General observations
Gordon Scott writes regarding happenings north of the border. He says "I had a trip to Alexander Dennis at Falkirk on November 11th with pictures shown below."
Stagecoach HA20 SN66VYJ Enviro 400 MMC on a test run.
SC South - Aldershot - 10764--SN66VYJ leaving ADL.
Also taken at Scania dealer Newbridge, near Edinburgh, Reading Buses
Lothian 811 SN56 AGO Volvo B7L Wright Gemini in Poppy
Scotland advert
Stagecoach Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC - SN66 WLZ
Also Dunfermline Bus Station Stagecoach Perth based 27123 - SL14 LTK Enviro 300
seen on X55 with Perth city route branding route 1 & 2.
Perth's 18008 - DBZ918 ex SF53BZA on the 16 to Dundee
on December 3rd by Gordon Scott.
Perth's 22572 - SP08DCY with Mega products advert
branding
Perth's 29019 - SP12DYV Enviro 350 Hybrid on Park &
Ride 301
Brand new 53813 YX66WOD
Glenrothes depot based on the X59 on December 19th by Gordon Scott.
54331 - YX66WNR
54332 - YX66WNS
54333 - YX66WNT
with route branding,
Pictures
taken last week of New Lothian Volvo B5TL Wright Gemini 3 on first day of New
Buses public viewing ten driven along Princess Street, Edinburgh where two were
displayed at Usher Hall Lothian Road to the public,
Lothian 445 - SJ66LPA seen at Regent Road Edinburgh
start of Bus convoy on December 13th by Gordon Scott.
Lothian 456 - SJ66LPX seen at Usher Hall Lothian Road
Edinburgh with red bow on December 13th by Gordon Scott.
NEx West Midlands 6831 leaves ADL Falkirk on November 21st by Paul Hawkins.
West Scotland's 54336 on the X76 leaves Glasgow on December 22nd by Paul
Hawkins.
Repainted and rebranded West Scotland's 50202 leraves Glasgow on an X76 working
on December 22nd by Paul Hawkins.
What a nice touch to add seasons greetings on the destination screen!!
COMS 500 is now on Traveline. The 500 to Woodstock is worked on a 90 minute turn
round with a 30 minute frequency, starting at Oxford Station, diverting into
Parkway and terminating at Woodstock market place.
Stagecoach 7 is also on Traveline. It starts in George St stopping on the main
road at parkway. So, avoiding the traffic lights, and terminates at Vermot
Drive.
The 500 requires one extra bus whilst the 7 requires three buses. I am told that
considerable delays can occur around Woodstock Market Place which is why
Stagecoach are continuing beyond the town. Also the 500 has the extra mileage to
the station but is limited stop.
I
was told that some buses would go into the airport but that does not appear to
be the case.
On Traveline S3 has several changes but the times
before and after are unchanged so cannot explain what is happening.
(Some mention has been made of the 500 going out to Vermot Drive to turn around as space in the centre of Woodstock. is limited. Some reversing maneouvres have been seen which are not too good! Ed)
Ralph goes on
Bus trips - Heyfordian
Chris C-M and I went around the Heyfordian network last week before withdrawal
this Friday. We went on the 13:00 and 14:30 from Oxford and both had 19
passengers at stages between Horspath and Wheatley. We then went on the 118
which had about 8 school girls. I asked how they would manage next week and most
indicated that their parents would take them to Barton and then take the bus.
The parents would therefore have no delays on the roads.
Queen Street
The plans to close Queen Street to buses is on hold. The county is now considering an experimental closure of Queen Street – but I thought it has been closed for the past 5 months anyway. It is due to open again this Saturday. I gather there is actually concern about the number of pedestrians coming out of Westgate pouring onto Queen Street. The plan to make a turning circle / layover at Worcester Street car park is also rejected by Nuffield College who own the land so a compulsory purchase order would be required.
874 has returned to Wycombe with 873/75 due to return very shortly. No vehicles
have been noted as going as a result with an indication that there will be
service frequency increases on one route. They will not apparently replace any
more Tempos, both of which are in use at Oxford. 801 was chosen as it is non LEZ
but can still enter Oxford as a non operating bus. R218HCD (training bus) is
parked at Wycombe at present.
TRIVIA
Carousel buses have their annual test at Arriva Wycombe location having a slot
every Wednesday. The actual test is by DVLA staff. The DVLA test sites have now
nearly all closed but use the facilities of PCV /HGV operators so saving the
cost of operating centre. Some years ago it was often a delay to have vehicles
tested but on the new system it is not difficult to have the tests. Carousel
have booked a bus for every bus each week for the next year. If they have a new
bus it is scheduled to be done on the date of the bus it replaces. Unlike a car
when you can book one month early, a bus can be done two months before expiry
and keep the same renewal date.
It
is easier to take the buses to Arriva than to COMS in Oxford. The Carousel
engineers have a good relationship with Arriva engineers.
I just managed to snatch this picture of their bus (I
assume they just have one) as it passed me in Deddington on 15 November -
no chance to frame it nicely! It is obviously not new, but I have no knowledge
of its past history.
Martin White
writes "Surrey
CC have released details of the changes to services from December following the
decision by Abellio Surrey to discontinue operating a number of the services.
One on interest is a new 715
route to be operated by Stagecoach, This will bring Stagecoach
into a new area of London, but also in Stagecoach corporate livery.....
715 - NEW SERVICE to be operated by Stagecoach between
Guildford and Kingston via Burpham, Burnt Common, Ripley,
Wisley, Cobham, Esher and Portsmouth Road, to replace service 515. On Mondays to
Saturdays, will run hourly until early evening, with last bus from Guildford at
1900 and from Kingston at 1925. On Sundays, 715 will run every 90 minutes
Guildford-Kingston and will divert between Esher and Winters Bridge via Lower
Green, Douglas Road, Ember Lane, Imber Court and Thames Ditton, to give those
areas a service on that day.
On Mondays to Saturdays an improved travel opportunity
is offered between Guildford and Kingston, with a more direct route and with
frequency restored to hourly.
Graham Low
writes "For
old times sake, a couple of views in High Wycombe in Thames Valley days - a
Bristol LWL6B/ECW B39R at the station in 1960 and a Bristol FLF6G/ECW H70F at
the bus station in March 1967.
Thames Valley days - D52 Bristol FLF6G-ECW H70F at
the bus station in March 1967 by Graham Low.
Thames Valley days - 252 a Bristol LWL6B-ECW B39R at
the station in 1960
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