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Midland Red (West)
First Midland Red

• MCW Metroliner

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Midland Red West (First Midland Red)
MCW Metroliner — Overview

Vehicles Acquired Second-hand

1501–1507 (R/Nos: C975–C981HOX)

Midland Red West Limited acquired the business and vehicles of Midland Red Coaches Limited on 23^rd December 1986. This included seven MCW Metroliner double-deck coaches that had been new to Midland Red Coaches in February in May 1986, with fleet numbers 501–507. They passed to the Midland Red West fleet as numbers 1501–1507, and remained in service with Midland Red West, operating in National Express “Rapide” livery and the brand name “Midland Red Coaches,” until withdrawals began in 1989.

While in service with Midland Red West Limited, some of these vehicles were loaned to other companies, as follows:

• 1502 (R/No: C976HOX) was loaned to Wessex National, Bristol from 22^nd June until 3^rd October 1988.
• 1504 (R/No: C978HOX) was loaned back to MCW, who loan it to Northumbria Motor Services, Newcastle-on-Tyne, from 31^st October until 16^th November 1988.
• 1506 (R/No: C980HOX) was loaned to Wessex National, Bristol from 3^rd October 1988 until 10^th January 1989.
• 1507 (R/No: C981HOX) was loaned to Wessex National, Bristol from 7^th November 1988 until 10^th January 1989.

Withdrawals and Disposals

At withdrawal, these vehicles were disposed of in two groups,

• 1501–1503 (R/Nos: C975–C977HOX) were withdrawn in September and October 1990 and passed to a local Worcester operator, Rogers of Martley, who repainted them to overall yellow livery with black and red stripes.
• 1504–1507 (R/Nos: C978–C981HOX) were withdrawn in January 1989 and passed to Western National as fleet numbers 1418–1421, and continued to be operated in National Express “Rapide” livery.