Ulsterbus Fleet News 2008
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19/12/08 - More new Scania/Wrightbus are 437 - Derry 5/12, 439/40 - Ards 5/12, 441 - Downpatrick 5/12, 442 - Downpatrick 9/12 and 443 - Newcastle 12/12. Tiger 1120 was withdrawn on 12/12 to be replaced at Magherafelt by reinstated 1150, whilst 1374 and 1669 moved from Downpatrick to Newcastle on 12/12 also. Minibuses 68/70/88/89/91 have been sold to Loughshore Autos for resale and Tigers 1066, 1120/53/63/80/6, 1201/4/8/27/57/75/8/80 have all gone to Hamill for scrap. Minibus 902 was noted with Allens Tours this morning, his second of the type. Renown 2835 is now in the low floor livery, the last full size bus in the Ulsterbus fleet to be repainted.
07/12/08 - Two more Scania's to enter service are 436/8 at Londonderry on 3/12. Tigers 1135/64 and 1202 have all gone to Hamills for scrap. Newtownards Renown 2835 is understood to be the last full size vehicle in the fleet still in the green livery following the repaint of 2836.
04/12/08 - Scanias 417/27-31 entered service on 20th November, 432 on the 24th and 425 on the 28th. Further arrivals are 433-5 (all at Larne 1/12). 1206 is a another Tiger to be returned to service (at Magherafelt). Also returned to use is Cityliner 1473 at Coleraine. More of this type to come off service are 1150/89 (Ards), 1174/1236/52/87/90 (Lisburn), 1179/97/8 (Newry), 1207 (Coleraine), 1242/77 (Bangor), 1267 (GVS) and 1280 (Dungannon). Also taken off is B10M 1620 at Enniskillen with chassis defects. Buses on the move are Scanias 815 (Bangor - Dungannon), 816 (Dungannon - Bangor), 2468 (Coleraine - Armagh after accident repair), 2420 (Armagh - Coleraine), Tigers 1229 (Craigavon - Newry), 1323-5 (Newtownabbey - GVS), 1327 (GVS - Bangor), 1328 (Newtownabbey - Bangor), 1330 (Newtownabbey - Newtownards), 1363 (Derry - Lisburn), 1406 (Larne - Enniskillen), 1450/81 (Larne - Newry) and 1480/2 (GVS - Newtownabbey). On hire Volvo/Jonckheere coaches 2036/7 were returned to their owner on 30th October. Further Tigers sold to Hamill for scrap are 467/77, 1081, 1125/8/47/60/7/85/90, 1205. Also sold are former Flexibus Renault 45 to Lord Dubbs, Carickfergus and Mercedes 920 to Mount Vernon Community Development Forum. Another former Flexibus in the news is 1817 (JAZ 1817) which was withdrawn by Caledonian, Glasgow in 9/08 following the collapse of the company.
02/12/08 - A photo review of the Trust outing to commemorate the end of Tiger operation at GVS can be found here.
28/11/08 - Scanias 704/88/9 have finally received the current fleet livery; all these are now repainted out of the green colours and only a few Renowns are left to be done. Minibus 919 was purchased by Allens Tours, Belfast at the recent auction.
23/11/08 - More arrivals are Scanias 420 (UEZ 2420 - GVS - 17/11), 429 (Newtownabbey 17/11) and 417/25-8 (Lisburn), 430/1/2 (Newtownabbey - dates TBC). Most unusual news is of former Mercedes/Wright 880 (TXI 7880) which was sold at Mid Ulster Auctions during May 2007 and has been pictured in Accra, Ghana !
16/11/08 - Former Flexibus minibuses 902/8/12/7/8/9 have all gone to Wilson's Auctions, Mallusk for Tuesday's sale. In order to clear fleet numbers for new arrivals, a number of vehicles are to be renumbered from tomorrow - Tiger 434 becomes 4434, Volvos 504-11 become 2504 etc, and TEs 514/6/8-20/2/4/5/7-9 become 2514 etc. Former Citybus Tiger 2609, one of the last remaining Gardner engined vehicles, has gone to Grimes, Cork for preservation. Minibus 823 (as OXI 525, ex NXI 6823) was reregistered F331 LKL in 9/08 with Autocar, Five Oak Green and the OXI number transferred to another vehicle.
14/11/08 - Four more Scania's have entered service:- 419 ( UEZ 2419 Derry 12/11), 422 (Newcastle 12/11) and 423/4 - (Larne on 5/11). Tigers returned to service are 1184 - Newry, 1189 - Ards, 1207 - Coleraine, 1224 - Dungannon and 1242/77 - Bangor. Similar 1088 and 1156 have gone to Hamill for scrap. Volvo B7RLE / Alexander Dennis 503 was displayed at the Euro Bus Expo 2008 and carries a livery with less blue than previously demonstrated on 545.
04/11/08 - Dates of entry in to service for Scania K230/Wrightbus B55F+18 are: 402 (UEZ 2402 - Larne - 02/10), 403 (Gt. Victoria St. - 08/10), 404 (Craigavon - 06/10), 405 (Craigavon - 24/10), 406 (Downpatrick - 24/10), 407 ( Downpatrick - 15/10), 408 (Newcastle - 08/10), 409 (Londonderry - 08/10), 411 (Newcastle - 17/10), 410 (Londonderry - 16.10), 411 (Newcastle - 17/10), 412 (Newtownards - 16/10), 413 (Craigavon - 24/10), 414 (Craigavon - 16/10), 415 (Newtownards - 23/10), 416 Newtownards (23/10), 418 (Londonderry - 23/10) and 421 (Gt. Victoria St. - 24/10). Ayats 2004 has returned to service following accident damage repair and is transferred from Larne to Ballymena. The rapid rundown of the Leyland engined Tiger fleet continues with nearly 50 examples being taken off the road at the end of October: 368/9/1202/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 (Londonderry), 477/1164 (Coleraine), 1066 (Dungannon), 1081 (Bangor), 1099/1185/6/1201/12/3/54/62/3/5/75/7/8 (Gt. Victoria St.), 1128/84 (Downpatrick), 1135 (Magherafelt), 1163/80 (Ballymena), 1167/1228 (Enniskillen), 1168/78 (Armagh), 1176/89/1242 (Newtownards), 1190/1261 (Craigavon), 1216/7 (Larne), 1224 (Antrim) and 1257 (Newcastle). This removes the remainder of the original DXI batch from service as well as all 10 of the batch of 48 seaters built for Derry City services, and leaves only 80 of these vehicles in service. Also in Reserve are some of the first batch of Solos: 1820/6 (Newcastle), 1823/4 (Enniskillen), TE 527 (Ards), Cityliner 1473 (Newcastle), B10M 1645 (Derry), Darts 643 (Derry), 644 (Ards), Mercedes 901 (Coleraine) and Atlantean 4901 (Coleraine - seasonal). Hopefully 4901 will return to service next year to see the 50th consecutive year of Atlantean operation in Northern Ireland. On the move are: 2401/2 (Bangor - Newtownards), 1610 (Newtownards - Bangor), 2278 (Newtownards - Bangor), 511 (Lisburn - Londonderry), 689 (Dungannon - Driving School), 815 (Dungannon - Bangor), 1326/7 (Newtownabbey - Gt. Victoria St.), 1468 (Craigavon - Coleraine), 1614 (Londonderry - Derry City), 1663 (Enniskillen - Londonderry), 1667 (Enniskillen - Coleraine), 1763 (Londonderry - Dungannon), 1838 (Newtownabbey - Derry City), 1857/8 (Newtownards - Enniskillen), 2240/1/2/3/55/8/83/4 (Londonderry - Derry City), 2305/7 (Derry City - Londonderry), 2636 (Londonderry - Gt. Victoria St.) and 2644/5/6 (Downpatrick - Gt. Victoria St.). Tiger 2604 has been sold to Hamill for scrap, and Van Hool example 593 to Mclaughlin, Convoy.
23/10/08 - What little remained of 2825 has been collected by Hamill for scrap. Some news of former vehicles is Mercedes 870 (TXI 7870) has passed from Wragg, Wadsley Bridge to Woodside Continental, Parson Cross, whilst the last remaining Mark IV Goldliner has finally surfaced: 1560 (DAZ 1560) is now with Snait, Otterburn and has been reseated to C70F. Highland 681 (DAZ 1568), 682 (DAZ 1571), 686 (EAZ 2590), 687 (EAZ 2575) and 690 (DAZ 1561) have received Stagecoach fleet numbers 52200/1/4/2 and 52198 respectively. Of these 52201 (DAZ 1571) and 52202 (EAZ 2575) have since passed to Bluebird Buses. Orkney Coaches 683 (EAZ 2587) and 685 (DAZ 1566) received Stagecoach fleet numbers 52203 and 52199 respectively. 1580 (EAZ 2580) is now with Holmeswood, Holmeswood ex Olympus, Harlow. It has been reseated to C70F and re-registered M681 BNO.
22/10/08 - B10BLE 2825 has been mailiciously destroyed during civil distrubances in Lurgan.
21/10/08 - Delivery of the main batch of Scania rural buses has commenced, with the following being in service so far: 402 (UEZ 2402 - Larne), 403 (GVS), 407 (Downpatrick), 408/11 (Newcastle), 409/10 (Derry), 412 (Ards) and 414 (Craigavon). More Tigers dispatched to Hamill for scrapping are 396, 466, 1075, 1175/7, 1215 and 2601/8.
02/10/08 - A number of Tigers returned to service from storage during September: 477/1164 (Coleraine), 1128 (Downpatrick), 461/2/8 (Derry), 1081 (Bangor) and 527/1150 (Ards). Also returned to service is Scania 840 (Antrim) after accident damage. 527 is now the only active TE left as 522 has left the Driving School for Reserve. Also detaxed are Tigers 1177 (Ards), 1349 (Bangor - accident damage), B10M 1645 (Derry - bodywork), Ayats 2008 (Derry - engine), along with Mercedes rural minibuses 68 (Craigavon) and 91 (Coleraine). Further Tigers withdrawn are 466 (Downpatrick - accident damage), 1175 (Ards - engine) and 1215 (Antrim - engine). One the move are 1135 (Bangor - Magherafelt), 1224 (Bangor - Antrim) and 1185 (Craigavon - GVS). The remainder of the Flexibus reserve fleet has been allocated to Ulsterbus Reserve: Mercedes 15, 900/2/5/8/9/12/4/7/8/9/20/2 and Renaults 43/5/6/8. 909 and 922 were subsequently sold to McLoughlin, Convoy, with Tigers 460 and 1131 going to the Kells Bus Museum and 403, 1033/64/80/5/7/8/90/4/1130/8/45/6/8/54/5/62/1181 going for scrap to Hamill, along with former GVS towbus Leopard 1983.
04/09/08 - Scania 401 entered service at Larne on 14th August. 1st September saw all vehiicles detaxed for the school holidays returned to serives together with Tigers 466 (Downpatrick) and 1185 (Craigavon). Against these 1150 (Downpatrick) 1183 (Larne) have been detaxed and 1253 (Lisburn) withdrawn with engine failure. Also detaxed with accident damage are Ayats 2004 (Larne) and B9TL 2253 (Newtownabbey). 2 additional transfers from Metro are B10BLE's 2770 (Craigavon) and 2784 (Newtownabbey). Other moves see 506 go from the Driving School - Ballymena, 1664 (Armagh - GVS), 2022 (GVS - Armagh), 1473 (Enniskillen - Newcastle)and 1856 (Bangor - Lisburn). Tigers 449/69/1015/8/1182/1210/1/48/53 have been sold to Hamill for scrap, along with DAF 680; minibuses 67/9/71/3/-7/86 have gone to Wilson's Auctions for resale and 72/9-83/5/7/90 to Mid-Ulster Auctions.
06/08/08 - 65/6 (SEZ 7165/6), the final 2 of the batch of 30 Iveco 50C15V/Nu-Track 16 seaters entered service at Enniskillen on 16th July. An interesting arrival is 401 (UEZ 2401) the first of a batch of 45 rural low floor buses. These are built on Scania K230 chassis, the first of this type for Translink, and carry a new version of the Wrightbus Solar body, featuring 55 seats in a 3+2 configuration and, unusually for a low floor bus, a separate wheelchair entrance behind the front axle in the same manner as the SchoolRun vehicles. 45 similar buses are being built on Volvo chassis, with further variety being added to the fleet as they will carry Alexander-Dennis bodywork. Delivery of these 90 buses is to be completed over the remainder of the year, once completed few Layland engined Tigers will remain in service. Tenders have been invited for the supply of around 24 touring and cross channel express coaches over the period 2009-13; some of these will be tri-axle 52 seaters, with the remainder being conventional 2-axle vehicles. Buses recently returned to service are Scania 782 (Downpatrick), B10M 1539 (Newtownabbey), Ayats 2002 (Derry) with Tiger 478 going to GVS as a tow wagon. On loan Volvo B12M coaches 2036/7 were new as HSK 646/50 to Parks of Hamilton. Tiger 1229 and B10M 1540 were detaxed at the end of July for the ramainder of the school holidays. Vehicles on the move recently are : 1664 (GVS - Armagh), 2022 (Armagh - GVS), 765/7/2240/3/55/7/8/83/4 (Derry City - Derry), 2411 (Derry - Derry City), 696 (Glengall Street - Derry), 687/8/94 (Driving School - Glengall St), 1638 (Enniskillen - Driving School), 642 (Flexibus - Dungannon), 648 (Dungannon - Flexibus), 649/50 (Lisburn - Flexibus) and 47 (Flexibus - Driving School). A large number of Tigers have gone to for scrap during July: 410/26/64/88/90/2/5/8, 1001/19/27/8/40/1/3/7/54/61/91/6, 1103/8/16/26/44/61/5/72; also sold to Hamill is former Leopard towbus 1967. Tigers 400, 1000 have gone to the Kells Bus Museum, similar 1025 to Shannon, Newtownards, all for preservation; B10M 692 has been sold to G. McLoughlin, Convoy and the first Leyland engined examples to be sold to Lough Swilly: 1235/49. Atlantean 2901 has recently gained a broadside advertisement for NorthCoastNI.com, brightening up it's bland overall white livery.
11/06/08 - The last of the batch of 20 Volvo B12B/Sunsudegui goldliner coaches to enter service as 1785 (REZ 9785 - Derry - 14th May). Also new are more Iveco 50C15V / NuTrack: 49 (SEZ 7149 - Magherafelt - 6th May), 50 (Omagh - 6th May), 51/2 (Coleraine - 13th May), 53 (Coleraine - 20th May), 55/6 (Newtownards - 27th May). Another bad month for Tigers sees to following being taken off service: 462/3 (Omagh), 466 (Downpatrick), 468 (Londonderry), 498/1027 (returned from Metro), 1033 (Craigavon), 1064/1130 (Ballymena), 1131 (Enniskillen), 1139/60/1/2/4/1200 (Gt. Victoria St.), 1145 (returned from Metro), 1155 (Newry), 1156 (Craigavon), 1195 (Downpatrick), 1227 (Newtownards), 1248 (Bangor) and 1252 (Lisburn). More vehicles on the move are: 1375 (Newry - Craigavon), 907 (Coleraine - Larne), 1856 (Newtownards - Magherafelt), 1468 (Metro - Craigavon), 1469 (Metro - Craigavon), 2667 (Metro (Falls) - Gt. Victoria St.), 2667/78/9/80 (Metro - Gt. Victoria St.), 2835/6 (Metro - Newtownards), 1470 (Metro - Craigavon), 1471 (Metro - Lisburn), 1472 (Metro - Newcastle), 1473 (Metro - Enniskillen), 1695 (Magherafelt - Larne), 687 (Bangor - Driving School), 1469 (Craigavon - Ballymena), 1470 (Craigavon - Ballymena), 2768 (Metro - Craigavon), 2769 (Metro - Craigavon), 700 (Ballymena - Larne), 2329 (Larne - Ballymena), 1633 (Larne - Driving School), 688 (Craigavon - Driving School), 1722 (Londonderry - Newry), 718 (Newtownards - Bangor), 1346 (Bangor - Londonderry), 2402 (Newtownards - Bangor). Further Tigers sold to Hamill for scrap are 381/98, 436/43/74/93/4/7/9, 1009/12/23/32/46/51/8/79, 1117/8/40, 2605 along with fire damage B10M 1658; 1122/43 have gone to the Kells Bus Museum, 1003/1106/21 to Nash, Dorking and Mercedes 1813 to McLoughlin, Convoy.
26/05/08 - Further Iveco/Nu-Track 16 seat minbuses are 39/40 (SEZ 7139 - Downpatrick - 21/04), 41 (Dungannon - 01/05) and 42 (Newcastle 28/04), replacing older examples 67/73 (Downpatrick) and 75 (Newcastle). Hired Plaxton Primas 1/2 entered service at Coleraine on 14th April and 2nd May. Vehicles detaxed at the end of April were Tiger/TEs 514/5/8/9/27/8/9 (Driving School), Mercedes 711D/Alexander 910 (Coleraine), and Tiger/N-type 469 (Lisburn), 1028 (Armagh), 1032 (Newcastle), 1036/1146/8 (Craigavon), 1085/1158 (Larne) and 1154 (Newry). Recent vehicle moves include: 1641 (Gt. Victoria St. - Craigavon), 1642 (Gt. Victoria St. - Lisburn), 1710 (Downpatrick - Newry), 1725 (Enniskillen - Larne), 2299 (Bangor - Newtownards), 2401 (Newtownards - Bangor), 764 (Derry City - Londonderry), 1845 (Londonderry - Derry City), 1863 (Derry City - Londonderry), 2257 (Londonderry - Derry City), 2259 (Londonderry - Derry City), 2283 (Londonderry - Derry City), 2284 (Londonderry - Derry City), 2285 (Londonderry - Derry City), 1746 (Enniskillen - Ballymena), 1654 (Gt. Victoria St. - Lisburn), 1272 (Coleraine - Craigavon), 1633 (Omagh - Larne), 1653 (Gt. Victoria St. - Lisburn), 1735 (Omagh - Newry), 1709 (Armagh - Larne), 504 (Lisburn - Driving School), 510 (Ballymena - Driving School), 1661 (Londonderry - Bangor), 700 (Larne - Ballymena), 732 (Larne - Antrim), 772 (Ballymena - Antrim), 1756 (Antrim - Larne), 1762 (Antrim - Ballymena), 2329 (Ballymena - Larne), 1662 (Londonderry - Bangor), 1893 (Bangor - Newtownards), 1380 (Newtownards - Magherafelt), 1634 (Magherafelt - Newtownards), 505 (Lisburn - Driving School), 1643 (Newry - Driving School) and 1646 (Newry - Gt. Victoria St.). Tiger 485 has been sold to Mike Nash, with similar 423/8/41/58/1031/78/1109 going to Hamill for scrap. TE 526 has been sold to Kelleher, Tipperary and B10M/Plaxton 510 to McLaughlin, Convoy. Finally, Tigers 1100/11 are re-registered TEZ 2946/8, to release LXI 1100/11 for use on new coaches 126/7.
25/05/08 - B10M 504, recently transferred to the Driving School has been repainted in a smart dedicated livery for this role.
23/04/08 - Tiger 478 has been shortened for use as a towbus at GVS, and is smartly repainted in ocean blue and grey.
21/04/08 - Further new arrivals are Volvo B12B/Sunsundegui C53F 1784 (REZ 9784 Enniskillen 02/04), 1770 (GVS 03/04), 1786 (Ennisklllen 03/04), 1778/80 (Derry 04/04), 1774 (Coleraine 10/04), 1775 (Coleraine 15/04), 1776/7 (Omagh 15/04), 1779 (Derry 17/04), 1782 (Armagh 17/04) along with Iveco 16 seat minibuses 34 ( SEZ 7134 Enniskillen 07/04), 35/6 (Derry 07/04), 37/8 (Enniskillen 14/04). Tigers 498/1027 were both returned to service at Metro Short Strand on 14th April, whilst 1484 returned to service at Ballymena the following day after completion of repairs. Some vehicles on the move recently are : 1641 GVS-Craigavon, 1642/54 GVS-Lisburn, 1710 Downpatrick - Newry, 1725 Enniskillen-Larne, 2299 Bangor - Newtownards, 2401 Newtownards - Bangor, 1746 Enniskillen - Ballymena. Further Tigers to go to Hamill for scrap are 428/41/50/1031, whilst TE's 515/7/23 have gone to Dodds of Troon and Tiger/VanHool 598 to the Kells bus museum. Tigers 1000/1 which have donated their registrations IXI1000/1 to new coaches 124/5 are now re-registered SEZ 9973/2. Finally all 19 remaining of the TXI group of Tiger/Q-type are now 63 seaters, with the completion of 1358 on 15th April.
04/04/08 - Forthcoming Volvo/Sunsundegui touring coaches 124-7 will take Tiger cherished numbers IXI 1000/1 and LXI 1100/11.
03/04/08 - Delivery of the 80 Geminis is now complete with the entry into service of 2298-2300 (PEZ 7298-2300) at Bangor on 21st March. Further Volvo B12B/Sunsundegui C53F are 1767/8 (REZ 9767/8 - GVS - 14/03), 1781 (Armagh - 21/03) and 1773/83 (Downpatrick 01/04). Delivery has also started of a batch of 30 Iveco 50C15V 16 seat minibuses to be numbered 31-42 and 49-66 (SEZ 7131 etc). The first 3 entered service on 31st March at Newry (31/2) and Derry (33). B10M 1602 and Tiger 1411 have both returned to service at Newcastle, with Mercedes/Alexander 907 also going to Coleraine. With the slowdown in new arrivals only a small number of vehicles went to Reserve at the end of March: Tigers 398/1047 (Newcastle), 524 (Driving School), 1023/1163 (Bangor), 1115/7 (GVS), 1153 (Newry), 1182 (Larne), 1235 (Dungannon), along with Mercedes 1813 (Coleraine) and Atlantean 4900 (also Coleraine). 398's withdrawal closes out the FXI group of 40 buses. Correspondingly, only a few moves took place last month: 1226 (Armagh - Omagh), 1227 (Dungannon - Ards), 707 (Antrim - Derry), 1201 (Derry - GVS), 2670 (Bangor - GVS) and 506 (Armagh - Driving School). An interesting repaint in to the current livery is former Citybus Dart 642 which has been out of use for almost 2 years. Scania 700 has now been re-registered with former Tiger number FXI 396 (formerly ECZ 9021) and has the distinction of having both it's fleet and registration numbers changed since it was new. More Tigers to be sold to Hamill for scrap are 429, 447, 1002, 1050, 1052 and 1072.
16/03/08 - Plaxton Prima 27 seaters 1,2 (KX08 HMA, KX08 HMC) are on hire from March - September for use at the Giant's Causeway. Further new arrivals are SchoolRun 354 (Newcastle 12/03) and Gemini's 2296/7 (Newry 5/03). Former MkII Goldliners 1340/1/2/3/8 are now converted to 63 seaters.Disposals to Hamill for scrapping are 439 (KEZ 6394, ex GXI 439), 442 (KEZ 6357, ex GXI 442), 454 (MEZ 5668, ex GXI 454), 1013 (JXI 1013), 1068 (KXI 1068), 1069/98 (KXI 2069/98) and 1105 (LXI 1105).
09/03/08 - A Plaxton Prima is currently on demonstration at Coleraine - KX08 HMC.
05/03/08 - As usual the last month has seen a deluge of new vehicles, on no less that 3 different types of Volvo chassis:
B7R/Wrightbus B62FL:
: 346/7 (Newry - 04/02/08), 348/9 (Londonderry - 05/02/08), 350/1/2 (Magherafelt - 04/02/08), 353 (Newcastle - 11/02/08), 355 (Craigavon - 21/02/08), 356 (Craigavon - 18/02/08), 357 (Craigavon - 21/02/08), 358/9 (Dungannon - 03/03/08).B9TL/Wrightbus H75F+4:
2277 (Lisburn - 04/02/08), 2278/9 (Newtownards - 04/02/08), 2280 (Antrim - 04/02/08), 2281 (Antrim - 08/02/08), 2282 (Magherafelt - 04/02/08), 2283 (Londonderry - 05/02/08), 2284 (Londonderry - 18/02/08), 2285 (Londonderry - 11/02/08), 2286 (Londonderry - 28/02/08), 2287/8/9 (Londonderry - 18/02/08), 2290 (Omagh - 22/02/08), 2291/2 (Armagh - 27/02/08), 2293/4 (Newcastle - 27/02/08), 2295 (Newry - 03/03/08)Volvo B12B/Sunsundegui C53F:
1769 (REZ 9769, Gt Victoria St - 15/02/08), 1771 (Gt Victoria St - 22/02/08), 1772 (Downpatrick - 18/02/08)
Again, with the large number of new vehicles arriving, the rapid run-down of the Tiger fleet has continued with the following going to Reserve: 410/3/42/1026/1101 (Londonderry), 436/50 (Dungannon), 439/1036/61/1128/1210/11 (Gt. Victoria St.), 458 (Armagh), 499/1000/12/81/1125/72 (Craigavon), 1025/7 (Newtownards), 1041 (Newtownabbey), 1057/80 (Newry), 1090/1 (Newcastle), 1150 (Downpatrick). Also detaxed is 1484 (Ballymena) with fire damage from an electrical fire, whilst a number of similar vehicles have been withdrawn completely: 387 (Armagh - engine failure), 1044 (Armagh - accident damage), 1157 (Newry - engine failure), 1126 (Downpatrick - accident damage), 1173 (Lisburn - engine failure), along with fire damaged B10M 692 (Derry). All this leaves the GXI and IXI batches of Tigers completely extinct, with only 366/7 from the original DXI group active (along with 361 at Metro) and 398 (Newcastle) from the FXI batch. Moves from lats month are: 322 (Antrim - Ballymena), 1162 (Magherafelt - Gt. Victoria St.), 1432 (Antrim - Downpatrick), 1186/2229/30 (Londonderry - Gt. Victoria St.), 2231 (Omagh - Gt. Victoria St.), 1432 (Downpatrick - Armagh), 1457 (Newcastle - Armagh), 1064 (Omagh - Ballymena), 1200 (Londonderry - Gt. Victoria St.), 1184/5 (Magherafelt - Downpatrick), 2240/3 (Londonderry - Derry City), 2306 (Derry City - Londonderry). Further Tiger sold to Hamill for scrap are 387/465/1006/37/44/56/1157/73, whilst 1119/4341 have gone to Begley, Lisburn. Also sold is the sole example of the Wrightbus Commuter in the fleet, 2201 (WCZ 2201), which as gone to Bowman’s Coaches, Craignure, Isle of Mull, after giving less than 4 years service with Ulsterbus. Scania/Irizar demonstrator 2035 has also departed Derry and been returned to it's owner. Finally Tiger 357 (Reserve) has been renumbered 4357 to make way for a new B7R.05/02/08 - More new vehicles at the tail end of January were: B7R/Wrightbus 340/1 ( PEZ 7340 Newcastle 25/01), 342/3 (GVS 25/01), 344/5 (Newry 30/01) along with B9TL/Wrightbus 2270/1 (PEZ 7270 Dungannon 22/01), 2272/3 (Newcastle 24/01), 2275/6 (Downpatrick 25/01) and 2274 (Downpatrick 30/01). As usual a large number of Tigers were put to Reserve at the end of January: 381 (Armagh), 390 (Newcastle), 396 (Craigavon), 400 (Magherafelt), 403 (Craigavon), 440 (Newtownards), 441 (Newcastle), 443 (Londonderry), 451 (Dungannon), 474 (Newtownards), 477 (Newry), 488 (Coleraine), 493 (Bangor), 495 (Newry), 498 (Craigavon), 1002 (GVS), 1003 (Magherafelt), 1005 (Craigavon), 1007 (GVS), 1010 (Newtownabbey), 1037 (Craigavon), 1040 (Newtownabbey), 1054 (Dungannon), 1088 (Ballymena), 1094 (Coleraine), 1103 (Enniskillen), 1105 (Dungannon), 1107 (Newcastle), 1111/6 (Lisburn), 1123 (Newcastle), 1143 (Ballymena), 1145 (Coleraine), 1157 (Newry), 1165/81 (GVS) along with B10M 1602 which requires repairs. As expected a large number of vehicles moves also occurred during the month: 1681 (Coleraine - Ballymena), 2301/3 (Derry City - Londonderry), 322 (Ballymena - Antrim), 2228 (Omagh - GVS),1000 (Craigavon - Newtownards), 2255 (Londonderry - Derry City), 1227/80 (Omagh - Dungannon), 1489 (Coleraine - Dungannon), 1194 (Downpatrick - Newcastle), 1384/5 (Newcastle - Craigavon), 1825 (Newcastle - Metro Short Strand), 1267/78 (Newtownabbey- GVS), 1511/2 (GVS - Newtownabbey), 1239 (Downpatrick - Craigavon), 1287 (Downpatrick - Lisburn) and 1163 (Ballymena - Bangor). Further sales to Hamill, Ahoghill for scrap are Tigers 390/1010/35/8/86. Finally, the entry in to service of Schoolrun 341 saw Tiger 341 (DXI 3341 - Reserve) renumbered to 4341.
23/01/08 - The latest new vehicles to enter service are: B7R/Wrightbus 331 ( PEZ 7331 Lisburn 10/01), 334 (Craigavon 9/01), 335/6 (Craigavon 11/01), 337 (Ballymena 15/01), 338/9 (Ballymena 11/01) and B9TL/Wrightbus 2263/4 (PEZ 7264 Coleraine 10/01), 2265/6 (Magherafelt 11/01) and 2267-9 (Omagh 17/01).
04/01/08 - Dates of entry to service for the latest new vehicles are:
313 PEZ 9313 Volvo B7R Ballymena 02.01.08
325 PEZ 9325 Volvo B7R Magherafelt 03.12.07
326 PEZ 9326 Volvo B7R Downpatrick 07.12.07
327 PEZ 9327 Volvo B7R Newry 03.01.08
328 PEZ 9328 Volvo B7R Newry 07.12.07
329 PEZ 9329 Volvo B7R Lisburn 01.01.08
330 PEZ 9330 Volvo B7R Lisburn 02.01.08
332 PEZ 9332 Volvo B7R Enniskillen 01.01.08
333 PEZ 9333 Volvo B7R Craigavon 01.01.08
2239 OEZ 7239 Volvo B9TL Lisburn 01.01.08
2246 OEZ 7246 Volvo B9TL Ballymena 07.12.07
2247 OEZ 7247 Volvo B9TL Ballymena 07.12.07
2248 OEZ 7248 Volvo B9TL Armagh 07.12.07
2249 OEZ 7249 Volvo B9TL Armagh 01.01.08
2250 OEZ 7250 Volvo B9TL Larne 10.12.07
2251 OEZ 7251 Volvo B9TL Coleraine 01.01.08
2252 OEZ 7252 Volvo B9TL Omagh 01.01.08
2253 OEZ 7253 Volvo B9TL Newtownabbey 01.01.08
2254 OEZ 7254 Volvo B9TL Newtownabbey 01.01.08
2255 OEZ 7255 Volvo B9TL Londonderry 01.01.08
2256 OEZ 7256 Volvo B9TL Londonderry 01.01.08
2257 OEZ 7257 Volvo B9TL Londonderry 01.01.08
2258 OEZ 7258 Volvo B9TL Londonderry 02.01.08
2259 OEZ 7259 Volvo B9TL Newcastle 01.01.08
2260 OEZ 7260 Volvo B9TL Newcastle 01.01.08
2261 PEZ 7261 Volvo B9TL Coleraine 02.01.08
2262 PEZ 7262 Volvo B9TL Coleraine 02.01.08Against these new arrivals, more Tigers have now been removed from service: 357 (Armagh), 460/84 (Coleraine), 1013 (Bangor), 1015/8 (Magherafelt), 1019 (Newtownards), 1027/9 (Lisburn), 1028 (Armagh), 1068 (Newcastle), 1074 (Bangor), 1106 (Newry), 1112 (Gt. Victoria St.), 1121/2 (Ballymena), 1140 (Larne), 1144 (Coleraine) and surprisingly 1411 (Newcastle). The following vehicles have been on the move in the last month: 326 (Downpatrick - Dungannon), 2421 (Dungannon - Downpatrick), 1107 (Downpatrick - Newcastle), 1201/93 (Derry City - Londonderry), 2229/30/2303/5/6/7 (Londonderry - Derry City), 1224 (Omagh - Bangor), 1277 (Londonderry - Gt. Victoria St.), 1278 (Londonderry - Newtownabbey), 1293 (Londonderry - Newtownards). Further sales of Tigers to for scrap are: 356, 379, 383, 399, 1011, 1042, 1053, 1063, whilst 351 has been sold to Begley, Lisburn for preservation.
01/01/08 - Seasons Greetings and a Merry New Year from the Irish Transport Trust. 2007 proved to be a very interesting year and 2008 is already shaping up to be equally so. A number of new vehicles should take to the road from the start of the year: Schoolruns 329 (PEZ 9329 - Lisburn); 332 (Enniskillen) ; 333 (Craigavon) and Geminis 2249 (OEZ 7249 - Armagh), 2251 (Coleraine); 2252 (Omagh); 2253/4 (Newtownabbey) ; 2255-7 (Derry) and 2259 (Newcastle).
