Volvo Double Deckers

 32066/7 KP51VZO/R 

In 2002 First Leicester took delivery of 34 new Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7L double deckers for use on their City services. The vehicles continued to operate in the city until 2015 when following the arrival of new vehicles some of the existing buses were cascaded to other First Group companies. Two surprisingly ended up at Worcester, 32066 and 32067, numerically the first of the batch.

 32627/44/5/6 KP54KAO/AZG/L

KP54KAO arrived at Worcester from Leicester in September 2011 in exchange for single deck KX05MGY that went in the opposite direction. With changes to school bus requirements at both Redditch and Worcester garages from September 2011 33404 and 33405 moved from Worcester back Redditch and KP54KAO was moved to Worcester to maintain 3 low floor double decker at Worcester. KP54KAO was part of a batch of 24 split initially between Northampton, Bath and Leicester garages with 9 at Northampton, 3 at Bath and the remainder at Leicester. At the time other than the one at Worcester 2 were still at Northampton, the 3 that were at Bath had moved to Western super Mare and the remainder were at Leicester. After the arrival at Worcester KP54KAO spent most of it's time on the service 144. With the requirement for two double deckers at Hereford for the start of the School year in September 2013 32644 and 32646 were loaned to Worcester from Leicester. This was to cover for 33042 and 33043 which were loaned to Hereford Garage whilst the planned vehicles 32852 and 32854 were prepared for service. 32646 was withdrawn on 20th February 2023 on expiry of its MOT and was replaced by 37147 which was transferred from First Cymru. Similarly when the MOT on 32645 expired on 26th May 2023 this was replaced by 37148 again transferred from South Wales, 32644 was finally withdrawn from Worcester depot on Friday 26th April 2024 as the MOT on the vehicles was about to expiry. 32644 had the distinction of being the last vehicle in everyday service running in the Barbie livery.

Livery :  Barbie 3 - was the last version of the original corporate Firstgroup livery for all vehicles which is a modified version of the original Barbie livery   First Urban is the latest corporate livery (The dates in brackets are when the vehicle was last repainted).

 34123/4/5/6 - K123/4/5/6URP

In early August 2002 Volvo double deck bus number 123 K123URP arrived at Redditch Garage from sister Company First Northampton. The plan was to use this and a number of other vehicles from First Northampton on the A1 and A2 Alcester Grammar School services, which required  duplication when the current Leyland Lynx vehicles were used. Driver training took place at Redditch throughout August with a view to introducing the vehicles when the school re-opened in September. Unfortunately during the testing of the vehicle it was found that a number of trees on the routes that were to be used needed cutting back and the Company failed to get the County Council to carry out the work. First Northampton were short of double deck vehicles for their own school commitments and the vehicle returned south without being used in service by First Wyvern. The A1 and A2 services continued to be operated by Leyland Lynx vehicles and as part of a general review of school services in January 2003 they have become County Council school contracts rather than operating as normal local bus services. Interestingly as some of the tallest vehicles to be built as they have under floor engines it was even impossible to use them on the 57/8/9 group of services where double deck buses were in regular use 10-years ago again because of low trees. In November 2005 the vehicle arrived back with First Wyvern and is currently allocated to Kidderminster Garage for use on school services operated by that garage. Both vehicles are used on the "Green School Bus Services" which are contract school services for King Edwards VI High School, Five Ways at Bartley Green in South Birmingham. For this contract both vehicles were repainted into the Green School Bus livery during April 2005. In preparation for the start of the new school term in September 2006 K126KRP arrived from Northampton. 34123 returned to First Northampton in September 2008. Following the withdrawal of 34289 from Redditch in January 2010 34123 moved back to Redditch garage in February 2010.