Oxford Chiltern Bus Page

Spottings & Jottings

Issue nr 57 - April 19th 2012

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Current archives from October 2002

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

 

Editorial

The April weather has been more like winter than April showers with quite a lot of heavy rain, such a change from the weather of only just over a week ago. Then we enjoyed unseasonably warm sunny days, ideal for photography.

The last week or so has seen a significant drop in bus group share prices which is of concern. One hopes that things will improve especially since travel by public transport, especially road is going to become more in demand as the price of fuel continues a seemingly never ending upward spiral.

I have a question which raise its head every time I drive through Oxford.

It is "Why do the traffic lights have such illogical sequences, especially at night time.

Even when there is nothing else in sight the lights go through a whole sequence causing delay and standing time?2

My logic says that in 2012, with all the technical advancement surely we can have a system of lights changing as required in the wee small hours.

The pedestrian lights in the high Street change even when there are no pedestrians in the night time causing vehicles to stand for what reason? - one can only wonder.

I would love some answers.

FREE TRAVEL FOR LONDON MARATHON COMPETITORS

·         Offer open to all participants in this major charity event

·         Services run from Oxford to London up to every 10 minute

·         The 32nd London Marathon takes place on 22 April 2012, and is the largest annual fundraising event on the planet – runners have raised over £500 

Oxford Tube confirmed today its continuing support of those who work so hard to complete the London Marathon each year by offering free travel for all participants.

The Oxford Tube service runs up to every 10 minutes between Oxford and Hillingdon, Shepherd’s Bush, Notting Hill Gate, Marble Arch and Victoria, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Carole Stevens, Oxford Tube Manager said “We are really pleased to be showing our support for the runners again this year. Also, the money that many of them raise for their chosen charities has never been so important, so we wanted to do our bit to make sure that the charities can benefit from every penny raised.” 

She continued, “Even if you are simply going to London to show your support, the Oxford Tube is a great way to get there.” 

Participants should simply show their official race number to the driver in order to travel. For everyone else, fares start from as little as £13 return, with up to two children travelling for free. 

For more information, visit www.oxfordtube.com or call 01865 772250.

Running days

Dates for your diary 

Amersham & District Motorbus Society


Nearly nine years ago and on 5 October 2003, RLH48 takes a happy group of enthusiasts on a run to Berkhamsted - Malcolm Crowe.

Running Days 2012

Sunday 20 May  SLOUGH based at Brunel Way adjoining new bus station and near railway station.

Sunday 24 June UXBRIDGE based at Chippendale Way, R/0 The Chimes Shopping Centre, as previously

Sunday 19 August HEMEL HEMPSTEAD based at bus station, Waterhouse Street

Sunday 7 October AMERSHAM based at car park near railway station 

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When readers take copies of pictures from the OCBP site 

 

Some of the contributors to this site have noticed that their pictures are appearing on e-bay sites selling such things.

 

Needless to say this is a theft of copyright and one which I deplore!

 

I would not wish to have to watermark photographs, thereby making them unsalable as such but if this practice continues I shall be left with no alternative. I am sure this would detract from the pleasure so many of you get from the OCBP.

 

May I please ask readers to do two things?

 

1/ If you see any photos on sale please let me know and where they are appearing.

 

2/ If you are someone who has copied and sold photos please desist as this is theft and I will have to take legal action against anyone found doing so.

 

The site is free to all readers and I pay a price to publish the pages which is not passed on.

 

Please respect those freedoms and I hope I may not have to mention this matter again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

The level of contribution to this page by readers, as ever, remains excellent! Thank you all. 

Malcolm Crowe - Editor - OCBP - April 19th 2012

Spottings

Observations and pictures

Steven Lowe writes "Here are some photographs I took yesterday of the coaches at the Wycombe V Carlisle match yesterday at Sands industrial estate."
 
 
 

Gavin Francis writes with several pictures.


All the way from Rumania and it looks like it!

A few pics from 100412

Luton and Stansted 10th and 13th April 2012

easybus, Centrebus and Terravision 


New Easybus


Easy Bus on route learning?


More easyBus including interior shots including the very limited luggage space.
Only 14 seats compared with 19 in the previous ones and that includes 2 by the driver!
I cannot believe you could get 14 cases in that rack!
Driver tells me he thinks they have bought 50 of them!

 
New Centrebus route.

   

   
New Terravision coaches.

Oxford and Stokenchurch pictures.

This Options coach was in BMW Car Park. As you can see it was the Oldham Athletic Football Team Coach.
 They were training there before playing the mighty Wycombe tomorrow. Very helpful driver. Posed it for me.
Tried to bribe him into getting lost on the way to the ground tomorrow by didn't get anywhere.

Penultimate Carousel in Stokenchurch.

Last Carousel operation from Stokenchurch.


Arriva's 3838 on 340. Arriva have now got Stokenchurch all to themselves!
 

Luke Braham writes "Today I went to Milton Keynes and saw Z&S of Aylesbury running an Enviro 200 with the registration OU12 CZV being used on route 33/33A but I went outside by The Food Centre to get a picture but there was a Dennis Dart running the service then. I will try to get a picture next time I go to Milton Keynes.

The Red Rose Enviro 300's are used on Milton Keynes Route 19 to Newton Leys. They was not used on the service today but Enviro 200 OU07 FKH and a Dennis Dart. But I have seen the new Enviro 300's on the service but just not today so no picture again, just my luck!" 

 Arriva logo

Peter Cabin writes "3827 P527YJO has been repainted into Inter Urban colours leaving just five darts remaining in the red route scheme.

I note that what was 3823 N523MJO has been taken out of service at Arriva Southern Counties and put into storage."

 
Arriva Citaros someway off route working the 280 in Oxford.
This usually happens on a Sunday when the deckers are used on rail replacement work.


A super rear which is now appearing on several Arriva buses.

Pictures by Gavin Francis.

 


Arriva 2438 showing Not in Service entering Wycombe bus station on April 11th by 110412 M Crowe.


Dear old Arriva, they just love paper blinds. 3177 is branded for the 4/5 in Hemel but must confuse passengers
who are used to the 4 being a Carousel service going to Chesham. Picture by M Crowe.


The competing services to Chesham are run by Arriva on the 52 and Carousel on the 4.


These Volvos, once the pride of Harlow and Stevenage are now quite at home in Wycombe. 3309 arrives from Reading on April 6th.


We other buses used most often on the Reading services are the Alexander bodied Volvos.
3457, a recent fire victim is now being returned to service alongside sister 3454 shown above.


As mentioned above there now only five red and cream Darts used the 33 route, one of which is 3826.


Arriva's 3861, looking somewhat battle scarred must be soon due for a repaint.


5141 was recently lent to Garston and has now returned to Wycombe as seen above on April 11th.

Above pictures by M Crowe.

Not unexpectedly Carousel, now under the wing of Oxford bus renumbered the fleet into the OBC series, following on from the Thames Travel fleet and its own. Details of the renumbering were kindly provided by the company.

Renumbering of fleet

From 1st April, the fleet was renumbered into the Oxford Bus Company sequences. 

This followed a similar exercise a short while ago with the Thames Travel fleet.

The new numbers have been applied in gold transfers behind the driver’s cab offside, alongside the front entrance door and low down at the offside on the rear boot.

415-417 (STL 9,10,11) AF53 GCX, GCY, GCZ  (MAN 14.220/ MCV Stirling)         

418-419 (EVO 12,15) AE59 AWH, AWJ  (MAN 14.240/ MCV Evolution)         

420-424 (ENV 16-20) RX60 DLY, DLZ,DME, DMF,FKF(MAN 14.240/ AD E200)

471-473 (AL 1,2,3) C1,C2,C3 WYC   (Irisbus Agoraline)

481 (DAF 981)  R981 FNW   (DAF SB220/ Plaxton Prestige) 

521 (DAF 54)    CB54 BUS   (DAF SB120/ Wright Cadet)

561-562 (DPL 423, 479) P423, P479 MLE  (Dart SLF/ Plaxton Pointer)  

751-753 (P 22,24,25)  YX07 HNO, YX07 HPJ, RK07 BNF  (Plaxton Primo)

871-872 (MB 51,53)    CB51, CB53 BUS  (M-B Citaro) 

873-875 (MBA 26,27,28)   AE61 EWO, EWP, EWR  (M-B OC500U/ MCV Evolution)

918-922 (EVL 4,5,6,7,8)   PN02 XBZ, XCA, XCK, XCS, XCT   (Volvo B7TL/ East Lancs)

923-924 (L 530,534)    G530, G534 VBB  (Leyland Olympian/ Northern Counties) 

925-927 (L 554,556,563)  H554, H556, H563 GKX  (Leyland Olympian/ Leyland) 

Several vehicles are not renumbered as they are likely to be disposed of fairly soon:

DMS 8 (R708 MEW),   DMS 23 (S523 KFL)  Dart SLF/Marshall

DPL 480 (P480 MLE)  Dart SLF/ Pointer

BL 21 (MP56 BUS)  BMC Hawk

DAF 976 (R976 FNW)  DAF SB220/ Plaxton Prestige

PVL 58,91,210,211 (W458, W491WGH, Y801, Y811 TGH) have retained their London numbers. 

Other vehicles not listed above are no longer in the fleet.
Richard Sharman visited High Wycombe and took a number of interesting pictures on April 7th.
 

A Mercedes/MCV, 875, arrives at the Eden on a late Evening A40 Service
 

Local branding has recently been removed from this Enviro, 421.
 

Enviro 423 showing the full branding plus new fleet number
 

Marshall Dart still sporting original fleet number on the 7th of April
 

Primo 752, sporting new tiny fleet number...and a Network West Midlands sticker!
 

Nice Slogan on full width rear destination on 873
 

MCV Stirling 415 at new depot
 

Enviro 424 sporting Go-Ahead vinyl
 

Plaxton/Agora 471 at new depot
 

Thames Valley liveried Olympian 926 still in use
 
The new depot
 

Ex London deckers at rest
 

Former W & D Tempo being prepared. I am told that more of these buses are expected from W&D.
The A & TV Circle report that 2501/2/3 are already with the company.
 

MCV's at rest inside new depot
 
(Please note all depot shots taken from depot fence)
All above pictures taken by Richard Sharman
 

Mike Bennett visits High Wycombe and Carousel

"I was in High Wycombe Bus Station for a short while on Saturday April 7th around lunchtime. Of the many photos I took, the most interesting are the ones of Carousel Buses, one of the recent additions to the Go Ahead fold.

Several buses were seen, and most have been renumbered to fall in line with the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel numbering schemes. Two of the three new Mercedes-Benz OC500U/MCV C124 RLE Evolutions presented themselves, and very smart they look. They carry new fleet numbers 873/4, with 875 as the third member of the group. These numbers follow 871/2, their own M-B Citaros, which in turn follow on from the OBC Citaros, the last of which is 870.

 

The Carousel MAN 14.220 / MCV Stirlings, and the MAN 14.240 / MCV Evolutions and MAN 14.240 / ADL Enviro200s, have new numbers starting at number 415 through to 424, following on from the Thames Travel MAN 14.220 / MCV Stirling and Evolutions, which end at 414.

Double deck buses, presumably all highbridge, follow the Thames Travel fleet numbers that finish at 917, an ex Go Ahead Brighton and Hove Trident / East Lancs, with 918 - 922, Volvo B7TL / East Lancs from London General.


Presumably the Marshall Capital bodied Dart SLF, DMS 23, still with the old fleet number, is due for early withdrawal, as similar DMS 8 and 13 have been sold to a dealer."


Enviro 200, 423 operates a 4 service to Chesham.


One wonders if the new owners will retain the colourful branding of the Rainbow routes?

All above pictures by Mike Bennett.


A depot view by M Crowe with soon to be replaced Darts of the DMS class.


Enviro 200, 430 arrives from Chesham.


The small VDL/Wrights 521, new to Carousel works the 35 route.


Mercedes 873 lays over between trips


Ex Go-Ahead London 921 leaves Wycombe bus station.


DAF 976, seemingly not long to be with the fleet work a last day service in Stokenchurch on 13th April. M Crowe.

Reported by The Thames Valley and Aldershot Interest Circle is the fact that four Olympians with NCME bodies are expected. These are R267/9/70/87 and come from Go – North East. They are in yellow at present and have not arrived at High Wycombe. Therefore this transfer may not be correct. 

Also reported is that Citaro MB52 went for scrap.

I note that from January 3rd earlier and later services were introduced on the 336 as 336X and operate direct, missing out Chorleywood Village or Rickmansworth High Street.

Late news and pictures - 19th April. 

The first Tempo appears to have entered service, 803 pictured below in Carousel livery with fleet number and legals. It was parked in Wycombe Bus Station this afternoon, 19th April.

 

Another picture taken this afternoon is off Volvo decker 918 working a 643 schools service to Stokenchurch and Radnage. I think I'm correct in saying that this is now the only service to Radnage. Obviously there is a morning inbound journey.

All above pictures by M Crowe on April 11th and 19th.

 


City Sightseeing

Grayline

Julian Wells sent two pictures of recent acquisitions to this fleet. Pictures of the coaches when operating wioth York Pullman can be seen by clicking the links below the picture titles.


Ex York Pullman 232 DB08YPB
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52890672@N05/5758859019/in/photostream


Ex York Pullman 279 YK10BUS
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21611052@N02/6072972646/in/photostream/

 

Wilf Lewis sent a nice picture of a recent repaint, a Dennis Dominator - East Lancs

 
Freshly painted and liveried - almost ready to go..........photographed on 28th March 2012.
Looks a whole lot better than it's previous "turquoise blue"........

 

Chassis Type:- Dennis Dominator
Chassis No:- DDA1031/1023
Body Type:- East Lancs
Body No:- EL A9708
Seating:- H47/29F
Regn No:- H804 AHA
Regn New:- 08 / 1990
Delivered New To:- Midland Red North 804


Heyfordian work the 108 and YJ11EJN is seen turning at Carfax on this service. Gavin Francis.

 


Two ex Tiger Line buses stored at Helmdon, awaiting onward sale. SIJ 395, and JIL2199. D Percy.

Hedley Shanks writes "I have just received some great photos of E153OMD, which we sold to Stuart Boxall of the Bromley Bus Preservation Society.
 
It was just about to make a one way journey to Barnsley when he rang out of the blue to see if we still had it and the rest is history. 
 
He said to use these photos as you wish but I think he has done a fine job as we can see when it made its' first appearance at the M & D rally at Detling on the 31st March."
 
 
  
 


Volvo 5814MT is seen on school duties passing through Stokenchurch on March 27th by Gavin Francis.

 


http://www.nationalexpress.com/

NX Shareholder summary might be of interest. Figures refer to UK Coach:

*Revenue from NX coaches was £259.1 million

*Profit was £34.9 million

*Profits up 9.1% on 2010

*Operating margin 13.5%

* 80% of coach ops outsourced

*Mileage increased by 1%

*Fuel costs reduced by 3%

*Customer satisfaction rose to 84% (2010 was 76%)

*Kings Ferry to provide police transportation to Met Police for Olympics

Unusually for 2012 a brand new Scania/Caetano Levante tri-axle YN12 CZJ has been noted in service with Bruce's Coaches. See this link.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jevons-Journeys/264491037129?sk=app_2309869772#!/photo.php?fbid=10150616725542130&set=a.10150236962737130.319540.264491037129&type=1&theater

David Allen also got a picture of the coach operating the 539 service through Oxford by Bruce's coaches.

The very latest news is that the company has been successful in gaining part-funding from the government for the purchase of a further 19 electric hybrid double deck buses.

Oxford bus have this time decided to buy Volvo chassis with Wright bodywork of similar style to those now delivered to Brighton & Hove. The 19 new buses will replace the 100 series Tridents which are now 14 years old.

The return to Wright's bodywork last favoured for the 800 series Volvos recently retired from the city fleet is notable.

The company's current fleet list is included on their web site at the following link:

http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/content/doc/cms/OBCfleetlist-310312.pdf

Fleet update - 31 March 2012

Renumbered : 81/82 to 51/52 and Re-liveried (3/12): 51 to Ashmolean Museum livery and 52 to Creation Theatre livery.
The above coaches can be seen on all express services.

83-99 to X90 livery

Withdrawn : 29-46

Sold : Trident 909 to PC Coaches, Lincoln.

A recent addition to the service fleet is this crew bus which is pictured in Gloucester Green by Dave Allen.

David Grimstone from Brighton and Hove writes that ex B&H Volvos R218 HCD and R225 HCD which are with Oxford bus as training vehicles, appear to have been re-reg ? 

Can anyone confirm this fact please?

William Devenish writes "Firstly please accept my thanks and a pat on the back for the sterling effort you do with the OCBP- I have been an avid reader since 2003! Please tell me you have a 10 year anniversary celebration planned later in the year?  

Anyway my main love is aviation and I often read the pages of Airliners.net in particular the trip reports section. Imagine my surprise when I see the following picture in a trip report by a British guy about his recent flight between Banda Ache (sadly of Tsunami fame) and Medan in Indonesia.  

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p207/shefgab/asia2012pt2/DSCF5590.jpg 

I could hardly believe my eyes and the best bit she still has Oxford Bus Company logos on the side of her! 

I have emailed the author of the report asking if you can share the picture on your site. Hopefully he will be so kind to grant permission. 

I do wonder how she has managed to get all the way out there? IIRC these buses (forgive me I am unsure of the model etc) used to operate to Wolvercote? 

Permission has been granted for the picture- guy is Gabrielchew (his username on airliners.net) he wants a link to the round up when you publish it!"

Several buses were donated after the Tsunami disaster and these included some buses from Oxford. The following link refers. Ed.

http://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/300105.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
Pictures of once branded Volvo for The Airline and now sporting an overall advertising livery
It is renumbered from 82 to 52 and is available for multi route use. Gavin Francis.

   
The refreshed Volvos are now self evident on the X90 service to and from London. Gavin Francis.


Once flagship of the Park & Ride fleet Trident 101 is seen in St Aldates on an X2 working by Gavin Francis.


Another super rear has appeared on the rear of Trident 115. Gavin Francis.


Hybrid 310 turns at Carfax on its way to Redbridge. Gavin Francis.

 

Bob Stanger writes sending images from Reading showing the new Wright produced Streetlites' that have entered service to replace most if not all of the Optare Solos in the fleet.

Streetlites shown are 153 on route 29 and 154 on route 19.

 

Red Rose

Edward Neal writes "I took this bus on a tour of Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley, Central Milton Keynes and Westcroft District Centre last Easter Monday. It was also out on Rt. 275 Oxford - High Wycombe on Tuesday the 10th."

     

   
Now the regular bus on the 275, this ex Abellio Dart/Alexander ALX200 seen also when in Abellio service.
Pictures by Gavin Francis.

Oxfordshire

Enviro 300 22762 is the latest repaint and looks very smart indeed as seen in the picture by Gavin Francis below. Note the larger fleet numbers now being used.

Richard Sharman writes "Banbury's E200's have been branded as follows- three for the S4 and four for the 500 with one remaining in corporate livery as a spare. This picture shows an example of the new 500 branding." (I remember driving this bus the day it was delivered from Alexanders. Ed.)

 


Alexander tells me that Stagecoach are using older M A N /Alexander ALX300 s on routes 8 and 9 in recent weeks.
Picture by Alexander.


ALX200 33650 has received this super rear ad. Gavin Francis


Scania gold 15761 works an S5 service in Oxford. Gavin Francis.

 

Midlands

Richard also notes that Johnsons have started to use the formerly Stagecoach Warwickshire operated Scania's after a period in store.

Further Scania K230UB / Alexander Dennis Enviro 300's for Northampton noted on delivery are KX12AKU / KX12AKV and KX12ANP.

South

Martin White writes "Had a trip out to Basingstoke last Saturday (14th April) and came across two of your former Dennis Darts now earning there keep in the town"

 
33816 and 33817 in Basingstoke by Martin White on April 14th.

Swindon

Marcus Lapthorn writes "Since the Gold d/d's were put into service on the Swindon to Oxford 66 route, loadings appear to have increased especially during peak hours. With the onset of the 'fuel crisis' loadings appear to have increased even more.

This is great news but there is a downside as well. The increased volume of passengers coupled with the fact that it takes longer to load and unload from a double decker than a single decker, has resulted in some journeys arriving at the terminals up to 10 minutes late! There is a 15 minute turn around time, but at the Oxford end of the route the driver may have no time for a break before returning to Swindon. At the Swindon end of the route this is less of a problem as there is always a crew change there. I suspect that if this continues the journey time allowance may have to be increased in due course.

So overall a great result from introducing 'luxury' double deckers so well done Stagecoach West. These new buses are also so much more reliable than the s/d MAN's they replaced!

The Stagecoach West 66 route between Swindon & Oxford enters the grounds of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham.
Buses both to and from Swindon arrive at the Academy at about the same time, creating a busy 5 minute period.
 
On Saturday 14 April the photos show both Oxford & Swindon bound buses leaving the Academy at 1538.

Dave Robinson writes "I said I would contact you about Abbey Travel, Selby, M.A.N. Jonckheere Monaco. It is T58 BBW.

We had Hunters, Daventry testing a Skyliner, a few weeks ago, but sadly no order. We only have two left in the yard now, as one went to Milton Keynes today, i'll let you know which."

On Monday to Friday Oxford Tube has two park-up coaches in Sammy's at Victoria. As we can see from the picture below major resurfacing work is taking place in Sammy's which is closed for some days now.

 

As a result the two coaches are now being parked up at Hillingdon as seen in the picture below from Dave Allen taken on April 16th.

 

Megabus

A significant development in the megabus.com  story started on April 16th when the first services left for Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Full details can be found on the company website and on a journey I checked the outward fare was £4.00 and the return £10.00. Quite a bargain!

http://uk.megabus.com/megabuscom.aspx

The first journey was worked by one of the ten Volvo B9R/Plaxton coaches allocated to these service, 53643 - KX61 GEY operating the 0900 to Paris. Gavin Francis was on hand to record the event at Victoria.

   
Note the different languages used on the sides.

Peter Dyer sent pictures of the first two evening departures to Paris and Amsterdam from VCS. Seen below are 53644 and 53636 at around 20.40 on 16th April 2012 prior to boarding. They both departed at 21.30 heading for Dover.

From Bob Stanger who writes "Rather a long time since I sent something to you, however, yesterday !6th April, I popped into Calcot Sainsbury's where you know all too well there is a drop off/pick up point for Nat/Ex and Megabus. To my surprise and pleasure I captured Stagecoach Gold 15523 operating the Megabus journey to Gloucester mid afternoon. A couple of images for you."

 

   
Astromega in force by Gavin Francis


Volvo 53029 leaves VCS for Liverpool by Gavin Francis.


Volvo tri-axle 54055 runs to Green Line to park up. Gavin Francis.


Volvo 53107 from the Rennies fleet works into London on a cross border Megabus service. Gavin Francis.


Bruce's Bova, 99BC, works the M20 service to Edinburgh on April 12th seen by Gavin Francis.

Alex Horwood writes "I have managed to find out about some tender wins and changes to services 

  • the 130 will extend to Wantage in place of the 36/X36, however I am unsure of how that will work.

  • the 114/115/116 will pass to Thames Travel from Heyfordian 

  • the 97, formerly 107 (my local route along with the 91) will return to Thames Travel 

  • the 700 will pass from RH to Thames Travel 

  • the 142 will also pass from go Goldline to Thames Travel 


Hybrid 900 works the 101 in Oxford. This bus is higher than Oxford's own batch. Gavin Francis.

Steve Gee writes "Seen this morning, 5th April, at approx. 10:20 between J8A & J9 of the M40 heading north, a convoy of four Leyland TRCT East Lancs vehicles of Tiger Line. All were running on trade plates so assume they were leaving the fleet & heading for a dealer somewhere. I can't identify them exactly as they were too close together and there was traffic blocking my view but I think one of the registrations ended in 1722, but I don't seem to have an up to date fleet list for them.

Can anyone help me out there, I'd be grateful.

There was also a plain white coach with them whose reg which I think ended in 106.

 

Jottings

Stagecoach launches European budget coach network and investigates cross-Channel sleepercoach service

16 Apr 2012

  • megabus.com routes now link UK with France, Belgium and Netherlands
  • Seats from £1 or €11 on state-of-the-art coaches with free wi-fi and toilets
  • Easy connections to and from locations in Scotland, England and Wales
  • Pledge to shake up “over-priced” European coach travel market
  • Work underway on double-decker sleepercoach concept vehicle

Transport group Stagecoach today launched a new network of low-cost coach services from the UK to Continental Europe – and revealed it was already investigating the potential for a cross-Channel sleepercoach.

The Group’s budget coach operator megabus.com today started running daytime and overnight coach services between its main hub in London and destinations in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Passengers can travel to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Boulogne on a new £2.5m fleet of state-of-the-art coaches equipped with free wi-fi and toilets. There is also a dedicated Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam service. An interchange at London Victoria Coach Station also offers through services to and from locations in Scotland, England and Wales.

And Stagecoach pledged to shake up the European coach market with a combination of high quality travel and low-cost prices, with seats from just £1 or €11. Passengers travelling on the cheapest tickets pay just 0.5p per mile (0.3c per km) to go from London to Paris, 0.7p per mile (0.4c per km) from London to Brussels and 0.5p per mile (0.3c per km) from London to Amsterdam2.

Sir Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said: "We launched megabus.com in Scotland nine years ago and it has already transformed inter-city travel in the UK and North America. With the rising cost of living, rocketing fuel prices and running a car becoming more and more expensive, everyone is looking to make their money go further.

"For too long, people in many parts of Europe have been paying too much for their coach travel. Our new network offers families, students and tourists great value fares and high-quality coaches. These services will deliver a long-overdue shake-up to the over-priced European coach travel market."

Bookings for the new services can be made through www.megabus.com and already many trips are sold out. French and Dutch language websites trading in Euros will be launched soon.

In the meantime, customers in France, Belgium and the Netherlands can book through a network of approved travel agents. Full details are available online at: http://uk.megabus.com/megabuscom.aspx. See below for details of European services and pick-up/departure points.

megabus.com, the award-winning budget travel operator, already covers around 60 locations in the UK and more than 70 major cities in the United States and Canada.

The low fares coach service runs in and out of the heart of major cities, avoiding extra transfers and waiting associated with air travel. Clear low-cost pricing, with no extra fees for luggage or airport taxes, contrasts with budget airlines criticised for pricey add-ons to basic fares.

Stagecoach also revealed today that it is investigating the potential for a sleeper coach service between the UK and Europe. The company is working in partnership with Belgium manufacturer Van Hool on a 15-metre concept vehicle, based on its Astromega double-decker coach.

Van Hool already manufactures double-decker coaches used on the Group’s megabus.com services in the UK and North America. Astromega double-decker coaches are also used on Stagecoach’s Oxford Tube, Europe’s most frequent express coach service running up to every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Current designs would see the sleepercoach fitted with 48-seats and tables for use during the daytime, which could be converted into 43 bunks on overnight services.

megabus.com already operates a sleepercoach service between Glasgow and London seven nights a week, using specially-refurbished single-deck articulated coaches.

Sir Brian added: “Our new routes to France, Belgium and the Netherlands have already been extremely popular. Based on our experience in the UK, we are also very excited about the potential for sleepercoach services across the Channel and look forward to continuing to develop our concept vehicle.”

megabus.com was launched in Scotland in 2003 and expanded to the United States in 2006. The popular service provides carries around 5 million passengers in the UK every year. More than 16 million customers have travelled with megabus.com in North America since the launch in April 2006 and the service has expanded rapidly over the past 12 months.

Visit www.megabus.com to book and find information about services, stops, schedules, arrival and departure times and fares.

Details of megabus.com European services:

London-Paris/Paris-London

London 0930 2130 Paris 2330 1130
Paris 1905 0730 London 0700 1900

London-Brussels-Amsterdam/Amsterdam-Brussels-London

London 0930 2130 Amsterdam 2135 0905
Brussels 1835 0600 Brussels 0040 1200
Amsterdam 2130 0855 London 0700 1900

Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam

Paris 2300 - 1115 -
Brussels 0400 0615 1600 1835
Amsterdam 0640 0855 1910 2130

Amsterdam-Brussels-Paris

Amsterdam 0905 1130 2135 2355
Brussels 1145 1410 0025 0235
Paris - 1910 - 0800

Pick-up and departure points for new megabus.com services in Europe

  • Amsterdam - Zeeburg park and ride coach park at Zuiderzeeweg.
  • Boulogne - Gare de Maritime, Place de la Republique, near the town centre.
  • Brussels - Rue du Cardinal Mercier by the central train station.
  • Paris - Porte Maillot coach park, next to Palais de Congres de Paris

 

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF STAGECOACH UK BUS TO RETIRE NEXT YEAR

· Les Warneford to be succeeded by Robert Montgomery from May 2013

· Robert Montgomery appointed Deputy UK Bus MD as part of succession planning


Stagecoach Group announced on 11 April 2012 that Les Warneford, Managing Director of its UK Bus division, is to retire next year.

Les Warneford, a former bus conductor and one of the UK bus industry's longest-serving managing directors, will step down from the post on 1 May 2013 when he will be succeeded by Robert Montgomery, currently Service Performance Director.

As part of the Group's succession planning, Robert Montgomery has been appointed Deputy Managing Director, Stagecoach UK Bus, effective 1 May 2012. He will work closely with Les Warneford over the next 12 months to ensure a smooth handover of responsibility.

Stagecoach is one of UK's biggest bus and coach operators, with around 2.5 million passengers travelling on the company's 7,700 buses every day. The award-winning company has around 25,000 employees across the UK.

The company's network stretches from south-west England to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and it includes major city bus operations in London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Hull, Manchester, Oxford, Sheffield and Cambridge.

Sir Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said: "Les has played a very significant role in Stagecoach's success. He has headed a division which has provided consistently strong operational delivery, the best value fares to customers, huge levels of investment and industry-leading financial performance, as well as an exceptional track-record of passenger growth.

"Robert has spent a decade with Stagecoach and has overseen the strong growth of our bus companies in the south of England, as well as expanding our megabus.com budget coach operation in the UK. I am confident he will build on these strong foundations. We also have a talented and experienced wider senior management team at our UK Bus division, and a strong network of regional bus companies who have the power and flexibility to run their businesses locally."

Robert Montgomery - whose first job in the industry was as a seasonal bus conductor in Paisley, Scotland - has nearly 40 years' experience of regulated and deregulated markets in the bus and coach sector.  

After completing a degree at the University of Glasgow in 1974, he spent two years as a graduate trainee with the National Bus Company based in Darlington. He then held various management roles in Newcastle, Whitley Bay and Wakefield before being appointed Area Manager Derbyshire with Trent Motor Traction in 1980. He then held senior management positions with Red Bus, North Devon; United Transport Buses; and South Yorkshire Transport.

Robert Montgomery is a former Managing Director of Dublin Bus and ex- Director (Scotland) with First Group plc. He has also worked as a freelance consultant on behalf of the World Bank and been a non-executive Director of GM Buses (South) Limited. He has been Stagecoach UK Bus Service Performance Director since 2002.

The other members of the UK Bus senior management team are: Colin Brown, Finance Director; Robert Andrew, Regional Director (North), and Sam Greer, Regional Director (Scotland).

Les Warneford is an Exeter University graduate. During his career, he has been a bus conductor, driver, clerk, traffic officer, traffic superintendent, and operations director in Bradford, Leicester, Grimsby and Staffordshire.

In 1990, he returned to Grimsby as Managing Director of Grimsby Cleethorpes Transport which was acquired by Stagecoach in 1993. Under Stagecoach, he became General Manager Warwickshire (1994), Managing Director Cumbria (1994), Managing Director Manchester (1996), Regional Director Midlands and North West (1998) before being appointed UK Bus Managing Director in 2000. He has three adult daughters and lives with his wife, Aileen, in Buxton, Derbyshire. 

Scania to launch UK gas bus 

Following significant success in a number of Swedish cities and other locations around the world, Scania (Great Britain) Limited in conjunction with Alexander Dennis is to launch a gas bus into the UK.  

It follows MAN’s entry into the UK gas bus market – which has seen it win orders for 21 buses from Arriva – part funded by the Green Bus Fund Round 3 – this week.

Scania will supply its KUB chassis and high-pressure lightweight composite tanks to ADL for fitting an adapted Enviro300 43-seat, 12.2-metre body. The bus will be available via both Scania and ADL. 

The bus, with Scania's 270hp EEV 9.3-litre five-cylinder energy-efficient lean-burn gas engine, with no need for exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) can operate on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or biogas.  

The unit is based on the same platform as Scania's modular-build 9.3-litre diesel engine, which limits the number of new components required for the gas chassis to around 40 items. 

Coach ban on M4 in London 29th March 

A weight restriction has just been introduced on the M4 in west London by the Highways Agency and, it says “will remain in place until further notice.” 

It is between junctions 1-3 westbound and junctions 3-2 eastbound. 

Vehicles weighing more than 17 tonnes will be directed to follow a signed diversion route between these junctions via the A312 and the A4.

The Highways Agency says that the restriction is a “precautionary measure,” after a scheduled inspection on the Boston Manor viaduct, just west of junction 2, identified a “possible need for maintenance work.”

The restriction is “not expected to increase journey times on the M4” says the Highways Agency, but warns that drivers on the A4 and the A312 diversionary route “are advised to keep up to date with traffic conditions and allow extra time for their journeys if necessary.”

M4 weight restriction toughened 30th March

Hard on the heels of yesterday afternoon’s decision to ban vehicles over 17 tonnes on the M4 in West London; overnight the Highways Agency reviewed its position and toughened the ban to all vehicles over 7.5 tonnes.

The emergency ban comes after an inspection of Boston Manor viaduct, just west of junction 2, identified a “possible need for maintenance work.” No date has been set for lifting the ban.

A signed diversion is via the A312 and the A4, which is expected to be very busy, lengthening journeys, especially at peak times. 

Blackpool 2012 by Geoff Cunliffe

Geoff writes to update on matters concerning the new trams in Blackpool. 

"I have managed to get hold of a copy of the Blackpool tram timetable which is in their latest timetables booklet although not on their website. I have managed to scan it on my wind-up laptop (isn't XP slow?) for those of you who, like me, enjoy playing with timetables.

It looks fairly straightforward, but I cannot quite work out how the 09NS35 actually gets to Fleetwood, and that little early morning section is not quite as simple as it looks methinks.

There is also the page from the booklet referring to the use of the heritage trams. I guess they will be for sale next!

 

I understand the trams will run a more intensive service (a) as summer approaches, and (b) when they have got all the fleet. I think we are up to number 11 in deliveries to date. 

There is an item about the new Blackpool trams on the BBC News web page at:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-17594465

There is also a slightly speeded up cab ride from Starr Gate to Talbot Square at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-17585627

As you may know, there is a VIP trip today with “full” service starting tomorrow. Wonder why they wanted 16 new trams when their PVR seems to be six? Especially when they have the a handful of balloons and the odd other car to supplement the service in addition to the heritage fleet. 

4 Apr 

Today’s reports of the first public day of tram operation, marred when the first one derailed at Fleetwood at 5.55am this morning! Studying the VT footage, it took place at the first corner after leaving The Ferry, i.e. where the track turns right from Queen’s Terrace to run up the right hand side of Pharos Street past the lighthouse. As some locals said when interviewed, the ‘proper’ tram's managed not to be derailed by sand for 126 years but it happened to the new tram on the first day!

After the expenditure of £100m and four years of effort, Blackpool has its new SuperTram system. It replaces that which has served the town for 126 years and which had, at its peak, about 140 trams.  

It hasn’t always gone terribly well. The first plan was thrown out by the Government as being too extravagant as it proposed a transport system extending far beyond Blackpool’s boundaries and taking over some rail routes which still carry trains. However, a watered down system, basically just replacing the last remaining line along the Promenade to Fleetwood, was approved.  

There were many arguments about the location of a new depot for the system, where logic appeared to be ignored and the Planning Permission decision to position it at Starr Gate was called-in by Government, although quickly accepted. 

The choice of new trams was not straightforward, with many supporters opting for the TramPower unit which had been on test in the town for some years during its development but which rather ruled itself out by catching fire on the Promenade whilst on a test run. The larger, costlier, more complex German-built Bombardier Flexity-2 units were eventually chosen. 

We got a first sight of them last September as the first of the sixteen was publicly launched in a show punctuated with clouds of dry ice and scantily clad ladies miming to violin music. Since then, we have had tantalizing glimpses of the new cars on test and on training duties as twelve of the sixteen have now been delivered. 

As the launch day approached, a timetable was published which gave a basic twenty minute service during the day, although we had been promised a ten minute one. However, those of us who enjoy reading timetables realized all was not well, and a revised one was issued even before the service started! The first tram out is 5am, and the last one doesn’t get back to the depot until 1.15am. Not for several years have we seen such a long operating day which, it is hoped, will attract commuters and late night revelers as well as the normal daytime passengers. 

On Monday 2nd April, a full day’s ghost running took place, testing the system albeit without passengers. On Tuesday 3rd. April, a ceremonial tram carried dignitaries and some competition winners along the line to Fleetwood, pausing for speeches at Cleveleys. 

Wednesday 4th. April saw the first car in passenger service, numbered 006, depart from Starr Gate at 5am where some forty enthusiasts (I thought there would have been more) had queued for the privilege of riding on the first journey. It arrived at Fleetwood about an hour later where it promptly derailed due to sand in the tracks causing the service to be cut back to Ash Street until about 10am! As the day progressed, there were some heavy loadings, leading to the timetable becoming a fiction. A friend waited thirty-five minutes for a southbound tram at Cleveleys,- and this on a theoretical twenty minute headway. He said that whilst the new trams are nice, you could have been riding on one anywhere in Europe whereas there was nothing like a proper Blackpool tram. 

Martin Roberts, General Manager of Blackpool Transport Services, was quizzed by the television teams. He admitted they could have done without the derailment, and added that much of this season would be a learning curve for them. Given that trams have operated in Blackpool for 126 years, and have experienced all the political, social, economic, technical and environmental changes of that period, it makes one wonder what there is still to learn. 

Thursday 5th. April brought another day and another set of problems. Modified Balloon 713, now an overall advertiser for the Houndshill Shopping Centre, appeared and was meant to run from Starr Gate to Fleetwood alongside the Flexities. Due to problems with its doors, it only ran as far as Norbreck, which created massive problems and necessitated other trams turning short. It eventually limped to the Little Bispham turning loop. 

There have been the funnies about the upgrade too. It seems clear that the emphasis has been to provide a modern infrastructure for the basic Star Gate to Fleetwood Ferry principal route and many of the quirks beloved by enthusiasts have gone. Now missing is the crossover at Harrowside, a little used but fascinating short-working reversing point; the double track turning loops at the Pleasure Beach and the single track one at Little Bispham have both had their layouts simplified and are now offer fewer permutations for turning and relocating cars. The three track section by The Tower has gone and Talbot Square has reduced parking and reversing facilities, with the third track appearing to be a loading point for the heritage tram tours. It does, however, have points already installed for an extension up Talbot Road to link to North Station (BR) and the site of the proposed new shopping centre, Talbot Gateway, of which more later. And yet, the crossover in Fleetwood along North Albert Street has been retained - whenever did a car last turn there? Probably the same time as one did at Harrowside!  

Not all the updates went well at first either. How many of the tales are apocryphal is not known but it is said that sections of track in Fleetwood had to be relayed because they were significantly too high. The layout at Bispham had to be redone to provide greater space on the third track for short working cars. Part of the tramroad along the north shore had to be redone because it was more of a switchback when relayed than it was initially. Sections of track were laid too closely together given the new cars are wider than the older ones, and there have been persistent tales of clearance problems and the flags between the tracks being dug up and reset. Then there has been the contentious closing of the crossing at Lauderdale Avenue in Cleveleys, and what about the closure of the Permanent Way yard at Thornton Gate? Some of the access ramps to the loading platforms have had to be rebuilt because they were too steep. The early installation of points at Foxhall Square to access the proposed new depot at Blundell Street has been overtaken by events but at least they can be lifted and used elsewhere. 

During the speeches at Cleveleys on preview day, the Minister of Transport, Norman Baker, said he was very keen to support extensions to light rail systems having already authorized them in Nottingham and Manchester. This was taken as a positive reference to the proposed extension from Talbot Square to North Station and the Talbot Gateway development, returning trams to Talbot Road for the first time since the 1930s. He even went so far as to say that extending tram routes linking all major transport sites on the Fylde coast, could be on the cards. Tim Ashton, Lancashire County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport went so far as to say “we are going to have an electrified rail line to North Station with new trams”. We’ll see.

 

Looking forward, we have been promised another new timetable for July, and it is expected that the much heralded ten minute frequency will appear. 

Of course we wish the venture well, but there will be many problems to overcome. Staff costs are a prime example, with cars on a ten minute frequency (okay, maybe only at peak times during the day) with a driver and two conductors, costs will be the same as running the heritage double deckers, and where will all the passengers come from. On launch day, many people interviewed for the local paper said they would use the new cars; let’s hope they do. 

I am sorry this report is a bit dry with no pictures. As our editor knows, I have been incapacitated due to major orthopedic surgery recently, but I hope to be back out and about before too long - with my camera. 

Go for a ride on a new Blackpool tram of course.

Margaret drove us to the Starr Gate area although we actually boarded at stop two, Harrow Place. We caught the 2pm departure, unit 011, which was pretty full, possibly because the 1.40pm hadn’t materialized. Along the way, other passengers managed to be crammed in until the car resembled the Northern Line at rush hour. We were carrying two conductors but saw many people leave without paying. It was almost impossible for them to get round because you could hardly move as a result of the loading. Cars coming in the opposite direction were, with one exception, similarly full.

As one of my friends remarked, smooth they are, soulless they are! Yes you could be in Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield or, presumably Budapest. They also have the same irritating feature that the Virgin Trains Voyager/Pendalino units have - in total contradiction to the laws of Physics, there are more seats facing rearwards than facing forwards, whichever direction the tram is moving! Why don’t they have flip-over seats like proper trams do so they all face the direction of travel?

We travelled as far as Cabin. The stops seem to be curious with long gaps in some parts of the route then some very close together. Also, many have changed location - the Manchester Square northbound stop seems to be half way towards Central Pier, and the southbound Talbot Square stop is quite a way from Talbot Square.

We didn’t have to wait too long for a southbound tram, number 001, to take us back again. Once more it was heavily loaded but had emptied appreciably by the Pleasure Beach. Enthusiasts will be pleased that there is a good forward view through the driver’s cab, and a mass of controls and readouts to try to identify.

   

Once we get past the school holidays (and the sand stops blowing - just in case), we’ll have a ride along the full length to Fleetwood."

Geoff

Trips

Andrew Buckingham visits the USA

Andrew sent pictures following a recent visit to the USA. Coach USA and Megabus are of course part of parent company The Stagecoach Group.

 
The Astromegas are identical in most respects to the UK versions except that the driving position is on the left hand side!


Andrew also found this ex London Routemaster on his visit.

 

Marcus Lapthorn visits East Anglia

We spent 5 days in Norfolk recently. On one of the days I went to Lowestoft and then on to the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville.

Photo 349 shows a bus that is headed for the Bernard Mathews turkey processing plant I imagine. 

Photo 350 shows a well laden Nightingales mini bus with two extra 'passengers' on the roof (Indian style).

The weather was dire being freezing cold and very wet! Two ex Newcastle trolleybuses (London style) are currently on loan to the East Anglia Transport Museum, from Beamish Museum. I recall running for one of these trolleys in the 1960's and just about grabbing the platform rail, before the trolleybus shot off at great speed! The acceleration of these vehicles was terrific. 

Photo 355 shows ex Portsmouth Corporation BUT 313 - the last trolleybus to run in my home city. I and my friends were on this historic journey on 27 July 1963. 

     

   

 

History

David Stewart-David writes “I've been printing some negatives which have being lying around since the 1970s and have come across pictures of 192 AWL 
taken near Newcastle Airport c 1976.
 
The bus has "Oxford Circus" in the blind and has a thumping great dent in the near side top deck and a missing front window.
 
The bus was being used as a promotion base for Peter Robinson, carrying "Miss UK" who features in one of the pictures below.  
 
Was the bus subsequently scrapped? And do you know when it was sold by COMS."

Buses in the Landscape

 

Pictureview


A and P Travel N543MPV Volvo B12T at Oxpens on April 3rd by Gavin Francis


Coincidentally on the launch day of Megabus to Europe this Eurolines Business Class coach turned up at Victoria.

   

Golden Tours are now operating a special service between Victoria and the Harry Potter Experience at Leavesden Studios.
They are using ex Stagecoach London Tridents with a special all over wrap livery and luxury interiors.


The contract for the London-Bicester Village has changed hands.

It is now being run by Evan Evans and departs from Victoria coach Station at 9 am each morning.

 
Big Bus have now started to receive their order for Chinese double decks which can be seen above.


Arriva have returned the older open tops to service for the summer. Above we can see VLY610 acting as a mobile office at Victoria.


Evan Evans are also offering tours of Wartime London using Ensign's fleet of old London buses.
On the day above RT1431 was in use on April 5th and RT's 8 and 1499 have also been reported in use.

   
More pictures of the Borismaster LT2 taken by Gavin Francis and David Allen.
I am told that LT1 is now in service.


A quick glance at SRM3 now in use in London. D Allen.


What I believe to be an ex Dublin Olympian is now in use as Boris's Battle Bus, seen at Victoria by Gavin Francis.


Oxford and the dangers of left hand drive coaches - St Aldates April 6th by Gavin Francis

Links & Publications

Mike Penn's interesting web site for pictures

You might be interested to know that I have now uploaded 268 photos taken in Beds, Bucks and Herts in the year 2000 to my website - http://166emj.piwigo.com/index?/category/50-beds_bucks_and_herts_photographs_2000

One of the major events of the year was the purchase by Arriva the Shires of the City of Oxford operation in High Wycombe on December 13th. Two days later, as can be seen from the photographs, vehicles had received Arriva The Shires fleet names and legal lettering but retained their Oxford fleet numbers.

The other major event was the enforced sale of the Lutonian operation by Arriva the Shires.

Both Arriva The Shires and Arriva East Herts & Essex continued to repaint vehicles into Arriva livery though there were still many in previous liveries.

Elsewhere in the region M K Metro continued their policy of purchasing various interesting secondhand vehicles. Some of these came from Border Buses – the company in Lancashire that M K Metro had bought.

Buffalo Travel continued to run but Seamarks were taken over by Dunn-Line early in the year.

Many other independents are also represented. 

Mike Penn

Todays buses - Oxfordshire

This review covers the September 2010 video by Robin Clare Transport. The issue costs £10 and is well worth this small cost for over one hour of buses and coaches in our area.

The most surprising thing are the changes one can see in only just over 18 months and as such viewers will enjoy a pleasant hour or so bringing back memories.

Click on the link above to order your copy now. Oh and do quote the OCBP when doing so.

 

Newbury & District History now available

Paul Lacey has now released his long awaited history of Newbury & District.

The book covers the whole history of this fascinating company which although based in Newbury was seen in Oxford, Harwell and many surrounding areas.


A Guy Arab on the Oxford service and seen at Gloucester Green.

Its coaches were often hired by South Midland who ran between Oxford & London and there was quite a lot of interchange between the fleets, when both owned by Red & White.

The company ran from 1932 until 1951 but its memory lingers on within Newbury and recent changes there reflect this.

The book is exceptionally well researched and contains many photographs plus memories and fleet lists of the company and its constituents.


One of the constituent companies was Denham's.


Apart from the archaic Leylands, the company ran some AEC Regals after the war.
These were rebodied with ECOC/ECW bodies purchased from North Western Road Car, Stockport via dealers.
They had been new in 1936 on Bristol Jo5G chassis which were rebodied with Brush bodies in 1946 to a similar design.
Your Editor must have travelled on one of these buses, when in NWRCC service, as a small boy.
They would have doubtless run on service to Highclere, now well known as the house is featured in Downton Abbey.

The cover price is £25.00 but you can get the publication at a special price of £20.00 for OCBP readers.

Just mention OCBP when ordering from:

Paul Lacey,
17 Sparrow Close
Woosehill
Wokingham
Berkshire RG41 3HT.