Same Bus Numbers

[150249]

What is the closest that two buses with the same fleet number have been? This could be a fun game.

Example: First Wright Streetlight 47444 in Bristol and Stagecoach Optare Solo 47444 in Barnstaple

 

[pokemonsuper9]

3037 for Arriva Merseyside and Bee Network (Go North West) were both in Leigh Bus Station at 11:20 today.

The closest they got to each other was probably no less than 40m so there's still space for better answers.

3037 - MX10 BZW

VDL SB200 Wright Pulsar 2

bustimes.org

25/05/2024 34 to St Helens

	Timetable	Actual
Leigh Bus Station	11:20	11:20:3

3037 - BW65 DCO

Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

bustimes.org

25/05/2024 V1 to Manchester Royal Infirmary

	Timetable	Actual
Leigh Bus Station	11:20	11:20:59

 

[randyrippley]

not quite what you intended, but Lancaster City Transport had both
87 and 87L at the same time
20 and 20R

 

[Man of Kent]

I believe it was Arriva Aylesbury that had two Mercedes-Benz Citaros with identical fleet numbers, one in The Shires series and the other in the Southern Counties series.

 

[JonathanH]

What is the closest that two buses with the same fleet number have been? This could be a fun game.

In the 1980s, Reading Transport and Alder Valley both had a 166 operating out of their respective Reading depots (Metrobus CJH166V and Leyland National TBL166M). In the days when bus companies didn't have national fleet numbers, there was no concern about overlaps for companies operating in the same area. I suspect there are literally thousands of cases of buses with the same fleet number being in the same place. In its final years TBL166M became 322 in the same fleet as 166.

 

[150249]

In the 1980s, Reading Transport and Alder Valley both had a 166 operating out of their respective Reading depots (Metrobus CJH166V and Leyland National TBL166M). In the days when bus companies didn't have national fleet numbers, there was no concern about overlaps for companies operating in the same area. I suspect there are literally thousands of cases of buses with the same fleet number being in the same place. In its final years TBL166M became 322 in the same fleet as 166.

Shame for a math nerd like me. 322 is a digit away from double 166

 

[Flange Squeal]

'4201' was carried by both Arriva's Versa YJ61 CHV and Compass Bus' Enviro YY66 PFZ at a time when both vehicles spent the majority of their time working routes in and out of Guildford Bus Station between 2017 and 2021 (when Arriva pulled out of the area). They would also both be regulars on their respective operators' routes out to Cranleigh (Arriva 53/63 and Compass 24/25), so there's a chance they'd have met there at some point over those several years too.

 

[TR673]

Around Nottingham both Nottingham City Transport and TrentBarton use three-digit number systems, so many numbers could be found on both fleets in the city.
Just a few examples of where exactly matching buses might've crossed paths are:

City Transport's (now withdrawn) short Scania N94UBs nos. 201-207 working the ring road services meeting TrentBarton's indigo branded E200 MMCs of the same numbers along a short stretch of the ring road the routes shared. The indigo MMCs now rub shoulders around the city centre with NCT's new Yutong electrics bearing the same numbers.

Kinchbus' (also now withdrawn) Wright Solars 650/51/52 branded for route 9 meeting City Transport's similarly numbered Scania Enviro 400s in Turquoise Line livery around Broadmarsh (many of the Wright Solars and Scania E400s had the same numbers, so when TrentBarton still had lots of Solars in service examples of this happened all the time)

TrentBarton's Optare Solo SR 506, if allocated to the Calverton route, sharing its route out of the city with NCT's Yellow Line liveried Enviro 400 City 506.


At the moment the amount of duplicated numbers is surprisingly low, due to vehicle renewals in both fleets meaning some commonly-used number blocks are now vacant or contain very few vehicles (particularly 4XX, 6XX and 7XX, plus the fact TrentBarton extensively use 1XX and 8XX unlike NCT). Arguably some of the 'closest' vehicles between them were in the 2000s with some Optare Excels and Solos numbered 258-266, which carried extremely similar registrations; Nottingham City Transport's Solos were V-DRB and V-DRC while TrentBarton's Excels were Y-DRC, both with the same number in the middle. So for example V261 DRC (an Optare Solo with Nottingham City Transport) being overtaken by Y261 DRC (an Optare Excel with TrentBarton) was a real possibility.

 

[Chris Thomas]

Stagecoach 34115 and First 34115 both in Barnstaple.

 

[stadler]

Last month i saw Compass Bus 6112 (SN13 CHJ) on the 8 and Go Ahead Metrobus 6112 (SK66 HTL) on the 23 right next to each other in Worthing at the Marine Parade bus stops.

 

[WibbleWobble]

3037 for Arriva Merseyside and Bee Network (Go North West) were both in Leigh Bus Station at 11:20 today.

The closest they got to each other was probably no less than 40m so there's still space for better answers.

I wouldn't be surprised if at some time they've been next to each other (or equivalent examples from either batch). Sometimes Arriva buses pull into the bus station to drop off if they have a longer layover to park on the out of service bay, so they could have been next to each other in the bays, or passing stand A.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I wouldn't be surprised if at some time they've been next to each other (or equivalent examples from either batch). Sometimes Arriva buses pull into the bus station to drop off if they have a longer layover to park on the out of service bay, so they could have been next to each other in the bays, or passing stand A.

Oh I absolutely imagine there has probably been a closer meet in Leigh at some point (although the busses only had their new fleet numbers since September, they were 5 digits under First).

 

[florence]

High Peak's Skyline Versas 765 and 766 have often been known to appear on the Transpeak; whilst Notts and Derby have Centros with fleet numbers 765 and 766. So there is the possibility they would meet in Derby. In fact, both of those Centros have operated on loan to High Peak for a day.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Not exactly what the OP is asking for but here's an interesting one regarding two buses with the same fleetnumbers...

Stagecoach have had two 26127s, both of which were new to the same legal operating company (Highland Country Buses Limited), at the same depot (Seafield Road) and for the same service 11 connecting Inverness with Inverness Airport.

YJ04HLC which was originally new to Rapsons but was acquired by Stagecoach with the sale of the business in 2008 and became 26127.

26127 YJ04 HLC

Inverness depot.

www.flickr.com

SK68LVM which is the current 26127

stns1

Stagecoach North Scotland 26127 - SK68 LVM. Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC Route 11 branding. Leaving Falkirk on its delivery run. 06/09/18.

www.flickr.com

 

[DunsBus]

Lothian had two Olympians numbered 770, B770GSC and C770SFS, and two Darts numbered 75, SK52OJV and SN53JNO.

The first Olympian 770 was the last vehicle of the 1984 batch of 34 Leyland Olympian/ECW, and was used by Leyland as a UK demonstrator prior to entering service with Lothian in June 1985. It ran with Lothian for around a month before Leyland asked if they could take it back for use as an overseas demonstrator, and in return Lothian would receive a replacement bus as an add-on to the next order. This duly happened and so the second Olympian 770 arrived a few months after the first one had departed.

The story of the two Darts numbered 75 is rather more mundane in comparison: the first Dart 75 was destroyed by fire when still quite new and the second one was its insurance replacement which arrived alongside the 86-100 batch of Darts.

 

[EyeKay]

Slightly off topic - trams not buses. Blackpool 40 and Blackpool & Fleetwood 40 have operated alongside each other both at Blackpool and now at Crich Tramway museum.

Crich also has several trams from various fleets with the number 1

 

[JD2168]

Not quite fleet numbers but Stagecoach Yorkshire have YN61 BFP & YN62 BFP running out of the same Holbrook depot.

 

[Pit_buzzer]

Back in the early eighties South Yorkshire PTE we're seriously short of vehicles, Doncaster depot received West riding 635 and Yorkshire Traction 635 on loan to help out and both were used on service 175. To add to the confusion the West Riding one received Yorkshire Traction fleet names as well

 

[43055]

High Peak's Skyline Versas 765 and 766 have often been known to appear on the Transpeak; whilst Notts and Derby have Centros with fleet numbers 765 and 766. So there is the possibility they would meet in Derby. In fact, both of those Centros have operated on loan to High Peak for a day.

and there could be occasions where the Versas end in Derby so would both be at the same depot overnight.

 

[Busoccultation]

Before HCT in London was sold to Stagecoach in 2022, it was possible to meet their Enviro400H Citys 2501-2549 in various locations in Central London with the same numbered buses Abellio have. They are also Enviro 400 MMC Hybrids around the same age and the same thing underneath in the chassis/drivetrain. The only difference, other than the interior of course, is that HCT had theirs on the City body while Abellio ones are on a standard MMC body.

 

[gka472l]

Back in the days of Merseyside PTE & Ribble, both had large batches of Atlanteans in the Liverpool area numbered in the 13**/14**/15**, and later on, North Western had some Leyland Nationals numbered 2** at the same time Merseybus had Leyland Olympians also in the 2**, again in the Liverpool/Merseyside area

 

[iantherev]

I'm sure that if you hung around Greyfriars Road, Cardiff for long enough, Newport Yutong double decker 418 and Cardiff Yutong saloon 418 would pass each other.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

In the 1970s, both United and Northern had Bristol RELLs numbered in the 42** series and fair chance they may have had doppelgänger meetings in Newcastle - not quite though as Northern’s were dual doors

 

[Belfastmarty]

Slightly different to what the OP was asking, but Ulsterbus has in past times managed to have 2 buses in the fleet with the same registration number at the same time. So, for example, Scania L94 2438 (GXI 438) was new on 2/10/06, whilst Tiger 438 (GXI 438) was only SORNd on 1/9/06, but didn't receive it's replacement registration KEZ 6409 until 23/10/06. These pair were both Coleraine based so it's quite possible they could have been sitting side by side in the yard. Shenanigans such as this meant the last 30 of the Scania batch were new with KEZ 74xx registrations, only receiving their cherished plates at a later date.

 

[DunsBus]

Slightly different to what the OP was asking, but Ulsterbus has in past times managed to have 2 buses in the fleet with the same registration number at the same time. So, for example, Scania L94 2438 (GXI 438) was new on 2/10/06, whilst Tiger 438 (GXI 438) was only SORNd on 1/9/06, but didn't receive it's replacement registration KEZ 6409 until 23/10/06. These pair were both Coleraine based so it's quite possible they could have been sitting side by side in the yard. Shenanigans such as this meant the last 30 of the Scania batch were new with KEZ 74xx registrations, only receiving their cherished plates at a later date.

What about the two Plaxton President-bodied Volvo B7TLs, Lothian 294 and Travel West Midlands 4122, which both carried the registration W122DOP? A DVLA paperwork blunder was the alleged reason for this and the Lothian vehicle reverted to its original registration after a year or so.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Not sure which garages National Express West Midlands 4600 (Trident) was allocated to in Birmingham but it may well have rubbed shoulders with Arriva 4600 (Streetdeck) when the latter working the 110 into Birmingham from Tamworth.

 

[VioletEclipse]

What about the two Plaxton President-bodied Volvo B7TLs, Lothian 294 and Travel West Midlands 4122, which both carried the registration W122DOP? A DVLA paperwork blunder was the alleged reason for this and the Lothian vehicle reverted to its original registration after a year or so.

I believe that Lothian managed to accidentally give the registration plate BN64 CSO to both 419 and 420 at the same time when they were new in late 2014. 419's reg plate was quickly changed to BN64 CSF, however there's at least one photo of it carrying the incorrect regestration.

(new post)
actually on the subject of this thread, for a while McGill's ran their ex-first Streetlites along Princes Street carrying fleet numhbers 0405 to 0479. Lothian have buses carrying fleet numbers 406-437 and 441-479 so buses with the same fleet number likely passed eachoter fairly frequently, albeit with McGill's adding a 0 before each number presumably just to keep all their numbers four digits long.

These days some of those streetlites still operate the 20, 63, and another on the 68, which probably sometimes encounter their Lothian 'twins' at the Gyle.

 

[SCH117X]

Possible that Transdev Harrogates 2004 B7RLEs 1701-1705 (1701 and 1703 now withdrawn) on a rare but not unknown visit to Leeds (normally captive on Harrogate-Knaresbvorough services) may have been seen with Arrivas 2013 Gemini 2s of the same fleet number.

 

[Hyebone]

Nottingham City Transport and Wellglade Group both use 3-digit fleet numbers with lots of crossovers.

 

[Springs Branch]

If we're allowed historical examples - until the formation of SELNEC PTE in the late 1960s, Manchester and its surrounding towns were well known for having many jointly operated bus services provided by the various 'municipals' of the time (plus the likes of LUT, NWRCC, . . .) The majority of the municipals had at least one route which ran into central Manchester/Salford (providing some colourful interest at city termini for those who like this sort of thing).

Pre-SELNEC Manchester numbered its buses with four digits, but all the other fleets tended to be numbered somewhere in the low hundreds. Taking a look at fleetlists from 1969 & early 1970s, there were certainly opportunities for the same numbered vehicles from different operators to be seen side-by-side (or at least in plain sight of each other)

For example, in the Greengate / Victoria Bus Station area, you might have seen Salford, Bolton and LUT vehicles all with the same fleet number (something between 150 and 300) waiting for departure. And along the busy A6 between Victoria and Irlams o' th' Height you could - in theory - see three identically numbered buses from these operators following each other one after another on different routes. (Unfortunately, Leigh Corporation's smallish fleet had low numbers and didn't extend to three digits, otherwise it could have been four of the same in Salford!)

With some magical alignment of the planets, the same numbered vehicles from LUT, Salford and Bolton might have been found at work on the Manchester - Bolton service 8 on the same day.

Salford and Bury Corporation had around 35 buses with the same fleet numbers, so you could plausibly get two of the same out together on the Manchester - Bury joint service (coincidentally numbered 35).

In Piccadilly Gardens, or east of Manchester in the Ashton-under-Lyne area, you might have seen three identically numbered buses from the SHMD, Ashton and Stockport fleets (somewhere between ~7 and ~50). South of Manchester there was a couple of blocks of overlapping numbers shared by Stockport Corporation and North West Road Car (though the NWRCC fleet would have been allocated over a wider geographical area than the traditional municipals)

Some of these multiple meet-ups would have been statistically improbable in themselves - but with a lot of buses running frequent services over a fairly long period of time, who knows what might have happened?