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  

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

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

To see the pictures full size just click on the thumbnail

A note regarding photographs which show drivers faces.
Following one complaint from a bus driver in Oxford but considering the fact that the photographs are taken of the vehicle not any person,
I will blank out the face to avoid any discomfort to the individual concerned. If you are the person involved send me an email to have this action taken.
I am sure people will realise that to ask everyone in advance of publication, whose face may appear in a picture is wholly impractical in both time and practice.
I am sorry to have to mention such a matter but we now live in a world of human rights and political correctness which must be considered.

Editorial

I must first apologise for the lack of the News Page last weekend. This was due to two reasons, one being the fact that I was working on both Saturday and Sunday and second, the fact that I was rather tired to complete a page on my next day off. However this week, in spite of everything I have been able to publish a combi9ned page.

There has been quite a lot happening over the past two weeks, including some re-registrations, diversions due to roadworks and news of expected deliveries to one of our local operators.

I must record my appreciation to all those of you whop have made contributions both large and small. Thank you.

St Clements closed

Last week saw the start of more roadworks, this time those planned for The Plain and St Clements. This has meant the closure of the road from the junction towards Jeune Street and the resultant diversion of services which use that road. Services have been affected in different ways.

I would like to acknowledge the Oxford Bus Company web site in quoting their news release on what is happening.

Stagecoach have also posted information on how their services are affected.

Regarding other operators, local buses have followed the diversions outlined above whilst National Express has rerouted their 737 service via Headley Way, Marston Ferry Road, Banbury Road and St Giles inbound and in reverse outbound, for the duration of the abo0ve works. This has meant the suspension of the stops at Queens Lane and St. Clements for the next few weeks.

This has made for some interesting pictures and Gavin Francis has been busy with his camera.

As one can see from the pictures above a great deal of work is taking place but it will be very worthwhile when it is all completed. Those who have travelled into Oxford in recent months will have been aware of how rough the road surfaces have become.

Gavin took several pictures of buses using the Jeune Street diversion and in the case of Oxford Tube this meant some very tight turns.

I look forward to further photographs of diverted buses over the next few weeks.

Out of our area

Ben Morroll recently visited Glasgow and sent some pictures of coaches on various working which may be of interest to readers.

I must say I do think the old Tubes look very smart, especially since they are presently being withdrawn.

Motts and an old Tube

Hedley Shanks of Motts Travel writes "Thought you might like this photo with an Oxford connection. The coach in question was here for about three weeks during late June early July for air conditioning repairs.

It was en route to Sussex Coachlines from Volvo Coach Sales at Loughborough. We are main agents for Sutrak Air-cond, but these Oxford Tube MAN’s have a quite different set up, not Sutrak, but we sorted it after waiting to source spare parts."

Picture by Hedley Shanks of Motts

Legal lettering for the new owner - picture by Gavin Francis

Interestingly the coach appeared in Oxford on one occasion.

MK Metro again - a question?

I have read that Arriva-MK Metro are operating a National Express commuter service from Mk to the City using 07 registered Levantes. Has anyone got any further information and maybe pictures?

Reading update

John Marsh has sent some interesting pictures from Reading and Newbury.

Buses in the countryside by John Horsman

John writes "I live in Kingham and read your update every week. Very interesting and greatly appreciated it is too! 

If any of the attached are of interest, please feel free to publish them. I think it was December 2005 when Stagecoach took over the Woodstock to Charlbury section of route from Worth’s as the 20A

These were taken on 28^th June 2007.

 
Charlbury 20A

Near Combe 20A

Heading towards Stonesfield 20A

Charlbury 20A 

The 20A perhaps provides one of those few remaining opportunities to see double decks in truly rural surroundings!! - I wonder how long that opportunity will remain? It was fortunate that in December 2005 the 20A seemed to be a cost effective solution in providing a service over a section previously served by Worths. 

I am glad some of the pictures may be of some use and many thanks again for a site which I (and doubtless many others!) find invaluable."

Buses in cityscape and landscape

John Marsh sent an interesting shot taken on the south coast.


When the M40 is blocked or heavily congested the Oxford Tube and other coach services can be seen on the old A40.

Model News

Guy writes to send a picture of the latest offering on the model front related to Oxford.

Amersham & District Running day September 30th 2007 - a date for your diary

http://www.amershammotorbussociety.co.uk/ 

The final Amersham & District Running Day for 2007 is as follows: 

Sun 30 September 2007 - 19th Amersham Running Day based on Amersham but commemorating the 30th anniversary of the closure of HE Garage (30/09/1977) so there will be a reconstruction of certain routes in the High Wycombe area.

Malcolm Crowe - Sunday 12th August 2007

Matt Robinson sent a newsy report and seems to have resolved the problems with his camera. Matt writes "Sorry I've not been able to pen anything much this week, bus news has been rather thin on the ground. Coupled with that I was attending a wedding all day Saturday so I didn't even get to go out on the buses.

I wondered if you were aware that the Wycombe - Reading services 328/329 are imminently to be renumbered to 800/850? Route 317 to Maidenhead will become 37.

In Aylesbury route X15 to Milton Keynes via Leighton Buzzard is to be withdrawn in mid-September. Two new routes will replace the X15:Line 100 - Limited stop service which will serve Aylesbury - Bierton -
Wingrave - Wing then run direct (via the new Stoke Hammond bypass) to Bletchley and Milton Keynes.

Line 150 will operate along the current X15 route between Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard. Only peak journeys (rumoured to be 4 per day) will operate through to Milton Keynes, focusing on the Open University.

The Leighton Buzzard - Milton Keynes link will be maintained by the through journeys on route 70 from Luton & Dunstable - but operating via Linslade and Stoke Hammond instead of Heath & Reach. The decision by Arriva to alter these services has caused public outcry in Heath & Reach - where passengers will lose their hourly service. This article can be viewed here http://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/news?articleid=3071044 (note the left-hand drive Arriva bus pictured - if I'd have known I've got loads of Arriva bus pictures in Leighton Buzzard I could have sent in !!).

New bus stops have been going up around Luton over the last week in preparation for the changes in September. The previously redundant posts along Limbury Road now all have Arriva flags on, and route 9A showing. The bus stops along the modified 8 route have also been updated.

The timetable for the new 70 route (Luton Airport - Milton Keynes via Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard) has appeared on the Traveline Southeast web site
http://www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk/se/XSLT_TTB_REQUEST?language=en&command=direct&net=set&line=13070&sup=&project=y07&contentFilter=TIMINGPOINTS&outputFormat=0&itdLPxx_displayHeader=false

Note the last departure from MK is 20.20 Mondays to Saturdays. This compares favourably with the current times of 18.30 on the X66 and 20.00 on the X15 (18.50 on Saturdays). This route will be entirely single-deck operated as it will pass under the 13' Hitchin Road bridge on its way into Luton Station. 

When I stopped in Aylesbury on Saturday I saw Volvo Olympian 5145 (N45 JPP) laying over in the bus station. It has gained the interurban livery which is currently unbranded.

I managed to get this rather gloomy photo of this ex-Luton and Wycombe bus.

I also captured these two photos of Luton's 55-reg Scanias working different routes on a Saturday.

3604 on the 31 and 3608 on the 24 (it later worked the last X66 back from Milton Keynes and thankfully the destination problem it was showing in my photo earlier was resolved). For most of the day two 27-branded Scanias had been on the X66 (one of which was 3618). Volvo Olympian 5140 (N46 JPP) was on the 38 in their absence. These buses working other routes on Saturdays appears to have become more common in the last few weeks.

Mike Penn also sent a contribution for this week's page saying "Following a visit to Milton Keynes on Friday here are photographs of the three Arriva liveried buses currently running for MK Metro, 3104 (L400BUS)
3119 (M719 OMJ) and 3178 (P178 SRO).  3104 is ex Lucketts of Watford and is the twin of 3103 that you featured at High Wycombe last week.  I don't know which are loans and which are permanent acquisitions but 3119 has been at Milton Keynes since December and now has MK Metro legal lettering."

Gavin Francis writes "I see LOTS news for today says Arriva Wycombe should receive two new Optare Versas for 38/9 and two new solos for 40 later in the month."

James Smith also notes the repainting of 5145 at Aylesbury and he sent two nice pictures of Aylesbury based buses."

Thinking about the new Solos due for the 40, the Dart MPDs are still busy on the route. 3213 is seen passing through Studley Green on the A40.
It is also noticed that on a Tuesday morning a larger capacity bus is used on the 09:30 service to Thame where there is a market day.

Roger Spence sent a nice collection of pictures taken a few days ago. He says "Another batch for you to use etc. as you see fit. 

First, a few from Hemel last week.

27 July: Scania 3161 on the 500 

31 July: Speaking of confusing passengers - I think Aylesbury's Olympian 5102 was on route 500, despite the aging dot-matrix display showing "3 RABANS LANE"!  The paper in the windscreen probably does say '500', but it looked more like '600' to me 

3 August: This time the 500 is being worked by one of the more usual vehicles, Trident 5432 with appropriate branding 

Then on to Wycombe Depot, all taken today, 5 August.

Volvo 3841 and DAF 4429 

Dart 3363, not so long ago at Harlow, now apparently  on training duties

Gavin Francis caught up with 3127 in Frogmoor, High Wycombe.

Picture by Gavin Francis.

I caught up with 5153 back in service at High Wycombe at long last. I think these buses will be used on the 800/850 to Reading.

Heyfordian

John Hammond writes to say "Managed a better picture of the relief Dart which was working the 67 from Wantage to Swindon last week."

Pictures from various sources arrived on my desk last week. These were first of the Enviro 200 which has received local bus livery by Ed Webster.

and secondly of the one which has not so far received livery, this one by Gavin Francis.

Motts

Hedley Shanks writes "Another snippet of info is that we have sold M971 CVG, the old M1 bus, has been sold to Tangston & Tasker of Steeple Claydon on the 24^th July."

The new tri-axle Levantes went into service at mid day last Friday, well the first six did. I hope to get some in service pictures for the next issue.

Stephen Le Bras writes "The 3 axle Levantes have lost the "t" in their fleet number, becoming plain SC3,7 etc. A few more have appeared by yesterday- SC9 is FJ07DVP, I noted "DVR" which is 10, SC11 is FJ07BYV and 3 is FJ07DVH. It was not all new as some of the V continue as well as D304. 

SC11 -13 are FN07 BYV/W/X. All seen on the A6 today, Saturday."."

Picture by Gavin Francis.

I was delighted to receive pictures of ex London coaches from Ant Poulton which are now with Fountain coaches on the IOW. Ant writes "As promised I've managed to get some pics of SV trainer coach R809NUD, now reregistered as ODL447. These are courtesy and copyright of Gav Rowney who is an employee of SV, so can you make sure he gets full credit please. A little plug for his mostly SV Fotopic website - http://www.iwbuses.fotopic.net/ - probably wouldn't go amiss either!!"

Pictures by Gav Rowney.

Gavin Francis caught up with another one, this time with Damory, which was parked up in  Oxpens.

I understand that coach 17 has now gained training livery and is in service as a trainer.

As mentioned before the new coaches have regained their booked OXF registrations.
However somewhere along the way 83, which was CB has now gained CF  prefix letters.oxford on 95.2FM for up to date information.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

The company web site has been update regarding fleet details etc and these may be found at the following link.

http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/company4.shtml

Anthony Poulton sent these pictures of N E Tridents under preparation at Hants & Dorset Trim last week.

Ant writes "Snapped this freshly released TridentNK51 UCK poking out of Hants & Dorset Paint during the past week, only took the shot because it was so similar to SBL's Red Rocket livery, but having now looked on the O&CBP have realised its one for Oxford!!

Couple more shots at Barton Park of ex GANE Tridents freshly outshopped from H&D Paint and also freshly vinyled up. Guess these are already up in Oxford now as the shots were taken at about eight thirty this morning and both had gone when I left work at about half six tonight."

Red Rose, Aylesbury

Steve Bunce writes "Just in case you haven't received a comparative pair of pictures I have sent you two shots of FKJ, first as OV and then as OU. OV was first then it was changed to OU."

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

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

Chris Lowe's Photo page - mainly North West UK

John Marsh's pictures with a difference

The Oxford Bus Museum