Wellglade Group

[38291018]

I'm just curious why would Kinch trail a volvo BZL when there already replacing the whole fleet (except skylink which is getting new buses anyway) with brand new yutongs. I understand if they got a yutong again to trial milage and train drivers or if Trent or others trialed the BZL as they are yet to be electric at all but didn't think there be much point as I doubt kinch would order more electrics

Also about 1h ago I saw a littles ALX400 (I assume D3 L60 LTL) comming of Raynesway from alveston way towards derby past pride Park so I assume nottsderby has loaned this for download but not tracking?

 

[SSmith2009]

I'm just curious why would Kinch trail a volvo BZL when there already replacing the whole fleet (except skylink which is getting new buses anyway) with brand new yutongs. I understand if they got a yutong again to trial milage and train drivers or if Trent or others trialed the BZL as they are yet to be electric at all but didn't think there be much point as I doubt kinch would order more electrics

Also about 1h ago I saw a littles ALX400 (I assume D3 L60 LTL) comming of Raynesway from alveston way towards derby past pride Park so I assume nottsderby has loaned this for download but not tracking?

Wonder if as Kinch have had other electric demos, it's with them instead of trentbarton, so drivers who've driven other electric demo's can offer feedback comparing them.

 

[Trainman40083]

I'm just curious why would Kinch trail a volvo BZL when there already replacing the whole fleet (except skylink which is getting new buses anyway) with brand new yutongs. I understand if they got a yutong again to trial milage and train drivers or if Trent or others trialed the BZL as they are yet to be electric at all but didn't think there be much point as I doubt kinch would order more electrics

Also about 1h ago I saw a littles ALX400 (I assume D3 L60 LTL) comming of Raynesway from alveston way towards derby past pride Park so I assume nottsderby has loaned this for download but not tracking?

There have been at least 4 Littles double deckers on Download. D22 LTL and two Presidents were on Wednesday. Of course, Littles is also a Wellglade subsidiary.

 

[liamf656]

Also about 1h ago I saw a littles ALX400 (I assume D3 L60 LTL) comming of Raynesway from alveston way towards derby past pride Park so I assume nottsderby has loaned this for download but not tracking?

There are a few buses from Littles/TM that are on loan to Notts & Derby, and of course there are many vehicles that don't track, especially during chuck out time past 10pm

 

[busspotter1]

I'm just curious why would Kinch trail a volvo BZL when there already replacing the whole fleet (except skylink which is getting new buses anyway) with brand new yutongs. I understand if they got a yutong again to trial milage and train drivers or if Trent or others trialed the BZL as they are yet to be electric at all but didn't think there be much point as I doubt kinch would order more electrics

Also about 1h ago I saw a littles ALX400 (I assume D3 L60 LTL) comming of Raynesway from alveston way towards derby past pride Park so I assume nottsderby has loaned this for download but not tracking?

Think it was operating a RR service

 

[liamf656]

Think it was operating a RR service

No, it was on Download shuttles

 

[busspotter1]

I saw that ex-Kinch 904 BN09 FWX has been acquired by Replacement Bus Hire who operate a fleet of Citaros. It will be cannibalised for spares as it is uneconomical to rectify the chassis, as well as a few other things.

Shame really as it’s my favourite bus from Kinch, but the world must go round.

Info and Photo from Replacement Bus Hire Facebook page.

 

[YX73OUB]

I saw that ex-Kinch 904 BN09 FWX has been acquired by Replacement Bus Hire who operate a fleet of Citaros. It will be cannibalised for spares as it is uneconomical to rectify the chassis, as well as a few other things.

Shame really as it’s my favourite bus from Kinch, but the world must go round.

Info and Photo from Replacement Bus Hire Facebook page.

That's a shame, it was lovely to drive, a little jerky on the gearbox but they were all a pleasure to drive when on Calverton connection in my experience. I miss them!

 

[Trainman40083]

Kinchbus Skylink Enviro 200MMC 333 in Derby again today. (Monday)

 

[busspotter1]

That's a shame, it was lovely to drive, a little jerky on the gearbox but they were all a pleasure to drive when on Calverton connection in my experience. I miss them!

The side facing seats at the rear were the best ... don't get that often now!

 

[bringiton]

https://www.kinchbus.co.uk/news-and-media/our-news/article/loughboroughnetworkchanges2025

kinchbus's upcoming network changes

Kinchbus 2 | We’ll be increasing our frequency to hourly plus running via the Great Central Railway (Monday to Saturday, daytime only).

Kinchbus 3 | New hourly service running to Tynedale Road, Monday to Saturday. Joined up journey tickets will be available to use on Kinchbus 2 & 3.

Kinchbus 5 | Will run via Allendale Road and Highland Drive taking in more of the housing south of the Hazel Road Estate. Some minor timetable tweaks to improve reliability.

Kinchbus 11/12 | Some minor route changes including Kinchbus 12 running via Atherstone Road. Some minor timetable tweaks to improve reliability.

 

[Trainman40083]

Does anyone know how many of the new 25 plated Enviros 200MMCs have currently been delivered? .Not seen an update for a few weeks.

 

[MCR247]

Not sure but one just passed me near the Airport doing what looks like driver familiarisation

 

[Np13]

Does anyone know how many of the new 25 plated Enviros 200MMCs have currently been delivered? .Not seen an update for a few weeks.

As of yesterday (from what I could see) still just the 9. It appears deliveries have stalled for some reason unless more have arrived today

 

[Trainman40083]

Not sure but one just passed me near the Airport doing what looks like driver familiarisation

Think only 333 is taxed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jun 2025 ==

As of yesterday (from what I could see) still just the 9. It appears deliveries have stalled for some reason unless more have arrived today

Maybe ADL have run out of.parts again.

 

[zkyx02]

Here’s a question for the older & more observant folk in here, I’ve found photos of what I believe to be 701/3/710 all freshly delivered on FJ08 plates, would anyone happen to have the full list of original plates & fleet nos, after a little digging I’ve found a full list of the original registrations but no fleet numbers with it. Any help is welcome

 

[Trainman40083]

Here’s a question for the older & more observant folk in here, I’ve found photos of what I believe to be 701/3/710 all freshly delivered on FJ08 plates, would anyone happen to have the full list of original plates & fleet nos, after a little digging I’ve found a full list of the original registrations but no fleet numbers with it. Any help is welcome

Unlucky. At one time I would have been able to lay my hands of that list. No idea where it is now. As far as I know, 701 to 727 were delivered with 08 plates affixed. Only 726 /727 entered service with them, the others becoming 58 plated. I took pictures of those I saw, but by no means many of them. Hey, who knows, maybe most of the Skylink Enviro 200MMCs will get 75 plates.

 

[mainframe444]

Here’s a question for the older & more observant folk in here, I’ve found photos of what I believe to be 701/3/710 all freshly delivered on FJ08 plates, would anyone happen to have the full list of original plates & fleet nos, after a little digging I’ve found a full list of the original registrations but no fleet numbers with it. Any help is welcome

I’m not sure of the relationship of plates to fleet numbers, when delivered they did not have fleet numbers applied until the 58 plates had been fitted.

They were obviously intended to go into service as 08 plates, but it was recognised that a new fleet of buses introduced a week before the 58 plates came out reduced the impact of new buses.

They were therefore registered as 58 plates on 1st September 2008.

However, 726 and 727 which were red spares were wanted for the 18 route so were introduced earlier with their original 08 plates.

Now, despite registration numbers not including the fleet number any more, they are largely allocated in alphabetical order, i.e. 726 is WHR and 727 is WHS.

Therefore, if you’ve got WHP on your list, chances are that was 725, and so on.

Hope that helps.

Can you put the full list on here for us all to see?

M

 

[Trainman40083]

I’m not sure of the relationship of plates to fleet numbers, when delivered they did not have fleet numbers applied until the 58 plates had been fitted.

They were obviously intended to go into service as 08 plates, but it was recognised that a new fleet of buses introduced a week before the 58 plates came out reduced the impact of new buses.

They were therefore registered as 58 plates on 1st September 2008.

However, 726 and 727 which were red spares were wanted for the 18 route so were introduced earlier with their original 08 plates.

Now, despite registration numbers not including the fleet number any more, they are largely allocated in alphabetical order, i.e. 726 is WHR and 727 is WHS.

Therefore, if you’ve got WHP on your list, chances are that was 725, and so on.

Hope that helps.

Can you put the full list on here for us all to see?

M

In theory they should have been in body numbers order, both as 08 plates and 58 plated.

 

[zkyx02]

At one time I would have been able to lay my hands of that list. No idea where it is now.

I was 6 at the time otherwise I’d have had a list myself .

Can you put the full list on here for us all to see?

FJ08 WHK
FJ08 WHN
FJ08 WHP
FJ08 WHR - 726
FJ08 WHS - 727
FJ08 WHX - 705
FJ08 WHZ
FJ08 WJA
FJ08 WJL
FJ08 WJM - 701
FJ08 WJN
FJ08 WJU
FJ08 WJO - 703
FJ08 WJV
FJ08 WJX
FJ08 WJY
FJ08 WJZ
FJ08 WKA
FJ08 WKB - 708

This is a list I found in an fb group.

 

[liamf656]

I was 6 at the time otherwise I’d have had a list myself .

FJ08 WHK
FJ08 WHN
FJ08 WHP
FJ08 WHR - 726
FJ08 WHS - 727
FJ08 WHX - 705
FJ08 WHZ
FJ08 WJA
FJ08 WJL
FJ08 WJM - 701
FJ08 WJN
FJ08 WJU
FJ08 WJO - 703
FJ08 WJV
FJ08 WJX
FJ08 WJY
FJ08 WJZ
FJ08 WKA
FJ08 WKB - 708

This is a list I found in an fb group.

You can include WJC, WJF, WJU and WJX in that list. I'm not sure what fleet/VIN numbers they had though or what the rest of the original plates were

 

[Trainman40083]

I was 6 at the time otherwise I’d have had a list myself .

FJ08 WHK
FJ08 WHN
FJ08 WHP
FJ08 WHR - 726
FJ08 WHS - 727
FJ08 WHX - 705
FJ08 WHZ
FJ08 WJA
FJ08 WJL
FJ08 WJM - 701
FJ08 WJN
FJ08 WJU
FJ08 WJO - 703
FJ08 WJV
FJ08 WJX
FJ08 WJY
FJ08 WJZ
FJ08 WKA
FJ08 WKB - 708

This is a list I found in an fb group.

Novel excuse, using young age.

 

[mainframe444]

I was 6 at the time otherwise I’d have had a list myself .

FJ08 WHK
FJ08 WHN
FJ08 WHP
FJ08 WHR - 726
FJ08 WHS - 727
FJ08 WHX - 705
FJ08 WHZ
FJ08 WJA
FJ08 WJL
FJ08 WJM - 701
FJ08 WJN
FJ08 WJU
FJ08 WJO - 703
FJ08 WJV
FJ08 WJX
FJ08 WJY
FJ08 WJZ
FJ08 WKA
FJ08 WKB - 708

This is a list I found in an fb group.

So the plate to fleet number relationship appears to have been totally random!

M

 

[38291018]

Novel excuse, using young age.

I was 1 at the time so think I can get away with that excuse

So the plate to fleet number relationship appears to have been totally random!

If I was to guess, I'll assume that "random order" was the order in which they was built and delivered, then as each bus had to be re-registerd, the "new order" was the order (in which they submitted the letters per bus or took to DVLA in or however it happens to register a vehicle) the buses was registered 1st on the DVLA system of the batch that was done at once, then adding fleet numbers to the new order,
which makes the random order and fleet numbers mix and match.

Hey, who knows, maybe most of the Skylink Enviro 200MMCs will get 75 plates.

Wouldn't be shocked, however with them showing the bus in Leicester would assume they enter service soon. How long between showing off to putting the buses in service did they take with the newer Mickleover, H1, Ilkeston flyer, Villager buses. If they entered service in September would assume they wouldn't show off the bus so early to public?

 

[liamf656]

Some fleet numbering is seemingly random (Scanias and Optares), however it's actually done in order of chassis/body numbers which would probably explain the 08 plate Volvos not being in order of registration originally

 

[Trainman40083]

I was 1 at the time so think I can get away with that excuse

If I was to guess, I'll assume that "random order" was the order in which they was built and delivered, then as each bus had to be re-registerd, the "new order" was the order (in which they submitted the letters per bus or took to DVLA in or however it happens to register a vehicle) the buses was registered 1st on the DVLA system of the batch that was done at once, then adding fleet numbers to the new order,
which makes the random order and fleet numbers mix and match.

Wouldn't be shocked, however with them showing the bus in Leicester would assume they enter service soon. How long between showing off to putting the buses in service did they take with the newer Mickleover, H1, Ilkeston flyer, Villager buses. If they entered service in September would assume they wouldn't show off the bus so early to public?

But I feel sure the last Enviro 200MMCs were taxed very quickly...If they haven't got them all, they may not enter service.

 

[38291018]

I guess they could do a similar thing to the threes (when they replaced bus per bus and and when each was delivered, running older and new buses together till they was fully replaced) with them replacing some of the current buses on the skylink with the 9 or however many they currecntly have freeing up some the mango spares and few older skylinks, then like the threes replace bus per bus as and when each are dilivered with the older 20 plates till all the new buses are on the road which could make some being 75 plated.

 

[YX73OUB]

The situation regarding replacement for the threes was more urgent and delays on the production line were months rather than weeks at that time.

It pays to remember that during the time of the latter days of the versas it wasn't uncommon to have up to 12 off the road at any one point.

This used to regularly see extensive service cancellations so the need to drip feed them into service as and when ready was urgent

 

[liamf656]

The situation regarding replacement for the threes was more urgent and delays on the production line were months rather than weeks at that time.

Not forgetting that they had to draft in 778-780 to assist, plus the fact that the Versas were supposed to have been replaced in 2021 so by the time the ADLs arrived they were in dire need of replacement

 

[Qwerty133]

The situation regarding replacement for the threes was more urgent and delays on the production line were months rather than weeks at that time.

It pays to remember that during the time of the latter days of the versas it wasn't uncommon to have up to 12 off the road at any one point.

This used to regularly see extensive service cancellations so the need to drip feed them into service as and when ready was urgent

To be honest whilst they have a bit of breathing room thanks to the university holidays I think it would be disastrous for service provision if Kinch went into the next academic year without any new vehicles having entered service. Other than the classic and slimline Solos (1-6 and 478/479) which are managing to do their full boards most days and often cover evening services on other routes in place of a failed vehicle the rest of the Kinch fleet seems to be in a constant rotational state of being broken, and often breaking down within hours of being 'fixed'.