From the Editor

A varied and interesting issue this week with much on local changes and new deliveries.

In this issue

Heathrow interlude by Jack Cooper

Grayson's in Birmingham and Oxford Bus electrics by Allan Hollis

The past week or so in Oxford and other EV developments by Richard Sharman

 HARLEQUIN COACHES BK14LFH at BINDERS YARD, CRYERS HILL

SOUTH BEDS DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICE BY NICK ROSS

Readers Write about Branding

Coach Visitors to  Oxford by David Beynon and George Candelin

Fleet News and Developments

Oxford Bus changes

Stagecoach West fleet changes

London Operations

Super Loop routes

Latest Wraps

and its buses and coaches by Jack Cooper

There are amny operators serving the  airport and Jack recorded many of them on February 3rd.

   

Airport Parking

 
     
   

     

   

      
     

 

 

   

 

       

       

Just shows what interest there is in this location. Ed. 

Grayson's in Birmingham and Oxford Bus electrics
by Allan Hollis

February 6th.

     
CSS and single decks seen on February 6th being prepared for delivery.

    
City deckers 724, 725 and 727 seen on February 6th being prepared for delivery.
724 and 727 were delivered to Oxford on February 7th.

The past week or so in Oxford and other EV developments
by Richard Sharman

 
Witney E400MMC 11253 has received a new vinyl pack to match the new arrivals,
including the graphics below the rear top window.

A rather ironic advert now adorns some of this batch of Volvo B5LHs, it is for the new film Migration, something these will be doing when they depart for Manchester!.

351 is seen on the route it is branded for the 35.

Arriva's new incarnation of the X7/ 8 routes into Oxford are now in full flow, and for the first few weeks the buses even carried new timetable booklets. How much impact the changes have made to patronage are yet to be seen. As mentioned in last week's issue, Aylesbury and High Wycombe now fall under Southern Counties management, a quick look at vehicles last week revealed legal lettering is still carried for Arriva the Shires, Leicester at the moment.   

Mercedes-Benz Citaro 3011 is seen turning into Castle Street towards Aylesbury,
which would make for a good look at its chassis had the sun been shining in that location!. 

The X7 and X8 meet at Oxford Rail Station, although the driver initially displayed X80 to Henley. 

The Wright Pulsar 2's still work on the X7/ 8, but seemingly not as frequently as the Citaro's these days. 3816 is seen on Park End Street.

A French Beulas Jewel-bodied Scania of ADS Voyages heads down Park End Street whilst looking for the official coach drop off point.  

Thames Travel's loan E200MMC 599 is seen operating new service 3X to Oxford Science Park, still sporting White Bus fleet number 59.

 
Progress at the rail station as of early February.

With more new electrics due for Oxford, the cascade of StreetDecks to Thames Travel will no doubt see off the older stock, making scenes like these increasingly rare.

 
Scania's 247 and 914 are seen in Castle Street awaiting their next duties.

Another use of electrics in Oxford

Whilst we all marvel at the new electric buses hitting the streets, it is worth remembering that this is not the only sector embracing new technology. 

ODS, under contract to Oxford City Council, are operating the City's first electric bin lorry,
a Dennis Eagle eCollect, along with a collect of smaller refuse vans.  

Voi, the eScotter people have installed a proper parking station for them at Frideswide Square.  

Oxa Universal Autonomy has been using this 2019 Hybrid Electric Ford Mondeo for testing
its self-driving vehicle for some time now, it can often be found doing circuits of the city.  

In addition, Royal Mail and many of the parcel delivery companies have been using electric delivery vans for a couple of years now.  

HARLEQUIN COACHES BK14LFH BINDERS YARD, CRYERS HILL

In 2023 Harlequin Coaches purchased two Volvo B8R with Caetano Levante 2 bodies. Registered BK14LFG and BK14LFH they were new in 2014 and entered service with Bournemouth Transport on National Express work. 

 
BK14LFH when new on 3rd September 2014 working National Express 035 

In 2017 LFH was selected to be part of a promotion used on a number of coaches for the film Transformers. 

LFH pictured in Victoria Coach Station on 24^th July 2017 

By 2022 Bournemouth had lost the National Express contract and instead their coaches were repainted and branded for Megabus. 

LFH pictured on Elizabeth Bridge, Victoria now in Megabus livery on 12^th May 2022 again with a rear ad this time for the Bournemouth and Poole Districts.

Earlier on the year it was parked in Bullied Way, Victoria on 7^th January 2022. 

By the summer of 2023 it had been bought by Harlequin Coaches and retained its Megabus livery.

 LFH parked in Harlequins Yard on 15^th July 2023.

 By February 2023 its livery had gone full circle and back to its original white but now with Harlequins pale blue skirt.

Now repainted in Harlequin livery it is pictured in their yard on 3^rd February 2023.

A fascinating story from Gavin. Ed.

THE SOUTH BEDS DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICE
by Nick Ross

Home | South Beds Dial-A-Ride (sbdar.co.uk)

South Beds Dial a Ride Minibus named "Mike" has a break at the windswept Dunstable Downs bus stop on February 2nd 2024

OXFORDSHIRE BUS ENTHUSIASTS SOCIETY

Next Meeting

Wednesday 14 February

Alan Whitaker: Birch Bros: keeping it in the family

Birch Bros ran a well-known bus network in Bedfordshire until the late 1960s when they were taken over by United Counties. They also ran an express service from Rushden to London Kings Cross. Many of their vehicles were of distinctive design.

  

This will be held from 7 to 9 p.m at the Norman Brown Room 2, Rose Hill Community Centre, Carole's Way, Rose Hill, Oxford, OX4 4HF. 

Oxford Bus Co service 3 passes the centre and services 3A and Thames Travel service X40 pass within five minutes walk. 

A bar is available after the meetings: there are snacks but no meals are served. Parking is available.

Everyone is very welcome to attend.

On my first day at RAF Cardington in February 1958 I remember going into Bedford on a Birch Marlborough class (Guy Arab / Willowbrook 53 seater) resplendent in the firm's cream livery with lime green lining. Ed.

Brian Hawkins with regard to the debate on "Route Branding".  

Whilst I am in agreement with many that such actions become a farce when "branded" buses are used on the "wrong route". I believe there is an answer.  

Using L.E.D. destination displays it would be relatively easy to "brand" a route by using coloured L.E.D. destination displays for a route - thereby "branding" each route.  

This would give the operator the flexibility to use any bus on any route should the need arise, whilst giving those with sight problems a helping hand in boarding the correct bus.  

Whilst there may be more routes than colours, a different background colour could be employed to differentiate. i.e. red number on a green background, red number on a blue background and so on.  

Mentioning destination displays, I do like Thames Valley double decks display as per 909. To the extent that I think all double deck buses should have displays like these. 

Chris Huntingford on Route Branding

 “Regarding route branding, personally, I find it very useful. Especially as I often walk down the narrow Turl Street in Oxford, and if I see the colour of bus I need pass at the other end, a sprint to High Street stop T2 means I usually catch it. This matters especially when wet, as there is no shelter at this stop. At the same time, I’m sure route-specific branding causes lots of headaches with vehicle allocation. However, maybe we are looking directly at a solution to this paradox. BMW have developed a car where the colour of the panels can be changed by the driver (google something like “bmw panels change color”). Couldn’t someone in Oxford pop to the BMW plant and ask if we could borrow this technology, possibly as a test replacing the panels down the side of one of the new electric buses?” 

      Coach visitors to Oxfordshire     

David Beynon

A few pics from around and about over the last few days. These are likely to be the last for some time as the monthly reduction in steroids for my rheumatoid arthritis is being matched by an increase in discomfort/pain which makescarrying a bag around with a camera etc a bit uncomfortable. If I do see anything worthy of note I’ll use my phone. We wish David a speedy improvement. Ed.

     
 

George Candelin

     
     
     
     
Visitor variety on January 30th. The rears make for interest. Ed.

     Fleet News and developments   

 

Gavin Francis

     
Early February saw 2790, 2955, 2956 and 2958 on a variety of workings.

3020[ is seen near the station with a 13 on February 1st.

Cressex depot sees 5457 on February 4th.

 
Ready for and departing 5459 on February 4th.

Surprise duty for AC 012 with the staff bus on February 1st.

Cressex depot with ACO07 on February 4th. 

Jack Cooper

 
Variety working the X7 through Westgate as 3023 and 5468 on February 3rd.

5468 now in High  Street with the X7 on February 3rd.

Neil Gow

Saturday 2^nd February. 

Chiltern Automotive of Cryers Hill Volvo B7TL KP51 WAO was pictured arriving at Reading from Bracknell on a rail replacement service. It was new to First Leicester and acquired from Xelabus in 2023. 

Excluding the open-top Trident, the oldest buses in the Reading Buses fleet by some margin are a handful of the 54-reg East Lancs boded Scanias still remaining. On Saturday two of them were out on the Reading-Bracknell service taken over from First Berkshire a few years ago.

 
810 is seen loading in Reading and 803 arriving at Bracknell bus station. 

Gavin Francis

 
63374 works the X74 on February 1st.

Luke Marion with recent changes

So far we have transferred 251-254 to Go South West, 371-372 to Pulhams, 203 to Brighton and 631 to Go North East. 

The plan is for the fleet numbers 351-369 to transfer to Manchester, but due to the franchising environment up there TfGM is involved and the process is now well underway. I should have some news on this to share in the not too distant future.

889 is on short term loan to Oxford.

Bob Chalmers re 674

This bus was back in service last week but was tracking as 800001until yesterday afternoon - it went on '5' duties and tracked as 674. Today, its back on X1 duties but tracking again as 800001 - very strange. When it's tracking as 800001 it does not appear on the OBC website. I also note that 357, 364, & 369 have left the fleet and seem to be heading to Manchester. Are others from this 'group' going to be doing likewise? Be nice to get some info from OBC about the forthcoming changes to the 'older members' of the fleet.

 

Gavin Francis

From outside Amersham Station last Saturday.

 
223 and 245 working local routes on February 3rd.

In Wycombe on February

887 laying over in the Eden on February 4th.

223 seen near the stationon February 4th.

408 with a 27 working near the station on February 4th.

 
889 working the 28 in  Stokenchurch New Road on February 5th.

   
Carousel depot on February 4th.

 
404 and 531 at the depot on February 4th.

pignbob

   
A big surprise on February 7th was 889 working the 11X.

Ryan Butler 

I was in Wycombe on Friday (2nd Feb) and had the opportunity of taking a ride on, and a photo of, 889, where I caught it pulling in to the Bus Station.
I appreciate it's not the best quality photo, but it was the best I could achieve in the lighting at the time. 

George Candelin

 
Soon to leave the fleet for pastures new,  352 and 365 on January 30th.

308 seen at Redbridge on January 30th.

374 seen on January 30th.

Electric 200 in Gloucester Green on January 30th.

Jack Cooper

 
Interdeck 67 has seen service in recent days and is seen here in Gloucester Green on January 29th.

Electric 200 resting in Gloucester Green on January 30th

354 seen working the 3A on February 3rd.

 
Park & Ride 675 and 677 on February 3rd.

Brookes-Park & Ride 709 in Westgate on February 3rd.

971 with a 108 in High Street on February 3rd.

James Freeman

 
492 and 495 at Cowley House on February 2nd.

976 and 670 at Cowley House on February 2nd. 

James Lambeth

recorded the day two electrics worked the 700 on February 3rd

All electric on the 700 on February 3rd, with Brookes 713 / BJ73 WWT and Electricity 722 / BJ73 WXK showing the subtle differences between the two (sub-) batches.

   
713 makes an interesting comparison wit h 722 below.
   

pignbob

   
Branded for the 15 684 is working a 3A service in Westgate on February 3rd.

Richard Sharman

 
I was quite surprised to see Electric Plaxton President 200 approaching Frideswide Square on Friday the 2nd of February.

If bustimes.org is to be believed, it has entered service after a hiatus of 8 months, with two tours on the 1st and its first full day on the 2nd.  th the imminent arrival of the rest of the Electroline's, this incarnation of Park & Ride branding will soon be gone.

But we shouldn't let it pass without recognising the irony of the rear branding on 680.
 If you know your Thames Transit history, you will know that Park & Glide was the name used
for its competitive P&R routes using vinyl wrapped Mellor Duet-bodied Iveco Daily's featuring Gloria Glide!.

Charles Powell

   
Pulhams SN08BXP on February 1st all painted up. Former Lothian and Heyfordian vehicle. 

David Beynon

Seen working football duties, GL19PUL at The Kassam on February 3rd.

James Freeman

       
At the Kassam on February 3rd.

Phil Rumsby re his recent photo.

Glad Charles wasn't broken down. I did look later and it had moved away because it he was still there I was going to take a cup of tea round as it was only 20 yards from my house.

 

It was just a shock seeing an Airline branded coach in the village, I think only an Oxford Tube would have surprised me more! 

Charles Powell writes

That was myself driving having just picked it up from the trim shop. Had a buzzer going off, all was fine so wasn’t actually broken down.

Jack Cooper

The older Scanias seem to be lasting well as with 229 seen in Westgate on February 3rd.

Excellent destination display is a feature of 904 seen in Westgate on February 3rd.

Gavin Francis

YX08MFO leaves the Eden with a 156 on February 1st.

 

 

Gavin Francis

BV73MLY in the Eden Bus Station with a 130 on February 4th.

George Candelin

YX63LJE working the X20 in Oxford on February 3rd.

BV73MTE working the X20 in Oxford on February 3rd.

Gavin Francis

~
Red Rose Y26RRT with a 40 at Stokenchurch on February 5th.

Ciaran Bird

I can report that 15753 in at Bristol depot with engineering and has been here for at least a week now. I believe it is in for an engine rebuild but I can't confirm this.

Dave & Deric

There are very few changes to record on the Stagecoach West Fleet Card for Period 10 (02/02/2024). Here is our summary. There are no changes affecting Stagecoach Oxford/Thames Transit this month.

 

Transfers	10985	North Bristol	To	Swindon
	15880	Cheltenham	To	Stroud
	15985	Swindon	To	Gloucester
	37008	Stroud	To	Cheltenham
Out of Reserve	47688	Reserve	To	Stroud
Gone	15731	Gloucester	To	Transfer to East Scotland

 A quiet month!

Jack Cooper

Scania 15991 with very partial branding for the 700 seen working in Oxford on February 3rd.     

Richard Sharman

Stagecoach West's newest bus, ADL Enviro400MMC 11760, is seen departing Frideswide Square for Carterton on the S1.
11761 has yet to appear.

George Candelin

 
50432 at Gloucester Green on January 30th.

     London operations    

Andrew Webb

SL5, the latest section of the Superloop network which will eventually trace an almost complete circle through suburban London, launched on 3 February.  The limited stop service links Croydon with Bromley and is noticeable for being the first to use single deck buses.  Operated by Arriva, the company has chosen ENX class Enviro 200s which most recently worked route 289.  Politely described as 'mid life' the application of the Superloop branding did not fool some passengers who commented on the noisy and rattily nature of these buses. 

ENX11 is seen at Bromley South on the first day as it nears the end of another trip from Croydon.  

The unseasonably mild weather in London has not stopped Moon Boot launching a campaign advertising their range of ski boots on the capital's buses. 

Go Ahead's LT437 promotes the yellow version as it passes Waterloo on 3 February.   

Later the same day LT268 from the Stagecoach fleet could be found at Oxford Circus advertising the pink version. 

Marks & Spencer, long one of the nation's favourite suppliers of underwear has launched a new bra fitting service. 

Go Ahead's LT431 encourages the ladies of Elephant and Castle to book an appointment as it heads for Aldwych on route 176. 

Gavin Francis

NEW SUPERLOOP ROUTES 

All pictures supplied by Nigel Eadon-Clarke 

Last Saturday the latest Superloop service joined the growing network. SL5 operates between Croydon Town Centre and Bromley North Station. In a change from previous Superloop routes this one is operated by Arriva using single-deckers buses from South Croydon Garage. It has a PVR of 10 and the running time for the 8 mile route can vary from 21-52mins. 

 

ENX 9 at East Croydon Station 

 
ENX 15 pictured at Croydon Library and ENX 10 at Bethlem Royal Hospital 

In 3 weeks time on 24^th February the next Superloop route commences this time the SL3. Again it marks a change in the type of bus used this time The New Routemaster being the bus of choice. The service runs from Bromley to Thamesmead and will be operated by Stagecoach Bromley Garage. The buses to be used will come from the RATP group where they were used on the Route 9 until the operator was transferred to Metroline. Normally the buses move with the route but with Metroline already having enough LTs to operate the route the RATP buses were available to transfer to Stagecoach.

   

In order that both type training and route learning could be carried out LTs 239 and 240 were borrowed from Stagecoach East London and LT 239 is seen here at Chislehurst Common.

  
LTs including 130 and 132 have arrived at Bromley Garage ready to be branded.

In the yard of Bromley Garage LTs await conversion to Superloop SL3 buses.

Once this route starts the Superloop will then be complete all the way from Walthamstow in the North-East of London to Thamesmead in South-East London.

It now only needs the SL2 between North Woolwich and Walthamstow to complete the full loop. In addition there is one more route to start which is the SL4 between Canary Wharf and Grove Park.

Pictures from Acton Green 3rd February