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Oldest Bus in regular service

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Strathclyder

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Aside from First Glasgow, in my local area (Glasgow/West Dunbartonshire/Argyll & Bute), Marbill of Beith operate several ex-Ulsterbus Alexander (Belfast)-bodied Q Type-bodied Volvo B10Ms (dating from 1994-95) & a varied collection of ex-Lothian President-bodied Tridents (the oldest examples dating from 2001, the youngest from 2004) on school contract work:


 

GusB

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Aside from First Glasgow, in my local area (Glasgow/West Dunbartonshire/Argyll & Bute), Marbill of Beith operate several ex-Ulsterbus Alexander (Belfast)-bodied Q Type-bodied Volvo B10Ms (dating from 1994-95) & a varied collection of ex-Lothian President-bodied Tridents (the oldest examples dating from 2001, the youngest from 2004) on school contract work:


I've no love for the Tridents, but it's good to see that a few B10Ms still soldier on. When was that photo taken? The car in the background has a 16 plate, so it's fairly recent.
 

Jordan Adam

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Aside from First Glasgow, in my local area (Glasgow/West Dunbartonshire/Argyll & Bute), Marbill of Beith operate several ex-Ulsterbus Alexander (Belfast)-bodied Q Type-bodied Volvo B10Ms (dating from 1994-95) & a varied collection of ex-Lothian President-bodied Tridents (the oldest examples dating from 2001, the youngest from 2004) on school contract work:



That B10M looks fantastic for it's age. The Q-Type has aged surprisingly well.

I've no love for the Tridents, but it's good to see that a few B10Ms still soldier on. When was that photo taken? The car in the background has a 16 plate, so it's fairly recent.

Looks to have been taken last month, even more impressive! - https://www.flickr.com/photos/182518142@N07/48686497978
 

Mr Manager

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Not quite a regular service as such but this wont be beaten for age :)

http://bucklandbuses.co.uk/bus_service.html

summer2019.jpg
 

ClydeCoaster

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Aside from First Glasgow, in my local area (Glasgow/West Dunbartonshire/Argyll & Bute), Marbill of Beith operate several ex-Ulsterbus Alexander (Belfast)-bodied Q Type-bodied Volvo B10Ms (dating from 1994-95) & a varied collection of ex-Lothian President-bodied Tridents (the oldest examples dating from 2001, the youngest from 2004) on school contract work:


Dodds of Troon also operate a handful of some very smart Q-type Leyland Tigers and B10Ms in equal number for schools. Bennett's of Kilwinning and Coast to Coast in Ardrossan still have 1990 ex-HK Leyland Olympians for schools (2 and 1 respectively), with Coast to Coast also operating a 1990 Plaxton Derwent-bodied B10M and a 1993 K-plate PS-bodied B10M new to Cumberland.
 

alex397

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26/27 /28 Maidstone green busses, scrap on wheels. Rubbish.

This is Nu-Venture, who operate Darts on these rural routes. Whilst they generally have a rather old fleet (the vast majority ex-London), I don't think they have much that is pre-2004 now, so they probably are not relevant for this thread. I think they do fairly well for a medium independent, in terms of vehicle quality and presentation.
 

johnnychips

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60621 and 66112 are still about, often on the 81/82.

60626 and 66168 I'm less sure on but they were both around up until me moving away for the summer in July.

They're in a better state than the absolutely wrecked 02 reg Eclipses, most of which have been withdrawn recently in favour of ex-Manchester and ex-Leeds vehicles, but 60705 was still chugging around on Friday.

First South Yorkshire is somewhat of a time warp!
There was a 51 plate on the 16 this morning in Doncaster - sorry I didn’t get number - but rereading the thread on the SY bits, that’s not too old!
 

Robertj21a

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Why is it that early low floor buses can't meet modern accessibility regulations?

At the time they just wanted something with no steps. Only later did they need ramps (with limits on the angle) and a wide enough entrance 'throat' to take a wheelchair. Other issues, like extra bells, contrasting colours on stanchions etc are more easily modified.
First Bus modified a number of ALX400 bodied vehicles, presumably as they were easier to do than others.
 

richw

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At the time they just wanted something with no steps. Only later did they need ramps (with limits on the angle) and a wide enough entrance 'throat' to take a wheelchair. Other issues, like extra bells, contrasting colours on stanchions etc are more easily modified.
First Bus modified a number of ALX400 bodied vehicles, presumably as they were easier to do than others.
Positioning and colours of vertical hold rails as well are part of it. Quite a lot of older deckers were upgraded to comply when they lost the London central door.
 

Zakforbes4

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Does any companies in and around Glasgow still use Marshall darts regularly as when this corona virus is over I want to get on another Marshall dart
 

Bus Lightyear

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Does any companies in and around Glasgow still use Marshall darts regularly as when this corona virus is over I want to get on another Marshall dart
All of First Glasgow's Marshall Darts were scrapped over a year ago and replaced with Caetanos. Don't know if any other operators have them.
 

Jordan Adam

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All of First Glasgow's Marshall Darts were scrapped over a year ago and replaced with Caetanos. Don't know if any other operators have them.

Avondale probably do. :lol::lol::lol:

Jokes aside i don't think there's any Marshall Darts in service at all in Scotland now never mind Glasgow.
 

Swanny200

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This is Nu-Venture, who operate Darts on these rural routes. Whilst they generally have a rather old fleet (the vast majority ex-London), I don't think they have much that is pre-2004 now, so they probably are not relevant for this thread. I think they do fairly well for a medium independent, in terms of vehicle quality and presentation.

They have done well considering some of the stuff they had when I remember them in the late 90's, although the ex London Titans were a fun experience when they first got them for someone who had never been on one before.
 

bussnapperwm

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I believe Transdev and The Green Bus have some V/W reg B7TLs previously of National Express Group which are used in service (although TGB are turning to Lothian Geminis i believe)
Banga of Wolverhampton still has a couple of V plate ex Nottingham Solos too I believe
Let's Go of Wolverhampton still uses (pre Coronavirus) a T reg dart ex Bu-Val
 

rg177

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Following my posts in the Autumn unfortunately all the museum pieces at First South Yorks are gone following an influx of cascaded vehicles.

Doncaster Depot has also seen its once ancient fleet (02 reg B7Ls, 52 reg ALXs) decimated by cascades from Sheffield.

COVID-19 has also seen a lot of the older stuff placed into reserve.
 

Strathclyder

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Further to the Marshall Darts in Western Scotland query a few replies ago, the last examples were withdrawn from service in early 2019 (well over a year ago now), so you've rather missed the boat on those I'm afraid. The last operators of the type in Western Scotland were MacKenzie Bus Service (latterly trading as Coakley) with their ex-Warrington examples & First Glasgow with their ex-London examples.
 
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Pat1105

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I believe Transdev and The Green Bus have some V/W reg B7TLs previously of National Express Group which are used in service (although TGB are turning to Lothian Geminis i believe)
Banga of Wolverhampton still has a couple of V plate ex Nottingham Solos too I believe
Let's Go of Wolverhampton still uses (pre Coronavirus) a T reg dart ex Bu-Val
Banga no longer have the ex NCT V reg solos, they were withdrawn last year as they were approaching 20 years old. Vehicles that are over 20 years old can only be used for 20 days per year. This is to allow for heritage running days etc.
 

Robertj21a

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Banga no longer have the ex NCT V reg solos, they were withdrawn last year as they were approaching 20 years old. Vehicles that are over 20 years old can only be used for 20 days per year. This is to allow for heritage running days etc.

Not sure that is correct. The V-reg Solos that Banga bought from Nottingham had been brought up to full PSVAR standard, by NCT, so could continue in service. There is nothing at all about a 20-year age limit.
 

Pat1105

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Not sure that is correct. The V-reg Solos that Banga bought from Nottingham had been brought up to full PSVAR standard, by NCT, so could continue in service. There is nothing at all about a 20-year age limit.
Just read my information source and you’re correct, there is no age limit. My information source was referring to non PSVAR compliant vehicles, which Banga did indeed have their solo’s converted. It’s a shame they got rid of them as they were really nice buses - especially V262 DRC.
 

ATW Alex 101

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School routes are likely to throw up older buses. I recall up until around 2013, B201 EFM was our regular school allocation. In The Philippines, there are loads of buses (what we would consider a ‘coach’) dating from the 1980’s.
 

Robertj21a

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School routes are likely to throw up older buses. I recall up until around 2013, B201 EFM was our regular school allocation. In The Philippines, there are loads of buses (what we would consider a ‘coach’) dating from the 1980’s.

Yes, nothing to stop elderly vehicles still being used on 'closed' contracts that do not fall under PSVAR.
 

ATW Alex 101

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Yes, nothing to stop elderly vehicles still being used on 'closed' contracts that do not fall under PSVAR.

Quite often the case, that’s not to mean they can run un-roadworthy or sub-standard equipment like some seem to think though! Which I’ve seen happening round here.
 

Robertj21a

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Quite often the case, that’s not to mean they can run un-roadworthy or sub-standard equipment like some seem to think though! Which I’ve seen happening round here.

If ýou have hard evidence you should be reporting it to the appropriate authorities.
 

Murray J

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not sure if you count school services, but if you do then until recently, south gloucestershire bus and coach used L reg olympian palatine IIs on school routes, and I believe stagecoach still use olympians which go up to P and S reg and Volvo B10M-55s that go up to K reg.
if not, then the best I found is stagecoach using N reg palatine IIs on services acquired from south gloucestershire bus and coach, with the palatine's also being ex SGBC vehicles.
 

carlberry

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not sure if you count school services, but if you do then until recently, south gloucestershire bus and coach used L reg olympian palatine IIs on school routes, and I believe stagecoach still use olympians which go up to P and S reg and Volvo B10M-55s that go up to K reg.
if not, then the best I found is stagecoach using N reg palatine IIs on services acquired from south gloucestershire bus and coach, with the palatine's also being ex SGBC vehicles.
Stagecoach ran them for a couple of months however all of the ex South Glos deckers had been replaced before the schools shutdown by 06 plate Tridents. The N reg Olympians were often used on public (rush hour) services until Jan/Feb this year.
 
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