Bargain Bus update

Links to timetables:


BB2:  http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/large-static/nottsbus/timetables/MIG2.htm

BB4:  http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/large-static/nottsbus/timetables/MIG4.htm

Matlock and Buxton

Way back in 1972 I worked for the Trent Motor Traction Company when it was announced that fellow NBC subsidiary the North Western Road Car Company of 2 Charles Street, Stockport was being broken up and that Trent were inheriting Matlock and Buxton depots. Somehow these two depots never really fitted into the Trent network which was centred on Nottingham and Derby. Matlock was a small town/rural operation and Buxton looked towards Manchester. Over the years all the rural services were withdrawn or replaced by tendered service run by other operators leaving Matlock with the 6.1 service from Bakewell to Derby via Matlock and Wirksworth and Buxton with a cross town local service, the 199 to Stockport and Manchester Airport and a share of the Transpeak Manchester, Buxton, Matlock, Derby, Nottingham service.

Yesterday it was announced that Centrebus subsidiary Bowers of Chapel-en-le-Frith who operate most of the tendered services in and around Buxton and trent barton have formed an exciting new bus company called High Peak. This will have the effect of partially recreating the old North Western company’s Buxton operations with services to Ashbourne, Macclesfield and Glossop.

However these kinds of changes are never straightforward as tb’s Derby depot operates some Transpeak journeys. TM Travel also have a number of tendered services running into Buxton and both TM Travel and trent barton are owned by the holding company Wellglade.

Which will be the dominant partner in High Peak? My guess is that it will be Centrebus as the new company is called ‘High Peak’ and not ‘high peak’.

Former North Western 921, an AEC Reliance on Buxton Market Place in March 1972.

New High Peak bus company

http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/business/new_high_peak_bus_company_following_merger_1_3392526

New buses for Spondon Flyer

Four new Optare Versas entered service on the Spondon Flyer today. In the morning they were displayed on Derby Market Place. The guy in the centre is Ray Stenning, editor of Classic Bus, the guy on the left is Alex Hornby, trent barton's Commercial Director but I don't know who the lady is.

During the morning the service was operated by Wright bodied Scanias and ...

...this Optare Excel arrived back at 12:55 to be replaced by new Versa 808 for the 1:00 pm departure.

Kath boarding 808 on its first journey.

Bespoke interior.

This is the 2:00 pm departure by which time all four Versas were in service.
More pictures on Flickr.

Swift

On Monday 9th May trent barton's Swift between Derby and Uttoxeter is to be extended to Tesco in Uttoxeter and the Optare Excels to be replaced by refurbished Wright Eclipse bodied Volvos. (Perhaps the record temperatures in April have enabled the Swifts to fly early this year.)

The next upgrade will be to the Spondon Flyer the following Saturday, 14th May.