Created 17-Aug-19
Modified 8-Mar-24
This batch of Metroriders formed the biggest block of vehicles in the Rhondda Buses fleet and was also the biggest batch of vehicles bought by Inter Valley Link or their predecessors, albeit they were of two slightly different types.
They were new to Inter Valley Link and numbered 101-117 in that fleet. 101-105 were MF150/104 models with DP25F bodies whilst 106-117 were MF150/103 with DP23F seat bodies. They were in a revised livery incorporating quite a lot of grey and branded as "Inter Valley Classic". New in September (106-108) and October 1988 they didn't operate for Inter Valley Link for very long as the fleet was taken over by National Welsh on 1st April 1989. These Metroriders comprised over half of the Inter Valley Link fleet taken on by National Welsh, most vehicles not being part of the sale.
With National Welsh they received the yellow Bustler livery and were at first moved en bloc to Merthyr Tydfil to counter competition. They did move around later with, for example, 2101/2103/2104 moving to Bridgend, 2102/2105/2108 to Chepstow and 2106 to Caerphilly. 2110 seems to have been particularly mobile as the photos in the gallery show. When Rhondda Buses bought part of National Welsh in February 1992 these Metroriders were included. 2107, 2108, 2111, 2112, 2114, 2115 and 2117 operated briefly for Offerdemo in Merthyr Tydfil.
They retained the same fleet numbers although there was a plan to number them 101-117. This was partly implemented in mid-1992 and then abandoned, although as the gallery shows, some vehicles ran with their three-digit number for some years.
Most of these Metroriders were withdrawn in 1996 and 1997, displaced by new Mercedes-Benz 711Ds. However, four survived to be taken over by Stagecoach in December 1997 - 2105, 2106, 2112 and 2114, which became 105, 106, 112 and 114 with their new owner. However, they didn't last much longer and were withdrawn in 1998. Many of the sold Metroriders went for further service, a notable buyer being municipal operator and Metrorider enthusiast Rossendale, who took four.
© David Beilby
