Issue 57
(OBP-273)
Sunday 7th December 2003

next update week ending 19th December 2003

Please note that any comments made in this news page are those of the Editors' and in no way constitute 
any official points of view from the bus companies mentioned,  or indeed any other official body. 
As a news page we reserve the right to make valid comments as seen from an editorial point of view.

If you wish to be included on a mailing list where I will advise of any mid week news please
let me know on malcolmhc@aol.com

Following on from last weeks page full details of the Citaro fleet for Oxford have been released by OBC and further Citaros have been delivered to Carousel for their A40 service from High Wycombe to Heathrow. All the details may be found under the relevant operator headings below.

A visit on Saturday morning to Binders Yard at Cryers Hill, as usual, revealed some interesting buses to be seen. In a compound next to Prestwood Travel's location there was an ex Barton AEC Regent V and in Ward Jones yard an excellent Harrington bodied coach was in for attention.

 

I always find it interesting to visit this location due the number of operators and yards with a variety of buses and coaches.

Saturday proved a dismal day in the early part of the morning but the sun did manage to shine through later. however at this time of year the sun is very low in the sky and it is difficult to get really good shots. I spent a little time around Wycombe and witnessed one of the recently transferred Arriva London Olympians which have now added to the local bus scene. The bus in question was on the 363 to Penn and is seen below on Totteridge Road prior to turning into Bowerdean Road. Whilst I am sure Arriva have given this much thought I could not help notice what a struggle the bus had to get up Arnison Avenue with only about 8 people on board. I wonder how these buses would manage with a full load, especially as a number of bus stops are on the hill.

With Christmas approaching a number of houses are donning their usual Christmas lights and I noticed some nice displays in Kennington and parts High Wycombe. One has to admire the people who must spend pounds on these displays and I hope to feature some of the more exotic ones in the coming weeks with a bus in the picture if possible.

I received the following email from Ian Pinnell who says "I am a young teenage bus fan and I would like to congratulate everyone
who works on this website for all the hard work they do. I stumbled upon your page whilst searching for bus information. I have since read your news page every week and I now know my Tridents from my Olympians.

Well done once again and I will keep reading your news page every week. Congratulations "

Thanks Ian, comments such as these make it all worthwhile and indeed without contributions the page would not be so newsworthy.

Well, now on to the reports for our area. Your contributions continue and I am pleased to receive them each week. My thanks to everyone who sent information.

Malcolm Crowe, 6th December 2003.

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002

News of the local companies – 6th December 2003


This Olympian, 5856, seen above nearer to Wycombe centre,
is seen climbing Arnison Avenue on Saturday working the 363.
These buses lack full destination displays so far and have to rely upon a card
in the windscreen to display a route number.


A Dart, so far not seen by me in our area is 3137, originally with Stevenson's of Uttoxeter.
It is seen here in Oxford Street, High Wycombe on a 323 working to Aylesbury last Saturday.


This Olympian, 5133, seen above in Oxford Street, Wycombe centre,
is seen on Saturday working of the 317.


Olympian, 5124, seen at Terriers above High Wycombe, turning onto Amersham Road on Saturday working the 345.

Arriva have now publicised their Christmas holiday timetables and unlike operators in Oxford will not run buses on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Details are given below.

CHRISTMAS SERVICE ALTERATIONS - AYLESBURY AREA

Wednesday 24 December (Christmas Eve)
A normal Wednesday service will operate on all routes, but with early finishes from around 1900,last buses as follows:
231 1715 Thame to High Wycombe, 1815 High Wycombe to Thame
260 1815 Aylesbury to Thame, 1745 Oxford to Aylesbury
280 1740 Aylesbury to Oxford
1810 Oxford to Aylesbury
1840 Oxford to Thame only

Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) & Friday 26 December (Boxing Day)
No Service

Saturday 27 December
Saturday service on most routes, however a reduced Saturday service will operate on the following routes: 132, 261, 280. Special timetable available.

Sunday 28 December
Sunday service.

Monday 29 & Tuesday 30 December
Saturday service on all routes except: Monday or Tuesday service on routes: 132, 261 the 0750 from Thame will start at Worminghall (0735) via Shabbington (0742)

Wednesday 31 December (New Year's Eve)
Saturday service with early finish on all routes except:  Wednesday service on routes: 132, 261 the 0750 from Thame will start at Worminghall (0735) via Shabbington (0742)

Early finish from around 1900 with last buses as follows:
231 1710 Thame to High Wycombe, 1815 High Wycombe to Thame
260 1605 Aylesbury to Oxford, 1745 Oxford to Aylesbury
280 1740 Aylesbury to Oxford,1810 Oxford to Aylesbury, 1840 Oxford to Thame
Extra bus: 1810 Aylesbury to Thame only

Thursday 1 January 2004 (New Year's Day)
No service

CHRISTMAS SERVICE ALTERATIONS - HIGH WYCOMBE AREA

Wednesday 24 December (Christmas Eve)
A normal Wednesday service will operate on all routes, but with early finishes with last buses as follows:
231 1715 Thame to High Wycombe, 1815 High Wycombe to Thame
320 1848 from Princes Risborough
328 1815 High Wycombe to Reading, 1750 Reading to High Wycombe
329 1845 High Wycombe to Henley, 1905 Reading to High Wycombe

Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) & Friday 26 December (Boxing Day)
No Service

Saturday 27 December
Saturday service on most routes, but a reduced Saturday service will operate on routes: 328/329

Sunday 28 December
Normal service

Monday 29 & Tuesday 30 December
Saturday service on all routes except: 261 the 0750 from Thame will start at Worminghall (0735) via Shabbington (0742)

Wednesday 31 December (New Year's Eve)
Saturday service with early finish on all routes except: 261 the 0750 from Thame will start at Worminghall (0735) via Shabbington (0742)

Early finish from around 1900 with last buses as follows:
231 1710 Thame to High Wycombe, 1815 High Wycombe to Thame
328 1815 High Wycombe to Reading, 1745 Reading to High Wycombe
329 1845 High Wycombe to Henley, 1820 Reading to High Wycombe

Thursday 1 January 2004 (New Year's Day)
No service.

Friday 2 January 2004
Saturday service on all routes except: 261 the 0750 from Thame will start at Worminghall (0735) via Shabbington (0742)

Saturday 3 January 2004
Normal services resume on all routes.

One wonders if the lack of major competition in Aylesbury and High Wycombe (excluding Carousel in HW) affects a decision by Arriva on the running of buses on the holiday days.

The three new Citaros have now arrived at the depot and are expected to enter service during the coming week.

  

  

The buses still await full livery which is provided by Heathrow Airport Limited. This livery will be red and applied in a similar fashion to other operators buses working on the partnership schemes.


Seen last Saturday prior to the entry into service of the Citaros is a Lynx LX559 on London Road HW.


   

   

Further arrival of new Citaros include 828, 830, 831 and 831. The company has now released full details of the new batch including chassis numbers etc.

828

X28 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023103885

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

829

X29 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023103990

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

830

X13 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023104142

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

831

X31 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023104157

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

832

X2 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023104175

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

833

X3 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023104183

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

834

X4 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023104194

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

835

X5 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023104213

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

836

X6 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023104244

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

837

X7 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023104271

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

838

X8 OXF

Mercedes 0530

WEB62804023104281

Mercedes Citaro

B42F

Note the use of X3 and X13 within the batch which makes an interesting use of registrations related to route numbers. The batch also features a variety of messages applied to the rear of each bus and should make identification from a distance easy.

The company advises "829 was delivered 11/03 and used (on trade plates) for promotional work. It will enter service 12/03 along with the remainder of the batch. 828-836 are branded as ‘abingdon oxford direct’ and the remainder as ‘oxford bus company’. Each has a different promotional message on the rear."  This seemingly suggests that 837 and 838 will be for use as spares for the Abingdon services but will also appear on other routes in Oxford.

Ed Maun writes "There is an article in the latest issue (5 Dec) of Transit about OBC’s new Citaros together with a picture of 829.    The article states that OBC believes it now has the cleanest bus fleet in the UK in terms of exhaust emissions.    It says that each of the new buses cost £135,000 and they are fitted with air conditioning and exhaust particulate traps to reduce harmful emissions.    It also comments that the new Citaros have heightened the competition with Stagecoach on the lucrative corridor between Oxford City and Abingdon, and feature a new “Abingdon – Oxford Direct” identity designed by design agency Best Impressions".

Further news from the company advises

Vehicles to be withdrawn (12/03): 

502/6/8/11:        returned ex loan to Metrobus, Crawley.

Vehicle on hire:


60 poses at Cowley road Garage last Friday afternoon.

60   YS03ZLE   Scania K114      YS2K4X20001844171     Irizar Century     C49Ft     to service 28/11/03 with X90 branding

To cover for Volvos having refurbishment work completed.

Liveries:

Trident 105 received red livery 11/03

Vehicles reregistered: 


Some of the reregistered Darts.

402-407 to R2-7 OXF          11/03

Rob Williams sent the following observations:

Tue 2nd

15 - X70
113 - 4A (with blinds set to 000 Oxford Bus Company and paper A4 blind with 4A Elms Rise on it)
403 - 400
510 - X13 (had perfect shot of it until a tourist decided to walk in front of my lens!)

Wed 3rd:

650 on 5 

Fri 5th:

408 on 5  &  508 on 5B

Friday night in Oxford always produces some interesting workings due to late running caused by severe traffic congestion. Last Friday was no exception and Volvo 639 worked the 1730 35A service to Didcot.


As advised above 511 will shortly return off hire to Metrobus when the Citaros enter service.

Harris - High Wycombe


On a visit to Harris depot at Binders Yard last Saturday a new structure was noted
providing covered space for work on the coaches and outside was this recently
delivered Mercedes/Beluga YE03VSL.

 


Carfax corner is always an excellent spot for spotting and here route 3 branded 936 turns into St Aldates.

Rob Williams wrote to say ... 16522 - X1, 20008 - X27 (X4 branded) & 22930 - 10 on Dec 1st.

Tue 2nd 

22209 also on the 10, and I think 16141 went on the route in the evening.  16402 on 7A

Fri 5th:

20704 reappeared at the depot today in new livery

Ralph Adams writes regarding the use of deckers "One double decker is out stationed at Harwell. It starts as a 32 at 0604, then an X4 to Oxford at 0635, 34 to Harwell at 0700, 34 0737, 32 0802, 0856, 0948 to Abingdon, then for daily fuelling at Oxford. 32 1215,1350, and somehow then becomes the 27A at 1730 to Bicester returning to Oxford. Initially the afternoon service from Harwell was another double decker having worked as a 31 from Oxford. Not sure if it is now a 32 via Didcot as that would be the time the scholars leave Didcot."

Ralph says that these observations were from a few weeks ago and may now have changed.

Tube 50038, the victim of fire damage in December 2002 is about to return to Oxford having had work done on the interior which has been retrimmed and spruced up and it appears some work has also been done to the exterior.


Witney Dart 32628 works a 20 service from Gloucester Green


SCUC 16227 works an X6 service towards Oxford Station.

It was interesting to note that yesterday, Saturday, the 1800 departure from Oxford to London seen climbing Stokenchurch hill on the M40 was very fully loaded indeed. It is difficult to see how many passengers were actually on board but every seat seemed to be taken.

Thames Travel.

Thames Travel have also announced their Christmas programme of services.

Tuesday, 23rd December - Normal Service

Wednesday 24th December (Christmas Eve)

Normal Service until 2000 hrs ? No Service after 2000 hrs

The last buses on this day will be          

X39             1940  Wallingford to Oxford, 2015  Oxford to Wallingford

101             1915  Oxford to Watlington

105             1905  Wallingford to Cholsey, 1911  Cholsey to Wallingford, 1915  Oxford to Wallingford

132             1917  Wallingford to Goring Station, 1932  Goring Station to Benson, 1957  RAF Benson to Wallingford

Thursday 25th December (Christmas Day)  -  No Service

Friday 26th December (Boxing Day)  -  No Service

Saturday 27th December  -  Normal Saturday Service

Sunday 28th December  -  Normal Sunday Service

Monday 29th December & Tuesday 30th December

Saturday Service, EXCEPT the following will NOT OPERATE:

X39:       2245, 2345                              Wallingford to Oxford  

             2315, 0015                              Oxford to Wallingford

102:       1915, 2015, 2215                    Watlington to Oxford

             2115, 2315                              Oxford to Watlington

132:       0015                                      Goring Station to RAF Benson

135:       2340                                      Wallingford to Goring Station

140:       1945, 2045, 2145, 2245           Reading to Woodcote

             2300                                      Woodcote to Reading

142:       2004, 2104, 2204                    Woodcote to Reading

             2320                                      Reading to Woodcote

The following additional services will operate:

TB35:    1740         Wallingford to Moulsford

135:       0805         Goring to Wallingford, via Moulsford

140:       1840         Reading to Woodcote

Wednesday 31st December (New Year's Eve)

A Saturday Service will operate until 2000 hrs. No Service after 2000 hrs

       Last buses  X39:               1940  Wallingford to Oxford

                                                2015  Oxford to Wallingford

                          101:                1915  Oxford to Watlington

                                                1810  Watlington to Oxford

                          102:                No Service

                          105:                1905  Wallingford to Cholsey

                                                1911  Cholsey to Wallingford

                          132:                1905  Wallingford to Benson, 1915  RAF Benson to Goring Station, 1950  Goring Station to Wallingford (ONLY)

                          140:                1840  Reading to Woodcote

                          142:                1800  Woodcote to Reading

The following additional services will operate:

TB35      1740         Wallingford to Moulsford

135         0805         Goring to Wallingford, via Moulsford

Thursday 1st January 2004 (New Year's Day)

Sunday Service on Route X39 ONLY  (Wallingford - Oxford)

Friday 2nd January 2004

Saturday Service,

EXCEPT the 140/142 late services will NOT OPERATE. Hence

        Last Buses:   142             1800  Woodcote to Reading

                             140             1840  Reading to Woodcote

The following additional services will operate:

TB35    1740         Wallingford to Moulsford

135       0805         Goring to Wallingford, via Moulsford

All Friday Market Services will run -  131, 133, TB31 & Warborough TB103

Normal services resume 3rd January 2004.

PHOTO CORNER
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 malcolmhc@aol.com

This is a most interesting site which I do recommend

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002