The Southern Vectis Unofficial Bus Enthusiasts' Website
Dennis (TransBus) Dart/Plaxton (TransBus) (2002-2004)
 
Technical & History Briefing
Chassis: Dennis Dart SLF 8.8 metre Body: Plaxton MPD
Registration
Mark		 Fleet
No.		 Type Chassis
Number		 Body
Number		 Date
New		 Current Livery or
Date Withdrawn
HW52EPX [300] B29F SFD6BACR32GW16657 2031/1 08/2002 2005 Two-Tone Green
Chassis: TransBus Dart SLF 8.8 metre Body: TransBus MPD
HW54BTU [301] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18028 4223/7 01/2005 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BTV [302] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18089 4223/8 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BTX [303] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18090 4223/9 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BTY [304] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18091 4223/10 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BTZ [305] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18092 4223/11 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BUA [306] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18098 4223/12 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BUE [307] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18096 4223/13 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BUF [308] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18097 4223/14 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BUH [309] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18023 4223/1 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BUJ [310] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18024 4223/2 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BUO [311] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18029 4223/3 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BUP [312] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18030 4223/4 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BUU [313] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18040 4223/5 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
HW54BUV [314] B27F SFD6BACR44GW18039 4223/6 12/2004 2005 Two-Tone Green
SN03LDL [315] B29F SFD6BACR33GW87144 2105/11 04/2003 2006 Two-Tone Green
(Widdick Chine)
SN03LDU [316] B29F SFD6BACR33GW87145 2105/12 04/2003 2006 Two-Tone Green
(Ladder Chine)
 
Detailed History
One Dennis Dart SLF, with Plaxton Mini Pointer Dart bodywork, was bought new by Southern Vectis in 2002 which was delivered during late August 2002 and entered service in the Oxford Blue & (Yellow, Orange & Red) Stripes livery on 30 September 2002. It featured a fully DDA compliant low floor with LED destination displays all round, public address system and four camera digital CCTV system.

A further fourteen TransBus (formely Dennis, Plaxton & Alexander) Dart SLF's, with TransBus Mini Pointer Dart bodywork, were bought new by Southern Vectis during 2004, which were identical to the solitary Dennis Dart delivered during 2002 HW52EPX [300].
Thirteen were delivered during December 2004 in plain Lime Green livery. The remaining one - HW54BTU [301] - broke down having suffered gearbox problems on delivery from Falkirk (during December 2004) and was delivered on 19 January 2005.
Before entering service all were partially repainted into the 2005 Two-Tone Green livery by the application of a Dark Green area at the rear and vinyls were also applied.
They entered service on 6 February 2005. The initial Depot Allocations were: [per Ian Rivett]
Newport: HW54BTU [301] / HW54BTV [302] / HW54BTX [303] / HW54BTY [304] / HW54BTZ [305] & HW54BUA [306]
Ryde: HW54BUE [307] / HW54BUF [308] / HW54BUH [309] / HW54BUJ [310] / HW54BUO [311] & HW54BUP [312]

In January 2005 HW52EPX [300] was repainted into the 2005 Two-Tone Green livery.

Between 6 February 2005 and 28 February 2005 HW54BUU [313] & HW54BUV [314] went on loan to Solent Blue Line, operating services 36 & 37 in the Hythe area, returning on 1 March 2005. [per Marc Morgan Huws / Ian Rivett]

On 16 June 2006 HW54BUF [308] was struck by HW52EPL [101] at Church Litten, Newport, (which was being used as a temporary Bus Station) and returned to Plaxtons on 3 July 2006 to have extensive bodywork repairs undertaken. It returned back from repairs on 24 August 2006. [per Marc Morgan Huws / Gavin Rowney]

During September 2006 a further two TransBus Darts were transferred from Solent Blue Line, their SN03LDL [581] & SN03LDU [582] which were new to Solent Blue Line in April 2003. These two Darts are fitted with Mobitech Dot Matrix Destination Screens. Prior to transfer they were repainted into 2006 Two-Tone Green livery, arriving on the Isle of Wight:
On 15 September 2006: SN03LDU numbered [316] [per Marc Morgan Huws / Phil Stockley]
On 20 September 2006: SN03LDL numbered [315] [per Marc Morgan Huws / Phil Stockley]

On 22 September 2006 SN03LDL [315] & SN03LDU [316] received vinyls to complete the 2006 livery and were named Widdick Chine & Ladder Chine respectively. [per Marc Morgan Huws]
 
Photo Selection
An offside-front view of HW52EPX [300] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery at the IW Bus Museum running day, Newport Harbour, on 20 October 2002.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of HW54BTU [301] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at Ryde Depot on 6 March 2005.
[photo copyright of James May]
 
A nearside-front view of HW54BTU [301] and HW54BTV [302] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery during the official launch line-up at Newport Bus Station on 30 January 2005. To the right is N815PDL [815] in Oxford Blue & Stripes livery.
[photo copyright of Trevor Williams]
 
An offside-rear view of HW54BTV [302] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at Ryde Bus Station on 11 May 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-rear view of HW54BTX [303] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at Ryde Bus Station on 6 December 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of HW54BTZ [305] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at Ryde Depot on 6 March 2005.
[photo copyright of James May]
 
An offside-rear view of HW54BTZ [305] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at Ryde Bus Station on 11 May 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of (left to right) HW54BUU [313] / HW54BUA [306] / HW54BUH [309] and HW54BUF [308] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery during the official launch line-up at Newport Bus Station on 30 January 2005.
[photo copyright of Trevor Williams]
 
A nearside-front view of HW54BUA [306] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at Newport Bus Station on 11 May 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of HW54BUF [308] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at Ryde Depot on 6 March 2005.
[photo copyright of James May]
 
A nearside-front view of HW54BUF [308] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at South Street, Newport, on 16 May 2006.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-front view of HW54BUH [309] in (as delivered) Lime Green livery inside Ryde Depot on 21 December 2004.
[photo copyright of Gavin Rowney]
 
An offside-rear view of HW54BUJ [310] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at Ryde Bus Station on 29 June 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
A nearside-front view of HW54BUU [313] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at Church Litten, Newport, on 6 December 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
An offside-rear view of HW54BUV [314] in 2005 Two-Tone Green livery at Ryde Bus Station on 11 May 2005.
[photo copyright of Mike Ginger]
 
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