First Midland
Red Buses Limited withdrew the last of their Mercedes-Benz L608D minibuses
from service at Hereford depot
at the end of August 2001. Fittingly the last in service was fleet
number 1301 which was numerically the first Midland Red West Mercedes
minibus, coming into service on the 23rd November 1985 at
Worcester depot for the
new Citibus services. This vehicle also had the distinction of being
the longest serving former NBC
minibus still in service with its original operator, and was also the only
Mercedes-Benz L608D to have be allocated to all 4 of the Midland Red West
depots that operated L608D minibuses, these being Worcester, Kidderminster,
Redditch and Hereford. After withdrawal, 1301 was offered to several
preservation groups but none were interested and she was finally passed
to Erith Commercials in July 2002 for scrap.