Spottings & Jottings

Issue nr. 3 - 7th September 2009

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Well here is issue nr 3 which may be delayed by a day as I am away this weekend.

Spottings

Noted on the M40 near junction 8 tonight heading north but on the Hard Shoulder, maybe mechanical problems were ex London General EVL 40 and 41.

Keith Hemmings writes sending a picture of one of the recently withdrawn Citaro 530Gs, MAL 7, which has been on trials this week with Wilts & Dorset.

I notice that Neoplan DD53BUZ, once with Buzz Lines and used to prove the type in Oxford City Centre 5 years ago prior to the delivery of the fleet now being replaced on the Oxford Tube, has now turned up with a Luton operator. It is painted all white.

Arriva

Carousel

The EVL class are now appearing on a very regular basis on the Heathrow A40 service. One, EVL7 has gained an electronic display and this feature will be applied to three more but one will retain standard London displays.

Citaro MB51 has returned from repaint and is now all red. It looks very smart indeed. Also now repainted is one of the ex Birmingham M A N s AF53GCY which looks extremely smart and even features nice dark red wheels. It returned on Friday 4th September and was immediately placed into service on Line 1 leaving the Eden Bus Station at 13:53.

Steve Burns advises that MB53 is now away being repainted and the Ray Stenning designed livery will be applied shortly, so keep your eyes open. I am told it is very striking!

Centrebus, Luton

From your Editor "On September 2nd I noticed that the 351 near Stansted is now operated by a Solo in full Centrebus livery replacing a Trustline Dart. Also another Dart was in Stansted in full Centrebus livery, freshly repainted."

Most buses from Trustybus now appear to have Centrebus, Leicester as the legal owner.

First

Noted today on the X30 Southend service from Stansted was Volvo B7RLE 66799. One presumes the rostered Volvo B9 coach was unavailable.

Mullaneys

I noted today a Wright bodied saloon on school service in Hemel. It was P812UUG.

National Express

One notes that other operators appear to be included in the renumbering of the coach fleet. i.e. SC3 has become C003. We now see that Veolia is included and some Irizar PBs have acquired C)?? numbers.

Oxford Bus

The Omnibus Society Presidential Weekend was  held in Oxford on 5/6 September and a new Enviro 400 nr 210 was used to transport quests. It is registered OS09 OXF. Philip Kirk, MD of Oxford Bus is this year's President.

Alexander noted a 5 road branded bus working an X3 service on 3rd September.

Gavin Francis reports seeing new Brookes Enviro 400 211 with registration OS09 OXF heading for Oxford Rail Station with Omnibus Society Presidential Weekend on its blind. Sadly his picture failed to capture the blind. Why is it that these blinds never come out when its really important?  Has anyone got a picture with the blind showing?

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire

The first of the new Stagecoach Gold Enviro 400 double decks were received this last week and are being prepared for service. They are 15533-15537 - VX59JCU/JCY/JCZ/JDF/JDJ and will make a colourful addition to the local bus scene. First views are provided by Gavin Francis. The bus in question is as yet unbranded.

These are really rather splendid buses as can be seen from the pictures above.

Jottings

Whites Coaches Solo OX03CCJ seen at Cumnor Terminus. Picture by George Green.