Mansfield/Sutton-in-Ashfield - 12 Sep 2018

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1051) – Trent Barton (trentbarton) 811 (YJ12 PHV), an Optare Versa new in June 2012, is branded for ‘the threes’ service which links Mansfield and Nottingham via Sutton-in-Ashfield and Hucknall. This mural on the rear interior panel depicts the shops along Long Row overlooking Old Market Square in Nottingham city centre.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (0947) – Stagecoach East Midlands 10981 (SN18 KTV), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400D MMC new in June 2018, seen in Mansfield bus station. It carries the livery for the Nottingham-Mansfield-Chesterfield ‘Pronto’ service which operates every 10 minutes between Nottingham and Mansfield with two trips per hour extended through to Chesterfield. The ‘Pronto’ brand is shared by Stagecoach and Trent Barton (trentbarton) although the majority of trips are worked by the former.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (0947) – Stagecoach East Midlands 10981 (SN18 KTV), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400D MMC new in June 2018, seen in Mansfield bus station. It carries the livery for the Nottingham-Mansfield-Chesterfield ‘Pronto’ service which operates every 10 minutes between Nottingham and Mansfield with two trips per hour extended through to Chesterfield. The ‘Pronto’ brand is shared by Stagecoach and Trent Barton (trentbarton) although the majority of trips are worked by the former.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1125) – On board Trent Barton (trentbarton) 258 (YX66 WMG), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC new in December 2016, in Northern Bridge Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield. It carries branding for ‘the nines’ Derby to Mansfield service. This view appears to have been taken from a seat set at the same level as that in front but my seat was actually set much higher with the view obscured by a ‘lectern’ on which one could mount an electronic device. I therefore held my camera at low level without being able to seen the camera display! The ‘lectern’ might be very convenient for techie travellers but in my case obscured forward vision.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1125) – Trent Barton (trentbarton) 258 (YX66 WMG), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC new in December 2016, seen in Sutton-in-Ashfield bus station. It carries branding for ‘the nines’ Derby to Mansfield service. The company has a penchant for varied brandings and an out of the ordinary way to identify local route variants. ‘The nines’ uses a decimal point followed by a further digit. Service 9.1 detours from the main road to serve Kilburn (Elm Tree Avenue) and later serves the East Midlands Designer Outlet at South Normanton. Service 9.3 stays on the main road at Kilburn and after South Normanton travels via Pinxton and Kirby Cross. In the background is 681 (FJ55 ABK), a Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB, in Trent Barton fleet livery which was working service 141 to Nottingham via Skegby, Mansfield, Rainworth, Blidworth and Hucknall. I travelled on both these buses one after the other first riding on 258 to Mansfield and from there on 681 for my return to Blidworth managing to buy a snack between the two rides.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1122) – Trent Barton (trentbarton) 476 (FJ09 MWA), an Optare Solo M950 new in May 2009, seen leaving Sutton-in-Ashfield bus station. It wears Trent Barton fleet livery with a rear panel advert for Hugo the Trent Barton electronic devices app.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1120) – Trent Barton (trentbarton) buses in Sutton-in-Ashfield bus station. Right is 476 (FJ09 MWA), an Optare Solo M950 new in May 2009, working service 90 to Ripley. Left is 681 (FJ55 ABK), a Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB new in May 2005, working service 141 to Nottingham. Both wear Trent Barton fleet livery.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1120) – Trent Barton (trentbarton) 476 (FJ09 MWA), an Optare Solo M950 new in May 2009 which wears Trent Barton fleet livery. Seen in Sutton-in-Ashfield bus station.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (0839) – Stagecoach East Midlands 27185 (SL64 HXU), an Alexander Dennis Enviro300D new in November 2014, seen in Mansfield Road, Blidworth. Despite wearing ‘Pronto’ livery for the Nottingham-Chesterfield service it spent most of today working the Mansfield-Blidworth service 28a which are short workings of the Mansfield-Blidworth-Southwell-Newark service. The rear panel advert relates to Mansfield Town Football Club otherwise known as The Stags.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (0848) – Stagecoach East Midlands 27185 (SL64 HXU), an Alexander Dennis Enviro300D new in November 2014, seen in Mansfield Road, Blidworth. Despite wearing ‘Pronto’ livery for the Nottingham-Chesterfield service it spent most of today working the Mansfield-Blidworth service 28a which are short workings of the Mansfield-Blidworth-Southwell-Newark service.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1152) – Trent Barton (trentbarton) 672 (FJ55 AAK) seen in Mansfield bus station working service 141 to Sutton-in-Ashfield. It is a Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB new in September 2005 and wears Trent Barton fleet livery.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1120) – Trent Barton (trentbarton) 681 (FJ55 ABK) seen in Sutton-in-Ashfield bus station working service 141 to Nottingham. This service runs via Skegby, Mansfield, Rainworth, Blidworth and Hucknall. Quicker options exist for a ride to Mansfield (‘the threes’ and ‘the nines’ take 15 minutes compared with around 30 minutes on the 141) and to Nottingham (45 minutes on the direct ‘Pronto’ service compared with 1 hour 59 minutes on the 141). It is a Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB new in May 2005 and wears Trent Barton fleet livery.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1101) – Trent Barton (trentbarton) 824 (YJ12 PKK), an Optare Versa new in July 2012 branded for ‘the threes’ service. It was passing King’s Mill Hospital on the A38 as it headed towards Mansfield. And was photographed from on board similar vehicle 811 (YJ12 PHV) also working ‘the threes’. Both are allocated to Sutton-in-Ashfield garage which currently has an allocation of 17 Versas with branding for the service.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1113) – Stagecoach East Midland 36514 (FX12 BTE), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 new in April 2012, seen leaving Sutton-in-Ashfield bus station heading for Huthwaite on service 1. Branded is for the ‘Mansfield Miller’ services which uses characters from the 1960s BBC Television children’s series ‘Trumpton’. Windy Miller is featured here.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (0946) – Stagecoach East Midlands buses in abundance in Mansfield bus station. In the centre is ‘Pronto’ liveried 10891 (SN18 KTV), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400D MMC new in June 2018. Directly behind that is 18164 (XIL1568), an Alexander Dennis ALX400 bodied Trident new as GX54 DVG in September 2004. On the left is 18121 (YN04 KGE) with 18120 (YN04 KGA) beyond. Whilst of similar style they were new in March 2004 although built by Transbus International in the pre-Alexander Dennis era. On the right are two Alexander Dennis Enviro200s. Leading is 36517 (FX12 BUP) with Mansfield Miller branding new April 2012 and following is 36998 (SN63 YPW) with Mansfield Move branding new November 2013.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1024) – Mansfield bus station seen from the walkway linking the bus and railway stations. The two ‘Pronto’ liveried buses are actually operated by different companies. The brand for the Chesterfield-Mansfield-Nottingham service is shared by Stagecoach and Trent Barton (trentbarton) although the majority of trips are worked by the former. The double decker is Stagecoach East Midlands 10974 (SN18 KTJ), an Alexander Dennis Enviro400D MMC new in June 2018. The single decker is Trent Barton 611 (FJ03 VVZ), a Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB new in April 2003. The bus on the left is Stagecoach East Midlands 18164 (XIL1568), an Alexander Dennis ALX400 bodied Trident new to Stagecoach East Kent in September 2004 registered GX54 DVG.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1033) – Stagecoach East Midland 36518 (FX12 BVA), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 new in April 2012, seen entering Mansfield bus station from Quaker Way. The railway line through Mansfield is carried by a 240 metre long 15 arch viaduct which towers high above some of the rooftops of the town centre. Photographed from the walkway linking the bus and railway stations.

Wednesday 12 September 2018 (1201) – On board Trent Barton (trentbarton) 681 (FJ55 ABK) in Mansfield bus station working service 141 to Nottingham via Rainworth, Blidworth and Hucknall. It is a Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB new in September 2005.