From the Editor

A slightly changed layout for this issue to take advantage of this week's contributions which include a number of Rally events.

Various of you provide updates on the current fleets and photographs of many of the new buses.

I look forward to your continued support.

In this issue

Van Hool of Belgium declared bankrupt

Women at the wheel of Go Ahead's London buses

Detling S E Festival in pictures

Cumbria Classic Rally held in Kirkby Stephen

Wellingborough Bus Rally and Running Day

Oxfordshire County Council to run public bus services

Southend with Kevin Fuller

Easter Monday at Wythall Bus Museum

Readers Write

Buses in the Landscape

Coach visitors to Oxford

Fleet News and developments

 

"At least 1,550 jobs will go at the bus manufacturer Van Hool at Koningshooikt, near Lier in Antwerp Province. The company reportedly filed for bankruptcy on Friday and it was declared bankrupt by the Commercial Court at 9:30 on Monday morning. A relaunch will follow. However, the new company will retain far fewer of the around 2,500 people currently employed by Van Hool than had been expected.

The job losses were officially announced at an extraordinary Works’ Council meeting that was held 11am on Monday. The Dutch bus manufacturer VDL and German trailer builder Schmitz Cargobull are set to take over Van Hool. Fewer employees than expected will keep their jobs. According to VRT News sources, at least 1,550 jobs will be lost with between 600 and 950 employees being able to keep their jobs. 350 will be taken on by Schmitz Cargobull and between 300 and 600 will be able to work for VDL." 

Go-Ahead Women Campaign
Women are at the wheel of Go-Ahead's blue London buses 

Last week Go-Ahead launched a Nationwide campaign to recruit more women as bus drivers. They are hoping for an increase of 1500 in the U.K. and Ireland. In London 2 buses have been wrapped advertising the promotion, Ee 244 and Ee 245. They are allocated to Bexleyheath Garage and operate on the Route 132 between Bexleyheath and North Greenwich. They are the first Tfl buses to operate with 24 plate registrations entering service on 28^th March.

     
Ee245 is shown at North Greenwich Station. The route is normally operated by EP class buses and EP 12 is shown at the same location.
Unfortunately Ee 244 was not in service last Saturday when I was there. 

https://www.facebook.com/southeastbusfestival/

with photos from Nigel Eadon-Clarke and text by Gavin Francis

This year saw the return of Detling after last year’s show was cancelled due to water logged car parks. This year’s show saw all the vehicles parked on concrete which although it meant some of them were parked close together there was still a good display of buses and coaches on show,

Nigel Eadon-Clarke was at the event to record many of the vehicles present.

     
     
     
     
   
     
   

A varied selection of buses and coaches to be seen at the event. I drove Leyland PD2s when driving for Ribble in the 1960s ! Ed.

From another Contributor - Tony Bungay

I was able to go to the South East Bus show,  which this year avoided the fate of last year, which was cancelled. Although there has been much rain, the organisers put in their wet weather plan. While this enabled Buses to be parked on hardstanding, it did mean that vehicles were grouped closely together, so other than those used for journeys round the site, photographers had to wait until departure time, if they wanted full view photos.

     
One subject of the photo show was 25 years of Arriva, it did make me wonder with the impending I Squared takeover,
whether they would continue the brand, given how unfortunately tarnished the name has become!

     
     
     
     
     

The weather remained generally dry but windy and dull. One big advantage for traders with Detling, is they are inside a large hall. Where also photo shows and a talk are held.

Tony gives us a further view of attendees at this event which is appreciated. Ed.

Cumbria Easter Rally 30th 31st March 2024
Gavin Francis and Nigel Eadon-Clarke

Over the Easter Weekend the annual Cumbria Classic Rally was held in the Kirkby Stephen and Brough area of Cumbria. This is not only a rally for buses and coaches but also lorries, tractors and a wide range of transport. There is also a heritage railway and it is on the Settle to Carlisle Line.

Buses and coaches from just about the largest area possible were present with representatives from Southern Vectis on the Isle of Wight to Highland Scottish and even included The Isle of Man.

A vintage bus services operates between the many sites involved in the event. 

Nigel Eadon-Clarke made the long trip to Cumbria to record some of the buses present.

   
     
 
     
     
 

Some delightful vehicles from part of the England contribution. Ed.



     

     

North of the border was well represented. Ed. 

Wellingborough Bus Rally and Running Day by Gary Seamarks

Wellingborough Bus Running Day – Saturday 6th April – Leicester Transport Heritage Trust (ltht.org.uk)

Few from event a Willingboro'  on 7/4, about 15 vehicles attended several were static displays, and a few were running free trips, the event was busy with locals also getting involved.

PBD40R has recently arrived back in Northants for preservation, last of a batch of 36 Alexander bodied VRs,
note the peak dome at front and rounded at rear, unique to this batch. 

R501 is a Lawson's of Corby vehicle and think CN57 is Finestyle of Rushden, taken in yard share by these two on way home
Of interest to readers is the fact that this bus started withn Stagecoach in Oxfordshire.Ed. 

VV9146, yes its a Crossley DD42/3 with Roe H31/25R body new in November 1946   !

   
Other participants at Wellingborough.

Further Bedfordshire variety from Gary Seamarks

Trip on Saturday to Luton 

1020 was being used on service, no comment re-livery, 

 
1616 and 2211 were on the Farley Hill services 1 / 4 which is usually Dart or Streetlite WF.

WX08 was in the 88 Luton- back roads to Hitchin, a one bus operation with about 4 return trips. 

Then Hitchin

4288(finally got it) was on the Hitchin - Baldock/Stotfold routes, think blind was so set as it went on break 'round the corner'

 
19889 and 37435 were on the Bedford- Hitchin -Stevenage 9A 9B routes, both seemed to arrive/leave with decent loads. 

 I appreciate Gary's selection from his recent days out. Ed. 

Oxfordshire County Council Fleet Services from Richard Sharman

OCC will commence operation of public bus services from Monday 15th of April, these services will allow many communities to enjoy a bus service again. The services involved are the 42, 49, 79, 85 and 107. 

Details of the services can be found via this link: https://bustimes.org/operators/oxfordshire-county-council-integrated-transport-un

Meanwhile, an existing service operated to assist the elderly and less mobile is being provided whilst Botley Road bridge is closed, details are below. The Botley Road Flyer used a Mellor-bodied Fiat Ducato, as pictured.

   

Accessible transport

For anyone who needs assistance getting to or from the city centre, there is an accessible bus service called The Botley Road Flyer operating from Osney and Botley. It runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, taking people into town via Woodstock Road and Jericho. This includes stops in Summertown, at the Jericho Health Centre and Beaumont Street Surgery, as well as the Westgate Centre.

There is one bus a day on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, collecting from these locations at the following times:

• West Oxford Community Centre – 10am pick up
• Bus stop by Magenta self-storage – 10.05am pick up
• Bus stop on West Way next to Elms Parade shops – 10.10am pick up.

The timings for return journeys from town start from 1pm but vary depending on number of passengers and where they need to stop etc. Please be assured that the drivers make pick up arrangements with each passenger before dropping them off.

The bus can take 12 passengers at a time, plus space for one wheelchair (please note the vehicle can be adapted to accommodate more wheelchairs but needs advance warning). 

Southend on March 28th by Kevin Fuller

I made a visit to Southend on 28th March, and took some photographs which might be of interest to you and your readers. The weather was decidedly variable!  Arriva and First both have a large presence there, and local independent, Stephensons were also well represented. All the photos were taken around the city centre / bus station area. 

Optare Versa 4212 is heading out of the city with a route 7 service to Rayleigh. 

6503, AD Enviro 400 MMC arrives with a service 2, en route to Shoeburyness. 

Another Versa, 4210 loads in the bus station for its next trip on route 29.

Enviro 400 MMC 6499 is painted in a psuedo-Southend Transport livery, which looks very smart, even in the torrential rain... 

Similar bus 6506 carries advertising for the RBL poppy appeal. 

6514 enters the bus station with a service 2.

First 34453, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 in the bus station, waiting time for its next departure. 

Wright Streetlite 63455 lays over in the bus station, between duties. 

Enviro 400 MMC 36840 demonstrates the Essex Airlink livery for services to and from Stansted Airport.

33983, Enviro 400 MMC carries a livery celebrating the life of Queen Elizabeth the second, and is seen parked between duties. 

Volvo / Wright Gemini 37985 has a livery recalling Westcliff on Sea Motor Services. 

Representing Stephensons is this Enviro 400, fleet number 606. 

Variety from the far east of southern England which proves most interesting. Ed.

Nick Ross in Bath

First Bath's Enviro 400 fleet no 33950 (YX66 WFC) at Poultney Bridge on a U1 on April 1st 2024 

Dwarfed by Bath Abbey Tootbus Volvo fleet no 611 (LJ07 XEW) on a tour on April 1st 2024

Some very nice pictures from Nick. Ed.