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Midland Red West: Mercedes-Benz L608D — Vehicle Livery
Worcester “Citibus” Livery
Yellow, Orange and Blue
When Midland
Red (West) Limited launched their first 60 minibuses, fleet numbers 1301-1360,
into service from Worcester
depot on 23rd November 1985, for the new Worcester Citibus
services, they all carried a unique new livery of yellow and blue separated
by an orange band. The Citibus logo was shown on the sides and front
in large orange lettering, along with the city coat-of-arms. On delivery
of these vehicles, this logo was also shown on the rear window but as this
was an emergency exit, it was removed before the vehicles entered service
to allow the glass to be easily broken.
Other than vehicles that carried overall advertising, and the occasional demonstrator or loan vehicle, all the minibuses in service at Worcester depot carried this livery, and as no other type of minibus was allocated to that depot while this livery was used, the Mercedes-Benz L608D minibus was the only vehicle type to carry Citibus livery.
Six of the Mercedes-Benz L608D minibuses acquired from Southdown Motor Services of Brighton on March 1989 also carried this livery upon entering service, but from July 1990, Midland Red West phased out this livery in favour of the red and cream Midland Red West bus livery with “Citibus” branding.
Wyre Forest “Shuttle” Livery
Yellow, Orange and Green
On 8th March 1986, under the brand name Wyre Forest Shuttle, Midland Red West started minibus services in the Kidderminster and Stourport area. Vehicles operating these services, fleet numbers 1362-1386 - all Mercedes-Benz L608D minibuses allocated to Kidderminster depot, carried a new Wyre Forest Shuttle livery that was similar the Worcester Citibus livery except the blue lower and rear of the vehicle was now green. “Wyre Forest Shuttle” was shown on the sides of the vehicles, with emphasis on the word “Shuttle,” while on the front of the vehicles, only “Shuttle” was shown.
On 24th October 1987, the Wyre Forest Shuttle services expanded to include Bewdley. Five new Mercedes-Benz 609D minibuses, fleet numbers 1407-1411, entered service at Kidderminster depot at this time to meet the increased demand. These five vehicles also carried “Shuttle” livery; however, the words “Wyre Forest” were no longer shown on the sides of the vehicles.
In 1988 and 1989, small numbers of additional Mercedes-Benz L608D minibuses joined the fleet at Kidderminster depot from various source, and these vehicles received “Shuttle” livery. However, as with the “Citibus” livery at Worcester, Midland Red West phased out the Shuttle livery in favour of the red and cream Midland Red West bus livery, with “Shuttle” branding, with the first repaints in January 1991.
“ReddiLink” Livery
Yellow, Orange and Red
On 19th April 1986, Midland Red (West) Limited started minibus
services in Redditch Town under the brand name ReddiLink,
and the company acquired eighteen new Mercedes-Benz L608D minibuses, fleet
numbers 1387-1404, for these services. These vehicles entered service
at Redditch depot in new
ReddiLink livery. This livery followed the same theme
as the Citibus livery and Wyre
Forest Shuttle livery used at Worcester and Kidderminster, except for
red being used on the rear and lower parts of the bodywork. As with
the other minibus liveries, the local area branding logo, “ReddiLink,”
was shown on the sides and front of the vehicles.
Other types of Mercedes-Benz minibus also carried the “ReddiLink” livery. These were a Mercedes-Benz 508D, fleet number 1405 (R/No: A669XDA) that Midland Red West acquired with the business of Midland Red Coaches in December 1986, and a Mercedes-Benz 609D, fleet number 1406 (R/No: E406HAB), that was acquired new in 1987.
When Midland Red West phased out the Reddilink livery, vehicles were repainted to red and cream Midland Red West bus livery, as with the minibuses operated at other depots. However, Midland Red West also phased out the brand name “ReddiLink” with the livery, and the “Reddibus” name was shown on minibuses after being repainted.
Midland Red West Standard Bus Livery
Red with Cream roof and Window frames
In
July 1990, Midland Red West Limited started to repaint their fleet of Mercedes-Benz
L608D minibuses into their standard bus livery of red bodywork with cream
roof and window frames. The company’s Wyvern logo was shown
on the bonnet and above the windows at the rear, with local area branding,
such as Citibus, Shuttle or Hereford
Hopper shown above the doors. The name Reddibus,
originally introduced in March 1976 as a forerunner to Midland Red’s
Market Analysis Project (MAP),
replaced the name ReddiLink on vehicles operating from Redditch
depot.
To commemorate the battle of Worcester, a number of vehicles operating in the city were given names related to the civil war, such as Cromwell which was the name given to number 1351 (R/No: C351PNP). These names were shown with the city Coat-of-arms alongside the Citibus brand name above the doors.
By the end of 1994, all the Mercedes-Benz L608D minibuses in the fleet, except those showing overall advertising, carried this livery. When the company started to trade under the name First Midland Red in 1998, standard corporate FirstGroup markings, with the fleet name Midland Red, replaced the Wyvern logo, local area identities and vehicle names.
Bristol OC “City Dart” Livery
Yellow with Red and Blue strips
In August and September 1993, Midland Red West Limited acquired a number of Mercedes-Benz L608D minibuses from the Bristol Omnibus Company Limited. These vehicles entered service at Hereford depot in full Bristol OC “City Dart” livery, of yellow bodywork with red and blue stripes, and black skirts and wheels. The Midland Red West “Wyvern” logo was shown on the front of the vehicle, replacing “City Dart” markings.
All of these vehicles, except 1490 (R/No: C490BHY) which recieved overall advertising, were later repainted to red and cream Midland Red West bus livery, with “Hereford Hopper” branding.
Overall Advertising
1308 (R/No: C308PNP) - “Worcester Ten Pin Bowling”
1308
1312 (R/No: C312PNP) - “St. Peter's Garden Centre”
1312
1337 (R/No: C337PNP) - “Worcester Evening News”
1337 was new to in yellow, orange and blue Worcester “Citibus” livery, and repainted in January 1991 to red and cream Midland Red West bus livery with “Citibus” branding [ Photograph ].
It received overall advertising for Worcester Evening News
in c.1995, and remained in that livery until being withdrawn in August
1998.
1343 (R/No: C343PNP) - “Hylton Toyota” & “Hylton Fiat”
1343 was new to Worcester depot in yellow, orange and blue Worcester “Citibus” livery. It was repainted in the early 1990s to a white livery with think red and blue diagonal bands and overall advertising for Hylton of Worcester, the local Toyota dealers.
In November 1995, it was repainted to a bright yellow livery, still with
overall advertising for Hylton of Worcester. Hyltons
later changed their dealer franchise to Fiat, and the livery on 1343 was
modified with the addition of a thick blue diagonal band, and the replacement
of the Toyota name and logos with those of Fiat.
 
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1344 was new to Worcester depot (WR) in yellow, orange and blue Worcester “Citibus” livery. It was repainted in the early 1990s to a white livery with think red and blue diagonal bands and overall advertising for Listers of Worcester, the local VW Audi dealers.
In c. 1996, it was repainted to a bright green livery with overall
advertising for Hylton of Worcester, the local Toyota
dealer. Hyltons later changed their dealer franchise to Fiat,
and the livery on 1344 was modified with the addition of a thick blue
diagonal band, and the replacement of the Toyota name and logos with
those of Fiat.
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1350 was new to Worcester depot (WR) in yellow, orange and blue Worcester “Citibus” livery. In February 1989, it was repainted a white livery with overall advertising for Radio Wyvern.
In July 1990, the advertising was removed and this vehicle became to first Mercedes-Benz L608D to be painted in the red and cream Midland Red West bus livery. The “Citibus” brand name was carried above the doors, and the vehicle was later named “The Civil Was Special.”
Note: Midland Red West Limited also operated a Mercedes-Benz 609D and a Leyland National (F/No: 1438 & 546) from their Hereford and Worcester depots that also carried overall advertising for Radio Wyvern.
 
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1353 was new to Worcester depot (WR) in yellow, orange and blue Worcester “Citibus” livery. It was repainted in November 1987 to a white and blue livery with overall advertising for Howells or Worcester, Mercedes-Benz dealer, then again in Feburary 1990 with overall advertising for Stirling of Worcester, Mercedes-Benz dealer.
In c. 1993, it received overall grey livery with advertising
for Stoulton Motor, Hyundai dealer, and remained in
this livery until being withdrawn in August 1998.
 
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1359
 
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1366 was new to Kidderminster depot (KR) in yellow, orange and blue “Wyre Forrest Shuttle” livery. It moved to Hereford depot (HD) where it recieved overall advertising for Melgrey, then in March 1995, it was repainted to white, blue and green livery with overall advertising for Hereford Times.
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1378 was new to Kidderminster depot (KR) in yellow, orange and blue “Wyre Forrest Shuttle” livery. In June 1988, it was repainted to iverall red livery with advertising for Hills Tool Hire and S.A.M. DIY Centre, Bromsgrove.
The overall advertising was removed in December 1990, when the vehicle was repainted into red and cream Midland Red West bus livery with “Shuttle” branding.
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1379
 
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1443
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1447
 
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1490 was new to Bristol Omnibus Company Limited in March 1986, passing to Midland Red West Limited in September 1989 at Hereford depot (HD) in Bristol OC “City Dart” livery.
On being repainted it recieved overall advertising for Hereford
Admag, then was later repainted with overall advertising for
South Hereford Garages.