Wellglade Group

[swinny1990]

Brilliant bus 741 is

 

[YX73OUB]

That’s if the Volvos actually are a good choice, they seem to have struggled with reliability since purchase & a lot have spent prolonged periods VOR, so let’s hope they perform better than the versas…

The three that we used on the threes were only ever VORd for accident damage and although they were only temporary additions they were very very welcome

 

[Trainman40083]

Yes just borrowing it for the day

Yet there will be a depot full of buses at Derby. Just in different colours.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2025 ==

A few months ago I had to travel to Derby for a meeting. It was not in walking distance of the station, and I usually prefer to avoid taxis, so I looked at buses.

As an outsider, I found the website quite unintuitive. This is because everywhere else I go, I can work out which route number I need to get to my destination, and then work back from there. You can't do that with Trent Barton because they mostly don't have numbers for individual routes, and the brands (which mostly apply to groups of routes) are a poor substitute. It's not the end of the world, I figured it out eventually, and it probably makes sense if you're used to it, but I don't understand why they can't have a straightforward route numbering system alongside the brands like every other bus company in the country.

So I got to Derby made my way to the bus stop. The first bus didn't turn up. The second bus arrived at the stop and the driver shut it down and wondered off leaving it parked there for several minutes, at which point the third bus arrived, overtook the second bus and drove off empty. I'm not sure what happened next as I then had to go and find a taxi to avoid being late.

On the way back I did actually manage to get a bus. The on board information screens and announcements were broken. Also, since it didn't serve the station I asked the driver where buses to the station went from and he had no idea! Bizarre.

The bus to the station, it turned out, was a "Skylink". At least that seemed to work fairly well. Although the information screens and announcements were also broken on this one.

This would be a poor show for any bus company, and is diabolical for the self-styled "really good" one. If this is the sort of experience regular passengers can expect, it is no wonder if people are going out of their way to avoid using them.

Of course, I should have added. Trentbarton don't serve the railway station in Derby. Kinchbus do, as to High Peak, Notts and Derby, Arriva and Diamond Bus East Midlands.

 

[py_megapixel]

Of course, I should have added. Trentbarton don't serve the railway station in Derby. Kinchbus do, as to High Peak, Notts and Derby, Arriva and Diamond Bus East Midlands.

I'm sure I travelled to the station on a Skylink bus which did look like a Trent Barton brand

 

[callum3490]

I'm sure I travelled to the station on a Skylink bus which did look like a Trent Barton brand

The at the time yellow skylink derby/leicester is operated by kinchbus also part of wellglade

 

[43055]

Also looks as if 2 of the ex amberline solos have arrived at Langley Mill

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2025 ==


It’s a shame that excluding the evora the others are in small numbers but I think any adl can be ruled out now. Will be interested to see how any future orders play out.

490 is at least one of the ex amberline solo's at Langley Mill.

Yes just borrowing it for the day

Bit surprising considering it is a Sunday service today.

 

[Jackoram06]

490 is at least one of the ex amberline solo's at Langley Mill.

Bit surprising considering it is a Sunday service today.

Is it known where theyre destined to go? ND? Help out at Trent for a bit?

 

[derbybusdepot]

Yet there will be a depot full of buses at Derby. Just in different colours.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2025 ==


Of course, I should have added. Trentbarton don't serve the railway station in Derby. Kinchbus do, as to High Peak, Notts and Derby, Arriva and Diamond Bus East Midlands.

741 was on the i4 on Saturday, was one of the buses that ended up out stationed at Derby as they usually are. It's back on i4 today.

 

[Teapot42]

Passed a Solo on the Comet this morning, bit of a come-down from the usual. Also, not sure if it's just not tracking but one bus appears to be missing, with the 07:00 from Derby and 08:15 from Chesterfield not tracking.

 

[Davidsb3]

Passed a Solo on the Comet this morning, bit of a come-down from the usual. Also, not sure if it's just not tracking but one bus appears to be missing, with the 07:00 from Derby and 08:15 from Chesterfield not tracking.

Well with 669 now transfered to derby (now Derby based) to help out and has gone on The comet today

 

[43055]

Passed a Solo on the Comet this morning, bit of a come-down from the usual. Also, not sure if it's just not tracking but one bus appears to be missing, with the 07:00 from Derby and 08:15 from Chesterfield not tracking.

669 was on the 0815 from Chesterfield.

 

[swinny1990]

109 now back at nottingham which will of replace 669

 

[m79900]

Well with 669 now transfered to derby (now Derby based) to help out and has gone on The comet today

Is there a chance it'll run the Sixes at some point? That'd be a great sight again, its been a while.

 

[Teapot42]

669 was on the 0815 from Chesterfield.

Well, from Swanwick. Not great dropping the peak time runs, but good they've found something to fill the gap.

 

[Trainman40083]

669 was on the 0815 from Chesterfield.

Seemingly running fast up the A38 from Derby, to run the service South from Alfreton.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2025 ==

I did wonder if the Allestree service was down to just two buses today. 265 stopped tracking on Kedleston Road ....shortage of drivers probably . Later in a subsequent diagram there was Solo SR 503. I guess 265 needs a fix.

 

[Teapot42]

Seemingly running fast up the A38 from Derby, to run the service South from Alfreton.

Strikes me as odd that they decided to run it on time but miss out Alfreton. Going to the bus station might have made it 10 late, but there is 25 minutes recovery at Derby and surely there would be a decent number waiting at the bus station for it?

 

[Trainman40083]

Strikes me as odd that they decided to run it on time but miss out Alfreton. Going to the bus station might have made it 10 late, but there is 25 minutes recovery at Derby and surely there would be a decent number waiting at the bus station for it?

Maybe they get measured on journeys that arrive at their destination, rather than the computer route. Maybe all the passengers at Alfreton bus station caught the Nines. 25 minutes recovery time for the bus. Maybe not the driver. All said, a welcome addition helping out at Derby.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Aug 2025 ==

Maybe they get measured on journeys that arrive at their destination, rather than the computer route. Maybe all the passengers at Alfreton bus station caught the Nines. 25 minutes recovery time for the bus. Maybe not the driver. All said, a welcome addition helping out at Derby.

Computer should have said complete. Phone has a mind of it's own..

 

[Mugby]

Strikes me as odd that they decided to run it on time but miss out Alfreton. Going to the bus station might have made it 10 late, but there is 25 minutes recovery at Derby and surely there would be a decent number waiting at the bus station for it?

It would have presented a problem. It could have turned round in Alfreton bus station but at the present time the picking up and setting down points for Comet in Alfreton are on King Street near the Wagon & Horses pub. For the duration of the road works Comet isn't calling at the bus station.
If it had used the bus station just for the purpose of turning, any passengers waiting on King Street wouldn't have known about it at all.

 

[derbybusdepot]

It would have presented a problem. It could have turned round in Alfreton bus station but at the present time the picking up and setting down points for Comet in Alfreton are on King Street near the Wagon & Horses pub. For the duration of the road works Comet isn't calling at the bus station.
If it had used the bus station just for the purpose of turning, any passengers waiting on King Street wouldn't have known about it at all.

It's more disappointing that the whole outbound, and the inbound section that only runs hourly were missed. It is a shame buses cannot be loaned from notts and derby more easily, as it would reduce alot of this lost mileage/inconvenience to passengers.

 

[Hyebone]

Here's 669 in Chesterfield last night. Left my camera at home so this'll have to do...

It sounded fairly healthy for its age; what becomes of it once it is surplus I do not know.

 

[callum3490]

Here's 669 in Chesterfield last night. Left my camera at home so this'll have to do...

It sounded fairly healthy for its age; what becomes of it once it is surplus I do not know.

The more fires that keep occurring the longer it looks as though 669 will be clinging on

 

[Trainman40083]

It's more disappointing that the whole outbound, and the inbound section that only runs hourly were missed. It is a shame buses cannot be loaned from notts and derby more easily, as it would reduce alot of this lost mileage/inconvenience to passengers.

Wrong colour

 

[Mugby]

Arriving into Derby yesterday evening at about 6.50pm I spotted an Indigo E200 being towed along the inner ring road by a recovery truck in the direction of the cathederal. Presumably it had come from the bus station and was heading to Meadow Road. I imagine it was routed that way and down Full Street to avoid going through town with the sharp turns and roundabouts on Corporation Street.
It was impossible to see a fleet or reg. number but whatever it was must have failed around 6pm. Any ideas?

 

[Teapot42]

Arriving into Derby yesterday evening at about 6.50pm I spotted an Indigo E200 being towed along the inner ring road by a recovery truck in the direction of the cathederal.

Slightly unclear based on the time of your post, but was this Tuesday? If so, 214 seems to have tracked to Long Eaton but no further on the 17:30 from Derby.

 

[zkyx02]

Arriving into Derby yesterday evening at about 6.50pm I spotted an Indigo E200 being towed along the inner ring road by a recovery truck in the direction of the cathederal. Presumably it had come from the bus station and was heading to Meadow Road. I imagine it was routed that way and down Full Street to avoid going through town with the sharp turns and roundabouts on Corporation Street.
It was impossible to see a fleet or reg. number but whatever it was must have failed around 6pm. Any ideas?

I mean an ADL breaking down is quite common & the indigo batch are even worse than normal ones.

 

[TheGuy77]

It appears that 1400 has managed 3 consecutive days on the 218 without breaking down. Let's hope it doesn't break down... again!

 

[callum3490]

I mean an ADL breaking down is quite common & the indigo batch are even worse than normal ones.

4 pots on such a highly demanding route it comes as no surprise - would think the indigo were about due an upgrade to something more suited but 216 being repainted after so long would suggest it’s not being eyed up for an upgrade any time soon

 

[joieman]

It appears that 1400 has managed 3 consecutive days on the 218 without breaking down. Let's hope it doesn't break down... again!

Still unreliable, is it? I'm not surprised!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2025 ==

4 pots on such a highly demanding route it comes as no surprise - would think the indigo were about due an upgrade to something more suited but 216 being repainted after so long would suggest it’s not being eyed up for an upgrade any time soon

The Indigo/Rainbow 5 got new buses in 1998/2000, 2003, 2008 and 2018. That means that before the MMCs arrived in 2018 the buses for this service were being replaced roughly every five years. I'd agree it is time for the current crop of Indigo buses to be replaced by something new.

 

[Trainman40083]

4 pots on such a highly demanding route it comes as no surprise - would think the indigo were about due an upgrade to something more suited but 216 being repainted after so long would suggest it’s not being eyed up for an upgrade any time soon

Maybe the revenue is not what it was. I doubt it is as strong as pre COVID. But I'll say this, whatever new buses they have "ditch the sun roof and improve ventilation". You wouldn't leave a dog in a car without ventilation. If they improve suspension even better.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2025 ==

Okay fans. What happened to Mickleover Enviro 200MMC this morning? Bustimes suggests it lost 1 hour inbound at the Royal Hospital. When I saw it around 10.00 in Derby it seemed to have an area taped up. The person with me said "Did you see that bus? Looked like it was held together with Sellotape. I presume it came off.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2025 ==

4 pots on such a highly demanding route it comes as no surprise - would think the indigo were about due an upgrade to something more suited but 216 being repainted after so long would suggest it’s not being eyed up for an upgrade any time soon

Hey, the 4 pots are not that great even on the Allestree route or the Nines. Still, from very soon, there will be 5 on the Allestree again

 

[MCR247]

The Indigo/Rainbow 5 got new buses in 1998/2000, 2003, 2008 and 2018. That means that before the MMCs arrived in 2018 the buses for this service were being replaced roughly every five years. I'd agree it is time for the current crop of Indigo buses to be replaced by something new.

indigo really is somewhat a shadow of its former self with both Skylink and NET extension taking chunks out of it. Although it’s all wellglade so I’m not sure if it’s a bad thing for them overall. I’d take the 5 year fleet renewal with a pinch of salt almost because that will also have been down to the desire to bring in new buses into the fleet generally and therefore it making sense to put them on flagship routes rather than just R5 or indigo needing new buses on its on merit.

Having said that, I do remember saying at the time on here that I thought it was odd they’d ordered different E200s for i4 and indigo and that I thought it’d be a mistake