Wellglade Group

[trentbartonfan]

The new Skylinks also have a triangle at the back. I wonder if this is a new design for some branded routes?

I do prefer the current circle towards the rear used on most route branding. This could just be for the skylinks and red arrow, but I'm sure someone more informed than me will know.

 

[bringiton]

495's transfered to notts depot

 

[Trainman40083]

495's transfered to notts depot

Looks like it might have done a single working on the Rushcliffe Villager, looking at the map.

 

[Jackoram06]

The new Skylinks also have a triangle at the back. I wonder if this is a new design for some branded routes?

I’ve not seen the rear of the new Skylink so will have to take a look but I do think a half red back and keeping the window clear of stickers etc would look better in my opinion

 

[Foxhound87]

Skylink Derby 330 - YX25 OFA just tracked at Manvers Street.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2025 ==

905 - YB25 ULX is the Red Arrow bus being shown off at Nottingham Castle today.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2025 ==

For those who couldn't go (especially because of the weather), here's the new Red Arrow bus in all its glory.

What a retrograde step. Ray having an off day, or can the Morgans no longer afford the services of Best Impressions?

 

[liamf656]

What a retrograde step. Ray having an off day, or can the Morgans no longer afford the services of Best Impressions?

Best Impressions haven't been used for years AFAIK

 

[YX73OUB]

What a retrograde step. Ray having an off day, or can the Morgans no longer afford the services of Best Impressions?

The company moved away from Stenning about 10 years ago.

They have a more than capable marketing and graphic team who can meet the requirements of the business.

And of course they can afford his services.

They aren't the only people to move away from best impressions either.

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

277 - YX23 OTA seems to now be at Langley Mill

Lots of resources now shared / loaned between Sutton and Langley mill; hence 816 coming the other way back to Sutton.

 

[DanielTheEMid]

Skylink Derby 330 - YX25 OFA just tracked at Manvers Street.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2025 ==

905 - YB25 ULX is the Red Arrow bus being shown off at Nottingham Castle today.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2025 ==

For those who couldn't go (especially because of the weather), here's the new Red Arrow bus in all its glory.

I was there yesterday, and I can confirm, these are going to be good buses, the team lead James said they're good to drive with those new DAF engines. Seats comfy too with USB and even Plug Sockets. So far looking positive for the red arrow.

 

[Trainman40083]

I’ve not seen the rear of the new Skylink so will have to take a look but I do think a half red back and keeping the window clear of stickers etc would look better in my opinion

A rear of a Skylink Derby?

 

[m79900]

How long before we start to see 20 plates transferred to other routes?

 

[JJM22]

I was there yesterday, and I can confirm, these are going to be good buses, the team lead James said they're good to drive with those new DAF engines. Seats comfy too with USB and even Plug Sockets. So far looking positive for the red arrow.

Looks like they’ll have handheld ticketer machines for redarrow as a cradle is fitted.

 

[Foxhound87]

The company moved away from Stenning about 10 years ago.

They have a more than capable marketing and graphic team who can meet the requirements of the business.

Looking at Red Arrow the requirements of the business must be pretty basic

 

[43055]

How long before we start to see 20 plates transferred to other routes?

Depends on how long it takes for the 25 plates to enter service and then add a couple of months depending on where they are planned to go next to get refurbished.

 

[YX73OUB]

Looking at Red Arrow the requirements of the business must be pretty basic

Everyone's entitled to their opinion

 

[MCR247]

Looking at Red Arrow the requirements of the business must be pretty basic

At least with in house liveries and branding you know it is ‘yours,’ I used to think Best Impressions (at least some years ago, not sure about their current work) flew a bit close too the sun in terms of different operators paying presumably a pretty penny quite similar branding

 

[swinny1990]

What's the plans for the 20 plates of skylink?

 

[SSmith2009]

At least with in house liveries and branding you know it is ‘yours,’ I used to think Best Impressions (at least some years ago, not sure about their current work) flew a bit close too the sun in terms of different operators paying presumably a pretty penny quite similar branding

Agree these in house liveries look a lot better than the same old styles of yesteryear in different shades.

I quite like the new Skylink Leicester livery it's certainly stands out, amongst the sea of mostly green at St Margaret's

 

[tsyxa]

Why have Kinch decided to call their new route 3, and not just extend the 2, seeing as the new route is operationally an extension of the 2? To me it seems like this decision just makes navigation harder for the customers, especially the elderly, as most won’t know that the route goes through loughborough town now, or that you can buy a through ticket.

 

[SSmith2009]

Why have Kinch decided to call their new route 3, and not just extend the 2, seeing as the new route is operationally an extension of the 2? To me it seems like this decision just makes navigation harder for the customers, especially the elderly, as most won’t know that the route goes through loughborough town now, or that you can buy a through ticket.

it was already the 3 route and keeps it familiar for users of the service.

I doubt they'd have many through passengers.

 

[m79900]

What's the plans for the 20 plates of skylink?

I don't think anyone knows for certain, but the Sixes and Skylink Nottingham seem to be the most popular suggestions.

 

[zkyx02]

What's the plans for the 20 plates of skylink?

I’ve heard many rumours but the ones that keep being mentioned are ‘the two’, with the B8s to go on ‘sixes’ & the versas then split, with one of routes mentioned being ‘the comet’…

Considering it’s now nearly 10 years since the Scanias on ‘red arrow’ were replaced & similar time for ‘the comet’ becoming a thing I think it’s about time the Volvos were replaced, while still being some of the best vehicles in Wellglade they look incredibly tired, or perhaps a repaint/refurb would see them well for another 6-8 years.

 

[m79900]

I’ve heard many rumours but the ones that keep being mentioned are ‘the two’, with the B8s to go on ‘sixes’ & the versas then split, with one of routes mentioned being ‘the comet’…

Considering it’s now nearly 10 years since the Scanias on ‘red arrow’ were replaced & similar time for ‘the comet’ becoming a thing I think it’s about time the Volvos were replaced, while still being some of the best vehicles in Wellglade they look incredibly tired, or perhaps a repaint/refurb would see them well for another 6-8 years.

Versas on the Comet seems to be asking for trouble! The Comet's still a fairly demanding long distance route, just not as hilly as the 6.1. The Volvos would be well suited to the Sixes though I think.
The Nines is another route which hasn't seen any change for a long time, and the 4 pot ADLs are getting a bit tired. Maybe a refurb on the cards?

 

[zkyx02]

Versas on the Comet seems to be asking for trouble! The Comet's still a fairly demanding long distance route

Exactly that, it’ll be another nail in the coffin to what was once a flagship route (red arrow era)

The Nines is another route which hasn't seen any change for a long time, and the 4 pot ADLs are getting a bit tired. Maybe a refurb on the cards?

In fairness the nines ADLs are some of my favourites, they are tired now tho & some tend to be diabolically slow on the hill section of the A38 leaving Derby.

The Volvos would be well suited to the Sixes though I think.

Having known a few people who have done the twos & worked on them mechanically I hear nothing but bad things, the early B8RLEs seem to be shocking compared to the eVoRa kind, whether the engines are set up in different ways in another story, what would make sense to me personally is to part ex 836-848 (leave 849/50/51 at Sutton) & get a batch of 12 eVoRas…

 

[38291018]

I’ve heard many rumours but the ones that keep being mentioned are ‘the two’, with the B8s to go on ‘sixes’ & the versas then split, with one of routes mentioned being ‘the comet’…

Ye these are rumors so take with a pinch of salt, but I did hear the 20plate E200 MMC'S are designed for the twos and b8s going to sixes too with versa being split however unsure what plans are with comet.

The Nines is another route which hasn't seen any change for a long time, and the 4 pot ADLs are getting a bit tired. Maybe a refurb on the cards?

From rumors I heard there no current plans to change these but is talks of a refurb but again not sure how true that is. I do seem to remember someone in the thread saying something about Nines refurbishments and some rerouting or something I'll try find the post and put below.

There are no imminent plans for new nines vehicles.

There were talks about refurbishments though.

However is is a very busy brand and some of the nines ADLs are touching 800,000 miles & they certainly have some issues at the moment.

There's a lot of potential with it to do a lot more with it, too.

What was said before by another user

 

[callum3490]

Exactly that, it’ll be another nail in the coffin to what was once a flagship route (red arrow era)

In fairness the nines ADLs are some of my favourites, they are tired now tho & some tend to be diabolically slow on the hill section of the A38 leaving Derby.

Having known a few people who have done the twos & worked on them mechanically I hear nothing but bad things, the early B8RLEs seem to be shocking compared to the eVoRa kind, whether the engines are set up in different ways in another story, what would make sense to me personally is to part ex 836-848 (leave 849/50/51 at Sutton) & get a batch of 12 eVoRas…

The last knowledge was that evoras were off the cards due to the way their seats are mounted. Although people have also said trent are done with buying ADLs given the recent problems so it doesn’t leave them with many options…

Cascading the skylink mmcs onto the twos to then cascade the b8rles onto sixes seems likely. That could potentially still leave room for the comet to be upgraded to E200s if 107/108 are being freed up from kinch too.

 

[Davidsb3]

The last knowledge was that evoras were off the cards due to the way their seats are mounted. Although people have also said trent are done with buying ADLs given the recent problems so it doesn’t leave them with many options…

Cascading the skylink mmcs onto the twos to then cascade the b8rles onto sixes seems likely. That could potentially still leave room for the comet to be upgraded to E200s if 107/108 are being freed up from kinch too.

107 and 108 are to stay with Kinch as far as i know.

Versas on the Comet seems to be asking for trouble! The Comet's still a fairly demanding long distance route, just not as hilly as the 6.1. The Volvos would be well suited to the Sixes though I think.
The Nines is another route which hasn't seen any change for a long time, and the 4 pot ADLs are getting a bit tired. Maybe a refurb on the cards?

Versas would not last very long on the route and with the turn out of Alfreton Bus station being tight in versa compared to how easy it is to do in a Volvo is another factor as to why the 3 Volvos on the Comet will most likely stay until they are completely life expired (hopfulley after they have had a refurb) as again it is not a very profitable route compared to what it used to be before covid.

 

[Trainman40083]

107 and 108 are to stay with Kinch as far as i know.

Versas would not last very long on the route and with the turn out of Alfreton Bus station being tight in versa compared to how easy it is to do in a Volvo is another factor as to why the 3 Volvos on the Comet will most likely stay until they are completely life expired (hopfulley after they have had a refurb) as again it is not a very profitable route compared to what it used to be before covid.

But what has changed to make routes such as the Comet less profitable in the recent years?

 

[Davidsb3]

But what has changed to make routes such as the Comet less profitable in the recent years?

To be honest with you i could'nt tell you but from what I've heard from other drivers i think it could simply be the decline of Chesterfields town life

 

[Trainman40083]

To be honest with you i could'nt tell you but from what I've heard from other drivers i think it could simply be the decline of Chesterfields town life

Maybe people have changed their shopping habits a lot.

 

[Brightsidio]

To be honest with you i could'nt tell you but from what I've heard from other drivers i think it could simply be the decline of Chesterfields town life

I mean, The Comet did change it's route slightly in 2022 to pick up a bit of the Amberline. But yes, Chesterfield Town Centre is declining as they are redeveloping it. Hopefully when it gets complete, it could be profitable again.