Hulleys 21
Hulleys' summer service X71 returned for its 2021 helping on 17 April, operating this year as an out-and-back between Sheffield and Alton Towers on Saturdays and Sundays. Last year saw the same level of service on Saturdays, with an increased timetable on Sundays when the dead mileage from/to Alton Towers was operated in service to/from Bakewell, with the Sunday Bakewell to Chesterfield service also running as an X71. Eight days after the X71 was reintroduced, Hulleys placed a brand new MCV Evora-bodied Volvo B8RLE into service, this being the company's first new vehicle since Enviro 200 17 in March 2011. The vehicle carries the plate Y100HOB to mark Hulleys' centenary which passed on 29 April, and on similar lines has taken the fleet number 21 from the Enviro 400 which has been renumbered 3.
Putting two-and-two together, the Evora worked the outward leg of the X71 this morning, and is seen here on the climb out of Onecote, around 15 minutes from Alton Towers. This part of the Peak District, located at the southern tip of the national park, is probably the most attractive part in my mind, not to mention the most sleepy. Bus services are few-and-far between, and Onecote is otherwise only served by the Moorlands Connect-on demand service which usurped in this case Clowes' 456 in 2010. There will be a bit more activity come next weekend as High Peak are launching a Sundays-only Alton Towers extension to the 199 which will follow the same route as the X71 from Parsley Hay.
Hulleys 21
Hulleys' summer service X71 returned for its 2021 helping on 17 April, operating this year as an out-and-back between Sheffield and Alton Towers on Saturdays and Sundays. Last year saw the same level of service on Saturdays, with an increased timetable on Sundays when the dead mileage from/to Alton Towers was operated in service to/from Bakewell, with the Sunday Bakewell to Chesterfield service also running as an X71. Eight days after the X71 was reintroduced, Hulleys placed a brand new MCV Evora-bodied Volvo B8RLE into service, this being the company's first new vehicle since Enviro 200 17 in March 2011. The vehicle carries the plate Y100HOB to mark Hulleys' centenary which passed on 29 April, and on similar lines has taken the fleet number 21 from the Enviro 400 which has been renumbered 3.
Putting two-and-two together, the Evora worked the outward leg of the X71 this morning, and is seen here on the climb out of Onecote, around 15 minutes from Alton Towers. This part of the Peak District, located at the southern tip of the national park, is probably the most attractive part in my mind, not to mention the most sleepy. Bus services are few-and-far between, and Onecote is otherwise only served by the Moorlands Connect-on demand service which usurped in this case Clowes' 456 in 2010. There will be a bit more activity come next weekend as High Peak are launching a Sundays-only Alton Towers extension to the 199 which will follow the same route as the X71 from Parsley Hay.