrows arrive and are branded they can launch them straight into service in one go?

 

[Trainman40083]

Could it be there to allow driver familiarisation training to take place so once all the red arrows arrive and are branded they can launch them straight into service in one go?

Might the previous white demo coach have not covered that.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jul 2025 ==

Reg is YB25 ULR

Cheers

 

[bringiton]

Might the previous white demo coach have not covered that

Wasn't it only there for a few days? Main use was for flixbus, so given staff might of been off, on annual leave, driving a service, etc...they might not of been able to train everyone in the few days they had it

 

[49er]

It's not really 'new' at all. Been around years as a tendered route, and Kinch did actually run it at one time - not sure if it was tendered or commercial at that stage. Kinch were interested as linking it to their 2 route means the 2 can now run hourly. According to a recent Leicestershire County Council publication the 3 is now commercial service.

As it happens, the nominal start date for 'new' Kinchbus 3 will be exactly 38 years to the day from the first 3 hitting Loughborough's streets - 13 July 1987.
Route L3 to Tynedale Road was one of the first batch of Trippit routes launched by the Loughborough Coach & Bus subsidiary of LeicesterCitybus. No buses previously had penetrated the extensive area of post-war housing lying north of Forest Road. The service ran every 15 minutes daytime on a hail and ride basis. Route very much as today except Holywell Drive and Benscliffe Drive did not feature.
In 1989 LC&B was sold to Midland Fox, who five years later - in February 1994 - sold it on to Kinch. I assume that is when Kinch first came to run the 3, which by October 1997 was running every half-hour, and still hail-and-ride basis outside the town centre. Route by then had changed to include the Holywell Dr section - so, town centre apart, exactly as today.
The Kinch operation (purchased by Wellglade in 1998) continued to run the 3 as a commercial operation until January 2003, and after that, with council subsidy until February 2004.
Not sure who ran the 3 after February 2004, but by January 2013, and until the end of July 2022, Paul Winson ran the service with council support. In August 2022 Centrebus took up the reins, with their operation ceasing in May this year when the route was due for re-tender. To fill the May-July gap Central Connect are currently running the service free, with financial support from the County Council.

Anyone know who ran the service from 2004 to 2013?

 

[joieman]

As it happens, the nominal start date for 'new' Kinchbus 3 will be exactly 38 years to the day from the first 3 hitting Loughborough's streets - 13 July 1987.
Route L3 to Tynedale Road was one of the first batch of Trippit routes launched by the Loughborough Coach & Bus subsidiary of LeicesterCitybus. No buses previously had penetrated the extensive area of post-war housing lying north of Forest Road. The service ran every 15 minutes daytime on a hail and ride basis. Route very much as today except Holywell Drive and Benscliffe Drive did not feature.
In 1989 LC&B was sold to Midland Fox, who five years later - in February 1994 - sold it on to Kinch. I assume that is when Kinch first came to run the 3, which by October 1997 was running every half-hour, and still hail-and-ride basis outside the town centre. Route by then had changed to include the Holywell Dr section - so, town centre apart, exactly as today.
The Kinch operation (purchased by Wellglade in 1998) continued to run the 3 as a commercial operation until January 2003, and after that, with council subsidy until February 2004.
Not sure who ran the 3 after February 2004, but by January 2013, and until the end of July 2022, Paul Winson ran the service with council support. In August 2022 Centrebus took up the reins, with their operation ceasing in May this year when the route was due for re-tender. To fill the May-July gap Central Connect are currently running the service free, with financial support from the County Council.

Anyone know who ran the service from 2004 to 2013?

Centrebus

 

[SSmith2009]

Anyone know who ran the service from 2004 to 2013?

I'm sure it was Woods Coaches then in August 2008 Centrebus acquired their bus services.

 

[Trainman40083]

As it happens, the nominal start date for 'new' Kinchbus 3 will be exactly 38 years to the day from the first 3 hitting Loughborough's streets - 13 July 1987.
Route L3 to Tynedale Road was one of the first batch of Trippit routes launched by the Loughborough Coach & Bus subsidiary of LeicesterCitybus. No buses previously had penetrated the extensive area of post-war housing lying north of Forest Road. The service ran every 15 minutes daytime on a hail and ride basis. Route very much as today except Holywell Drive and Benscliffe Drive did not feature.
In 1989 LC&B was sold to Midland Fox, who five years later - in February 1994 - sold it on to Kinch. I assume that is when Kinch first came to run the 3, which by October 1997 was running every half-hour, and still hail-and-ride basis outside the town centre. Route by then had changed to include the Holywell Dr section - so, town centre apart, exactly as today.
The Kinch operation (purchased by Wellglade in 1998) continued to run the 3 as a commercial operation until January 2003, and after that, with council subsidy until February 2004.
Not sure who ran the 3 after February 2004, but by January 2013, and until the end of July 2022, Paul Winson ran the service with council support. In August 2022 Centrebus took up the reins, with their operation ceasing in May this year when the route was due for re-tender. To fill the May-July gap Central Connect are currently running the service free, with financial support from the County Council.

Anyone know who ran the service from 2004 to 2013?

Your comment brought back memories of those Optare City Pacers, that ended up in Derby...Don't think they liked hills..

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jul 2025 ==

Kinchbus report the forthcoming closure daytime or London Road in Derby for three weeks from 14th July. All buses affected will divert via Harvey Road/Osmaston Road//Ascot Drive

 

[49er]

Centrebus

Thanks for this. Have now managed to locate a registration by Centrebus which matches the 'gap' prefectly. Hadn't realised Centrebus were operating in Loughborough so long ago - or that they had two separate stints operating this tender.

 

[joieman]

Thanks for this. Have now managed to locate a registration by Centrebus which matches the 'gap' prefectly. Hadn't realised Centrebus were operating in Loughborough so long ago - or that they had two separate stints operating this tender.

I'm just old enough to remember!

 

[Trainman40083]

Understand Yutong black spare YB25 ULR has been numbered 910. Just the Red Arrows to go now.

 

[swinny1990]

Looks like tm travel only have one omnidekka in the fleet 1174

 

[Jackoram06]

Has 1405 returned? Seen the machine tracked on a couple of routes yesterday or has it been swapped into a different vehicle.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jul 2025 ==

Looks like tm travel only have one omnidekka in the fleet 1174

Did they manage to sell the two that were on b’ham bus works or is there other plans for them now?

 

[bringiton]

Did they manage to sell the two that were on b’ham bus works or is there other plans for them now?

Ones at N+D, ones at LM and ones reportedly at Littles having repairs so I'd say unlikely given they are all at wellglade depots

 

[Jackoram06]

Given they are slightly newer than some of the ones at ND would it be a likely possibility that’s where they’re destined? Has the ex arriva 400 entered service with tm yet? And were there anymore or just the one?

 

[Brightsidio]

Understand Yutong black spare YB25 ULR has been numbered 910. Just the Red Arrows to go now.

Just saw a picture of a Yutong coach in red and black livery on Facebook! I must admit, this livery is definitely going to attract some customers once the decals are put on!

 

[zkyx02]

Has 1405 returned? Seen the machine tracked on a couple of routes yesterday or has it been swapped into a different vehicle.

1405 only tracked in the garage so assume it was someone testing a machine, haven’t heard an update on it for a while but I believe it to be the first 400 to be converted so likely to take a while. https://transportthing.uk/vehicles/NDTR-wd-1405

Ones at N+D, ones at LM and ones reportedly at Littles having repairs so I'd say unlikely given they are all at wellglade depots

1175/78 are at n+d, 1173 is at Littles under repair & 1174 is still with TM.

Has the ex arriva 400 entered service with tm yet? And were there anymore or just the one?

not seen 1400 tracking yet, supposedly 2 were due but the second hasn’t been spotted anywhere so could very well still be at Barnsley.

Just saw a picture of a Yutong coach in red and black livery on Facebook! I must admit, this livery is definitely going to attract some customers once the decals are put on!

yes it was on FlixBus last night, although could’ve been a different one as the one last night was pure black.

 

[Trainman40083]

1405 only tracked in the garage so assume it was someone testing a machine, haven’t heard an update on it for a while but I believe it to be the first 400 to be converted so likely to take a while. https://transportthing.uk/vehicles/NDTR-wd-1405

1175/78 are at n+d, 1173 is at Littles under repair & 1174 is still with TM.

not seen 1400 tracking yet, supposedly 2 were due but the second hasn’t been spotted anywhere so could very well still be at Barnsley.

yes it was on FlixBus last night, although could’ve been a different one as the one last night was pure black.

1405 went to Zeebus around 6th August 2024 and had not come back. I thought it was 1173 and 1178 (11) at Notts and Derby. Not seen 1175 since it was towed into Littles. I understand they also have Solo 1193 there. I have not seen any of the Red Arrow Flixbus coaches in Derby, but I was told black spare 910 has been used, so might be that that was seen.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jul 2025 ==

Given they are slightly newer than some of the ones at ND would it be a likely possibility that’s where they’re destined? Has the ex arriva 400 entered service with tm yet? And were there anymore or just the one?

Notts and Derby would use them if they had seatbelts fitted. But I don't think they have.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jul 2025 ==

Has 1405 returned? Seen the machine tracked on a couple of routes yesterday or has it been swapped into a different vehicle.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jul 2025 ==


Did they manage to sell the two that were on b’ham bus works or is there other plans for them now?

The pair at Birmingham Busworks 1173/1175 were brought back when BBW went bust

 

[zkyx02]

but I was told black spare 910 has been used, so might be that that was seen.

Supposedly the Littles Scania/higer has been used on flix recently, from what I was told a few coaches have had accidents

 

[Aethonatic]

910 (YB25 ULR) seen exiting the Meadow Road Depot.

 

[Trainman40083]

Supposedly the Littles Scania/higer has been used on flix recently, from what I was told a few coaches have had accidents

Flixbus 927 has some minor nearside damage

 

[Qwerty133]

The first of the new skylinks has appeared on BusTimes with the ticket machine being tested at Langley Mill.
Hopefully a sign of them being about to enter service given the increase in PVR on the town services from Monday and ongoing availability issues at Kinch.

 

[Aethonatic]

The first of the new skylinks has appeared on BusTimes with the ticket machine being tested at Langley Mill.

I thought OFU and OFT were both supposed to be spares?

 

[Trainman40083]

I thought OFU and OFT were both supposed to be spares?

They are. That is why on bus times they are shown in spare livery