Mercedes Vario
52501- 564 R501-7CNP, S508-554,955 556-64SWP
In
the 1998 First Midland Red ordered 64 Mercedes Vario
Minibuses with Plaxton bodies All of the buses
officially entered service in Worcester on Sunday 1st
August 1998 though many were not actually used until the
following day. The first seven were registered ahead of
the rest and were given "R" prefix registrations for use
as driver trainers. Vehicles 501-3 were used in service
in June 1998 for a temporary Park and Ride for Green
Transport Week. The vehicles were designed to be
26-seaters though agreement could not be reached with
the drivers who demanded an extra 15p an hour to drive
them so First Midland Red had the vehicles built as
22-seaters with a large luggage pen to avoid having to
pay the extra money to the drivers. In January 2000 the
first two vehicles (501 & 502) were moved to Redditch
depot and the following year during April and May 2001
another 5 were moved to Kidderminster (vehicles 503 -
507) to cover routes in Droitwich, which were
transferred from Worcester Garage because of driver
shortages at the later garage. Between September 2001
and April 2002 vehicles 508, 525, 561 and 562
individually each spent time running from Evesham
Garage. Vehicle 503 became the first to carry the new
Barbie2 livery in February 2002. In November 2002, more
of the Worcester allocated vehicles moved to
Kidderminster. Vehicle 560 was used in January 2003 to
transport drivers who were loaned on a weekly basis to
First Essex buses at Chelmsford - The vehicle may have
actually seen service in Chelmsford though this has
never been confirmed! On 4th April 2003 vehicles 560 and
561 were put into store at Redditch but by the end of
the month 560 was back in service and was quickly
followed by 561. Towards the end of April 2003 a start
was made on moving vehicles from the end of the batch to
Hereford as they were to be made surplus at Worcester by
the introduction of the new Optare Solo minibuses. However,
this process is somewhat slow as the new Optare Solo
vehicles have proved to be unreliable. From Monday 15th
September 2003 501 and 502 were re-allocated to
Kidderminster Garage. 523/58/9 moved to Hereford Garage
over the weekend of the 27th and 28th September 2003
bring to an end the use of manual gearbox minibuses at
Hereford. Following service changes in Kidderminster
from Monday 9th February 2004 three of the Vario
minibuses became surplus and were sold to First Glasgow.
These were R505/7CNP and S508SWP which were renumbered
MA271-3 respectively by their new owner. First Glasgow
initially allocated them to the following garages MA271
to Dumbarton, MA272 to Cumbermauld and MA273 to
Larkfield.
|
Registration Number |
Fleet Number |
Old Fleet Number |
Body Make |
Seating Capacity |
Date into Service |
Allocation |
Livery |
|
R501CNP |
52501 |
501 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Jun-98 |
Withdrawn October 2008 - To First Leicester 11/08 |
Barbie3 (10/08) |
|
R502CNP |
52502 |
502 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Jun-98 |
Unallocated 4/09 - Re-instated 7/09 until 9/09 for use on Rail Replacement contract - withdrawn 3/11 -sold for scrap 3/11 |
Barbie2 (8/02) |
|
R503CNP |
52503 |
503 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Jun-98 |
Unallocated 4/09 - then scraped |
Barbie2 (2/02) |
|
R504CNP |
52504 |
504 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Jun-98 |
Withdrawn 31/8/08 - Sold to First Leicester 12/08 |
Barbie3 (10/08) |
|
R505CNP |
52505 |
505 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Jun-98 |
Sold to First Glasgow 16/02/04 - renumbered MA271 |
Red & Cream |
|
R506CNP |
52506 |
506 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Jun-98 |
Withdrawn 7/05 - Sold to First Glasgow 8/05 Now with Ryan 3/07 as a B29F |
Barbie2 (2/02) |
|
R507CNP |
52507 |
507 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Jun-98 |
Sold to First Glasgow 16/02/04 - renumbered MA272 |
Red & Cream |
|
S508RWP |
52508 |
508 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Sold to First Glasgow 16/02/04 - renumbered MA273 |
Red & Cream |
|
S509RWP |
52509 |
509 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - February 2004 |
Red & Cream |
|
S510RWP |
52510 |
510 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - February 2004 - exported to Poland 2/08 via Erith Commercials converted to left hand drive |
Red & Cream |
|
S511RWP |
52511 |
511 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Sold to PVS Barnsley for scrap - December 2009 after being partly dismantled at Kidderminster |
Red & Cream |
|
S512RWP |
52512 |
512 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 7/05 - Sold to First Glasgow 8/05 then to Munden S Bristol reseated to DP28F then to Bryne South Ireland who have re-registered it 98-KE-8880 |
Barbie2 (3/02) |
|
S513RWP |
52513 |
513 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 12/04 - Sold to First Hampshire and Dorset 5/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S514RWP |
52514 |
514 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 7/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall |
Red & Cream |
|
S515RWP |
52515 |
515 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 11/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall |
Barbie2 (3/02) |
|
S516RWP |
52516 |
516 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - February 2004 then to Erith Commercials 8/07 to Healy, Rochfortbridge re-registered 98-WH-4075 |
Red & Cream |
|
S517RWP |
52517 |
517 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 13/5/06 - Sold to First Hampshire and Dorset 5/07 |
Barbie2 (1/03) |
|
S518RWP |
52518 |
518 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 7/05 - Sold to First Glasgow 8/05 |
Barbie2 (4/02) |
|
S519RWP |
52519 |
519 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 12/04 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - February 2005 - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 1/10 |
Barbie2 (1/03) |
|
S520RWP |
52520 |
520 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 7/05 - Sold to First Glasgow 8/05 - Now with Peters, Bristol 11/06 reseated B27F and re-registered S333AJP exported to Zimbabwe 7/09 |
Barbie2 (1/03) |
|
S521RWP |
52521 |
521 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 7/05 - Sold to First Glasgow 8/05 - exported to Southern Ireland 12/06 as 98-OY-3099 |
Barbie2 (1/02) |
|
S522RWP |
52522 |
522 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 10/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall then to Erith Commercials 8/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S523RWP |
52523 |
523 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 7/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 1/10 |
Red & Cream |
|
S524RWP |
52524 |
524 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 12/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall 1/05 exported to Poland 8/07 via Erith Commercials converted to left hand drive |
Barbie2 (1/02) |
|
S525RWP |
52525 |
525 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 10/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall |
Red & Cream |
|
S526RWP |
52526 |
526 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 9/04 - Loaned to First Northampton during 10/04 then sold to First Devon & Cornwall 10/04 |
Red & Cream |
|
S527RWP |
52527 |
527 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 11/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall |
Barbie2 (5/02) |
|
S528RWP |
52528 |
528 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 8/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 8/09 |
Red & Cream |
|
S529RWP |
52529 |
529 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 12/04 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - February 2005 now reseated to B27F - Preserved 9/09 |
Barbie2 (6/02) |
|
S530RWP |
52530 |
530 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 8/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall |
Red & Cream |
|
S531RWP |
52531 |
531 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 7/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall |
Red & Cream |
|
S532RWP |
52532 |
532 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 7/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall moved to First Somerset & Avon 9/09 |
Red & Cream |
|
S533RWP |
52533 |
533 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn - Sold to First Hampshire and Dorset 3/07 |
Barbie2 (7/02) |
|
S534RWP |
52534 |
534 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 10/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall 10/04 - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 9/09 |
Red & Cream |
|
S535RWP |
52535 |
535 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 9/04 - Loaned to First Northampton during 10/04 then sold to First Devon & Cornwall 10/04 - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 1/10 |
Red & Cream |
|
S536RWP |
52536 |
536 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 11/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 11/04 |
Barbie2 (8/02) |
|
S537RWP |
52537 |
537 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 10/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall then to Erith Commercials 8/07 - exported to South Ireland as 98-OY-3165 9/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S538RWP |
52538 |
538 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 7/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall then to Erith Commercials 8/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S539RWP |
52539 |
539 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 10/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 10/04 |
Barbie2 (8/02) |
|
S540RWP |
52540 |
540 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 5/04 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 6/6/04 |
Red & Cream |
|
S541RWP |
52541 |
541 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 5/04 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 6/6/04 |
Red & Cream |
|
S542RWP |
52542 |
542 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 11/04 - sold to First Devon & Cornwall then to Erith Commercials 8/07 |
Barbie2 (9/02) |
|
S543RWP |
52543 |
543 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 5/04 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 6/6/04 then to Erith Commercials 8/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S544RWP |
52544 |
544 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 5/04 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 6/6/04 then to Erith Commercials 7/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S545RWP |
52545 |
545 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 5/04 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 6/6/04 then to Erith Commercials 7/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S546RWP |
52546 |
546 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 5/04 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 6/6/04 then to Erith Commercials 8/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S547RWP |
52547 |
547 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - February 2004 - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 1/10 |
Red & Cream |
|
S548RWP |
52548 |
548 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - February 2004 then to Erith Commercials 8/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S549RWP |
52549 |
549 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 5/04 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 6/6/04 |
Red & Cream |
|
S550RWP |
52550 |
550 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 1/05 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 2/05 - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 9/09 |
Barbie2 (6/03) |
|
S551RWP |
52551 |
551 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - April 2004 - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 1/10 |
Barbie2 (8/03) |
|
S552RWP |
52552 |
552 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 12/04 and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - 2/05 - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 1/10 scraped 8/10 |
Barbie2 (7/03) |
|
S553RWP |
52553 |
553 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 6/05 - Sold to First Coaches 11/05 |
Barbie2 (6/03) |
|
S554RWP |
52554 |
554 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 6/05 - Sold to First Coaches 11/05 |
Red & Cream |
|
S955RWP |
52555 |
555 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn 8/06 - Sold to First Hampshire and Dorset 3/07 - withdrawn 1/11 Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 9/11 |
Barbie2 (7/03) |
|
S556RWP |
52556 |
556 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn (9/07) - Truronian for spares 10/08 - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 9/09 |
Barbie2 (6/03) |
|
S557RWP |
52557 |
557 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - April 2004 |
Red & Cream |
|
S558RWP |
52558 |
558 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn - Sold to First Hampshire and Dorset 5/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S559RWP |
52559 |
559 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn - Sold to First Hampshire and Dorset 4/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S560RWP |
52560 |
560 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn - Sold to First Hampshire and Dorset 5/07. Now preserved by Wyvern Bus Group |
Red & Cream |
|
S561RWP |
52561 |
561 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - April 2004 |
Red & Cream |
|
S562RWP |
52562 |
562 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - April 2004 - Sold to Erith Commercials for scrap 10/09 |
Red & Cream |
|
S563RWP |
52563 |
563 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn and sold to First Devon & Cornwall - April 2004 then to Erith Commercials 8/07 |
Red & Cream |
|
S564RWP |
52564 |
564 |
Plaxton |
B22F |
Aug-98 |
Withdrawn - 6/05 - Sold to First Coaches 11/05 then to First Somerset & Avon 5/06 |
Barbie2 (3/03) |