Spottings & Jottings nr. 72 - 8th November 2013
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Editorial
London City Skyline and a bus crossing the river on October 9th by Gavin
Francis.
Quite a gap between pages! Sorry, a mixture of problems, such a tired after long days at work, a wife who needed various things done etc etc.
Anyway here is S&J 72 and I hope everyone enjoys it.
A correction to the last issue (S&J71) was that Gavin Francis visited Maidenhead not Bracknell as indicated. Apologies to all concerned.
I am working on changing the format to try to get a more regular flow back into the job. Fingers crossed it should be with us by 2014.
A question from a reader
Matteo Mambretti
I really hope that it has not been really scrapped
right now... :-)
If you could help me, it would be really
appreciated!
Thank you so much."
Oxfordshire Bus Enthusiasts Society
The Oxfordshire Bus Enthusiasts Society was formed in June 2010 and aims to
provide an informal monthly social meeting in Oxford for those with an
interest in buses. Meetings are normally held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
and normally take the form of a picture show with local and guest
speakers. A small charge is made to cover the cost of hiring the function
room and this is usually around £1 for members per meeting depending on numbers.
For non-members a charge of £2 per head is made.
Next Meeting:
A detailed programme of meetings can be found at the following link and we hope many of you will attend future meetings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 - 8th November 2013
Spottings
Observations and pictures
Bob Morley
131 is pictured outside the headquarters this afternoon.
I presume they will receive some kind of livery later?
Route
11receives
NBfL ‘s
Saturday September 21st
2013 saw the introduction of LT class vehicles onto TFL route 11,Liverpool
Street Station to Fulham Broadway.
Unfortunately owing to a
delay in delivery of the new vehicles only seven were put into service on
Saturday and one of these had to be withdrawn by about 9.30am from what I
understand
to have been a problem with one of the
headlights.
From what I observed during the day there were
operational problems cause by road works ,a demonstration march and general
traffic delays .
Below is a selection of photographs taken on the
first day.
LT 42 at Liverpool Street Station.
LT 55 in Buckingham Palace Road Victoria, working a short journey. It’s nice
to see one without advertisements!
LT 62 in Lower Slone Street on one of the many short working of the day due
to traffic delays.
(This picture is of special interest
since this bus was involved in a five vehicle pile up the following day and
has not been seen in service since!! Ed.)
Stockwell Garage. The profile of the LT’s roof viewed from the rear blends
in well with the garage roof profile I thought.
Marcus
Perhaps it is an import from Hong Kong?
(Well it went from China Motor Bus to New World First Bus, then imported to
the U.K. and at sometime with
Greys of Witchford and Weavaway. Ed.)
Mark Turner writes
"I Saw a Boris Bus (the new bus for London) in Watford Near the Town Hall
Roundabout In Watford on 30th Sept around 11:35am. I'm not sure if it was
the same bus that
broke down earlier in Watford. The bus I saw had Metroline on the side. I
couldn't get a picture as I was on Mullany's Buses 318 at the time I saw it.
Did anyone else see the bus in
Watford and maybe get a picture of it?"
Luke Braham
The C1 operates between Milton Keynes - Moulsoe - Cranfield - Wootton - Kempston - Bedford on an hourly time table Monday to Saturday and every hour and a half on Sundays.
The C10 serves
Milton Keynes - Newport Pagnell - North Crawley -
Cranfield - Kempston – Bedford once a day.
There is also a C2 which does not serve Milton Keynes but serves
Cranfield - Marston Moretaine - Lidlington -
Ampthill – Flitwick
three times a day.
I have included a picture of Uno 322 BF59NJO operating the C1 in Milton
Keynes.
Arriva the Shires have started to repaint the Optare Solo’s previously in
Green Route 4 livery in Arriva fleet livery. The first to be completed is
0447 Y47 HBT, it is believed 0442/6 Y42/6 HBT will be done shortly.
Alexander Dennis Enviro400’s 5456/7 SN58 EOC/D are due to come to Aylesbury
from Hemel Hempstead.
Hemel’s 5421 W421 XKX and Aylesbury’s 5431 W431 XKX are due to go to Luton.
5920 M920 MKM was in service at Hemel for a few weeks after the Sapphire
launch but has now towed away from the depot.
Adrian Hartless visits Manchester
I attach pic from last Weds when I visited Manchester Metrolink’s new Ashton
line. This is Edge Lane, Droylsden, with tram 3036 arriving from Ashton,
bound for Bury. On Ashton New Road, Stagecoach 36427 on the 218 Micklehurst
- Manchester Shudehill is overtaking E400 19271 on a 216 Ashton -
Manchester.
Gavin Francis, ever vigilant, writes to report with photographs.
September 23rd
SC East 10012 on the X5 at Gloucester Green on October 21st 2013 by Gavin
Francis.
A few Natex coaches now have a poppy on the front.
Following the entry into service of NBfL's the WVLs from the 11 are starting to appear on the 185 to replace the VWLs
and VPs inherited when they took over East Thames Buses.
WVL 137 Old type of blind layout with new white lettering.
WVL 252 New type of blind layout with old yellow lettering.
PVL 304. Old type of blind layout with old yellow letting.
VP 14. New style blind layout with old yellow lettering.
What a mixture!
So the NBfL are now on the 11 and Gavin sent a nice shot of LT 49 outside VCS
on October 21st 2013.
and TGM
Vehicle news
Five new Volvo B7RLE / Wrightbus Eclipse Urban single decks were delivered to Luton garage in early October for services on the new Luton to Dunstable Busway.
They are:
3962 LT63UNF
3963 LT63UNG
3964 LT63UNH
3965 LT63UNJ
3966 LT63UNK
A second batch of the type have been delivered
to Hemel Hempstead for use on route 2
They are:
3967 LT63UNL
3968 LT63UNM
3969 LT63UNN
3970 LT63UNP
3971 LT63UNR
3972 LT63UNS
3973 LT63UNU
3974 LT63UNV
Allocation
changes
2600 & 2601 Luton to Stevenage
3171 Hemel Hempstead (w) to Aylesbury (w)
3208 Milton Keynes to Aylesbury (u)
3214 withdrawn at Wycombe
3281 Ware to Stevenage
3520 scrapped at Wycombe
3908 Luton to Garston
4384 Luton to Hemel Hempstead
4427 Garston to Aylesbury (u)
5107 withdrawn at Luton
5425 Ware to Luton
6031 Garston to Milton Keynes (u)
DAF 4051 along with Olympians 5145 & 5153 have
been sold to ASM, Aylesbury.
From Bryan Larkins
A small update regarding the shuttle bus ferrying
Green Line passengers from
Over the past few days I have seen several times
the following vehicle in use on this shuttle:
Livery still the same as in the following photo:
From
Gary Seamarks
Luton Busway opened this morning, will visit in next couple of weeks, little puzzled as to why the first bus from the Dunstable end does not reach the airport until after 6.00, would assume this to be key shift time?
From Bernard Lewendon
Latest news.
At Arriva the buses I noted and you published seem to have been just for
maintenance. It seems that Wycombe has spare workshop capacity and helps
other garages out. They were 3282 and 4368. Also seen this week, again in
the workshops, was 6006.
Withdrawn buses 3520 and Southern Counties 3431 have gone. 3520 was the last
Wycombe single decker with step entrance.
I have not seen 4532, a DAF / Wright Cadet for at least two months so
perhaps it has been transferred.
In S&J 71 Gavin mentioned that Arriva Wycombe have a service to Bracknell. I
don't know of that.
Just a few recent pictures of buses in or around this area.
1. Arriva 2496 in
Wycombe High Street. Earlier livery.
2. Arriva 3457 at Henley.
3. Arriva 3216 in the garage yard, Lincoln Road.
Earlier livery.
4.
Arriva Engineering Ford Transit Connect NC55 YBY.I mentioned above not having seen 4532 for some
time. I don't know where it has been but it is back in service today.
The three Volvo Olympians with Palatine bodies are
due to be removed. I was at the bus station today for some time and did not
see any of them. One, 5162, was listed as being in service. It should be
easy to recognize with its earlier "more white" livery.
At the garage 5147 was in the front row,
unlicensed. This is usually the row for withdrawn vehicles.
It was accompanied by 3214 and 3822. Also
withdrawn, and parked to the left of the garage was 3821.
3181 previously withdrawn was not to be seen and
has probably been removed.
Still inside the garage was 6006. We wait and see
if it is just having a lot of work done on it for another garage or if it is
a new arrival.
From Luke Braham
Three Arriva the Shires Wright Eclipse 2's have
been seen on delivery at Heysham Docks, they are 3962-4 LT63 UNF-H. Ten more
are due to join these.
I took picture of 3444 on the 300 yesterday behind another 300. This was because Arriva runs a duplicate of the 300 at 0725 ex Walters Ash & 1551 ex Aylesbury Bus Stat to provide extra room on schooldays. The duplicate bus is operated by High Wycombe depot for the 0725 ex Walters Ash which arrives at Aylesbury at 8:25, hence 3444 being in Aylesbury yesterday. I don't’ see why Arriva don't operate a double decker on these workings.
From Pete Cabin
Noted not on the running boards in Arriva's high
Wycombe office was 5147 - S147SNK. I imagine she has finally been withdrawn.
5151 S151KNK and 5162 S651KJU were still in service on the 24.09.13.
Something we haven't seen in Wycombe for a while
was an Aylesbury Red route bus, 3497 - W497YGS working the 12.10pm 300 back
to Aylesbury.
Arriva High Wycombe have put nearly all their ex
Green route Volvo B7's on routes 800 and 850. This has been at least since
last weekend
On a same note Blue route 32 is now virtually a
single deck route now
Arriva the Shires 3177 P177SRO r500 121013 L
Braham
Arriva the Shires 3208 R208 GMJ r 55 from Chesham
121013 L Braham
Arriva the Shires 3228 T828NMJ r500 121013 L
Braham
Arriva the Shires 3909 BU06HSO r150 051013 L
Braham
I think the A branding refers to services to
Luton Airport? Ed.
Arriva the Shires 5431 W431XKX r50 051013 L
Braham
Arriva the Shires 5435 SN58EOG r280 051013 L
Braham
Arriva 3444 Stokenchurch r 40 251013 G Francis
Arriva 3745 r 40 Stokenchurch 281013 G Francis.
Good old Arriva - why brand buses if you can't
get them on the right route?
Two tri=axles have moved to Hemel and here we see
4375 on the 758 in Bulleid Way 021013 G Francis.
Arriva GL 4381 on route 757 at BPR with new flash
221013 G Francis.
Arriva 5151 on route 32 in Wycombe 160913 M
Crowe.
Arriva 4363 on Rail Replacement near Oxpens
131013 G Francis.
From Bernard Lewendon
Carousel Buses. 101 that you have illustrated seems to have disappeared and
has probably returned to Oxford after a short trial at Wycombe.
Previously 105 was at Wycombe for short time. It was in all blue livery
unlettered and, interestingly, you pictured it in number 70 back in Oxford
with "The Blue Bus" lettering added.
I attach a couple of pictures of Routemaster RML 896. These pictures was
taken whilst it was working a private hire service, a wedding special,
at Beaconsfield at the beginning of September. It had previously been with
Carousel Buses in High Wycombe.
You might find these recent pictures of interest.
Carousel have recently increased the frequency on
the 36 service to Bourne End and the two in route livery needed to be
increased so it is no surprise to see 416 appear in purple livery today.
The colour is very much lighter than the other two
Stirlings. It is almost pink!
From Pete Cabin
Carousel have a third bus now in purple the
remaining M A N Stirling AF53GCY working on service 35 this afternoon
24.09.13.
AF53GCY has been repainted in two shades of purple
for some unknown reason and was working the route 336 today 25.09.2013.
Charlton Services G648EVV Ashmolean Oxford 300913
G Francis
Jonathan Harwood
I've moved back to Scotland and the bus is moving
with me once I have made the appropriate arrangements
GJZ9571 made it safely to Scotland, hitch free! I
drove from Bicester to Lancaster services in about 6 and a half hours, and
the next day went from Lancaster to its new home in Beith, Ayrshire in just
over 6 hours.
The bus averaged about 16mpg at a steady 32mph
First Berkshire's new buses are eleven brand new Alexander Dennis
Enviro200's operating from their depot in Slough and seating 36. 44560-7
are registered YX63LLC/D/E/F, LKV/Y/Z.
Stephen Le Bras
Their arrival has hastened the withdrawal of most
of the ex-London and ex-York Darts, leaving the X-reg Darts which were new
to Beeline and the Solos as the oldest buses at Slough.
First Berkshire 44565 r 5 151013 S Le Bras
From Bernard Lewendon
Of special note is the new Dart from First, Slough
seen today at The Eden Bus Station.
First 65726 on the X74 at High Wycombe 160913 M
Crowe
John Marsh
First 33811 (YX63LJY) Peterborough 021013 by John
Marsh
The old order - First 37566 (AU58ECE)
Peterborough 021013 by John Marsh
Your Editor was able to see some of these buses in build and awaiting delivery on a recent visit to Plaxton's at Scarborough.
First new buses for X1EXCEL 33820 and 33821
091013 M Crowe
First new buses for X1EXCEL on the build line
091013 M Crowe
Heyfordian Travel 7958NU at Wheatley 111013 M
Crowe.
Hedley Shanks, Commercial Manager, Motts Travel has kindly supplied some pictures and interesting information.
Some info on Motts, enclosed are some pictures of MT09MTT which has set off on the TV show Coach Trip again after a two year break.
We thought the show had been shelved but the phone went in late August and ITV want it up and away by mid October.
Seen below are
a couple of shots of the mixing studio at the rear of the coach, but I know
there not very good, it was in such an enclosed space.
On order for 2014
2 x Setra S416GT HD C49Ft (some of the last new
Setras to be sold in the UK)
1 x Scania Omni Express C63Ft
1 x Mercedes 0816 Plaxton Cheetah C29F
These four coaches are definite orders, but we are
also making our minds up about a new 38 seater 10 metre coach, it will
either be another B7R Sunsundequi, the same as CT10MTT or a short Scania i6
like that City Circle have just introduced to their fleet. The Panther Cub
has not been dismissed either.
Also enclosed is a few shots of a refurbished ex Dublin B7TL AV54 of Westway Coaches, Raynes Park which is spending a couple of days with us having a digital tacho fitted.
As the pictures show it is quite special inside & out.
New vehicles
Go North East
(Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante C48FLT)
7105 BF63 ZPV
7106 BF63 ZPW
7107 BF63 ZPY
7108 BF63 ZPZ
7109 BF63 ZRA
7110 BF63 ZRC
East
Yorkshire (Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante C48FLT)
78 YY63 OEJ
79 YY63 OEK
80 YY63 OEL
81 YY63 OEM
82 YY63 OEN
83 YY63 OEO
Stagecoach Yorkshire
(Volvo B9R / Caetano Levante C48FLT)
53731 BF63 ZRN
53732 BF63 ZRO
53733 BF63 ZRP
53734 BF63 ZRR
53735 BF63 ZRT
53736 BF63 ZRU
53737 BF63 ZRV
53738 BF63 ZRX
Vehicle
transfers
From
Yourbus (Durham) to Go North
East (Chester le Street)
Volvo B9R /
Caetano Levante
FJ60 HXW
FJ60 HYB
FJ60 EGY
FJ60 KVM
FJ60 KVO
FJ60 KVP
FJ60 KVR
From
Gary Seamarks
The A1 is being extended from late October to Luton
Station, more competition for Arriva. Was in last weeks eastern N&P. Think
the whole thing shows the Airports attitude to its customers !.
From Bernard Lewendon
A recent picture of a coach in this area.
From Gavin Francis on
27/10/13
10.10 this morning in Stokenchurch and a poppy National. Their time keeping is worse than that achieved when Stagecoach ran the service. It should have been in Wycombe at 10.05!
Last night I passed the 01.00 coming through the cutting at 01.45, again it
should have been in Wycombe by then. Although they have changed the
timetable the make-up of it is still completely wrong.
Other National Express pictures
For some reason Arriva were not operating the 302 service through Oxford during October.
NEx SR140 Rear nearside view of recently applied
The Skills Show promotion vinyl wrap at London VCS 231013 M
Crowe
October 27th was a red letter day for the
company when, after very many years, the London Terminus of the X90
service was moved from Victoria Coach Station to an on street stand on
Buckingham Palace Road.
The service and its predecessors had
terminated in VCS since the earliest days and it seems strange not to
see the Oxford service as part of the fixtures in the coach station.
Below are some pictures of the last days in VCS and then pictures of its
new home on BPR at stop 7.
VCS at 0614 showing an IDS Bus on the Paris
service and the X90. The date is October 7th. 2013.
Coach 86 on stand 7 in Buckingham Palace Road on
October 30th 2013.
~~~~~~~~~~~
A recent surprise was the appearance of coach 84 devoid of any branding or fleet number on the X90 service.
Also appearing on many company buses is a vinyl proclaiming its green
credentails.
This is in advance of changes to emission
regulations in the city from January 1st.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Ensign Dealers
have taken the five Scanias, 1-5, which were new for the London X90 route in 2003.Adrian Hartless
writes "Oxford Bus is gradually retiring its once 20 strong fleet of Tridents, now 14 years old. But it is still theoretically possible to see 17 of them in Oxford. On Thurs 26 Sept at 18.15 in St Aldates were the former 110, now a City Sightseer, and 101 now of Thames Travel and working the X39 to Wallingford, which has been a regular duty in recent weeks.T
here is a lot of talk of new coaches to replace the 07 batch of Volvos. Some of these could be Plaxton Interdeckers and a date of December 1st seems likely.One is most interested to see developments and readers are encouraged to report any sightings of new vehicles.
Hedingham Omnibuses:
Three ex City of Oxford Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400 H47/26Fs are now in use.
They are:
L414 (T107DBW)
L416 (T108DBW))
L417 (T117DBW)
Redline
From E
dward Neal
Oxfordshire
Four further new E20Ds for services 12, 14 and 16 are shown below.
36981 SN63VVS
ADL Enviro 20D
B38F
36982 SN63VVT
ADL Enviro 20D
B38F
36983 SN63YPF
ADL Enviro 20D
B38F
36984 SN63YPG ADL Enviro 20D B38F
They arrived in the week ending October 26th and will probably entered service on the first week in November.
Flanking earlier E300 22761, the four new E20Ds after delivery at Horspath on October 26th by Gavin Francis.
Below are some pictures of various new buses in service.
SCO 36930 on route 12, seen from St Aldates town hall by Andrew Churchill.
New route, new bus - SCO 36927 at Thornhill on route 900 on September 24th
by Adrian Hartless.
SCO 36929 on the 800 on October 7th by Gavin Francis.
New Gold 15934 working on the 700 on October 7th and seen by Gavin Francis.
The balance of buses allocated to the 700 are two of the regular liveried
Scanias such as 15436 again seen on October 7th by Gavin Francis.
The two Gold buses noted last month, and above, 15933 and 15934, are in temporary use on the new 700 service until the arrival in December of four ADL E40D / Enviro 400s (10067 to 10071).
It is reported that four more Enviro 200s are due for delivery early in 2014 (37069 to 37072).
Current fleet changes.
22926 Oxford to reserve
22935 Oxford to S/C Midlands (loan)
22936, 22941 Oxford to S/C West (loan)
33650, 33652-4 Oxford to S/C Midlands (loan)
33821 disposal to sold
47433 disposal to sold
47454 Banbury to Witney
47455 Witney to Oxford (mainly for use on Bicester service 26)
From Adrian Hartless
You’ll be aware of the changes to the 700 from Sept
23. On the final Friday, Sep 20, of the old route and buses, MAN 22926 heads
west along Marston Ferry Road. This wasn’t the end for this old favourite as
I saw it on a 10 the following week. Is it still in traffic?
From Andrew Churchill
Here is a photo of new E200 36930 taken on
15/09/2013 from the window of the Oxford town hall in St. Aldates on the
open door weekend , A bit different as you do not always have access to the
front rooms .
News from Yorkshire on our old M A N s
22915 S915 CFC
reserve to
Holbrook
22916 S916 CFC
Chesterfield to
Barnsley
22924 S924 CFC
Barnsley to
disposal
22929 S929 CFC
Chesterfield to
Barnsley
Vehicles listed as being for disposal are:
22927/9/32/7
Various pictures of SC Oxford's buses.
SCO 15754 unbranded Gold unusually on route 8 on October 14th by Gavin
Francis.
John Marsh was in Oxford on September 28th and here captures 22763 on the
X30 service.
He also caught then very new 36933 on route 10.
He also travelled with your Editor and captured him in action punching a
passenger's 12 trip card.
SCO 15933 and 4 are in Generic Gold livery and 15933 is seen here with
earlier 15834 at Horspath depot on September 21st by Richard Sharman.
From Marcus Lapthorn
Stagecoach Swindon’s last high floor Volvo B10M was
sold to Ensign Bus last month, as I suspected. So that is the end of the
former 66 route Volvos with 20683 being the last in service in Swindon.
SC Swindon 20683 on route 51 in August 2012 by Marcus Lapthorn.
East
East vehicles now show the legal owner as Cambus based in Cambridge. This includes the X5 coaches, based at Bedford. Richard Sharman records this change. These coaches were shown as being owned b y United Counties!!
SC Swindon 55 Branded 15734 on the 66 next to X5 branded 53602. Picture by Richard Sharman
South and others
From Bob Morley - Newbury & District Transport Group
Thought the attached picture was worth sending in.
The train now standing in the bay at Fareham Bus Station is the 12.37hrs
service 69 to Winchester (running over 30 minutes late) on Wednesday,
September 11.
The service operated by Olympian 16787.
Several of these Stagecoach buses have been seen in the South
West Trains livery presumably for use on rail replacement work?
Following on from your recent news item of the Stagecoach introduction of
the Gold services in Torbay, I have attached a picture of the First Group
route X80 bus arriving in the newly rebuilt Paignton Bus Station on
Thursday, October 10 on its way to Plymouth.
The introduction of the Stagecoach “Gold” services on the identical First
routes X80 and X81 on September 30 has now resulted in X80 and X81 being
withdrawn from October 27.
I just had to see the building before it goes !
The replacement bus station is taking shape, but seems to have fewer bays
than the current building – we shall see.
Several of the Stagecoach services in the Torbay have again had their
service names changed. Amongst the services are the Exeter to Newton Abbot
“Go 2” has become “Hop 2” (picture in Teignmouth also last Thursday,
attached) and service 12 Newton Abbot to Brixham, at one time “Bayline” now
becomes “Hop 12” and service 11 (recently extended from Teignmouth) Dawlish
to Torquay has become “Hop 11”
SC Devon 19102 Exeter to Newton Abbot Go 2 has
become Hop 2, seen in Teignmouth on October 10th by Bob Morley.
From Carl Berry
I assume Megabus's vehicle diagrams are based more
on efficiency than practicality as I cant think of any other reason why the
Cheltenham-London service needs to be worked by one of the left hand drive
vehicles!
Midland Red South's 55006 KX13HYV see in Royal Well
on 12th October.
SC Megabus 55002 for Amsterdam and 55007 for
Paris on October 14th by Gavin Francis
SC Megabus 55003 leaves Victoria on October 2nd
by Gavin Francis.
SC Megabus - Parks of Hamilton T4SCC on the M20
on Elizabeth Bridge on October 7th by Gavin Francis.
SC Megabus 50249 Bulleid Way - unique with white
lettering - on October 7th by Malcolm Crowe.
SC Megabus 53636 showing route ME5, the new
service to Cologne on October 22nd by Malcolm Crowe.
SC Megabus 55010 working the ME2 at Victoria on
October 25th by Malcolm Crowe.
Freestones have a second coach in full Megabus
livery for use on the M16 to Norwich.
SC Megabus Freestones YN08JBX works the M16 on October 25th by Malcolm
Crowe.
SC Megabus new Interdeckers in the finishing area
at Plaxton's on October 9th by Malcolm Crowe.
These coaches are to based at Rugby. There are ten in all.
From Robert Hall
Megabus 50243 at Pembroke Dock at about 0100 ready
for the return journey to London.
Stagecoach/Citylink
Citylink has received a batch of Volvo B11T tri-axles for the 900 Glasgow-Edinburgh service and some pictures were sent to me by Paul Hawkins. These have reference to us as they are often to be seen working Megabus services into London, including the S11 Sleeper service!!!!!
SC Citylink 54130 new coaches for 900 230913 P
Hawkins
From Graham Low
Thames Travel Dart/MCV 553 recently lost its white
livery for this overall advertisement for the Oxford Science Park with the
periodic table.
One time Carousel VDL/Wrights 521 on the X32 in
St Aldates on October 22nd by
Gavin Francis.
Ex COMS Tridents pass in St Aldates, TT 101
passes CSS 58 St Aldates in October 2013 by Adrian Hartless.
TT 159 in a new allover wrap on the T1 in St
Aldates on September 27th by Graham Low.
Weavaway
Vehicle re-registrations :
C1 OXF Optare Solo to YJ59 GHN
C2 OXF Optare Solo to YJ59 GHO
C3 OXF Optare Solo to YJ59 GHU
C4 OXF AD Enviro SFD to RX54 KHF
C5 OXF AD Enviro SFD to RX58 KHG
C6 OXF AD Enviro SFD to RX58 KHH
C7 OXF MAN 14.220 MCV to AE57 FBA
C8 OXF MAN 14.220 MCV to AE57 FBB
N172 LHU Volvo B10M-62 Van Hool to C2 OXF
N175 LHU Volvo B10M-62 Van Hool to C5 OXF
N177 LHU Volvo B10M-62 Van Hool to C7 OXF
V111 DCF Optare Solo to V946 DCF
C16 TCL (ex N173 LHU) Volvo B10M-62 Van Hool to C3 OXF
C17 TCL (ex N171 LHU) Volvo B10M-62 Van Hool to C1 OXF
C18 TCL (ex N174 LHU) Volvo B10M-62 Van Hool to C4 OXF
C19 TCL (ex N176 LHU) Volvo B10M-62 Van Hool C6 OXF
C20 TCL (ex N178 LHU) Volvo B10M-62 Van Hool to C8 OXF
Of the above, V946 DCF passed to Plaxton, Anston in August and is now with Logan, Dunloy.
Further vehicles with new owners include TIL 1184
(ex K101 XPA) Volvo B10M / Plaxton is now with S Doel, Calne;
K301GDT Volvo B10M / Van Hool is with Just Travel, Copmanthorpe, via
Plaxton, Anston;
K302GDT Volvo B10M / Van Hool is with Dix, Gloucester, via Plaxton, Anston;
N731 UVR Volvo B10M /Jonckheere is also with Dix, Gloucester via Plaxton,
Anston;
P414/15 HRB Toyota / Caetano Optimo are with Vale, Thruxton, via Plaxton,
Anston;
V115 DCF Optare Solo is with Logan, Dunloy also via Plaxton, Anston.
Z&S
From Luke Braham.
This morning I was in Milton Keynes doing a bit of
bus spotting when I saw that Z&S Transport have another Streetlite
demonstrator. This time they have Door Forward SK63 GAA on loan from
Wrightbus.
Streetlite WF MX11 JYV has now left to be replaced by SK63GAA - Luke Braham
Z&S Buses has been renamed as Z&S Transport.
Z&S Transport AE57CNK on route 1 on October 5th
by Luke Braham.
Z&S Transport KX57AOO on route SR1 on October 5th
by Luke Braham.
Blackpool update
Blackpool tram extension to be funded
It
was
been announced
on
19th. September, that Transport for Lancashire has allocated £16·4m towards
the estimated £18·2m total cost of extending Blackpool’s new tramway from
the Promenade at Talbot Square up Talbot Road to the Blackpool North Railway
Station.
Blackpool Council will have to find the remaining £1·8m needed to fully fund
the scheme, work on which could begin in 2015.
No news has been released if a further order for more Bombardier Flexity2
trams will be needed but rumours suggest four more may be added to the
fleet. Cynics will say that if they ran the proper number on busy days, they
could do with another four now as there are still constant complaints about
long waits and overcrowding.
However, let’s not be negative - this is excellent news. The points for the
extension up Talbot Road were installed when the track was replaced during
the upgrade – a rare but commendable piece of foresight.
Trams last ran up Talbot Road in the mid 1930s.
Now
an account of my visit to the new Starr Gate tram depot. On the other hand, it could be too specialised for your web page although I suspect you will be interested yourself.Pictures attached are as follows:-
30054 Tram over pit alongside inspection gantry
30057 Long shot inside depot showing the set of red coloured jacks to lift a
complete tram
30061 Top of tram with air con units and pantograph
30069 Track brake from underneath
30072 General view of driving cab
30074 Door controls etc built in to driver’s right hand arm rest
I felt readers might be interested in this piece by Geoff.
Aylesbury bus route changes by Colin Richardson
Bus
route changes in Aylesbury, which place on 1 or 2 September 2013
These are on the following routes
1
now operates between Fairford Leys and
Buckingham Park, with
Route operated by Z & S Transport -
2
now reduced from every 15 mins to every 30
mins - Monday to Saturday
3
continues unchanged - Operated by
Star Travel.
4
The section of route from Stoke Mandeville
Hospital has been
from Great
Western Street stops to Berryfields, a very large new housing development at
the
Operated by Redline.
5
continues unchanged - operated by
Star Travel.
6.
route unchanged, but increased to 15 minutes from 20 minuets,
serving Watermead.
Operated by Redline.
8
This new route number is used for journeys
former served by route 9
9
Now operates Bus Station to Hospital only,
Timings very similar as
Saturday
daytime. and operated by Arriva.
The Sunday service is unchanged.
11
New route from Great Western Street to the Willows - route 7 -
11a
New route, serving Prebendal Farm Estate part of route 11, as route
12
New Route schooldays only from Whitchurch via Buckingham Park
321
Aylesbury - High Wycombe via Butlers Cross, Princes Risborough and
Mandeville
No other route changes, however, there are numerous
roadworks in the area, mostly operating off peak times on Monday to Friday
only. and as I understand should be completed by Christmas 2013.
Preston Bus Station saved
Another good bit of news from round here is that
the Preston Bus Station has just been granted Grade II listed status by the
Government. Preston City Council says the listing was “not the outcome we
were hoping for”.
To some extent, this will safeguard the iconic bus
station. It does not mean changes cannot be made but its architectural
significance must be protected. Naturally, campaigners say that the decision
by the Minister Culture was “brilliant news”.
Luton Busway by Mike Penn
Here are some photographs taken today, the second day of operational running on the busway. Three of them were taken on the busway on the bridge across Telford Way, close to Luton town centre, and the remainder at the newly opened Luton station interchange.
As you can see the Grant
Palmer ones have been appropriately re-registered BU 51 WAY, BU 52 WAY and
BU 53 WAY.
Centrebus_706_K3YCL_ex_YN07LDD
Centrebus_707_K4YCL_ex_YN07LDE
Various newspaper articles
I often receive interesting
mails with links to stories in the press. I am including them hereunder for
readers to see.
https://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/local_transport_today/news/?id=36000
http://m.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2013/2013-10-02.aspx
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/10709722.Bus_services_axed_in_winter_shake_up/?ref=nt
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-24348683
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10744639.Bus_fire_causes_gridlock/
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131020/local/Arriva-could-quit-if-losses-continue.491043
FREE parking for hospital staff at two of Oxford’s
park and ride sites has been scrapped.
Yesterday
Oxfordshire County Council agreed to get rid of the exemption which would have seen key staff at Oxford University Hospitals Trust continue having free parking.Long-stay charges were introduced at Thornhill and
Water Eaton back in April but some hospital employees were exempt.
The council passed plans to bring in short-term
charges but didn’t agree to exclude the same staff from the costs.
Doctors are concerned at the impact the new charges
will have with one even claiming “people could die”.
Jersey by Colin Garnier
As requested previously, some shots of the
Libertybus depot, I will send some more over the next couple of days.
Visit was undertaken on 23/10/13, hope the pictures
are of interest.
You may like to take a look at my pictures on
Flickr,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cicoach/
Malta by Ian Brown
From: Ian Brown, Hemel Hempstead.
Fun and games continue with Arriva`s Malta activities. Actually, Malta is a
first class place for bus and coach enthusiasts. Hundreds of Arriva
vehicles, a tiny handful of the old buses and a few tourist coaches are very
much in evidence there. Buy an English language newspaper in Malta and
you`re assured of at least one bus story every day.
So the latest is that all 68 bendies has been ordered off the road. Three of
them caught fire in as many days. Malta`s roads are narrow, the traffic
heavy and there`s little respect for parking regulations and there`s
contempt for the driving rules which we take for granted in the UK. Add to
that temperatures in the 90`s during the summer months. One incident – bus
fire, breakdown or accident
brings the traffic to a rapid stop. During my regular visits to Malta I did
notice the congestion caused by bendies. Sometimes two or three would be at
one bus stop and another couple at a stop in the opposite direction. In
seconds there`s gridlock. I noticed a lot of bendies in trouble, broken down
in town centres or being towed on the back of a giant recovery truck.
According to `Malta Today`, Arriva have lost 35million euros (£29.5m approx)
since they started in 2011. Added to that they are already on their fourth
Chief Executive and apparently Tumas Group, the locally owned company has
withdrawn its 33% share in the operation.
Then earlier this year since the bendies were ordered off the road, Arriva
are paying 30,000 euros (£25,200 approx) per day to hire private coaches as
replacements.
I asked a Maltese Arriva driver where the distressed bendies were being
stored. He replied “they are all in the ditch”. In the ditch? I couldn`t
believe his words. Had they all
crashed into a ditch, one by one, in some country road? No. They had been
parked in what`s known as the `Hornworks ditch` at Floriana, just outside
Valletta where Arriva use a park and ride car park as a base. Go there and
you get a good of them all.
So what`s the truth behind all this? Arriva have clearly had one heck of a
job implementing the new service. The Maltese cannot absorb change easily.
The discipline involved in travelling and cooperating with a professional
bus service is accepted in the UK. In Malta the travelling public are
reluctant accept Arriva mainly, I suspect, because of the mammoth change
from the old bus days to today`s way of doing things.
I regularly use the buses there. Their timekeeping isn`t too bad. Many of
the vehicles are showing signs of bodywork damage. They are usually full or
near to full. Bus driving there must rate as quite a stressful occupation.
Imagine driving a bendy around the narrow, crowded streets of, say, Oxford
or St Albans. Add to those high temperatures, endless foreign tourists
asking for guidance. I reckon Arriva people deserve a word of praise. That
doesn`t happen, though. Relentless criticism from the public, politicians,
civil servants, motorists make life difficult for staff.
See the enclosed photograph of them tucked in nose to tail.
The announcement of new bus routes is on hold after
the Government and Arriva disagreed over costs.
Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said his intention to
publish the revamped routes this week was thwarted after the bus operator
failed to give the go-ahead.
Two weeks ago Mr Mizzi had said on Dissett that the
new routes would be announced the following week and introduced early next
year.
“I have always made it clear that I first needed to
hand over the plans to Arriva for their feedback in order to see how we can
proceed,” he said.
“It appears that we have a problem. Actually, there
are a number of problems.”
He explained that the point of contention was over
the costs to be incurred by the increased mileage. The distance to be
covered by buses will go up by one million kilometres.
More vehicles need to be brought over to Malta to
cater for the new routes.
“Obviously, we’re not agreeing. Arriva said there
will be changes, so I’m waiting for them to give me their proposals for
changes which would retain the efficiency of the proposed routes. I await
their reaction, after which I will review matters. Discussions had stopped
but will resume in the coming days.”
The new routes are meant to ensure better
punctuality, with more buses added to areas where they are needed and
reduced where patronage is low.
Mr Mizzi had said the route changes would entail
more Government cash for Arriva but he was non-committal as to the level of
subsidy – known as public service obligation – the company would receive.
When the 10-year contract with Arriva was signed in
November 2010 the bus company was to receive an average of €6.2 million per
year in subsidies.
Trips
Ex SC minibus in Poland on October 15th by Clive King.John Marsh sent a number of pictures from around the U.K. which I found most interesting.
Bedford
FN62CCZ on 314 to Southport passes through Bedford on October 16th John
Marsh
A patchwork of Pointers Bedford 16 10 13 (John Marsh)
Grant Palmer (Y353FJN) Bedford 16 10 13 (John Marsh)
Grant Palmer (Y857TGH) Bedford 16 10 13 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 16225 & 16227 Buses to School Bedford 16 10 13 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 22316 (AE51RYR) Bedford 16 10 13 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 36937 (SN63KFT) on Park & Ride duties Bedford 16 10 13 (John
Marsh)
Stagecoach 53272 (KX56JZK) on the X5 Bedford 16 10 13 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach Bedfordbus 10890 Bedford 16 10 13 (John Marsh)
Lake District - Cumbria
Stagecoach 35248 approaches Bassenthwaite on the A591 bound for Wigton Sept
2013 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 22598 (PX08CTE) on the X4 from Penrith to Workington approaches
Bassenthwaite Sept 13 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 15921 (PX13DMT) in Workington's rather dismal bus station Sept
2013 (John Marsh)
Events - Running Days
Showbus 2013
From
Gary Seamarks
One for your Album !, good use of telephoto, off the grandstand at Showbus. Not impressed with the site it was so good the rain kept off the little cafe would never have coped !.
Your Editor arrives at Showbus 2013
Heard we are Duxford bound next September.
Won't send anymore Showbus shots as I would assume you are flooded with them
at present.
Luton Busway opened this morning, will visit in
next couple of weeks, little puzzled as to why the first bus from the
Dunstable end does not reach the airport until after 6.00, would assume this
to be key shift time ?.
NX A1 is being extended from late Oct to Luton
Station, more competition for Arriva. Was in last weeks eastern N&P. Think
the whole thing shows the Airports attitude to its customers !.
Other pictures
Showbus 2013 - RT1396 220913 D Allen
Showbus 2013 - West Brom 156 220913 D Allen
Showbus 2013 - Greyhound Scenicruiser 220913 C King
Showbus 2013 - COMS 371 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 - COMS 703 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 - COMS 756 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 - E200s 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 - Megabus 55003 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 -SC Citylink 54128 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 - Stagecoach entrants 220913 M Crowe (15838 won best Stagecoach
in show much to my surprise.)
Showbus 2013 - WnD Salisbury Reds 1542 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 -Birmingham Daimlers 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 -Dukeries 5188RU 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 -Midland Red 2418 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 -Midland Red 4031 220913 M Crowe
Showbus 2013 -Orient Coaches MHY765 220913 M Crowe
SCO 15838 heading home from Showbus with Luke Braham and his Dad upstairs.
220913 R Sharman
Amersham Running Day two green RFs 061013 B Stanger
Coach & Bus at the NEC 2013
Coach and Bus 2013 - Optare Solo SR for 2014 031013 M Crowe
Coach and Bus 2013 - Optare Versa 11-7m 031013 M
Crowe
Coach and Bus 2013 - Plaxton's new Leopard 031013
M Crowe
Coach and Bus 2013 - Plaxton's new Panther Cub
031013 M Crowe
History
From Chris Jenkinson who writes
"attached are some photos from my collection of coaches in Oxford in the early 1990's, which you may use on your bus page if you want.
139 - F139 LJO on George Street about to arrive at Gloucester Green on an
inbound X70 on 2/4/94
I have been re-reading Paul Lacey's South Midland history and find myself admiring the development of a small private company in 1921 to a pseudo big company in latter days, always providing the latest designs of coaches in a livery which approximated to the very large operators.
http://www.paullaceytransportbooks.co.uk/
John Marsh
writes "Here is the first batch of Lake District pix I promised. Includes the new Gold ones for Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire you mentioned in the current page. Hope you like them!"
Pointer Dart by the Great Ouse Bedford 16 10 13 (John Marsh)
Buses crossing the Great Ouse Bedford 16 10 13 (John Marsh)
Reays (YX60DXE) Cockermouth Sept 2013 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 18357 (MX55KPJ) heads for Keswick on the A591 on service 554 from
Carlisle Sept 2013 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 18357 (MX55KPJ) passes Bassenthwaite village en route to Keswick
from Carlisle Sept 2013 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 22598 (PX08CTE) on X4 Penrith to Workington via Keswick
approaching Bassenthwaite Sept 2013 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 22598 (PX08CTE) approaches Bassenthwaite village on service X4
Penrith - Workington Sept 2013 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 53337 (PX59CVC) crosses the Derwent at Ouse Bridge bound for
Workington on X4 Sept 2013 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 53337 (PX59CVC) heads west north of Bassenthwaite lake on the
A591 towards Workington on service X4 Sept 2013 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 53339 (PX59CVE) at Dubwath on service X5 Workington - Penrith
using the A66 Sept 2013 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach 53339 (PX59CVE) joins the A66 at Debwath on Service X5 Workington
- Penrith via Keswick Sept 2013 (John Marsh)
Stagecoach Open Top 17013 (S813BWC) in Grasmere on 599 to Bowness Sept 2013
(John Marsh)
A test for the driver as Hardings (XR08HCR) crosses the stream in
Bassenthwaite village 20 9 13 (John Marsh)
Wilkinson South Shields immaculate Volvo B10M Plaxton rebuild (UIL7806)
Keswick Sept 2013 (John Marsh)
Ensign RT191 Wartime Tour of London 041013 G Francis
Metroline TE900 overall ad AT THE TOP 091013 G Francis
RML 2348 osr Victoria 300913 G Francis and RML 2348 UXBRIDGE STATION 290378
G Francis
The Expeditional RML 2697 London 091013 G Francis
Westbus 152 YJ13GYG London 091013 G Francis
Ensign Bus RT191 Wartime Tour 170913 M Crowe
New Adventure Travel 54033 Oxpens Oxford 191013 M Crowe
& as SC City Link 54033 VCS M20 150611 G Francis
New Adventure Travel Interdecker YN13GDF and H5KFJ Oxpens Oxford 191013 M
Crowe
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
A copy of the latest book from Steven Knight has landed on my desk for review. The book contains full details of the Stagecoach Midlands fleet and is well worth the modest price of £5.50, especially since an update of the fleet can be downloaded at the web site. Allocation details are given plus details of liveries carried by buses and the associated branding where applicable.
This takes me back to the early days of Ian Allan when such books were available and as pocket books were so useful. Also each edition represents a record of the fleets which in the future can be so useful.
Specialist booklets for the bus enthusiast and historian
Check out the link below for copies of these books
http://www.stevenknightmedia.com/
http://www.busflixfilms.co.uk/
This review covers a 53 minute video of Oxfordshire and includes Abingdon, Oxford City Centre, Bicester and Banbury. It features buses from Thames Travel, Stagecoach, OxfordBus, Heyfordian and Tappins.
For those who haven't the time to assemble video, many of us are taking still pictures!!, this provides a current record of the local scene and at £10 represents good value for money.
THE FINAL
VOLUME IS
SO
RETAIL
PRICE £25
ORDER NOW
FOR £20+ £3
p&p
This final installment of the
4-volume 800-page history of the Thames Valley Traction Co. Ltd. brings the
story to its conclusion on the last day of 1971.
All route developments and changes
to the fleet are fully detailed, along with special appendices for the
service vehicle fleet, garages and out-stations, a route map, garage
allocations and working arrangements.
Profusely illustrated with 548
monochrome half-tone illustrations and a full-colour section of 45 photos,
this provides a very comprehensive history of this interesting decade,
including the numerous secondhand vehicles acquired during those years.
Demand will be high, so
order now from: Paul Lacey, 17
Sparrow Close
Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire,
RG41 3HT
If you are local and wish to
collect please call me on 0118 979 4097
A Guy Arab on the Oxford service and seen at Gloucester Green.
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.
17 Sparrow Close
Woosehill
Wokingham
Berkshire RG41 3HT.