Metro Fleet News 2010

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22/12/10 - Solo 1914 is now in the green Park&Ride livery, branded for Blacks Road. B10L 2723 has been moved to Derry to provide spare parts for the fleet of Ultras there.

09/12/10 - The last of the original Airbus Solos, 1836, is now in Reserve.

26/11/10 - Solo 1915 is now in the green Park & Ride livery and is lettered for the Blacks Road service.

07/11/10 - Tigers 1351/79 have returned to Ulsterbus, going to Newcastle and GVS respectively. Coming the other direction from Downpatrick, is B10BLE 2801, which is now at Newtownabbey.

01/11/10 - In a surprise move Volvo B10L Ultra 2730 (LAZ 2730) has been sold to Orchard County Enterprises, Loughgall. This is actually a garden centre but it is believed the vehicle is for use by a church outreach group. This was one of two fitted with Skybreaker advertising panels, the other (2740) later having them removed.

26/10/10 - Volvo B7TL 2903 was destroyed in civil unrest at Rathcoole last night.

22/10/10 - Solo 1898 entered service at GVS on the 21st, whilst Ulsterbus Tiger 1407 was returned to it's owner on the 20th, going to Downpatrick.

08/10/10 - Solo 1881 is now also painted Magenta and lettered for the 600 service. 2 of previous solos used on this route are now in Reserve: 1835/7. Ulsterbus Tigers 1351/79/1407 have been in use from Short Strand on contract duties, whilst B10BLE's 2801/3/7 have gone to Ulsterbus. Similar 2805 has moved from GVS to Short Strand.

16/09/10 - Solos 1897/8 are now painted Magenta and lettered for the 600 serivce; similar 1899 has returned to Ulsterbus and replaced by 1881.

12/09/10 - Former RELLs 2505 (XOI 2505), 2522 (XOI 2522) passed to RRS Car Spares, Chelmsford 9/06 for scrap, ex Quietus Productions, Iver Heath

05/09/10 - Vehicles detaxed for the summer were returned to service on 1st September. Further transfers to Ulsterbus are B7TL 2989 (Falls - GVS) and B10BLE's 2765 (Craigavon) and 2766/78 (Newcastle). B10BLEs 2801/3/7 are now in Reserve. Received from Ulsterbus are Solos 1897-9 which should replace 1835-7 on the George Best Airport service; similar 1860 has returned to Ulsterbus and is now in Reserve. On the move are 701/14 (Newtownabbey - Falls), 722 (Falls - GVS), 2738-40 (Falls - Short Strand), 2762 (Falls - GVS), 2781 (GVS - Short Strand), 2891/2 (Short Strand - Falls), 2967 (Newtownabbey - Falls), 2969/70 (Newtownabbey - GVS), 2973/9 (Short Strand - GVS).

20/08/10 - As expected double decker 2985 has as expected been written off following the fire damage it suffered on 12 July. 2880 has reverted to fleet livery ex Belfast City Council allover advert livery. Volvo B10BLE's 2780/7 have gone to Ulsterbus (Newcastle).

14/08/10 - Solo 1823 has lost it's Royal Hospitals livery and is now in fleet colours. Former Tiger 2619 (NXI 4619) is now with Elliott, Finney & Richman, Kidsgrove by 6/10, ex Liddell, Auchinleck.

02/08/10 - Damaged 2985 was detaxed at the end of July so is not written off just yet. Solos 1829/60 and Ultras 2708/11/4/5/7/8/9/31/2 returned to service at the start of August; 1860 is on loan from Ulsterbus. 2988 has been transferred from Falls to Ulsterbus GVS and will be followed by another and some B10BLE's.

21/07/10 - Volvo 2880 was returned to service at GVS on 14th July to replace fire damaged 2985. Damage to 2985 is quite serious and it may well be written off.

14/07/10 - With the unwelcome return of civil unrest, Volvo B7TL's 2912/85 have both been severely damaged by rioters.

02/07/10 - Vehicles detaxed at the end of June for the school holidays are as follows:
Short Strand:1829-31, 2706/7/11/2/43/5/9/90, 2964
Falls: 2714/5/7-21/4/5/7/9/34/8/9
Newtownabbey: 2216/7, 2922/54/5/8/62, 3100-3
GVS: 2100-3, 2214/5, 2722/31/2, 2880
Scania 722/808 and B10BLEs 2762/6 have moved to Falls from GVS and Newtownabbey (808).

 

16/05/10 - 2616 (NXI 4616) passed to Liddell, Auchinleck in 3/10 ex Hann, Liverpool (dealer). This is the first report of this vehicle since sold to Hann several years ago. Sister vehicle 2619 (NXI 4619) which was acquired by this operator recently has been reseated from B70F to B53F.

05/05/10 - Solo 1825 has been detaxed to Reserve from GVS at the end of April.

23/04/10 - Solo 1869 has come from Ulsterbus Reserve and is now in service at GVS. Disposals see former Leopard towbus 1981 go to the Kells Transport Museum, and Leyland Tiger 4361 to Shopmobility, Belfast. Volvo 2944 has gained an new overall advertisement for fire safety.

19/03/10 - Former Tiger 2619 (NXI 4619) - now reseated to B70F, has passed to Liddell, Auchinleck ex Eastonways, Ramsgate

17/02/10 - Tiger 1223 re-entered service as a towbus at Falls on 2nd February and has replaced Leopard 1981.

11/02/10 - Volvo B7 2888 is at Short Strand having a new advert applied for Brennan's Bread.

21/01/10 - Volvo/Plaxton 1651 is now in the new-style coach livery.

06/01/10 - Solos 1848/9 re-entered service at Short Strand on the 4th and have replaced the final 2 Dart SLFs in the fleet (645/50). Surprisingly Dart operation within Translink has lasted nearly 16 years, the first example entering service at Lisburn on 18/03/1994.

05/01/10 - Solos 1848/9 have entered service and are branded for the Eastside (1849) and Northside (1848) Park and Ride services.

01/01/10 - Seasons Greetings and a Merry New Year from the Irish Transport Trust.

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