Metro / Glider Fleet News 2023

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10/12/23 - B9 2336 is back in use at Short Strand after completion of repairs, along with Versa 1802 at MSC. Buses detaxed from the end of November are B7RLEs 913/24 (both Falls for engine repairs). Solo 1955 has gained overall magenta livery in place of the green Giant's Causeway scheme it previously carried. Meanwhile B9 2353 has lost it's AoA for NSPCC Childline. Unfortunate news sees the loss of former Citybus Bristol RELL 2534 (AXI 2534) in a fire at Penton Mewsey on the night of 7/8 December.

06/11/23 - Solo 1936 and B7RLE 924 are back in use at Short Strand and Falls respectively after completion of repairs. Buses detaxed from the end of October are B7RLE 903 (Short Strand, engine repairs), Solo 1959 (Short Strand, PSV prep), B7TL 2354 and B5TL 2384 (both Falls, with engine defects).

01/10/23 - B5 2130 is back in use at Short Strand after completion of repairs, as is B9 2351 (Newtownabbey) and Streetdecks 3581/2 (Short Strand, completion of accident repairs), whilst B9 2336 (Short Strand) is now detaxed with engine defects. Versa 1828 has been received at MSC from Ulsterbus Derry, and is reseated to B41F+7 and repainted light blue for use on the City Airport service. B9 2336 moved from Newtownabbey to Short Strand in mid-July, with B5 2383 going the other direction.

01/09/23 - B9s 2203/2341 are back in use at Short Strand and Newtownabbey respectively after completion of repairs, whilst Scania/Irizar 138 has been received from Ulsterbus at Short Strand for contract use, along with Causeway green liveried Optare Solo 1955 from Coleraine. Buses detaxed from the end of June are B7RLE 924 (Falls, engine repairs), B12B 1783 (Short Strand, engine repairs) and B9TL 2351 (Newtownabbey, Rear Axle and PSV prep).

01/08/23 - Scania Safety Bus 2412 has been returned to use from the start of August. On the move are 2198/2313 (Falls - Short Strand), 2214/5/8 (Newtownabbey - Short Strand), 2335-7 (Short Strand - Newtownabbey) and 2338/90 (Short Strand - Falls).

01/07/23 - B9 2375 is back in use at Newtownabbey after completion of repairs, whilst Scania/Irizar 136 has been received from Ulsterbus at Short Strand for contract use, along with Volvo B11R 1790 again. Also back in use are B12M 118 (Short Strands, PSV complete), Optare 1807 (MSC, repairs complete) and B7RLE 909 (Falls, Repairs complete). Buses detaxed from the end of June are B7RLE 929 (Falls, engine repairs), Optare 1802 (MSC, engine repairs), B9TL 2203 (Short Strand, engine repairs), Streetdecks 3581/2 (both Short Strand, with accident damage). Also off service for the duration of the school holidays is Safety Bus Scanis 2412 (Falls). Hydroliner 5003 was loaned to Wrightbus for a brief period in June for demonstration purposes, ending up in Edinburgh.

01/06/23 - Streetdeck Hydroliners 2435/40/3-6/8/9 were reallocated from York Road Engineering to Newtownabbey throughout April and May, although most still see only very sporadic use. B9s 2371 and 2333 are both back in use at Newtownabbey after completion of repairs, whilst Scania/Irizar 137 has been received at Short Strand for contract use. B12M 118 has been detaxed at the end of May for PSV prep, along with 909 (Falls, gearbox repairs), 2130 (Short Strand, engine repairs) and 3571 (Milewater, accident damage).

01/05/23 - No new buses were received during April, although Hydroliners 2436-9/41-9 started to see (very sporadic) use from Newtownabbey depot. Electroliner 3592 has returned to use at Short Strand (previously at Milewater) after completion of accident repairs, along with 2351 (Newtownabbey, repairs complete) and 3566 (MSC, accident repairs complete). 3601 has moved from Short Strand - MSC, whilst similar 3544 has received LED Advert frames and is now H70F+26. B7TLs 2966/7 have been solt to Hectares Plant Sales.

01/04/23 - No new buses were received during March.B9 2205 has retruned to use at Short Strand after completion of repairs; similarly Glider 3231 (MSC), B4 2383 (Short Strand) and Solos 1957 (SHort Strand), 2332 (Newtownabbey) and B5 2386 (Short Strand). Buses detaxed at the end of March are Solo 1936 (Short Strand, engine repairs) and B9s 2351/71/5 (Newtownabbey, all for gearbox repairs). Scania coach 142 has been received at Short Strand from Stranraer, with Volvos 1790/3 going the other direction. The stored B7 fleet continues to dwindle with 2942 going to Hamill for scrap and 2895/7/904/5/69/73/83 being sold to Hectares Plant Sales, Jonesborough.

01/03/23 - No new buses were received during February, although Hydroliners 3433/4/6/7/8/9/41/2 completed commissioning in early February entered use at Newtownabbey; most have since seen very little use. B9 2337 has retruned to use at Short Strand after completion of repairs; similarly Glider 3213 (MSC), B9 2332 (Newtownabbey) and B5 2386 (Short Strand). Buses detaxed at the end of February are B12M 116 (Short Strand, door repairs), Versa 1807 (MSC, exhaust repairs), Solo 1957 (Short Strand, adblue repairs), B9s 2205 (Short Strand, engine repairs), 2333 (Newtownabbey, engine repairs), B5 2383 (Short Strand, engine repairs) and Gliders 3216/31 (MSC, engine, HV battery repairs respectively). Streetdecks 3125-7 have moved from Short Strand back to Falls for the recommencement of services to Blacks Road P&R (new route 646 City Centre - Backs Road P&R via RVH). Also new is route 696 (City Centre - Duncrue Road). Electroliner 3543 seating specification has changed to H70F+28 to H70F+26 as aresult of the fitment of LED advert frames. Finally, Streetdeck 5000 has lost it's unique livery and is now in the same scheme as the EV buses.

01/02/23 - No new buses were received during January, although Electroliner 3609 completed it's commissioning in early December and entered use at Milewater. B5 2114 also moved to Ulsterbus in early December. Glider 3213 ws detaxed at the end of January for reapirs to it's traction system, along with Electroliner 3592 which was involved in an incident at Donegall Square West. Volvo B7RLE 925 is back in use at Falls after completion of engine repairs. One correction to earlier information is that B5 2198 moved to Falls in early October, and not as previously advised.

02/01/23 - No new buses were received during December. Vehicles detaxed at the end of December are 2332 (Newtownabbey, engine repairs), 2341 (Newtownabbey, axle repairs), 2386 (Short Strand, engine repairs) and 3566 (Milewater, accident damage). B5s 2110 and 2127 are the latest to be cascaded to Ulsterbus. On the move are 2131/2 (Short Strand - Milewater) and 3600/1 (Milewater - Short Strand).

01/01/23 - Seasons Greetings and a Merry New Year from Irish Transport Heritage.

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