December 2023 update
Robert Williams
Dear all,
Here is the latest fleet news from the Reading Buses group of companies. I hope that everybody had a merry Christmas and wish everyone a happy new year.
Reading Buses
New ADL Enviro400 City 241-248 arrived on 22 December in base lion livery. We have decided to number the lion vehicles in a separate sequence to avoid running out of fleet numbers should we wish to expand either the Lion or London/Flightline fleet size in the future. 241-8 are to the same specification as London Line 731-736, but with white interior accent lighting in place of green in line with their different role.
Ex-Stagecoach 438 and 439 arrived on 28 December following repaint into a new buzz livery and full interior refurbishment. They retain B43F layout. They are for use on Reading Borough Council / HM Government supported services, for whom the livery has been developed. They won’t quite be ready to enter service on the enhanced route 9 on 2 January, however, as our various systems need to be fitted.
440-442 came out of service with Stagecoach North East in December, and are now in store with Bus & Coach World, Blackburn under our ownership along with 309 and 436-7. 310 is at Hants & Dorset trim along with native 311.
711 returned from seat back replacement on 13 December.
722 went away for seat back replacement on 13 December.
1005 was returned to ADL on 22 November.
1002 was returned to ADL on 20 December.
The expected loan of an ADL Enviro400 demonstrator with ZF gearbox has not appeared due to production delays at the factory.
760 returned from loan to Newbury & District on 13 December, followed by 762 on 19 December and 761 on 20 December. They have remained out of use pending repaint into generic silver, with 760/1 going away on 28 December.
214 has been withdrawn following a fire on 21 December, as it is unlikely to be repairable, but is being stored on site for the time being.
Thames Valley Buses
New 11.8m ADL Enviro200 684-7 arrived in Reading on 11 December in full livery (684-6 in two tone blue Thames Valley Buses route 171/2 livery, and 687 in generic Thames Valley Buses livery). These are to an enhanced specification compared to previous acquisitions for Thames Valley Buses, including wood effect floor, sky lights, USB charging, wireless seat back charging pods in Reading Buses style.
New 11.5m ADL Enviro400 City 738-740 arrived in Reading on 20 December in base Flightline 703 livery. They are to the same specification as 736/7 with luggage racks, and will allow 781/82/95 to go away for retrim ahead of the summer season.
Newbury & District
Two new Volvo B8R / Plaxton Leopard 72 seat coaches have been added to our intake for this year for school contracts gained in the autumn, arriving in Reading on 22 December in plain white. As they have arrived before the Irizars, they have been allocated fleet numbers 1426/7 to sit alongside the other Volvos in the fleet. The Irizars are now expected in January and will become 1428/9.
760 was returned to Reading on 13 December, followed by 762 on 19 December and 761 on 20 December following entry into service of 1423-5 in November. 1422 has yet to enter service, but is imminent.
The full details of the new vehicles across the fleet are as follows:
Fleet No | Reg No | Type | Route / Brand | Chassis No | Contract No | Body No | Arrived in Reading |
684 | YX73 PGZ | Enviro 200 11.8m | TVB 171/172 | SFDDWCBRBPGY28513 | P206 | 1 | 11/12/2023 |
685 | YX73 PHZ | Enviro 200 11.8m | TVB 171/172 | SFDDWCBRBPGY28523 | 2 | 11/12/2023 | |
686 | YY73 OYN | Enviro 200 11.8m | TVB 171/172 | SFDDWCBRBPGY28524 | 3 | 11/12/2023 | |
687 | TV73 BUS | Enviro 200 11.8m | TVB Generic | SFDDWCBRBPGY28525 | P207 | 1 | 11/12/2023 |
738 | FL73 LHR | Enviro 400 City | Flightline 703 | SFDA18ER8PGX12323 | P409 | 1 | 20/12/2023 |
739 | FL73 WND | Enviro 400 City | Flightline 703 | SFDA18ER8PGX12324 | 2 | 20/12/2023 | |
740 | FL73 LGO | Enviro 400 City | Flightline 703 | SFDA18ER8PGX12325 | 3 | 20/12/2023 | |
741 | RG73 BUS | Enviro 400 City | RB Generic | SFDA18ER8PGX12326 | P408 | 1 | - |
241 | YX73 PHA | Enviro 400 City | Lion | SFDA18ER8PGX12304 | P407 | 1 | 22/12/2023 |
242 | YX73 PHF | Enviro 400 City | Lion | SFDA18ER8PGX12305 | 2 | 22/12/2023 | |
243 | YX73 PHK | Enviro 400 City | Lion | SFDA18ER8PGX12306 | 3 | 22/12/2023 | |
244 | YX73 PHN | Enviro 400 City | Lion | SFDA18ER8PGX12307 | 4 | 22/12/2023 | |
245 | YX73 PHO | Enviro 400 City | Lion | SFDA18ER8PGX12308 | 5 | 22/12/2023 | |
246 | YX73 PHU | Enviro 400 City | Lion | SFDA18ER8PGX12313 | 6 | 22/12/2023 | |
247 | YX73 PHV | Enviro 400 City | Lion | SFDA18ER8PGX12314 | 7 | 22/12/2023 | |
248 | YX73 PHY | Enviro 400 City | Lion | SFDA18ER8PGX12315 | 8 | 22/12/2023 | |
1426 | YX73 MVG | Plaxton Leopard | N&D Coach |
| NL09 | 3 | 22/12/2023 |
1427 | YX73 MVH | Plaxton Leopard | N&D Coach |
| 4 | 22/12/2023 | |
1428 | ND73 NBY | Irizar i6s Efficient | N&D Coach |
|
|
| - |
1429 | ND73 DST | Irizar i6s Efficient | N&D Coach |
|
| - | |
309 | YP14 TGN | Enviro 300 SG | Training | YS2K4X20001890160 | D319 | 22 | - |
310 | YP14 TGO | Enviro 300 SG | Training | YS2K4X20001890164 | 23 | 04/10/2023 | |
436 | YP14 TGE | Enviro 300 SG | Buzz | YS2K4X20001890105 | 19 | - | |
437 | YP14 TGF | Enviro 300 SG | Buzz | YS2K4X20001889000 | 20 | - | |
438 | YP14 TGJ | Enviro 300 SG | Buzz | YS2K4X20001890223 | 21 | 28/12/2023 | |
439 | YP14 TGK | Enviro 300 SG | Buzz | YS2K4X20001890217 | 13 | 28/12/2023 | |
440 | YR14 CFM | Enviro 300 SG | TBC | YS2K4X20001890162 | 12 | - | |
441 | YR14 CFN | Enviro 300 SG | TBC | YS2K4X20001890160 | 22 | - | |
442 | YR14 CFO | Enviro 300 SG | TBC | YS2K4X20001890164 | 23 | - |
Regards,
Robert
Mark Lyons
James Fletcher
FL53 VCX
Volkswagen Golf
I have it listed on the fleet list however i've never seen it and was wondering if the group still had it?