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Issue 286
(OBP-499)
Tuesday 14th April 2009
(next update week ending 25th April 2009)

Now in our 11th year

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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.

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 Company & fleet news – 14th April 2009
published 20th April 2009
Apologies for the delay which was caused by work patterns

It is most rewarding to receive the significant amount news and photographs which come across my desk each week and which help to make The OCBP what it has become, a well read, informative and excellent record of happenings bus wish through the Chilterns and Oxford. Although only in small print at the top of each issue, we are nearly at issue 500 since I took over from David Root with my first issue on 16th August 1998.

Here is what the Editorial said in that first issue.

A STOP PRESS Item is news of the arrival of six Volvo Olympians with Northern Counties Palatine II 68 seat coach seated double deck bodies for service 280 from Aylesbury to Oxford. These have now entered service and all six had been noted in Oxford by your co-editor by 22/08/98. They are 5156-5161 - S156-161KNK and are very fine looking buses indeed. These are the first Arriva liveried vehicles to be allocated to Aylesbury and a promotion took place in points along the route on Friday and Saturday last. A leaflet with details of the service also includes one FREE return trip voucher for passengers to sample the new buses. An original photo appears below for your interest.

This weekend has been, yet again, a warm and pleasant one in Oxford. The city was thronging with visitors and shoppers alike.

One of your editors of The Oxford Bus Page, David Root - indeed our founder ! - was at the helm of 642 on Saturday afternoon on 52 road. David is now a fully fledged driver the The Oxford Bus Company and judging by the smile on his face, enjoying it enormously.

At last I was able to get a further picture of one of the ex London Darts in service with Stagecoach Oxford. I can now bring you in service pictures of 712 on the Wantage road routes. 709, 710, 712 were on routes 30 and 31 on Saturday and once again 746 was on the 7B Wood Farm . 747 is now in the paintshop and should enter service shortly in white. I am advised that 746 will attend the Oxford Bus Museum Open Day tomorrow, 16th August, which will make an interesting visitor.

Lynx 302 is near completion of a major body overhaul in Oxford works. 302 has been fully repanelled and has received modification to its back end. The livery is changed with white down to waist line.

Stagecoach Oxford had expected the new Varios with Alexander ALX100 bodies during the week ending 15 August but this was not to be and as of 15th August none had arrived.

The remaining Oxford Bus Metroriders have all now been repainted with 777-83 all completed and looking very smart indeed. 779 is now back from Wycombe, but was displaying 331 Thame when noted, suggesting that the destination unit still contains Wycombe route data - this would explain why it seems to have been restricted to non-PCV use as a staff bus. The earlier batch 769-776 are now entering service with Chester City Transport and we understand 775 is now 275 with Chester.

Titans were in service again today, 15th, on the Park & Ride with 975 looking very smart indeed. 950 is back in service 20/08/98 after spending time in works for repairs following minor accident damage.

My goodness, how times have changed. Today (16th April) I saw 5161, now with digital destination displays, working the 261 into Oxford. It is now in plain interurban livery.

To read the whole page follow this link - http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/6995/archiveindex/160898.html

Well, on to the latest news and my apologies for the delay in publication.

Adam Green visited Milton Keynes recently and has sent a short report on his sightings plus a number of interesting pictures.

Adam Green writes "I went to Milton Keynes and Wolverton on Tuesday (two weeks ago Ed.)

I took a photo of 2181 in the Central Bus Station parked up in one of the bays and also got a photo of 2501 with a driver change taking place. I was pleased to get a photo of DAF 3445, one of the ex 724 greenflies, that was on route 150 from Aylesbury. A new X5 pulled up outside the rail station, 53605, which was going to Oxford

In Wolverton, where the old garage is, were 3104,3102,3514,2182,2306,2241,M713JUD,3119,5849 all in a sorry state and thereafter I made my way back to Milton Keynes. Here I took a photos of 2299,2452,L688CDD,2418,5116,5128 which used to be in Hemel, 2437,2287,2440,2439 2505 drove by the bus station back outside the rail station 53602 pulled up going to oxford than MK Metro 3530 came in on a Milton Keynes route 3730 was on the 4 route 3737 was also on a 4 route going to Wolverton."

Some of Adam's pictures are included below.


2181 in Milton Keynes Central Bus Station.  Adam Green.


DAF 3445 on the 150 and Solo 2501 with driver change, all mentioned above. Milton Keynes Central Bus Station.  Adam Green.


New X5 coach 53605 in Milton Keynes Central Bus Station.  Adam Green.


A selection of older MK Metro vehicles in Milton Keynes Central Bus Station.  Adam Green.


2452 by Milton Keynes Central Bus Station.  Adam Green.


2502 on route 2 passing Milton Keynes Central Bus Station.  Adam Green.


3530 in Milton Keynes Central Bus Station.  Adam Green.


Red livered Wrights bodied 3730 in Milton Keynes Central Bus Station.  Adam Green.


Purple livered 3737 in Milton Keynes Central Bus Station.  Adam Green.


Arriva Olympian 5128 has joined the MK fleet and is seen in Milton Keynes Central Bus Station.  Adam Green.


Wolverton, where the old garage, was host to a number of withdrawn buses.  Adam Green.

David Hillas writes "Re your latest Oxford and Chilterns Bus website page, I noticed recently the following buses parked together at Arriva's bus depot at Cressex, High Wycombe. They looked as if they were or about to be withdrawn. They were:

3115 (L315 HPP) Volvo B6-9.9M @ Northern Counties Paladin N40F

3131 (M711 OMJ)  ditto

3138 (L922 LJO) Volvo B6-9.9M @ Northern Counties Paladin B40F

3330 (M234 TBV) Volvo B10M-55 @ Alexander PS BC48F

5118 (G288 UMJ) Leyland Olympian ONCL10/1RZ @ Leyland B47/31F

5120 (G290 UMJ) ditto

5121 (G291 UMJ) ditto.

A few of them were accident or burnt-out vehicles, but in view of their ages, I don't think any of them will make a comeback, but we will have to wait and see."

I took the picture below last week at Cressex. All of the buses mentioned above can be seen in the picture plus a trainer. Ed.


Picture by Malcolm Crowe

Glenn Knight writes "Leyland Olympian F639 LMJ Ex-Arriva Shires and Arriva Southend is now with Burtons at Haverhill. Ex-Greenline 724 DAFs 3444 (R204VPU) and 3449 (R209VPU) have arrived at Luton for 69 & 70routes."

Glenn also sent some interesting pictures. Some of these were taken on Rail Replacement at Northwood on 10th April.


Seen in Leighton Buzzard 03/04/2009 Volvo "ARRIVA Bus of Future" LF02PVA 3890 .
This bus was last reported as being at Guildford with Arriva Southern Counties. Picture by Glenn Knight.

Rail Replacement at Northwood on 10th April.


3274 V274HBH GR, in London outer urban red and cream with advertising livery at Northwood on 10th April - Glenn Knight.


Scania - 3603 KE55FBY LN by Glenn Knight.


Volvo NCs used were 5137 N37JPP LN (not shown), 5142 N42JPP LN, 5143 N43JPP LN and 5140 N46JPP LN. Glenn Knight.


Enviro 400s - 5454 SN58EOA  HH, 5457 SN58EOD  HH, 5437 SN58EOJ  AY again by Glenn Knight.

Some further observations from readers were received and include comments from Nigel Peach saying "Some unusual workings today (Tues 7th April) at High Wycombe. Neither of the Versas were working their usual Orange Route 39 today. Instead the two Plaxton Pointer 2 Darts 3216/7 (S216/7SPP) were performing the duties. They nearly always run on the 353 (Berkhamsted - Slough). I wonder if the Versas were doing that run instead?

Meanwhile, red MPD Dart 3482 (W482 YGS) was on line 40, instead of one of the Solos."

Indeed recently the Solos have been missing on more than one occasion from Line 40 and Gavin Francis commented that when he took the bus from Stokenchurch to Wycombe and back Dart 3210 really struggled to get up Dashwood Hill on the A40, carrying a full load. It was down to less than 20 mph by the top of the hill!!!

Mike Chadwick also noted that he had seen in last couple of weeks on Arriva 656 (Watlington-Stokenchurch-Ibstone schools service) - 5151 and 5141 (N41JPP). The latter is thus a recent or temporary arrival at High Wycombe depot, he  presumes?

From your Editor. "On Monday I had to take my daughter to Luton Airport and chose the route along the Chilterns through Dunstable as a change from the 737 route. Various buses were seen and those of Arriva are shown below." 


Citaro 3920, one of two such buses inc 3919, which now have super rear ads for Friars Square shopping in Aylesbury. Seen in Wycombe. MC.


Volvo 3869 runs into Luton Airport on the 100 service from Stevenage. MC.


The only thing missing, I now notice, was an easyJet 737 or Airbus taking off in the background. I'll have to look out for that in the coming weeks. MC

Gavin Francis has been busy with his camera in London recording the changes on the Arriva/Green Line/easyJet services. Now here's a challenge. We had a picture of FIVE easyJet Mercs in Buckingham Palace Road in an issue last year, who can come up with all three new Van Hools plus Five Mercs in one shot in BPR?


Your starters for ten by Gavin Francis.


Revised rear end branding on the displaced 757 coaches, 4065 and 4066, now working the 797. Gavin Francis.
Gavin tells me he now has photos of another version which I will use in the next issue.

Mike Chadwick writes "I don't think that your pages have recorded that Carousel Primo RK07BNF has appeared in at least two episodes of EastEnders (although www.busesonscreen.net has published this momentous news!)

Thanks for that timely reminder from Mike. I have to confess that I do not watch EastEnders.


A picture of the yard in Wycombe with one of the recently acquired Hotel Hoppa buses.
This bus has not so far been seen in service.


Graham Anderson sent this nice shot of DAF 981 working Line 4 from High Wycombe.

Centrebus are taking over route H11 in Hemel Hempstead and i'm aware that a Scania possibly L72 EKG is coming down to be allocated on this from Bowers.

 

 


Glenn Knight caught up with a recent acquisition to the Centrebus fleet operating around Luton.
Luton 2nd April 2009 Scania N113 754, K104YTX with CentreBus on 10's.

City Sightseeing Oxford

Gavin Francis sent some pictures of the latest open top buses to join the Oxford fleet.


Richard Morgan sent this near side shot of 904 before it entered service.

Cliffs Coaches, High Wycombe

Gavin Francis took pictures of two of Cliffs latest arrivals, seen in London.


A tri-axle Volvo 9700 which does look very smart indeed.


I think this is the small coach I saw at last years NEC?


A very impressive shot of one of the recent Green Line coaches for the 702. Gavin Francis.

Steve Warwick writes from Wycombe depot saying "we have acquired a Sunsundegui and very nice it is too, YC02CHJ."


Picture by Steve Warwick.

You can see more on these coaches at the following link, http://www.sunsundegui.com/

M & M Coaches, High Wycombe

Steve Warwick writes "The anonymous white Plaxton YR52MDJ, pictured in the last issue, belongs to M&M Coaches of High Wycombe."

Motts Travel

I saw MB07BUS yet again replacing MA07BUS on the Oxford service again last week.

http://www.nationalexpress.com/

Northern Rock man is new Nat Ex Chairman

Northern Rock Non-Executive Director John Devaney has been appointed as the new Chairman of National Express Group PLC (NEG), the firm announced this morning (Thursday).  

Mr Devaney is also Chairman of Tersus Energy and National Air Traffic Systems. His appointment is subject to shareholder approval at a forthcoming AGM.

NEG Chief Executive Richard Bowker says: “We believe that John will bring extensive business and leadership experience to the Board, will advise and challenge executive management on strategy and operations and will make a significant contribution to relations with all stakeholders.”

Mr Bowker also thanked Tim Score for his “important contribution, leadership and commitment as Acting Chairman for the past three months.”

Mr Score took over after the previous NEG Chairman and Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross quit in the wake of a damaging shares scandal. He had failed to disclose that he had pledged the core of his stake in the ‘phone retailer as collateral to support struggling commercial property investments.

Milton Keynes Coachway update

Ian Brown writes "According to a news bulletin on BBC 3 Counties, the planned opening of the new Milton Keynes Coachway (in place of the old one at J14 M1) has been delayed from this April to April 2010. Reasons given are lack of funds etc  etc etc."


Steve Warwick made three contributions this week and I like the one above which shows your happy Editor doing what he likes best.
59213 is seen passing the Heyfordian depot on West Wycombe Road on 7th April.


Gavin Francis took this picture of Bruce's tri-axle with Scottish enhancements at Victoria on 6th April.


The lightweight Caetano demonstrator has now joined the Luckett's fleet and has also gained £1 branding. Gavin Francis.


One of Luckett's new Levantes seen on the seasonal 668 working to Bognor. Picture by Gavin Francis.


Things seem to have gone amiis with the destination of this Veolia Caetano Enigma seen in VCS Picture by Gavin Francis.


Ben Beaver took this picture of one of Trathens new tri-axles, on service 501, leaving Exeter Bus Station on April 3rd.


Glenn Knight
took this evocative shot of a Burtons Volvo en route to London on the 010 in Cambridge.

This issue has seen a welcome contribution of some pictures for the page from Gavin Francis and Graham Anderson.


Two of the current Park & ride fleet with OBC caught on camera by Graham Anderson.
For buses of some 10 years old, they do look very smart and I am told by one of my sources, exceptionally clean inside,
giving an appearance of a well cared for fleet.


One of the Volvo B10BLEs mainly found on 5 and 15 roads, also looking very smart for 10 year old buses. Graham Anderson.


Examples of three of the Citaro batches, 833 from batch two, 848 from batch three and always on 2 road, and 860 from batch four and mainly used on X3/X13 roads.
Pictures by Graham Anderson.

I am told that a new route has been registered in N&Ps being a route X2 Oxford-Didcot. I do not have any further details at present but this is a most interesting development. Maybe one of my readers can enlighten us more?


One of batch two, this time 830 which carries multi route branding, is seen on the 500 service to Water Eaton. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Late news.

21st April.

Keith Hemmings advises that ex Oxford 602 has just been repainted in blue and grey Damory livery.

 

Glenn Knight writes "The start of service 88 Luton - Hitchin (Priory School) sees the normal bus allocated to this service being Transbus Dart SN53LWR acquired from Dawson Rentals."


Photo by Glenn Knight of SN53LWR.

 

Glenn sent a number of pictures of the Redline fleet taken a couple of Sundays ago.


Volvo/Alexander H157XYU new to Grey Green for LRT, which then passed to Cedars Coaches and has since been resprayed into "school yellow" at Redline.
Picture by Glenn Knight.
For a picture of this bus when with Cedar follow this link:
http://raymond946.fotopic.net/p53427289.html

Alero YN04LXG now been resprayed into Redline Red livery from the old Waterider livery this will be used for H2s,H3s & H4s in Hemel and also 88's in Luton. Another Alero YN04LXF will be leaving the fleet shortly.


A8KRT used for crew shuttle. Picture by Glenn Knight.


Dart K576NHC used in Bletchley on 6's on Saturdays. Picture by Glenn Knight.


Volvo B7R X458KUT ex-Hill, Wolverhampton has been converted into 3+2 seating
Picture by Glenn Knight.


http://www.rhtransportservices.co.uk/

Richard Sharman sent a picture of a recent demonstrator used by RH and seen below on service 700.


DAF- Optare Spectra 801 looks very smart in this picture from Richard Sharman.


Here is a picture of the M A N 24-350 now with R.H. when it was with Wiltax (TGM) - picture by Gavin Francis.

Red Rose

A new Dart has joined this fleet, being an Enviro 200 B29F - KX09ACU.

Oxfordshire County Council Tender Results

The results from the Council’s recent retendering to commence on 31 May 2009. The changes, which involve Stagecoach, are summarised below:

Route 59 – new Sunday service (4 journeys as per Good Friday)

– new MF journey at 0729 from Steeple Aston to Banbury

– no change to 59A

– 59B to continue until Bicester review in Dec 2009 

Route 488 – only two journeys each way will serve Tadmarton Road and Wiggington to help simplify the timetable – 0900 from Cornish Road to run 10 minutes later for concessionary pass holders in Hook Norton

Route 500 – Gaps in Sunday timetable filled so hourly throughout

Route B4 – replaced by a new Sunday B1 & B2 service

Route B7 – will no longer be run by Stagecoach but moves with the B10 to Heyfordian.

From the same date the Sunday daytime B5 will revert to running every 30 minutes. 

Warwickshire County Council Tender Results 

These are the results from the County Council’s recent retendering to commence on 31 May 2009 shown where Stagecoach is involved.

Stagecoach in Warwickshire have won the contract to run routes 480 to Shipston and 510 to Farnborough replacing the operator Geoff Amos.

The 480 will be renumbered 50A and run through from Banbury to Stratford-upon-Avon via Shipston-on-Stour.

The 510 will be renumbered 277 with the first and last trip extended to provide a through journey onto route 77 to Leamington Spa.

Megarider Country and Megarider Gold arrangements will be confirmed closer to the date of commencement.

Johnsons retain the contract for the 269 and 270.

Pictures of SC vehicles received from Graham Anderson and Gavin Francis, taken in Oxford.


A nice shot of Scania 15443 taken in Oxford prior to a journey on the S5 Bicester route. Picture by Graham Anderson.


Not all the buses on the S5 are Scanias there still being some Tridents as shown by 18399 outside the Randolph hotel. Picture by Graham Anderson.


The new M A N 18-240s are now settling into work in Oxford and as there is a spare bus from the allocation on the 7A
one can be seen on the 7C on a quite regular basis. Picture by
Gavin Francis.


The Harwell IBC outstation allocation is now low floor M A N buses and variety was on offer on 28th March
when Gavin took these pictures including a 7 branded bus on the X30 service. Picture by
Gavin Francis.


Some of the 53 reg Darts have moved to Banbury for the 59 service. This is shown by 34467 taken in Oxford on 27th March.
Picture by
Gavin Francis.


On 27th March the regular new Volvo was not available for the X5 and one of the original coaches put in an appearance.
52436 is seen leaving Gloucester Green. Picture by
Gavin Francis.


Yesterday, 20th April, ex Virgin Rail VT99 coach 53274 was working an X5 diagram.
The loss of 53614 has left a gap in availability and one wonders just how many coaches are required for this intensive service?
In the last issue I pictured this coach at Luton Airport on the VT99.

Picture above by
Gavin Francis.

Glenn Knight writes "Visit to Northampton's UCOC Depot following photos were taken 11th April 2009":


Volvo 20217 with Alexander PS body branded for the X7 - Picture by Glenn Knight.


20202  Volvo B10M Alexander PS - Picture by Glenn Knight.


52434 Volvo B10M Plaxton - Training Livery & ex-livery  (before and after) - Picture by Glenn Knight.


Dart 32140 with taster lettering for the easy access buses coming to route 8. Picture by Glenn Knight.
These will be SC Oxford's 22920 and 22921, M A N 18.220s which by now should be in service at Northampton.


Dennis Dart 32004 with Alexander Dash bodywork.
Picture by Glenn Knight.


Bristol FLF 19953, part of the SC Heritage fleet and based at Northampton. Picture by Glenn Knight.

Oxford's buses - where are they now?


Martin White writes "Caught up with an ex Oxford Volvo B10M, 20007, in Dover."  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Manchester fleet allocation.

Manchester's P12 fleet card is available online for those interested: http://www.stagecoachbus.com/uploads/FleetlistP120809.pdf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From various notes received I can advise as follows:

The ex Oxford Vario at Coleford (42376) has now moved much closer to its old home, at Swindon for service 71. 

East Kent have just put the following up for disposal: 42371-5/7-82.

Nearer hone in Oxford ten of the new Enviro 300s are needed for service on the 7/7A and when the eleventh is available and not on check or service this bus is used on the 7C to Barton.

The X30 service enjoys the provision of an Oxford Tube coach for the 07:20 from Wantage. This service loads well, often over 60 passengers.


David Allen sent a few pictures taken last month of one of these workings in an around Wantage.
The coach involved was 50125 the final member of this 25 strong class now nearing their 5th birthday.


On their way into Oxford they pass under the railway bridge and Gavin Francis managed a picture recently.

Robert Williams noted another M A N/MCV Sterling in Reading yesterday, 20th April. He says it was AF53EUV and it was operating the 133. Robert said he almost mistook it for 501 the ex Oxford Dart. I understand it was new to deCourcey.


www.awaywithwoottens.com

From 30th April keep your eyes open for Olympian E227CFC which will be operating the 321 between Wycombe and Princes Risboro.

Following the appearance of sister buses 225 and 229 in Malta (it appears they may never operate there after all due to impending new regulations) Michael writes that he would like to know the present whereabouts of 228. Can anyone help?

http://www.unobus.info/index.html


Andrew Morgan sent this picture of the Hatfield depot taken in the February snows.

Andrew Morgan writes "On my local newspaper website (the paper is Welwyn Hatfield times) it is reported that a uno bus on route 603 caught fire at 3pm in the Bishop Rise area of Hatfield and it is good to report that no one was hurt. It looks to be 648 (R648VMJ) Wright Crusader/ Dennis Dart SLF which is route brand for route 636.

It was the bus that the previous day me and my Dad caught from Hatfield Business Park to the local of stop for me on the 603 and it sounded OK then?"


Glenn Knight provided a picture of the bus involved.

Also to mention is that the following uno buses had been withdrawn from service and are stored in a corner of the yard but I am not sure if one of them maybe put back in service to replace the burnt out bus? They are as follows:

144 (K434 OKH) Plaxton Pointer Dennis Dart

146 (M146 VVS) Wright Handybus Dennis Dart

148 (M148 VVS) Wright Handybus Dennis Dart

423 (N423 ENM) Marshal C37 Dennis Dart

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