Midland Red West (First Midland Red)
Dennis Dart — Miscellaneous Information
Demonstrators
Midland Red West Limited have operated a number of Dennis Dart demonstrator vehicles, some of these are detailed on this page.
In early 1995, Midland Red West operated a new Plaxton owned Dennis Dart demonstrator. This vehicle had the registration number: M284HRH and ran with the fleet number 284 from Kidderminster depot. It returned to Plaxtons on 1st April 1995 and was sold by them to Warrington, making Midland Red West the only company to operate the vehicle as a demonstrator.
Another demonstrator operated by First Midland Red was a Purple B41F Plaxton-owned Dennis Dart SPD (registration number R739TMO) that was used from Kidderminster depot with the fleet number 339 between October 1998 and late 1999. After being used at First Midland Red it passed to Yorkshire Rider, and later to Pete’s Travel.
In March 1999, First Midland Red also operated a Plaxton bodied Dennis Dart in FirstGroup Barbie livery. This 29 seat vehicle (registration number S551WAT) was owned by the group and operated at Kidderminster depot for about two weeks. It was the first vehicle operated by First Midland Red to carry the group livery.
In April 2001, First Midland Red were using a Caetano demonstrator that was on loan to FirstGroup, who had been previously used it at First Crossville with the fleet number 882. This vehicle, a Dennis Dart 10.6SDA SLF with B37F Caetano Nimbus body, had a similar specification to the five new vehicles due to be delivered later that month for the new Worcester North Park+Ride. It had the R/No: W809VMA and was used at Worcester depot as a driver training vehicle from the 10th April. W809VMA is now in service with First Bristol with the fleet number 273, at their Marlborough Street depot.