Prepared on Notepad by Ian Smith, This page created 2nd October 2000, updated 13th February 2013.

Optare Vecta Histories, MV, VA

These histories are incomplete. They are being assembled as I gather information from a variety of sources. Particularly useful have been:

R&I, MTL London / Metroline London Northern, MV 249-253


MV 249 M507 ALP  6/95    new to R&I Coaches, MAN 11.190, Optare B42F
                 6/96    taken over by MTL London
                 9/97    used on 112
                         taken over by Metroline
                         repainted red, blue skirt
                 4/00    unusual on 268
                 7/01 HR withdrawn (Harlesden)..
                 7/01 NW ..into store (North Wembley) 
                 9/01    sold to B&D Holt, (Bolton)
             by 12/02    bought by McKindless
     
MV 250 M508 ALP  6/95    new to R&I Coaches, MAN 11.190, Optare B42F
                 6/96    taken over by MTL London
                         taken over by Metroline
                         repainted red, blue skirt
                 6/01 HR withdrawn (Harlesden)..
                 7/01 NW ..into store (North Wembley)
                 9/01    sold to B&D Holt, (Bolton) 
              by 1/02    bought by Chambers, Bures for Sudbury-Colchester: red livery
                 3/03    bought by Bryn Melin, Llangollen
       TIL 9872          reregistered
     
MV 251 N701 FLN  9/95    new to R&I Coaches, MAN 11.190, Optare B42F
                 6/96    taken over by MTL London
                         taken over by Metroline
                         repainted red, blue skirt
                11/00 HR unusual on 266
                 7/01 HR withdrawn (Harlesden)..
                 7/01 NW ..into store (North Wembley)
                 9/01    sold to B&D Holt, (Bolton) 
              by 1/02    bought by Chambers, Bures for Sudbury-Colchester: red livery
                 3/03    bought by Bryn Melin, Llangollen
       PIL 9338          reregistered
     
MV 252 N702 FLN  9/95    new to R&I Coaches, MAN 11.190, Optare B42F
                 6/96    taken over by MTL London
                         taken over by Metroline
                         repainted red, blue skirt
                 7/01 HR withdrawn into store (Harlesden) 
                 9/01    sold to B&D Holt, (Bolton) 
              by 1/02    bought by Moffat & Williamson, Gauldry, Fife
     
MV 253 N703 FLN  9/95    new to R&I Coaches, MAN 11.190, Optare B42F
                 6/96    taken over by MTL London
                         taken over by Metroline
                 7/01 HR withdrawn (Harlesden)..
                 7/01 NW ..into store, still all-red (North Wembley)
                 9/01    sold to B&D Holt, (Bolton)
     

Westlink/London United VA1-8 / MV1-8


       L822 XMR  1/95    MAN 11.190, Optare Vecta B42F
                 7/95 WK on loan, demonstrator, one week

       M957 UWY  7/95    MAN 11.190, Optare Vecta B42F
                 7/95 K  on loan, trainer

VA 1   N281 DWY  8/95    new to Westlink for 371: MAN 11.190, Optare Vecta B42F
                 8/95 K  used on 371 to Richmond, Kingston, turquoise flash livery livery
MV 1                     renumbered
                 9/00 K  formally reassigned to London United
                12/01 TV formal transfer (new garage: Tolworth)
                 1/02 TV withdrawn
                 3/02 V  transfer, trainer (Stamford Brook)
                      TV in store
                11/02 V  transfer, trainer
                 4/05 V  repaint, trainer, second n/s window plated
                 3/06 V  trainer
                 9/12 V  withdrawn
                 4/13    sold

VA 2   N282 DWY  8/95    new to Westlink for 371: MAN 11.190, Optare Vecta B42F
MV 2                     renumbered
                 9/00 K  formally reassigned to London United
                12/01 TV transfer (Tolworth)
                 1/02 TV withdrawn
                 3/02 V  transfer, trainer (Stamford Brook)
                      TV in store
                11/02 V  transfer, trainer
                 4/05 V  repaint, trainer, second n/s window plated
                 3/06 V  trainer
                 3/10    trainer
                 9/12 V  withdrawn
                 4/13    sold

VA 3   N283 DWY  8/95    new to Westlink for 371: MAN 11.190, Optare Vecta B42F
MV 3                     renumbered
                 9/00 K  formally reassigned to London United
                12/01 TV transfer (Tolworth)
                 1/02 TV withdrawn
                 3/02 V  transfer, trainer (Stamford Brook)
                      TV in store
                11/02 V  transfer, trainer
                 4/05 V  repaint, trainer, second n/s window plated
                 3/06 V  trainer
                 3/10 V  trainer
                 1/11 V  withdrawn into store
                 8/11    scrapped

VA 4   N284 DWY  8/95    new to Westlink for 371: MAN 11.190, Optare Vecta B42F
MV 4                     renumbered
                 7/97 K  used on 371: new Westlink livery, 371 branded
                 9/00 K formally reassigned to London United
                12/01 TV transfer (Tolworth)
                 1/02 TV withdrawn
                 2/02 TV trainer
                11/02 V  transfer, trainer
                 4/05 V  repaint, trainer, second n/s window plated
                 3/06 V  trainer
                 3/10    trainer
                 9/12 V  withdrawn
                 4/13    sold

VA 5   N285 DWY  8/95    new to Westlink for 371: MAN 11.190, Optare Vecta B42F
MV 5                     renumbered
                 9/00 K  formally reassigned to London United
                12/01 TV transfer (Tolworth)
                 1/02 TV unusual on 467
                 1/02 TV withdrawn
                 3/02 V  transfer, trainer (Stamford Brook)
                      TV in store
                11/02 V  transfer, trainer
                 7/03 BT transfer, trainer (Edgware)
                 3/04 V  transfer, trainer
                 3/06 V  trainer
                 3/10    trainer
                 9/12 V  withdrawn
                 4/13    sold

VA 6   N286 DWY  8/95    new to Westlink for 371: MAN 11.190, Optare Vecta B42F
MV 6                     renumbered
                 9/00    formally reassigned to London United
                 7/00 K  unusual on K2
                12/01 TV transfer (Tolworth)
                 1/02 TV withdrawn
                 2/02 TV trainer
                11/02 V  transfer, trainer
                 4/05 V  repaint, trainer, second n/s window plated
                 3/06 V  trainer
                 3/10    trainer
                 9/12 V  withdrawn
                 9/12    acquired by Wallace Training, Wembley   

VA 7   N287 DWY  8/95    new to Westlink for 371: MAN 11.190, Optare Vecta B42F
MV 7                     renumbered
                 9/00 K  formally reassigned to London United
                12/01 TV transfer (Tolworth)
                 1/02 TV withdrawn
                 3/02 V  transfer, trainer (Stamford Brook)
                      TV in store
                11/02 V  transfer, trainer
                 4/05 V  repaint, trainer, second n/s window plated
                 3/06 V  trainer
                 3/10    trainer
              by 1/11    sold, presumed scrapped

VA 8   N288 DWY  8/95    new to Westlink for 371: MAN 11.190, Optare Vecta B42F
MV 8                     renumbered
                 9/00 K  formally reassigned to London United
                12/01 TV transfer (Tolworth)
                 1/02 TV withdrawn
                 3/02 V  transfer, trainer (Stamford Brook)
                      TV in store
                11/02 V  transfer, trainer
                 3/05 V  into store: to Eastleigh for window panelling and repaint, trainer
                 8/05 V  trainer
                 3/06 V  trainer
                 3/10    trainer
                 9/12 V  withdrawn
                 9/12    acquired by Wallace Training, Wembley  

Tillingbourne Valley


       P912 XUG          MAN/Optare Vecta, demonstrator
                 1997    bought by Tillingbourne Valley
                 4/99    in use on 22 (Dorking - Newdigate)
       TIL 5404 12/00    reregistered
                 4/01    TV ceased operation
                 5/01    bought by Shamrock, Abercynon


       P105 CPJ  1997    acquired new by Tillingbourne Valley: MAN/Optare Vecta
       TIL 5405  1/01    reregistered
                 4/01    TV ceased operation
                 4/01    removed by Lloyds to Somerbus, Bristol 
                 5/01    bought by Islwyn Borough Transport


       P106 CPJ  1997    acquired new by Tillingbourne Valley: MAN/Optare Vecta
       TIL 5406  1/01    reregistered
                 4/01    TV ceased operation
                 4/01    removed by Lloyds to Somerbus, Bristol
                 5/01    bought by Islwyn Borough Transport


       P107 OPX  1997    acquired new by Tillingbourne Valley: MAN/Optare Vecta
       TIL 5407  2/01    reregistered
                 4/01    TV ceased operation
                 4/01    removed by Lloyds to Somerbus, Bristol
                 5/01    bought by Islwyn Borough Transport


       P108 OPX  1997    acquired new by Tillingbourne Valley: MAN/Optare Vecta
       TIL 5408          reregistered
                 4/01    TV ceased operation
                 4/01    removed by Lloyds to Somerbus, Bristol
                 5/01    bought by Islwyn Borough Transport

Trustline, South Mimms

 
       P910 SUM  1997    acquired new by APCOA, Sunbury: MAN/Optare Vecta B39F
VM910            5/02    bought by Trustline, South Mimms
       P10 TLS   3/03    reregistered
              by 6/04    in store
              by 9/04    ..and out
                 1/09    in service
                 8/09    taken over by Centrebus
 769             9/09    numbered
                 1/11    sold

       P911 SUM  1997    acquired new by APCOA, Sunbury: MAN/Optare Vecta B39F
VM911            5/02    bought by Trustline, South Mimms
       P20 TLS   1/03    reregistered
                 */04    fire-damaged
                 4/04    withdrawn

SM Travel, Harlow

 
       K801 DCF  5/93    new to Reading Buses, MAN 11.190 Optare Vecta B40F
                         bought by SM Travel, Harlow
                 6/05    bought by Driving Ambitions, Wembley

       L806 FRD  2/94    new to Reading Buses, MAN 11.190 Optare Vecta B41F
                10/03    bought by SM Travel, Harlow

       L808 FRD  2/94    new to Reading Buses, MAN 11.190 Optare Vecta B41F
                10/03    bought by SM Travel, Harlow


Timetrak, Brooklands


       M814 PRA 11/94    new to Trent Motor Traction #814, MAN 11.190 Optare Vecta B40F
                 4/02    bought by Kinch, Barrow-on-Soar, #814
                11/05    acquired by Timetrak, Brooklands: purple livery
                11/05    used on 416
                 7/06    Timetrak ceased operating

Grant Palmer, Leagrave

 
       K801 DCF  5/93    new to Reading Buses, MAN 11.190 Optare Vecta B40F
                11/03    bought by Grant Palmer, Leagrave
                 7/04    Grant Palmer
                 1/05    bought by Olympian, Harlow

Ian's Bus Stop Dart index. MV text. MV histories. MV photos. MM.