Wellglade Group

[Mr TrainGuy]

It was confirmed by both the MD and the Operations Director as being true.

Oh... shame really, the last hope is that things have been chopped and changed since.. I don't know if the drivers of said routes will be particularly pleased about this if the plan does come into fruition!

 

[BusLink61]

I would also personally be surprised especially given the nature of the comet and swift - i could understand them being put onto less demanding routes such as connect and 90; comet and swift seems far fetched considering they can’t cope with the sixes

I was going to suggest could the Versas go on The Calverton as despite the longevity of the timetable, it looks as though it’s a stop start route pretty much most of the way, and therefore less demanding in that regards (though I’m not familiar with the route)

Would The Calverton be a good shout for The Sixes Versas or a silly idea?

 

[SSmith2009]

I was going to suggest could the Versas go on The Calverton as despite the longevity of the timetable, it looks as though it’s a stop start route pretty much most of the way, and therefore less demanding in that regards (though I’m not familiar with the route)

Would The Calverton be a good shout for The Sixes Versas or a silly idea?

A good shout or even my15 to replace their ones.

 

[Trainman40083]

A good shout or even my15 to replace their ones.

I foresee the My15 Versas going on for a few years yet.

 

[StavBered]

I foresee the My15 Versas going on for a few years yet.

That would be quite long... those versas are getting pretty tired, (for example) hearing 803 start up and the fan ramping up to insane volume cannot be something that could last much longer (that goes for the rest of them to be honest as well)

 

[YX73OUB]

That would be quite long... those versas are getting pretty tired, (for example) hearing 803 start up and the fan ramping up to insane volume cannot be something that could last much longer (that goes for the rest of them to be honest as well)

All the Merc Versas have suffered with that cooling fan problem - along with the slipping belts. Some of the old threes ones you could hear them from Victoria Bus Stn when you were waiting to take one off in Sutton.

There are no plans to replace the Volvos on the Calverton as of yet according to Ops Director.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Mar 2026 ==

Oh... shame really, the last hope is that things have been chopped and changed since.. I don't know if the drivers of said routes will be particularly pleased about this if the plan does come into fruition!

These plans are made 2 years in advance usually and rarely (but they do!) are subject to change. It was a pretty adamant statement made by the boss.

 

[Trainman40083]

That would be quite long... those versas are getting pretty tired, (for example) hearing 803 start up and the fan ramping up to insane volume cannot be something that could last much longer (that goes for the rest of them to be honest as well)

I was walking up St Peter's Street in Derby yesterday. Even where the NatWest bank was, I could hear the fan of an Arriva Streetlite. So loud.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Mar 2026 ==

All the Merc Versas have suffered with that cooling fan problem - along with the slipping belts. Some of the old threes ones you could hear them from Victoria Bus Stn when you were waiting to take one off in Sutton.

There are no plans to replace the Volvos on the Calverton as of yet according to Ops Director.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Mar 2026 ==


These plans are made 2 years in advance usually and rarely (but they do!) are subject to change. It was a pretty adamant statement made by the boss.

There can't be that many operators still running 2008 built Volvos so hard, in daily service.

 

[derbyveg]

I was walking up St Peter's Street in Derby yesterday. Even where the NatWest bank was, I could hear the fan of an Arriva streetlite.

Yes they are quite loud, I used to be able to hear scanias going round oakwood in summer... could hear then cooling fans quite a while away too.

 

[BuhSnarf]

I remember the Geminis with First Leicester used to pretty much have their cooling fans running at full blast constantly, could hear coming and sat at stops was insane.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Fairly certain that this isn't set in stone.... it makes sense as a rumour but tbf I can't see Derby wanting to keep those Versas for any longer.

And, as if by magic!!
Versa 846 waiting in Derby bus station to perform a journey on the "Comet" this morning

 

[derbyveg]

And, as if by magic!!
Versa 846 waiting in Derby bus station to perform a journey on the "Comet" this morning

Ah yes the one with the cooling fans stuck on... can certainly hear that coming...

 

[joieman]

3206 and 3208 have entered service today: the former on the service 12 and the latter on the service 9.

I must say, I don't think Kinchbus's fleet has ever been so homogeneous!

 

[Trainman40083]

3206 and 3208 have entered service today: the former on the service 12 and the latter on the service 9.

I must say, I don't think Kinchbus's fleet has ever been so homogeneous!

But will Wellglade order more Yutongs, that is the question.

 

[JJM22]

With the new Kinchbus Yutong E12s now going into service, have they done away with route specific branding?

 

[StavBered]

With the new Kinchbus Yutong E12s now going into service, have they done away with route specific branding?

I mean with their previous issues with buses, leading to them running completely wrong buses on routes (like sprint solos on skylink), they probably just want more flexibility with what can go where

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

With the new Kinchbus Yutong E12s now going into service, have they done away with route specific branding?

Yes, as it provides more flexibility and allows buses to run wherever needed without worries over branding being incorrect.

 

[cnjb8]

With the new Kinchbus Yutong E12s now going into service, have they done away with route specific branding?

I mean with their previous issues with buses, leading to them running completely wrong buses on routes (like sprint solos on skylink), they probably just want more flexibility with what can go where

Additionally if you have only a few buses allocated to a longer distance route compared to the rest of the fleet, this would impact when the batteries need replacing so its better to spread the buses across all routes to equate the milage

 

[SCH117X]

I mean with their previous issues with buses, leading to them running completely wrong buses on routes (like sprint solos on skylink), they probably just want more flexibility with what can go where

No doubt the same as Transdev Harrogates Merc single deckers - that lack of route branding allows them to achieve the best mileage out of a charged battery.

 

[Mugby]

The ex-Reading Enviros have gone into service very quickly (well at least one has) I saw one heading up Ashbourne Road on the Moy Park service, obviously still in Reading livery with N&D transfer on the front,

 

[43055]

The ex-Reading Enviros have gone into service very quickly (well at least one has) I saw one heading up Ashbourne Road on the Moy Park service, obviously still in Reading livery with N&D transfer on the front,

Seen at least two of them on the John Port services.

770 is was at meadow road yesterday afternoon.

 

[MCR247]

All the Merc Versas have suffered with that cooling fan problem - along with the slipping belts. Some of the old threes ones you could hear them from Victoria Bus Stn when you were waiting to take one off in Sutton.

There are no plans to replace the Volvos on the Calverton as of yet according to Ops Director.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Mar 2026 ==


These plans are made 2 years in advance usually and rarely (but they do!) are subject to change. It was a pretty adamant statement made by the boss.

Is the "slipping belts" what causes the high pitched squeal on them or is that something else?

 

[YX73OUB]

Is the "slipping belts" what causes the high pitched squeal on them or is that something else?

Yes it is

 

[Trainman40083]

Yes it is

Memories of Solo 462. You could hear it well before you saw it

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Mar 2026 ==

Seen at least two of them on the John Port services.

770 is was at meadow road yesterday afternoon.

I think only two have. Noted generic Reading 18 and blue 1417. But I don't think they are seat belt fitted yet, so may have more limited use for a while.

 

[bringiton]

https://www.kinchbus.co.uk/news-and-media/our-news/article/timetablechangesApril2026

From 12 April, we'll be making some minor changes to our timetable to improve punctuality and cater for the full introduction of our new zero emission electric vehicles.

There will be slight changes throughout the Kinchbus 2, 3, 11 and 12 timetables.

Kinchbus 3 journeys will no longer continue as Kinchbus 2 from Loughborough onwards.

The evening Kinchbus 11 and 12 timetable will be standardised across the week, the 10.30pm Kinchbus 12 journeys will be extended to run through Shelthorpe on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening. The short journeys to Thorpe Acre on Kinchbus 11 at 6.10pm and on Kinchbus 12 at 1.30pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays will be withdrawn.

 

[liamf656]

Wheel forward Streetlite SK16 GXV in use with Littles

 

[Trainman40083]

Wheel forward Streetlite SK16 GXV in use with Littles

But is it better than a Solo.

 

[SSmith2009]

https://www.kinchbus.co.uk/news-and-media/our-news/article/timetablechangesApril2026

I'm guessing the 1.30pm is meant to read 11.30pm

Interesting that the 2 & 3 won't interwork which means a PVR increase by 1 bus as two buses will be required to maintain the hourly timetable on the 2.

 

[derbyveg]

770 failed its MOT today.

 

[mainframe444]

770 failed its MOT today.

Rectified, retested and passed.

M

 

[BusLink61]

18 - SN11BWB
19 - SN11BRX
20 - TBA

1416 - TBA
1417 - SN61BAA
1418 - SN61BAV
1419 - SN61BCY
1420 - TBA
1421 - TBA
1422 - TBA

Perhaps they are all for N&D, the 14xx numbers made me think they were for TM but realised the 14xx is due to the fact they are (former?) hybrids.

Noticed that two of the former reading E400’s destined for Notts and Derby have ended up at Stotts coaches, SN11BTF and SN11BRX seemingly are the ones: https://www.flickr.com/photos/96429052@N07/55156580050/in/dateposted/

stotts coaches SN11BTF

a day later and a second E400 has arrived, this being former reading buses 1209

www.flickr.com