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.
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
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.
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 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.
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
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
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
Flightline
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.
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!
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.
Kite 492 is seen working 5 road on April 28th.
311 with its re-registration complete works 8 road on April 29th.
Jack Cooper
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
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
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!
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.