40519/20 YN08MKP/O
As
part of the deal to purchase the Midland Classic
operations brought two double deck Scania buses into the
Midlands operation of Diamond Bus. Rotala already
have a number of similar vehicles that started life in
their former Bristol area operations. When this closed
the vehicles moved to Preston Bus. The two vehicles were
new to Reading Buses as 1103 and 1102 and were painted
in a pink livery in that fleet. On entry to the Midland
Classic fleet both were painted into the Standard
Midland Classic red and yellow livery.
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Body type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
YN08MKP | 40519 | Scania N270UD | Scania | H47/30F | July 2018 | Burton on Trent |
YN08MKO | 40520 | Scania N270UD | Scania | H47/30F | July 2018 | Burton on Trent |
40521-7 SN11BNL/E/D/A, SN11BMZ/V/U
As
part of the deal to purchase the Midland Classic
operations this brought seven Enviro 400 double deck buses
into the wider Midlands operation of Diamond Bus. These
vehicles were purchased new by First Group for their
London operations and entered service in April 2011.
The vehicles were built with dual door entrance/exits
and had a seating configuration of H41/27D as In June 2013 the First
operations in London were sold to Tower Transit and
these vehicles were included in the sale by First Group.
By 2018 the vehicles had joined the Midland Classic
fleet and had had the centre door removed so were now
configured as H41/26F.
On entry to the Midland Classic fleet all were painted
into the Standard Midland Classic red and yellow livery.
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Body type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
SN11BNL | 40521 | ADL E400 | Alexander Dennis | H41/26F | July 2018 | Burton on Trent |
SN11BNE | 40522 | ADL E400 | Alexander Dennis | H41/26F | July 2018 | Burton on Trent |
SN11BND | 40523 | ADL E400 | Alexander Dennis | H41/26F | July 2018 | Burton on Trent |
SN11BNA | 40524 | ADL E400 | Alexander Dennis | H41/26F | July 2018 | Burton on Trent |
SN11BMZ | 40525 | ADL E400 | Alexander Dennis | H41/26F | July 2018 | Burton on Trent |
SN11BMV | 40526 | ADL E400 | Alexander Dennis | H41/26F | July 2018 | Burton on Trent |
SN11BMU | 40527 | ADL E400 | Alexander Dennis | H41/26F | July 2018 | Burton on Trent |
40540-4 V540-4ESC
During
March 2013 Diamond Bus acquired for Dennis Trident
double deckers from their sister subsidiary Preston Bus
for use at the recently acquired Redditch depot. The
vehicles had started life with Lothian Buses as dual
door vehicles in Edinburgh. When the vehicles had been
sold to Preston Bus they had been converted to a single
door configuration. However they retained their trade
mark Lothian Buses Scottish tartan seat apostasy and a
number of tables in the down stairs seating area. Before
the vehicles entered service at Redditch they were
repainted in the striking all over blue Diamond Bus
livery. Their entry into service allowed the former
First Midland double deckers to be withdrawn. In the
ensuing years all but one of the vehicles have been
withdrawn. 40544 was retained at
Redditch and was used on a Warwickshire contracted
service for Alcester Grammar School. At the end of the
school year in July 2019 the vehicle was withdrawn.
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Body type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
V540ESC | 40540 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H45/29F | March 2013 | Withdrawn 12/16 destroyed by fire 10/19 |
V541ESC | 40541 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H45/29F | March 2013 | Withdrawn 7/15 destroyed by fire 10/19 |
V542ESC | 40542 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H45/29F | March 2013 | Withdrawn 7/15 destroyed by fire 10/19 |
V543ESC | 40543 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H45/29F | March 2013 | Withdrawn 12/16 destroyed by fire 10/19 |
V544ESC | 40544 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H45/29F | March 2013 | Withdrawn 7/19 Sold to Peters for scrap 3/20 |
42564/5 - K123/6URP
With
the sale of Redditch and Kidderminster Garages of First
Midland Red to Diamond Bus on 3rd March 2013 K123URP and
K126URP were included in the sale and surprisingly
unlike a number of the step entrance Dennis Lance
vehicles they were retained for service making them by
far the oldest vehicles in the Diamond Bus fleet. Whilst
the vehicles were in the fleet for the operation of
school services they did see service on other routes.
With the sale K123URP was renumbered 42564 from 34123
and K126URP was renumbered 42565 from 34126. In the
event the vehicles were withdrawn at the end of the 2013
academic year and were soon sold for scrap.
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
K123URP | 42564 | Volvo B10M | CH47/35F | November 2005 | Withdrawn - June 2013 - Sold to Willenhall Commercials for scrap Sept 2013 |
K126URP | 42565 | Volvo B10M | CH47/35F | September 2006 | Withdrawn - August 2013 - Sold to Willenhall Commercials for scrap Sept 2013 |
40610-9 - original use of the fleet numbers V857/60/2/77/T881KLF/V882HHL/T884KLF/V885/6/94HHL
When
Diamond Bus purchased the Redditch Garage from First
Midland Red on 3rd March 2013 the deal included ten T
and V registered Dennis Tridents. The vehicles had only joined the Redditch fleet
in the autumn of 2012 and had allowed all five of the 54
plate Dennis Tridents to be transferred to the Worcester
depot and a number of step entrance Dennis Lance
vehicles to be withdrawn.
The ten vehicles had started life
on Transport for London contracts with Firstgroup and at
the end of a 12 year period in service the vehicles were replaced
with newer vehicles.
Being built to a dual door configuration the vehicle
underwent some refurbishment that removed the
extra set of doors, fitted electronic destination blinds
and gave the vehicle a general overhaul. Initially the
vehicles were allocated to First Eastern National before
being replaced by slightly newer vehicles in late 2012
to allow the transfer to Redditch depot.
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Body type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
V857HBY | 40610 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H42/27F | October 2012 | Withdrawn - Sold to Ensign bus 10/13 |
V860HBY | 40611 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H42/27F | 20th August 2012 | Withdrawn |
V862HBY | 40612 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H42/27F | September 2012 | Withdrawn |
V877HBY | 40613 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H42/27F | August 2012 | Withdrawn - Sold to Preston bus for spares |
T881KLF | 40614 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H42/27F | October 2012 | Withdrawn - Sold to Preston bus for spares |
V882HBY | 40615 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H42/27F | October 2012 | Withdrawn - Sold to Ensign bus 10/13 |
T884KLF | 40616 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H42/27F | October 2012 | Withdrawn |
T885KLF | 40617 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H42/27F | October 2012 | Withdrawn |
T886KLF | 40618 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H42/27F | September 2012 | Withdrawn - Sold to Ensign bus 10/13 |
V894HHL | 40619 | Dennis Trident | Plaxton | H42/27F | September 2012 | Withdrawn |
Former First Midland Red Fleet numbers are 40610 - 32857, 40611 - 32860, 40612 - 32862, 40613 - 32877, 40614 - 32881, 40615 - 32882, 40616 - 32884, 40617 - 32885, 40618 - 32886 & 40619 - 32894
42610-15 - new use of the fleet numbers
With the demise of Bournemouth Transport on 4th August
2022 all their vehicles being made surplus with them
being disposed of either back to leasing companies or
dealers such as Ensign Bus. Rotala acquired 19 Wrights
Streetlite single deckers in December 2022 which have
joined the Preston and Diamond Bus fleets. The group had
a further option to acquire six 15 plate Wrights double
deck vehicles. The vehicles arrived in as withdrawn
condition still in full Bournemouth Transport yellow
livery. The vehicles were initially put into store at
the Tividale depot . On 19th April 2023 40612 and 40613
entered service at Burton on Trent after being repainted
in the standard Diamond Bus livery.
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Body type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
BF15KFG | 40610 | Volvo B5TL | Wrights | H47/28F | 18th May 2023 | Burton on Trent |
BF15KFK | 40611 | Volvo B5TL | Wrights | H47/28F | 25th April 2023 | Burton on Trent |
BF15KFE | 40612 | Volvo B5TL | Wrights | H47/28F | 19th April 2023 | Burton on Trent |
BF15KFD | 40613 | Volvo B5TL | Wrights | H47/28F | 19th April 2023 | Burton on Trent |
BF15KFC | 40614 | Volvo B5TL | Wrights | H47/28F | N/A | In Store to Tividale |
BF15KFA | 40615 | Volvo B5TL | Wrights | H47/28F | 7th August 2023 | Burton on Trent |
42625/6 - BJ14KTC & BJ14KTA
During 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Rotala purchased small
batches of double deck vehicles for their Bristol and
Preston operations. They were all Wrights bodied Volvo
B5LH vehicles. They took the fleet numbers 40602-9,
40619-22 and 40625-8. Of those vehicles 40602-5 and
40625/6 were new the Bristol operation. On closure of
the Bristol operation in June 2019 many of the vehicles
were dispersed to other operations within the group.
40625 has led a rather nomadic life moving first to
Bolton in June 2019 only to move to Redditch in August
2019 following the withdrawal of 40544. Then in April
2020 it moved back to Bolton and then onto Preston in
November 2020 only to return to Redditch in August 2021.
Whereas 40626 moved to the Hounslow depot in August 2018
and then to Redditch in February 2021. Both vehicles are
regularly used on the service 247 from Redditch to
Evesham to cater for school traffic on the route.
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Body type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
BJ14KTC | 40625 | Volvo B9TL | Wrights | H45/29F | August 2021 | Redditch |
BJ14KTA | 40626 | Volvo B9TL | Wrights | H45/29F | February 2021 | Redditch |
40633/4
LJ04LFV/GA
As part of the deal to purchase Midland Classic 2
Wrights bodied double deckers joined the Diamond Bus
fleet. These vehicles are on VDL chassis’ and they both
started life with Arriva in their London red bus
operation. 40633 had the Arriva fleet number DW82 and
40634 had the DW87 number. Both joined the Midland
Classic fleet in 2008 and were soon painted in their Red
and yellow livery and were fitted with electronic
destination blinds. Unlike the newer ADL double deckers
both have retained their dual door arrangement. In
common with many operators of dual door vehicles the
centre doors are only used as an emergency exit.
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Body type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
LJ04LFV | 40633 | VDL DB250 | Wright Gemini H060 | H43/24D | July 2018 | Withdrawn 4/23 sold to Willenhall Commercials 7/23 |
LJ04LGA | 40634 | VDL DB250 0 | Wright Gemini H065 | H43/24D | July 2018 | Withdrawn 4/23 sold to Willenhall Commercials 7/23 |
40635-40 LK04NNL/F/E & LK54FWO/L/R
As
part of the deal to purchase Midland Classic six
Plaxton President bodied double deckers joined the
Diamond Bus fleet. These vehicles are on Volvo chassis
and are like ones acquired by Rotala back in 2013 when
they purchased the Redditch operations from First Group.
Unlike the previous ones these started life with
Metroline though again in London on red bus
contracts in London. They joined the Midland Classic
fleet in 2020 for use on school related services though
like all the double deckers in the fleet do see service
on other services. All the vehicles entered service in
all over red livery with the Midland Classic branding
added. They were soon painted in their Red and yellow
livery and were fitted with electronic destination
blinds. Unlike the newer ADL double deckers both have
retained their dual door arrangement. In common with
many operators of dual door vehicles the centre doors
are only used as an emergency exit.
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Body type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
LK04NNL | 40635 | Volvo B7TL | Alexander 8607 | H43/23D | July 2018 | Withdrawn 7/23 sold to Bus Link Ltd, Burton 7/23 |
LK04NNF | 40636 | Volvo B7TL | Alexander 8603 | H43/23D | July 2018 | Withdrawn 4/23 sold to Willenhall Commercials 7/23 |
LK04NNE | 40637 | Volvo B7TL | Alexander 8602 | H43/23D | July 2018 | Withdrawn 9/22 |
LK54FWO | 40638 | Volvo B7TL | Alexander 8669 | H43/23D | July 2018 | Withdrawn 10/7/23 sold to Bus Link Ltd, Burton 7/23 |
LK54FWL | 40639 | Volvo B7TL | Alexander 8686 | H43/23D | July 2018 | Withdrawn 9/22 |
LK54FWR | 40640 | Volvo B7TL | Alexander 8691 | H43/23D | July 2018 | Withdrawn 9/22 |
40725/6/818/20/4/6/9/30/1/2/4-9/42
Back
in August 2019 Rotala purchased the Bolton bus depot
from First Group for £5.3M. Unusually, it did not
purchase most of the vehicles instead agreeing short
term leasing agreements for the buses. For the double
deckers this was for just over 12 months. The Rotala
plan was to replace all of these vehicles with brand new
Streetdeck vehicles manufactured by Wrights bus. Since
then the company has taken delivery of 143 new vehicles
plus a nearly new demonstrator vehicle. The vast
majority of the vehicles have been allocated to the
Bolton depot but the opportunity has also been taken to
upgrade vehicles at the Preston depot. In late April
2022 it was announced that Rotala would be purchasing
the bus operations of Johnson’s of Henley in Arden. Some
of the services they acquired needed double deck
vehicles and so 2 Streetdecks were transferred from the
Bolton depot over the weekend of the 30th April/1st May
2022 initially going to the Tividale depot where they
were used on a rail replacement service and the 002.
Within days the vehicles had moved to Redditch ready to
be used on former Johnson services. When the
Midland Classic operations were purchased and with
reduction in vehicles requirements at Redditch following
loss of much of the Johnson's bus operation to
Stagecoach the two Streetdecks were transferred to
Burton on Trent so that double deck vehicles that meet
the Euro VI requirement could be used on their Boots
contract. which runs from Birmingham City Centre. Within
days 40725 was moved back to Redditch as the X11 Boots
contract is in the main currently run from Redditch.
With the loss of the the majority of the Bolton
operation with the award of the franchise to the Go
Ahead Group Diamond Bus started to reduce their
operations from April 2023. Co-incidentally with a
operator commitment for all bus services from May 1st
2023 in the West Midlands to be operated by Euro VI
standard vehicles Diamond Bus have been able to move 15
Street decks from Bolton to the West Midlands where they
will see services on the 002, 16A and 50 services. Over
the weekend of the 29th and 30th April 2023 a further 3
Street Decks joined the Diamond West Midlands fleet from
the North West in the form of 40819/27/41.
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
MX20HVJ | 40725 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000016 | H45/29F | May 2022 | Redditch |
MX20HVK | 40726 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000017 | H45/29F | May 2022 | Burton on Trent |
MX21AUP | 40818 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000192 | H45/29F | 18th April 2023 | Tividale |
MX21AUR | 40819 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000193 | H45/29F | 3rd May 2023 | Transferred to Diamond NW 9/23 |
MX21AUT | 40820 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000194 | H45/29F | 21st April 2023 | Tividale |
MX21AUU | 40824 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000195 | H45/29F | 25th April 2023 | Burton on Trent |
MX21AUW | 40826 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000197 | H45/29F | 21st April 2023 | Burton on Trent |
MX21AVB | 40827 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000198 | H45/29F | 2nd May 2023 | Tividale |
MX21ATN | 40829 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000112 | H45/29F | 28th April 2023 | Tividale |
MX21AVE | 40830 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000200 | H45/29F | 25th April 2023 | Tividale |
MX21ATO | 40831 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000173 | H45/29F | 25th April 2023 | Tividale |
MX21ATU | 40832 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000174 | H45/29F | 25th April 2023 | Tividale |
MX21AVG | 40834 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000202 | H45/29F | 24th April 2023 | Transferred to Diamond NW 9/23 |
MX21ATV | 40835 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000175 | H45/29F | 23rd April 2023 | Tividale |
MX21AUA | 40836 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000177 | H45/29F | 21st April 2023 | Redditch |
MX21ATZ | 40837 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000176 | H45/29F | 21st April 2023 | Redditch |
MX21AUC | 40838 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000178 | H45/29F | 22nd April 2023 | Redditch |
MX21AUE | 40839 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000179 | H45/29F | 21st April 2023 | Redditch |
MX21AUJ | 40841 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000182 | H45/29F | 17th May 2023 | Tividale |
MX21AUF | 40842 | Wright StreetDeck SC5DDRDXU20000180 | H45/29F | 19th April 2023 | Redditch |
40844/5 - YJ70EWD & YJ70 EWC
As
part of the deal to purchase the bus operations of
Johnson's Coaches in April 2022 two Optare double deckers
joined the Diamond Bus fleet from Johnson's. These
vehicles had joined the Johnson's fleeting 2020 from
dealer stock to partly replace some earlier double
deckers that were sold to Bournemouth Transport. The 2
vehicles are built with full coach seating as Johnson's
used them not only on bus services but private hire and
rail replacement services
Registration Number | Fleet Number | Vehicle Type | Seating Capacity | Date into Service | Current Allocation |
YJ70EWD | 40844 | Optare Metrodecker SAB8JP2D9KS340048 | H51/25F | May 2022 | Redditch |
YJ70EWC | 40845 | Optare Metrodecker SAB8JP2D9KS340047 | H51/25F | May 2022 | Redditch |