Arriva Midlands

[K219UHA]

Oh fantastic, more rubbish coming to Tamworth.

What did Shrewsbury do to the Versas, each one that Tamworth has got so far all smell of wet dog...

Absolute joke.

Funny how they were perfectly fine at Shrewsbury! Therefore you could be only referring to 2964 and 2996, and ironically these were quickly killed off by Tamworth after life at Shrewsbury. Also 2962/3 came from Arriva Cymru direct to Tamworth and are now at Shrewsbury.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Feb 2026 ==

Regardless of whether the Versas are complaint or not (I don’t have a way of finding out), they will be able to continue using the pulsars on the 110 as a single deck alternative.

None of the V1100 examples are Euro6 mods at Shrewsbury as far as I'm aware, except 2942 YJ61 MJE that was completed in Leicester. Most of the V1170 examples of the 3691 to 3699 batches were updated for Euro6 for when they operated on route 9 Bridgnorth to Wolverhampton. The V1170 examples are expected and have been stated by a few based at Shrewsbury as remaining for the interurban work, i.e. X5/53, 64 etc.

 

[Russel]

Funny how they were perfectly fine at Shrewsbury! Therefore you could be only referring to 2964 and 2996, and ironically these were quickly killed off by Tamworth after life at Shrewsbury. Also 2963/4 came from Arriva Cymru direct to Tamworth and are now at Shrewsbury.

My bad, I forgot a couple were from Chester!

 

[BusLink61]

None of the V1100 examples are Euro6 mods at Shrewsbury as far as I'm aware, except 2942 YJ61 MJE that was completed in Leicester. Most of the V1170 examples of the 3691 to 3699 batches were updated for Euro6 for when they operated on route 9 Bridgnorth to Wolverhampton. The V1170 examples are expected and have been stated by a few based at Shrewsbury as remaining for the interurban work, i.e. X5/53, 64 etc.

It would make sense for some to be kept at Shrewsbury, 15 Evoras would equate to the x11 09 plates leaving, with four 11/61 plates also leaving if vehicle requirements remain the same.

I am not familiar with Shrewsbury routes, but will be interesting to see which routes the Evoras appear on. I assume the Park and Ride pink Versas will remain.

In news related to fleet changes, MAX liveried Citaro 3914 at Tamworth now has an expired MOT, initially I thought it would be renewed but depending on replacements arriving, it may now be withdrawn which will be good news to certain people. I do wonder whether one of the new arrivals - 3768 or 3756 (changed from 3710) have replaced it.

 

[chungusgoat1]

It would make sense for some to be kept at Shrewsbury, 15 Evoras would equate to the x11 09 plates leaving, with four 11/61 plates also leaving if vehicle requirements remain the same.

I am not familiar with Shrewsbury routes, but will be interesting to see which routes the Evoras appear on. I assume the Park and Ride pink Versas will remain.

In news related to fleet changes, MAX liveried Citaro 3914 at Tamworth now has an expired MOT, initially I thought it would be renewed but depending on replacements arriving, it may now be withdrawn which will be good news to certain people. I do wonder whether one of the new arrivals - 3768 or 3756 (changed from 3710) have replaced it.

someone who works at arriva in telford said on facebook a few days ago that two of the e200s there will be going to shrewsbury to replace the solos they still have

 

[K219UHA]

I am not familiar with Shrewsbury routes, but will be interesting to see which routes the Evoras appear on. I assume the Park and Ride pink Versas will remain.

Suggested investment is for town routes 1/11/24/25/27 at least, but would expect 511/3 to Whitchurch to also be included as sees V1100's. Park and Ride has recently had a rebrand so 2943/2962/3/2966-73 will remain.

V1100 Versas do appear regularly if V1170 are not allocated on the day, so expect Evoras to appear on some interurban turns. 2988/9 are V1170 examples but not numbered in the 36xx series, these came in September 2025 to boost V1170 or 'stretched' Versas as they are called regularly.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Feb 2026 ==

someone who works at arriva in telford said on facebook a few days ago that two of the e200s there will be going to shrewsbury to replace the solos they still have

Ah that would explain why a E200 was borrowed some time ago for testing on some Shrewsbury routes. I would expect the older pair 2493 and 2511 to be replaced and SRs for remain if that's the case.

 

[WM Bus]

.

Despite the constant mentions of their silence, Electric buses are still coming for the 110. I have it on good authority progress has been made on determining installation of chargers but the chances are there’s a lot of hurdles to be overcome that are out of Arriva’s hands before this can progress further, after all it’s hardly a large site.

Wonder what the 110 will look like post franchising? Will it be contracted out by TFWM/WMCA? And to whom with what vehicles

North Birmingham due to be franchised from 2027 so should happen within the next 24 months

 

[Travelmonkey]

I'm not sure, the Versas Tamworth has had for a while now all have the same smell, internally they just look and smell dirty.

Will these ben allowed into the Birmingham clean air zone? I don't believe the Citaros are.



To be fair, Tamworth at one point did very well, in 2008 it had a brand new batch of B9TL Geminis and Scania Omnilinks, 2012 it got the Citaros and in 2014 it got the E400s.

I do wish the B9s were kept instead of being replaced by the E400s, they've always felt a bit of a downgrade, even in Sapphire spec.

hopefully with all the WM tinkering the 110 can get some new stock. be intresting to see if it becomes a franchise or not. although it does seem a bit lonely Tamworth since the disposals of Burton and Cannock respectivley.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Feb 2026 ==

Wonder what the 110 will look like post franchising? Will it be contracted out by TFWM/WMCA? And to whom with what vehicles

North Birmingham due to be franchised from 2027 so should happen within the next 24 months

it all depend's on the registration a the 110 could be like the Reading 702 or Transdev (Burnley bus co) X43 Witchway going into deep frachise teritory but still as a extrnal route on licence.

I synically think thats why the X38 wars are so pivitol if East Mids follows suit they can claim its a out of franchise scope route.

 

[Trainman40083]

hopefully with all the WM tinkering the 110 can get some new stock. be intresting to see if it becomes a franchise or not. although it does seem a bit lonely Tamworth since the disposals of Burton and Cannock respectivley.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Feb 2026 ==


it all depend's on the registration a the 110 could be like the Reading 702 or Transdev (Burnley bus co) X43 Witchway going into deep frachise teritory but still as a extrnal route on licence.

I synically think thats why the X38 wars are so pivitol if East Mids follows suit they can claim its a out of franchise scope route.

The X38 "war" has gone on, far longer than I expected.

 

[Travelmonkey]

The X38 "war" has gone on, far longer than I expected.

they both seem to be in it for the long haul,

 

[Trainman40083]

they both seem to be in it for the long haul,

It may well run until the capped fares end .

 

[Dwarfer1979]

hopefully with all the WM tinkering the 110 can get some new stock. be intresting to see if it becomes a franchise or not. although it does seem a bit lonely Tamworth since the disposals of Burton and Cannock respectivley.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Feb 2026 ==


it all depend's on the registration a the 110 could be like the Reading 702 or Transdev (Burnley bus co) X43 Witchway going into deep frachise teritory but still as a extrnal route on licence.

I synically think thats why the X38 wars are so pivitol if East Mids follows suit they can claim its a out of franchise scope route.

It depends on whether TfWM see it as being an important part of the West Midlands network and so decide to roll it into the franchise or treat it as a service more significant to Staffordshire and exclude it. I do remember seeing TfWM making comments around overbusing on the Sutton Coldfield to Birmingham corridor which does raise more concerns than you would normally have as a route run from an out of area depot and historically focussed on out of area flows. It is entirely up to the franchising authority if they choose to add any service to or exclude any service from their franchising (& whether they will give a permit to any non-franchise service) ultimately though it does risk relationships with neighbouring authorities if you take too much and damage the viability of commercial networks in neighbouring areas.

You do wonder if the uncertainty around the 110 is part of the issue with the depot, the value of the depot to both Arriva or any potential buyer will be very different with the 110 in or out. Without it you do wonder if Tamworth would be viable for Arriva in any case but in either case not having the 110 could halve the purchase price of the depot (probably not that big but 25-30% less is pretty likely) for anyone looking to takeover.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Wonder what the 110 will look like post franchising? Will it be contracted out by TFWM/WMCA? And to whom with what vehicles

North Birmingham due to be franchised from 2027 so should happen within the next 24 months

In the consultation document https://governance.wmca.org.uk/docu...ct 2000 -Signed Arrangement of the Scheme.pdf - one of the services proposed to be operated on a permit system is Tamworth to Birmingham.

 

[Russel]

The X38 "war" has gone on, far longer than I expected.

The Tamworth-Lichfield express Arriva v Buslink has gone one for much longer than I expected too, I thought the days of competition were over.

 

[Trainman40083]

Looks like the Arriva depots of Derby and Tamworth get to share the joy. Seen in Derby today was VDL 3715. This bus is back from Tamworth. I think it went there in early September 2025. Tracking as SP DC.

 

[Russel]

Looks like the Arriva depots of Derby and Tamworth get to share the joy. Seen in Derby today was VDL 3715. This bus is back from Tamworth. I think it went there in early September 2025. Tracking as SP DC.

Can tell it's not at Tamworth, the fuel spills at the rear have been cleaned up!

 

[ferry58]

Does anybody know when the Evoras are due to enter service in Shrewsbury?

 

[chungusgoat1]

Does anybody know when the Evoras are due to enter service in Shrewsbury?

one of them has started doing driver training, one was at the bus station yesterday so it cant be too long now

 

[BusLink61]

one of them has started doing driver training, one was at the bus station yesterday so it cant be too long now

I wonder if this is why they have been registered on 75 plates and not 26 plates. It also could hint that they may enter passenger service before March 1st if they haven’t been re-registered.

 

[Trainman40083]

I wonder if this is why they have been registered on 75 plates and not 26 plates. It also could hint that they may enter passenger service before March 1st if they haven’t been re-registered.

The chances of them being re-registered NOW is non existent. They are already taxed, so cannot now carry any registration plate newer than their current 75 plates .

 

[derbyveg]

4547 (YX17 NDZ) has arrived at derby

 

[Trainman40083]

4547 (YX17 NDZ) has arrived at derby

Is this the first of the Gemini replacements?

 

[derbyveg]

Is this the first of the Gemini replacements?

No, this replaces 4421.

Some more supposedly due as more electrics arrive to leicester

 

[BusLink61]

No, this replaces 4421.

Some more supposedly due as more electrics arrive to leicester

Will some more fill in for the withdrawn Ex Yorkshire E400’s? or are these already covered by single decks with the likes of 3744?

I see one of the newest 10 electroliners for Leicester has been added onto bus times. 8056 (BN75 NXE) is tracking, first on the route 84 and then the 51 however I have no confirmation if it’s actually this vehicle.

 

[derbyveg]

Will some more fill in for the withdrawn Ex Yorkshire E400’s? or are these already covered by single decks with the likes of 3744?

Well Derby only has 4416/4420, both of which are actually quite reliable & doing well so I can't see them leaving yet, the B9s are starting to really show age & are due to leave this year, still quiet on the eVoRa's currently.

 

[SSmith2009]

Will some more fill in for the withdrawn Ex Yorkshire E400’s? or are these already covered by single decks with the likes of 3744?

I see one of the newest 10 electroliners for Leicester has been added onto bus times. 8056 (BN75 NXE) is tracking, first on the route 84 and then the 51 however I have no confirmation if it’s actually this vehicle.

8057 has also entered service this morning on the 84/85

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

MK are apparently due some new buses in April as they’re taking over the X2/X3 from Luton.

 

[BusLink61]

Well Derby only has 4416/4420, both of which are actually quite reliable & doing well so I can't see them leaving yet, the B9s are starting to really show age & are due to leave this year, still quiet on the eVoRa's currently.

With the E400’s I meant in terms of the ones which have already been withdrawn, would deckers be needed to fill in for those?

According to the Gov website, half of the B9’s have recently had new MOT’s, six of them last through until early 2027, although I understand they likely won’t make it that far.

On that basis, would it be likely to see any of the more reliable B9’s move elsewhere for a short period? It would be nice if some went to Kent and rejoined their sister B9’s. It’s wishful thinking…

 

[derbyveg]

With the E400’s I meant in terms of the ones which have already been withdrawn, would deckers be needed to fill in for those?

Ideally yes, the plan is once an electric is taken to Thurmaston, Derby returns with a diesel... plans changed & none were exchanged today.

According to the Gov website, half of the B9’s have recently had new MOT’s, six of them last through until early 2027, although I understand they likely won’t make it that far.

Some scanias had MOTs renewed & then were later scrapped, I believe 3554 at tamworth failed an MOT & was scrapped due to that.

On that basis, would it be likely to see any of the more reliable B9’s move elsewhere for a short period? It would be nice if some went to Kent and rejoined their sister B9’s. It’s wishful thinking…

No, the closest they'll get or have gotten is Milton Keynes for F1 shuttles, which quite a few Geminis were on.


Also, B8RLEs aren't coming to derby, the wait was apparently a year, instead of the 15 eVoRas due, 25 MMCs are supposedly due in September, so the VDLs may have some time left... if they don't start dropping like flies..

 

[Trainman40083]

Ideally yes, the plan is once an electric is taken to Thurmaston, Derby returns with a diesel... plans changed & none were exchanged today.

Some scanias had MOTs renewed & then were later scrapped, I believe 3554 at tamworth failed an MOT & was scrapped due to that.

No, the closest they'll get or have gotten is Milton Keynes for F1 shuttles, which quite a few Geminis were on.


Also, B8RLEs aren't coming to derby, the wait was apparently a year, instead of the 15 eVoRas due, 25 MMCs are supposedly due in September, so the VDLs may have some time left... if they don't start dropping like flies..

Very sad no EvoRas for Derby. The MMCs is a very poor substitute.. Even more so on the roads of Derby.

 

[joieman]

8057 has also entered service this morning on the 84/85

Neither 8056 nor 8057 have a full set of vinyls, only the company logos, fleet number and legal address. Arriva must be in a hurry!