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News of the local
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Issue 287
(OBP-500)
Friday 1st May 2009
(next update week ending 16th May 2009)
This section published 9th May 2009
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Company & fleet news – 9th May 2009
Quite a lot has been happening since the last issue, including route branding of the buses used on Stagecoach routes 7A and 7B in Oxford. This is covered in this issue.
Due to lack of time to publish earlier, I have used contributions received up to and including 9th May so that this section is totally up to date.
One factor which has affected the services of all companies operating along the London Road/Headington Road part of the A40 has been the on going roadworks to improve traffic lows on this important entrance/exit to Oxford.
I took some pictures on 23rd April to show progress. Time is now catching up with me and by the next issue work should be fully completed. I will then take more pictures.
Arriva Aylesbury have their own news letter and I am pleased to quote the link below. It has come interesting items and in the latest issue refers to Issue nr 1 of the OCBP.
http://www.arriva-shires.co.uk/?p=599
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enviro 400 5440 on route 280 unloading at High St on an inbound journey. 23rd
April. M Crowe
MK update
There
are some significant timetable improvements to local MK services from next week
of which the 300 is probably the most exciting. If you want to take a closer
look then the new MK city timetable can be downloaded here:
http://www.miltonkeynes.gov.uk/transport/documents/90048.pdf
Also
interesting, but completely unofficial, is this blog by an MK Metro driver
http://allaboardblog.co.uk/
it includes pictures of the new branded vehicles for the 300.
Interesting that the vehicles have Arriva branding although in the new timetable
the 300 is shown as an MK Metro service. There are rumours from time to time
that the MK Metro brand will disappear but to date these have not been
substantiated. However, the bright yellow livery is now less ubiquitous thank to
the trend to allocate different colours to different routes. My local route is
purple but red, orange, green and blue are also in use!
From Jack Slatter
I'm an avid reader of your web page. Could you ask any of your readers if they know if you can use Arriva all zones 4 weekly tickets on MK Metro buses since they are now part of Arriva and I often visit MK.? Keep up the good work always a good read.
From Ian Brown in Hemel Hempstead:
Trevor says
"No. I have not yet seen any Versas running the 353. The usual vehicles are now Darts - and sometimes Volvo B6 NC. I did begin to think all the Volvo B6 which had worked the 353 had all gone now that Darts are used."Nigel Peach writes
"I'm sure you got picture of the buses in the "graveyard" at Cressex when you were there the other day, but in case you didn't, these pictures were taken today (Sun 19th April). Three all Leyland Olympians 5121, 5118 and 5120 (G291/288/290 UMJ) and five single deckers: Volvo B6s 3115 3131 and 3138, Iveco 4036 and Volvo B10M 3330."
The pictures mentioned above taken by Nigel Peach.
Andrew Morgan writes
"I have heard that the Arriva six Wright Eclipse Volvo B7RLE due at Stevenage for route SB1 maybe be in place of six VDL SB200 due there but I do not know if true or not?""Also I thought I would send you pictures of the Arriva Optare Versa’s based at ware garage for route 331 Hertford - Royston but all three pictures are of them on Welwyn garden city route 6 bus station-falcon way . the first to appear at Welwyn garden was 2404 on 28/11/08 (did take pictures but the did not come out as it moved as was taking them) with full route showing on its indicator but now they only carry a bit of paper with the number 6 on normally the route is run with two Optare solo's and versa 2404 keeps making a few appearances."
11/02/09 Welwyn garden city bus station 2403 YJ58PFU.
A selection of photographs follows.
A nice picture of Wycombe based 5147 with a clear destination blind, often
difficult to capture with this type.
23rd April 2009 by Gavin Francis.
Following last months find of ex Arriva Olympians in Malta, Gavin Francis
turned up these two pictures from his files.
The first of 5825 now in Malta and the second of the one of the batch, 5826, now
scrapped.
Having a sense of humour Gavin asks does anyone know what an easyBus sandwich
looks like?
His picture above gives the answer.
Further examples of the branding being applied to the coaches now in use on the
797 were captured by Gavin Francis.
Coach 4069 needed some help when it failed on a 797 working in Victoria on 5th
May. Picture by Gavin Francis.
Gavin Francis
caught this DAF SB3000 nr 4365 turning out of Buckingham Palace Road on 2nd May.
It is now based at Hemel in full Green Line livery (was it once in easyBus
livery?) and working the 758.
Richard Sharman caught up an elderly Leyland Olympian operating service
261 in Oxford. 21st April 2009.
Earlier this week I noticed the unique "Bus of the Future" VOLVO B7L 3890 (LF02PVA) with Wrightbus Eclipse Urban 35 seat bodywork, new in March 2002, working Line 300 from Aylesbury and passing through High Wycombe. When sampling Citaro 3923 in Wycombe yesterday, Friday 8th, I was told by the driver that it is based at Leighton Buzzard but sometimes comes to Aylesbury for attention and as such can see service on other routes. Indeed according to the very latest Arriva The Shires fleet list, provided to me courtesy ATS, this bus is allocated to Aylesbury.
On the same subject John Hammond reports that this bus was used on the 280 in Oxford at around 6pm with no destination and a bit of paper in the window with 280 drawn on.
Some significant fleet changes are taking place with the departure of some old favourites and the arrival of newer additions from various sources.
Now withdrawn and shortly to depart for that graveyard in the sky are Metrobus 1345, which has donated part of its roof to a sister bus which had a slight accident and Olympian L564 (H564GKX) which was involved in an accident when a car ran into the rear of the bus causing damage which is beyond economical repair. This bus had some claim to fame as it was branded to launch the A40 service to Heathrow.
Also leaving for further service in Kent are the three DAFs painted green and branded for use on the 336 service. These are DAF984/6/8 of which 984 was the last to leave being pictured below on 8th May at the yard.
Replacements for these and other withdrawn buses are some Volvo B7Ls from London General and FOUR M A N 14.220/MCV buses from Birmingham Airport.
Regarding the Volvo B7TL's Stuart Turner reports that on Thurs 7th May he saw ex Go-Ahead EVL33 PN02XCT, still in Go-Ahead livery but with Carousel fleet name on the front, in Amersham on Carousel Line 4.
London General EVL33 at PUTNEY BRIDGE STATION on 14th
March 2007. Picture by Gavin Francis.
London General Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking's new in 2002
and only a year old in 2003.
EVL14 at Sutton Garage 050703 and EVL20 on route 93 270603 taken whilst I
was working on Wimbledon with Olympian NV185. M Crowe
London General took delivery of 52 of these buses in 2002, all of which were based at Sutton Garage. They were used on routes 93 and 154 for a number of years. In 2004 one EVL did appear on Wimbledon Tennis services.
Steve Burns of Carousel advises that another one of the five is EVL26 and that they are good buses for Wycombe as they can climb the hills with ease.
These buses remind me of my days driving for London General on Farnborough and Wimbledon with NV185 also from Sutton garage.
An interesting acquisition is that of a recovery vehicle from Aardvark Coaches of Peterborough. It is pictured below and allows the company to make local recovery more easily.
Bank Holiday Monday saw the branded 327 route bus working this route out of Hemel Hempstead.
These three pictures were taken by Geoff Walker, the Green Line
Controller at Bulleid Way, Victoria.
They show a First TNL Trident secured at very short notice to work the 702 a few
weeks ago.
It appears that all the regular vehicles were snarled up in traffic on the A4.
One of the pictures above also shows the same bus in more regular surroundings.
This must be the first time a red bus has operated this route for near 20 years?
This is a picture of one the First Group coaches which are now operating the old
Silver Choice service between Glasgow and London.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Another Sunsundegui, this one based at Bicester and just out of the paint shop
on 27th April, FJ05ANX. Picture by
Richard Sharman.
You can see more on these coaches at the following link, http://www.sunsundegui.com/
Motts Travel
23rd April saw MA07BUS back on the Oxford service again. M Crowe.
Mullany’s Coaches
Andrew Morgan writes
"Two pictures of routes 318 Abbots Langley Watford (picture is now), 346 north Watford Woodside (picture is then) they were both set up by Metroline but on 9/2/09 the 318 with two Metroline Optare solos (NSM662/664 YK05 CCJ/O) on hire. The route passed to Mullany's coaches who now use the name Mullany’s buses for the service and the 346 to Arriva using their own buses."
http://www.nationalexpress.com/
From Ian Brown in Hemel Hempstead:
NEx service 707 Northampton to Gatwick now calls at Heathrow Terminal 4 on the
0015 ex Northampton service. The 767 Nottingham-Stansted now calls at Hitchin
and Stevenage on overnight journeys. NX717 Cambridge- Brighton now stops at
fewer places in Cambridge. NX777 Wolverhampton-Stansted no longer stops at
Stevenage Railway Station and NX 787
Cambridge-Heathrow has dropped the 1910 and 2110 departures from Cambridge and
replaced them with a 2005 departure.
A new livery variation
Selwyn's operate through Oxford on service 303 and last week one was surprised to see this Levante with Cup Football branding.
On the road to Wembley!
M Crowe's Levante line up at Gloucester Green, Oxford on 25th April.
Sources close to the company advise as follows: Oxford bus co will be starting the X2 service from 1 June between oxford St Aldates and Didcot Parkway. The service is expected to run every 45 mins throughout the day with a late night bus leaving oxford at 23.22.
It is possible that OBC have been having trouble keeping the 35A Didcot's on time and this has been caused a knock on effect with delays to the 35 to Abingdon, thus from 1st June the 35 will only run every 15 mins to Abingdon using fi5 buses (which are to be Tridents 904-90) with the same type 902/3 will move to the 500. It is not yet know what will happen to 822-824 but one at least has been painted red.
The X2 will run via the A34 Peachcroft R'bout and Boundary House to Abingdon (using the same routing as the X3) and then continue to Didcot on the same route as the 35A now.
The X4 in the evening peak will be discontinued but so far we are not sure about X4 in the morning peak.
It is understood that since the council have removed the funding for the 3rd 500 bus so the 500 will be run using 2 buses with 902 and 903 being prepared for this service.
The revised livery applied to the two Plaxton Presidents now used on the 500 Park &
Ride service in place of the trio of Citaros.
Just a week before Gavin Francis took the first picture (902 on 30th April) and
on 23rd April on 35A in company with 909.
Both pictures by Gavin Francis.
Peverel caught up with the two repaints this last week and sent the pictures
taken on consecutive evenings in the city centre.
Trident 113 in full
Park & Ride livery passes the minimalist version of livery on 903 on 5th May.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Two of the three dual door Citaros which are leaving the 500 on which they have
worked since new.
824 has already received the current bus livery whilst 822 in the first two
pictures has yet to be so treated.
Pictures by Gavin Francis.
Another picture of 824, this time on 15 road on 6th May. Picture by Gavin
Francis.
St Georges Day in Oxford with Citaro 833 waiting departure to Abingdon on an X13
working.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
St Georges Day in Oxford with older Volvo B10B 641 on a 9 road service and that
902 again on a 35A working to Didcot.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
St Georges Day in Oxford with Citaro 836 on a 9 road working leaves Carfax to
Risinghurst. The Town Crier adds to the picture.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
St Georges Day in Oxford with Citaro 856 looking very sad without its Mercedes
star. I wonder where it is?
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
Gavin Francis saw Volvo 818 less its 15 road branding and has provided the
before an after.
The first is taken on 13th April 2006 and the second on May 6th 2009.
St Georges Day in Oxford with President 909 on an 8 road working leaves Carfax
to Barton.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
Coach feature.
Coaches 40 and 41, the last two Scanias to be repainted for the X90 London service have now received rear branding. Pictures are awaited.
St Georges Day in Oxford with Scania 3 nearing the end of a run from London.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
St Georges Day in Oxford with Scania 40 leaving Thornhill at the beginning of
its near two hour run to London.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
Victoria Coach Station London is the setting for this picture of Volvo 83
unusually making an X90 working
instead of its more usual service to Heathrow or Gatwick.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Oxford's coaches - where are they now?
One of the old Excaliburs now with Crawley Luxury. Picture by Richard Sharman.
Oxford's buses - where are they now?
I often see pictures of the older Volvo B10Bs which emigrated to the south coast some years ago now. I am grateful to J. May for his contribution.
Once a London Bus
of route 88, then a stalwart of Oxford Bus 4 road, Blue Star 622 looks good.
Picture courtesy J May.
Another picture of SN53LWR, this time with Redline vinyls and caught on a
Princes Risborough school service. The 88 route number is still wound on.
Picture by Glenn Knight.
Seen approaching
The Pedestal at West Wycombe and ex Lothian Olympian now with Redline. Picture
by Gavin Francis.
http://www.rhtransportservices.co.uk/
Solo 501 is shown in this picture from Richard Sharman entitled "In April
Showers"
Red Rose
A new Dart has joined this fleet, being an Enviro 200 B29F - KX09ACU. We still await a picture of this bus!
Eight of the eleven new M A N buses have been branded for routes 7A/B. You will see that there are four different rear designs to add variety to the city streets. The colour branding features blue. Indeed readers were asking in the week commencing 27th April why there were no new M A Ns on the 7A/B on the previous Sunday as this example from Richard Morgan shows
"The new M A N s on the 7s were conspicuous today (Sunday) by their total absence from the road. Can you throw any light on this, please?"
Sunday 26th April
saw a route 3 branded MA N 22937 on a 7B working seen here in Magdalen St
East. Picture by Gavin Francis.
Well the answer was that they were being branded.
New M A N 22762
receives branding at Horspath depot on Sunday 26th April - M Crowe.
Three of the four
versions of rear branding messages on 22762, 22766 and 22767. Pictures by
Gavin Francis.
M A N s 22761 and
22763 showing their new branding. Pictures by Gavin Francis.
Bank holiday Monday, 4th May and Richard Sharman caught 22766 inbound to
Oxford, showing off the new branding.
A further
picture of a new M A N on the 7C to Barton, 22764 unloads off an inbound city
journey in High St on St Georges Day 2009.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
Seen on St Georges Day 2009, with the flag flying, M A N 22934 loads for a
service to Wantage.
Picture by
Malcolm Crowe.
A Brookes
decker 18051 runs down St Aldates on St Georges Day 2009 (23rd April 2009).
We are gathering pictures of Brookes liveried buses as the final days of
Stagecoach operation approach.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
19th April saw a Brookes Trident 18055, on an S3 working to Woodstock. Picture
by Gavin Francis.
Sunday 26th April
saw this 28 branded Trident working the S3 service to Stratford.
Picture by
Gavin Francis.
On Bank Holiday Monday 4th May Richard Sharman caught up with Trident
17054 from Stratford on the S3.
On the same day an
ex Manchester Trident was pictured by
Richard Sharman inbound to Gloucester Green.
It was 18189, close to the batch of Oxford Tridents used on Brookes - 18193 to
18199.
As if to make up for a 3 branded M A N appearing on the 7, Gavin Francis
found a 7 branded M A N on the 3 on May 6th.
Paul Dudfield writes
"Reference Geoff Cunliffe's query in OCBP 286 about the name badges on the ADL Enviro series, not all Enviro 400s have the badge on the engine cover.Oxford's buses - where are they now?
Taken April 2009 by Ben Morroll.
Bedfordshire
Richard Sharman caught this rear view of 53615 in Oxford
showing the rear branding blending in with the building behind.
Warwickshire
Oxford's buses - where are they now?
On 24th April 2009 Richard Sharman caught up with Olympian 16517 in
Chippy on an X50 working.
Swindon
John Hammond, Transport Planner, Premium Bus Routes, Public Transport Development Team for Oxfordshire writes
"A route 66 MAN in Southmoor. The bus stops on this route have recently been upgraded in Oxfordshire mirroring the investment in new buses by Stagecoach."
Picture by John Hammond
Marcus Lapthorn writes
"I attach a photograph of Stagecoach Swindon's 14271 at Longcot Turn just off the Swindon to Oxford A420. It is waiting to take up the 0936 Mon - Friday departure from Longcot to Faringdon, having run 'out of service' from Swindon. This must surely be one of the oldest buses in the Swindon fleet now I would imagine, but this particular one looks in quite good shape. Others in the same series are decidedly looking the worse for wear and in need of a trip to the paint shop!"
Picture by
South
Richard Morgan writes regarding some of older Darts once used in Oxford. Indeed they were the first low floor saloons to see service in the city. "The shots of R813YUD were taken on Thursday 16 April. They were photographed in High Street, Bognor. R813-8YUD appear to be at Chichester and branded for the 60s (Bognor - Midhurst).
The picture of R816YUD was taken on 2 September in torrential rain, leaving Chichester bus station, just prior to receiving branding - at the time the launch of the 60s was being planned.
Oxford's buses - where are they now?
Pictures by
Richard Morgan.
Oxford's buses - where are they now?
One of ex Oxford
Paladins 20009 in service at Dover on 25th April 2009. Picture by
Tim Hall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gavin Francis recorded that not all is as it should be with 50108 which was
recovered by Kardos on 26th April from Gloucester Green.
St
Georges Day 2009 saw 50110 on the final stages of its journey from London.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
I mentioned a few weeks ago the introduction of Megabusplus and Gavin Francis took pictures of the first coach seen so branded plus some other interesting pictures. The Megabusplus Volvo was operating service M12 into London Victoria.
Gavin also took pictures of a Citylink Tri-axle Volvo down from Scotland and a little way of its usual haunts.
The Neoplans still see use on London services and one regular performer is the one below which carries Buchan link branding.
http://www.swanbrook.co.uk/busServicesOxford
The company continues to operate its successful Gloucester-Cheltenham-Oxford service 853. The coaches normally used are refurbished/updated Volvo/Plaxton once with Oxford Bus and earlier with Shearings. They look fine coaches and offer a comfortable ride.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
http://www.thames-travel.co.uk/
M A N/MCV Sterling AF53EUV seen in Didcot by John Hammond.
Dart 104 which appears to have been repainted seen in Oxford on 23rd April by
Malcolm Crowe.
The refurbished Olympian W31 once 227 in the Oxford fleet and then 5827 with
Arriva. It does look very smart. Picture by Michael Wootten.
The refurbished Leyland Tiger W63, now a 60 seat school bus. It also looks very
smart. Picture by Michael Wootten.
The refurbished Olympian
seen in Princes Risborough on 29th
April 2009. Picture from Glenn Knight.
http://www.unobus.info/index.html
Stuart Turner writes "on Wed 6th saw on low loader northbound on M1 with what was probably the UNO Dart that had an engine fire on your last report."
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