Volvo Double Deckers

40540-4 V540-4ESC

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 In the event the vehicles were withdrawn at the end of the 2013 academic year and were soon sold for scrap. 

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Dennis Tridents to be transferred to the Worcester depot and a number of step entrance Dennis Lance vehicles to be withdrawn.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.

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

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.