We have had a habit of delivering twins in recent years, or at least cousins from the same batch of buses and the latest two Dennis Dart MPDs are no exception. V657/658HEC were delivered new to Blackburn Transport in January 2000 as part of a batch of ten, nos.651-660. The pair have operated together throughout their lives, being sold to Rotala for their WessexConnect operation in Bath, before being transferred to the Diamond Bus operation in Kidderminster. Both have been purchased by Catch22Bus to replace other Darts returned off lease. 658 was the first to be collected but has been sent straight for repainting in our fleet livery.
The twins have been separated for a time because 657 will operate for a few weeks in the Diamond dark blue livery until other MPDs enter service in the new livery. Darts 466 & 658 are currently being resprayed and the next Dart to be treated will be ex-EYMS 468 which is currently in service wearing its Whittle green & white livery. Once 658 arrives in Blackpool it is planned to partially repanel 468.
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| 658 upon collection from Kidderminster and delivery run to be resprayed in Catch22Bus fleet livery. Both 657 & 658 last operated with Diamond on 9th February - indeed they were brought off service for collection!! |
