IAN'S BUS STOP: Dennis Lance, Optare Sigma

Prepared on Notepad by Ian Smith,

This page created 31st January 2007.

Metrobus 117, 118

Metrobus acquired two of Brighton & Hove's Dennis Lances in August 2003. Metrobus had just closed down its Lewes operations, passing one of the routes to sister company Brighton & Hove together with a part of small Dart SLFs. The two Lances came in exchange, and were put to work in place of Lynxes on the Crawley - East Grinstead services.

By March 2003 118 was in the new Metrobus two-blues livery, on the 291 Crawley to East Grinstead service.

Two other Brighton & Hove Lances spent a day each working at Crawley in September 2003, when Metrobus was having difficulties recruiting enough staff for a large vehicle increase.

Countryliner DLO414, 416

Countryliner of Guildford greatly increased its operations throughout Sussex during 2006, and in late August bought a pair of Lances (414 and 416) from Brighton & Hove.

Bus histories



      N401 MPN  4/96    new to Brighton & Hove: Dennis Lance 11SDA3113/483 
                        Optare Sigma #5534, B47F, #101 (Lewes Road, Brighton) 
                9/03    briefly borrowed by Metrobus for 273

      N403 MPN  4/96    new to Brighton & Hove: Dennis Lance 11SDA3113/485 
                        Optare Sigma #5536, B47F, #103 (Lewes Road, Brighton) 
                9/03    briefly borrowed by Metrobus for 273

      N414 MPN  4/96    new to Brighton & Hove: Dennis Lance 11SDA3113/496 
                        Optare Sigma #5547, B47F, #114 (Lewes Road, Brighton) 
DLO414          8/06    bought by Countryliner, Guildford
                3/07    Countryliner

      N416 MPN  5/96    new to Brighton & Hove: Dennis Lance 11SDA3113/498 
                        Optare Sigma #5549, B47F, #116 (Lewes Road, Brighton) 
DLO416          9/06    bought by Countryliner, Guildford
                3/07    Countryliner

      N417 MPN  5/96    new to Brighton & Hove: Dennis Lance 11SDA3113/499 
                        Optare Sigma #5550, B47F, #117 (Lewes Road, Brighton) 
117             7/03 CY bought by Metrobus (Crawley)
                6/05 CY
               12/06 CY still blue/yellow
                3/07 CY
 
      N418 MPN  5/96    new to Brighton & Hove: Dennis Lance 11SDA3113/500 
                        Optare Sigma #5551, B47F, #118 (Lewes Road, Brighton) 
118             7/03 CY bought by Metrobus (Crawley)
                9/03 CY in use on 273, blue/yellow
                6/05 CY
                3/06 CY in use on 291, blue/pale blue
                3/07 CY
               11/07 CY repainted blue/pale blue

Photographic references

For a key to the references, see the bibliography.


118  N418 MPN  Buses626 p27  9/03 CY on 273 to Brighton, Crawley, blue/yellow