Issue nr 283
Thursday January 11th, 2024

 

From the Editor

An interesting period in the area covered including new buses, depot exchanges and route number revisions. 2024 will be an exciting one for enthusiasts.

We record the death of a well known driver latterly on the Oxford tube. His colleagues will remember him as friendly and helpful

In the news this week

Floods across our area cause many problems for public transport

John Owen Obituary

The Chester & Wrexham Charity Heritage Bus Running Day

Carousel to serve Heathrow with a revitalised Flightline service

Fleet News & Developments

Details of the new GB Kite Electroliners for Oxford Bus

Update from Pulhams

The 3X is launched from Thames Travel

Fleet update at Stagecoach West & Oxford

Buses in the snow! by John Marsh

Floods across our area cause many problems for public transport

Oxford High Street bus gate restrictions have been suspended due to flooding

The Oxfordshire roads currently closed due to flooding | Oxford Mail


Picture from James Freeman (080124)


Picture from Joel Forey (070124)

The recent weather problems are highlighted in the two articles as shown above. All operating companies have experienced problems with the flooding which was widespread, especially those with, routes along the River Thames and tributaries. 

 

John Owen Obituary


1939 - 2024

 John passed away on January 6th as advised by his daughter. John will be remembered by many in and around Oxford having driven for Stagecoach and City of Oxford MS.

A North Waleian still retaining his Welsh accent he will be latterly remembered as a long serving driver working the Oxford tube for many years in the 2000's, always helpful and cheerful.

I knew John well and we often joked about both having PCV licences taken around the same time in 1961 and we also had experience in the  north and south central  UK.

I am advised by his daughter "John's funeral will be held on Wednesday, January 17th - 3pm at Banbury Crematorium,  if anyone would like to attend they will be more than welcome. John was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who loved his family passionately.
John joined Stagecoach many years ago and loved his time there so much, he made many good  friends with his colleagues who he thought so much of, sadly over the years John's health deteriorated but he continued to live life to the full and always with a smile on his face."

John was born on December 19th 1939 and died on January 6th 2024.

Ed.by Nigel Eadon-Clarke 

As someone Cheshire born, I found this very interesting as I know Chester well. Ed.

Gavin Francis writes "An event not covered on this page before was the Chester and Wrexham Running Day held on the January 1st. A wide range of buses operated the D1 service between the two points.

Nigel Eadon-Clarke made the long trip from South-East London to record the event.

Buses came from a wide range of operators throughout the country including Midland Red, Brighton & Hove, Wallasey, Ulsterbus, London, United Counties, Stagecoach and Merseyside."

     
     
     
 
A varied selection indeed, I well remember the first Atlanteans like the Wallasey one above.
My first trip on one was a lowbridge version of James, Ammanford. Ed.

Carousel to serve Heathrow with a revitalised Flightline service

Heathrow Connections - Carousel Buses

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Carousel Buses has advised the following. "We will be converting our "102" service to a "Flightline" spec service and as part of this some of the E400 MMC buses that have been displaced from Brookes services will be being cascaded to Carousel and refurbished to an improved specification. The first bus (609) went away last week and refurbishment is now underway."

At this time details of livery and schedules are not known but it is an interesting development. Readers have expressed various views and it took a long time readers, Ed Maun to draw my attention to a line about this in the January issue of Buses magazine.

Gavin Francis comments "That's interesting, I suppose with a £2 max fare although it will take longer although it is a lot cheaper than using The Airline from Handy Cross." 

Heathrow are making strong efforts to encourage the use of public transport through

 

I will publish more details as they become available.  Ed. 

      Coach visitors to Oxfordshire     

David Beynon


City Circle in St. Giles on the 4
th.


     Fleet News and developments   

 

Malcolm Crowe


3580 was still at Cressex depot on January 6th.

Jack Cooper

Jack covered the last working of the 280 Aylesbury service on January 6th.


Citaro 3019 was the last bus to work an Aylesbury bound 280, leaving Oxford Rail Station at 22:05.


The last decker working was 5469 leaving Oxford an hour before at 21:05.
I don't really understand why Arriva feels the need to renumber everything at Aylesbury, especially when routes like the 280 are well established route numbers ?


3816 seen in Hemel Hempstead on January 6th.


3870 working a 150 service at Milton Keynes on January 6th.


3879  with an X60 service at Milton Keynes on January 6th.

Joel Forey

 
The X7 on Sunday 7th operated by 3016 and 3816 in Oxford.



Thames Travel starts trial bus service to The Oxford Science Park

Thames Travel starts trial bus service to The Oxford Science Park - routeone (route-one.net)

pignbob

     
Thames Travel 513 operating the first day of service on January 8th

Jack Cooper


405 is seen at Hemel Hempstead with a 1 on January 6th


Cressex Park & Ride sees many different  buses such as 940 with the X8 on January 6th.

Malcolm Crowe


The PMU fleet at rest when seen at the depot on January 6th.

Herewith details of the GB Kite Electroliners

Subsidiary

Product Name

Body Number

Chassis Number

Registration

Fleet number

Oxford Bus Company

GB Kite Electroliner

AV257

SC5DSREXU23000229

BJ73WXD

491

Oxford Bus Company

GB Kite Electroliner

AV258

SC5DSREXU23000230

BJ73WXE

492

Oxford Bus Company

GB Kite Electroliner

AV259

SC5DSREXU23000231

BJ73WXF

493

Oxford Bus Company

GB Kite Electroliner

AV260

SC5DSREXU23000232

BJ73WXG

494

Oxford Bus Company

GB Kite Electroliner

AV261

SC5DSREXU23000233

BJ73WXH

495

Jack Cooper


On a darkening night 26 is seen ready for a  Heathrow departure on January 4th.

   
The normal route for the remaining 300 Park & Ride sees the blue StreetDecks as in early January.

 
In spite of the route branding here yellow 685 and orange 688 both on January 2nd.

James Freeman


Electroliner 708 seen at Cowley House on January 8th.


Electroliner 709 with a 100 service on January 8th. 


Electroliner 712 seen at Oxford Train Station on January 8th.


Electroliner 713 seen at Oxford Train Station on January 8th.


Electroliner 720 working the 11X on January 8th.

Joel Forey


39 and 40 pass in Oxford on January 7th.

 
219 and 222 were both working 5 road on that Sunday.


An odd choice for the 300 seen in Magdalen Street West - 308.


Seen at Carfax, 6 branded 668 is working the X1.


Strangely 902 was working the 6 on that day.


717 looking clean and new when working the 400 on January 7th, its first day in service.

pignbob


603 seen in Broad Street with an ST1 in early January.

 
Electroliner 709 seen near Oxford Train Station on January 8th.

   
Electroliner 716 seen near Oxford Train Station on January 8th.

 
Electroliner 717 seen near Oxford Train Station on January 8th.

Charles Powell

First two Citaro’s have had there 99 branding taken off (which I did) and re-registered. EOA was K99 and EOB was L99. All five of the Citaro’s are staying with us.

 
Taken on January 8th. 

pignbob

 
AA68BUS seen in Oxford on January 8th.


YX69NZE with a 63 service in Oxford on January 8th.

Tony Gaze

 
A few from Cheltenham today, January 8th - No sign of any fleet numbers on Pulhams.  


YX69NNB had Pulhams legal address but suspect it may be on loan?

YX69NNB has acquired the fleet number 615 from January 9th and is, today, operating the 99. Ed.

Jack Cooper


253 seen in Westgate on January 4th.


Loaned 699 seen in Oxford's Westgate with an X40 on January 4th.

 
including Courtney, Newbury & District & Thames Valley

Kevin Fuller

I had some time in Maidenhead on Saturday 6th January, and enclose a few pictures of Thames valley vehicles taken in the town centre: 


Solo 126 waits time on Frascati Way before operating a service 234 to Waltham St Lawrence. 


Also on Frascati Way, E200 MMC 670 picks up passengers for Bracknell with a route 53 service from Wexham Park hospital.
This route, although hourly on Monday - Friday, only runs every 2 hours on Saturdays, perhaps explaining the nearly full bus!
This vehicle has recently been repainted into this livery - it was previously all over yellow with a blue skirt. 


At the main bus stop in the High Street, Enviro 200 663 pauses whilst working local route 7 to Woodlands Park.

 

Expect further new Volvo/MCV buses.

Expect further transfers of E200s from Redline.

Dave & Deric

Our summary of the Stagecoach West Fleet Card changes for Period 9 (dated 05/01/2024). As usual, changes affecting Stagecoach Oxford/Thames Transit highlighted in yellow.

 

New Vehicles

11758-60

New

To

Witney

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers

10750-52

North Bristol

To

Cheltenham

 

10982

North Bristol

To

Swindon

 

11238/40/41

Witney

To

North Bristol

 

11239

Witney

To

Oxford

 

15737/38

Swindon

To

Stroud

 

15984

Swindon

To

Gloucester

 

18312

Swindon

To

Stroud

 

18313

Swindon

To

Gloucester

 

36109

Swindon

To

Stroud

 

47553

Swindon

To

Stroud

 

 

 

 

 

Out of Reserve

47735

Reserve (Witney)

To

Cheltenham

 

 

 

 

 

For Disposal

47297

Cheltenham

To

For Disposal

 

47621

Reserve

To

For Disposal

 

 

 

 

 

Gone

12004

For Disposal

To

Gone

 

15730

Swindon

To

Transfer to East Scotland

 

15732

Stroud

To

Transfer to East Scotland

 

15763/64

Gloucester

To

Transfer to East Scotland

 

18156

For Disposal

To

Gone

 

34838

For Disposal

To

Gone

 

50271/72

For Disposal

To

Gone

 

 

 

 

 

From 07/01/2024, operation of several services in the Cirencester area transferred from Swindon depot to Stroud depot, hence the reason why a number of vehicles have transferred from Swindon to Stroud.

Adam Harber

I’ve been stuck at a desk for the last few weeks and not been near any of the Oxfordshire depots, so not a great deal to report. However, yesterday I was in Bristol to help promote the changes to their 3X service and I got a photo of one of the ex-Witney buses outside the depot, so that is attached. Also in the photograph is 15532, which is currently allocated to Stroud depot but was on loan to the Marketing department for the day for our work promoting the 3X. This bus was new to Cheltenham depot when the 94 between Cheltenham and Gloucester was first converted to Gold operations, and still has the original leather seats inside.


Ex Oxford's 11236 seen outside the depot on January 3rd.

The photo tells a bigger story about the depot… The old building is now 50% demolished, with the remaining being made ready to be taken down, hence the scaffolding and white covers. Where the buses are parked in the photograph was all indoors at the start of the year, so it gives an idea of just how big that place was. Phase two of the demolition will start at the camera end of the building and work towards the far end, which will then become the site for the all-new depot. Yes, there will be an Open Day when it’s finished, but that’s a while off yet!

Tony Gaze

 
From Cheltenham today, January 8th - Trainer 27555 and Solo 47735 once the pride of Banbury.
This bus has recently transferred from Witney (Reserve) to Cheltenham.

David Beynon


West's 15361 branded for the Cheltenham 10 on another 10 route in Oxford's St. Aldates
on January 10th.

 

Jack Cooper

 
MMC 11250 and 11238 both seen in George Street on January 2nd.

       
MMC 11246 with an S5 in Magdalen Street East on January 2nd.


MMC 11757 in George Street with an S1 on January 2nd.


MMC 15361 working the 8 on January 8th.

 
Scania 15991 with a 2 in Magdalen Street East on January 2nd.

James Freeman


11751 working an E1 at Osney Island on January 8th.


First picture of 11760 the latest to be delivered to Witney seen on January 8th.

 

Joel Forey


10783 with an unusual destination on January 7th.


15361 working the 10 at Carfax on January 7th.


Normally a double deck operation, the 8 saw E200 36927 at Carfax on the same day.

Jack Cooper


10880 at rest in George Street on January 2nd.

Jack Cooper

 
The "poppy" bus 50452 at the top of New Road on January 4th.

Jack Cooper

 
265 seen working the C11 in Milton Keynes on January 6th.

Buses in the snow! 
by John Marsh

Honningsvåg - Wikipedia


Heading for North Cape from Honningsvåg a Tide Volvo copes well with the snowy terrain. All in a day's work for the driver.(John Marsh)


Two Volvos of Tide at North Cape


Deep snow in Honningsvåg (John Marsh)


Honningsvåg - picking up deliveries from the pharmacist(John Marsh.)


Arctic Tours Volvo waits at the Igloo Hotel.


Arctic Tours Van Hool Alta

Do follow the link above which will show you what the  area is about. Ed.