Arriva Midlands

[Trainman40083]

I understand Tamworth is getting electric Yutong double deckers later this year.

 

[317 forever]

Here’s 7102

Arriva Midlands Temsa Safari 12 HD -> 7102 (YJ69 AAV) | Service X6 to Leicester

Here in this photo is Arriva Midlands 7102. It is seen in Pool Meadow Bus Station, waiting to work service X6 to Leicester. This is the first of the Temsa coaches to be completed in this new “foxline” branding, which looks very good in my opinion! This is part of a wider fleet refurbishment plan...

flic.kr

I wonder whether these are also being refurbished internally?

 

[joieman]

I wonder whether these are also being refurbished internally?

I don't believe so

 

[isaac27]

They are numbered in chassis number/body number order, the 76 were more than likely due to be 26 reg in the same sequence as the others but for some reason didn’t get taxed in time so became 76s. Most operators number their vehicles in body number orders hence why sometimes the regs are in no logical order.

Yes but to be fair even with the difference in 26 / 76 plates the last letter is still in alphabetical order which is probably why they have numbered them this way with jzv at the end.

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I noticed during the winter that they were route training drivers on the 0650 6 to Nuneaton, the route was in total darkness until Atherstone, it seemed a bit of an odd decision to me, the first part of the route out of Tamworth via Polesworth and and the villages along the A5 is quite a complicated route, especially in the dark...

The 4.5L engine would explain why I thought they seemed a bit sluggish.

Yes I had a similar experience last year on one of the last 6’s back to Tamworth. It’s was a new driver with a mentor at the front. It was also pitch back and heavy rain but I suppose it’s good practice. I don’t think the driver was quite at the level of taking passengers out due to being over an hour late plus taking wrong turns and driving erratically. They really should let the drivers out at least a couple of times with a mentor without having the stress of passengers on board and maybe letting drivers get there confidence up driving a bus on local routes for a bit before going on challenging routes.
Seen multiple posts online especially this summer of the 4.5 litre engines overheating and modern adl’s aren’t especially known for reliability and great build quality.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Sep 2026 ==

I understand Tamworth is getting electric Yutong double deckers later this year.

Last I heard they were supposed to be getting 11 byd double deckers. This was supposed to be July but it keeps getting pushed back due to infrastructure installation problems. They should be here by the end of this year as the installation is going smoothly at the moment.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Sep 2026 ==

Looks like we will still unfortunately be stuck with 15+ year old buses on the 6 then

Yep most likely unless anything gets cascaded from elsewhere that is slightly newer.

 

[DS25]

Yep most likely unless anything gets cascaded from elsewhere that is slightly newer.

Maybe some of the Evora's if the rumours are true that Arriva will leave Shrewsbury soon

 

[Russel]

Maybe some of the Evora's if the rumours are true that Arriva will leave Shrewsbury soon

First I've heard of that one...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Sep 2026 ==

Yes but to be fair even with the difference in 26 / 76 plates the last letter is still in alphabetical order which is probably why they have numbered them this way with jzv at the end.
Yes I had a similar experience last year on one of the last 6’s back to Tamworth. It’s was a new driver with a mentor at the front. It was also pitch back and heavy rain but I suppose it’s good practice. I don’t think the driver was quite at the level of taking passengers out due to being over an hour late plus taking wrong turns and driving erratically. They really should let the drivers out at least a couple of times with a mentor without having the stress of passengers on board and maybe letting drivers get there confidence up driving a bus on local routes for a bit before going on challenging routes.

Yep, I was on the 6 a few times towards the back end of last year that were substantially late due to the drivers in training not knowing the route, the 6 really isn't a straight forward route...

I fully understand that drivers need training, but that is Arrivas problem and they shouldn't let it impact the passengers.

 

[DS25]

First I've heard of that one...

Most likely false rumours but heard from staff at Shrewsbury saying Hotspur are planning to purchase Arriva’s depot after they start the p&r operation.

 

[Skymonster]

Former Hopper 4542 is also now with Arriva Derby in the standard blue, adding to 4543. Looks like we might be getting a few of them now.

 

[zkyx02]

Former Hopper 4542 is also now with Arriva Derby in the standard blue, adding to 4543. Looks like we might be getting a few of them now.

Derby are getting all the ex hoppers.

 

[busfan308]

Are there also some diesel deckers due from Leicester to Derby too?

 

[zkyx02]

Are there also some diesel deckers due from Leicester to Derby too?

Could well happen but I’ve not heard about anymore coming (since the 400mmcs)

 

[Trainman40083]

Former Hopper 4542 is also now with Arriva Derby in the standard blue, adding to 4543. Looks like we might be getting a few of them now.

It does look rather smart.

 

[Russel]

It does look rather smart.

The darker shade certainly looks much smarter than the original blue!

 

[isaac27]

2161 yx76jyp is now in service at Tamworth

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Sep 2026 ==

Yx26jzn is on the 6 tonight being the first new mmc to go on a longer non local route

 

[Russel]

Yx26jzn is on the 6 tonight being the first new mmc to go on a longer non local route

Possibly because there are major traffic issues due to road works in Tamworth which are really shafting the local routes (the joys of interworking), meaning things are all out of place...

It'll be interesting to see how much of a queue of traffic builds up behind it on the A5, some of the Pulsars struggle!

 

[E B]

Possibly because there are major traffic issues due to road works in Tamworth which are really shafting the local routes (the joys of interworking), meaning things are all out of place...

It'll be interesting to see how much of a queue of traffic builds up behind it on the A5, some of the Pulsars struggle!

It managed to overturn a 40 minute delay by the time it reached Nuneaton which is impressive (15 minutes of that due to dwell time at Nuneaton bus station)

 

[Russel]

It managed to overturn a 40 minute delay by the time it reached Nuneaton which is impressive (15 minutes of that due to dwell time at Nuneaton bus station)

Was it 40 late leaving Tamworth or did it loose time along the route?

I've just checked Bustimes, credit where credit is due, that's impressive!

 

[swinny1990]

Any update when derby new buses are arriving?

 

[Trainman40083]

Any update when derby new buses are arriving?

I think the last I heard was October.

 

[isaac27]

Last mmc is now in service at Tamworth today yx76jyr.

 

[Russel]

Last mmc is now in service at Tamworth today yx76jyr.

It seems, that on the MMC's at leave, the volume of the next stop announcements has been turned up, not sure if they've done it on the Mercs yet.

 

[joieman]

2518 has been withdrawn at Thurmaston and has been replaced by 2537.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 14:03 ==

Also, 8600 has lost the text vinyls reading "working together for a greener Leicestershire".

 

[BuhSnarf]

Interesting as this is the only New Power unit, so I'm wondering if there has been some changes about it being classed as greener?

 

[SSmith2009]

2518 has been withdrawn at Thurmaston and has been replaced by 2537.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 14:03 ==

Also, 8600 has lost the text vinyls reading "working together for a greener Leicestershire".

Wonder if its one to be rebranded with the new Leicester Buses branding.

A few others have parts of their electric branding missing and the same for some of First's single deckers

 

[Volvo142]

4536 is the third former Hopper Bus to be repainted, have the bicycle rack removed and enter service in Derby.

 

[isaac27]

2157 and 2159 are on the 110 this evening for the first time. Wonder how they will cope capacity wise.

 

[joieman]

Wonder if its one to be rebranded with the new Leicester Buses branding.

A few others have parts of their electric branding missing and the same for some of First's single deckers

I'd imagine that'll happen soon. But I do wonder how the vinyls are going to go on the offside of 8600, since the glazed staircase windows are where the dark green parallelogram is normally supposed to go. Hopefully they don't just cover up the glazing to the stairs.

It also seems to have been on the 127 much more frequently as of late than it used to. I'd assumed its range was insufficient for it to run on the 127 on a regular basis.

 

[derbybusdepot]

4536 and 4540 appear to be the latest ex hopper bus e400s to be painted into the new arriva livery at Derby.

Have any more Gemini's departed yet?

 

[zkyx02]

Have any more Gemini's departed yet?

not yet no

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 08:47 ==

3708 has been withdrawn

 

[Trainman40083]

4540 looks very smart