(10 Jan 2017, 11:18 am)RBZ 5459 wrote Thought I'd post a new year update to keep this thread ticking over...

2017 has obviously marked the withdrawl of non-DDA deckers in public service. None-DDA deckers which moved to disposals over the last three periods of the year include; 16634, 16645, 16660, 16663, 16664, 16665, 16666, 16667, 16776, 16795, 17020, 17022, 17023, 17024, 17036, 17197, 17246. Of those; 16634 has been sold for preservation to a member of the Ribble Preservation Trust, 16795 has been sold to Lawsons of Corby. 16660/63/67, 16776, 17022/24/36, 17197, 17246 have been sold to Wigleys for scrap. The remaining disposals are pending sale, all most probably scrap.

16639 is currently still in normal passenger service at Barrow on service on the 7s. Stagecoach Group have given special dispensation to use her for the next 4 weeks (20 school days from 5th Jan 2017). This is due to the delay of Dennis Trident 18375 returning from Scotland after having seat-belts fitted. Another reactivated vehicle is 16651 which has moved out of disposals to replace chassis damaged 16118 at Carlisle. Once it has been fitted with seat-belts it will be used on schools. 16661 (Barrow), 16640 and 16793 (Carlisle), 16649, 16670, 17017 and 17198 (Lillyhall) remain on fleet for schools only. 16639 will most likely return to the contractual reserve fleet for schools, with 16119, 16650/57 also there on paper. 22149 is to return to West Cumbria from Kendal for schools soon, this is DDA and will be used on the 31H/peak 32 in Whitehaven between duties. B10Ms 20459, 20457, 20219, 20710/11/12, are still kicking about on fleet for schools - 20712 is reserve on paper, 20219 currently VOR.

The batch of ex-Lakes 555 Scania Enviro 400 have almost completed their transfer to Barrow, these being 15723-29 - which have received temporary vinyls for the 6/X6. This is for the exception of 15725, and is still in full 555 livery at Morecambe - but being repainted into standard livery imminently before transfer. Former 6/X6 Scania Enviro 400 15818-21 have subsequently moved to Morecambe - 15822 is still remaining Barrow. Although a slight increase in age, this swap has allowed the 6/X6 allocated vehicles to have high-back coach seating - it is thought that they may receive slight internal refurbishment in the months to come, which include USB plugs (this is the case for the 685 vehicles 27141/42 at Carlisle also).

Non-DDA Tridents 17196/99 have been moved into reserve at Lillyhall (West Cumbria). Lillyhall will be taking care of Carlisle's work on the 77/77A (Honister Rambler) and 78 (Seatoller - OTs) this summer. This has resulted in MAN-engined Optare Solos 47239, 47449/50 and 47721/22 moving to West Cumbria for when the season kicks off again, they are to be used mainly on the Whitehaven town network till then and when the spares aren't needed, but will most likely stray. 17489, 17490 and 17495 are the open-toppers for the 78, but 17217 may go instead of one just to keep a decent one at Carlisle for the 508. All of the current non-DDA open top fleet at Kendal along with 17217 are currently going through DDA modifications.

Kendal currently have two Mercedes-Benz Sprinter City 45s on loan from EvoBus for use on the 6/X6. This is due to the A592 between Newby Bridge and Bowness being closed for essential repairs, with the only suitable diversion route being too tight for even a Solo. The special shuttle service for 6 journeys to and from Windermere runs via the A5074 and the A590 to connect with X6 journeys at Newby Bridge. The shuttle is running for the duration of the works from Monday 2nd January until Easter. The vehicles are BT15KLZ and BX14LDD and are numbered 80031 and 80032.

Various MANviro are also up for internal transfer throughout Cumbria & North Lancs; 22873, 22878, 24117 and 24122.

Think that covers the notable bits of interest, and hopefully proven useful for some. If there's anything else I can think of I'll update the post. And if anyone needs to know anything specific about workings etc give me a poke.