Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Compass vehicles that are still in use?

[swt class 450]

Last week i took a ride from Spalding to Market Deeping on Shaws Coaches route 100 and was very surprised to see a Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Compass (S511 XCR) bus turn up.

This made me realise that i haven't seen one of these buses for years. For some reason almost all of them seem to be withdrawn. Even the newest ones (51 plates) all seem to be gone.

So i am wondering if this is the only Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Compass bus that is still in service? Does anyone know of any others that are still in service anywhere?

 

[RJ]

There's still one in service with Abellio London.

 

[swt class 450]

Are you sure about that? I thought it was only Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Nimbus vehicles that Abellio London had? I thought that all of the Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Compass vehicles were withdrawn from TFL contracted services years ago?

 

[RJ]

Are you sure about that? I thought it was only Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Nimbus vehicles that Abellio London had? I thought that all of the Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Compass vehicles were withdrawn from TFL contracted services years ago?

Right you are! Back to the drawing board then.

 

[alex397]

There seems to be very little Darts with any bodywork with an S-reg still running about. I'd be interested to know of any Compass bodied Darts still in operation though! Its my impression that the bodywork wasn't very good - many were withdrawn earlier than other Darts of the same age.

 

[90019]

Not for service work, but Lothian still has one that's been converted for use as an information bus/community bus.
It's main use is during the summer, when it goes up to Mortonhall caravan and camping park during the day and is used as a mobile ticket office there.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/busmanscotland/44572441222

 

[Robertj21a]

There seems to be very little Darts with any bodywork with an S-reg still running about. I'd be interested to know of any Compass bodied Darts still in operation though! Its my impression that the bodywork wasn't very good - many were withdrawn earlier than other Darts of the same age.

Presumably, it needed a lot of modifications in order to remain legal when the DDA requirements took effect. I can't see many operators thinking that would be cost effective.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Bain's Coaches Of Oldmeldrum probably have one in their yard. sarcasm.... That company seem to buy any random life expired scrap they can find!

 

[swt class 450]

It appears that Stena Line still have T417 LGP in service at Fishguard Harbour on the free foot passenger shuttle service from the terminal to the ferry.

 

[urpert]

There seems to be very little Darts with any bodywork with an S-reg still running about. I'd be interested to know of any Compass bodied Darts still in operation though! Its my impression that the bodywork wasn't very good - many were withdrawn earlier than other Darts of the same age.

I remember the Southern Vectis examples having frequent problems with the roof dome indicator lights getting broken (I think they were eventually just plated over)

 

[Observer]

Last week i took a ride from Spalding to Market Deeping on Shaws Coaches route 100 and was very surprised to see a Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Compass (S511 XCR) bus turn up.

This made me realise that i haven't seen one of these buses for years. For some reason almost all of them seem to be withdrawn. Even the newest ones (51 plates) all seem to be gone.

So i am wondering if this is the only Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Compass bus that is still in service? Does anyone know of any others that are still in service anywhere?

Might interest you that S511 XCR is now on eBay.

 

[swt class 450]

Thanks for the update. That's a shame that it is now out of service. This is quite likely the final Dennis Dart SLF Caetano Compass in service on public bus routes in the UK. I am glad i got to travel on it before it was withdrawn. It will be interesting to see if they manage to sell it on ebay. It is quite old and doesn't even look DDA compliant so i am not sure if many bus operators would be interested in it. Perhaps it could be purchased for preservation though.

 

[route101]

First Glasgowhad a few of these , withdrawn a few years ago but they were quite slow

 

[westcoaster]

Mk metro then arriva had these in milton keymes.