Issue nr 304
Thursday June 13th, 2024

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

From the Editor 

Another busy week from contributors with nearly 300 pictures this week.

More Electric buses arrive in Oxford but Stagecoach is behind the game

Various interesting articles are here for your enjoyment.

In this issue

Royal Blue date for your diary

Route 406 Running Day from the LBM

Writings from Grahame Wareham including 304 reflections

Grovelands pre Electricity

Richard Sharman updates from Oxford

London Fire Brigade Optare Solos

THE NORTH WEST VEHICLE RESTORATION TRUST
OPEN DAY on June 2ndat Kirby

Julian Walker reports from Devon/Cornwall

Andy Millwood from Walsall

Andrew Webb from Bath

Gary Seamarks from Bolton

 James Allum from the North East

Gordon Scott in Scotland

Martin Dowling with photos from Antwerp

Readers Write

Fleet News & Developments

ADL EV order for Reading

SCO 9700 DD order to be completed soon

London Operations from Andrew Webb & Gavin Francis  

Royal Blue Run - Friday, June 21st.

This years Royal Blue Run on Friday 21 June, starts at Oxford Services (M40) and runs through Oxford, Abingdon and Faringdon, retracing route taken by the Bristol Greyhound London – Oxford – Swindon – Bristol route of old. So, anyone interested in seeing the beautifully restored classic coaches as they cruise through the County, here’s the route and time details:

Oxford services (M40): 10.30am departure.

Wheatley, Headington, Longwall Street to:

Oxford, St Giles: 11.00am

Abingdon Rd, A4183 to:

Abingdon, Ock Street: 11.30am

A420, Kingston Bagpuize, Faringdon and onto Swindon.

Further details, including a list of participating coaches, can be viewed at: https://www.tvagwot.org.uk/events-1/royal-blue-run


I attach a picture of two of the regular participants in the run (my picture from 2022 taken in Gloucester).

ROUTE 406 RUNNING DAY

June 9th 2024

 Last Sunday London Bus Museum organized another of their popular Running Days, this time they chose Country Area Route 406.

It is a long route operating between Kingston and Redhill with a running time of about 90mins. Not all journeys operated the full distance with short workings to Tolworth, Tadworth and Tattenham Corner.

I used to go to Kingston 40-50 years ago as it was the place where Central Area RTs met their Country cousins and to add to that RFs were still operating.

   
RTs 3137, 3450 and 4767 on the forecourt of Kingston Station,

   
by the end of the 1970s they had been replaced by RMCs such as RMC 1461, RMC 1466 and RMC 1479

 
Of particular interest was RMC 1486 which was not only operating on the day but was also running the 406 back in 1974,
50 years ago when in N.B.C. livery. In the case of this bus the purists will point out it is not the same bus as
RMC 1486 was exported to Germany back in the 1990s. RMC 1500 had its identity changed
 to become RMC 1486.


Making an appearance along the route during the day was RTW 185 although it did not operate in service.

 
On display at The Clock Tower at Epsom was RF 19 alongside the museum sales stall.

Services ran from approximately 09.00 to 18.00 and most were full throughout the day probably the most popular bus being RM 2 which was making a rare appearance in service.

     


RT 2083

 
2 pictures of RM 2 one taken yesterday at the other 20 years ago at Acton Museum showing a lot of work to be done!

Grahame Wareham writes

An Electric Interlude in Grovelands Kidlington

I thought I would send you these images that I have taken at the Grovelands terminus in Kidlington, currently the northern extremity of electric bus operation by both OBC and Stagecoach Oxford. I used to live in the road opposite which was handy for personal breaks and feeding my cats when I used to get roped in for some overtime to help keep the 2's running during the evenings. I often go back there to walk the canal by the railway which is always nice and peaceful and I miss living there for that memory.

They say never go back to where you once lived but I wouldn't want to forget my first house when I left home just because I now live in a better house and it is nearer to the pub!

Grovelands  became the terminus for 2 and 2A services in 1981 when the estate was eventually completed in its first phase. It later extended northwards into Lyne Road and encompassed most of the new build housing in north west Kidlington. It had one of the most intense bus services during its building in the late 1970's with buses almost every fifteen minutes into the City during the peak hours. Nowadays the service is almost every 12 minutes with the 2 making a clockwise circuit and the 2A anticlockwise  from the junction of Bicester Road where the old route via Evans Lane and High Street meet back up with the Banbury Road to for a northern entrance to Lyne Road and back through Grovelands estate and then using Yarnton Road for access back to the City. The 2's and 2A's are now exclusively run by Stagecoach Oxford since January 2022 with OBC now concentrating their efforts on the southern end of the city with exclusive service on the Iffley Road serving Rose Hill and Oxford Science Park, a scheme devised by OCC. OBC now run the 700 Park & Ride JR, Churchill & Nuffield hospital service from Grovelands Kidlington in the north via Banbury Road, Oxford Parkway, Summertown, then Marston Ferry Road and Headley Way to JR Hospital  then to Brookes University in Gipsy Lane through Roosevelt Drive to Chucrhill Hospital and back into Headington via Old Road and Windmill Road for the Nuffield Orthopaedic Hospital and then up to the Thornhill P &R. The route originated in a much shorter format with RH Buses and then Stagecoach with OBC taking over the route from July 2023. It now covers 7 days a week and runs half hourly during the week.

I attach images of OBC 721 in its new livery taken on Monday and today with OBC 744, 753 and today newly into service 770, together with Stagecoach 80004 on a 2A working, all within the space of one hour.

   
     
 

Kidlington is also served by services S4 Banbury, S5 Bicester & S7 Woodstock & Witney by Stagecoach as well as 24 to Bicester via Hampton Poyle, Bletchingdon and Kirtlington, Weston on the Green served by Grayline. Kidlington also boasts a new railway station, Oxford Parkway, which opened in 2016 with a half hourly service to London Marylebone taking just over an hour so yes Kidlington is a place that appeals to me very much having lived there on and off since 1955.

 
Stagecoach 80005 passing outside my house on a 2 just now, plus 15991 running a bit late previously!  

and his Weekly related to issue 304

The first COMS bus to receive fleet number 304 was a 1946 AEC Regent II with Park Royal H30/26R body registered KFC142. Like others of this batch it was built to wartime utility specification through lack of materials but nevertheless lasted in service at Oxford until May 1957 when it was sold to local dealer Deacon, Dorchester ( situated behind where the Bikers Cafe is now on the Henley road at the start of the Dorchester By-Pass). Prior to this it had been renumbered H838 in 1953 to keep 'high-bridge' double decker's in a separate series. H838 was sold along with sister vehicle H837 to a Birmingham operator, Hemingway's but ended up with Superb of Birmingham and finally Don Everall of Wolverhampton who in a dealer capacity scrapped the bus along with H837...


H304 KFC142 at Gloucester Green copyright. RHG Simpson

City of Oxford's next 304 was the penultimate one of a batch of five Dennis Loline II's ordered in haste because of AEC's inability to supply new Bridgemaster's on time. The Lolines did feature an AEC engine though and as these were the only examples of the Loline YF7 designation built, they were not without their problems with continual instances of cracked front engine bearers and vibration problems causing fractures in the cooling system pipework. 304 was registered 304KFC and had an East Lancs 63 seat forward entrance body built to low-height specification giving an overall height of 13ft 6in. 304 was withdrawn in 8/71 after only ten years of Oxford service and was sold with the rest of the batch of five to Transport Passenger Equipment (TPE) of Macclesfield and being quickly resold to Peter Sheffield of Cleethorpes, along with sister bus 305, and both of these lasted for another seven years on local contract work to the local steelworks in the area. In 1978 304 was sold for preservation to the Oxford Bus Preservation Syndicate and later becoming Oxford Bus Museum. The bus has received extensive restoration but along with 305 as a parts donor has a reasonably secure future.

 

The third 304 emulated from a renumbered Wycombe Bus Company Leyland Lynx LX112L10ZR1S B49F that started life with Berks & Bucks Bus Co. (The Bee Line) as their 1404 in 1988 registered F559NJM. Renumbered 404 by Oxford Bus Company on acquisition in 11/90 it was renumbered to 304 in 1996 and again in 2000 as Arriva 3809 when Wycombe Bus passed to Arriva. However it was only to last eighteen months with its new operator passing to Carousel as LX559 in 8/02.

      
Taken in 1999 and 2000 by Malcolm Crowe.

The last 304 was part of a batch of 'new technology' diesel electric Hybrid ADL E400H H47/31F double deck buses which eventually numbered eighteen in the Oxford Bus Fleet Initially the seventeen dedicated Park & Ride buses were used on the 300, 400 & 500 services but in 2016 were relegated to other City dedicated routes as newer Wright StreetDecks were being delivered for Park & Ride services.304 was registered HD11OXF and was repainted into a dark blue/purple livery for City 4 services to Abingdon. On the evening of 16th December 2018 whist returning to Cowley depot 304 unfortunately suffered a 'thermal incident' along the southern by-pass and had to be dealt with by the fire service, this ended 304's service life as the resulting damage rendered it a write off. It was gradually stripped for spares and scrapped by Ripley, Carlton, Barnsley during December 2019. It consequently never received the East Yorkshire diesel engine and gearbox conversion.

     
Taken in 2011 and 2014 by Gavin Francis.


December 16th 2018 GW

Richard Sharman with an update from Oxford

Stagecoach's soft launch of its Enviro400EV's continues with full days of service here and there, with most recent trips in service mainly being on the 1, taken in 2011,  and 10.

 
The 5th of June saw 80004 working Kilo's, where it is seen on an evening trip travelling through Garden City.  

An observation from a photographer's point of view is that the Enviro400EV is not the easiest to photograph (obviously, apart from the fact they are not out everyday!). The dark blue around the front of the vehicle adds to the vast amount of glass used right from the top of the roofline of the vehicle to the bottom of the deep windscreen, a filter is certainly required to take off the glare and reflections off the windscreen, but even then the angle still makes it difficult for moving shots- the rear of the vehicle is also quite dark. Of course, none of this affects the passengers' experience!.


The highest numbered Oxford BUs Company Electroliner, 770, entered revenue earning service on route 700 at 1100hrs on the 5th of June.
It is pictured in Grovelands, Kidlington on its 6th trip in service. 775 entered service on June 11th working a late trip.


Wrightbus Electroliner 724 is seen in Garden City, Kidlington operating an evening 700 service toward's the John Radcliffe.

 
766 is seen operating the 300 service at the Pear Tree end of the route on its first day in revenue earning service, the 11th of June 2024.

 
Wrightbus Electroliner 768 made its debut in revenue earning service on the 11th of June 24 on the 700 service, it is seen passing through Garden City.

I must thank Richard for these excellent pictures. Ed. 

Not buses as such but of interest nevertheless. Ed.

Optare Solos serve the London Fire Brigade by Paul Hawkins

London Fire Brigade Optare Solos

  SABNDK2A6MS290022 M990SR LK23CXN Oe CU 5/2023 London Fire Brigade CSU14 Converted by Bence
   SABNDK2A8MS290023 M990SR LK23DWU Oe CU 6/2023 London Fire Brigade CSU15 Converted by Bence
   SABNDK2AXMS290024 M990SR LK23DXV Oe CU 7/2023 London Fire Brigade CSU16 Converted by Bence
   SABNDK2A1MS290025 M990SR LK23CXM Oe CU 5/2023 London Fire Brigade CSU12 Converted by Bence
   SABNDK2A3MS290026 M990SR LK23CUH Oe CU 3/2023 London Fire Brigade CSU11 Converted by Bence
   SABNDK2A5MS290027 M990SR LK23DWL Oe CU 6/2023 London Fire Brigade CSU13 Converted by Bence

  SABNDK2A7MS290028 M990SR LK73BWD Oe CU 9/2023 London Fire Brigade CSU17 Converted by Bence
   SABNDK2A9MS290029 M990SR LK73BWH Oe CU 9/2023 London Fire Brigade CSU18 Converted by Bence
   SABNDK2A5MS290030 M990SR LK73BXN Oe CU 10/2023 London Fire Brigade CSU19 Converted by Bence

 
One of the second batch to enter service seen on June 9th. 

THE NORTH WEST VEHICLE RESTORATION TRUST
OPEN DAY on June 2ndat Kirby

nwvrt.com

The North West Vehicle Restoration Trust holds a very successful Open day in June each year for displaying our vehicle collection. You can ride on & photograph them to your heart's content. Plus we have visiting vehicles and sales stands on the day too !

Pictures from Nigel Eadon-Clarke

The pictures below show the variety on display. Many provide a return to my younger days and the Ribble PD3 was a favourite drive for me in the 1960s.


This was from the time of change over towards the Atlantean.

     
     
     
     
     
     

The presentation of those attending was exemplary. 

Julian Walker reports from Devon/Cornwall

I hope you are keeping well, thank you again for all the work you do on the Oxford Chilterns Bus Page. 

Last month I visited the Devon coastal village of Wembury for the first time. Wembury lies on the beautiful South Hams coastline and is a few miles south of Plymouth.  

Devon County Council route 48 between Plymouth City Centre and Wembury has been operated by Plymouth CityBus since September 2018. By agreement with Plymouth City Council the route also operates via the waterfront areas of Coxside and Cattedown, which would not otherwise have a bus service. The journey takes a little over half-an-hour but the route is interworked with another service, allowing an hourly frequency to be maintained at most times.  

The attached photo shows Plymouth CityBus Enviro400 no. 508 at the Wembury Terminus in Southland Park Road. 508 was wrapped in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag during the Spring of 2022 to show support and raise funds for the people of Ukraine people. It can be seen all over the City and into Cornwall as it operates on most routes.   

I have also included a photo of Wembury Bay to show your readers just how beautiful the South Hams coastline can be, with the beach, Wembury Point and The Mew Stone in the distance. The church in the foreground is dedicated to St Werburgh and now stands alone; the modern-day village is on higher ground about half-a-mile inland.

The four HW63 - reg vehicles seem to have migrated to Cornwall, although I did spot one in Plymouth on route 12 (Plymouth-Launceston-Bude) last week. I wasn't able to photograph it on that occasion but again, I will keep an eye out. 

Memories from Grahame Wareham

Grovelands pre Electricity

   
     
 
Happy memories. Ed

Thomas W. W. Knowles.

There is nothing like nostalgia and seeing Sims of Chipping Norton mentioned, I thought that a couple of photographs that I took in 1960 might rekindle some memories. 


DKY485 was an ex Bradford Daimler CWA6 photographed at Cowley.


Bedford OB KKE944 was photographed in Wantage.
 

Those were the days!! 

Andy Millwood from Walsall

                   

 Chaserider  bus                   Carolean bus                       Walsall park and ride          Chaserider bus 

Selection of buses seen in Walsall West Midlands 

Andrew Webb from Bath

RATP's Bath Bus Company operates one conventional bus route alongside its portfolio of open top sightseeing routes around Bath.  The A4, marketed as 'Air Decker' links the city with Bristol Airport using its eponymous main road for much of the route through Saltford and Keynsham.  It has recently invested in this Enviro 400MMC to operate along other double deckers on the hourly service which operates virtually 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 


On 9 June it is seen in Bath ready for another trip to the airport. 

This is probably RATP's only commercial bus service in the UK, all other operations being either sightseeing tours or London tendered routes. 

The company's sightseeing routes operate all year round, with the summer being the busiest season for visitors to one of the UK's tourist hotspots. 

  
Optare Visonnaire bodied Volvo B9TL PN10FNR was new to the fleet in 2010, whilst WX15OFU joined in 2015. 

The Volvo B5TL chassis carries a rare UK example of Unvi double deck bodywork, somewhat surprisingly having two staircases which must reduce the seating capacity on the lucrative upper deck.  Both are seen passing Bath bus station on 9 June en route to collect their first tourists of the day. 

Chippenham based Faresaver is anther independent operator to take the MCV Evora on Volvo B8RLE chassis, a far cry from the second hand Transit and Sherpa minibuses that served when the company traded as Fosseway in the 1980s and 1990s.  As First has retrenched from large parts of Wiltshire Faresaver has filled the gaps with a mixture of commercial and tendered routes.  The link between Bath and Chippenham is one such route relinquished by First and now run by Faresaver. 


BV73MJK is seen arriving at Bath bus station with an early evening journey on route 231 from Chippenham.

Chris Huntingford on Summer Travels

"With the common approaches to operation between the Oxford Bus Company/Thames Travel (OBC/TT) and Carousel Buses, I’ve often wondered if day trips could be made easier from Buckinghamshire to come over and explore the Oxfordshire network. However, the only physical link between the two networks is currently the infrequent 275. That changes when Carousel start to operate the 800/850, as a direct change is possible in Henley in to the 33 to Wallingford and Abingdon. 

How about the OBC/TT CityZone and CountryZone day rover ticket is extended to include Carousel buses, and a leaflet made setting out the possibilities of changing in Henley? 

And if people do have a great day out in Oxfordshire but miss the last Henley bus, although a trek, getting home via the X40 to Reading and then on the 800/850 is available."

Do readers have any thoughts ? Ed. 

Gary Seamarks from Bolton

Photo's from day out in Bolton/Manchester on Thursday 6th. 

Again making use of railcard and good advance fares, trains were 07.15 CMK to Crewe (London Northwestern), 09.46 to Manchester Piccadilly arrive10.40 (Northern Rail) return was 19.15 to CMK (Avanti)  arrive 21.00. The fare on the train to Crewe was £5.45, then £3.30 to Manchester, against a direct train at nearly £65, but over an hour quicker, the return trip was £13.85. Then went out by rail to Bolton at lunchtime.

   
   
Ex Oxford Vehicles running in Manchester. 

     
and a few coaches, was hoping for a new Mega Volvo, but nothing showed while I was there.

3352, 3463 are also in Bolton, rest Manchester. 

     
     
     
     

Its of note that the free city circle routes are at present run by the Scania Omni's,  Nothing First was seen all trip, and only a handful of Arriva in Manchester. 

While the Bee Livery looks neat and tidy its very insipid looking, also how will it look after a few washes and when the sun has had a go at it, yellow paint (along with red) were always the worst at fading and matching when I worked in the DIY trade, time will tell.

Until all repaints are complete must admit it looks like deregulation has hit again,,  

 James Allum from the North East

A recent Ad campaign that Go North East have brought out up here called "get your bum on board"!
interesting choice of words I must admit. 

 
Anyway two buses have received this wrap, with 6363 NK70 BYN being one, captured in Durham Bus Station this past week.

I’ve attached some shots from todays visit to Durham

   

Middlesbrough this past week.

     
   

The lack of a National fleet numbering is sometimes frustrating for the Enthusiast. Ed.

Gordon Scott

 
Taken today at Alexander Dennis factory in Falkirk new
ADL Enviro 400 EV  80033 SK24CYV for Stagecoach Oxford leaving Falkirk on its delivery run. 


ADL Enviro 400 EV Demonstrator taken at ADL Larbert Factory. 

Antwerp.

Martin Dowling with photos from Antwerp

Regular buses and trams are run by the transport company De Lijn.  The buses are mostly by Van Hool with some MAN and VDL vehicles too.  The trams are mainly modern articulated vehicles, but they still use some older vehicles towing trailers.

There are also some more unusual vehicles.  Halilovic are a coach company from Bosnia and Herzogovena who operate a Van Hool coach.  I think it's a regular service to Antwerp rather than a tour as it was parked outside the station. 

De Lijn does a good job keeping their vehicles clean and free of graffiti.

     


The school buses also parked there look to be built on Mercedes lorry chassis. 


 Belgian railways, SNCB, don't seem to bother ...


There is also a photo of a strange green electric sightseeing vehicle which has doors all along each side and bench seats across.  I think it counts as a bus!
 

 It seems another world ! Ed. 

Andrew Webb

May I offer a small correction to Gavin's article about the Carousel ex London 'MEC' Citaros?  They were indeed delivered as part of Boris Johnson's purge of the bendybuses, but worked Red Arrow routes only until 2016.  The network was then taken over by electric BYD Enviros 'SEe' class in the Go Ahead London numbering system.  It was these that were made surplus when the final Red Arrow routes were withdrawn in April 2023.  Some of these surplus buses are,  after refurbishment and up seating, destined for route 108 between Stratford and Lewisham which is currently the preserve of the MECs.  There is a certain irony that members of the class sent to enjoy quieter provincial operations have been outlived by those working intensive duties in the capital.

Gary Seamarks

One question been meaning to ask, what has/will happen to the plates taken off the B5LH and E400 of OBC, I had assumed they would go on the electric fleet, or are they looking at fitting to the AIR fleet ? (any ideas ?)  

LOCAL NEWS,

Sees Stagecoach East (Bedford) has registered an LAX, between Luton Interchange (Town) and Airport from late June, not sure on frequency/hours/days yet. Arriva have registered an X1 Luton Interchange- Milton Keynes Limited Stop, again full details unknown, but whispers of using coaches on it.

The Biggleswade routes that were withdrawn late May are now covered, in part by Grant Palmer extending the 72. 73 routes, they have also opened an outstation at the old Stagecoach East, Langford Road site, for about 4 or 5 buses.

Neil Gow with information on Chiltern Bus S90CBC

The Chiltern Bus Volvo B9TL/East Lancs Olympus (it dates from before the Optare takeover) S90 CBC is ex Stagecoach Bluebird Buses 16948, new to Highland Country Buses (Rapsons) for the Inverness Airport service. Its former Stagecoach fleetnumber is still visible in the cab area and freecarcheck.co.uk confirms its previous registration SY07CUX.

 

Blackpool developments reported by Paul Swann

The new engineering workshops have been complex and they are about to move in so the next stage of the electric bus programme can start.  The trams start to run to the new North Station terminus on 16 June, it will be 88 years since trams last ran in service up Talbot Road and 61 years since they last served North Station.

 

As you will see from the attached photos, taken at Fleetwood Ferry on June 5th, we currently have an ADL E400EV on loan, it has been confirmed that ADL will supply the forthcoming electric buses with around 50 DD and 45 SD( mixed length short and long wheelbase)

 

Significant numbers of EVs working and on order now for UK operators. Ed.

     Fleet News and developments   

Gavin Francis in Watford on June 5th.

     
     
   
 

Arriva certainly still has a strong presence in Watford as the pictures above show.

Tony Bungay

As has been mentioned the East Lancs Olympus vehicles at Milton Keynes, have now appeared on Services X4/X6.

   
4105 on X6 and 4104 on the X4, all in Aylesbury.

Gavin Francis in Watford on June 5th.

   
Service RA3 runs from Watford to Heathrow as seen above. 

Jack Cooper in Reading on June 6th


railair RA1 arriving from Heathrow on June 6th.



Another coach company to/ be acquired by Go Ahead is Procters now in the East Yorkshire group.

Richard Sharman


Procters OYJ437 rear Oxford bypass 120624 R Sharman

Gavin Francis


514 is seen with the 275 evening service in New Rd STOKENCHURCH on June 7th.


An interesting and attractive colour scheme covering 892 seen in the depot on May 31st.


401 has been out of service for many months now. 

The latest Electroliners at publication time. Other new entries into service are pictured below.

BN24ZYA Wt StDk Elr SC5DDREXU23000507 Wt AV243 H44/26F 6/2024 City of Oxford 779
BN24ZYB Wt StDk Elr SC5DDREXU23000508 Wt AV244 H44/26F 5/2024 City of Oxford 780
BN24ZYC Wt StDk Elr SC5DDREXU23000509 Wt AV245 H44/26F 5/2024 City of Oxford 781
BN24ZYD Wt StDk Elr SC5DDREXU23000510 Wt AV246 H44/26F 5/2024 City of Oxford 782
BN24ZYE Wt StDk Elr SC5DDREXU23000511 Wt AV247 H44/26F 6/2024 City of Oxford 783
BN24ZYF Wt StDk Elr SC5DDREXU23000512 Wt AV248 H44/26F 6/2024 City of Oxford 784

Allan Hollis


781 was the latest Electroliners passing through Grayson's on June 7th.

James Freeman


First glimpse of 721 on June 5th.

Peter Edgar

Oxford Bus Company shows Pride livery on StreetDeck Electroliner

Oxford Bus Company has debuted what is thought to be the first provincial zero-emission bus to carry a Pride livery in a member of its Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner fleet.

The Go-Ahead subsidiary is among a growing number of operators to show its support for the LGBTQ+ community by suitably adorning a bus. The StreetDeck Electroliner was launched to coincide with Oxford Pride on Saturday 8 June, and it took part in that event.

Oxford Bus Company was one of the founding businesses in the city to support Oxford Pride in 2018, and that partnership “has gone from strength to strength” since then, the operator notes. The latest livery includes colours from the Progress Pride Flag and Citypride branding.

In addition to external branding, the bus has internal artwork displaying the history of LGBTQ+ in the city. The operator further backed Oxford Pride by continuing its partnership via the sponsorship of stewards’ hi-vis jackets.

Speaking about the ongoing support, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director Luke Marion says: “The bus looks fantastic, and we are proud to once again back Oxford Pride this year.

“One of our core values is embracing diversity, and it is an important belief system that guides our business and inspires us to support organisations like Oxford Pride. It has been great to have supported Oxford Pride for some time, and to see it develop and support our community.”

In addition to carrying Pride livery, the StreetDeck Electroliner is also the first example of Oxford Bus Company’s growing zero-emission fleet to be branded in community-based colours. Another will receive a suitable scheme to support the Oxford Hospitals Charity, which won the operator’s Brand the Bus Competition for 2024. 

   
721. These were taken today 11/06/2023 in the St Aldate’s area of Oxford.

pignbob

     
New into service 24 hours ago, 765, 771. 772 and 775 on June 12th.


Noit the normal fodder for the X1, 512 put in an journey on June 10th being replaced later by 687.


StreetDecks in many colours in St Aldates on June 10th.

Richard Sharman

     
 
Recent entry into service 766, 768 and 770 in Kidlington on June 11th and 5th.

Charles Powell 


The latest member of the Pulhams fleet after delivery on June 6th.

  .
UK73PUL working a private hire from Gatwick to Cirencester on June 9th. 

Jack Cooper in Reading on June 6th


923 with an X40 bound for Oxford.

Pig & Bob

     
679. 680 and 681 have transferred to Thames Travel losing much of their branding in the process.

 
including Courtney, Newbury & District & Thames Valley

ADL EV order for Reading

Reading Buses will receive 24 latest-generation Enviro400EV battery-electric double-deckers as part of a 53-vehicle order placed with Alexander Dennis.

The Enviro400EV fleet and its associated infrastructure are part-funded by a successful bid by Reading Borough Council to the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas fund. It was allocated £4.7 million. The operator will upgrade its Great Knollys Street depot with 13 fast chargers that can each handle two buses at once as part of the work.

When the Enviro400EVs are in service from June 2025, they will displace some of the operator’s existing biogas-fuelled vehicles to enable the retirement of older diesel buses. The battery-electrics will be deployed onto the Purple 17 and Claret 21 routes, with the latter serving the University of Reading.

CEO Robert Williams says that the Enviro400EV was chosen after “extensive testing of demonstrators from a number of suppliers.” Passenger and driver experience were prioritised in the decision. The model “has the best layout for customers” and drivers like it, Mr Williams adds.

In addition to the battery-electrics, 29 diesel buses will also be procured from Alexander Dennis. 21 Enviro400 double-deckers are to be complemented by eight Enviro200 single-deckers.

The diesel double-deckers will arrive between October and December and will be utilised on longer-distance duties including the Jet Black route between Reading and Newbury and the London Line 702 and Flightline 703 services. Glazed staircases, skylights and tables form part of their high specification level in the same vein as others already in the fleet.

Newbury and District will receive the Enviro200s to completely replace the local fleet there on a mix of commercial and contracted services.

Mr Williams adds that those buses will suit rural applications in West Berkshire. “They will be a real step change for our customers in the area as we bring some more of the Reading Buses sparkle to Newbury and District,” he concludes.

Jack Cooper in Reading on June 6th

     
     
     
     
     
     

Gavin Francis in Watford on June 5th.

 
LK08FNF and YX12AMK.

 

Gavin Francis


A school service RL01 in Stokenchurch on June 6th.


BV73MLY in the Eden Bus Station on May 31st. 

All Red rose services will introduce the £2 FLAT FARE from July 1st.

Gavin Francis in Watford on June 5th.

   
Red Rose ehave a few services in Watford as seen on June 5th.

Stokenchurch June 9th.

   
These hired buses for the 328 show changing route number colours as seen on June 9th.

By the 13th all five were in service on the 328. Ed.

Malcolm Crowe

   
OKA was a surprise allocation to the 40 on June 9th seen in Stokenchurch.

Order for Volvo 9700 DD to complete in coming months

Delivery of an order by Stagecoach for 43 Volvo 9700 DD double-deck coaches will be completed over the next few months, the vehicle supplier has confirmed.

So far seven have been supplied to Cumbernauld depot for Megabus work on routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow and London. Nine others are at Cumbernauld and Perth for use on Scottish Citylink services.

Each coach is 14.8m long and carries a Carrus Delta body on B13R running units. The D13K engine develops 500bhp. Up to 81 passengers can be carried, with space for one wheelchair user. The rear luggage area has a volume of eight cubic metres and Volvo claims that the internal racks add a further three cubic metres to that capacity.

Of the outstanding 27 examples, four are for use on Megabus services by Stagecoach North East from its Walkergate depot in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the remainder will be deployed in Scotland.

Scottish Citylink Managing Director Simone Walsh has described the order as “a significant investment” in Stagecoach’s coach fleet.

She adds: “We are operating services covering thousands of miles across varied terrain and in unpredictable weather conditions every day; this increased capacity will improve efficiencies across the business while [also] improving our passenger experience.”

Camera monitoring systems in lieu of rear-view mirrors are fitted to those 9700 DD coaches already in use with Stagecoach, along with multiple other safety product from Volvo including a driver alert system.

Continues Ms Smith: “This order is another testament to the strong relationship we continue to build with Volvo Buses. It is no coincidence that we’re seeing improved feedback from drivers and passengers. Easily being able to communicate with the Volvo Buses team and its dealerships when required will also be important.” 

Are we looking at the future of the Oxford tube? Ed.

Pig & Bob

 
Stagecoach West: 25214 seen in Oxford, we it on loan during June 11th.

Today two EVs are working duties. June 13th.

Peter Edgar



Stagecoach Oxfordshire 80005 in Park End Street, Oxford on June 5th. 

I am advised that 50452 and 450453 have had tracking problems but are in daily service. Ed.


Gavin Francis in Watford on June 5th.

 
Service 635 is operated by uno and above are two of their buses on duty.


     London operations    

Andrew Webb

As football fans prepare for the feast of football that is Euro 2024 to kick off in Germany this Friday, key sponsor Ali Express has had five New Routemasters wrapped in this vivid pink advert for the Chinese online shopping giant. 


Go Ahead's LT852 passes Bank early on 8 June. 


The offside version is seen on Arriva's LT524 as it leaves Clapton Garage later the same day ready for a short working on route 38. 
Protests marches in central London precluded the service reaching its usual terminus at Victoria.

Big Bus are the second of London's sightseeing operators to introduce buses which have been repowered from diesel with new electric powerpacks. 

Anhui Ankai AN335 is one of several which have recently re entered service with a suitably modified livery to attract green tourists. 


It is seen at Victoria on 8 June.

Gavin Francis in Watford on June 5th.

 
Metroline serve the area.

 
as do RATP.