Nottingham City Transport

[tram21]

It's the same tram? Blimey getting like certain trains, that had more than one incident.

Yes, tram 228!

 

[M60lad]

Reading on Facebook I'm sure it's been involved in more than one incident just seems to be an unlucky vehicle though.

 

[Np13]

Streetdecks 671-674 entered service today on Pathfinder 26

675 and 676 haven't been out at all despite the fact 672 broke down this afternoon, 628 replaced it

 

[callum3490]

Streetdecks 671-674 entered service today on Pathfinder 26

675 and 676 haven't been out at all despite the fact 672 broke down this afternoon, 628 replaced it

Are 675 and 676 dedicated Lilac spares?

 

[tram21]

Has anyone been on one today? What are they like to ride on?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Mar 2026 ==

Are 675 and 676 dedicated Lilac spares?

Yes, they are in the usual Lilac livery for 24-27 services

 

[callum3490]

Has anyone been on one today? What are they like to ride on?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Mar 2026 ==


Yes, they are in the usual Lilac livery for 24-27 services

It all seems very odd in terms of the whole sequence - this batch was ultimately intended to displace the omidekkas from trent bridge routes, but all the ex 26s have been repainted as generic spares rather than any more being branded for the 4. The extra two ultroliners seemingly being lilac spares also seems quite odd, why not have them as generic spares but with priority going to lilac lines (such as what happened with 661/662 when the 65 plate e400s were introduced on 78/69) - unless ofcourse they are displacing two of the gas buses on the lilac lines too, but that would still seem to be a random way of approaching it - or has/is there a PVR increase across lilac routes?

 

[tram21]

has/is there a PVR increase across lilac routes?

Yes there has with the not so recent introduction of the 24 and the subsequent extension to Rivendell.

have been repainted as generic spares rather than any more being branded for the 4.

They are to displace Omnidekkas but the decision was made to put them in spare livery for greater fleet flexibility as the Navy 4 only runs for part of the year, so its a waste to have branded buses.

 

[StavBered]

It all seems very odd in terms of the whole sequence - this batch was ultimately intended to displace the omidekkas from trent bridge routes, but all the ex 26s have been repainted as generic spares rather than any more being branded for the 4. The extra two ultroliners seemingly being lilac spares also seems quite odd, why not have them as generic spares but with priority going to lilac lines (such as what happened with 661/662 when the 65 plate e400s were introduced on 78/69) - unless ofcourse they are displacing two of the gas buses on the lilac lines too, but that would still seem to be a random way of approaching it - or has/is there a PVR increase across lilac routes?

Well isn't there 467 which seemingly hasn't tracked for about 5 months? Apparently it was involved in a fire but I don't think that's true...

 

[callum3490]

Well isn't there 467 which seemingly hasn't tracked for about 5 months? Apparently it was involved in a fire but I don't think that's true...

Can’t say as though i’ve seen much mention of it personally - usually the enthusiast groups are pretty in the know if a bus is withdrawn completely so if true I would expect its relatively minor in the grand scheme of fires anyway

What was said above about the introduction of the 24 some 2 years ago makes sense why the extra two ultroliners are in lilac, to plug that gap

However that being said it looks like both 671 and 672 have broken down already; that will be incredibly frustrating for NCT after the initial teething issues im sure

 

[SCH117X]

641 in South Notts livery
https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/nct-marks-100-years-of-south-notts-heritage/

A commemorative bus painted in a heritage South Notts livery has been unveiled by Nottingham City Transport (NCT) to celebrate a century of service.

Founded in 1926 by Christopher Thomas Dabell, known as CT, the first journey operated between Gotham and Nottingham at 8.20am on 13 March that year. An average of seven passengers per journey were carried in the inaugural year, where the return fare was a shilling.
A century later, South Notts continues to provide a daily service along ‘the main road’ between Nottingham and Loughborough through Clifton, Gotham, East Leake and Stanford on Soar. Today double-decks are required operating to a daytime frequency of every 20 minutes.

South Notts was purchased by NCT in March 1991, with the historic importance of the name still displayed on buses that serve the route.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

First time I've seen it confirmed - as well as 13 Yutong U11DD, 6 Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners are also on order.

Looking ahead, NCT is now moving into the next stage of electrification. A total of 19 electric double deck buses are on order, supported by funding from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). This includes 13 Yutong and 6 Wrightbus vehicles, due to enter service in late 2026.

Nottingham City Transport Electric Buses Reach 5 Million Kilometres Milestone

NCT is celebrating a major milestone, with its electric bus fleet surpassing 5 million kilometres travelled.

www.nctx.co.uk

 

[callum3490]

First time I've seen it confirmed - as well as 13 Yutong U11DD, 6 Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners are also on order.

Nottingham City Transport Electric Buses Reach 5 Million Kilometres Milestone

NCT is celebrating a major milestone, with its electric bus fleet surpassing 5 million kilometres travelled.

www.nctx.co.uk

Here’s hoping the wright electrics prove more reliable than their diesel counterparts when they first enter service.

 

[joieman]

First time I've seen it confirmed - as well as 13 Yutong U11DD, 6 Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners are also on order.

Nottingham City Transport Electric Buses Reach 5 Million Kilometres Milestone

NCT is celebrating a major milestone, with its electric bus fleet surpassing 5 million kilometres travelled.

www.nctx.co.uk

Which routes will they be for?

 

[SSmith2009]

Which routes will they be for?

I'm wondering if the 6 wrightbus vehicles could be for the SouthNotts 1?

 

[Andy Pacer]

Which routes will they be for?

I'm wondering if the 6 wrightbus vehicles could be for the SouthNotts 1?

I wondered about the 43 for the 6 Wrights (5 branded and 1 in generic livery)

 

[joieman]

I'm wondering if the 6 wrightbus vehicles could be for the SouthNotts 1?

The South Notts 1 presently uses seven buses, so I believe that can be ruled out for the six Wrightbuses.

 

[edwin_m]

Seeing as they are cautious about EV deckers, and recently went back to diesels for the 26, I'd expect these to be on a city route. Helps avoid range anxiety and also reduces pollution close to more people's homes.

 

[38291018]

I'm wondering if the 6 wrightbus vehicles could be for the SouthNotts 1?

I wondered about the 43 for the 6 Wrights (5 branded and 1 in generic livery)

I think the answer is in the press release - NCT have been involved in the revisions made to the Yutong double deck that has been released this year, and so have found a product suitable for their requirements.

Although it's pure speculation, to me I think @andypacer is right with the 43 mabey for a different reason I'm not sure, but I think 43 makes more sence compared to the 1 as originally NCT was reluctant to buy electric double deckers for whatever reason, which im not sure specifically if it's range as they tend to overspec buses or consumer features or soemthing else, but as they have now ordered these wrightbus electric deckers one would assume it will be a short/urban route where consumer features/comfort/range don't matter as much so I would say the 43 makes most sence for this plus allows a spare to be used to test for other routes for future orders and if a branded electric fails like possibly a generic spare or how the spare blue line yutong 262 does mostly staying on blueline but ecasionally swapping as its not specifically 39/40/41/42

If the 1 was to get electrics I would assume they would go for these yutongs as they have been working with the manufacturer making the design more suited to what they want or whatever they did (again not sure if range or interior design or what) but I would assume this would be 'more suitable' now they have done revisions with yutong themselves but with 13 being ordered I doubt it unless they did 6 uni34 and 6 south notts 1 with 1 spare which I personally don't see happening (I think it will more likely be the turquoise line having 12 with 1 branded spare

 

[SCH117X]

Seeing as they are cautious about EV deckers, and recently went back to diesels for the 26, I'd expect these to be on a city route. Helps avoid range anxiety and also reduces pollution close to more people's homes.

Other operators are finding using EVs on longer routes ensures good battery performance but those are typically thsoe operators who can easily flip vehilces between routes hence why Transdev have dropped route branding of all of their single deck EV operated routes. An EV might one day spend its time on a 5 mile route and the next the next day a 20 mle route. Nottingjams main problem is the lack of a terminus where they can top up an EV.

 

[callum3490]

If the electroliners go on the 43 where are the Yutongs likely to end up? Possibly on greens? Although that would give 4 spares

Uni34 or Uni4 seem like the only other options that’d need 6 vehicles or less for the electroliners

 

[MCR247]

Another contender could be the 6, which had a PVR increase after the diversion to Gamston to solve the reliability issues it started to experience. Bonus with it passing Trent Bridge depot too

 

[Omnidekkalover]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Yutongs go to the 24/25/27 as they have 13 E400 CNGs as of current.

 

[Hyebone]

Other operators are finding using EVs on longer routes ensures good battery performance but those are typically thsoe operators who can easily flip vehilces between routes hence why Transdev have dropped route branding of all of their single deck EV operated routes. An EV might one day spend its time on a 5 mile route and the next the next day a 20 mle route. Nottingjams main problem is the lack of a terminus where they can top up an EV.

The way Stagecoach in Chesterfield do things is similar; by interworking high-speed services with slower ones, you can cover more mileage within the capacity of a battery(s). For example, EVs on the X17 route spend half the day hammering it up and down the bypass, M1 and several giant hills. They'll usually swap onto lower speed routes such as the 43, with a 43 vehicle swapping onto the X17.

Route branding messes this up and Trentbarton suffer from the same thing with their longer routes. For a company that has vastly distinctive vehicle colours and branding, you'd struggle to get away with a bright pink bus with 30 on the side running a 10 to Ruddington for half of the day, every day. It's whether companies want to wait for EV technology to evolve to a point where they can do a full day's service on one charge regardless of the route's challenges or speed; live with wrong branding on routes for a good chunk of the day, or simply do away with route branding entirely (which I doubt would happen).

 

[StavBered]

The way Stagecoach in Chesterfield do things is similar; by interworking high-speed services with slower ones, you can cover more mileage within the capacity of a battery(s). For example, EVs on the X17 route spend half the day hammering it up and down the bypass, M1 and several giant hills. They'll usually swap onto lower speed routes such as the 43, with a 43 vehicle swapping onto the X17.

Route branding messes this up and Trentbarton suffer from the same thing with their longer routes. For a company that has vastly distinctive vehicle colours and branding, you'd struggle to get away with a bright pink bus with 30 on the side running a 10 to Ruddington for half of the day, every day. It's whether companies want to wait for EV technology to evolve to a point where they can do a full day's service on one charge regardless of the route's challenges or speed; live with wrong branding on routes for a good chunk of the day, or simply do away with route branding entirely (which I doubt would happen).

Slightly unrelated but trentbartons passengers seem to struggle with the wrong branded bus on a route, I've seen countless people miss their bus due to them thinking "mango" is a different route

 

[Hyebone]

Slightly unrelated but trentbartons passengers seem to struggle with the wrong branded bus on a route, I've seen countless people miss their bus due to them thinking "mango" is a different route

I think that's just a user error. Doesn't take 2 seconds to read the front of a bus...

 

[StavBered]

I think that's just a user error. Doesn't take 2 seconds to read the front of a bus...

You are correct however you'd be suprised by the amount of people who miss a bus due to the incorrect branding, not just trentbarton/wellglade...

 

[38291018]

Looks like there are some changes comming up from end of next month including removing all nighbuses changing/canceling 8/9, 3/3a, changing the 28s timetable, and altering route slightly and timetable for the 87/88 according to the local bus service registration on bustimes.org
Link here to Nottingham city transport local bus registrations

 

[Omnidekkalover]

Would not be surprised if the nightbuses finally get fully withdrawn and the 3/3A suffers some reductions in some way or another. I would be very surprised if the 8 or 9 is withdrawn however, would not be shocked if the 8/9 goes back to hourly mon-sat daytime.

 

[joieman]

Looks like there are some changes comming up from end of next month including removing all nighbuses changing/canceling 8/9, 3/3a, changing the 28s timetable, and altering route slightly and timetable for the 87/88 according to the local bus service registration on bustimes.org
Link here to Nottingham city transport local bus registrations

Might be a bit far-fetched, but I wonder if the 3/3A/8/9 might be merged with each other in some way.

 

[tram21]

The 3, 8 & 9 are Nottingham City Council/ EMCCA supported routes. So unless funding has been withdrawn, it may be another operator take them over but that would be very strange?

It's probably just a mistake in the registration- withdrawing those services would leave massive gaps in the bus network, which goes against the council's bus service obligations.