The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~   The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~   The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  

Issue 144
(OBP-359)
Sunday 11th September 2005
next update week ending 23rd September 2005

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

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
malcolmhc@aol.com

This last week has once again produced some interesting happenings and a good crop of pictures from contributors. I would note that next Sunday the annual Showbus event is happening at Duxford and so my next News Page will be published on Monday 19th September.

Wycombe's new Park & Ride.

If you didn't see this special page last week please click on the logo below to see what happened at the launch.

The bucks Free Press reports that it was a great success and everyone concerned is pleased with developments so far.

I received a message from Ray Stenning of Best Impressions who was also pleased with the report. He reminded me that it was his company which had produced the livery, publicity and web page for the new service and I would like to acknowledge this and the help given thereby to provide the special launch page.

City Sightseeing in Oxford by Kevin Stevens

Kevin wrote with an interesting picture which bears a passing resemblance to this service in our city. Perhaps I should have kept this until April 1st.

Sentinel Steam Bus 

Even more pictures have been forthcoming from the information so far posted.

John Bristow sent this picture of M5798, a Sentinel Steam bus taken last year.

John Bristow writes "I was interested to see the picture of steam bus M5798 on your latest newsletter as I had ridden on it round the streets of Abergavenny in May 2004 in connection with a Steam Fair there.  This vehicle, which by the way is a Foden and not a Sentinel, certainly gets around!  I attach a photo which I took of it on its rounds."

Pictures from Steve Bunce

Steve writes "Please find enclosed a couple of photos I took outside Rickmansworth Tesco last weekend. They are Sullivan Buses P729RYL, a former London General Dart on the R21 and Red Rose of Aylesbury MetroRider V108LVH waiting time before it returns on the R4. The MetroRider is a very late model with only 10 chassis being produced after it. It was new to Red Rose in late 1999." (I seem to be missing the Metrorider pictures Ed.)

The missing picture, thank you Steve.

Oxfordshire and The Westgate Shopping Centre development

The Oxford Times has headline news this week about plans for The Westgate. more details can be found at the following web link. This is most interesting since it highlights plans regarding bus operations in the city centre.

http://archive.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/2005/9/9/88269.html

Congestion around Heathrow affects Gatwick  and Heathrow services from Oxford.

Last week I mentioned the congestion caused around Heathrow following a lorry fire. Dave Rogers writes "I was In the jam that you flew over, but closer to the scene of the incident. It was not an overturned lorry, but a lorry carrying nitrogen peroxide that caught fire. I took these pics with the camera I always carry. I was stationary for 2 1/4 hours!, but at least being at the front of the queue I could proceed as soon as the fire was put out, I felt sorry for those further back, as apparently it was many miles long."

   
Dave sent these pictures of the fire

Pushchairs on local buses in Oxford and the Chilterns.

In many parts of the country the introduction of low floor buses has given operators the chance to "sell" the idea of Buggy friendly buses. Whilst the low floor is primarily intended to provide easy access for those physically challenged such buses do also ease the lot of mothers with children in prams or buggies as they are now called.

However the provision of such facilities can start problems, perhaps unforeseen when the facility first started. For example how many buggies can be carried on a bus, what are the rules, what is practical and how does the hard pressed driver cope when things get out of hand.

Ian Pinnell witnessed such an event last week at Headington on a bus which already had two buggies, one of which was for twins.

I wonder what the official view is from the various operators in our area?

Heritage Routes in London using Routemaster buses

Gavin Francis writes "I see Stagecoach have been awarded one of the Routemaster heritage routes with First getting the other."

Full details may be found at the following link.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-centre/press-releases/press-releases-content.asp?prID=501

Duxford  http://www.showbus.com/

Don't forget Duxford on the 18th September. Amongst the many vehicles to be seen at this year's Showbus will be Oxford Tube 50124 and Brookes Trident 18052.

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Now on to this week's News and photos. Thank you to everyone who has contributed this week. Please note that the next News Page will be on Monday 19th September as I will be at Duxford next weekend.

Malcolm Crowe - Sunday 11th September 2005

 
Two very nice pictures from Gavin Francis. It seems that the Volvo above is the "spare" bus for the new Park & Ride service.

Another Gavin Francis picture, this time of 4064 on Greenline service 757 at Buckingham Palace Road , a week ago.

Curly wrote to say "For Details of Sterling Rd, Kidlington closure view www.oxfordbus.co.uk

He also notes that route 2E Bus Garage-City-Kidlington operates daily, 11 times a day (I am not sure that this is correct ? Ed.)

Bus Monkey reports

Tue 6th
------------
831 on 4A

Thu 8th
-----------
637 on 400

A nice picture of Trident 116 taken by Chris Maxfield last Friday.

Dart 412 spends time on 13 road last Friday - taken by Chris Maxfield.

Citaro 826 works a 15 road service last Friday. Picture by Chris Maxfield.

Sister bus 827 works a 15 road service last Friday. Picture by Chris Maxfield.

Much has been made about the new "standard" National Express coach for 2005 and beyond. This is the Scania with Irizar PB bodywork which has been configured to National Express requirements.

Two of these coaches are now allocated to Stansted and often work the 757 service to Oxford. I was delighted to be able to view the interior of one of these coaches last week and bring you pictures taken at the time.

The first point of note was that the driver was able to open the main passenger door using a remote key such as that found on most modern cars. This was most impressive and the surprises continued. The leather seating is very comfortable and the provision of a centre arm rest for each passenger giving improved comfort and protection of personal space not found in too  many coaches these days.

One of the new Irizar coaches on National Express route 757 leaves Gloucester Green.
Picture by Chris Maxfield.

The coach seemed to ooze comfort and quality but I am not sure what the additional cost is for the many features included on these vehicles. Also included was a large screen on the front bulk head which showed the road ahead or, when the luggage lockers were open, the side of the coach adding to passengers overall feeling of security.

The screen showing the side of the coach when the luggage lockers are open.

The leather seats, nicely contoured and the curtains all add to the sumptuous interior on  these state of the art coaches.

The driver is not forgotten and the seat provided would do credit to a Rolls Royce.

Red Rose of Aylesbury

Gavin Francis took this shot of a larger than usual bus on the 275 over a week ago. It is seen passing through Stokenchurch.
The driver later told me how much better this bus was to drive than his usual Solo.

An ex Oxford Dennis Lance has appeared in service up in the midlands having been a victim of the floods in Carlisle. Ben Morroll sent this pictures of N903PFC in service last week.

Bus Monkey reports the following workings.

Tue 6th
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22052 on 1 having sprouted route 7 green spots around it's destination
display

Thu 8th
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20012 on 1

Brookes 18054 at Debenhams on route 29A last Friday - photo by Chris Maxfield.

Dart 33763 unusually works an X4 service last Friday - photo Chris Maxfield.

Volvo 20205 works a 59 service last Friday having recently been repainted. Photo Chris Maxfield.

Volvo 20617 works a 50 service to Stratford from Chipping Norton last Friday. Photo by Chris Maxfield.

Kevin the goes on say "...as promised the update from Tappins.  The ex-Weavaway coach is back, repainted and with a fleet number.  Interestingly Paul Tappin has not changed the registration to an Irish one but then given the fact it is on a 53 plate it is understandable. This is one of the "class of 70" vehicles and as the photo shows has 5 seats per row on a 3/2 split.  It is also an automatic rather than manual.

Mike Penn's photo page with much from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire as well as Buckinghamshire

Chris Lowe's Photo page - mainly North West UK

The Oxford Bus Museum