With the most recent developments (HERE) on the splendid Red Arrow service operated by Wellglade-owned Trent between Chesterfield-Derby-Nottingham perhaps this might be an opportune moment to reflect a bit on the huge success of this route.

Around twelve years ago the service began using a fleet of Volvo B10M with Plaxton 51-seater coaches that were delivered in September 1997. An offside of fleet number 59 is shown here as it headed east along New Beetwell Street having pulled away from the original stop on the north side of the street bound for Nottingham.

The same vehicle number 59, as it showed the nearside aspect and the bold route branding as it exited the roundabout at the eastern end of Markham Road in Chesterfield town centre with the twisted spire of St.Mary’s Church in the background. For many years this was the recognised route, but more recently the most used route takes the vehicles out of town via Baden Powell Road or Park Road/St.Augustines to the Derby Road A61. Most of these vehicles on replacement were later repainted into a green livery for the Trent Transpeak service.

The original Volvo B10M vehicles were later supplemented by one or two older DAF MB230 coaches. Built in 1987 these were originally delivered to the Barton company that was later acquired by the Wellglade Group and also sported Plaxton bodies with 53-seats. With fleet number assigned 1641 turned into the former but now demolished bus station in Derby. Prominent route branding was on display to promote the service along the top of the windows. Note that the route was operated in two sections Monday-Saturday Chesterfield-Nottingham with a 30-minute headway between Derby and Nottingham.

The same vehicle but from the nearside is illustrated here as it drove along Markham Road in Chesterfield in May 1998 on the approach to the northern terminal point in New Beetwell Street. Again the prominent route branding was on display to promote the service.

A similar vehicle was fleet number 1643 observed here negotiating the roundabout at the eastern end of Upper Parliament Street in Nottingham in April 1997 on the Derby-Nottingham section. This was one of a number that were painted in a livery and operated on a contract for the University of Derby.

Now and again ordinary service buses were used on the service for various reasons one such being fleet number 923. This 1997 Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer bodywork again turned off Morledge into the Derby bus station bound for Nottingham. Note the ready-made board affixed to the driver’s dashboard and the “RED” figures in the number section of the blind box. More recently this bus has been transferred along with several others similar, into the associated TM Travel fleet and regularly operated on services in the Chesterfield and Sheffield areas.

The route branded Volvo B10M coaches were often replaced by similar vehicles in the fleet when they were off the road, one such being this ordinary fleet-liveried version. Number 56 illustrated the useful electronic display able to show a route number and destination, unlike the earlier B10M type that did not appear to have the “RA” route number facility, and instead relied no doubt on the bold route branding. Once again it was New Beetwell Street bus stops beneath the Pavements shopping centre that provided the backdrop.

As the service became more popular and passenger numbers increased in was necessary to replace the by now ageing Volvos and a fleet of new vehicles was acquired. These came in the shape of the Irizar bodied Scania K94 the offside aspect of number 66 shown here as it passed by the boarded-up remnants of the old Derby bus station in July 2007. At the same time the route branding was given a makeover as shown.

By now the Chesterfield terminal point had crossed over to the other side of New Beetwell Street where it now shares the stop with other local routes, which perhaps is not so successful, especially as there is adequate facilities in the nearby coach station. The rear nearside aspect of number 67 is shown here to illustrate the affective branding likely to be observed by the occupants of following cars and make them consider an alternate way to travel. The picture also illustrates the difficulties encountered trying to get properly near to the actual bus stop and kerb line.

Here one of the original Red Arrow Volvos returned to the route in July 2008 but repainted into the company’s basic fleet livery. Number 59 negotiated the junction at the front of the Council House in central Derby as it carried what appeared to be a full complement of passengers, and no doubt illustrated the success (or not as the case may be), of the All England Concessionary Bus Pass Scheme.

During 2008 Trent decided to put the whole fleet of Scanias through a refurbishment programme. In order to maintain frequencies the company leased a Volvo B7R coach with a 53-seater Jonckheere body. During this period the vehicle was temporarily assigned fleet number 72 the nearside aspect of which was seen as it turned out of New Beetwell Street into Park Road in March of that year. The large area of scaffolding that provided the backdrop was a legacy of a disastrous fire that engulfed the Pavements shopping centre and wrecked the Somerfield store back in June 2007.

With the refurbishment of the Scania fleet completed off and nearside aspects of fleet numbers 70 and 68 are illustrated respectively crossing the Markham Road in Chesterfield and at Derby.

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Tony Wilson
7 August 2010