Issue nr 289
Thursday February 22nd, 2024
for past issues follow this link : Reporting the area since late 19 (oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk)
From the Editor
An interesting again this week with some interesting changes albeit temporary.
In this issue
Superloop Update with pictures by Nigel Eadon-Clarke
London Tourist Route T15
plus other contributions with RCL 2226 working the T15
A visit to Slough with Gavin Francis on February 7th
A visit to Swindon with Jack Cooper on February 5th
LOWER EMISSION READING BUSES FOR NEW BUZZ ROUTENew double deck coaches for megabus
Clapham Junction rail replacement by Andrew Webb
Readers Write - old friends
Coach visitor to our area
Fleet News & Developments
London Operations
Glasgow variety from Gordon Scott
Superloop Update
with pictures
by Nigel Eadon-Clarke
Next Saturday 24th February sees the start of the next
Superloop Route SL3.It will see another different class of bus operating
it this time the LT model having been made available from RATP following
the loss of Route 9 to Metroline.
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LTs being prepared at Bromley Garage ready for introduction into service
on Saturday.
Then just one week later on March
9th
the final link in the
loop is made with the introduction of SL2 from Walthamstow to North
Woolwich. Like the SL1 which also serves Walthamstow it will be operated
by Arriva. This will mean the SL2 and SL3 meet on opposite sides of The
Thames with The Woolwich Ferry to connect them.
I suppose the challenge then will be to see how long it will take to
ride the complete Superloop.
That will just leave the SL4 which runs from Grove Park to Canary Wharf
but that runs through the Silvertown Tunnel which is still being built
and therefore it is not expected to start running until 2025. It will be
operated by Go-Ahead.
London
Tourist Route T15
by Gavin Francis with pictures by Nigel
Eadon-Clarke
Last Saturday, 10th
February there was another guest appearance on Tourist Route T15 this
time using former GreenLine RCL 2226.
It
originally entered service in June 1965 from Romford Garage on the busy
East London routes into Aldgate. It stayed there until 1970 when it was
transferred to Godstone for Route 709. Then in 1976 it was demoted to
bus work and finally in 1979 it was sold to Wombwell Diesels for scrap.
It was
however saved by London Transport and it was part of a large batch of
Routemasters purchased for further service in London and by September
1980 it was sent to Edmonton Garage often known as Ponders End Garage
and used mainly on Route 149.
RCL 2226 stands on
the forecourt of Ponders End Garage on 21st April
1984 by Gavin Francis.
Two
months after this picture was taken it was withdrawn from service and
over the next 20 years it passed through the hands of several film
transport companies but by 2008 it was in the ownership of Ensign Bus
who decided to repaint it in London Bus red.
In 2014 it took part in the RM 60 celebrations
RCL 2226 at Manor House whilst operating service X60.
It has continued to be part of The Private Hire fleet and has been seen
on the Ensign Running Days in December but also in service on routes
such as the 25 and 86 on Tube strike days.
Nigel Eadon-Clarke was along the route on Saturday and recorded the
following pictures.
Nigel Eadon-Clarke pictures.
Other contributions with RCL 2226 working the T15
Andrew Webb
Londoner Buses' T15 hosted another visitor from the Ensignbus heritage fleet on 17 and 18 February, bringing RCL2226 to the capital's streets.
It
is seen at Trafalgar Square on 17 February.
Frank Brown
Ensign's former Green Line coach Routemaster RCL2226 (CUV 226C) guested on Londoner Buses tourist route T15 (Tower Hill - Trafalgar Square) over the weekend of 17/18 February.
Viewed above on Saturday 17 February (1) outside
Charing Cross Station (2) at St Paul's Cathedral (3) entering the City in
Eastcheap.
A visit to Slough with Gavin Francis on February 7th
Street loading is still the order of the day as the bus station is still closed.
One thing which becomes obvious is the variety of operators and buses to be seen. Ed.
A visit to Swindon with Jack Cooper on February 5th
806 seen in Swindon.
Again much variety on offer. Ed.
LOWER EMISSION BUSES FOR NEW BUZZ ROUTE
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Customers on route 9 have noticed the
difference as new-look Buzz 9 single deck compressed natural gas buses
are now in service.
In January the route was extended from Whitley
Wood to Green Park Station using government funding obtained for Reading
Borough Council’s bus service improvement plan. The updated Buzz brand
is being used for routes in Reading that are financially supported by
the council and government.
As part of Reading Buses successful bid to run
the route, there will be an expanded fleet of compressed natural
gas-powered buses to run it. Gas buses produce no particulates, no
hydrocarbons, virtually zero carbon and drastically reduce the amount of
nitrogen oxide (55% less) put into the air compared to equivalent diesel
buses.
The additional buses also feature refurbished
interiors with coffee shop style flooring and USB charging sockets.
Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive
Officer, said today: “We are delighted to be working in partnership to
deliver these improvements and using that as an opportunity to expand
our low carbon biomethane fleet by nearly 10% this year.
“Buzz 9 is the first bus route to serve the new
Green Park Station and will help connect the station with Green Park
itself, Whitley Wood, the University of Reading, the Royal Berkshire
Hospital and, of course, Reading town centre. We hope the new branding,
buses, route and timetable will encourage more people to use this
service.”
Councillor John Ennis, Lead Councillor for
Climate Strategy and Transport, said: “The council worked with Network
Rail and Great Western Railway to open the new Green Park Station in May
2023 and I am pleased we are now partnering with Reading Buses to offer
improved connections to and from the station with this new bus route.
“The newly branded Buzz 9 service will connect
south Reading residents with Green Park Station six days a week.
“This new route is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to offer more convenient and sustainable ways for residents and visitors to travel around Reading.”
New double deck coaches for megabus
| SJ73HVZ | Vo B13RT | Vo | CH??/??Ft | 2/2024 | Western Buses | 50501 |
The Volvo 9700 DD is an extremely flexible double decker that offers impressive capacity and possibilities for different kinds of operations.
Jack Thomas
SC megabus 50501 at Cumbernauld on February
16th 2024.
Anthony Chucky Shaw
David Oakley
Seen on the M74 northbound at Uddingston is brand new Volvo 9700DD on
delivery for Stagecoach megabus - February 13th
Interesting times ahead. Ed.
Clapham Junction rail replacement by Andrew Webb
Engineering work at Wimbledon on 17 and 18 February saw a major rail
replacement operation mounted from Clapham Junction, including operators who
travelled some significant distance to operate services.
Cymru Coaches from Swansea sent this smart Tourismo,
Regional
Transport of Shrewsbury sent former Arriva London DLA273 which is now in its
23rd year of service.
Replacement Bus Hire of Lewisham had two Citaros
in use.
Chan Power records old friends from Oxford
... who remembers these two?
Another two tridents ready to be withdrawn from service from SC East Scotland,
18130 and 18195 on February 15th.
Coach visitor to our area
Gavin Francis
Citywise TUI 1029 in Parkway, Marlow on February 17th.
Fleet News and developments
Gavin Francis
Versa 2956 with alighting passengers in
Oxford Street on February 18th.
6139 seen at Asda on February 17th.
6144 is a very recent arrival at Wycombe is
seen in Wycombe on February 18th when it seems the destination displ/ay
was not working.
This bus is not shown on
www.bustimes.org in the Wycombe fleet.
Jack Cooper
Citaro 3011 woeks an X8 from Oxford Station on February 15th.
Nick Ross
Arriva Luton's Trident 5425 has outlived Luton's other Tridents by several years, no doubt because of its "Love Luton" livery.
Normally confined to school runs last week
saw it out on other services like in this February 13th
Luton Arndale view whilst she is on the
afternoon 25 to and from Barnfield College.
Gavin Francis
47690 seen in The Eden Bus Station with an X74 on February 18th.
889 and 890 remain at Oxford burt 891 is in service at High Wycombe.
Hirasawa Yui
979 in Wokingham working the SS2 on February 15th.
Gavin Francis
891 in service working the !A on February
18th.
Service van KT68XOZ in The Eden Bus
Station on February 18th.
Lewis Nagle
891 seen on February 20th with a view of the luxurious interior
Malcolm Crowe
512 at the depot on
February 10th
938 was back at the depot on
February 17th but I am told is to return to Thames Travel.
Gavin Francis
889 working for Oxford with an 11 on February
19th in Watlington.
Jack Cooper
Still without branding 27 is seen in Gloucester Green on February 12th.
The old and the new in Frideswide Square on February 15th.
Now working out of Cowley House 926 is seen in Abingdon working the 45 on
February 14th.
Stranger in the camp - TT 873 is seen working
the 8 on February 15th.
890 is seen working the X3 on February
19th.
Charles Powell
In answer to your question about the sprinter on the 68. When RX23TYG is off the road for monthly inspection for other work we borrow one of the 18 plate sprinters from Oxford to cover the service. Think we have 971 at the moment.
373 and 374 have moved over to us today, February 16th, for the 99’s.
The other elite i has now been painted, just needs the vinyl part of the livery to be applied then she’s complete, seen on February 19th.
Jack Cooper
248 seen at Didcot Parkway with a 95 on February
15th.
452 seen at Didcot Parkway with an X35
on February 15th.
Maurice Doggett
UK71 has finally been liveried and is looking quite smart.
including Courtney, Newbury & District &
Thames Valley
Graham Low
Here are views of recent additions to Reading Buses in Bracknell on February 17th.
Flightline 740 with a 703 to Heathrow,
Lion 4 245 to Reading.
E200MMC for local routes 171/2.
Every branded bus I saw in Bracknell was on its correct route, unlike in Oxford these days!
Gavin Francis
Gavin Francis
See more West buses above in Jack Cooper's visit to Swindon.
Graham Low
Have you any news on the 55 ADL E400EVs due for
Stagecoach in Oxford?
Jack Cooper
MMC 11246 is seen in Frideswide Square with a 1 on
February 15th.
50450 is still in service in Scotland.
See the latest new coach model in the item above.
London operations
Andrew Webb
French fashion brand Zadig & Voltaire have launched a new campaign, their first launching just before the country locked down in March 2020.
First
recipient of the new wrap is RATP's BCE47168 which is seen at Clapham
Junction on 17 February.
Reader's visits outside our area
Gordon Scott
Had a run through to Glasgow today to try and catch up
with new Stagecoach Volvo 9700 decker coaches with Cumbernauld depot in
Megabus livery on driver trainer work. I just missed one leaving Buchanan
Street Bus Station as I arrived 50501 it never came back again.
Parks of Hamilton
Carvers Coaches Van Hool Astromega VA11 HOL.
McGills Yutong GT12 SG73 TYY on Flixbus duties GLA
200224 G Scott
West Coast Motors Irizar i6s Integral YT23 HYN
leaving Glasgow on Citylink 926 to Campletown.
Stagecoach East Scotland 54209 - SF62 CUA Volvo B11R
Plaxton Elite i on route M10 in distance livery.
First Glasgow 38460 - LG72 DZE, ADL BYD Enviro City on
Many thanks to Gordon for these interesting pictures. Ed.