Issue nr. 244
Wednesday, February 15th 2023
Editorial
A quieter week by recent standard but of much interest nevertheless. Wycombe PICKMEUP grows as time passes Wycombe has become quite a rainbow of colours with operators serving the town.
Indeed Redline have added to the colours with ex Bournemouth and Nottingham E200s and reports advise that Vale Travel as well as Redline and Rose with ex Bournemouth buses.
This is is right up to date with details of imported Stagecoach buses to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup.
Additionally there are the latest SC West changes and a visit to London Victoria by Gavin Francis.
There is a follow up to that National Express coach used by Oxford Bus - ADD50Y plus pictures of the rail bridge in Botley Road due for replacement soon.
https://www.pickmeupwycombe.co.uk/
More than 25,000 journeys have been made on PickMeUp, Carousel Buses’ ride-sharing service since it launched in High Wycombe.
The landmark has been achieved five months after the demand responsive transport (DRT) service was launched using funding from Buckinghamshire Council via the Government’s Rural Mobility Fund.
Go-Ahead-owned Carousel Buses also confirmed there have been more than 5,000 sign-ups to the PickMeUp app.
PickMeUp enables passengers in High Wycombe to summon minibuses to pick them up at a ‘virtual bus stop’ of their choice, to go to a bespoke destination. A telephone booking service is available for those who want to use the service but are not able to use a smartphone.
Luke Marion, Carousel Buses Managing Director, said: “To break the 25,000 passengers journey barrier is a fantastic milestone for an innovative service that is new to the area.
“We’ve experienced a highly positive response to the service, with more than 5,000 people in the area now having signed up. Thanks to the strong response from the public to PickMeUp we have ordered additional vehicles which we hope to add to the fleet over the coming months to maintain our quality of service and allow for further passenger growth.
“The success to date of PickMeUp in High Wycombe further demonstrates demand responsive transport can play a key role in helping improve air quality and traffic congestion in the UK in conjunction with traditional bus services. While there is a comprehensive existing bus network in the town, there are some areas the main buses can’t serve, due to location, demand for the bus, or the size of the vehicle and PickMeUp helps serve that gap.”
PickMeUp operates Monday to Friday in High Wycombe between 6am and 7pm. Trips costs between £2 and £3.50 depending on the distance travelled, in line with local bus services.
Mercedes-Benz minibuses with Wi-Fi, USB charging points, wheelchair access and comfortable high-back seating are used to deliver the service. The front-end and back-end technology for the service was developed in partnership with ride-sharing technology specialist Via.
Click on the thumbnail for full view.
https://www.amershammotorbussociety.co.uk/
Peter Cartwright
On Sunday 2 April there will be a Classic Bus Running Day
at High Wycombe based on Eden Bus Station by kind permission of the Eden
Centre and Buckinghamshire Council. Local managers of both Arriva and Carousel
have also been consulted and are supportive.
Bus departures will be between 9.05 and 17 25 on a wide
variety of routes serving a number of places who not only have no Sunday service
but no or little bus service at all.
Buses up to 75 years old are scheduled to attend and
operate in service as are younger vehicles which were withdrawn 10 years ago.
There will also be a stall selling transport related
memorabilia near Bay 18 and a separate stall selling a 44 page programme at £6
which helps to fund the event.
This event is suitable for everyone regardless of age but
bus owners retain the right to deny access to anyone who causes offence to
others by lack of personal hygiene.
There will be a number of
feeder services to the event - from places as far away as Harlow, Dorking, West
Croydon, Maidenhead, Aylesbury via Wendover & Great Missenden, Thame & Chinnor
etc and these will be shown in the programme and Amersham & District website in
due course.
Arriva have also approached us to organise an event to
celebrate 60 years since Harlow garage opened and we will organise an event at
Harlow on Sunday 21 May.
We did the same at Garston Garage twice and, indeed, at
closure in co-operation with Arriva London North and these were well received.
There are a number of scheduled Sunday bus services to
High Wycombe on Sundays e.g from Uxbridge, Slough, Reading, Hemel
Hempstead and Aylesbury and it is more cost effective to travel to bus at the
current £2 maximum single fare than arrive by car and pay to park in a car
park
Andy Churchill regarding Ensign in the last Briefing
Ensign did indeed loan a total of six Leyland Leopard PSU3/3R/Alexander C49F which included (RSD736J) the rest of the batch were (RSD735/741/742/750/752J) they were loaned Between May and June 1982 and provided much needed support during the ASLEF railway strikes and extra coaches loaned from June 1982 were from Western National being just Three Willowbrook C49F bodied Leyland Leopards PSU3E/4RT (FDV823/825/826V) .
Jack Cooper
Oxford's historic building provide a backdrop for TT
905 and 670 in St Aldates on March 11th.
Wot No Buses ! Gloucester Green on March 11th.
Neil Gow
Here are a couple of pictures of buses in the landscape
from former times. First, Duple bodied Leyland Leopard 9, downgraded from
Citylink to bus duties and repainted red, seen at the terminus at Holton in
August 1987, along with a rather shabby version of a great British icon. I
wonder if that impressive bus shelter is still there. Second, Leyland Leopard
11, still in Citylink livery, also on the 229 service at Forest Hill in
September 1987. In 1991 I visited Holton again, as it was the last week of
operation of the 229 by COMS. Leyland Leopard 18 was pictured this time, and the
K5 phone box had been replaced by a functional 1990s model.
Then we have another downgraded London coach, this time
Leyland Tiger 107, pictured negotiating the disused railway arch bridge at
Horspath in January 1995. 107 was the only one of its batch to receive bus
livery, although some of the subsequent Plaxton bodied examples also did so.
Coach visitors to Oxfordshire
David Beynon
A varied collection at the
Kassam today for the visit of Derby County.
The team coach was an Ellisons (St. Helens) Van Hool.
Catteralls Neoplan UUI 4928 under the soon to be closed railway bridge in Oxford
on March 8th.
Fleet News and developments
Gavin Francis
The recently arrived Optare Versas are all usefully
employed with local services.
Aylesbury depot provides Wycombe residents of the
convenience of their services to Oxford.
Gavin Francis
Volvo Hybrids at Slough are being replaced by 68 plate MMCs from Scotland. 34375-34387.
Trader branded 44562 seen in Wycombe with an X74 working on March 9th.
First 47692 with an X74 in Gomm Rd, Wycombe Marsh on March 15th.
Kevin Fuller
As well as the ex-Southampton Wright Streetlites mentioned in last weeks
newsletter, the First depot in Slough now has at least 4 Enviro 400 MMC's,
transferred from First in Glasgow. If a permanent move, these will be the first
double deckers based in Slough for several years.
Pictures attached, taken on 11th March:
1) First 34383, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC pauses on Wellington Street
before taking up a route 8 working to Heathrow.
2) Wright StreetLite 47691, recently transferred from Southampton is seen parked
at the rear of Slough depot.
3) Another ex-Southampton StreetLite, 47692 on Wellington Street, still in full
'City Reds branding',
and coincidentally (?) branded for route 6, on which the
bus is working towards Knolton Way.
It will be interesting to see what vehicles these newcomers will be replacing,
and what liveries they will be given.
The Stockport-based operator is to begin serving FlixBus passengers between Manchester, Leeds, Middlesborough, Sunderland and Newcastle at the end of April, with a regular, daily service.
As part of the new partnership, Belle Vue will add a brand new FlixBus branded MAN Neoplan Tourliner to the network.
Belle Vue’s Managing Director, Philip Hitchen, has led the coach company for over 30 years, and says the new partnership offers new opportunities for growth, diversification and commercial success: “We have been following the rise of FlixBus in the UK over the past two years, and have been impressed by their ambition, rapid success and focus on sustainability.
“The FlixBus model allows us to diversify and add express services to our existing revenue streams. We felt it was a great time to join their network, which is showing great promise for growth and profitability in 2023, as well as being on track to become the largest in the UK.”
Gavin Francis in Wycombe on March 9th & 12th.
215 and 223 at work in Wycombe.
The 8 sees a variety of buses now with deckers often replacing the branded
StreetLites.
The two sisters, 431 and 432 seem to have
some problems as it has been rare to see them both in service on the same day !
The ex London Citaros give regular service as seen above.
The crew car used for transport between the garage and bus station looks very
smart.
Jack Cooper
CSS 199 seen in St Aldates on March 11th,.
With closure planned for rebuilding these scenes will
be just a memory.
Seen in St Aldates 353, 365 and 375 on March 11th.
Although branded for the 100 607 is seen in St
Aldates with a U5.
On a wet day 656 and 613 pass through Frideswide
Square.
X1 branded 670 and 674 meet in St Aldates on March
11th.
pignbob
668 with an X3 working on March 11th.
689 seen working the 3 on March 11th.
Jack Cooper
220 is currently on loan to Thames Travel. It has been at
Didcot since Friday 10th where it had worked the 136 in the morning followed by
X32s.
621 with an X2 in Frideswide Square on March 8th.
St Aldates hosts another X2 service worked by 905 on March 11th.
Nick Ross
Longmile of Chesham's Volvo Olympian with East Lancs body) YIL 6138 seen on a
schools at Berkhamsted on March 8th 2023.
Don't see many Ollies these days
sadly...
Gavin Francis
Levante III BF21CZL seen in Victoria Street on March 11th.
Also at the same time Kings Ferry YH68MWK.
Jack Cooper
Surprise visitor to Gloucester Green was this
Transport Solutions Tourismo on March 10th.
Gavin Francis
Ex Yellow Bus YX12AXU working the 130
service on March 9th in High Wycombe.
Ex Nottingham YX63LJE also with a 130 service also on
March 9th in High Wycombe.
Gavin Francis
YX12AKN seen in Stokenchurch and Wycombe
with a 40 working on March 12th.
This is ex Yellow Bus and the first to be repainted in to Red Rose
colours.
Graham Mildenhall
Yellow Buses outcast on the Red Rose 25
Just travelled on "Red Line service 25" on YX12AEU to Bicester Village Station. Had a closer look at it, not only in full Yellow Buses livery complete with slogans etc, it still carries Bournemouth Transport legals superseded by a paper label in the nearside window giving Red Rose as the legal owner.
Tony Bungay
‘Some more former London
Buses later Yellow Buses Enviro 200’s that you may find useful.
Taken
in Aylesbury on a very wet cold March 9th
is former Centrewest DML44317 later Yellow Buses 2026 then 524. The
livery and promotional advertising extolling tourism in
Christchurch/Bournemouth/Poole with it’s association with summer contrast with
the aforementioned weather!!
Being used by Red Rose on
Town service 10, in one of the photos it can be seen ahead of Arriva Enviro 400
working Town service 9 with whom it is competing.
Dave and Deric
Here is our summary of the Stagecoach West Fleet Card for
Period 11 (03/03/2023). There is a lot to report this month and there seems to
have been a clear out of withdrawn vehicles. Also, there are a couple of
movements between West and Oxford.
Stagecoach Cheltenham & Gloucester
Transfers |
25214 |
Cheltenham (Driver Trainer) |
To |
Stroud (Driver Trainer) |
|
27554 |
Cheltenham (Driver Trainer) |
To |
Oxford (Driver Trainer) |
|
36127/28 |
Stroud |
To |
Gloucester |
|
36390 |
Stroud |
To |
Gloucester |
|
36448 |
Stroud |
To |
Oxford |
|
|
|
|
|
Sold/Gone |
18089 |
For Disposal |
To |
Gone |
|
18182 |
For Disposal |
To |
Gone |
|
18377 |
For Disposal |
To |
Gone |
|
20940 |
Driver Trainer |
To |
Gone |
|
22844/45 |
For Disposal |
To |
Gone |
|
34635 |
Reserve |
To |
Gone |
|
34829 |
For Disposal |
To |
Gone |
|
47904/10 |
For Disposal |
To |
Gone |
|
|
|
|
|
14th to
17th March, is the Cheltenham Gold Cup Race Meeting. We will try and
send you a list of vehicles on loan for the Race Shuttles.
Here is a list of the loans to Stagecoach West for this
week’s Cheltenham Festival Race Meeting.
We can’t guarantee it is 100% complete although we
believe it is. It is possible that additional buses may turn up on Friday, the
busiest race day. You will note that we have shown the buses from Oxford,
although these are no longer strictly speaking loans as it is now the same
operating company. The Oxford buses may also vary from day to day. Of course,
other members of the local Stagecoach West fleet are also involved.
Vehicles on Loan for
Cheltenham National Hunt Festival 14/03/2023-17/03/2023
Stagecoach
East:
(6) |
|
Cambus
Ltd: |
10794 (SN66
VZS), 10869/70/8 (YX67 VDE/F/P), 15292 (YN17 ONB), 19706 (AE60 JTO) |
Stagecoach
East Midlands:
(5) |
|
Lincolnshire Road Car Co. Ltd: |
11193-5/7/200
(YW19 VUO/P/R/T/X) |
Stagecoach
London:
(6) |
|
East London
Bus & Coach Co. Ltd: |
10196 (SN63 NCA), 10303 (YY15 OYU), 10320
(SN16 OKA), 19792 (LX11 BHK), 19792 (LX11 BHK) ADL E40D/ADL
Enviro400: 19860 (LX12 CZO) |
|
|
Stagecoach
Manchester:
(10) |
|
Greater
Manchester Buses South Ltd: |
10403/5 (SL64
HZJ/M), 10444 (SN65 HYZ), 10465 (SN65 NZY), 10581/610 (SN16 OTW, OWM),
10844 (SN17 MHY), 11259 (SN69 ZFU), 11526/7 (SK20 AWC/F) |
Stagecoach
North East:
(4) |
|
Busways
Travel Services Ltd: |
11284/93/300/501 (SN69 ZPM/X, ZRF/G) |
Stagecoach
Oxford: (5) |
|
Thames
Transit Ltd: |
10432-4 (SK15
HCO/P/U), 10440/2 (SK15 HDD/F) |
Stagecoach
South:
(5) |
|
Stagecoach
South Ltd: |
15982-6 (YN64
XSJ-M/O) |
Stagecoach
South East:
(5); |
|
East Kent
Road Car Co. Ltd: |
15275/7/89
(YN16 WVR, WTV, WWF), 15328/30 (YN67 YLA/C) |
Stagecoach
South West:
(8); |
|
Stagecoach
Devon Ltd: |
10452-4/9
(SN65 NZH/J/K/S), 10490 (SN65 ZHE), 15318/9 (YN67 YKB/C), 15883 (WA13
GCX) |
Stagecoach
Yorkshire:
(2) |
|
Yorkshire
Traction Co. Ltd: |
11118/9
(SK68 LUF/H) |
Hopefully there are no typing errors!
Frazer Peddle
Dave and Deric
Here is our summary of the Stagecoach West Fleet Card for Period 11 (03/03/2023). There is a lot to report this month and there seems to have been a clear out of withdrawn vehicles.
These are the other changes we
have found relating to the Stagecoach Oxford
Fleet
Transfers |
10431/32 |
Oxford |
To |
Witney |
|
27554 |
Cheltenham (Driver Trainer) |
To |
Oxford (Driver Trainer) |
|
36448 |
Stroud |
To |
Oxford |
|
|
|
|
|
To Reserve |
47658 |
Witney |
To |
Reserve |
|
47735 |
Witney |
To |
Reserve |
|
|
|
|
|
For Disposal |
12001/11/13 |
Reserve |
To |
Disposal |
|
|
|
|
|
Sold/Gone |
22417 |
Driver Trainer (Oxford) |
To |
Gone |
|
50268/69 |
For Disposal |
To |
Gone |
Jack Cooper
11238, 11248 and 10433 head to the Botley Road.
10683 with an S7 and 15759 with a 1 by Oxford
Station.
Although 36448 is not tracking in
www.bustimes.org
we can see it here working the 14 on March 11th.
pignbob
On the 4th, we said goodbye to the 7 and on the 5th, we
said hello to the S7
On the 10th,
689 works the 3 also seen at St Aldates
668 works the X3 at St Aldates
Lastly, 220 works the X32 on loan to Thames Travel at St
Aldates
Jack Cooper
East meets West in Gloucester Green on March 11th.
Andy Churchill
50446 back in Oxford being prepared for a return to service on March 13th.
Tony Bungay
As I mentioned in last weeks Newspage, Vale Travel also
have some former London Buses/Yellow Buses Enviro 200’s, getting photos of these
has been less easy as they tend to be used on school work etc.
However seen today 11/3/23 at Aylesbury Railway Station on Rail Replacement work is former First Capital DMV442527 later Yellow Buses 2034 then 532.
Another former Yellow Buses Enviro 200 vehicle being used by Redline. Seen in
Walton Street Aylesbury passing the old County Offices building on town service
2 on 13th
March, is former First Capital DMV 44233, later Yellow Buses 537 becoming 2039.
This vehicle still has it’s London white roof with large FG fleet number on top.
London operations
Andrew Webb
Go Ahead London's LT428 is one of two New Routemasters to wear a new advert for
Michael Kors. It is seen at Oxford Circus on 11 March.
Gavin Francis in London
Terminus Place, Victoria reopened
In 2013 work started on the rebuilding of Victoria
Underground Station and the slip road Terminus Place which runs alongside the
bus station was closed to allow contractor's offices to be built. The result was
that several routes had to go on a long diversion through Grosvenor Gardens,
Lower Grosvenor Place and Bressenden Place to regain line of route.
This lasted until a couple of years ago when Terminus
Place reopened but it still did not allow buses to go back to normal route as
the street directly opposite the exit from Victoria Station was still closed so
routes still had to make the long diversion.
Now the road layout has been changed to allow a right
turn direct from Victoria Station into Victoria Street so speeding up the
service through Victoria.
These pictures show buses leaving Victoria Station on March 14th.
More pictures from Gavin in the same area.
LT 50 now repainted red after being in General
livery.
V154MEV Golden Tours English Tea Bus.
Originally Stagecoach 17154 it came to Golden Tours as part of their original
open top fleet.
It must have then been re-roofed and fitted out for the service.
Moving to the more modernised by Golden Tours.
Michael Penn
Regarding ADD50Y you might
be interested these photos of it.
The first of it is with
National Travel West when brand new at the Bristol bus rally on August 15th,
1982.
The second of it is with
Bristol Omnibus Company at the Sandwell bus rally in May 1985.
It was in
Badgerline livery although Badgerline didn’t become a separate company until
January 1986.
The last two are in November 1992 after it was shipped to
Hong Kong and converted to open top for a service to the Peak Tram for Citybus.
James Allum from Durham
Well, what a snow fest we've had up here in the North East, anyway the resulting snowstorm we had has produced these lovely pictures.