MAN Single Deckers

30120/302/704/802/4-6/31/922

When Rotala purchased Diamond Bus from the Go-Ahead Group in 2008, the company was keen to invest in the fleet by introducing a number of new vehicles. The majority of these were brand-new Volvo B7RLE single-deck buses, which were divided between the company's Redditch and Tividale depots. To supplement these new purchases, Rotala also acquired six nearly new MAN chassis fitted with Plaxton Centro bodywork. These vehicles were later joined by a small number of additional second-hand examples, further increasing the fleet. In 2010, Diamond Bus introduced a further 23 brand-new MAN single-deck buses fitted with MCV Evolution bodywork. Unfortunately, these vehicles proved to be unreliable and suffered from a number of technical problems. Ongoing issues surrounding warranty claims and reliability meant that Rotala decided to dispose of the entire batch. In early 2012, all 23 vehicles were sold to an operator in New Zealand, where they were subsequently exported and entered service.

Registration Number Fleet Number Vehicle Chassis Seating Capacity Allocation
B14WTS 30120 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ58C010380  Plaxton Centro 0710.7NDA7530 B38F Withdrawn 8/20 see below
B15WTS 30121 MAN 12.240  Plaxton Centro B38F Withdrawn destroyed by fire  10/19
SN09FUW 30302 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ28C010563  Plaxton Centro 0810.7NDA7908 B38F Withdrawn 8/20 see below
SN09FUY 30303 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ28C010563   Plaxton Centro 0810.7NDA7673 B38F Withdrawn - sold to Peters for scrap 1/21
KX57OVS 30704 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ58C010296  Plaxton Centro 0710.7NDA7401 B38F Withdrawn 1/19  - sold to Peters for scrap 1/21
KX08HMZ 30802 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ08C010495  Plaxton Centro 0710.7NDA7575 B38F Withdrawn 5/23 Sold to Willenhall Commercials 7/23
KX57OVV 30804 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ08C010402  Plaxton Centro 0710.7NDA7531 B38F Withdrawn 1/20 see below 
KX08HMY 30805 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ38C010491  Plaxton Centro 0710.7NDA7574 B38F
Withdrawn 8/20 see below
WX58FRV 30806 MAN 14.220 WMAA66ZZ88C011493  Plaxton Centro 0812.2NEA7862 B38F Withdrawn 5/23 donated to Mechadyn  6/23
MX08PZH 30831 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ48C010371  Plaxton Centro 0710.7NDA7527 B38F Withdrawn 9/19- sold to Peters for scrap 1/21
B20WTS 30922 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ48C011472  Plaxton Centro 0810.7NDA7912 B38F Withdrawn 12/20 see below

30534 

With the purchase of the South Lancashire Transport business, now trading as Diamond North West, a number of MAN-chassis vehicles joined the Rotala fleet. In keeping with many of the vehicles operated by South Lancashire Transport, several carried registration numbers incorporating the letters SLT, reflecting the company's initials. Since joining the Rotala Group, a number of these vehicles have been transferred between depots across the wider Diamond Bus network. One such example is M555 SLT, which was initially loaned to the Kidderminster depot to help alleviate a shortage of vehicles. The bus has since remained at Kidderminster, where it now operates alongside the depot's existing fleet of MAN single-deck vehicles.

Registration Number Fleet Number Vehicle Chassis Seating Capacity Allocation
M555SLT 30534 MAN A22 WMAA22ZZ47C009047  Wright Meridian B44F Withdrawn Sold 1/21

30120/804/922 

Transport for West Midlands received funding from Central Government to help bus operators reduce vehicle emissions across the region. Much of this funding has been used to retrofit existing buses with exhaust after-treatment systems, enabling them to meet the Euro VI emissions standard. However, the long-term ambition is for all buses operating in the West Midlands to become zero-emission vehicles, powered either by electricity or hydrogen. As a more cost-effective alternative to purchasing new vehicles, several operators, including Diamond Bus, have taken part in a programme to convert existing diesel buses to battery-electric operation. The conversions are being carried out by electric vehicle specialists MAGTEC. Each vehicle has its diesel engine and drivetrain removed and replaced with a fully electric powertrain incorporating 200 kWh of battery storage. Diamond Bus selected five of its MAN single-deck buses for conversion. The first of the five entered service from the West Bromwich depot on 1 October 2021, demonstrating the potential for extending the operational life of existing vehicles while significantly reducing emissions. During November 2023, vehicles 30302 and 30804 were transferred temporarily to Diamond South East ahead of the introduction of electric vehicles into that fleet. Vehicle 30804 returned to the West Midlands in April 2024, while 30302 remained with Diamond South East.

Registration Number Fleet Number Vehicle Chassis Seating Capacity Allocation
B14WTS 30120 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ58C010380  Plaxton Centro 0710.7NDA7530 B38F Tividale re-entered service as an electric bus 12/21
SN09FUW 30302 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ28C010563  Plaxton Centro 0810.7NDA7908 B38F re-entered service as an  electric bus at Tividale  12/21 Moved to Diamond SE 11/24
WET859 was KX57OVV 30804 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ08C010402  Plaxton Centro 0710.7NDA7531 B38F re-entered service as an  electric bus at Tividale  10/21
KX08HMY 30805 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ38C010491  Plaxton Centro 0710.7NDA7574 B38F
re-entered service as an  electric bus at Tividale 12/21 - Taken out of service 11/24
B20WTS 30922 MAN 12.240 WMAA76ZZ48C011472  Plaxton Centro 0810.7NDA7912 B38F Tividale re-entered service as an electric bus 10/21