View allAll Photos Tagged bestimpression
Transdev York SK70 BWM 2015
- Fleet No.: 2015
- Reg: SK70 BWM
- Operator: Transdev York
- Route: Cityzap - York
- Depot: York
- Livery: Cityzap
- Type: ADL Enviro 400 MMC
- Chassis No.: SFDA17ER5LGX11596
- Body No.: AD L422/1
- Seating: H41/27F
- New to/ Year: TDV YRK/ Dec 2020
- Livery new in: Cityzap
- Location: Leeds, Duke Street
West Yorkshire Bus Spotter
Very shortly to enter service with First Potteries are 12 Wrightbus StreetDecks, which have been purchased to upgrade service 25 between Hanley and Keele University. They are the fleet's first new buses for around six years. More significantly, they are its first new double-deckers for over 33 years.
As would be expected, Best Impressions has created the livery. The Constellation brand comes about from the presence of an observatory at Keele. When these buses are in service and the old Volvo B7TL fleet they will displace has gone, around three-quarters of the Potteries fleet will comply with Euro VI. The newcomers also have engine stop/start technology and are among the final new diesel buses to be delivered to First Bus. Ahead of entering service, 35939 (BN72 TTX) poses at Adderley Green depot.
The Blackburn Bus Company 'The1' YX69NTK 507 seen coming into Bolton Interchange on The1 from Blackburn
Seen leaving Warrington Interchange on CAT9A to Northwich.
Whilst editing this image I notice I have captured the creative mind behind the design of this livery travelling onboard, Mr Ray Stenning himself!
Transdev York SK70 BWO 2017
- Fleet No.: 2017
- Reg: SK70 BWO
- Operator: Transdev York
- Route: Cityzap - York
- Depot: York
- Livery: Cityzap
- Type: ADL Enviro 400 MMC
- Chassis No.: SFDA17ER5LGX11599
- Body No.: AD L421/17
- Seating: H41/27F
- New to/ Year: TDV YRK/ Dec 2020
- Livery new in: Cityzap
- Location: Leeds
- Exact Location:
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West Yorkshire Bus Spotter, WYBS
Approaching the end of their time in the First Potteries fleet are the last Scania OmniCity buses. As 2006 examples they are now around 17 years old, and in the case of those carrying this Knotty scheme, have spent their entire lives running from Adderley Green depot on service 101 between Hanley and Stafford, during which they will have accumulated high mileages.
Somewhat unexpected was a heavy refurbishment of eight of this batch of 10 that started in 2019. It came at the same time that five ex-First Essex OmniCitys received the same treatment and debuted the LeekLink brand. Things have changed in the meantime from both operational and leadership perspectives, and one Knotty and two of the former Essex buses have already departed for scrap. Those that remain are due to go before too much longer; what will replace them is unclear, but it would be no surprise for that work to relate to goings-on in Leicester, where a wholesale conversion of First's fleet to battery-electric is underway, a shift that will release a significant number of mid-life Euro VI diesel buses.
Although they are in the winter of their arduous lives, these OmniCitys have been good servants to First. Here 65039 (YN06 WMM) passes the Borough Arms in Newcastle-under-Lyme bound for Hanley. The greenery on the far left is the site of the former Newcastle railway station - long gone, but the platforms of which still exist beneath the filled-in cut, according to local scuttlebutt.
Edit: Withdrawn July 2023.
Team Pennine came about a couple of years ago when Transdev purchased what had been the Yorkshire Tiger operation from Arriva. In not unusual Arriva style, interest had long since been lost and the operation was in a poor state. Transdev moved quickly to rebrand it and introduced this pink livery on both existing vehicles and others purchased from elsewhere (or new). Unsurprisingly, Ray Stenning and Best Impressions was involved in the new identity. Here Alexander Dennis Enviro200 571 (YX18 KNM) is seen arriving in Huddersfield on a 360 journey. It was one of the buses quickly purchased for the Team Pennine fleet and appears to be a former Dawsongroup rental example.
Cabaret dance group The Show helps launch Stagecoach South East's Little & Often high-frequency minibus trial in the Kent town of Ashford (in UK) on 11th February 2016 with Mercedes-Benz Sprinter City 45s. The service began the next day.It serves some housing areas in which the roads are too small for bigger buses,thus opening up areas that may otherwise not have a bus service. update; ended 2018 and vehicles dispersed elsewhere, a mixture of Optare Solos and big buses replacing the minibuses.
Route 748, Dublin Airport via Busarus to Heuston Station, Dublin Bus, (Summerhill Garage), AV116, Volvo B7LDD, Alexander Dennis, ALX400, (00-D-70116) in Airlink livery was photographed in February 2007 on Aston Quay only a short distance from it's terminus at Heuston Station.
AV116 is seen in the Ray Stenning 'Best Impressions' designed Airlink livery, a livery that is still applied to the Summerhill Garage based Wright Geminis, VG27 - VG50.
At the time of the 2006 photograph the 45 minute journey time route 748 had a peak time 30 minute frequency and was operated from a batch of unique 15 dual door, bonded glass finished ALX400s, (AV116 to AV130), AV116 to AV128 were in Airlink livery and AV129 & AV130 were in core fleet livery.
AV116 was one of a batch of 448 brand new ALX400, Volvo B7LDD double deckers delivered to Dublin Bus delivered between 2000 and 2005, (AV1 to AV448) built in the Alexander Dennis factories in Mallusk, N.Ireland and Falkirk, Scotland.
A further 200 ALX400s were delivered in 2006, (AX449 to AX648).
City of Oxford Motor Services was one of several National Bus Company subsidiaries that took the MCW DR130 Metroliner double-decker coach between 1983 and 1985 for express services. Most were painted in National Express white, but COMS used this eye-catching Oxford Blue, white and yellow livery. It bears the hallmark of designer Ray Stenning.
The Oxford CityLink 190 service offered a fast and comfortable run to and from London via the M40 motorway, much superior to the life-expired and rattly DMUs that British Rail provided at the time. The weak link was chronic traffic congestion in West London, which regularly played havoc with schedules.
After being displaced from Oxford CityLink services, Metroliner B901XJO was converted to open- top by Ensign and had a lengthy afterlife as a London sightseeing bus.
May 1985
Yashica FR-1 camera
Kodak Ektachrome 100 film.
Route 757, Charlotte Way, (Camden Street) to Dublin Airport, Dublin Bus, (Summerhill Garage), ex. Harristown Garage VG31, Volvo B9TL, Wright Gemini, (09-D-2119), was photographed on 16 May 2017 about to turn right off Guild Street onto Sheriff Street Upper, the route commenced operations less than a year previously on 26 June 2016.
A few days after the above picture was taken, on 21 May 2017, the route was given a 30 minute frequency and a revised more direct routing cutting out the normally gridlocked and time consuming right turn off North Wall Quay onto Mayor Street/Guild Street in order to access the Samuel Beckett Bridge.
The new routing was:
From Dublin Airport Towards Camden Street (Charlotte Way)
Dublin Airport, M1, Port Tunnel, East Wall Road, North Wall Quay, Custom House Quay, Eden Quay, Rosie Hackett Bridge, Hawkins Street, Townsend Street, Westland Row, Merrion Street Lower/Upper, Ely Place, Hume St, St. Stephen’s Green East, Earlsfort Terrace, Adelaide Road, Charlotte Way.
From Camden Street (Charlotte Way) Towards Dublin Airport
Charlotte Way, Hatch Street, Earlsfort Terrace, Merrion Row, Merrion Square West, Clare Street, Lincoln Place, Westland Row, Pearse Street, Tara Street, Busáras, Custom House Quay, North Wall Quay, East Wall Road, Port Tunnel, M1, Dublin Airport.
A total of 50 brand new Volvo D9B-260 (Euro 4) engined VGs were built for Dublin Bus by Wrightbus, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, 25 VGs were registered in 2008 and 25 in 2009.
Allocations when new were:
VG 1 to VG 11 (Phibsboro)
VG 12 to VG 33 (Harristown)
VG 34 to VG 50 (Summerhill)
VG 9 & 10 were delivered new in white Wedding Bus livery but have since been painted into fleet livery. Summerhill based VGs are in 'Best Impressions' designed Airlink livery, all others are in Dublin Bus fleet navy/yellow livery.
Phibsboro based VG2 was withdrawn in 2019 as a result of accident damage.
Registration numbers are:
VG 1 (08-D-70001) to VG 50 (09-D-2149).
The registration number on VGu20 is noteworthy as it is the last Dublin Bus vehicle to have it's registration number matching its fleet number, a practice that started in CIE way back in the 1965 with the introduction of the C Class single decker, Leyland Leopard, C1 - C270 (EZH 1 - NZL 270).
The management that took control of the former Maidstone Borough Transport after its 1986 deregulation was very gung-ho, going head-to-head in competing locally with NBC operator Maidstone & District and acquiring new and second-hand vehicles as it extended its operations to tendered Central London services. The management was eager to rebrand the former municipal operation, renaming it Boro’line Maidstone, and commissioning Ray Stenning of Best Impressions to devise a modern, eye-catching livery.
The Best Impressions livery was applied to this surprising Boro’line purchase, a former Southdown Leyland PD3 ‘Queen Mary’ of 1965 vintage. Originally registered BUF278C, it became 217UKL in Boro’line ownership. The bus was used as a conductor-operated vehicle on local services to Park Wood and as a training vehicle.
This proved just one of several extravagances that eventually drove Boro’line Maidstone into liquidation in early 1992.
The fate of 217UKL was much happier as it was rescued by preservations and restored to its original Southdown identity.
January 1989
Rollei 35 camera
Kodak Ektachrome 100 film.
Dublin Bus, (Summerhill Garage), Volvo B7LDD, Alexander Dennis, ALX400, AV 123, (00-D-70123), was photographed on O'Connell Bridge on 21 September 2006 operating the route 747, Dublin Airport to Dublin City/Busarus, (Central Bus Station).
At the time of this September 2006 photograph, this particular Airlink livery was in the process of been changed over to a smart new 'Best Impressions' designed overall dark green 'Airlink' livery which is still worn by the VG class Volvo Geminis currently in use on the route.
Summerhill Garage based AV116 - AV130 (15) were the only examples delivered in the dual door format for use on the Airlink service from Dublin Airport to Dublin City.
A total of 448 Volvo ALX400 AVs were delivered brand new to Dublin Bus over the years 2000 to 2005.
This was followed up in 2006 with 200 brand new AXs, AX 449, (06-D-30449) to AX 648, (06-D-30648).
Warrington's Own Buses 'Cheshire Cat' CH59CAT 207 seen at Altrincham Interchange on CAT5A to Warrington
From the start of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing twenty-five Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and were due to carry Mainline branding once all the buses had been completed. One of the refurbished StreetLites, 63171 (SK64 CGE), was photographed at Newcastle-under-Lyme bus station on 25 May 2022. This bus was new to First Potteries in September 2014.
Seen in Altrincham Interchange on Cheshire CAT5 to Warrington Interchange
Warrington's Own Buses is the new name for Network Warrington, the council owned bus company covering Warrington and parts of South Cheshire.
From the beginning of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing twenty-five Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and were due to carry Mainline branding once all the buses had been completed. The interior of one of the refurbished StreetLites, 63102 (SM13 NCC), was photographed on 10 May 2022. This bus was new to First Manchester in August 2013.
From the beginning of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and operated without route branding until all the buses had been completed. Twenty-two Streetlites were refurbished although two were repainted in grey and black “Spare Bus” livery. By September 2022 “the Mainline” branding had been applied to the orange StreetLites including 63175 (SN64 CGO). Inside the bus the cove panels were used to display information about the routes served and the history of Minton tiles and Wedgewood, and promote tap on tap off technology and the First bus app.
From the beginning of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and operated without route branding until all the buses had been completed. Twenty-two Streetlites were refurbished although two were repainted in grey and black “Spare Bus” livery. By September 2022 “the Mainline” branding had been applied to the orange StreetLites including 63175 (SN64 CGO). Inside the bus the cove panels were used to display information about the routes served and the history of Minton tiles and Wedgewood, and promote tap on tap off technology and the First bus app.
Seen in Altrincham Interchange on Cheshire CAT5 from Warrington Interchange
Warrington's Own Buses is the new name for Network Warrington, the council owned bus company covering Warrington and parts of South Cheshire.
From the beginning of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and operated without route branding until all the buses had been completed. Twenty-two Streetlites were refurbished although two were repainted in grey and black “Spare Bus” livery. By September 2022 “the Mainline” branding had been applied to the orange StreetLites including 63175 (SN64 CGO). Inside the bus the cove panels were used to display information about the routes served and the history of Minton tiles and Wedgewood, and promote tap on tap off technology and the First bus app.
Seen in Altrincham Interchange on Cheshire CAT5 from Warrington Interchange
Warrington's Own Buses is the new name for Network Warrington, the council owned bus company covering Warrington and parts of South Cheshire.
From the start of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing twenty-five Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and were due to carry Mainline branding once all the buses had been completed. One of the refurbished StreetLites, 63111 (SK63 KFY), was photographed at Hanley bus station on 25 May 2022. This bus was new to First Manchester in September 2013.
From the beginning of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing twenty-five Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and were due to carry Mainline branding once all the buses had been completed. The interior of one of the refurbished StreetLites, 63102 (SM13 NCC), was photographed on 10 May 2022. This bus was new to First Manchester in August 2013.
From the beginning of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and operated without route branding until all the buses had been completed. Twenty-two Streetlites were refurbished although two were repainted in grey and black “Spare Bus” livery. By September 2022 “the Mainline” branding had been applied to the orange StreetLites including 63175 (SN64 CGO) which was photographed at Crewe bus station while operating route 3 to Hanley on 18 October 2022. This bus was new in September 2014.
The Swinging Sixties segued into the Glam Rock Seventies. Until Punk mounted its strident challenge, the 1970s became a high-point for concept albums and top-notch cover artwork. In all a great time if you were into the music. But what about us lot followed the more mundane route of liking buses? We kept our heads below the parapet, aware that our passion was deemed uncool, unhip, stoically underlining our numbers in spotters' books. Then along came Ray Stenning - a man who liked buses and even went to art school. Mick Jagger and Brian Ferry were likewise stylish art school grads, but sadly weren't into buses. Back in 1982, Ray Stenning published what could be regarded as the first concept album for bus aficionados - The Years Before National (1948-1968). What a visual feast it was. Not just standard pix of buses and coaches that made up the fleets of the companies that were drawn together to form the National Bus Company, but arranged in themes that reflected the geography, society, culture and industry of the era. The frontispiece here is a taster of the delights within. A book to savour indeed.
Ray Stenning has just turned 70. His compilation album was just a stepping-stone to greater fame. For more than 30 years, he has left his mark on the buses and coaches we travel on in the UK, having been retained as a design and image consultant by numerous bus operators via his Best Impressions business.
Happy Birthday, Ray!
From the end of 2019 First Potteries began to brand some of its routes with buses painted new liveries designed by Best Impressions. The third route to be branded was “The Knotty”, route 101 from Hanley to Stafford via Stone. The Scania CN04UB OmniCity buses dating from August 2006 that had been used previously on the route were refurbished by Thorntons, Ashington with wood effect flooring, re-trimmed seating, seat back phone holders with USB charging sockets and white LED destination indicators. Most of the Scanias for The Knotty were repainted in a new two-tone purple and orange livery but 65042 (YN06WMT), photographed at Hanley on 8 February 2020, was painted in black and grey spare bus livery.
The new Airlink livery as designed by Ray Stenning of Best Impressions on launch vehicle AV 116 at Bus Aras on route 747 to Dublin Airlink.
Go-Ahead subsidiary Southern Vectis operates a total of 16 AlexanderDennis Enviro400 buses on services around the Isle of Wight. The present livery was adopted in 2006 and was designed by Best Impressions, the design consultancy founded by Ray Stenning.
The new order for the Eclipse rapid transit services between Fareham, Hoeford, Fort Brockhurst and Gosport.
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To use these photos commercially please contact @MangopearUK on Twitter for permission.
From the end of 2019 First Potteries began to brand some of its routes with buses painted new liveries designed by Best Impressions. The second route to be branded was “The Leek Link”, route 18 between Hanley and Leek. Four Scania CN04UB OmniCity buses that were new to First Essex in August 2006 were refurbished and repainted in a new three-tone green livery by Thorntons, Ashington, including 65030 (YN06TDV) photographed at Hanley on 8 February 2020. The refurbished buses featured wood effect flooring, re-trimmed seating, seat back phone holders with USB charging sockets and white LED destination indicators.
From the beginning of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing twenty-five Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and were due to carry Mainline branding once all the buses had been completed. One of the refurbished StreetLites, 63102 (SM13 NCC), was photographed at Crewe bus station on 10 May 2022. This bus was new to First Manchester in August 2013.
From the beginning of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing twenty-five Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and were due to carry Mainline branding once all the buses had been completed. The interior of one of the refurbished StreetLites, 63102 (SM13 NCC), was photographed on 10 May 2022. This bus was new to First Manchester in August 2013.
From the beginning of 2022 First Potteries, in collaboration with Best Impressions, Altro and Bus & Coach World, Blackburn, began a programme of refurbishing twenty-five Wrightbus StreetLite DFs for use of routes 3 and 4 linking Hanley, Burslem, Kidsgrove and Tunstall. The refurbishment included reupholstering the seats with red & blue moquette and orange leather headrests and fitting new flooring based on Minton tile designs. The refurbished buses were painted in a three-tone orange livery and were due to carry Mainline branding once all the buses had been completed. The interior of one of the refurbished StreetLites, 63102 (SM13 NCC), was photographed on 10 May 2022. This bus was new to First Manchester in August 2013.
Summerhill based Volvo Gemini VG 48 returns to service after accident damage repairs ( SE 11 ), continuing its Airlink combi role, in basic Airlink livery but without the branding so that the bus can be used on normal Dublin Bus routes when not required for the Airport 747 service, sharing this role with similar VG 46 & 47. These buses were not fitted with the extended offside lower saloon racking.
The livery on VG 48 has been slightly " tweaked " with some differences to the wave & twin curves, this livery originally devised by Best Impressions, what would Ray say now ?
Rear view of Wright Crusader W603 CWX... not everyday you see a Harrogate and District bus in York. Note the 'Best Impressions' publicity on the back of the bus.
The new order for the Eclipse rapid transit services between Fareham, Hoeford, Fort Brockhurst and Gosport.
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To use these photos commercially please contact @MangopearUK on Twitter for permission.