News Page
News of the local
companies
Issue 290
(OBP-503)
Monday 8th June 2009
(next update week ending 21st June 2009)
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Company & fleet news – 8th June 2009
This section of the latest News Page issue is revealing significant new deliveries and acquisitions to operators in our area, Somehow I feel this represents one of the greatest periods of change in recent times. Full details can be read under the various operator headings.
The recent spell of good weather has produced some exceptionally good pictures and shows all operators in a very good light.
Andrew Morgan writes to say
"the buses going to Stevenage routes 100/101/102 are Wright Renown Volvo B10BLE 3311-3314/3322-3323 (PN02HVS/L/M/O/R/P) ex-route SB1. Their replacements on the SB1 were expected to be six Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse II but the recently delivered VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2s 3407-3412 are now linked to that route. Finally confirmation will have to confirmed and let's see what ends up at Stevenage for the SB1."
ENVIRO 300 3552
(KX09GYB) for routes 300/301 and VDL SB200/WRIGHT PULSAR 2 3411 (KX09KDU) with
3410 (KX09KDO) behind the ENVIRO.
Picture by Andrew Morgan.
"The new buses due for routes 300/301 are 20 Alexander Dennis ENVIRO 300 of which seventeen are going to Stevenage with the other three to Hemel."
"One of the six ex-route SB1 buses which is when replaced going to routes
100/101/102 Stevenage Luton.
It is Wright Renown bodied Volvo B10BLE 3313 at Welwyn garden city bus station
on 18/02/08 making an appearance on the 301."
Picture by Andrew Morgan.
"A picture taken on 27th May 2009 of Stevenage (Babbage Road) allocated Arriva
Greenline liveried DAF SB220/Plaxton Interurban 4368 at Hatfield Tesco on route
300 to Stevenage bus station.
It was a lucky sighting as I was at Tesco just about to go in shopping."
Picture by Andrew Morgan.
Arriva
Olympian 5152 on route 6 at Hemel on 28th May.
Picture by Andrew Morgan.
I recently asked for pictures of the various Arriva depots and Andrew has come
up with a nice one of Norton Green Road.
Picture by Andrew Morgan
Many thanks to Andrew Morgan for his comprehensive report and pictures. Full details of the new buses at Stevenage are given below courtesy Arriva The Shires head office.
| Fleet No | Reg No | Body No. | Del. Note No. | Date Del. | Depot |
| 3407 | KX09KDJ | AC829 | VDL SB200 Wrightbus Pulsar 12m | 05-May | Stevenage |
| 3408 | KX09KDK | AC830 | VDL SB200 Wrightbus Pulsar 12m | 06/05/2009 | Stevenage |
| 3409 | KX09KDN | AC831 | VDL SB200 Wrightbus Pulsar 12m | 06/05/2009 | Stevenage |
| 3410 | KX09KDO | AC832 | VDL SB200 Wrightbus Pulsar 12m | 06/05/2009 | Stevenage |
| 3411 | KX09KDU | AC833 | VDL SB200 Wrightbus Pulsar 12m | 06/05/2009 | Stevenage |
| 3412 | KX09KDV | AC834 | VDL SB200 Wrightbus Pulsar 12m | 07-May | Stevenage |
| 3550 | KX09GXZ | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3551 | KX09GYA | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3552 | KX09GYB | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3553 | KX09GYC | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3554 | KX09GYD | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3555 | KX09GYE | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3556 | KX09GYF | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3557 | KX09GYG | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3558 | KX09 GYH | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3559 | KX09GYJ | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3560 | KX09GYK | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3561 | KX09GYN | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3562 | KX09GYO | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3563 | KX09GYP | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3564 | KX09GYR | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3565 | KX09GYS | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage | ||
| 3566 | KX09GYT | ADL ENVIRO 300 | Stevenage |
Pete Cabin and Gavin Francis both advise that Wycombe allocated 3203 has now received the new 32 route blue livery.
Gavin managed
this long distance shot of 3203 in Cressex depot yard on the morning of 7/6/09.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Glenn Dinsdale writes
"Thought I'd take this chance to send you a picture for your pages.
I saw this ATS Scania / Wright on the 757 in Gloucester Place last Sunday week,
31st May 2009."
Indeed it is Glenn. with a large fleet of Van Hool tri-axles for the 757 it is becoming more unusual to see local service buses on this route.
Arriva 5157, now unbranded, working a 261 service into Oxford on June 1st 2009.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
One of the replacement Enviro 400s, 5438 turning into New Road again June 1st.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
For some reason I'm not sure of I missed the fact that Enviro 400 5439 is
unbranded.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
The easyBus Mercedes minis keep on
building on the Stansted service as seen above on 2nd June.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Volvo B10B 3841 makes a sad sight in Cressex yard following a recent accident
with a motor cyclist.
Picture by M Crowe.
Readers will find a lot more Arriva pictures in the special article "A Busman's Holiday", when Gavin and I went to Hemel and Aylesbury on Friday 29th May.
Latest hot of the press news is that the first M A N/MCV saloon has arrived from Birmingham Airport. Gavin took pictures on Sunday 7th June. Please refer to the last issue for pictures of these buses in service at Birmingham Airport.
AF53GCZ and some work will be needed to prepare this bus for service.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
A good shot of EVL showing the London type fleet numbers
used by Carousel. Picture M Crowe.
The Metrobus is not dead yet, three of the current fleet resting during the
school holidays. Picture by M Crowe.
"Pssst, need a bus for a wedding Gov?"
- I know just the one. RML 896 looks very smart indeed. Picture by M
Crowe.
Readers will find a lot more Carousel pictures in the special article "A Busman's Holiday", when Gavin and I went to Hemel and Aylesbury on Friday 29th May.
Charlton Services
Charlton Services have a very tidy fleet, always well turned out. A Volvo Van
Hool seen here in St Aldates.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
John Hammond writes
"Ex Blue Triangle TL908 is now on the road making three of the four vehicles now completed. TL905 is currently undergoing conversion, its already down to single door and progress has been made on removing the roof."
A summer's day brings out the tourists who provide a good load on Volvo 55 near
the rail station.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
No specific news this week.
As if to keep us on toes Spectra decker T124AUA turned up on the 116 on June 2nd
and luckily Gavin Francis was on hand to record the event.
This bus, after many travels with other operators, has now gained full
Heyfordian bus livery and looks very smart indeed.
To keep us even further up to speed June 1st produced yet another Plaxton Primo,
KX58LJC, again snapped by Gavin Francis.
The latest livery news is that many of the Stansted Start Hill tri-axle Levantes have gained overall branding for the London service, much better than the original efforts on SC28. Gavin and I first saw this at Hemel on a 787 service but he tells me that in the last few days it seems as if every second one has this style of branding.
SC26 and SC 30 are seen leaving London VCS last week - pictures by Gavin
Francis.
Ambassador Volvo-Jonckheere 182 goes round to load in the main part of VCS for a
489 service to Great Yarmouth. Picture by Gavin Francis.
East Yorkshire work a number of diagrams for National Express and unusually,
compared to any others, theirs are registered in Yorkshire.
The coach above is working the 5623 to Hull, home of EYMS. Picture by Gavin
Francis.
If you look carefully you can just see that the destination screen on this
Irizar PB has shown up fully.
First 23324 is ready for an 040 service to Bristol. Picture by Gavin Francis.
I have to say how useful I have found the HB Publications - National Express Datafile 2009 edition. Check the link at http://hbpub.co.uk for details. At £11.00 I think it is quite a bargain. It not only lists National Express services and coach fleets but also Scottish citylink, Megabus, Oxford Tube and Shearings. Most useful.
News this week that on June 1st both ex Brighton buses entered service on route 9 to Risinghurst. Since then one, 798 has appeared on route X2!
I mentioned that two weeks ago I saw Volvo B10B 611 heading towards the depot along the eastern by-pass. I can now report that it was not 611 but 630 still in the old white top livery. I am also told that at least one ex Oxford Volvo B10B in unilink livery has appeared. Anyway I include a few photos I received which show these at the Oxford depot.
798 and 799 on their first day in service, 1st June, working route 9. Pictures
by M Crowe.
Gavin was on hand on the 4th June to capture 798 on the new X2 service to
Didcot.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
A nice shot of 909 on route 8 turning into New Road.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Trident 119 looks pristine as it comes down St Aldates.
Picture by Gavin
Francis.
Volvo 816 is still in the livery given for 125 years of service by OBC-COMS in
Oxford.
Picture by Gavin Francis taken on 31st May 2009.
Citaro 823, resplendent in its red livery puts in a turn on 2B.
Picture by Gavin Francis on 3rd June 2009.
56 and 57 plate Citaros in St Aldates enjoy the warm afternoon sunshine.
Picture by Gavin Francis taken on 31st May 2009.
Sunday 31st May saw the first day of the X2 service to Didcot and an early
performer on the route was Citaro 869.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Normally 300 road only sees Oxford originated Tridents but from time to time an
ex north east Trident will appear and on June 4th Gavin Francis
found the bus on the 300 Park &
Ride service.
By Monday 1st June, the second day of the X2 service to Didcot the more expected
President decker was on the route, this one 906.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Coach feature.
One of the coaches caught up in the accident delays on the M40, mentioned in the
Editorial, was number 81 looking very smart in the late afternoon sunshine.
Picture by M Crowe.
The ancillary fleet.
Once again we have a picture of a bus from this fleet.
Training bus 963 is seen turning out of Speedwell Street.
Pictured by Gavin Francis on June 1st 2009.
R H Services
M A N Solo 406 is seen on a 600
working on June 1st near Risinghurst. Picture by M Crowe.
Please refer to the Editorial page for consultation work the company is involved in on services to the Wantage area. Editorial & Features plus Picture Corner
John Podgorski (www.busmopolitan.org) writes that former SC Darts M61/3VJO are now with New Horizon Travel of Frating, near Colchester, Essex. They were acquired recently via Southdown PSV.
A regular duty is on the car park shuttle at Harwich International Port, and they also appear on schools.
Final days of Stagecoach working Brookes.
Several buses in Brookes livery
have already gone on their summer vac to Devon, these being
18056, 18196
& 18197.
Above we can see 18051 and 18052 with 18198 on the U1 serv ice. Pictures by
Gavin Francis.
Trident 18199 is seen on the U10 on 31st May 2009. Picture by Gavin Francis.
Brookes 18054 is seen on an X30 working on 4th June 2009.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Trident 18198 is seen on a U5 working turning into Speedwell Street on 1st
June. Pictures by Gavin Francis.
Brookes Tridents waiting for duty at Horspath depot on June 3rd.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Of note is that 22205 MAN/ALX300 is in process of body overhaul and repaint.
A recent repaint is
ex Manchester and North East 22203 seen here on a 31 service to Wantage on June
2nd. Picture by
Gavin Francis.
A competition Guys! FOUR
Enviro 300's headed by 22769 wait for service in Magdalen Street East on Sunday
31st May.
Any advance on 4???? Picture by
Gavin Francis.
M A N
22052 works an X30 service to Wantage on June 1st. Picture by
Gavin Francis.
In the pink - 22937 shows it route 3 branding which does stand out.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Solo 47316
works the 16 on Sunday May 31st.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Other SC companies.
When I looked at a rear picture of this Dart on the 66 I was momentarily fooled
into thinking it was an Oxford M A N. Picture
by Gavin Francis.
John Doran sent this nice picture of one of our old Olympians which left
Oxford many years ago.
Having spent time in Manchester at Hyde Road it is now with
Stagecoach South at Chichester.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The changes to the registrations on the Neoplans can now be recorded on film.
50121 was T40UBE
now OX04BZT this was the second coach to be
changed.
50122 was T44UBE now
OX04BZU this was the first coach to be changed.
50123 was T50UBE now
OX04BZS this was the fourth coach to be changed.
50124 was T55UBE now
OX04BZP this was the last coach to be changed.
50125 was T60UBE now
OX04BZR this was the third coach to be changed.
Gavin took a number of pictures in the past two weeks which record this happening.
Pictures by
Gavin Francis.
Gavin Francis was on hand for this picture of 50123 reversing off
bay 3 at Gloucester Green.
Gavin Francis caught 50101 nearing the end of its journey from London on May
31st 2009.
Gavin Francis
took this nice shot of
50133 unloading passengers on its way from London.
Of course some Megabus services are still run
by the Neoplans and above we see the first Neoplan 50126, still in full Megabus
livery.
Seen at VCS on
June 1st by Gavin Francis.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.thames-travel.co.uk/
M A N/MCV Evolution is seen leaving Oxford for Wallingford on an X39 working by Gavin Francis.
Menu for News Page Issue 8th June 2009
Archive Index (previous News Pages)
Editorial & Features plus Picture Corner
Concessionary Travel, Buses in the Landscape, Running Days and Historical articles.
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