Prepared on Notepad by Ian Smith,

This page created 23rd June 2015.

Metrobus Strider

Metrobus Strider In early 2002 Metrobus was looking for ways to replace the Excels and Lynxes at Crawley. While it was deliberating some Volvo B10B-58s with Alexander Sterider 51-seater bodies came on the market. They had been with Whitelaw of Stonehouse, where the fleet was being downsized. Metrobus acquired two, L58/59 UNS, that it repainted blue and yellow and numbered 158 and 159. They went initially to Godstone. They were put to use mainly on the long "country" routes, such as those to Edenbridge and to the south and south-east of Crawley.

They lasted until the spring of 2007, when they were sold via Ensign Bus to Party Bus in New Zealand.


Bus histories

This history is not complete. It is being gathered as I process information gleaned from a variety of sources. Particularly useful have been:
  • LOTS, in TLB, Annual Reviews, LBM, Fleetbooks...
  • www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk, for VIN data
 
158    L58 UNS   1/94    Volvo B10B-58 YV3R13F16RA000759, Alexander Strider AF07/593/26, B51F
                 1/94    new to Whitelaw, Stonehouse
                 3/94    in service with Whitelaw 
                 3/02 CY bought by Metrobus (Crawley): repainted blue/yellow 
                 6/02    at Southsea Rally
                 7/02 GD transfer (Godstone)
                 9/02    in service on 270 to Haywards Heath
                 4/05 GD usually on Edenbridge services 
                 6/05 GD
                 2/06 CY transfer (GD closes)
                10/06 CY withdrawn into store
                 4/07 CY in store, withdrawn 
                 4/07    sold to Ensign Bus, Purfleet
                 5/07    sold to Distributors New Zealand Ltd 
       EEC44     7/07    bought by Party Bus, Whenuapai, New Zealand 
                 2/10    with Party Bus 

159    L59 UNS   1/94    Volvo B10B-58 YV3R13F16RA000760, Alexander Strider AF07/593/27, B51F
                 1/94    new to Whitelaw, Stonehouse
                 3/02 CY bought by Metrobus (Crawley): repainted blue/yellow
                 7/02 GD transfer (Godstone)
                 4/05 GD usually on Edenbridge services
                 6/05 GD
                 2/06 CY transfer (GD closes)
                 8/06 CY in service on 23 to Worthing
                10/06 CY withdrawn into store
                 4/07 CY in store, withdrawn 
                 4/07    sold to Ensign Bus, Purfleet
                 5/07    sold to Distributors New Zealand Ltd 
        EEC77    7/07    bought by Party Bus, Whenuapai, New Zealand 
                 2/10    with Party Bus

Photographic References

For a key to the references see the bibliography. 

I have not found any printed photos of these Striders. There are a few pictures on the internet.

Ian's Bus Stop Volvo B10 index.