Keanes Coaches (DPK Commercials), Eryrys, Mold

 The latest coach to join the fleet is YS25UVE,  another Scania / Higer Touring former demonstrator.  It was new in August 2025 and is known to have been operated by O'Hara, Rochdale and Coast to Coast, Ardrossan.

It commenced work as soon as it arrived and has worked on a journey to the North East for Alpha Travel.

 

 

Another arrival to the fleet but not yet in use is BK14LGA.  It is a sibling to NCZ855 being an 85 seater Scania K410EB6 / Caetano Levante II.  It was new in Aug 2014 to National Express; (11/23) Endeavour, Aston; (8/25) Nash, Handsworth

 

 

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt, Holywell

 Two brand new Volvo B8RLE  /  MCV eVoRa  (B37F) service buses,  BU26WLE and BU26WLJ, are now being used by P and O Lloyd on the Deeside Shuttle services.  They are owned by Flintshire County Council and have a livery similar to TrawsCymru but have the Flintshire logo with the name Lleol meaning local in Welsh.

They both have cameras and screens inside the cab instead of rear view mirrors.  They will replace the two ADL 200s SK24CWJ and YX24OZM which will return off lease.

                    BU26WLE leaving the Deeside Industrial Estate on Friday 12 June 

                                                 BU26WLH at the depot on Friday 12 June

                                                                            Inside BU26WLH
 

The 4th Caetano Levante to join the fleet is OSU386.  It was new in October 2013 as YY63OEJ.  It initially worked National Express work until it was converted to 70 seater by July 2022.  It has not yet entered service with P and O. 

Arriva

 From 1st June Arriva have taken over the 34 Service from Wrexham to Trefalyn via Llay, Burton and Rossett.  This service has been operated by Wrexham Taxis, D Jones and Sons and GHA in the past.

Short Solos 658 and 659 have joined the Arriva Wrexham fleet from Arriva Northumberland as suitable vehicles for this route.  I observed the first journey of the day on Monday 14th June and was disappointed to find that the destination was not displayed when the vehicle departed King Street some 5 minutes late.  By the time it arrived at Trefalyn it was 30 minutes late.  Tracking of other journeys suggest that running late is not regular.

                      Solo 658 (YJ61JFF) at Trefalyn running 30 minutes late on a 45 minute journey.

 

Arriva Rhyl depot have now received a fleet of 8 brand new Wright StreetDeck Ultroliners all  TrawsCymru liveried and intended for the 51 Rhyl - Denbigh - Wrexham corridor. There appears to have been technical difficulties with these vehicles as they have taken their time to enter service.  The first one arrived at the end of April and to date it is common still to see other vehicles working the service.

                                           4750 (BF26 ZTG) at Llandegla on 26th May

Go Goodwins, Bagillt, Holywell

 The firm and their Director Louis Goodwin were very much winners at the Blackpool Annual Coach Rally this year.  They won not just one award but eight - The Alan Goodwin Trophy for the highest placed coach operator in all classes, the Peter Bostock Trophy for highest placed driver in the Saturday tests, the Rita Dalziel Trophy for top coach aged 25 years or older, the Jonckheere Trophy for top Jonckheere
the Fred Bibby Award for best-loved coach, the Gwynn Williams Trophy for highest placed in all classes from Wales, the Top Executive Coach and the John Fielder Memorial Trophy for top coach from a small fleet.

Louis aged only 22, is beleived to be the youngest-ever holder of the Coach Driver of the year. The weird thing is that he won in a vehicle older than him. 

The display of Goodwins coahes at the Llandudno festval.

Some five coaches have recently been acquired.  YD17WYU, YD17WYX and YD19GSO are Van Hool TX17 Astrons nad have been purchased from Parrys International of Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire.  

They are C48Ft and each has a kitchen, screens at all seats and very many luxury features.

Also acquired is YC02DJU    Volvo B12M-62 / Jonckheere Mistral 70    C70F.  It was new to Wallace Arnold (490) in May 2002 and came from P and O Lloyd Bagillt.

The fifth vehicle acquired is MR09FEN  a Van Hool T917 Astron T9    C48Ft.  It was new to Fenn, March, Cambridgeshire who was the last operator.

As will be seen from the Townlynx photo the two BMC Falcons that Goodiwns purchased last September BX07OPR and BX56XBJ  have passed to Townlynx.  They did not see much use with Goodwins 

Also left the fleet is GO22LOU the Neoplan Tourliner 2    C53FLt.  
  

 

Townlynx, Greenfield, Holywell

 The firm have acquired 4 BMC schoolbuses. BX07OPS and BX55OFM from P and O Lloyd   

BX07OPR and BX56XBJ from Go Goodwin who obtained them from P and O Lloyd last September.

They are not currently in use - being used as spares - the firm has recently increased its school contract work.

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt, Holywell

 Three vehicles have left the fleet

 YC02DJU    Volvo B12M-62 / Jonckheere Mistral 70    C70F    which was new to Wallace Arnold (490) in May 2002 and came to P and O in September 2016.  It has gone dwn the road a few yards to Go Goodwins.

 Also left are the two remaining BMC schoolbuses  BX07OPS  and BX55OFM.  They were both  BMC Falcon 1100FEs and they have gone very locally to Townlynx of Greenfield.

S W Transport, Brynford, Holywell (Wayne Oare)

 The firm has acquired KX56OVG  a Volvo B7R / Plaxton Profile    C70F      It was new in January 2007 to Corbel of Edgware and went in November 2020 to Pats Coaches where it was given the registration number of K7WXM

 
Gone in part exchage to Llew Jones of Llanrwst is the very unusual KC15FDY  TAM Vive TH

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham

 Following the post about the Mercedes / Illesbus demonstrator Pats Coaches have now taken delivery of WP25HTN a similar vehicle but diesel powered.

It has four seats inside with the wow factor of extra luxury equipment that any VIP would be delighted with.  Digital screens front and rear, power driven tables, power driven fridge with drinks cabinet, foot rests, blacked out and curtained windows, leather luxury upholstery and top of the range mood lighting. 

 

 

George Edwards, Bwlchgwyn, Wrexham

 Just arrived and now in service is BT66UAB a Mercedes Benz Tourismo (C70FL).

It was new to Kings Ferry in January 2017, in February 2020 it was with B Kavanagh of Urlingford, Ireland when it carried the fleet number 171-D-51762.  By March 2025 it was with Barrys of Cork and in July 2025 it went to Llew Jones, Llanrwst but was not used by them.  

George Edwards purchased the coach shortly afterwards and Temsa Safari YJ08EDK went in part exchange.  

Howevere there were problems with the registration number due to its history in Ireland and also it went for re-seating to 70 so it has just arrived at Bwlchgwyn and started working.  It was painted last yeat into the firm's red colour but is still to have the firm's vinyl livery.

 

 

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham

 On loan / demo at the moment is WM73 HLE an all electric Mercedes-Benz with an Ilesbus 7 seater (inc driver) body which has a VIP luxury interior with mood lighting, leather seats, fridge, TV screen and much more.

 

E Jones and Sons, Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham

 Two vehicles have left the fleet recently:-

YX68TZO    Volvo B8R  /  Plaxton Leopard    (C72FL)  has gone to Yelloway Coaches Oldham.

 

 

YN61AWV    Mercedes-Benz Vario O816D  /  Plaxton Chettah    (C33F) has gone to    (Dennis O'Leory)

 J D Express Coaches, Mallow, Cork, Ireland

 

Chester BusFest April 2026

 Following the successful BusFest in 2025 the team involving Matt Davies, Andy Lowe and George Walker provided a brilliant BusFest 2 on Easter Monday.  6 former Chester City buses and 4 former Crosville buses worked numerous services around Chester with over 70 journeys available for enthusiasts and members of the public to enjoy.  The buses were in brilliant condition and a true credit to their various owners.  The event was well supported and over £2,500 was raised for the excellent duo of charities Cancer Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society.  Even the weather was perfect.

 Making its first appearance at such an event was SNL816 (WFM 816L) which has been through a period of restoration.

 

The oldest bus on duty was KG147 (LFM 726) a mere 76 years young. Always an absolute pleasure to ride on this magnificent example of  the buses I went to school on.

 One of the most comfortable buses to ride on is this beautifully preserved Leyland Olympian EOG207 (G207GTU)

 Another excellent example of our bus heritage reminding me of my Summers on the Buses is DFG65 (875 VFM)

 

The former Chester City buses on duty were  1 (RFM  641), 4 (B204 EFM), 35 (FFM 135C), 50 (JFM 650J), 52 (J52 EDM), 80 (TMB 880R), 94 (SDM 94V) and 99 (YMA 99W)

 

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt, Holywell

 In September last year the firm took delivery of two brand new Merecedes-Benz Tourismos.  BV75HSK went into use straight away but the second was stored until 1st April and has now emerged as BV26HTA.

It's first duties was a tour based at Llandudno. 

                                                                                (Photo courtesy of Richard Hughes)

Pats Coaches, Southsea, Wrexham

 Pats Coaches have taken delivery of PC26PAT a brand new Scania I8 / Irizar.  

It is the 3rd coach in the fleet which is branded Leger Luxuria and has 33 2 x 1 luxury seating with numerous tables, VDUs in the back of seats, a coffee machine and much much more.  It is absolutley stunning.

 

 

Also on loan to operte the 146 Whitchurch service whilst the regular service bus is being repaired is demonstrator Ilesbus GO22TKT

 

Unicorn Travel, Llay, Wrexham

 Unicorn have taken delivery of a brnd new Yutong T122HDH - UN26ORN

It looks absolutely stunning.  It is fully PSVR  compliant with a wheelchair lift.

 

In addition the Temsa that came from Pats (PC20PAT) has been re-registered from R27UTW to DF20VPL

P and O Lloyd, Bagillt, Holywell

 A third Caetano Levante has joined the fleet.  It is BK14LDZ  a Volvo B9R  / Caetano Levante    (C48FLt).  It was new in April 2014 to Bennett ,Gloucester; in 10/20 it was with Sovereign, Willenhall

                                                                                     (Photo courtesy David Lloyd)

Keane's Coaches (DPK Commercials) Eryrys

 The latest Levante to join the Keane's fleet is FJ61EVP    

It is a Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante  (C48FLt)   It was new in September 2011 to Galloway, Mendlesham [301] wher it was used on National Express work.  In 9/24 it was with Bentley of Buxton