demonstration vehicles

Like many bus operators Midland Red West and First Midland Red have operated demonstration vehicles - The following is a chronology of the vehicles operated. It does not include hired vehicles such as the Mercedes 608D minibuses used as driver trainers before the launch of the Worcester Citibus network in 1985 or the MAN bendi-buses used at Redditch in 1983.


2505" AE06OPG MAN MCV Evolution B??F - The vehicle was delivered to Worcester Garage on 30th May 2006 in an overall white livery. The was fitted with a ticket machine and FMR legal lettering and given a fleet number of 2505. The vehicle entered service during the first week in June at Kidderminster garage where it was used on local services plus the 292 service. The vehicle was in the fleet for around six weeks.


10177 WX55LWC Volvo B7LA Wrights AB56D On Monday 5th September 2005 for the launch of the new Worcester Express bus network Firstgroup brought one of their new bendi-bus vehicles to Worcester which are about to enter service on the University Shuttle services in the City of Bath. The vehicle was on static display in Worcester for the day. As it was yet to be registered it was not as had been planned used in passenger service in Worcester. 10177 is part of a 10 vehicle batch 10174-82 for use in Bath. 


882 W809VMA Dennis Dart SLF Caetano B37F - The vehicle was loaned from the manufacturer from 9th April 2001 until 17th April 2001 for driver training purposes prior to the start of Worcester Park and Ride. The vehicle which was in full First Group livery and had previously carried the registration mark REL905 when operating with First PMT. At the time this was the only Caetano bodied Dennis Dart vehicle in the Firstgroup fleet and had been loaned to the group by the manufacturer in a hope that they would gain some orders for new buses.


351 S551WAT Dennis Dart MPD Plaxton B29F - This vehicle was loaned to First Midland Red between 1st March 1999 and 22nd March 1999. The vehicle was used in service at Kidderminster. It was the first vehicle the Company had operated in the 'new' Firstgroup low floor bus livery. The vehicle was owned by First Group and was being used as a Group demonstrator.


339 R739 TMO Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton B41F. This vehicle was loaned to First Midland Red between 27th October 1998 and December 1999 where it operated from the Kidderminster Garage. The loan of this vehicle by Plaxton was to allow warranty work to be carried out on the Dennis Lance vehicles running from Kidderminster Garage. After loan spells with a number of other operators, including Yorkshire Rider, the vehicle spent time in the Pete's Travel fleet and ran for a short time from their former Redditch garage


257 P453BPH Dennis Lance Plaxton B51F. This vehicle was loaned to First Midland Red from November 1996 until 13th January 2000. During that time it was operated from Digbeth, Worcester and Evesham Garages. The vehicle differed from the Midland Red West examples in that it had a split entrance step and 51 rather than 49 seats. In January 2000 the vehicle moved to Yorkshire Rider where it took the fleet number 1202 but by March 2000 was back with First Midland Red at Worcester pending disposal by it's owner which was Plaxton. The vehicle is ran for a number of years in the Diamond Bus (The Birmingham Coach Company) fleet.


491 N491FDT Mercedes 709D Plaxton B27F - This vehicle was loaned to Midland Red West between 20th August and 4th November 1996 and was used on services run by the Worcester Garage. The vehicle was a Firstgroup demonstrator which was owned by Plaxtons. It carried full Bristol Cityline red, blue and yellow livery and was returned to Plaxton's on 4th November 1996


113 M113SLS Scania L113CRL Wrights B47F - This vehicle was new in March 1995. The vehicle was loaned to Midland Red West between 5th September and 15th September 1995. The vehicle was used in service at Redditch Garage and was the first low floor bus to be operated by Midland Red West (Dart 341 was not put into service until April 1996). The vehicle spent most of it's time in service on the 57 and 58 routes in Redditch and  was fitted with a digital destination blind. As it was only to be in the fleet for a short time it was not worth coding the routes in to the destination display system so a destination board was used made out of a minibus destination blind. After a number of years in the Nottingham City Transport fleet the vehicles is now in the Mayne's of Manchester where it carries the fleet number 37.


930 M930TYG Optare Metrorider B27F. This vehicle was new in January 1995 and was loaned to Midland Red West between 17th and 24th July 1995. The vehicle was used in service at Worcester Garage

 

 


284 M284HRH Dennis Dart Plaxton B39F. This vehicle was new in xxxx. This vehicle was loaned to First Midland Red between xxxxx 1995 and 1st April 1995 where it operated from the Kidderminster Garage. It returned to Plaxton's on 1st April 1995 and was sold by them to Warrington, making Midland Red West the only company to operate the vehicle as a demonstrator


1809 G569BHP Talbot Pullman DP22F - This vehicle was new in July 1990. The vehicle was loaned to Midland Red West between 21st November 1990 and 3rd January 1991 and between 17th January 1991 and 12th February 1991. The vehicle was not used in service on the second occasion


1539 H389SYG Mercedes 811D Optare B26F - This vehicle was new in September 1990. This demonstration vehicle was basically a cheaper version of the Optare Star Rider body as the original Mercedes bonnet and windscreen was retained when the vehicle was bodied. The vehicle was used in service at Worcester garage between 20th November 1990 and 5th December 1990.


F100AKB Renault PR100 NCME B51F - This vehicle was new in October 1988. The vehicle was used in service at Redditch garage between 13th November 1990 and 27th November 1990.


1241 G241AHP Talbot Pullman B22F - This vehicle was new in November 1989. It was loaned between 24th November 1990 and 4th April 1991 and was used in service at Redditch. Like the production batch 1801-4/6/7 the company was to go on to operate from the following year the vehicle suffered from clutch problems mainly due to being front wheel drive - It spent long periods off the road and got through more than one clutch during it's stay at Redditch


837 G837LWR DAF SB220 Optare Delta B53F - This vehicle was new in April 1990 It was loaned between 1st October 1990 and 12th October 1990 and was used in service at Digbeth garage. The vehicle was mainly used on the 83/4/5/6 group of services


1590 G590PKL Mercedes 811D Dormobile B24F - This vehicle was new in June 1990. It was loaned between 18th July 1990 and 3rd August 1990 and was used in service at Worcester.


1645 G645EVN CVE Omni B23F - This vehicle was new in 1990. It was loaned between 11th July 1990 and 26th July 1990 and was used in service at Worcester.


E486ONX Fiat 49-10 Carlyle B25F - This vehicle was new in October 1987. It was like D275OOJ the first of a second generation of Carlyle bodies this time on the Fiat chassis. The vehicle was loaned between 12th January 1988 and 26th January 1988 and was mainly used in service at Redditch Garage though it was briefly used as a driver trainer - Your Webmaster once again drove this bus as a driver trainer


D275OOJ Sherpa Carlyle B20F - This vehicle was new in June 1987. It was the first of a second generation of Carlyle bodied minibuses. The vehicle was loaned between 8th June 1987 and 22nd June 1987 and was used in service at Redditch Garage


D300OKM Mercedes 709D Dormobile B20F. This vehicle was new in April 1987 and was initially loaned to Midland Red West between 7th April 1987 and 17th April 1987 when it was used in service at Redditch Garage. The vehicle returned between 22nd December 1987 and 18th January 1988 when it was used as a driver training vehicle - This was the first bus your Webmaster ever drove.


D746ERV Fiat 49-10 Robin Hood B21F. This vehicle was new in April 1987 and was loaned to Midland Red West between 1st May 1987 and 12th May 1987. The vehicle was used in service at Worcester Garage


C920FMP Leyland Lynx B51F. This very early Leyland Lynx the forth to be built was new in June 1986 and operated as a demonstrator vehicle. The vehicle was loaned to Midland Red West between 16th April 1987 and 5th May 1987 and was operated from Redditch Garage. During it's stay at Redditch Garage it was operated on the 318, X8 and 57/8 services.  


1300 - C240JTU Fiat 49-10 Robin Hood B21F This vehicle was new in February 1986 and was loaned to Midland Red from 27th February 1986 until 30th May 1986 and was operated from Worcester Garage as a replacement for the late delivery of 61st Mercedes 608D which was to be numbered  1361