This time, I embark on an impromptu visit to Nottinghamshire, with a brief incursion into Derbyshire, to track down the few remaining Trident Alexanders left in service with Stagecoach East Midlands.

***The object of the trip - Stagecoach Trident Alexander ALX400 18341 stands at the “middle of nowhere” terminus of Route 28B at Eakring in rural Nottinghamshire before returning to Mansfield.***

*At the time of my visit, this was one of just two of the type left in service at Mansfield. A third example remained at Worksop.*

Arrival & Route 29 Newark to Mansfield

By LNER “Azuma” to Newark North Gate, from where it was a short walk into the town centre to locate the new Bus Station, a relatively small affair with a handful of stands, but under cover with an information office and toilets. The main operators were surprisingly familiar, with routes operated by Centrebus, Central Connect and Stagecoach. I had only been to the town once before by bus, many years ago, on a Leyland National from Grantham, so I was keen to explore an area of the country which was essentially virgin bus territory for me.

However, the main reason for the visit was to seek out the few remaining Trident Alexander ALX400s with Stagecoach East Midlands. This was, until recently, one of the remaining strongholds for the class, with examples still in service throughout Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Unfortunately, withdrawals have gathered pace in the early months of 2025, mainly facilitated by Enviro400s being made spare from contract changes in Greater Manchester replacing the old soldiers. By the start of April, just three old Tridents remained in service in the area - two at Mansfield and one at Worksop - so it was a case of catching up with them before the final axe falls!

My first route was the 29 from Newark to Mansfield, mainly double deck operated with Enviro400s. Routes 28 and 29 operate between the two towns, via slightly different intermediate routes, on a combined hourly service during M-S daytimes. I had 19306, an example in the old Stagecoach livery, which in my opinion is better than the newer versions which have replaced it in recent times. A reasonable number boarded with me, as we set off through the town, passing the ruined Newark Castle and crossing the bridge over the River Trent, a pleasant spot. Soon, we were away from the built up area and bowling along through the gently rolling Nottinghamshire countryside. After serving the villages of Kelham, Averham and Upton, we arrived into the main intermediate town of Southwell (pronounced “Suth-all”), traversing the narrow streets and stopping beside the ancient cathedral church of Southwell Minster, where most alighted.

Just a handful of us on the double decker as we continued on along the country roads via Farnsfield to Blidworth, another small town where we did a circuit to serve an estate off the main road. From here, we gradually filled as we had another brief run through greenery until reaching Rainworth, essentially a suburb of Mansfield. The route became suburban from this point and we traversed estate roads, inter war ribbon development and commercial areas through to Mansfield Town Centre, terminating at the modern Bus Station after passing under an impressive stone railway viaduct adjacent to Mansfield Station. A nice 1h35m run.

***Enviro400 19306 awaits departure time in Newark Bus Station on Route 29 to Mansfield at the start of my trip.***

*This vehicle was new to Cambus and previously operated in Hull & Lincoln.*

Mansfield Bus Station

Mansfield has a large modern under cover Bus Station with multiple nose-in stands. Whilst Stagecoach is the largest operator, Trent Barton has a significant presence. Each stand has an electronic display showing the next few departures plus a screen showing the complete timetable which alternates with displays showing other travel related messages. There is an information desk and a rack of timetables and maps. Toilets and a retail outlet supplement the large waiting area with plenty of seating.

Stagecoach offer timetable leaflets for each group of out of town routes plus a “Mansfield Town Guide” with a full colour route map of all routes and schedules for the town services. Most of these are low numbered, with services sponsored by Nottinghamshire County Council in a separate “200” series.

Trent Barton have individual route timetable leaflets, their principal routes being the “threes” to Nottingham (the number only being shown on the signwriting, the bus front screens just showing the destination plus the variant being operated “A”, “B” or “C”), plus the “nines” to Derby (in this case, the variants are indicated somewhat oddly by the numbers “9.1” and “9.3”!).

Notts County Council provide their own leaflets for services they sponsor, including “Notts On Demand” which is a demand responsive minibus service, unusually also covering evening services between 7pm and Midnight to areas of the town which have no traditional bus service at that time.

***The modern Bus Station in Mansfield is adjacent to the railway station and is seen to good effect in this view.***

The line up of bus rear ends features various Stagecoach vehicles including from left Enviro400 MMCs in “pronto” purple livery to a Trident Alexander in old livery on the right. In the centre, a Trent Barton Enviro200 MMC on the “threes” service to Nottingham.

***A sight to gladden the heart in any Bus Station - a rack of timetables and maps!***

This display in Mansfield Bus Station includes Stagecoach leaflets on the left and Trent Barton on the right, the two main operators in the town. The green leaflets in the centre cover Nottinghamshire CC sponsored services.

Route 7: Mansfield - Oak Tree Estate (Circular)

Now to the Tridents! The two remaining examples at Mansfield seem to work different duties each day, but as there is a degree of interworking, it is possible to cover a variety of routes on them.

Next to depart was 18416 in faded traditional livery, which was operating a duty on Town Services 7 and 16. I boarded the bus with a reasonable number of other users for a trip on the 7, which runs to the east of town and describes a long one way loop via the Oak Tree Estate. After serving the inner suburbs with Victorian and pre-war housing, we entered the circuit which features post war developments plus some wooded sections where we were able to get up a decent speed. Quite well used, taking 40 mins for the round trip.

The 7 operates every 30 mins M-S daytimes and Hourly Sun daytimes.

***I travelled aboard Trident 18416 on Route 7 (Mansfield - Oak Tree Estate Circular) but I have chosen Enviro400 19092 to illustrate the service, seen departing Mansfield Bus Station.***

*This is one of several of the type which have transferred from Stagecoach Manchester to replace Tridents.*

Route 16: Mansfield - Clipstone (& back)

Back at the Bus Station, the next journey of 18416 was on another local service, the 16 to Clipstone which is to the south east of town. Unlike the 7, this is a straight out and back route. It runs every 30 mins M-S daytimes and Hourly Sun daytimes. However, the timetable is coordinated with out of town routes 14 & 15, which run to Clipstone and beyond but via different intermediate routeings. A joint 15 min headway is provided M-S daytimes, 30 mins Sun daytimes and Hourly evenings.

Departing the town centre, I noticed the statue of a coal miner beside the road, recalling that the area once had a large number of pits in the Nottinghamshire Coalfield. The basic main road route is followed with a couple of loops off and back to serve particular estates. At Clipstone, more evidence of the former coal mining in the area is encountered, where the winding house of Clipstone Colliery survives as a concert venue. Small industrial units have replaced some of the former pit territory, much of which has been landscaped, but the bus continues beyond the village to serve a new housing development at Cavendish Way, set amongst woods.

At the terminus, a chat with the driver elicited the fact that the remaining Tridents will be withdrawn when their MOTs expire. He also said that a fleet of 30 new electric buses is promised for the area by the end of the year. A 55 min round trip including a 5 min pause at the outer terminus. Again, reasonable usage.

***Trident 18416 is the second of the duo left at Mansfield which I travelled on first. Here it is departing from the Bus Station on a Route 16 trip to Clipstone.***

*This vehicle is another which originated with Stagecoach East.*

Route 12: Mansfield - Shirebrook (& back)

After lunch, I caught up with the other Trident, 18341, which was operating a duty on the 11 / 12 routes to the Shirebrook area, north of Mansfield. A trainee driver took over at the Bus Station, with a “Driver Mentor” showing him the ropes. A gentle run through the suburb of Woodhouse before a long fast stretch on the A60 through farming countryside to the Warsops, calling at Church Warsop, Market Warsop and Warsop Moor. Then another twisting country road section to the town of Shirebrook, site of another former colliery which is now long gone. After calling at the Market Square, a good test for our trainee driver, as the route became a town service and served two loops of different estates, involving narrow roads with parked cars and some up and down hill sections.

Back to Shirebrook Market Square, where the Driver Mentor took over for the return run. We were nearly 10 mins late by this stage, but some positive driving and fewer passengers in this direction meant we arrived back in Mansfield virtually on time. 1h35m in total for the rounder.

The 12 operates every 30 mins M-S daytimes, however this is coordinated with the 11 which is essentially a short-working 12 to Warsop which then diverts to Meden Vale, a mile or so off the main route. A joint 15 min service operates on the common section M-S daytimes, with an Hourly M-S evening service on the 11 only. On Sundays, a 12B variant combines the 11 and 12 sections on an Hourly frequency.

***The other Mansfield Trident, 18341, seen framed in spring blossom at the Bus Station after a trip on Route 12 to Shirebrook and back.***

*The rear advert for Mansfield’s No 1 Estate Agent could equally apply to the bus!*

Route 6: Mansfield Bus Station - Ladybrook - Bull Farm - Bus Station

To end the first day, I turned my attention to the single deck routes operated by Stagecoach in Mansfield, which are mostly run with Enviro200s, although there are a couple of electric versions financed by Notts County Council which appear on their supported services.

I took a trip aboard 36454 on route 6, which oddly does two separate loops from the Bus Station through estates to the west of town. Different numbers would help to avoid confusion between the two! We set off with a small number of passengers on the first loop to the Ladybrook area, dropping off and picking up throughout an area of council housing. Back to the Bus Station, where most alighted and we took on a large crowd for the second loop to Bull Farm, with larger dwellings on this section. About 50 mins in total to traverse the whole route.

Two buses operate on a 30 min frequency M-S daytimes, with a 5 min “hesitation” built into the schedule at the Bus Station each time the bus returns. Notices on the Bus Stops advise passengers to use the demand responsive service in these areas during the evening.

***The single deck allocation at Stagecoach Mansfield comprises mainly Enviro200s. 36454 departs on Town Service 6 (Bull Farm - Ladybrook via Bus Station).***

*This is the vehicle I rode on the route. It originated with Stagecoach Oxford.*

Route 28B: Mansfield - Eakring (& back)

Day Two began back at Mansfield Bus Station, where the two Tridents were out to play again, but on different workings from the day before. 18416 was on School duties, but 18341 was on “normal” routes, working on the 28B. I boarded for the run out to Eakring and back. This is a variant of the 28 / 29 Newark routes I had arrived on, but diverging from the main road at White Post Farm (after Blidworth) to run through the countryside. A 60 min frequency operates on the 28B M-S daytimes, providing a joint 30 min service withe the 28 / 29 on the common section. On Sundays, the 28 runs alone on an hourly headway during the daytime between Mansfield & Blidworth only.

A few passengers on board for the outward run, although all had departed by Blidworth and it was just me and the driver for the rest of the trip! A great thrash around the country lanes, before arriving into the village of Bilsthorpe, where we looped around an estate with no takers. The final section was a delight, along narrow lanes through rolling green vistas, eventually arriving at Eakring after a 50 min run.

After reversing at the entrance to the National Grid works on the edge of the village, we paused in a country lane amid woods before embarking on the return run. Busier in this direction - we picked up two at Eakring Post Office and then a few in Bilsthorpe, mostly bound for Mansfield. More joined on the suburban section and we arrived back at the Bus Station 55 mins after the start. A great trip, giving the chance for our superannuated bus the chance to show its mettle!

***Not a bus I travelled on, but illustrating one of the pair of Enviro200EVs with Stagecoach Mansfield is 64017, departing the Bus Station on Town Service 240 to Berry Hill.***

*The Nottsbus ECOnnect livery indicates the sponsorship by Nottinghamshire County Council.*

pronto: Mansfield - Chesterfield - Mansfield - Nottingham

To end my saga with Stagecoach East Midlands, a ride on the unusually named “Pronto” route, which links Nottingham & Chesterfield via Mansfield. This is operated by a fleet of Enviro400 MMCs, many of which are in a special purple livery with prominent signwriting extolling the virtues of the service. A 30 min service operates throughout, 60 mins eves & Suns, but additional shorts run between Nottingham and Mansfield to provide a 10 min frequency M-S daytimes, 30 mins eves & Suns, over the busiest section.

I began by travelling north from Mansfield to Chesterfield, my bus being 10978, an example with special signwriting to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles in 2023. This is a well used service and I travelled with a large number as we progressed out of Mansfield through ribbon development up to Pleasley. From here on, we crossed the border from Nottinghamshire into Derbyshire for the remainder of the run, with a combination of country sections and villages along or just off the main road, including Glapwell, Doe Lea, Heath and Temple Normanton. At Hasland, we entered the Chesterfield suburban area for the last section, reaching the terminus at the Coach Station after a 50 min journey. The town is famous for its Parish Church with twisted spire, which was very visible as we descended the hill into the centre.

A good collection of mainly Stagecoach buses in the town centre, including a number of brand new electric single and double deckers on routes to Sheffield and other local destinations.

After the 20 min break, I reboarded 10978 for the return run, another 50 min trip back to Mansfield, where I broke the journey for a short comfort stop. I then joined the following bus for the continuation to Nottingham, which was operating a short originating at this point. This time, I had one of the examples in purple “Pronto” livery, 10979, which left almost full despite being only 10 mins behind the previous bus - clearly a popular service.

We made our way south along the Nottingham Road, through suburbia until reaching the edge of town, where we entered the country section through Sherwood Forest, a mixture of woodland and farmland. However, no sign of Robin Hood, Maid Marion, Friar Tuck or Little John! After a pleasant interlude of 15 or 20 mins, we entered the Nottingham suburbs and encountered some busy traffic due to roadworks, although we kept moving. Arrival at Nottingham Victoria Bus Station, one of two in the city centre, was after a 50 min trip from Mansfield.

This was my first bus ride in Nottingham, as although I have been here before, on that occasion it was to ride the Tram network rather than buses. The main operators are Stagecoach, Trent Barton and Nottingham City Transport, the latter being one of the few remaining municipal owned bus companies in the UK. Most noticeable that NCT buses have colour coded liveries for each group of routes, with many new Enviro City CBG double deckers in evidence, with a smaller number of older Enviro400s and Scania Omnideckers.

However, that is for a future adventure and I walked through the city centre to Nottingham Station for the train home at the conclusion of an interesting trip.

Watton

Tied Up in Notts!

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