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 151
(OBP-366)

Sunday 30th October 2005
next update week ending 11th November 2005

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

This week ended on a high or low note depending upon your point of view. Friday marked the end of Routemasters on the London 38 route and three of us sallied forth to Victoria for a day of photography and a few rides. I have included some pictures to mark the event which was well attended and after early morning drizzle the day turned out quite sunny.

Last day of Routemasters on the 38

The highlight for me was the appearance of a Bristol K6A originally owned by Hants and Dorset but loaned to London in the late '40s when new buses were at a premium and London was so very short. It was also nice to see ST922 making a run up Shaftsbury Avenue later in the day though not in public service. I do remember riding on this bus on the 100 route in the late '70s. I have tried to give a flavour of the day in the following photographs and hope you enjoy them.

       

       


The end of the 38

Changes to bus services in Oxfordshire

From the 11th of December a number of changes will be made to services in our area. These are detailed below. The operator and bus changes on some routes are interesting.

Local Link 22/23: Bicester Town services

Services 25/25A/25B: Oxford-Kirtlington-Upper Heyford/Chesterton-Bicester

Local Link 37: Bicester-Fringford-Hethe-Brackley

Service 81: Banbury-Fritwell-Somerton-Bicester

Service 82: Duns Tew-Bicester Friday shopper service

Service 83: Duns Tew-Oxford Wednesday shopper service

Charlton Services 94: Piddington/Blackthorn-Oxford morning peak/Wednesday shopper service

Charlton Services 94: Piddington/Blackthorn-Oxford Saturday shopper service

Kidlington Area

Services 3/3A: Kidlington local service and Kidlington-Yarnton-Begbroke

Service 7D: Oxford-Kidlington (Lyne Mead)-Kidlington Airport

Service 7D: Oxford-Kidlington (Lyne Mead)-Kidlington Airport

Stagecoach 20: Wootton and Glympton

Stagecoach 59A: Banbury-Duns Tew-Middle Barton-Oxford

Provides journeys via Middle Barton and Duns Tew as replacement for withdrawn Connection service as follows:

The Connection 159/259

Woodstock Wanderer 201/202/203/220/242


Swindon

An old friend wrote to me this week on the subject of Swindon. He is wondering about including Swindon news on this page and I am wondering what the views of my readers are?

He says "I note you often detail Stagecoach in Swindon operations , mainly commenting on the use of a coach on the 66. Were you aware of the Stagecoach In Swindon Vintage running day that took place on October 15th last ? Modern Buses on booked routes were replaced by Bristols of all types including RE FLF VR MW KSW and a couple of Leyland Nationals. A total of 23 vehicles in use running out as far as Andover. 

On Sunday 16th there was an open day at the new Stagecoach depot in Swindon.

Can I ask if it would not be a good idea to include Swindon on the page. Reading is covered on the page yet Swindon (Similar Distance as Reading or Wycombe to Oxford ) is not. Many readers may well have been interested in the Swindon Day. You would then have a uniform and square area in Oxford - Wycombe - Reading - Swindon. 

Maybe someone would be prepared to be a Swindon correspondent?"

Let me have your views please.

More on buses at the recent Oxford Bus Museum event

Richard Sharman writes "I also took a vehicle to the Oxford Bus Rally, Dart/Carlyle 529, G29TGW.

 

Another picture for you is our 688, seen in Gloucester Green whilst on route learning the X50 back in 1994.

Further news is Bridge Damaged Reading Buses Spectra 703 has been acquired by City Sightseeing and will enter the operational fleet when fully refurbed/sprayed etc."

Report from Reading by James Cusworth 

A Reading Buses`vehicle was de-roofed on Sunday 16th October at the low bridge in Laleham Road, Staines whilst on it’s way to Staines Station working a rail replacement service from Windsor. This has been identified on http://www.buszone.co.uk as Spectra 739 YG02FWC. This is the second bus to be de-roofed this year after Spectra 703 K703BBL was de-roofed in Loddon Bridge Road, Earley whilst working school service 83 on 19th July, and ex-Reading MCW Metrobus B148EDP was also de-roofed in July whilst operating for Red Route Buses, coincidentally also in Staines, though not at the same bridge.

The replacement for 703, Omnidekka 818 is due to enter service soon- Buses magazine reports that it already has which is not the case.

Inner Circle routes 14 and 15 were withdrawn from Monday 24th October due to the withdrawal of the subsidy from Reading Borough Council. Reading Buses introduced them commercially in October 2002 to replace routes which had previously been withdrawn due to driver shortages and create new links around town to hospitals, supermarkets and retail parks. They planned to withdraw them earlier this year but the council stepped in order to keep the services running but have now pulled out, presumably due to low usage.

Solos 101 and 102 had special branding applied for the 14/15 routes as shown by 102 on the 11th November 2002 soon after the introduction of the routes.

   

One of just two MetroRiders remaining at Reading, 629 on Tuesday 18th.

 

Metrobus 459 on Friday- one of the on-street ticket machines can be seen, similar to the ones in London, which sell a range of day passes and also tickets for NightTrack services.

 

728 and 472 on Friday.

 

812 outside The Oracle shopping centre on Friday.

Spectra 701 on Friday.

"Thoughts on bus stops in Oxford" a reply from Derek Winkfield

Derek Winkfield writes "Another *really* poorly-sited bus stop is the in-bound stop just within St Clements by the foot of Morrell Avenue.  Two lanes become one lane at this point without warning, and the traffic-island is forever being hit or forcing vehicles to come into conflict;  add to this buses stopped at the junction and it really becomes a nasty pinch point.  If there are two buses on the stop, the second one is usually forced to wait -- blocking the road -- behind it, unless the oncoming right-turn lane is empty.  The box junction is frequently ignored as a result of this problem.

When I drove buses that called at that stop, I stopped well forward, beyond the bus-stop flag and beyond the shelter.  There's a black gate there with a semi-circular top; I knew that if I lined my seat up with this, the rear doors would be clear of the shelter too.  Some other drivers I spoke to used the same marker, though many wouldn't have given it so much consideration!

No study of silly bus stops would be complete without a mention of the first stop in Girdlestone Road (outside the shops), Oxford-bound, on route 15. There's no bus in the world that could be driven onto it squarely:  quite apart from its siting, it is painted in a banana-shape! It really has to be seen to be believed!

On the other hand, there are certain bus stops which work really well from a driver's point of view. Springing to mind are the two outbound ones in Garden City, Kidlington, which are long, gradual lay-bys in a
wide road, and with the flag in just the right place. As long as you minded the mirror which would get very close to the shelter, you could ease out of the traffic stream at 30mph before braking smoothly to a stand inch-perfect with front and rear doors either side of the shelter. Then there was room and visibility for a good run-up into a gap in the traffic when pulling away."

Report from Luton by Mike Penn.

Further news from Luton is that "Two more Scanias for Arriva The Shires noted today (Saturday) are 3610/1 (KE 55 GWA/GWC).  3601-4/11 now have route branding for the 38 though 3602 and 3603 were on the 27 today.  A photo of 3616  (KE 55 CVL) appeared in this week's Luton Herald & Post showing its route 27 branding though I haven't seen this or any others with this branding myself yet. There were still at least three Tridents on the 38 today with one each also on the 9 and 12 - the latter is unusual as it is normally a single deck route."

More historical pictures by Ian White

This week we have two more very interesting pictures from Ian White who says "...have found you another Tube photo whilst going through my albums of pictures I took whilst working in Oxford in the 1980's. This one is a bit later than the others I think. The Oxford City Link is a bit earlier as Gloucester Green still looks pretty much intact. Do you know what happened to these City Link coaches?"


The first new Leyland Tiger, in fact the first "new" coach used the Oxford Tube was this Plaxton bodied example
D142PTT which is seen in a "building site style" Gloucester Green.


When quite new COMS 906, a Metroliner on the 190 service to London by the old south Midland cafe in Gloucester Green.

Following last week's pictures from Ian White, Martin Shaw writes "Re the historical pictures from Ian White and the picture of PYV 277 in particular. This vehicle was originally registered C128 KJO and reregistered PYV 277 in 9/86. Your comment about 'registered from South Midland registered vehicles' took me a while to work out! What you should have said was re-registered from ---- then it reads better. (A case of reading what you have typed perhaps, he said tongue in cheek!!) Anyway I can add further information as follows; 

In 7/86 South Midland Limited purchased two coaches from Martin (dealer), Middlewich, numbered 128/9 and registered C128/9 KJO, being originally ordered by Yelloway Motor Services, Rochdale (not Oxford-South Midland) and were Leyland Tigers with Plaxton C53F coachwork. They were all white with National Holidays name and stripes on the side panels and a large South Midland name over the top of the windscreen. As mentioned above 128 was reregistered

PYV 277 in 9/86 and 129 was reregistered LSV 670 in 12/86. Both passed to Devon General, Exeter 1/87, numbered 2233/4, and then to Thames Transit as numbers 10/1 still in white livery but with Oxford Tube names in 11/87. They were also altered to C51FT, the work carried out by Devon General. They did not receive Oxford Tube livery."

Route 505

Newman Morgan writes to say "I have just been listing some more of my timetable collections on eBay and I have come across a one-time route that would probably be more successful these days than it was back in the late 1980s. The route was the 505 Express, worked jointly by Oxford Bus Company and Luton & District on a 90 minute frequency between Oxford > Garden City > Bicester > Waddesdon > Aylesbury > Aston Clinton >Tring >Dunstable >Luton >Luton Airport. One vehicle supplied by OBC, one from Aylesbury and one from Luton. Sunday service was 2-hourly. With the upsurge in low cost air travel from Luton Airport and the increase in population in several of the places once served by the 505, a conveniently timed service pattern would surely make money.

Attached you should find scanned timetable of the Express 505. It's actually taken from a Luton & District timetable for the Wendover and Tring areas cover dated 24th July 1988."

A request for historical information from Paul Goodwin.

We have had a request for information from Beaconsfield and District Historical Society, for bus services in the Beaconsfield/Penn areas when the Railway came to Beaconsfield in 1906. Could you put the following request from the society for information on the Bus Page.

" I would like to know when a bus service started to run from Beaconsfield Station to Penn and Back, and when it ceased to run. If it started in 1906 were the buses horse drawn? Did they run from Beaconsfield old town and how often? Whereabouts in Penn did they stop? -Perhaps the Crown Inn. One of our photographs shows our station with the name "Beaconsfield for Penn" "

I believe that the society are trying to get a book together to celebrate the centenary of the railway, so any information or even photos would be appreciated

If you would not like to receive hundreds of e-mails in reply ...............!! I am happy for you to use my e-mail address on the site
pgoodwin@buckscc.gov.uk

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I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this page and look forward to your continued support in the future.

Malcolm Crowe - Sunday 30th October 2005

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

News of the local companies – 30th October 2005

I spent a few hours in Wycombe last Thursday and saw the 38 route branded Trident in town working the 372.

 
5432 last Thursday.


This Scania, working the 329 had a light blue panel repair job which looked a little odd.


The rules do say that when you have left the stand "that's it". These passengers trying to board a 326 in the HW bus station were out of luck.

Merc 2141 mentioned last week has not yet entered service and another "Bouncy Castle" may well have been withdrawn. A 31 branded Volvo above also worked a 329 last Thursday morning.

 

An unfortunate fire rendered the fire damaged bus of no further use and indeed the one below looks at the end of the road.
 It is seen in Aylesbury depot.

The first Sunday working on the 342 to Stokenchurch produced a Volvo B6 with electronic display. I didn't get the fleet number. It was however empty heading towards Wycombe around 10 30am.



Metrobus M703 has gained an advertising panel below the lower deck windows,

Perhaps the most surprising piece of news this week comes from Solent Blue Line. They advise that two Airline coaches have arrived on loan, being Volvos 70 and 71. Phil Stockley writes "Volvo B10M coaches R808 NUD and R809 NUD have today arrived on loan from Oxford Bus for use on Solent Shuttle."  http://www.solentblueline.com/timetables/sbltt/shuttle.htm

"The coaches are with us for an unspecified period, but will give us time to gauge passenger reaction.

We anticipate that there will be some understandable adverse reaction from our less mobile passengers, but hope that this will be outweighed by those who see the coaches as presenting a much nicer ambience for the journey.

Luckily, they are in Oxford's Airline livery which is uncannily similar to Solent Shuttle (albeit a slightly different shade of blue), so we only need to change some vinyls to make them look the part. There will also be a new Shuttle timetable from 20th November, with extra running time and a third vehicle inserted during the middle of the day to improve timekeeping, so at least one of 735 and 736 will continue to be in evidence most days, if only for one or two trips.

I understand that the Airline vinyls have been removed and that these coaches will enter service next Tuesday. (Pictures very welcome Ed.)

Phil goes on to say following our email exchanges "How appropriate that our discussion should have wandered on to Citaros, because one other piece of news for you is that we borrowed one of Oxford's today, to carry out tests on the approach road to our Hythe depot where we will be operating a batch of ten that we have on order for March 2006.

The vehicle concerned was X7 OXF (fleet no. 837 I think) and it also managed a brief detour to our main Eastleigh depot so that I could take it out for a spin - very impressive.  After my afternoon duty on Southampton FC Park & Ride with R808 NUD yesterday (Saturday), it has been a very Oxford-themed weekend for me.  Indeed, this place seems to be rapidly becoming Oxford-on-Solent!"


811 was on the 14 last Tuesday and one of this type seems to appear each day now on this route.


A interesting picture of the Oxford Bus Company stop at Debenhams, similar to those appearing throughout their network

MK Metro

A report from Matt Cooper says "I hope that you are well.  It's been a while since my last update, I've been involved in the establishment of MK Metro's Northampton sub-depot, its been a good experience if a bit exhausting!  We have 6 buses and 10 drivers here operating 4 routes at the moment.  I have attached a couple of pics of our operation's cabin, and vehicles.  Our fleet here will settle with 4 Caetano Dart SLF's and 2 Optare Solo's plus a spare vehicle of some description."

"In MK last week we entered into service 2 brand new Scania L94's with the striking Wright Solar body.  Numbered 81 & 82 the pair are painted in the orange version of the livery and branded for route 5.  I had a test drive on 82 before they entered service and are very pleasant to drive.  You the keen eyed will notice from the rear end shot that the reg. plates were initially put in the wrong place!  Both were corrected before entering service!  Makes you wonder what the person fitting them in the first place thought the box was for where they should have been fitted!  For plants maybe!"

  

Vehicle news from Richard Sharman advises that "Stagecoach Banbury now have there four Solo's- 2 for the B1/2 and 2 for the Chipping Norton 488. 47236-9 KX 55 RBV/Y/Z/RCF, these are the First new vehicles here since 1994 when the last new vehicle to Western Travel arrived, 307, L307 SKV, which went on to operate out of Oxford!"


Volvo 20812 works a 20 service last Tuesday


On the same day 20009 was on the 28 route.

The following information regarding night services comes from the Stagecoach web site.

Night Buses

Night Fares will be introduced on routes 27 and 100 after midnight completing the night bus network.

The first buses on which night fares apply (which will show "N" before the route number) will be:

N27

Oxford - Bicester

0100

N27

Bicester - Oxford

0025

N100

Oxford - Witney - Carterton

0015

Night fares across the rest of the network are also revised.


Megabus on loan to The Oxford Tube, nr 50046 works a London service diverted from the M40 through High Wycombe last Thursday.

The current allocation for the Megabus fleet has kindly been supplied by an official of Megabus.

Fleet

Vehicle

Vehicle Type

 

Home depot

No.

Reg.

 

Seats

 

13602

WLT416

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

82

Aberdeen

13638

F265LSA

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

82

Aberdeen

13640

G283YRJ

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

82

Aberdeen

13653

J925FPS

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

82

Aberdeen

50126

SV54 ELC

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Aberdeen

50127

SV54 ELH

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Aberdeen

50128

SV54ELJ

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Aberdeen

50129

SV54 ELO

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Aberdeen

50136

LX05BWL

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Aberdeen

50137

LX05BWM

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Aberdeen

50139

CN05FVU

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Aberdeen

50147

MX05BWL

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Aberdeen

13645

H51SKG

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Cheltenham

13648

J515WAX

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Cheltenham

13611

OSK784

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Chesterfield

13617

H445EGU

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Chesterfield

50145

YN05 WEC

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Chesterfield

50146

YN05 WEF

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Chesterfield

50150

YN05 WEK

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Chesterfield

13604

331HWD

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Cwmbran

13619

511OHU

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Cwmbran

13627

HIL8410

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Cwmbran

50133

CN05APV

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Cwmbran

50134

CN05APX

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Cwmbran

50135

CN05APY

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Cwmbran

50140

CN05FVV

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Cwmbran

50143

CN05FVW

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Cwmbran

50144

CN05FVX

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Cwmbran

50042

T42BBW

MAN 24.350/Jonckheere (TUBE)

68

Inverness

50048

T48BBW

MAN 24.350/Jonckheere (TUBE)

68

Inverness

50055

T55UBE

MAN 24.350/Jonckheere (TUBE)

68

Inverness

50058

T58BBW

MAN 24.350/Jonckheere (TUBE)

68

Inverness (Oxford)

13614

J166UNH

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Leamington

50141

KX05HVE

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Leamington

50142

KX05HVF

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Leamington

13606

J702HMY

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Leyton

13607

J703HMY

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Leyton

13608

J734HMY

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Leyton

13636

G128WGX

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Leyton

50138

LX05BWN

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Leyton

13616

G189YRJ

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Manchester

13623

H494LNA

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Manchester

50148

MX05BWN

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Manchester

50149

MX05BWO

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Manchester

13626

H41GBD

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Nuneaton

13618

H522FRP

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

82

Perth

13624

H987RKG

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

82

Perth

13649

H607LNA

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

82

Perth

50046

T46BBW

MAN 24.350/Jonckheere (TUBE)

68

Perth (Oxford)

50047

T47BBW

MAN 24.350/Jonckheere (TUBE)

68

Perth (Oxford)

50130

SV54 ELU

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Perth

50131

SV54 ELW

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Perth

50132

SV54 ELX

Neoplan Skyliner

91

Perth

13620

H723KDY

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Portsmouth

13621

H724KDY

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Portsmouth

13601

BIW4977

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Swindon

13609

J701HMY

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Walkergate

13630

H493LNA

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Walkergate

13633

G127WGX

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Walkergate

13613

J939MHC

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Winchester

13622

H725KDY

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Winchester

13634

H764KDY

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Winchester

13612

J938MHC

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Worthing

13635

H763KDY

Leyland Olympian/Alexander (HK)

86

Worthing

50046, 50047 and 50058 are on loan to Oxford for Tube services

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If you wish to be included on a mailing list where I will advise of any mid week news & when each News Page is posted
please let me know on malcolmhc@aol.com

PHOTO CORNER
If you have a digital camera and wish to submit photos for this page please send them to the me at 
malcolmhc@aol.com

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002


This was the scene at Oxpens coach Park last Saturday afternoon


These pictures were taken at Booker Air Park last Thursday.

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

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These are three most interesting sites which I do recommend

Bus Zone Logo (2421 bytes)

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

Links

Bus Services in Buckinghamshire

Bus services in Oxfordshire

Where are the Chilterns?

Visit this informative site through the link below.

back to home page
Map showing the Chilterns Hills beginning in Oxfordshire in the Thames Valley and stretching north-east through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire to Hitchin in Hertfordshire. The highest points are over 250m. There are various water courses running from the Chilterns to the South East.

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

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