Wellglade Group

[Trainman40083]

Interesting. Will the operation remain the same? Littles only have one service route left now, so could we see it become the private hire arm of Wellglade? There's also two ex Trent Tempos in the fleet, back with their original company. I wonder what'll happen to fleet numbers?

Is there just two Tempos at Littles? The reason I ask, is cos VSE and VSF came on loan to Notts and Derby and it was said that VSP was also at Littles. I could see all the Littles buses in a new series say 1100 upwards

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2024 ==

Does anyone know if that white Volvo EvoRa single decker is still at Langley Mill? I know it got registered BU74 YRN in November which made me think it might have moved on. Shown on DVLA as "multi coloured".

 

[SSmith2009]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2024 ==

Does anyone know if that white Volvo EvoRa single decker is still at Langley Mill? I know it got registered BU74 YRN in November which made me think it might have moved on. Shown on DVLA as "multi coloured".

BLOTW (https://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk) has BU74 YRN Listed as new to Volvo Coventry so is most likely a dealer stock vehicle

 

[Trainman40083]

BLOTW (https://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk) has BU74 YRN Listed as new to Volvo Coventry so is most likely a dealer stock vehicle

It just seemed odd in that it was first registered as multicoloured, rather than white, suggesting it wasn't dealer stock....

 

[liamf656]

Interesting. Will the operation remain the same? Littles only have one service route left now, so could we see it become the private hire arm of Wellglade? There's also two ex Trent Tempos in the fleet, back with their original company. I wonder what'll happen to fleet numbers?

My understanding is that it'll be business as usual, much like Notts & Derby and TM Travel continue their operations separately.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Tempos were removed from the fleet. After all there are plenty of Volvos without a home now, but that's speculation

 

[cnjb8]

My understanding is that it'll be business as usual, much like Notts & Derby and TM Travel continue their operations separately.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Tempos were removed from the fleet. After all there are plenty of Volvos without a home now, but that's speculation

I'm surprised they aren't merging the schools/uni routes into Notts & Derby and keep Littles as a private hire business.
Another thing is that it gives Wellglade a depot in Ilkeston again, so hopefully that will get rid of all the dead milage from Langley Mill

 

[Trainman40083]

I'm surprised they aren't merging the schools/uni routes into Notts & Derby and keep Littles as a private hire business.
Another thing is that it gives Wellglade a depot in Ilkeston again, so hopefully that will get rid of all the dead milage from Langley Mill

But there is not that much space in the current Littles depot when full.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2024 ==

My understanding is that it'll be business as usual, much like Notts & Derby and TM Travel continue their operations separately.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Tempos were removed from the fleet. After all there are plenty of Volvos without a home now, but that's speculation

Surely if the current position works and makes a profit, you don't make sudden changes. Maybe Notts and Derby would like the Tempos again. After all , they have had them on loan a few times. In the meantime, Notts have gained former Threes Versa 825. I was going to say another orange bus in their fleet, but orange 486 has gone for painting (and 52 returned from painting).

 

[cnjb8]

But there is not that much space in the current Littles depot when full.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2024 ==


Surely if the current position works and makes a profit, you don't make sudden changes. Maybe Notts and Derby would like the Tempos again. After all , they have had them on loan a few times. In the meantime, Notts have gained former Threes Versa 825. I was going to say another orange bus in their fleet, but orange 486 has gone for painting (and 52 returned from painting).

Maybe they could move parts of the Littles operation to other depots, like Nottingham for the uni services, but then again there isn't much space at all across the group.

Are the Tempos belted? If they are then I don't think they'd replace them that quickly

 

[Trainman40083]

Maybe they could move parts of the Littles operation to other depots, like Nottingham for the uni services, but then again there isn't much space at all across the group.

Are the Tempos belted? If they are then I don't think they'd replace them that quickly

I've no idea how many services, cover the Uni.

 

[Llandudno]

Interesting. Will the operation remain the same? Littles only have one service route left now, so could we see it become the private hire arm of Wellglade? There's also two ex Trent Tempos in the fleet, back with their original company. I wonder what'll happen to fleet numbers?

Perhaps a Flixbus depot seeing as though MegaBus are dropping routes in the East Midlands…?

 

[Simon75]

But there is not that much space in the current Littles depot when full.

Yes your right looking on Google maps, looks small

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Davidsb3]

704 re-entered service last night covering the 1705 Comet to Chesterfield with yours truly as the wheel.

 

[Hyebone]

704 re-entered service last night covering the 1705 Comet to Chesterfield with yours truly as the wheel.

Still with the Villager interior?

 

[liamf656]

Still with the Villager interior?

It has the yellow headrests just like 740

 

[adrianjohnson]

I walked past 746 in Nottingham earlier - has it been repainted? It's still in mango livery but just looked refreshed.

 

[Davidsb3]

It has the yellow headrests just like 740

Plus for reason 2 green headrests for some odd reason!

 

[Flange Squeal]

The Wellglade Group have this week bought the business if Littles Travel, Ilkeston. Littles will continue as a standalone operation much like Notts & Derby and TM Travel. The news was shared to staff members today.

For those interested, another acquisition is a company that designs and manufactures racking systems for vehicles being moved in shipping containers. Here’s a quote from a news bulletin:

Wellglade makes two acquisitions

The Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of Little Transport Ltd and a majority shareholding in Trans Rak International Ltd

Little Transport, based in Ilkeston, trading as Littles Travel, will be kept as a bus and coach contract and private hire business in the same way TM Travel and notts&derby have operated within the group. Both Steve Wells and Paul Wright have been retained as General Manager and Engineering Manager and their addition to the group will complement our group contract and private hire services

Trans Rak International, based in Warwick, is a global designer and manufacturer of patented racking systems for transporting vehicles in shipping containers. As with Littles, both Paul Donaldson and Wes Payne have been retained as Managing Director and Engineering Director. This allows the group to broaden its horizons into transporting vehicles as well as people

I hope you all join me in welcoming our new employees into the Group

Andrew Beaney
Group CEO
Wellglade Ltd

 

[Trainman40083]

For those interested, another acquisition is a company that designs and manufactures racking systems for vehicles being moved in shipping containers. Here’s a quote from a news bulletin:


View attachment 168774

Sad, I know, but I find Trans Rak fascinating

 

[TR673]

Has Wellglade just re-acquired two of its very old Solos with Littles, since they owned W301 YAL and W409 YAL
Or did they quietly go for scrap at some point?

 

[Trainman40083]

Has Wellglade just re-acquired two of its very old Solos with Littles, since they owned W301 YAL and W409 YAL
Or did they quietly go for scrap at some point?

I think the ex Wellglade Solos are long gone. Think they were still in Medilink blue at the time.

 

[busspotter1]

Next thing you'll hear is that Wellglade buys a bus manufacturer (like Yourbus! )

 

[m79900]

Next thing you'll hear is that Wellglade buys a bus manufacturer (like Yourbus! )

Who did Yourbus buy?

 

[Trainman40083]

Who did Yourbus buy?

If I recall, the Dunn guy that ran Your bus, went to Australia and ran a bus manufacturing company. Denning, maybe? I think Rotala Diamond Bus has actually ordered some. Sure I saw a picture of one in their blue livery.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Nov 2024 ==

If I recall, the Dunn guy that ran Your bus, went to Australia and ran a bus manufacturing company. Denning, maybe? I think Rotala Diamond Bus has actually ordered some. Sure I saw a picture of one in their blue livery.

Yep, Denning. Dunn bought it in 2019.

 

[JD2168]

The Wellglade Group have this week bought the business if Littles Travel, Ilkeston. Littles will continue as a standalone operation much like Notts & Derby and TM Travel. The news was shared to staff members today.

Hopefully Wellglade will treat Littles better than TM Travel which looks very run down compared to before Wellglade taking over. Each bus was in the livery, looked pretty smart & the blinds all worked. Now the vehicles are in whichever the previous one was, some blinds are paper & seems to have almost the oldest vehicles within the group.

 

[busspotter1]

Hopefully Wellglade will treat Littles better than TM Travel which looks very run down compared to before Wellglade taking over. Each bus was in the livery, looked pretty smart & the blinds all worked. Now the vehicles are in whichever the previous one was, some blinds are paper & seems to have almost the oldest vehicles within the group.

It's based on economics - just shows that TM doesn't generate much revenue so they need to lower the costs as much as possible to make a profit.

 

[43055]

If I recall, the Dunn guy that ran Your bus, went to Australia and ran a bus manufacturing company. Denning, maybe? I think Rotala Diamond Bus has actually ordered some. Sure I saw a picture of one in their blue livery.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Nov 2024 ==


Yep, Denning. Dunn bought it in 2019.

Yes Diamond have some on order. Belive some are going to Burton for routes 8 and 9.

 

[38291018]

But there is not that much space in the current Littles depot when full.

Who owns the actual yard as correct me if I'm wrong but erewash community transport and littles travel share the deopt and I'll assume they don't help with spare in the littles yard.

What are the chances they use littles yard as a outstation and see few ilkeston routes using it? (just like some indigo/i4s are kept at derby aswell as nottingham) such as trents ilkeston flyer, the two, 31, 32, 33, 34 or even nottsderbys 27

I wonder if in the future they keep the littles syle livery. In my eyes seems to me it make more sence if littles takes over just the private hire parts of wellglade for example notts derby getting all school contracts and bus services and littles mainly running coaches or just taking it all under the notts derby brand or as I don't feel the depot littles are at will be used as a outstation so mabey moving littles to the langlymill depot is better or even derby although it's very small there with everything else there

Does anyone also know if kinch will be bringing any more buses in to replace the citaro before the 16th when the mot runs out

Talking of kinch does anyone know what happening to 272/4/6 with kinch at the moment as i know they used to be leased to TM so have they been brought yet or will they and if so will they stay at kinch to help with uni services or go back to TM? Find it interesting if they have been brought or will be brought for kinch use as kinch/trent usually buy brand new not second hand.

 

[Trainman40083]

Yes Diamond have some on order. Belive some are going to Burton for routes 8 and 9.

I wonder if they will end up like those Design line? Single deckers that worked around Gateshead and ended up with an early demise?

 

[busspotter1]

Yes Diamond have some on order. Belive some are going to Burton for routes 8 and 9.

I believe 6 Element 2 buses due to be numbered 39001-6

 

[m79900]

Plus for reason 2 green headrests for some odd reason!

To look more mango-ey.

 

[Mollman]

I wonder if they will end up like those Design line? Single deckers that worked around Gateshead and ended up with an early demise?

I doubt it, the Design Lines were a unique and pioneering (if that is the right word) vehicle to the UK. These are just another type of electric bus.