Issue nr 299
Thursday May 2nd.2024

Past Issues : https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/ 

From the Editor

My apologies for the 24 hour delay in publishing this issue. I've not been too well during the past few days and so I will not publish issue 300; until Thursday, May 16th providing me with a break for a few days. 

The electric buses in Oxford are now well recognised on Oxford's roads and are, I am told, pleasant to ride on.

I may have repeated a number of pictures but they are taken by different contributors and I like to give everyone an airing.

Do continue to send me your contributions and hopefully issue 300 will be a bumper publication.

In this issue

Alexander Dennis Open Day by Andrew Webb

A Stagecoach EV with details by Graham Low

Modern Oxford in 2024 by pig & bob

Wings Over Europe 1972 Bristol for sale

Problems photographing the latest destination blinds

New Book Review - Northampton Buses & Coaches

Dave Hrrison replies to comments in issue 297

Derek Taylor revelas new use for Bicester coach facility

Buses in the Landscape from Nick Ross

Coach Visitors to Oxford

Fleet News & Developments

GoAhead update with more Citaros for Carousel
and the entry into service of 609 on the 102

National Express updates

Stagecoach local allocations and more EVs

London operations

Gavin Francis in Florida

Grahame Wareham with Now and Then

Readers Visits outside our area

David Ive in the south west

Nigel Peach in Dorset

 


Farnborough Show by Andrew Webb

Home | Alexander Dennis (alexander-dennis.com)

Alexander Dennis held an open day at their Farnborough facility on April 27th, showcasing their latest range of electric buses. 

Soon to be very familiar to passengers in Oxford will be a fleet of new Enviro400EV buses.


A demonstrator was offering visitors  short rides around the local area and is seen preparing for its next trip. 

The Enviro500EV is a higher capacity double decker, primarily aimed at overseas markets.  This demonstrator will undoubtedly appeal to operators in Hong Kong and Singapore where tri axle double deckers are popular. 


The nearside carries a tribute to Lewis McKee who lost his life in a road accident at Cullybackey in October 2022 


For operators wanting a single deck bus the Enviro100EV is available, a demonstrator being on display inside.

Hydrogen is often promoted as a viable alternative to battery electric buses, although orders have been less forthcoming for a range of reasons including unreliable hydrogen supplies. 


Nevertheless, this Enviro 400 FCEV demonstrator has been registered and was one of two present at the open day. 


Singapore has recently taken three door versions of the Enviro 500, as demonstrated by this example on display. 

The Envrio 500 has also found popularity with operators across North America. 


Parked in the yard is this example which is probably used as a development vehicle.

 
Another development vehicle is this Enviro 400, with the second Enviro 400 FCEV visible behind.


The Enviro E20D has proved a very popular bus with operators large and small.  This unbodied chassis is used to train technicians. 

Many people will associate Dennis with fire engines, although this part of the brand is no longer associated with Alexander Dennis.  This Sabre fire engine chassis is now used 'load bank' to test buses. 


It is towed along by a bus to a set speed, at which point the Sabre applies it brakes so that the bus has to work harder to maintain the set speed.

A small display of vehicles showed the heritage associated with the Dennis brand. 


The oldest vehicles on display included this Lancet with Short Bros body which was new to Smith of Westoning. 


Alongside was this East Lancs bodied Dennis Lance which worked locally for Aldershot and District.

The Dennis Dart was a bus which arguably revolutionised both Dennis' place in the bus market and the use of 'midi' buses.  Although available with a variety of bodies, the most popular was the Plaxton Pointer, a brand now part of Alexander Dennis.  C88CTB is a step entrance example which served with Citybus in Hong Kong and is now preserved back in the UK.  Both the Dart chassis and Pointer body were adapted for a low floor version and made 'accessible' buses affordable for many operators.  LDP20 was delivered to London General and is now preserved in this livery which promoted the low floor in an era when this was still a novelty to many passengers.

  

The Enviro 500 sold in small numbers to operators in the UK and Ireland, but was most popular as an export model for Hong Kong as well as North America. 


This example, delivered in 2000, served with BC Transit in Canada and returned to the UK for restoration.  It is rumoured to be destined for a museum in the USA.

Alexander Dennis products can be seen locally on Stagecoach services in and around Farnborough. 


Flagship service 1 uses Enviro 400MMCs to 'Gold' specification, including this example parked in the town centre.

  The blind display in an unidentified language reads (according to Google Lens) 'Not in Service. 


For other services Stagecoach also use the ubiquitous Enviro 200 such as 36837 seen heading in the opposite direction. 

The blind display in an unidentified language reads (according to Google Lens) 'Not in Service. 


A classic vehicle show organised by the local Lions included this Bedford OB preserved in Mid Wales Motorways livery.

A nice report from Andrew which is much appreciated. Ed.

A Stagecoach EV with details by Graham Low

     
Here are views of Stagecoach 80005 on route 1 today. I rode on it and liked the  brighter interior than in the Oxford Bus Electroliners,
where there is a good deal of black. It was quiet and rattle-free. There seemed to be no Wi-Fi, as on many Stagecoach buses.
  

Modern Oxford in 2024 by pig&bob


Electrics meet at Oxford's Station on April 26th. 

Wings Over Europe tour in 1972 Bristol for sale

by Martin Dowling

This maybe something for a following edition, that may be of interest for someone with a bit of cash lying around. 

Paul and Linda McCartney used WNO481, an ex-Eastern National open-top Bristol KSW, for their Wings Over Europe tour in 1972 and had it painted in psychedelic colours.  It travelled several thousand miles across Europe from concert to concert. 

Originally the bus had a roof, but was converted to open top in 1972 for coastal routes around Clacton.  After its use by Wings it passed through several owners and ended up outside a cafe in Tenerife where it deteriorated sitting in their garden. 

There is a local link as according to Wikipedia, it was bought by Justin James from Oxfordshire and brought back (with some difficulty) to the UK for restoration.   

The bus was sold on a few times and recently had an extensive renovation and is now up for auction with an American auction house who specialise in items linked to celebrities although the bus is in England.

Problems photographing the newest destination blinds

Readers write that it is not always easy to get this type of destination complete,  requires a slow exposure, then, if the vehicle is moving too fast that becomes out of focus.  

I’m not sure of all the terminology re blinds but the ones on the newer Stagecoach vehicles that are white are difficult, those in the sort of orangery colour are easier. Bring back roller blind I say, lol.

As you know, many of the photos you publish of new buses only show part of the destination displays. Complete displays will show if the camera shutter speed is 1/125th sec or less I guess many people now use their phones and cannot vary the shutter speed.

Another contributor uses "burst" shutter speed to hopefully ensure pictures are complete.

I would welcome other readers comments. Ed. 

M40 lorry crash near Oxford motorway services closes the Motorway and roads in the area

The crash happened at about 12.41pm on Tuesday, April 30th and the motorway was closed in both directions for investigation work. Thames Valley Police said a Volvo lorry crashed with the central reservation and bridge support on the between Junction 8A and Oxford Services.

"Road blocked and queueing traffic due to bridge struck by vehicle and crash, Lorry involved on M40 northbound at J8A A418 (Oxford Services / Thame / Aylesbury) with congestion to the southbound side as onlookers slow to look. Then detours in operation via the slip roads."

Various bus and coach services were affected with some cancellation and of interest was that as the Carousel 275 was unable to serve various local areas and stops, the service was routed via Lewknor and then direct to Thornhill Park & Ride. 

   New Book review  


Due out May 15th

https://www.amberley-books.com/catalog/product/view/id/11920/s/northampton-buses-and-coaches/category/6/

Previously unpublished photographs celebrating Northampton's bus and coach scene in the 1990s and 2000s.

Following the deregulation of the bus industry in 1986, the transport scene in Northampton didn’t alter as drastically as in some other UK towns and cities. There was, however, a series of gradual changes as the ‘green’ buses of Northamptonshire gradually disappeared.

With the cavernous Greyfriars bus station featuring throughout, this collection of previously unpublished photographs explores this interesting period between deregulation and the modern bus scene.

It is a surprise for th e reader that his book covers not only up to date information but also captures the change of century in the area with names now but a memory and the quality of the photographs is excellent.

For followers of Stagecoach there are many pictures of the fleet as it developed in the area often bringing back memories which may have been filed in the mind and will be a welcome reminder.

A well researched and produced history at a reasonable price.

Dave Harrison replies to comments in issue 297

A response to Andrew Dyer's comments on route 107 contained in your recent issue: 

"I thought it worth responding to Andrew Dyer’s comments on Oxfordshire County Council's new 107 service (which appeared in your issue 297). 

Firstly, the stop at “Boarstall, Panshill Farm” is not a timing point – it is a stop between two timing points at Murcott and Upper Arncott. It is a custom and practice stop and unmarked. 

Secondly, as Andrew should be aware all local authorities use the NaPTAN database which requires the use of a “locality” and a “stop name” for each access point. The locality is Boarstall, because that is the parish it is located in – I would be interested to hear any alternative suggestions? 

Thirdly, the stop is in Buckinghamshire, not Oxfordshire, so it is up to them what they call their bus stops. All Oxfordshire do is serve the stop, not name it. 

It really is a shame that when local authorities work really hard to re-establish connections and put communities back on the local bus map, this is the kind of response we get. 

Derek Taylor about Wright Bus facility in Bicester

I believe Wright bus are setting up a service centre in the old Heyfordian site Bicester. There's much refurbished offices and workshop well externally from what I saw. This LT is the only bus when I visited Fri. I will keep an eye on the site


Wrights at Bicester LT131 on April 26th. 

Nick Ross


Arriva's 3155 inn Leighton Buzzard on April 23rd. 

      Coach visitors to Oxfordshire     

David Beynon

Three from Redbridge, JH Coaches from Friday and the other two from April 29th.

   

George Candelin

Just a couple of buses enjoying the sun at the JR Hospital stops and a few coaches from around the city for you. Let me know if they don't come through properly  

   

   

     Fleet News and developments   

Gavin Francis

   
Bridge Street on April 29th.


Allocation clarification regarding 6139 showing it to be on loan to Wycombe from Maidstone on May 2nd.

Malcolm Crowe

   
Variety at Cressex on April 20th, of note is 2982 which has been out of service for several weeks.

Gavin Francis


47687 working the X74 on May 2nd. 

Jack Cooper spent time near London VCS on April 13th


Whippets FX41 shows the company still much invol/ved with Flixbus and also operating new models in service.



Luke Marion reports on company developments to questions I asked

Carousel update

We are due to collect 894 later this week. This will complete the transfer of all 6 of the 62 plate Citaros previously owned by Stewarts of Reading to Carousel. 

892

BF62JZK

893

BF62JZN

894

BF62 JZM

Pulhams update

And no, we haven't acquired Marchants but we did acquire a total of 4 E200MMCs from them, following the end of their contract with GCHQ. The 4 buses acquired were:

YX22 OHV - fleet no 522, chassis number SFDAL1ERAMGY18157. This has been re-plated to HH22 BUS

YX22 OHW - fleet number 523, chassis number SFDAL1ERAMGY18158. This has been re-plated to JJ22 BUS 

YX22 OHT chassis number SFDAL1ERAMGY18155 - this has gone to East Yorkshire for North Riding services.

YX22 OHU chassis number SFDAL1ERAMGY18156 - this has gone to East Yorkshire for North Riding services. 

We expect 522 and 523 to be the regular allocation for our new route R in Cheltenham moving forwards, once we have them ready for service. As they were previously only used on private shuttle work, they need ticket machine wiring etc adding first.

Frank Brown


F
lightline 102 branded 609 (PS64 OXF) receiving pre service checks at Carousel depot on Wednesday 1st May.


Ex Stewarts of Reading Mercedes Citaro 889 (BF62 JZJ) sports the new One route branding outside Amersham station on Thursday 25th April.

Gavin Francis


243 in Bridge Street on April 29th - note 241 is seemingly with drawn now.

   
514 seen working its now regular route the 275 in the bus station on May 2nd.

     
   
609 entered service on May 2nd and is seen in Wycombe arriving and returning to Heathrow

Malcolm Crowe

 
A selection at the depot on April 20th.

   
At rest on April 27th.

Nigel Peach

The April issue of The London Bus tells me that Carousel are expecting two more buses "892/3 (BF62 JZK/N) Citaro B40F from Stewart's Coaches Woodley. Both are awaiting repaint into fleet livery before use."

They are also apparently due to receive Route One branding like 889-81. 

Incidentally, 891 which arrived in February, still isn't showing properly on bustimes.org! 

Since the remarks from Nigel 891 is now showing fully on www.bustimes.org. Ed. 

George Candelin


902 looking very spruce seen at the J R with an X3 on April 29th.

Jack Cooper


Now re-registered 314 in Oxford on April 23rd.

 
Brookes past and present on April 23rd.


688 seen working its branded 8 route on April 23rd.

 
741 followed by 751 on April 26th Frideswide Square.

pignbob

 
Kite 492 is seen working 5 road on April 28th.

   
311 with its re-registration complete works 8 road on April 29th.

Jack Cooper


CSS 195 seen in Oxford's Frideswide Square on April 26th.

Charles Powell


375 at the depot on April 26th with some rebranding to be done.


April 28th.
The second ex Marchants Enviro is back from paint and registered JJ22BUS. It will be joining its sister HH22 on the R. 

Jack Cooper

 
224 followed by 692 in St Aldates on April 23rd.

Jack Cooper

spent time near London VCS on April 13th

     
     
 

Richard Sharman

National Express Osford update 

National Express coach services through Oxford continue to be fairly consistent, although the 160 and 210 have just undergone some timetable changes.

Current operators are: 


Birmingham-based Travelstar European Levante 2 NX19 TSE is seen operating the 160 service in August 2023.  

Service 160 is operated by Lucketts and seemingly uses this Levante 3, BU18 OTF, on a near daily basis. Curiously, at times some drivers turn right at St. Giles then approach Gloucester Green from Park End Street, and vice versa on return.

 

Service 210 is operated by Woods Coaches, and the fleet is slowly gaining Levante 3's, but a number of older Levante 2's are still regulars on this route. 91, BJ15 AJV is a good example and has been running with most of its livery removed for quite some time now.  

An example of one of the new Levante 3's on the 210 service, BV23 ZVF numbered 360. 


Selwyns operate service 550 from Liverpool to London, prior to taking up the overnight 423 service  home via Oxford. BV23 ZXF is one such vehicle used.  

A large number of NX services pass through Oxfordshire on the M40 in both directions, but the one that doesn't stop but comes closest to Oxford is the 444 that approaches from Cheltenham on the A40, uses the ring road, then passes Thornhill. Bennetts Coaches operate this service and has just taken delivery of four Caetano Levane 3A's. BV24 ZFX is seen operating a 1525hrs departure from Gloucester at Wolvercote roundabout on only its third day in revenue earning service. Only the direct 444 services that go straight to or from London from Gloucester pass Oxford, the ones going via M4 instead serve Heathrow Airport.

 

Yeomans Canyon Travel also passes Oxford on the A40 whilst operating the 445 service, which originates in Hereford. They also have a Levante 3A in the form of 52, BV73 ZTY amongst some Levante 2s.

 
including Courtney, Newbury & District & Thames Valley

Jack Cooper

spent time near London VCS on April 13th


Not all the buses wear GreenLine livery an d above is 760 with a 702 in BPR.

Gavin Francis in Wycombe on May 2nd


YX08MFO during layover in The Eden on May 2nd.

 

Gavin Francis in Wycombe on May 2nd


YX65RGV the 130.
 

Gavin Francis


Red Rose "Croxley Park liveried YX18KOW seen working the 40 in Stokenchurch on April 30th.

Dave & Deric

Here are the changes shown on the Stagecoach West Fleet Card for Period 13 (26/04/2024). Changes affecting Oxford depots being shown in yellow.

On Loan

10987, 10994

Loan to Stagecoach Manchester ended

To

Swindon

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers

15857

Swindon

To

Stroud

 

15858

Swindon

To

Oxford

 

 

 

 

 

Out of Reserve

18314

Reserve

To

Stroud

 

 

 

 

 

To Reserve

18312

Stroud

To

Reserve

 

36096

North Bristol

To

Reserve

 

 

 

 

 

For Disposal

12012

Oxford

To

Disposal

 

 

 

 

 

Gone

15733

Stroud

To

Stagecoach East Scotland

 

15736

Oxford

To

Stagecoach East Scotland

George Candelin


36982 is seen at the J R on April 29th.

Jack Cooper


11243 with a 1 in Frideswide Square on April 26th.

Peter Edgar

Three photographs of Stagecoach Oxfordshire 80005 on its first day in service taken at Blackbirds Leys. 26/04/2024.

   
80005 working the 1 on April 26th, its first day in service.

 

pignbob

 
80005 into service 260424

Jack Cooper


50443 as ever looking very clean passing The Westgate on April 26th,

     London operations    

Andrew Webb

Tropicana Orange are advertising their juices in a new campaign on London's buses. 


Metroline's LT794, seen in Tottenham Court Road on 27 April, shows the offside of the advert.


Later on the same day the nearside is seen on LT163 from the Transport UK fleet at Warren Street
as it prepares to return to Hammersmith after working a 'short' on route 27.

Jack Cooper spent time Victoria on April 13th


RATP BE37012 working the C1 in Buckingham Palace Road on April 13th.


RATP LT681 working the 211 in Victoria on April 13th.

   
Current sightseeing in London.


Gavin Francis in Florida

Found this old Prevost on International Drive today, it had come all the way from Texas carrying a band I think.

     
PRVOST COACH on INTERNATIONAL DRIVE on April 26th.

Grahame Wareham

I thought I would try and continue the 'Then and Now' theme and provide further comparisons as it seems to have at least pleased Andy Dyer, who no doubt can relate to much of the scenes. 

His remarks about the 65 seat 30ft Regent V's are correct and I would add that the same scenario reared its ugly head when the first batch of AEC Bridgemaster's arrived in 1961. However these were built as 72 seaters but were allocated to Country routes initially where loadings weren't quite so busy. They migrated to City services quite soon though as the 1962 batch of thirteen short wheelbase Bridgemaster's reverted to 65 seaters, which must of cost a fortune to build as they turned out to be unique to COMS! Things calmed down later on with the introduction of OMO and the amalgamation of Country and City services whereby buses of all types seemed to be the order of the day with maintenance labour issues prompting the hiring of 'foreign' bus types from various parts of the country.  

This weeks 55 years ago and indeed 20 years ago pictures show the location of Stowford Road Barton West terminus, as it was when the service was split between Barton East and West prior to 1968. The Barton West Buses would travel along the top North Road, down Burchester Avenue and terminal at Underhill Circus. After that buses travelled a one way clockwise route around the top of Barton Village Road and into Fettiplace Road, Underhill Circus and terminating at the end of Stowford Road before continuing around the Barton East loop via Waynfleet Road and back to Headington Roundabout. I drove 2 road for over thirty years on and off and it was my preferred choice of route, especially when trips to Aylesbury were part of the rota. 

Picture 1 shows COMS 961 961AJO, a 1957 AEC Regent V with Park Royal 61 seat body at the original Stowford Road terminus with the temporary prefab dwellings to the right. The picture dates from 1961. These AEC Regents had the small 7.7 litre AEC AV470 engine with AEC D196 4 speed synchromesh gearbox introduced during the Suez crisis for fuel economy. 

Picture 2 shows OBC 601 N601FJO, a 1995 Volvo B10B with Plaxton Verde 51 seat body at Stowford road terminus with more substantial housing fully developed. These 12 metre long buses rook a bit of skill when first introduced around this estate as on-road car parking could lead to several tight spots associated with the long front and rear overhangs on this type of bus. This picture dates from 2004.when I was permanently on 2 road. These Volvo's went like rockets, so much so that the kick down facility to increase initial power take off got disconnected...............so easy to get people to the back of the bus though! Powered by Volvo THD104K turbocharged 9.6 litre engines with ZF Ecomat HP500 Auto gearboxes. 

Picture 3 shows an up to date but soon to be historic, picture of OBC 687 SK17HHS, a Wright Streetdeck Gemini 3 74 seat integral built in 2017, taken on 14th April 2024. The bus is actually doing what it says on the tin! Powered by Mercedes OM934 turbocharged 5.1 litre 4 cyl engine with Voith DIWA D854.6 Auto 4 speed gearbox. 

Even though I have quite an extensive Oxford bus archive it is quite difficult to match certain locations because either the location doesn't exist anymore or the buses don't go there! It is fun trying though!

I spent many happy hours with 601 with Go-Ahead Farnborough services during the air show of 2004 used as it had a tacho. Ed. 

David Ive

I hope that all is well with you. It is nearly 18 months since I moved from Risborough to Dawlish, but I enjoy looking at the OCBP to see what is happening on my “old patch”. 

After what seems like ages with no decent weather, I was able to get out and about last week to do some photography. I had a day out in Weston-super-Mare and Taunton, and we had a couple of days away in west Cornwall, which coincided with the 2024 Penzance Running Day. 

Attached are some images, which may be of interest for a future OCBP. They include some Badgerline and Bristol livery in WSM , some Buses of Somerset In Taunton (a livery that doesn’t seem to get much photographic exposure), a couple of vintage vehicles from the Penzance Running Day,

 

and some modern buses at Penzance and St Ives. I hope that some or all may be of use to you.

     
     

A nice glimpse for many readers with happy memories. Ed.

Nigel Peach

Spent a few days in the New Forest this week. 


I was surprised to see this MCV Evoseti BV73 MHL, a fine looking bus from Aldermaston Coach Lines,
some way from home, in a carpark in Milford on Sea (near Bournemouth) on 24th April.
It carries 100 passengers, and I think it does a lot of rail replacement work.