First Bradford Temsa Avenue 63000

Continuing in my trend of FirstGroup oddballs, 63000 was new as a demonstrator in 2010 to First Bradford. The Temsa Avenue was designed for commuting and the interior wasn't very good at accommodating much else. The seats were fine for short commutes but left you with a backache on longer journeys, quite like the Class 777s.

 

63000 was the first and only Temsa Avenue to be delivered to First Bradford. The vehicle was trialled against a brand new fleet of Euro 4 Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLEs and, evidently, failed. In response, First handed back the vehicle which was then transferred to the now defunct independent company Geldards.

 

Geldards would use the vehicle on service 714 between Bradford Interchange and the Owlcotes Centre at Pudsey. It wasn't a smash hit and was presumbly used to cover a vehicle shortage.

 

In 2013, it was transferred to Centrebus's depot at Waterloo where it would gain the fleetnumber 456 and was frequently used on services running to and from Wakefield. 456 would pass to Yorkshire Tiger, retaining it's fleetnumber. After spending a short time on lease to Richards Bros. of Cardigan, Ceredigion covering for Arriva services which had been withdrawn (leading to cries of "SHAME ON YOU, ARRIVA!"), it was handed back to the leasing company...Arriva.

 

With two identical vehicles that were non-standard and poorly received, it was decided that YJ10 DTF would join ex Arriva Malta BUS 313 (now YJ11 GHB) at Arriva North East with YJ10 DTF gaining the fleetnumber 4721.

Done