Sheffield Omnibus Enthusiasts Society (SOES)
At their open day at Olive Grove depot on Sunday 16th September, First South Yorkshire launched their latest 'heritage' repaint. Recently re-acquired Volvo B7RLE 69017 (SF55 UAK) now carries 'Mainline' livery complete with fleet number 1017 and OG depot codes as pictured here by David Robinson
1st September - Tiger Tamed?
The Yorkshire Tiger subsidiary of Arriva has expended quite rapidly in the past few years, including opening a depot in South Yorkshire (at Wombwell) in January 2017 to operate a batch of South Yorkshire PTE tenders in the Barnsley, Penistone and Dearne Valley areas. However, the South Yorkshire venture has lasted a little over a year and a half, the contracts being returned to SYPTE (and subsequently re-awarded to Stagecoach and Watersons - see M&T News for details) and the Wombwell operations closed down after service on 1st September, with most of the vehicles moving to other Tiger depots. From the same date, Tiger also closed their longstanding (former K-Line) depot at Honley, with the work, staff and vehicles being split between the remaining Tiger depots at Waterloo (Huddersfield), Idle (Bradford) and Elland.
24th July 2018 - Powells sold to HCT Group
Hellaby-based Powells Bus Company Ltd, and the associated John Powell Travel Ltd have been bought by the London based HCT Group, who specialise in running social enterprise transport services, re-investing profits in to the local community. The HCT Group already operate in Yorkshire through their CT Plus subsidiary. The Powells name is to be retained. Commenting on the sale, Ian Powell, the outgoing MD of Powells Travel said "HCT Group have the resources and expertise to help take Powells Bus to the next level"
Sheffield Bus Partnership held a launch on 8th June for the new vehicles recently introduced on to services 1/1a (High Green - Sheffield - Batemoor/Herdings) and 56 (Herdings - Sheffield - Wybourn). Pictured behind the assembled VIPs are appropriately branded Streetlites 39103 (SN18 XWP) from the Stagecoach Yorkshire Fleet and 63912 (SN18 XXU) from the First South Yorkshire fleet. Photo courtesy of Roy WIlson
4th March 2018 - Cascades for First South Yorkshire
First South Yorkshire are currently receiving two batches of cascaded Volvo vehicles from elsewhere within First Group. All are expected to enter service at Olive Grove, and allow the 9 leased Enviro 200s to be returned to Dawson Rentals, and to allow a number of Volvo B7Ls to be taken out of service. The vehicles arriving at present are:
- 8x Volvo B7RLE/Wrights from the 'Buses of Somerset' fleet: 69218/19/22/23/26/27/28/29 (MX56 AEG/J/M/N/T/U/V/W)
- 16x Volvo B9TL/Wrights from First West Yorkshire of which at the time of writing 36257-64 (BG12 YJO/P/R/S/T/U/V/W) have arrived
One of the Volvo B9TLs to arrive from Leeds, 32361 (BG12 YJT) is pictured here in a rather snowy Lodge Moor. Photo courtesy of Roy Wilson
9th February 2018 - New vehicles for First and Stagecoach in Sheffield
Due shortly are two batches of new Wrightbus vehicles for First South Yorkshire and Stagecoach Yorkshire. Stagecoach's Ecclesfield depot are to receive 18 StreetLite DF 'max' vehicles to operate service 1 (High Green - City - Jordanthorpe), the first of which have been completed at the Wrightbus factory in Northern Ireland. First are to receive 26 StreetDeck vehicles to operate service 1a (High Green - City - Herdings, which provides a co-ordinated service over the common sections with route 1) and the inter-worked 56 (Herdings - City - Wybourn).
News Archive 2018