Flexibus Fleet News

02/10/08 - The 24 year operation of the Flexibus fleet has finally ended with the transfer of the remainder of the fleet to Ulsterbus Reserve, surprisingly including long stored Mercedes 709D 15 (new March 1987). The final allocation, all Reserve, was Merc 709D/Ulsterbus 15 (IXI 7015), Renault Master/Oughtred & Harrison van conversion 43/5/6/8 (IAZ 6043 etc) and Mercedes 711D/Alexander 900/2/5/8/12/4/7/8 (JAZ 3900).

04/09/08 - The remainder of the active fleet has been transferred to Metro Short Strand, comprising Darts 641/6/8-50, Mercedes 711s 909/19/20/2 and Opetre Solos 1829-34.

06/08/08 - Operations here are being run down, with Renaults 43/5/6/8 and and all the Alexander bodied Mercedes going to Reserve (900/2/5/8/9/12/4/7/8/22). Dart 642 has gone to Ulsterbus Dungannon in exchange for 648, similar 649/50 have been transferred from Ulsterbus Lisburn. Renault 47 has also left, being transferred to the Driving School.

21/04/08 - Former Metro Dart SLF/Wright 642 has been reinstated here and is in Ulsterbus livery.

09/10/07 - Former Mercedes/Alexander 894 was sold to Fleming, Ballyclare in September.

14/09/07 - Mercedes/Alexander 894 was placed in Reserve from the end of August.

02/08/07 - Former Volvo B9M/Plaxton 600 (EEZ 7858, ex KXI 600) has been re-registered 87-DL-5311 with McGonagle, Buncrana whilst Mercedes 861 (NXI 6861) has been re-registered 89-DL-6719 with McLaughlin, Convoy. It subsequently passed to Marley, Cloghan in 2/07.

07/06/07 - Renault 47 has returned to service, replacing similar 43 which is now in Reserve.

03/05/07 - Renault Master 47 is the first of it's batch to be taken out of use, being detaxed to Reserve on 30th April.

04/02/07 - Dart 651 has transferred to Metro (GVS).

20/12/06 - Flexibus 1 (OCZ 8001) is now with North Yorkshire operator, Browne of Roecliffe. Fire damaged 1808 (SXI 2808) which had been sold to McGonagle, Buncrana has passed to to McLaughlin, Convoy, probably either for spares or for scrap.

22/09/06 - Mercedes/Plaxton 1 (OCZ 9001) has now been finally withdrawn after a mere 4 years use, and has joined sister vehicle 2 at Plaxton, Anston (dealer).

14/09/06 - Dart 641 now carries an attractive green based livery for the Gasworks shuttle, a new free service between the City Centre and the old Gasworks site where a large number of new office buildings are now located. This operates on a 20 minute frequency between 08.00 and 14.00 and 16.00 to 18.00, Monday - Friday. Mercedes/Plaxton 1, (OCZ 9001) is now back in reserve.

13/08/06  -  Mercedes/Plaxton Beavers 1 & 2 returned to service on 14th and 19th July respectively.

09/08/06  -  Former Metrorider 1817 (JAZ 1817) passed to Caledonian, Glasgow 5/06 ex XBG Fleet Marketing Ltd., Winchester via BCA Auctions, Manchester.

20/07/06  -  Mercedes/Alexander 900/4 have returned to Ulsterbus, together with Charabanc 5 which is now at Coleraine.

23/05/06  -  Former Volvo B9M/Plaxton 600 (EEZ 7858, ex KXI 600) has passed to McGonagle, Buncrana.

19/05/06  -  Changes in the offing here are the transfer of Mercedes 3/4 to Ulsterbus Glengall Street and Solos 1835-7 to Metro.

04/05/06  -  Mercedes 869 (TXI 7869) has gone to McGonagle, Buncrana for spare parts.

24/04/06  -  Flexibus 865 (TXI 7865) has passed from McLaughlin, Convoy to Dorrian, Ballybofey (t/a Kia Kabs) and is now registered 91-DL-5166. 1810 (AAZ 6810) is now with Wardle, Norton.

04/04/06  -  Metrorider 1816 (JAZ 1816) passed to McLaughlin, Convoy in 3/06 via Mid Ulster Auctions, Castledawson. Other Flexibus vehicles passing to the same operator but for spare parts are 830 (NXI 6830) and 1807 (SXI 2807). 

21/01/06  -  Dart/Wright 648 is now in Reserve, whilst 861 is another to go to Mid Ulster Auctions.

19/01/06  -  Flexibus Mercedes/Wright 863/73 and Optare Metroriders 1816/8 are the latest vehicles to be sent to Mid Ulster Auctions, Castledawson.

11/01/06  -  Vehicles disposed of in December were Mercedes/Wright 833/66/1810/1 to XGB Fleet remarketing along with Metroriders 1815/7, whilst Mercedes 1812 went to McGonagle, Buncrana.

06/12/05  -  Two more Mercedes/Alexander received from Ulsterbus are 904/8 (JAZ 3904/8) whilst 3 more Mercedes/Wright are now in Reserve: 833 (NXI 6833) and 1810/1 ( AAZ 6810) which were the final 2 of this small batch in use.

06/11/05  -  Dart SLF/Wright 641/51 have been received from Metro Short Strand, along with Alexander bodied Mercedes 909 from Ulsterbus Newry. Former Airbus Mercedes/Wright 1812 is now in Reserve, along with the last 3 of the Optare Metroriders, 1815/7/8.

09/10/05  -  Yet more Mercedes 711D/Alexander to arrive from Ulsterbus are 894/900/14/7/9/21 (JAZ 3894 etc), which have displaced the following to Reserve : Mercedes/Plaxton 60 (FAZ 3060 - the last of the secondhand Mercedes), Mercedes/Wright 861 (NXI 6861) and 1806 (SXI 4806) and Metroriders 1816 (JAZ 1816 - the first of this batch to go).

09/09/05  -  Mercedes 711D/Alexander 902/15/22 have arrived here from Ulsterbus, along with former Metro Dart SLF 646, displacing older Wrights bodied Mercs 865/72/3. Renaults 45-8 and Mercedes 60 returned to service after the school holidays.

01/09/05  -  Mercedes 711D/Alexander 920 has arrived here from Ulsterbus Newry. It still carries its allover advert for Friar Tucks. Volvo 600 (KXI 600) has been re-registered to EEZ 7858.

19/08/05  -  Mercedes 711D/Alexander 912 and Dennis Dart/Wright 641 have both been transfered here from Ulsterbus.

15/08/05  - Mercedes/Wright 866 is now in reserve having been replaced by 893 transferred from Ulsterbus Craigavon. Similar buses 894/900/2/8/9/12/4/5/7-22 should come here along with Dart SLFs 641/2/6/51 replacing the older Mercedes 709 and 811's and also the 4 Metroriders.

11/04/05  - Solo 1872 has been received on loan from Metro, and has thus now done the rounds of all 3 companys.

13/03/05  - Vehicles detaxed are the unique Mercedes based charabanc 5 (CZ 1988) along with Volvo B9M/Plaxton 600 (KXI 600) and Mercedes/Wright 830 (NXI 6830).

18/01/05  - Seemingly Flexibus are to take over operation of the 100 Centrelink service when the Metro revisions are introduced, although it is not yet known what form the service will take, or what vehicles will be used.

27/11/04  - Mercedes/Alexander 42 and Mercedes/PMT 49 have both passed to Wealden PSV for resale.

12/09/04  - Renaults 43/5-8 returned to service on 1st September. Solo 1833 has gained a nearside and rear advertisement for St Georges Market and can usually be found operating the MarketLink service on Fridays and Saturdays. Mercedes/Wright 1805/8 have been sold ot McGonagle, Buncrana.

17/08/04  - Mercedes 5 has returned to service whilts Volvo 600 has returned from it's period of loan to the Driving School.

25/07/04  - Mercedes/Wright 1805 has been detaxed to Reserve, whilst 5 and Renaults 43/5-8 are detaxed for the school holidays. Volvo 600 has been loaned to the Driving School whilst former Mercedes 65 has been sold to Kane, Ballyclare.

09/06/04  - Mercedes 64 has been sold to McGonagle, Buncrana.

29/02/04  - Mercedes/Alexander 905 has now been repainted in Flexibus livery.

10/02/04  - Mercedes 811D/Wright 1811 has been withdrawn following an electrical fire. It's replacement is 833 (NXI 6833) which has been returned to service from Ulsterbus Reserve. Similar 832/43 have been sold to Wealden PSV.

07/01/04  - Mercedes 30 has been sold to McGonagle, Buncrana.

06/12/03  - Mercedes 609/Reebur 64 (FAZ 3064) is now in Reserve.

22/11/03  - There are of course 2 acquired minis still in service at Flexibus, Plaxton bodied 60 (FAZ 3060) being the second.

06/11/03  - Mercedes/Wright 865 (TXI 7865) and Mercedes/Alexander 905 (JAZ 3905) have been received from Ulsterbus here. 905 is the first of the Alexander batch to make the move. Mercedes/Reebur 65 has been detaxed leaving 64 as the last of the acquired minis in service.

30/07/03  - Renaults 43/5-8 and Mercedes 64 have been detaxed for the summer holiday period.

06/06/03  - Mercedes 842 (NXI 6842) has gone to Reserve.

30/04/03  - Mercedes 36 has been sold to Ian Houston to provide spare parts for 51.

14/04/03  - 16 (IXI 7016), the last of the Ulsterbus converted Mercedes vans is now in Reserve, along with Wright bodied sisters 860/9.

21/03/03  - Former Mercedes 709D 32 (LXI 1032) has gone to Beattie for scrap.

11/03/03  - The final Solo placed in service is 1835 (OCZ 8835) on 1st March. Disappointingly a number of these vehicles are running without fleetnames or any other comany insignia. Merc 709/Wright 842 has returned to service, on loan to Ulsterbus at Newry.

06/02/03  - Flexibus have now placed Optare Solos 1829-34 into service with Mercedes 26/42, 832/42 and 1809 going to Reserve.

31/01/03  - At long last the 600 service to Belfast City Airport is to be enhanced. From Monday, departures will be half hourly throughout most of the day Mon - Sat, with a slightly reduced Sunday service. The outward route will now additionally serve Ormeau Avenue.

14/11/02  - Solo 1837 entered service on 19th November. Unusual Merc/PMT 49 and former Airbus Mercedes/Wright 1807 have been displaced to Reserve.

17/11/02  - Solos are slow to enter service here, with 1830/2/3/4 still untouched in Laganside yard today and a further unidentified one present at Duncrue Street.

09/11/02  - Solos 1836 (OCZ 8836) is the first to be taxed (from 4th November). It has displaced Mercedes 709D/Ulsterbus 36 , further diminishing the number of Mercedes 'van conversions' left in service.

07/11/02  - Solos 1835-7 are the 3 with 'Airlink' branding for the Harbour Airport service which is to be upgraded to 20 minute frequency.

 

06/10/02  - Cheetahs 1-4 entered service on 20th September (1 & 2) and 1st October (3 & 4).

18/09/02  - Stylish new deliveries are Plaxton Cheetahs 1-4 and the first of the Solos (1830/3).

 

 

16/09/02  - Delivery has commenced of the new Optare Solos, although none are yet in service.

10/09/02  - Unusually, the new Plaxton Cheetahs will have manual gearboxes, meaning that several manual gearbox vehicles will have to be retained by the Driving School for the time being.

08/09/02  - 16,26,43,5,6,7,8 and 1808 were retaxed from 1st September for the new school term.

06/09/02  - The Solos will carry registrations OCZ 8829 - OCZ 8837.

04/09/02  - 9 Optare Solos are due here (1829 - 1837), not 6 as previously stated.

27/08/02  - The 4 Plaxton Cheetahs for Flexibus have been delivered and are in Falls
awaiting PSV preparation. They are numbered 1 - 4 and are registered OCZ 8001 - 4.

20/08/02  -  Mercedes 31, 32 and 40 currently stored at Adelaide have been released for disposal.

15/08/02  -  Volvo B9M/Plaxton 600 has returned to service.

28/07/02  -  Mercedes/Wright 872 and 1805 have been received here, both from Ulsterbus Larne, whils van conversion 30 had been detaxed to reserve. Vehicles detaxed for the summer school holidays are Mercedes 16/26/1808; Renaults 43/5/6/7/8 and Volvo B9M 600.

26/07/02  -  New vehicles due here are 4 Mercedes / Plaxton Cheetah (to be numbered 1 - 4) and 6 Optare Solos (1829 - 34), some of which will be used to enhance the City Airport service 600.

16/06/02  -  Solo 1820 and Mercedes 709D 872 have returned to Ulsterbus (Newcastle and Larne respectively).

19/04/02  -  31/2/41/55/810/6 have been withdrawn from Reserve with 41/55/816 being sold to Beattie for scrap.

26/02/02 -  Mercedes 51 (IBZ 3051) has become the first Flexibus to be preserved, having passed back to previous owner Ian Houston.

14/02/02 -  Metrorider 1817 completes the batch of 4 here, having moved from GVS.

30/10/01 -  Metrorider 1818 has been reunited with it sisters here (received from Antrim), whilst Mercedes 811D/Wright 1805 has gone to Ulsterbus at Larne. 50 has been sold to Mclaughlin, Derry.

19/09/01  -  832/60 have NOT received coach seats - they merely have had their existing DP style seats re-upholstered with Goldliner style moquette.

16/09/01  -  M ercedes/Wright 832/60 have both received a set of coach seats, in place of their previous bus style ones.

02/09/01  -  861 is the latest repaint in the new livery, with Renaults 43/7 to be done next. This only leaves 16/26/30/6/64 in the old colours.

10/06/01  -  Optare Solo 1820 has been received here on loan from Ulsterbus Larne. It is used on a service to and from the newly opened Harbour Airport terminal at Sydenham. Mercedes/Wright 872 has been sent to Larne in its place. Mercedes/Made-To-Measure 50 is now in Reserve.

19/05/01  -  1805 is the latest Mercedes / Wright to gain the new livery.

25/04/01  -  1809 is currently being repainted, with 860 the next to be done.

21/04/01  -  Additional vehicles noted this week in the new Flexibus livery are 49 and 1808/12.

07/04/01  -  Mercedes 31 (CDZ 6664 - the last ex Sureline vehicle) and 32 (LXI 1032) are now in Reserve, whilst another Wrights bodied addition is 872 ex Laganside.

26/03/01  -  42 is another in the new livery.

16/03/01  -  The latest new livery repaints are 48/65 and 830/2.

08/03/01  -  1810 (AAZ 6810) and 1815 (JAZ 1815) are both in the new Flexibus livery.

11/01/01  -  Mercedes/Wright 1811 is now in the new livery.

05/02/01  -  Unique Volvo B9M / Plaxton 600 is now in the new livery.

21/01/01  -  Secondhand Mercedes/Plaxton 60 now carries the new livery in place of it's previously unique application of Flexibus colours.

21/01/01  -  Mercedes/Wright 866 is now in the new livery.

07/12/00  -  Renault Master 46 is the second vehicle to carry the new livery.   16/11/00  -  Dart SLF / Wright 647 is in a Park and Ride livery similar to sister 645, for use on the new Eastside Park and Ride from Station Street to the City Centre. The route is Queens Bridge, Ann Street, Albert Clock, High Street, Donegall Place, Chichester Street, Victoria Street and QEII Brisge.   27/10/00  -  Optare Metrorider 1816 is the prototype for a new Flexibus livery of white, blue and Translink sea green.   12/10/00  -  Mercedes 709D 860 has moved to Flexibus from Ulsterbus Bangor.   17/09/00  -  Mercedes / Wright 830/66 are now with Flexibus replacing acquired Mercedes 51, Optare Metrorider 1818 which is now at Antrim, and Mercedes/Wright 872 now at Laganside. 

14/07/00  -  Mercedes 709 / Wright 872 is now with Flexibus were it replaces 15.

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