372 leaves and more repaints

372 has joined sister 369 at Parton's, Carlton near Barnsley for scrap, it left on Tuesday. Repaints are continuing with Solo 244 and Trident 309 now receiving the new livery.

Not previously reported is the application of rear end adverts for Health Checks to Tridents 317 and 318.

Round Up

DAF 368 arrived on 11th January, the fifth of its batch. Excel 225 is now in the paint shop - ending Line 7 livery - this being the first Metro livery back in 2001.

Preparation of the Blackpool North to Preston line for electrification has seen the bridge on Tithebarn Street closed to road traffic for replacement. Route 16 has been cut back to terminate at Castle Gardens with buses to Blackpool now serving Arundel Drive to regain the normal route on Fleetwood Road. Routes 2/2C and 14 have had their times revised to allow extra time to deal with the congestion caused by the road closure. Stagecoach 84 has been diverted away from Carelton via Amounderness Way and Breck Road, while Elite 87 is terminating on Tithebarn Street by a temporary footbridge which provides pedestrian access to Poulton centre. Elite is also providing a shuttle service from Castle Gardens to Poulton for displaced passengers from the 16 and 84.

Manx DAF Status

No	Reg	IOM No	IOM Reg	Chassis No	Body No	Arrived	Service
354	L50BTS	97	FMN835J	009267	38310	6/7/12	10/9/12
355	L100BTS	95	FMN622J	009266	38309	17/7/12	5/9/12
356	L200BTS	93	FMN621J	009261	38304	27/7/12	5/9/12
357	L300BTS	94	FMN620J	009264	38307	27/7/12	5/9/12
358	L400BTS	96	FMN623J	009262	38305	30/7/12	6/9/12
359	L500BTS	98	FMN836J	009265	38308	31/7/12	4/10/12
360	L600BTS	89	FMN299J	009259	38302	30/7/12	3/10/12
361	L700BTS	90	FMN503J	009260	38303	22/8/12	12/10/12
362	L800BTS	92	FMN619J	009263	38306	?/8/12	3/10/12
363	L900BTS	91	FMN618J	009258	38301	30/8/12	4/10/12
364	J70BTS	54	FMN181P	009431	41101	25/9/12	17/12/12
365	J90BTS	81	FMN804T	009830	41109	25/9/12	17/12/12
366	J200BTS	78	FMN501T	009651	41106	23/10/12	17/12/12
367	J300BTS	56	FMN498T	009617	41103	9/10/12	17/12/12
368	tbc	79	FMN502T	009652	41107	11/01/13	awaited
tbc	tbc	76	FMN500T	009650	41105	at Blackburn	awaited

Note identites of 366 and 367 have been corrected, following confirmation of 366's indentity. 367's by process of elimination.

Solos to Widnes

Surprising disposals are Solos 269, 271 and 272 to Halton Transport, Widnes. There are non standard in the otherwise Dennis Dart based Halton fleet and are understood to be for a new service which requires smaller vehicles.

Excel 213 has now entered the paint shop for a repaint, leaving just 225 in Line 7 livery.