Buses in Malta - page 7. Imported AEC Regal and Reliance buses and coaches (by Shane Conway)

Last updated 12 January 2025

Email   Events diary   Past events list   Classified adverts   Classic U.K. Buses   Classic Irish Buses   Classic Manx Buses

Thanks to David Gilbert who found the file and sent it to me, I have received a lot more of his father's photos and text files relating to this site. Among them are over 200 delightful photos of Maltese buses and coaches taken by Peter Skerry in 2006. As these would have been mostly swept away by the 2011 reform of the island's bus services, these pages will help to recall how things used to be in Malta. Having already covered the ex London Transport AEC Swift single deckers dating from 1969 to 1971, ex U.K. Bristol LH buses and one coach, ex U.K. Fords, and ex U. K. Bedfords, this page looks at the AEC Regal and Reliance buses and coaches which were exported to Malta. Again, Peter managed to work out the identities of each vehicle that he saw, and managed to photograph a total of fifteen AECs. I am again indebted to both David and Peter for making these photos available. The photos are arranged in order of their chassis serial numbers.

Maltese route buses (from 1995 to 2011) were registered in the format DBY (or EBY or FBY) followed by three digits. Prior to 1995 they were plated as Y followed by four digits, and were all re-registered at that time, but maintained a direct link between both versions, e.g. Y-0475 became EBY 475 and so on.

First up is a 1948 AEC Regal III (chassis 0962147), which was new to Rickards of London as HYP 309. When new it had a Plaxton halfcab coach body seating 32. Twenty years later it was rebodied as a Zammit B40F on Malta, and was still in service during Peter's photographic quest.

Next is FBY 726 (chassis MU3RV039) which started out as a Wallace Arnold owned Burlingham C41C in June 1954, registered TUA 17. On arrival in Malta it was rebodied by either Aquilana or Brincat, with styling hints of the Duple Viceroy design on the front.

Based on chassis MU3RV294, FBY 767 was new as OWT 940 in January 1955 to Anderton of Keighley in West Yorkshire. Originally bodied by Burlingham, it was replaced by a Debono product on Malta.

Originally Burlingham bodied, DBY 331 was new in May 1955 to Knowles of Bolton in Lancashire as HWH 450. Its Maltese owner had it rebodied locally by Debono, again using a mix of Duple bits on the front.

EBY 498 (chassis MU3RV783), was new to Sheffield United as VWE 258 with a Burlingham body in May 1956. It was rebodied on Malta by Aquilina.

FBY 676 (chassis MU3RV1470) was new to Maidstone and District as YKR 234 in June 1957 with a Beadle B42F body. Its new Maltese body was by Aquilina.

DBY 302 has chassis 2MU3RA2941 and was new in May 1960 to Global Coaches of London W1 as YXD 11. Its original Duple coach body was replaced in Malta by this Ciantar product which has styling cues from a 1970s Willowbrook with Duple parts on the front.

DBY 369 on chassis 2MU3RA3251, dates from April 1961 as North Western RDB 860, when it had Willowbrook bodywork. It passed to SELNEC in January 1972 when North Western was being carved up. On Malta it was rebodied by Spiteri.

Next is FBY 674 (chassis 2MU3RA3526) which is a sister vehicle to DBY 369, being new as RDB 865 in April 1961 and having a similar history, except that its rebody was by Ciantar.

Next is FBY 748 (chassis 4MU3RA4131) which was new to Bostock of Congleton as 336 VLG in April 1962. Later owned by OK Motor Services, its original eleven metre Duple body was replaced by a ten metre Brincat body on Malta.

JCY 883 was new as HOD 39E to Devon General in May 1967 with a Duple body. Later with Gibson of Moffatt, the Duple body was scrapped after an accident and the chassis sold to Thomas of West Ewell who had it rebodied by Plaxton. On Malta it operated as a tour coach in white, so wasn't shortened.

DBY 333 started out as EJP 561F (chassis 6MU4R6594) with Smith of Wigan in February 1968 with a Plaxton Panorama coach body. In 1979 it was rebodied as a Plaxton Supreme, before going to Malta and later shortened from 11 to 10 metre length and getting bus seats.

DBY 345 (chassis 6MU2R7074) which dates from September 1968, was new to Aberdare Urban District Council as TNY 494G. Originally this Willowbrook bodied bus has windows on the sides of the roof, but they were removed on Malta, unlike its sister vehicle below.

DBY 300 (chassis 6MU2R7075) which dates from September 1968, was new to Aberdare Urban District Council as TNY 495G. Unusually, this Willowbrook bodied bus has windows on the sides of the roof. Note the spelling mistake on the front destination glass.

Email   Events diary   Past events list   Classified adverts   Classic U.K. Buses   Classic Irish Buses   Classic Manx Buses

SB