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Wellglade Group

Trainman40083

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Definitely not, there was a reason why they decided to make the route hourly from being every 30 minutes (hence 746/7 being taken off the route). As for the volvos, they have definitely seen better days but, for example, having a bus serve the same, challenging route for a decade straight doesn't really help things at all
On some you can see the former Twos yellow paint .
 
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RailUK Forums

derbybusdepot

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17 Dec 2015
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346
Would make sense to make comet part of the nines brand really. Huge amount of layover time at Derby as it takes just over an hour each way.

If merging the Harlequin and V3, which brand would you get rid of? Every 30 to Willington, hourly to Burton.
 

StavBered

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13 Jan 2026
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81
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Derbyshire
Wow, I guess they really are desperate to remove the Solo’s from the Trent fleet
I don't even blame them, back then the solos were viable choices for buses but now they simply can't hold up with passenger count, they also dont have reliability in their side either
 

callum3490

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9 Oct 2024
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204
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Nottingham
Wow, I guess they really are desperate to remove the Solo’s from the Trent fleet
Considering 496 was recently brought back into service i’d be surprised if the sr solos go anywhere any time soon… i’d imagine it will help shift 480/3 and 491/2 though finally

The question is whether these displaced b7s will be retained as spares or will we start to see more being cascaded to TM
 

M60lad

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31 May 2011
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Does anyone know what is wrong with TM Travel's ex Arriva E400 1400 again? It doesn't seem to have tracked since 30 March
 

38291018

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31 Oct 2024
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Considering 496 was recently brought back into service i’d be surprised if the sr solos go anywhere any time soon… i’d imagine it will help shift 480/3 and 491/2 though finally

The question is whether these displaced b7s will be retained as spares or will we start to see more being cascaded to TM
Don't think most/all the b7s are complient for sheffield so more likely nottsderby not TM
 

Trainman40083

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Don't think most/all the b7s are complient for sheffield so more likely nottsderby not TM
Well, Volvo 740 which is working for TM Travel, tracking as 489, certainly isn't compliant, but then it trundles around Crystal Peaks.

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Does anyone know what is wrong with TM Travel's ex Arriva E400 1400 again? It doesn't seem to have tracked since 30 March
A couple of people told me it was terminal.

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I don't even blame them, back then the solos were viable choices for buses but now they simply can't hold up with passenger count, they also dont have reliability in their side either
I recall the Optare Solo had a design life of 14 years. I suspect it was designed to tootle around housing estates, not major trunk routes. I can think of a driver who would miss 480/483. I am even trying to type whilst keeping a straight face
 

SSmith2009

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573
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East Midlands
Does anyone know what is wrong with TM Travel's ex Arriva E400 1400 again? It doesn't seem to have tracked since 30 March
it only did 1 or 2 days when Arriva transferred it to Leicester then was stood down.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Would make sense to make comet part of the nines brand really. Huge amount of layover time at Derby as it takes just over an hour each way.
a good idea maybe as a 9.X
 
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StavBered

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I recall the Optare Solo had a design life of 14 years. I suspect it was designed to tootle around housing estates, not major trunk routes. I can think of a driver who would miss 480/483. I am even trying to type whilst keeping a straight face
I can't really say much for 480/3 as I've never been on either one however as for the other 2 solos, in this day and age, they don't hold up too well.
Well, Volvo 740 which is working for TM Travel
Also is this a permanent change? On bustimes it's listed as being with trentbarton (not sure on the depot), is that true or is it someone making up a bunch of lies, which is usually the case on that website
 

callum3490

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I can't really say much for 480/3 as I've never been on either one however as for the other 2 solos, in this day and age, they don't hold up too well.

Also is this a permanent change? On bustimes it's listed as being with trentbarton (not sure on the depot), is that true or is it someone making up a bunch of lies, which is usually the case on that website
It was showing as with TM the other day on bustimes. Supposedly a temporary transfer

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It begs the question whether or not 107/108 will actually stay with kinch, they are seeing very little use since the introduction of the yutongs
 
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Trainman40083

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I can't really say much for 480/3 as I've never been on either one however as for the other 2 solos, in this day and age, they don't hold up too well.

Also is this a permanent change? On bustimes it's listed as being with trentbarton (not sure on the depot), is that true or is it someone making up a bunch of lies, which is usually the case on that website
740 is certainly with TM Travel on loan. But at TM Travel it has a different ticket machine...so the TB one, won't track at TM. But there has been a picture of 740 with TM Travel, service 26/26A. Only a loan pending arrival of other buses (probably).
 
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Is the Comet as busy as it was before COVID? I used to see fairly full buses leave Derby around 10.05. Now a lot less on. But, however you look at it, the Volvos will not last forever..
I don't know generally, but I sampled it on a Saturday lunchtime and the Volvo I was on was rammed. A Versa would have been leaving people behind.
 

BusLink61

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1 Dec 2025
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Lichfield
740 is certainly with TM Travel on loan. But at TM Travel it has a different ticket machine...so the TB one, won't track at TM. But there has been a picture of 740 with TM Travel, service 26/26A. Only a loan pending arrival of other buses (probably).
Maybe 740 will stay until the streetlites enter service with TM.
 

Teapot42

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12 Jan 2022
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The one before had run; I had been photographing buses in Alfreton and I watched it go through.
My (albeit limited) experience of the Comet on a Saturday also suggests it gets busy. Maybe there is a case for an enhanced service at the weekend? I do appreciate the practicalities of such however.
 

Trainman40083

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My (albeit limited) experience of the Comet on a Saturday also suggests it gets busy. Maybe there is a case for an enhanced service at the weekend? I do appreciate the practicalities of such however.
Full maybe. But is the route making a profit that would justify the enhanced service. For example, to make the service half hourly would need up to double the resources.
 

derbybusdepot

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17 Dec 2015
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346
My (albeit limited) experience of the Comet on a Saturday also suggests it gets busy. Maybe there is a case for an enhanced service at the weekend? I do appreciate the practicalities of such however.
Which end tends to be busiest? The Alfreton Ripley to Derby section is also covered by the nines. Would there be a demand for half a comet!
 

Dwarfer1979

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24 Feb 2025
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Leicester
Which end tends to be busiest? The Alfreton Ripley to Derby section is also covered by the nines. Would there be a demand for half a comet!
Top end can be definitely very busy I have often travelled on trips in and out of Chesterfield even on Saturdays that are full and standing. It may be that it only needs half-hourly as far as Ripley as I haven't seen it as busy into Derby but that doesn't cycle properly (there is around 20-mins to fill at the Ripley end) but I'm sure it would be able to find a solution for this if you needed to.
 

Trainman40083

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Most people from ripley/alfreton probably catch the nines now, comet was the quickest until they sent it via Little Eaton.
There couldn't have been much in it, from Ripley to Derby between the Comet and the 9.3. Of course, years ago we had the F1 worked by a Dennis Dart.
 

38291018

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Personally I think they should make the 9.3 go via little eaton as I don't think there's much in it between going up the A38 to lowerkilburn or going via little eaton.

Then that lets comet to be derby Ripley non stop or even derby to Alfreton as people to Ripley probably would get Nines anyway

It's only people Between afreton and Ripley that will loose the benefit of comet as they will have use the Nines the long way around but it will benefit alfreton having a derby alfreton non stop

If comet was derby alfreton non stop there would be alot of layover time so I haven't worked it out but may justify a half hourly service as it may not need double reasorces
 

liamf656

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Personally I think they should make the 9.3 go via little eaton as I don't think there's much in it between going up the A38 to lowerkilburn or going via little eaton.

Then that lets comet to be derby Ripley non stop or even derby to Alfreton as people to Ripley probably would get Nines anyway

It's only people Between afreton and Ripley that will loose the benefit of comet as they will have use the Nines the long way around but it will benefit alfreton having a derby alfreton non stop

If comet was derby alfreton non stop there would be alot of layover time so I haven't worked it out but may justify a half hourly service as it may not need double reasorces
I definitely think it would be better to send the Nines through Little Eaton and Comet non stop Derby to Alfreton, it would make Comet journeys more appealing
 

zkyx02

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26 Nov 2024
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Derby, Derbyshire
There couldn't have been much in it, from Ripley to Derby between the Comet and the 9.3. Of course, years ago we had the F1 worked by a Dennis Dart.
I’d say Little Eaton adds an extra 10 mins, plus however long it takes to get out at Little Eaton Island (notoriously bad & the bus comes on at the 1 jct without lights).

Shame no Trent darts survived in preservation, I only remember them with N+D but I was always a fan.
Personally I think they should make the 9.3 go via little eaton as I don't think there's much in it between going up the A38 to lowerkilburn or going via little Eaton.
Personally I never really understood why comet was sent that way, nines & sixes are the other choices, but yes I agree but perhaps send the 9.1.. but then again the nines seem to suffer quite badly with delays, each time I’ve gone to catch one it’s been late.
Then that lets comet to be derby Ripley non stop or even derby to Alfreton as people to Ripley probably would get Nines anyway
I’ve seen comets get quite busy going towards Chesterfield from Ripley market, not so much the other way.
 

liamf656

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Of course the only reason the Comet has been diverted through Little Eaton (a downgrade imo) is the loss of Amberline (and more historically the 9.2). Would it be worth bringing in a standalone service to connect Little Eaton, Kilburn and Ripley to help with the reliability of Comet and Nines?
 

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