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

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News Archive Pages from the "Oxford Bus Page"
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/6995/archiveindex/arcindex.html
I regret that the server used to store the pictures for many of these pages is no longer available.
I hope to restore the pictures at some time in the future.

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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 apologise for the delay in publishing this update which was due to a change in my working pattern this week.

The article on the X15 service provoked a lot of interest and further photographs and information has been received. It seems that this type of article is something you all enjoy and I hope to get more of this type in the coming months. Indeed this week Mike Penn has contributed with a UNO service - 636 - which has some odd facets.

Many of you also commented on how much you enjoyed Gary Seamarks' account of the 131 and 132 Oxford-Northampton services from the '80s and '90s.

This week sees further deliveries of Levante class coaches to National Express and I am told that Veoila in Birmingham is now receiving similar coaches with at least one unregistered example at the Birmingham depot.

Even more memories and photographs of the X15

The pictures sent in are included at the bottom of this article.

Ed Maun writes "In news page 243 there is more correspondence on service X15 with the suggestion that Reading Buses participated in its operation at some time. As far as I am aware Reading Buses never participated in the operation of the X15. Originally in the early 1980’s the X15 was operated jointly by Alder Valley and United Counties between Reading and Northampton. The Alder Valley workings were provided by High Wycombe depot – it seemed odd that they were not provided by Reading depot – I seem to remember that HW had lost some other work at the time so it kept the crews employed – and Reading were heavily involved in the expanding London Link services at that time. This was all in the days of NBC. However, by October 1986 with deregulation of stage services and the preparation of NBC for sell off, the X15 was operated by Alder Valley North and Aylesbury Bus (Luton & District). There were also some journeys via Wingrave Green which operated as service X14. The extension from MK to Northampton had also ceased. By January 1987 AVN had been rechristened as the Bee Line (Berks Bucks Bus Company). This situation pertained until October 1990 when the BL Wycombe depot and operations were sold to COMS to become Wycombe Bus. By 1995 Aylesbury Bus had become Aylesbury and the Vale through various bus industry take-overs.    

Up to this time the X15 (and X14) had been a Monday to Friday, Saturday and Sunday operation. However by July 1995 the X15 was truncated to a Monday to Saturday day time service with Aylesbury and the Vale as sole operator. The Reading to High Wycombe leg was covered by services 328/329 and the High Wycombe to Aylesbury leg by services 323/324 as far as Monday to Saturday day time services were concerned. A new evenings and Sunday service 325 was introduced between Reading and Milton Keynes which was jointly operated by Aylesbury the Vale, Wycombe Bus and Reading Buses.  This lasted until April 1998 when it ceased along with extensive changes to the council supported evenings and Sundays services due to financial pressures. Reading Buses had taken over Bee Line stage services in August 1992 and inherited most journeys on service 328 whilst Wycombe Bus ran the 329. Subsequently Arriva took Wycombe bus and hence the 329 at the end of 2000 and Reading Buses transferred the 328 to Arriva in 2002 which is the situation that pertains today except they have recently become the 850/800."

David Ive then writes "I have enjoyed the recent articles about the X15 on your site. In the time that I have lived in Princes Risborough it provided some interesting variety in terms of vehicles and liveries over the years. In the articles there is mention of the Sunday 325, which ran between Reading & MK instead of the X15. You may be interested in the attached photo of an Aylesbury Bus Olympian picking up passengers outside the George & Dragon in Princes Risborough High Street on a 325 journey to Reading. I seem to recall that this photo was taken when the vehicle was fairly new in the early 90’s.

You may like to check out my embryonic website on the link, below. No bus pictures on it yet, but they will appear eventually as I spend the dark winter evenings scanning slides!

After a bit of trawling through my Slide Records, I came up with the attached photos. I couldn’t find them at first because my memory told me that it was early 90’s when they ran, but, in fact, the photos were taken in April 1998. I believe this was shortly before the route was withdrawn.

 
The Reading Optare was taken in Princes Risborough and the X15 vehicle was taken at Askett.

I hope that they are both of use to you. If you ever want anything else, please let me know, as I have an large collection of pictures. Eventually a lot of them should find their way onto my website."

Best regards,  David Ive

Mike Penn also contributes saying "You have mentioned the Alder Valley Dennis Falcon (1001 - A101 DPB) several times in connection with your articles about the X15 route, so here are two more photos of it.

The first was taken in Brighton in May 1984 when it was fairly new.  It has Londonlink Aldershot to London branding and shows route 762 on the windscreen - I don't know if that was a normal express service or a Summer Sunday excursion."

The second was taken in Piccadilly, Manchester in September 1994 after its sale to Mayne's.  By then of course it had a new body following the disastrous fire.

I continue to be delighted by your response on this subject and hope the pictures bring back memories. One thing still missing are any pictures of Reading buses working through to Milton Keynes on the Sunday 325?

UNO route 636 with comments by Mike Penn

Mike Penn writes "I thought you might be interested in a little piece about Universitybus route 636.

Universitybus route 636 is an odd route in many respects.  It runs from Hatfield to Luton like the Centrebus (ex Sovereign) 366 though the routing is different.  Its normal terminal point in Luton is the bus station (in itself a rarity these days) although some journeys are extended to the Luton & Dunstable hospital.  Of these some run via Luton town centre (not the bus station) while others miss the town centre entirely and run via the M1 motorway between junctions 10 and 11.  The terminal point for these journeys is described in the timetable as Leagrave, Oakley Road opposite Electrolux Factory.  However this is incorrect as the Electrolux Factory (or what remains of it) is further up Oakley Road and on the other side.  There used to be a car park for Electrolux workers at this point but even this has now been replaced by a housing estate.  As far as the frequency is concerned it runs roughly hourly on Mondays to Fridays only although some of these journeys only run during the University term time.  Almost any of the fleet can appear on the route although one of the Wright bodied Dennis Darts has route branding for the 636.  The older step-entrance Darts with Wright and Marshall bodies which are still in the old white livery but with new-style Uno fleet names often appear too.  More recently two odd vehicles have arrived, probably dealer loans.  One is an ex Nottingham City Transport Wright bodied Scania L113CRL while the other is an SCC bodied Dart which was last operated by Trust Line."

Photographs:

Wright bodied Dennis Dart M146 VVS in John Street, Luton heading for the L & D hospital in September 2006. 
This particular working now misses out Luton Town centre.


Wright bodied Scania N525 XRR ex Nottingham in Church Street, Luton on its way back to Hatfield in October 2007.


Wright bodied Dennis Dart R648 VMJ in the current livery with route 636 branding in Castle Street, Luton
heading for Hatfield via Harpenden in October 2005.


SCC bodied Dennis Dart T421 LGP in Oakley Road, Leagrave starting its return journey to Hatfield via the L & D hospital in October 2007.
The housing estate visible was built on part of the Electrolux site.

I am indebted to Mike for this piece which is exactly what is needed, taking account of readers comments.

Route 74 between High Wycombe and Slough by your Editor

This route is worked by both Arriva and First Berkshire who compete for what seems to be not that many passengers. Whilst I am all for competition and the benefits this can bring, this is one route which seems not to warrant buses following each other as seen in the pictures below.

The service is scheduled from Slough at this point at 10:40 (First) and 10:43 (Arriva( but my pictures were taken at 10:36 and as far as I could see there was only one passenger on the Arriva double decker.

The timetable can be viewed at the following link : http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/travelinfo/Database_PDFs/74_High_wycombe_Beaconsfield_Slough2.pdf

Olympian 5118 was the Arriva contribution to the service last Monday morning.

The slightly earlier schedule from First last Monday was operated by recently acquired Citaro EC64038. MC

First Dart DMA 42656 in Overground branding on the 74 at Beaconsfield.

The ex Glasgow Olympians seem to have disappeared now and the First contribution is quite varied. Older Citaros, ALX200 bodied Darts  and other sundry vehicles all seem to put in an appearance.

All in all this is a rather interesting route which I think is worth more attention from an interested reader.

Concessionary travel from April 2008

As many of you will be aware from April 2008 holders of concessionary travel passes will be able to travel on local bus services throughout England. No longer will there be any restrictions such as that applied to Bucks County Council passes, where travel is restricted in Milton Keynes.

Indeed in some areas, like the County of Oxfordshire, such travel schemes are limited to individual districts, meaning that travel across the county is just not possible with one pass.

I notice that in some areas the present growth of concessionary travel has meant that due to the low reimbursement applied, services are being cut back. I would refer readers to the latest issue of Buses magazine where  Stagecoach Devon are making cuts which are fully explained.

The sites shown below give some idea as to what is going to happen from April next year.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/ 

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/answerstofaq/answerstocbtfaq?page=1#

http://www.itso.org.uk/content/newsletters/ITSONews-June2006.pdf 

http://www.lga.gov.uk/Briefing.asp?lsection=59&id=SX5868-A7848493&ccat=212 

I look forward to the possibility of travelling some long distances from next April using local bus services, something I have wanted to try for many years now. Those readers who don't know should realise by now that I am semi-retired and the holder of a BCC Bus Pass.

Coach & Bus Live follow up

Douglas Spencer writes "Further to your article about Coach & Bus Live 2007 I attach a photograph of RML2498 that I captured at Hopwood Park Services (on the M42) on the 30^th September 2007!"

Guided bus ways in Leeds by Marcus Lapthorn

Once upon a time Oxford planned a GTE guided bus way system but this seems now to be part of transport history in the city.

However Marcus Lapthorn, who was once involved in the Oxford scheme has visited Leeds and sent this report.

I visited Leeds on 11 October and attach a number of shots showing guided buses and the guideways upon which they run. This system is also in place on a number of routes in Bradford too. Both Arriva and First Bus have adapted buses running on the guideways. The buses are standard vehicles except for the 2 horizontal guide wheels that are attached to the front axle. The guide wheel engages with the raised concrete kerb and keeps the bus running on the guideway. This is the type of system that I worked on for about 2 years as General Manger of GTE for Oxford, until the County Council decide not to proceed with the scheme. If you should want more details of the scheme that was to be introduced into Oxford I can send you a brochure if you give me your address. 

These very stylish articulated buses are running on a route from Leeds to Pudsey. Apparently when they were first introduced the buses relied upon passengers being honest enough to purchase a ticket before boarding, but this did not work! They therefore dropped that system and introduced conductors instead! A two man crew on a single decker seems expensive but the route is successful and operates at a 10  minute frequency. Another 37 are apparently on order now for other routes in Leeds. The buses are equipped with CCTV and a 'direct' line to the Police. This is a partnership initiative involving bus operators and Metro Leeds.

Of course Leeds also has FTR using some futuristic Wright Streetcars and Marcus also sent a picture of one of these fine vehicles.

The 128 rides again

On Sunday October 20th the Amersham & District Motor Bus Society recreated the 128 service for its 30th birthday. Steve Bunce was on hand and besides ending us the pictures below Steve comments "Quite by chance I was in Ruislip High Street today (Saturday) and noticed coming towards me a Bristol LH. Not a usual site in a London suburb these days, so I took a quick snap of the bus which although registered WYL 137 turned out to be ex-LT BL49 - also known as OJD 49R or more recently ULO 524R. It was showing blinds for the old Hillingdon council route 128 which ceased many years ago and is now mostly covered by First's 331 out of Uxbridge garage. An hour later, a second BL appeared - this time BL95, an original 128 machine these days preserved in that livery. So another quick snap followed, and I attach them here for your information. I realise it is a little out of your area, but hopefully you will find it interesting enough to include in your page. Obviously it is some kind of anniversary of the route - start date / end date? I have no idea, but it was a real treat seeing these old buses, especially as BL95 was one of the buses I used to ride on to see my grandparents many years ago. I also attach a snap of BL49 when it was in for renovation at Ward Jones's yard at Cryers Hill in December 2005. As you can see, it looks very well these days."

The Amersham group have their own web site.

A light hearted look at bus advertising by Mike Sheppey

Mike Sheppey writes saying "Have you seen this photo? Unfortunate exhaust position!"

Changes to service in East Oxfordshire from 9th December

http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wps/portal/publicsite/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKL94039HcCSZnFO8WHOepHogtZIoR8PfJzU_WDgFKR5kAhY3Mf_aic1PTE5Er9YH1v_QD9gtzQiHJvR0cAhVVPFg!!/delta/base64xml/L0lJSk03dWlDU1lBIS9JTGpBQU15QUJFUkVSRUlrLzRGR2dkWW5LSjBGUm9YZnJDRUEhLzdfTV8zN0wvMjQ!?WCM_PORTLET=PC_7_M_37L_WCM&WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=http://apps.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Internet/Council+services/Roads+and+transport/Public+transport/Bus+services/RT+-+PT+-+Bus+Service+Review 

I look forward to pictures of the new operators in action at the earliest possible date.

Oxford Bus Museum Open Day - 13th October 2007

Richard Thomas writes "I have put together an album of my shots at Long Hanborough and Bladen from Sunday 14th. Link here: 

http://hertsmantransportbus.fotopic.net/c1389007.html

Richard has two web sites which may interest readers.

Transport Images

http://hertsmantransport.fotopic.net/

Scenic and People Images

http://artyone.fotopic.net/

More pictures taken on the day were provided by Richard Sharman.

Further pictures were received from Marcus Lapthorn.

Tutankhamun Trident in London

Peter Edgar writes "To promote the  forthcoming Tutankhamun Exhibition at the Dome O2,East London have their Trident 18212 running with an allover advertisement for the event."

Buses in cityscape and landscape

John Marsh contributes this week

Another angle on The Tube by John Marsh

A Stagecoach Volvo B7L in Lincoln - nice branding on the back.

Carousel's latest acquisition, an Olympian once new to the streets of Cambridge, F510NJE, works a school run near Chinnor last week.

Bus Models

James Smith writes "I can let your readers know that I have a few of the Creative Master, UKBUS 2015 Oxford Bus Plaxton President model left at a reduced price." 

It's been reduced to £20.50

I'm hoping to offer your readers a permanent discount in the very near future.

www.modelsmk.co.uk - Low cost Bus models

Malcolm Crowe - Thursday 25th October 2007

First of all I have attached photos of the new VDL Plaxton Centro`s B45F at Watford on routes W10 & 10.
They are YJ57 BWA/B/C/D/E 3401/2/3/4/5 also including a rear shot 18/10/2007.

3502 KE51 PTU Dennis Dart on the 46 17/10/2007

A weird working of Scania N703 EUR 3153 on the 550 18/10/2007.

 
19.10.2007 - 5170 B605 UUM Leyland Olympian was on 38 16.33 Luton - Dunstable & 17.45 Dunstable - Luton,

Glenn has attached a few photos of unusual destination blinds on the new Scania Wright Solars at Luton eg. 14 Luton & Round Green via Birchin Grove, DB1 Dunstable & Weatherby Circular & Special Contract.

Nigel Peach writes "Your page really does go from strength to strength. I have found the recent features about the X15 very interesting to read. 

Matt Robinson writes to advise "Here are some photos taken over the last ten days.
 
Dennis Dart 3102 (L200BUS) is another Dart cascaded from Watford garage following the arrival of the new VDLs. It has been working out of Leighton Buzzard, noted on their sole 70 working and also on the 61/150 interworkings.

Here it is on the 70 in Leighton Buzzard on Friday 12th October.

Last week's unfortunate accident on the Green Line 757 has seen a variety of vehicles filling in for the missing coach 4067 which I understand is still impounded by the police. Scania 3611 (KE55GWC) is one of a number of Scanias to appear on the route. However on Tuesday I was passed by what looks like a stand-in vehicle working the 755 commuter service. All I know is it's a white coach registered W234CDN carrying Green Line vinyls. I saw it late and was driving so didn't get a visual description. Hopefully somebody can give you a more helpful description as a Google search on the registration proved fruitless?

I caught up with red Dart 3482 in Wycombe bus station. The lighting there is pretty good for getting photos in poor natural light - I was on my way to Slough to visit friends at the time.

Olympian 5100 looks like it's had a fresh coat of paint. Here it is on the 150 in Leighton Buzzard.

Maybe Sunday is a different day but much to my surprise the 510, normally the haunt of Volvo B7RLE's suitably branded, sometimes does see
variety and last Sunday this Solo, 2467, turned up on a service around 08:30. MC.

I noticed that one of the 510 branded Volvos was working a 724 service on Tuesday.

Chris Maxfield and I worked a 737 service last week and came upon this trainer at Amersham.
Note the changes to the rear panel, with additional lights. MC


Volvo 4364 was on a 757 working seen at Airport Way last Friday

Carousel Bus, High Wycombe - http://www.carouselbuses.com/

One of the ex Stagecoach Olympians F511NJE on a schools working near Chinnor last Monday.

Centrebus

Something of a surprise this last week has been the arrival of three two axle Levantes for the Stansted fleet.
They are SC22, 23 and 24. That they bear no fleet number difference from the tri-axles is surprising.

The first two axle ones at Stansted are NXSC1 and 2.

Last of the present tri-axle batch SC21 is seen above.

On all the other tri-axle coaches with rear branding the route number screen has been left clear. SC3, the first tri-axle has not.

Levante line up at Stansted. The Oxford ones are the only ones to have such correct NEx logos on their destination scrolls.

Sometimes other operators park on one of the three bays allocated to National Express at Luton.
One can be sure this will happen when three services are due at once as seen above.
One wonders what Arriva would say if a National Express service parked up on the 757 loading bay?

The opportunity to take a service "on the road" if not always possible but is when  one is travelling passenger.
Above the 737 service is seen passing near Redbourn under the M1 last Friday. The coach is 59211.

The new livery is now predominant in Oxford and the white tops somehow look wrong now.

Ex Oxford Dart 405 is now single door and numbered 481 in the Birmingham fleet.

Volvo B10B 636 is one of the latest repaints into the new livery

908 is a recent arrival to the fleet, seen here at Queens Lane ready to work a 35 road service.

Coach nr 5 on an X90 working in Headington last Friday. I hope the man is not about to jump?

Another Dart, this time 408 at Magdalen Street East on a 6 road working.

RH Transport Services

Richard Sharman has sent details of the fleet and a new website which you can access:-  http://www.rhtransportservices.co.uk

Fleet numbers are now being applied.

Nr 406 pictured by Richard Sharman

In the 5xx series, W251DWT has gained fleet number 502 - picture by Richard Sharman

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

Bus services in Hertfordshire