The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford, Chilterns and as far east as Stansted Airport Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~  The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford, Chilterns and as far east as Stansted Airport Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford, Chilterns and as far east as Stansted Airport Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~

News Page
 News of the local companies

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

Nigel Peach writes "Dart MPD 3210 (R210GMJ) has reappeared - it was at Cressex on Saturday 7th Feb. This bus was impounded after a fatal accident in Desborough Road, High Wycombe and I don't think it has seen service since then. Sister 3208 came in to replace it - 3208 is still around - I saw it today. 

Arriva 2290 still wears MK Metro yellow but has been on staff shuttle services at Hemel for several weeks now.
Picture by Adam Green.

Adam also reports on several transfers in to Hemel in recent weeks.

plus Vario 2176 from Aylesbury.

This was a joint effort from Glenn Knight who took the picture using my camera of 2179 which is going to be the Tesco free bus for Hemel.

Roger Spence writes "The new Enviro 400s at Aylesbury have displaced a number of the old Olympians, but on 25 January five of those remaining were lined up nicely at the depot.  They were 5102 (G652UPP); 5099 (G649UPP); 5100 (G650UPP); 5101 (G651UPP) and 5097 (G647UPP).

Those that have left Aylesbury include 5830 (G230VWL), 5832 (G232VWL) and 5834 (G234VWL) which have been sold; 5116 (G286UMJ), 5117 (G287UMJ) and 5128 (H198GRO) which went to Milton Keynes and 5132 (H202GRO) which went to Wycombe.

The only 'all Leyland' Olympian left at Aylesbury is 5127 (H197GRO), and this hasn't prevented it doing the odd turn on the 500.

The two Dennis Lances, 3377/8 (M267/8VPU) have also been sold. (to Trustline I believe Ed.)

Seen at Hemel bus station on 11 February, 3271 (V271HBH) is one of the six DAF SB220s transferred in from Garston.  These vehicles now seem to be Hemel's preferred choice for the 500.

Also in service at Hemel on 11 February was MK Metro liveried Vario 2290 (R112DNV).  Perhaps slightly ironic given that several of Hemel's Vario buses were transferred to MK! (see picture above Ed.)

Finally, Hemel's Vario 2179 (R179VBM) has just been repainted into this blue and white livery (seen here on 12 February).

Again see another picture of this bus above with comment regarding Tesco. Ed.

Simon Hussey writes "I spent a couple of hours in Reading yesterday before heading into Basingstoke. Here are some of the unusual things I saw, in my opinion.

Arriva had Olympian 5110 in their 800 service to High Wycombe, perhaps to do with school traffic."

Finally the glamour of bus travel is seen here. the link for all the pictures is here:   http://simon-hussey.fotopic.net/c1652869.html

I also spent a pleasant few minutes in Wycombe on Tuesday and caught up with recent events Arrivawise.

The Citaros on Line 300 have now gained branding as seen below.

The real Time branding is interesting.

The ex Hemel Olympians still carry route 5&6 branding but see regular use on Wycombe's routes.
Here 5148 leaves on a 48 service to Great Missenden.

Glenn Knight travelled with me from Luton to Wycombe where he joined this A40 service to Heathrow.
Unusually it was operated by the Primo which normally operates the 27.

City Sightseeing Oxford

Gavin Francis and I wondered that with the poor weather recently, less capacity was needed on this work!!!!

Gavin Francis caught up with this First training vehicle which used to be on the Reading Rail Air link.

Transferred from Manchester where it was used at Oldham depot, this Volvo was on the33 Chelmsford service last week.

Strangely there is no record of this bus in the First handbook 2008 from BBF. It sees quite regular use at Luton on the rail service.

Seen together at Stansted this two group vehicles appeared to be on the same job.

Steve Warwick writes "Four Heyfordian re-registered vehicles for you info. 

Volvo B10M Jonckheere N802 NHS now B14 HTL

Volvo B10M Jonckheere N803 NHS now B16 HTL

Volvo B10M Jonckheere N808 NHS now B17 HTL

Volvo B10M Jonckheere N809 NHS now B15 HTL

and a couple of pictures attached.  Thought K118 BUD might be of interest."

Steve did not tell me about this bus which is ex Oxford Bus.

Martin White writes following comments in the last issue "with regards to Scania Levante FJ07TKD, this a never been with MK Metro at Milton Keynes but was new to Yeomans to replace W612MKY their former Plaxton Expressliner Volvo B10m.

Gavin Francis was on hand for a light departure at 14:10 for Stansted - 21st February

This last week or so provided some nice pictures of Oxford's vehicles hard at work around the city.

Trident 105 is seen on Thursday 19th February unusually working a 2 road service. This is normally the preserve of Citaros.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

Scania coach 40 seen loading at Headington en route to London on Tuesday 17th February - M Crowe.

Following the news on Monday evening that one could now get arrested for taking pictures of the police, I had kittens when I realised that these two officers were in my picture.
I did speak to them and they were fine so I am pleased to use this shot of 849 and the nice branding,
"stop clogging up Oxford" - I must say I do like the girl on the bus !!!

The R H fleet always looks very smart and well turned out. Here we see Solo 406 on a 600 working at Thornhill, 17th February MC.

Interior detail of 22769

Enviro comparison - the big and the not so big.

 
Oops, its the police again, however the constable was very nice about it and I was not arrested.
22938 with its new branding seen at Carfax.

Chris Maxfield sent these pictures of the work done on 22941 which is now away Banbury for repaint.

Robin Stevens writes "A few belated snow pictures for the bus page - one taken on Rose Hill on the morning of 5 Feb, the others taken in Cowley Centre the following morning. 

Having gone to the Rose Hill stop and been told nothing was running, I thought I'd try Cowley Centre before giving up and working from home - I counted seven Stagecoach vehicles parked up there, but an OBC 5 eventually showed up."

Indeed this was the morning services had been suspended but only for an hour or so. The road conditions were awful and it was not very safe at all for a few hours in the morning.

Stagecoach East.

Saturday, 14 February, 2009 saw reports received from several readers about a tragedy involving new coach 53614, working the 0850 service to Cambridge from Bedford. It was reported that a new Volvo/Plaxton coach on the X5 Cambridge had been severely damaged in a fatal RTA that morning in the Norse Rd area of Bedford, on the A428 towards Cambridge at 9am, this road had been closed for severe ice a few days back. A car which had collided with the coach then burst into flames and seemingly its driver became a fatality.

Reports said that all the passengers on the coach were evacuated through the rear emergency exit of the coach safely but that the fire had destroyed much of the car and the coach as well.

The coach was one of the new batch of X5 Volvos, nr 53614, which had only been in service for a few weeks.

53614 seen in Gloucester Green on the 1st February.

It would appear that damage to the coach was extensive but the driver must be praised for the exemplary way in which he evacuated his passengers. However ones sympathy must also lie with the occupant/occupants of the car who its seem were not so lucky.

Whilst the cause of the accident is not known here, it was at a time of awful road conditions during the period of ice and snow.

On a more pleasant note but still as a result of the bad weather Gavin Francis took pictures of three X5s in Gloucester Green, something of a first. Gavin suggest a competition to see if anyone can record more than three?

Of interest concerning ex Oxford buses the following have transferred from Manchester to Stagecoach South as noted by Martin White. Pictures of these buses in service with South would be much appreciated?

Monday 9th February at 1127 and the only coach for service appears to be an Oxford tube ready for departure to London.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

Glenn Knight writes "UNO Bus has received a 58-Reg Optare Tempo demonstrator" and Dave Stewart writes "It is YJ58 CFG, it's a white Tempo and at UNO for one week starting yesterday Tues 18th.  I am told that (so far at least) it has not been fitted with a ticket machine, which will preclude it from "normal" routes.  Thus - should be fixed on the University Park-and-Ride"

Indeed I saw this bus on Tuesday evening on the Park and Ride as I headed for Stansted out of the University bus station. Ed.

A night time shot of a Citaro at UH, Hatfield. M Crowe.