Bus Cuts by Jack Cooper

Abingdon town services (41,42,43) the 42 and 43 will no longer operate from the 20th July (I think) and according to the Abingdon blog the 41 will operate Monday to Friday every 2 hours. Why don't they role them all into one?

44 and 44A no service from 20th July (I think). This means that villages such as Sunningwell and Hinksey will have no bus connection what so ever!

Solo 706 on the 44 which ends on 20th July passes the Train Station in Oxford on 2nd June by Gavin Francis .

Steve Gee writes "Not sure if you cover bus operations in connection with the Grand Prix weekend, though I'm guessing that it's in your area geographically and that there may be vehicles from Oxford involved. Noted Leamington depots' Trident/ Enviro2 400 10032 KX12GXA in Unibus livery on the A5 leaving Towcester and heading towards Milton Keynes on service MK1 at about 1600 on Friday 8/7/16. I assume it's on loan to Northampton for the weekend."

I would certainly appreciate any details and pictures of buses on the F1 weekend services. Ed.

Bristol developments by Paul Hawkins

I much appreciate some pictures sent by Paul and shown below. The one time CEO of Reading Buses is now heading up operations in Bristol for First and his stamp is to be seen on new deliveries.

First Bristol 33965 on the 1 in Bristol on 21st June by Paul Hawkins.

First 35164 SK65PWJ on the 376 to Street via Wells on 21st June by Paul Hawkins.

A-bus BX54EBF Union Street, Bristol on X9 - This service is jointly run by A-bus and First Bristol n Avon. The Citaro is ex-Bennetts Gloucester via Somerbus.

Seen on 21st June by Paul Hawkins.

A Falcon leaves Bristol bound for Plymouth - South West's 54324  on 21st June by Paul Hawkins.

A surprise as I prepare this page is the arrival from the Arriva Midlands of a loan bus replacing 3703 away for repairs. This loan bus comes from Wednesfield and is still in the old livery. As with 3703 KE55CKP it is a DAF Wright Cadet but the longer 200 version with 44 seats. There is a clash of fleet number in the Arriva listing now that the Shires is merged with Midlands and they also have a 3703. What a pity the didn't send their 3703 !!! Both Nick Cherry and Pete Cabin sent pictures and details within an hour of each other. How's that for reporting?

Picture by Nick Cherry on 11th July.

Luke Braham writes "On the 27^th May, local radio station Mix96 had borrowed Sapphire E400 5465 SN15LPU for the day to use as its ‘broadcasting bus’ as it travelled around the area including visits to Stoke Mandeville Village, Wendover and Haddenham. The said bus was pictured by myself outside Stoke Mandeville Combined School before continuing its road trip."

Taken on 27th May by Luke Braham. 

"Meanwhile, back on the 280 two Citaros had been allocated to the route to cover for maintenance and the use of 5465 with Mix96. This included the more usual choice of MAX-branded 3930 BD12DHG along with MAX 300-branded 3922 BK58URP. When other buses are needed to cover on the 280 the 12-plate Citaros are normally used as these are the only other buses that are LEZ Compliant for Oxford at the Aylesbury depot excluding D1-liveried Optare Solo 0441 YJ10LZV."

 
3930 BD12DHG and 3922 BK58URP seen in Aylesbury by Luke Braham on 27th May.

"Alexander ALX400 6008 KL52CWZ has been given an all-over advert for Home Sense store in Aylesbury."

6008 KL52CWZ seen in Aylesbury by Luke Braham on 9th June.

"In the past few months, it has become increasingly common to find one of the East Lancs Lowlanders transferred from Arriva Midlands operating route 150 (Aylesbury to Milton Keynes). This is because these are the only two double 'deckers at Aylesbury depot that are low enough to pass under the low bridge along the route at Linslade. Both 6061 FD02UKP and 6062 FD02UKE have been seen operating the route. "  Nearly got caught out by that bridge when we went to Showbus last year!!! Ed.

 
6061 FD02UKP on 13th May and 6062 FD02UKE on 1st June both by Luke Braham.

There’s not been much else to report from Arriva in Aylesbury over the last month although the Sapphire’s do keep appearing on other services with route X60 (Aylesbury to Milton Keynes) being one of the main routes that one can be found to be on.

Sapphire 5468 SN15LPY works the X60 on 1st June by Luke Braham.

Andy Churchill writes "Max liveried Citaro 3932 (BD12DHK) seen on route 280 on 8th June at 16.45 at Wheatley (Oxford bound)."

Pete Cabin writes "on 18th June seen on blue route 32 was 6004 KL52CWT which is an Aylesbury allocated bus, so not sure if its on loan or a transfer?

 
On another note I saw 6306 Y506UGC parked up in the bus station in High Wycombe on Saturday 4th June, this is also allocated to Aylesbury not sure if its a transfer or broken down on service 300."

Photo corner for Arriva.

3525 in a sorry state at Cressex depot on 15th June by Gavin Francis.
This bus was in an even sorrier state when I saw it on 7th July with many more bits missing as it is cannibilised to keep other similar buses running. Ed. 

As mentioned above the company will launch a new service, the X80, between High Wycombe and Reading using StreetLites 403-405. This will start on Monday, July 25th and the name REGATTA will be used, a nice touch I think.

The introduction of the new Park & Ride StreetLites also saw these buses being used on the hourly short working to Stokenchurch on the 40 and a number of pictures have appeared. However the 15:05 from Wycombe is normally operated by an ex Oxford Trident and runs dead back to Wycombe from Stokenchurch.

   
Carousel 409 on the Link 40 service at Stokenchurch on 24th May and 14th June by Gavin Francis.

 
Orange route 423 has been seen along with 424 working the Link 40 in recent weeks.
I am told that this is due to trials with Solos on the 39.

Similar but fleet liveried 422 on Link 40 short working to Stokenchurch, the date 6th June by Gavin Francis.

Neil Gow writes "First Berkshire are using open-top Routemaster RMC1510 and Olympian 34258 on the 200 Legoland Shuttle at weekends, with closed-top Routemaster RML2735 as a backup. Use is quite sporadic though, on Sunday 22^nd  May a Trident and a Volvo hybrid single-decker were being used. The attached pictures show 34258 and RMC1510 in use on Saturday 14^th May, also a picture of Courtney Coaches Volvo B7RLE BG14 OPB running a competing service.

The Olympian is expected to return to Weymouth in June when it will be needed there."

Courtney BG14OPB Legoland on 14th May by Neil Gow.

As mentioned earlier this company has assumed responsibility for Megabus Europe on a commercial basis.

The Flixbus fleet is varied and registered in many places in Germany.

This Setra double deck is registered in Hamburg - (Hansestadt Hamburg), HH-UM-1543 seen outside VCS on 1st June by Gavin Francis.
A list of the place codes can be found at the under mentioned link.
https://www.europeanplates.com/information/german-city-codes.html 

In issue 95 I had a picture of Olympian P421KSX and Trevor Wilson writes to say "I think this is ex Lothian and was originally dual door. An example is on flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/6824278592/

Thus P421KSX Heyfordian Bicester would have been Lothian 421.  So depends on how many of these ex Lothian Volvo Olympians Heyfordian have?

Examples of 421 in original Lothian livery and dual door configuration can be found at these links:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lothian_buses/7450504268/

Many thanks to Trevor for this useful feedback. I keep seeing 421 on the school run from Wycombe to Stokenchurch, so it must be the regular bus for this working. 

Luke Braham writes "The trio of Mercedes Benz Tourismos due at Motts Travel had all arrived by the 18^th May with the last to arrive being MT16MTT. All three of them were delivered in plain white with GT16MTT being noted operating a school service on the 9^th June still in plain white. The other of the trio is registered UK16MTT.

Motts Travel UK16MTT on route 871 on 9th June by Luke Braham .

Olympians N590 & 660BRH have been sold to Vision Travel in Merseyside. This is due to the entry into service of ex-Dublin ALX400s X800, 900MTT.

 
coach with Moots branding but in Crusader colours. I wonder why? Ed.ALX400 X900MTT was noted operating school services on the 9^th June."

I briefly glimpsed a Motts coach with Motts branding in Oxford last week but it was in Crusader colours. I wonder why?

Martin White writes "You might have already heard this, info from a reliable source on NX Facebook Group page says that Deckers are to return to parts of the network later this year........

NEx Have already made an application to TfL to change the the vehicle type in use to 14.2mtr Deckers on routes A1, A3, A6, A7, A8 & A9, & also that they may also return to some South West - London / London - Scotland routes,

The later is interesting as that would be Parks operated routes & they were last operator of Deckers on the Network...

The news on the Grapevine say that there is possibility that they could be of the new Caetano Invictus Decker on Scania Chassis as recently built for Ulsterbus as NEx were looking at them whilst they were being built for Ulsterbus..

 
Photos courtesy Scania.

Interesting Times ahead here for the future with NX..."

Various pictures of current activities

London VCS queues for Glastonbury 2016 reminiscent of queues for coach travel after 2nd world war
22nd June by Gavin Francis.

Stansted based SH13 FN07BYX on route A7 leaves VCS on 2nd June and caught by Gavin Francis.
These now older coaches are being replaced by 16 plate examples.

Skills Nottingham BX16CGV on the 310 to Poole leaves Gloucester Green on 3rd July by Gavin Francis.

Selwyn's 174 on the 420  with Boom Town super rear on 2nd June by Gavin Francis. 

Much of the current news is mentioned in the Editorial at the top of the page.

On 4th July Graham Low wrote "Here are pictures of one of the new COMS Volvo B11R/Plaxton Elite I X90 coaches, one of the earlier Airline Volvos on its first day on the BHX, showing the modified livery and lettering, and one showing the lettering now being introduced on the rear of the Airline fleet."

I haven't worked out why this coach is and still is operating with no branding on the offside.
Coach 1 with missing offside branding on 18th June by Gavin Francis.

OX 61 and 62 rear comparison having been repainted and rebranded seen at Gloucester Green on 10th June by Gavin Francis.
These coaches are normally to be seen on the Gatwick service.

43 PF61OXF with new rear branding seen at Gloucester Green on 10th July by Gavin Francis.

 
2nd July sees the start of the Birmingham service and here Gavin Francis records the departure of the 1445 service, worked by coach 25, from Oxford.

A day later, on 3rd July, coach 21 works the same departure and is seen leaving Gloucester Green by Gavin Francis.

Oxford has received four new Interdeck coaches for the X90 London service, they are as follows:

67     X90APP
68     X90YES
69     X90PLS
  70     X90WAY

Most interesting use of registrations!

They are to allow four Airline coaches (from 21-25) to operate the Birmingham service. It also means that the majority of London services are now Interdeck operated. 

Brand new Interdecker nr 67 arrives in Oxford after her first trip from London on 26th June taken by Malcolm Crowe.

A comparison in rears with coach 67 from the rear alongside earlier 63 on 26th June taken by Malcolm Crowe.

Two more of the four new coaches, 69 and 70, show off their rears on 29th June taken by Malcolm Crowe.

Coach 70 leaves Oxford on its very first service to London at 08:45 with a charming lady driver at the wheel Taken by Malcolm Crowe.

Now having operated every route in Oxford, 231 is seen on the X3 entering Oxford Station on 2nd June taken by Gavin Francis.

965 a driver trainer heads through Stokenchurch on 6th June by Gavin Francis. 

Red Kite 

Nick Ross writes "Red Kite's M491ASW arrives at Leighton Buzzard with the 12:05 73 to Totternhoe on June 4th 2016. This fine machine had also worked the 162 to Dagnall earlier, The 73 was expected to be this Olympian's last service bus working with a school turn expected on June 6th then off the road for good!!

Olympian P262VPN gleams whilst parked up in Leighton Buzzard, High St prior to working the 1050 162 to Dagnall on May 27th 2016."

This short report and pictures are much appreciated. Red Kite has an interesting fleet and one wonders just how long Olympians will continue in services? Ed.  

An old London Trident ALX400 SK52MPU, is former Transdev London United VA295, seen on the 643 school service in Stokenchurch on 4th July by Gavin Francis.
The bus looks very smart indeed and has been converted to single door.

I learn that this company is expecting two new buses for new contracts in Milton Keynes.

Not a regular anymore on the 275 the Falcon was on the duty on 5th July seen by Malcolm Crowe.
The regular driver on the 275, Nick Cherry, is seen at the wheel.

Andy Churchill reports "E400 10070 (SK63AUT) and Gold Scania 15964 (YN14PKX) were both loaned to Stagecoach South at Aldershot between 24-29/05/16 to assist with the park and ride operations at BMW PGA Golf Championship at Wentworth operating between ascot and Sunningdale and on a service to and from Virginia water railway station , other Stagecoach operators including Manchester and Merseyside and London contributed vehicles also, totalling 17 buses being used by Aldershot and Basingstoke depots."

 Seen at Oxford depot quite often are Midlands training vehicles.

SCE 52434 Driver Trainer at Horspath depot on 26th May by Gavin Francis.

MMC 10441 on the X30 passes the train station in Oxford on 2nd June by Gavin Francis.

E200 36760 on an S2 working leaves Gloucester Green n 10th June by Gavin Francis.
It is most unusual to see such a bus on this Gold route.

E200 36771 with new super rear in George Street on 18th June by Gavin Francis.

Another service to be lost from Sunday 17th July is the 17C which serves Jericho. Here 47834 works this route on 27th May seen by Gavin Francis.Swindon

Raymond James writes "Non-Gold 15738 was on the 66 again on 21st May. I also forgot to mention an unusual panel replacement on 15841 which has a lower dark blue skirt around the registration plate and gold panel where a grill would be if it had a front radiator."

15736 on a 66 working on 13th June by Gavin Francis.

 

Difficult times for the service on 1st June when a fatal accident by Victoria Coach Station closed Buckingham Palace Road. Tube services had to start from Grosvenor Gardens, well actually from stop Q rather than our usual stop 10A. However stop 10A was used for out of service coaches.

50282 loads at stop Q on 1st June seen by Gavin Francis.

Three Tubes parked up on stop 10A  on 1st June seen by Gavin Francis.

A revised timetable is now in force and there are now only two express services (Thornhill to Marble Arch non-stop) each weekday morning.

Once a Tube Megabus 50222 is seen leaving VCS Edinburgh and Glasgow on 19th May by Gavin Francis.

 
50223, once a winner of Showbus in 2009, is seen on two differing services from London on 24th and 26th May by Gavin Francis.

 
Brand new 55022 on an ME2 Amsterdam working from London on 1st June and then by 12th July bearing Flixbus logos both by Gavin Francis.

Western 54128 - YN63NFT somewhat off route in Green Line LONDON on 19th May by Gavin Francis.

As mentioned above there are to be some major changes to the Thames Travel network from late July.

Not much to report vehicle wise but a couple of interesting pictures to include.

TT 707 on route 218 - ending 200716 and 721 on route 25A to continue from 240716 subject to contract seen on 31st May by Gavin Francis.

TT 720 on route 94 to end 230716 and seen in St Giles on 31st May by Gavin Francis.

Citaro 865 on route X32 at Didcot train station on 5th June by David Beynon.
At this time only minor timetable changes are indicated from late July.

Bill J writes "In the Red Rose section of your 18 May S&J you include"

"When I was in Thame on 19 April the local town service operated by Vale Travel had an original Dennis Dart with step entrance. Couldn't get a photo unfortunately. To be fair the driver made a big effort to help with shopping trollies on boarding the vintage L116HHV. I'm not a Thame regular so not sure if its the regular vehicle but Oxford emissions control probably wouldn't like it!!"

I travelled on this bus on Vale Travel route 120 from Thame to Princes Risborough on my way to the start of a long walk on 18 June, and this bus still seems to be in regular use on the cluster of 120-ish services around the area (it arrived in Thame on the 123 before the driver shuffled the cards inside the windscreen!). The driver was indeed friendly and obviously used to helping people with their walkers and shopping trolleys. 

All these services are losing Oxfordshire funding and will be withdrawn on 23 July. Perhaps L116HHV will be as well! Incidentally, I gather it started life on the intensive C2 route in London - a long time ago.

I took a picture after I got off the bus in Princes Risborough, so here it is.

Vale Travel L116HHV on the 120 in Thame on 18th June by Bill J.

I've only sent you pictures once before (when the Thames Travel X32 started in 2008), but I'm a regular reader - so thanks again for all your hard work!"

Vale Travel Y982TGH on the 48 at Stokenchurch - now operated by Carousel and seen on 31st May by Gavin Francis.

West Wales firm ceases trading after no buyer is found; other operators take up contract work. Silcox Coaches of Pembroke Dock ceased trading on Monday (6 June) after no buyer could be found for the business by administrators. It operated 65 vehicles. 

Driver of the Year nominee works on Oxford Bus Company’s X90 route

Oxford Bus Company driver Loretta Taylor is up for Driver of the Year at the FTA Everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards.

One of Oxford's long-standing coach drivers, Loretta Taylor is a finalist in the category and “a real credit to the company”, according to MD Phil Southall.

Adds Phil: “Loretta’s nomination will be no surprise to customers who’ve experienced her excellent service on our X90 route. She is a great role model for women looking to succeed in our industry and we’re really proud that she has been shortlisted for this prestigious award.”

The awards ceremony takes place on 26 May at the Hilton on London’s Park Lane.

Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of Everywoman, says: “Today’s announcement comes as the transport industry seeks to enhance its image as one that offers exciting opportunities to all women, from young women entering the workforce to those returning after a career break.

This year’s finalists are the role models who demonstrate the industry is open to all backgrounds and skillsets and that it welcomes talented and ambitious women.”

Nimbus Journey Information has delivered on a new contract with Oxford County Council to provide real-time passenger information across Oxfordshire.

Real-time passenger info live across Oxfordshire

Oxontime is a real-time central database and control system solution that shares live transport information about the bus network with passengers across Oxfordshire.

The service includes accompanying smartphone apps and a website, with an API and SMS service and an operator console.

Passengers can access www.oxontime.com or download the app to access live information about bus arrival and departure times,

Andy Churchill writes "The university of Oxford has announced at the end of April 2016 that a new shuttle bus service is to be introduced on the 18th July 2016 which will link the key science campuses around Oxfordshire, the shuttle bus service will link the UNI of Oxford's science area in Parks Road with the Old Road Campus in Headington, close to the hospitals where the UNI has numbers of both students and staff based and the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus , the route will be known as the 'Science Transit Shuttle' and will run every 30 minutes on weekdays between 7.am and 7.pm and will be run by an Oxford newcomer UNO of Hertfordshire a subsidiary of the University of Hertfordshire, the shuttle bus will initially be for the use of university students and staff and Harwell campus but the long term plan is to open it to the general public while funding is being sought from the Government local growth fund to secure buses which will be Zero-Emissions for the service." 

Gavin and Malcolm visit the Isle of Wight

An enjoyable day out for both of us is our near annual trip to the island. Pictures are mostly by Gavin with one odd one from me. The date is 7th June 2016.

Our transport arrives from Ryde at the beginning of our day at Portsmouth - Clarence Pier.

The 1938 Piccadilly line tube stock is still active and provides a great way to get Shanklin from Ryde.

Gavin quickly took this picture of your Editor, saying thereafter, "now I'll take a proper picture of the train!!".

The number 3 runs via Shanklin and Ventnor to Newport.
As ever our upper deck seats provided excitement as various bits of overhanging trees were catapulted into our laps!

We had a short break in Ventnor before carrying on to Newport for lunch. Our steed for this part was on an E400 which started life on loan to Oxford Bus.

       
Before and after a welcome lunch we took pictures of various buses using the bus station. This included 16 plate Enviro 400s working the 9.

ADL Enviro 350H Demonstrator SN62DNJ on loan to Southern Vectis and working the 5 out of Newport.
This bus has been on loan to a number of operators throughout the UK since new.

   
As we have done before we then took a bus to Alum Bay and had a cream tea at the terminus.
We were able to see the open top service and other operations at Yarmouth ferry port.
(The third picture above is by Malcolm Crowe.)

Our return to Ryde was on the 9 route but as it was rush hour we did not have a new bus to ride on.
We passed a number of Newport bound services as seen above.

Our return to Portsmouth was by the Hovercraft soon to be replaced with new vessels and as we walked to the car park,
still working the connecting service was Stagecoach 36925, an immediate sister to similar buses working in Oxford.

Altogether an excellent day out. 

Marcus Lapthorn visits Jersey 

We spent the weekend in Jersey and I was delighted to find that former RTL 326 was in service operating on the Jersey War Tunnels route from St. Helier. The vehicle is in very good condition and the engine sounds wonderful!

RTL 326 entered service in 1949 at Tottenham garage on route 73, subsequently working from Seven Kings and Stockwell.  After disposal by LT she worked for West Herts Coaches and Kirby's Coaches of Hertfordshire.  In 1974 she was acquired by the East London Traction Society and restored by them, but was sold on in 1978. After several years of open storage at Billingshurst, she was moved in 1999 to the Leyland Museum at Preston, where more restoration work was undertaken.