What a day makes - P and O Lloyd's E400 YX24OVY has now been given the vinyl livery which celebrates the 100th Anniversary. It has also had its destination equipment updated and is now ready for service next Monday when it is expected to work a school service from Connah's Quay
A few changes to the Unicorn Fleet to report. For the second day running I was able to observe the arrival of a vehicle to the fleet.
YN56FGO Scania K340EB4 / Berkhof Axial 50 (C55F) arrived today.
It was new to Luckett, Fareham, Hampshire and due to Luckett being owned by National Express it had a fleet number of [494455]. In May 2023 it went to Jones Coach Sales in Llanrwst which is the dealer side of the Llew Jones business. The coach has not been used by Llew Jones.
It will receive the fleets new livery shortly and is expected to be re-registered to A18UTW
The previous A18UTW Volvo B12M / Plaxton Paragon (C53Ft) that has been with Unicorn since Feb 2024 has been re-registered to its original number of CU53AEG and has been sold to the Gatewen Training Services firm in Llay. It is now a training bus.
Also joining the fleet is former PC20PAT a Temsa MD9 Executive (C34Ft). It was new to Pats Coaches in March 2003. It has now received the number R27UTW and the new fleet livery.
The former R27UTW Scania K360EB4 / Irizar i6 (C32Ft) has been re-registered to its former number YN14MVR and sold to Grange Travel, Gravesend, Kent.
I was fortunate today to observe the arrival of YX24OVY an Alexander Dennis E40D / Alexander Dennis E400MMC (H51/34F) It was new in March 2024 to Lochs Motor Transport, Leurbost, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. It is low mileage, has 86 seats all seat belted and has a variety of additional features. It has been used on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland mainly on cruise ship shuttles.
It has been painted into the firm's normal cream coach livery and is about to receive special vinyls to celebrate the centenary of the business.
Also joining the fleet from the fleet of Bennets is Merecedes Tourismo which carried the cherished number EV10BUS. It was new in March 2010 to Evobus, Coventry as a demonstrator.
It is currently being painted into the firm's livery and is thought to be given the number P70LLD.
The latest vehicle to join the Voel fleet YT23BVC has now been given the new fleet livery. It has cameras instead of rear mirrors - see below
P and O Lloyd latest Solo SB09PEG is now in fleet livery
The latest to join the M and H fleet is YJ18DHF It is an Optare Solo M9250SR (B31F) It was new in May 2018 to New Adventure Travel.
SB09PEG Optare Solo M880SL (DP27F) has joined the fleet. It was new in May 2009 to Somerbus, Paulton and in September 2019 joined the fleet of Lloyds Coaches of Machynlleth.
It is currently being given the firm's livery before entering service
NG14UPP a Ford Transit (M16) has joined the fleet. It was new in August 2014 to Halliwell (Prestige Minibus Travel), Kenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Vinyls have now been applied to Price Coaches latest acquisition YN12CNZ. It looks a totally different coach to when it was with E Jones and Sons. They have managed to fit in the name very well under the large windows and this is another coach that the firm of Price can be proud of.
YN12CZG has transferred from E Jones and Sons of Rhosllanerchrugog to Price Coaches, New Broughton Wrexham.
This Scania K320IB4 / Irizar (C68F) was new in May 2012 to Doig's of Glasgow and joined the E Jones fleet in April 2018
It has been painted into Price's colour and will receive vinyls shortly.
N400BRA Scania K410EB6 / Irizar I6 (C53Ft) that was purchased by Pats in August 2024 when they took over the Leger / Shearings contract from the firm Bradshaw Quality Coaches in Lancashire has now received the Pats Coaches fleet livery. It is normally based near Blackpool
Ford Transit MX55EXB has joined the Pats Coaches fleet from S W Transport (Wayne Oare)
Prior to being with S W Transport the Ford Transit was with Eagles and Crawford in Mold
Not a new service but a new service provider - replacing Townlynx - P and O Lloyd - Solo YJ07XNR
Working the renamed and revised service f5 Mold to Queensferry - Arriva 2916 - CX58EXH
Working the new 101A Ellesmere Port to Deeside Industrial Estate - Arriva 2906 CX58EWY
Working the new 11A Chester to Deeside College - 2652 CX07CUC
Lastly also working the 11A Deeside College to Chester 3176 CX14BXP
Arrived yesterday (Thursday 23rd January) is YT23BVC.
The Scania K410CB6 / Irizar i6s Efficient (C53Ft) was new in June 2023 to City Circle, Hayes [193].
It will be given the Voel vinyl livery in a short while.
Further news about timetable changes from 27 January
F6 Mold to Pantymwyn
Townlynx have withdrawn from this service so from 27th it will be operated by P and O Lloyd
Mold to Ellesmere Port
From 27th January the through service between Mold and Ellesmere Port will cease. Instead two new services are being introduced. Both operated by Arriva Cymru. It will not be possible for residents of Flintshire to travel to Cheshire Oakes or Ellesmere Port
f5 - Mold - Queensferry
101/101A Ellesmere Port - Cheshire Oakes - (Garden City and Queensferry)
Arriva
Arriva are introducing a number of changes to their timetables with effect from Sunday 26th and Monday 27th January.
The 5 Service (now to be called the f5 will only run between Mold and Queensferry (Asda) and not to Ellesmere Port as has been the case for very many years as the SP1/2, the 111 and the F10/11 back to Crosville days. The service will have an hourly frequency from 0500 till 2100. The exception is around school time. The last departure from Mold will go to the Deeside Industrial Estate
There will be an additional service 11A which will run hourly from Chester to Kelsterton Deeside College and will operate through Hawarden. Whilst most of the buses running on the 11/11C/11F/11M corridor are operated by Rhyl depot the 11A will be operated by Chester Manor Lane depot.
There will some minor changes to the remaining Chester to Rhyl corridor but the most significant change is that the bus will no longer be calling into the Ffynnongroew village.
Whilst changes have been introduced to very many other services in north east Wales Arriva have indicated that they are minor changes. One exception is the 5 Wrexham to Llangollen where there are changes to the early evening timings.
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Townlynx Service 6 Mold to Pantymwyn
It appears that from Monday 27th January this service will no longer run.
A number of vehicles are currently being re-registered following the move out of England. All of the Mayne fleet were retained by Goodwin's although some have been subsequently sold.
The firm use a fleet number system and a full fleet list appears within the Goodwin page within the RonsBusesandCoaches website <<LINK>>
The firm have recently been awarded a new contract involving conveying pupils from and to Glan Clwyd School in St. Asaph form the various village around Holywell including Babell, Lloc, Whitford etc.
The main vehicle that will operated this contract is the former E Jones of Rhosllannerchrugog Vario now registered WE53BUS.
This run was until recently operated by Les Beacher who trades as Relays in Afonwen. Unfortunately Les has recently suffered a heart attack and is currently unable to drive and has therefore had to cease the contract. Hopefully his recovery will be speedy and he is offered best wishes.
P and O Lloyd have now received delivery of this year's new Coach.
Whilst it is displaying a '74' plate it has not actually been registered and will receive a new '25' plate in March 2025. It is currently stored at the Greenfield premises.
The firm have found letterheads to indicate that the business was established in 1925 - earlier than first thought.
This means that 2025 is the firm's Centenary Year
Two recent vehicles to join the S W Transport fleet are :-
KC14FDY This is a quite rare Solovenian built TAM Vive 41 seat coach new in August 2015 to Comet Car Hire, West Drayton, London where it carried the number F7CCH In March 2024 it was with THZ, Sutton, London
It is currently not in use but whilst ready it is not likely to made available for service till nearer Easter.
and EA18LDY
A Ford Transit (M16) new in March 2018 to Charlton athletic FC.
The Mayne business of the Go Goodwin group is about to be sold to Orion Travel Coaches Limited of Manchester.
Most of the Mayne fleet are currently being sold and all operations by Go Goodwin will now be from their new depot at Bagillt.
I have updated as best I can the current fleet for Goodwins <<LINK>> Some of this fleet is currently being offered for sale.
P and O Lloyd will soon be getting a new Mercedes-Benz Tourismo - but the delivery has been delayed.
All three of the '20' plated Tourismos that were purchased just before Covid in early 2020 have now been sold.
BV20HPN and BV20HPO have/are going to South Wales Transport, Swansea
(HPN Nov and HPO this week)
and
BV20HPP has gone to Beewise Executive Transport, Sheffield (October) and now carries BR17ADL
Pats Coaches now have a brand new replacement service bus for on the 146 Whitchurch service.
PC74PAT arrived on Wednesday 27th November and went out on service that day.
Like the vehicle it replaces it is a Iveco Daily 70C21 / Ilesbus I-City MAX (B31F)
It is yet to receive vinyls and have the destination display programmed.
The previous Iveco / Ilesbus service bus PD23PAT has returned to Ilesbus. It had spent a number of weeks off the road due to various issues. The demonstrator Ilesbus RJ73 FXT which has replaced PD23PAT a number of times when it was being repaired has also returned to Ilesbus.
The cherished number PD23PAT has been retained by the firm and has been placed on a 2023 8 seater Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
The latest arrival with Voel is YN06OPH Irisbus 397E.12.31 Z / Plaxton Paragon C70F
New in April 2006 to Johnson, Hodthorpe; in January 2022 it was with Austin, Earlston, Stockton-on-Tees.
It has been converted to 70 seats before arriving with Voel
Being withdrawn soon is X915ERA Volvo B10M-62 Plaxton Premiere 350 which came to Voel from P and O Lloyd in December 2014.