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A few months earlier and 998 (9104AO) would have been in two tone blue and branded National Bus. However the bus was one of the initial deliveries to the new enlarged Ventura fleet. It is working the extended 246 route to Latrobe University on Friday March 1st 2013 and is seen at Clifton Hill, where most 246 route buses terminate. The route starts at Elsternwick. |
Sister vehicle 997 (9103AO) is seen on the same day in North Fitzroy depot, with simple Fitzroy branding above the rear side windows. The depot is not far from Clifton Hill enabling crew changeovers and and slotting buses on to the route to Elsternwick when Latrobe journeys would otherwise disrupt the headway south. |
A few minutes earlier and this shot shows the mix of liveries then working National Bus routes. On the left is 298 (1196AO), a 1990 MAN SL200 with Ansair body, a bus inherited by National Express with the former MET operation in 1999 when they purchased Westbus who had acquired MET in 1993. Alongside is 2005 MAN 15.220 544 (5840AO), with Custom CB30 bodywork in Ventura colours, but National Bus fleetnames. The MAN buses were ordered by National Express but delivered to Ventura in the plain canary yellow livery by then shared with National Express' former Westbus operation in Sydney, a livery subsequently adopted by CDC subsidiaries across New South Wales before being ousted by the new white and pale blue NSW state livery. Finally we have Scania 997 in the new Ventura livery, with no mention of National Bus. More changes followed when the results of the tender for Melbourne's former MET services was announced and all three buses, with the majority of the National Bus fleet passed to Transdev Melbourne. |
Seen near Moorabbin in November 2013 was four month old Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B7RLE 1036 (9587AO) on rail replacement work.
Picture ref A1362 |
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