From the Editor

Some interesting items this week with much to interest readers.

The electric buses for Stagecoach developments are revealed in news from West's HQ

In this issue

Grahame Wareham's weekly musing for 313

The final route in my extended contribution's looking at the final weeks
of operation at Aylesbury and High Wycombe by Tony Bungay

Readers follow up re Tony Bungay's recent articles

Aftermath of Arriva closure
High Wycombe and Aylesbury by Thomas Walker Werth

The Big Bus Show 2024

The Chinnor & Princes Risboro' Railway and RTL557

Oxford United Football Bus Services

Showbus 2024 reminder

Fleet News & Developments

London operations

Paul Hawkins from the South West in pictures

Nick Ross from Scotland

Grahame Wareham's weekly musing for 313

H313 LWL308 was part of a batch of twenty-five 1946 AEC Regent II's with Park Royal H30/26R semi-utility bodies, being the first post WW2 bus deliveries. In line with the 1952 fleet renumbering H313 was renumbered H847 the reasoning being to keep high-bridge and low-bridge vehicles in separate series to avoid their use under Oxford or Cowley Station Bridges........ but the scheme didn't always work!  The road was eventually widened and lowered under Cowley Station Bridge, the through route not seeing hardly any use after 1965 and thereafter just used for car trains to and from BMC and Pressed Steel Works. Nowadays it sees one freight a day. Oxford Station bridge is now being rebuilt and will be able to take full height buses when completed in 2025 hopefully however both Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach Oxford specify low-height body options on their new deliveries  but heightening should eliminate that risk but may introduce another........flooding as the road will be lower than the Thames!

H847 was withdrawn and sold to Deacon (dealer), Dorchester in April 1958, finding its way to Greatrex of Stafford as their D4. It was withdrawn by Greatrex in October 1963.Unfortunately I don't have any images of this bus! 

Here is a link with a picture of H313 - LWL308

http://www.busphoto.co.uk/gallery.php?mode=gallery&id=837&page=1

313  313MFC  was an AEC Bridgemaster 2B3RA Park Royal H43/29F forward entrance body delivered in 1961. It spent its entire life operating on Oxford routes operating from Cowley Road Garage finishing on City services during the last five years with Oxford. 313 received the simplified ged and green livery in July 1979 and had its Ward's of Oxford illuminated offside advertising replaced with that of Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society. 313 was withdrawn in December 1972 and sold to TPE (dealer), Macclesfield, immediately passing to Ward, Epping along with stablemate 306. 313 lasted until December 1975 when engine failure sealed its fate and it was gradually stripped for spare to keep other AEC's in Ward's fleet active. It had been scrapped by December 1977.

     

103  NUD103L  was a 1973  Bristol VRTSL2 ECW CH41/25F later up-seated to CH41/27F specified as a dual purpose double decker. It initially operated on the London services but mechanically unsuited to the long drag over the Chilterns along with the rest of the batch were sent out to operate from various country depots, 103 finding its home in Witney, In 1977 103 received an overall advert for Rediffusion TV and by July 1982 had been renumbered 313 and repainted into standard NBC Poppy Red livery. In July 1984 313 was transferred into the South Midland division and was renumbered 603 in June1986 just prior to being withdrawn and sold to Martins Bus & Coach, Middlewich in September 1986. It was then passed on to Gary Lane, Tredegar for further service in that same month

   
   

313 HN11OXF is an ADL E400H Hybrid bus with  Alexander H47/31F bodywork new in 2011. It was part of a batch of seventeen buses specified for flagship Park & Ride services and the first to feature Hybrid Electric technology which was developed by BAE Systems. The BAE Electric drive was powered by Lithium battery banks fed by an Alternator which was driven by a Cummins IBS4 4 cyl 4 litre diesel Euro 6 engine. In 2016 313, along with the rest of the batch, were replaced on P&R services by newer Wright Streetdeck vehicles. 313 received red generic City livery for use on non branded routes and stand-in for all City duties. In 2018 the battery banks needed expensive replacement but as the vehicle was not life expired along with the remainder of the batch it was decidedto convert back to conventional diesel mechanical layout but still using the small Cummins power plant. These conversions were carried out by East Yorkshire Motors Service, another operator in the Go-Ahead Group, and the vehicles lasted until 2024 with the advent of toral electrification within the Oxford SmartZone. 313 was transferred to Go South West/Plymouth City Bus  as their 5025 being reregistered OE11YNJ by OBC before departure on 17th April 2024

 

Pictures from Gavin Francis

   
 

As ever an interesting piece from Grahame supported by Gavin Francis. Ed. 

The final route in my extended contribution's looking at the final weeks of operation
at Aylesbury and High Wycombe by Tony Bungay

The X7 Aylesbury - Thame - Oxford route, had for over 50 years until January 2024 been numbered 280. For just under half that time it had been operated by City of Oxford Motor Services, with vehicles based at Oxford and Thame and a small out station at Aylesbury. Before it was the 280 it was simply number 82. 

In the early 1970's the service was combined with Oxford City service to Kidlington, which had it working alongside City route 580. The service from Aylesbury was half hourly with one journey each of 280/282, the difference being one route diverted to provide a local service to a housing estate in Aylesbury.

Changes in 1977 stopped this diversion, it being covered by a separate dedicated service numbered 262, this was still operated by Oxford and later South Midland until 1987.  

 Some years before this C.O.M.S had shut their Thame depot and given up a number of rural routes to the northwest of Aylesbury, the vehicles needed were then outstationed in United Counties Buckingham Street garage.

In 1982 the 280 service was reduced to hourly frequency to Oxford, although the Aylesbury - Thame section was retained on a half hourly alternate 260/280 short working, worked by now the arms length South Midland operation, South Midland also providing a couple of late evening journeys to and from Oxford.

The Sunday service worked by C.O.M.S consisted of 3 return journeys, the first from Aylesbury being after midday!

I was told at the time one of the reasons for this was to reduce the number of vehicles outstationed in United Counties premises, as they had increased the fee charged!  

In 1986 C.O.M.S increased the Sunday frequency to 2 hourly, though no earlier journeys to Oxford. All the Oxford journeys being worked from Oxford, leaving South Midland to just do the 262 and 260/280, which were from 26/10/86 operated from Bicester depot via in service workings from there to Thame.

From the same date C.O.M.S increased the daytime frequency and the evening service; some journeys being numbered 2 as an extension of the service from Kidlington. The final journey from Aylesbury to Oxford leaving gone midnight, shown in the timetable as on service to Cowley Road. 

In July 1987 Luton and District took over the South Midland routes 262, 260/280 still worked in conjunction with C.O.M.S 

In the early 1990's Motts (Yellow Bus) started operation, and while, if I recall correctly, did not compete with the company on the corridor, but did work some positioning journeys and the evening and Sunday service on the 280 on council contract.

In 1995 the Motts bus operation was taken over by what was now British Bus owned rebranded LDT the Shires, and in the same route exchange as the 323/324, gained the whole 280 route. 

The period after this saw some 260 journeys extended from Thame via villages to Oxford. In the late 1990's new route branded Volvo Olympians with Northern Counties Palantine II body work were received, the first vehicles in Aylesbury to sport the new Arriva name and livery.

10 years later Dennis Enviro 400 with e-leather seating were received branded by now line 280

A couple of slightly faster journeys numbered 200 were put on the timetable but didn't seem to last

The Sunday service had by now grown to hourly, though the evening service tended to ebb and flow.

In 2015 new Enviro 400 vehicles came into service, this time with Sapphire branding, A couple of peak hour journeys to and from Oxford numbered X8 were put on as well as some Sapphire branded Wright bodied Single Deckers, in between the peak hour workings there were X8 short workings to and from Thame to Oxford. On Friday and Saturday nights there were some very early morning journeys.

The X8 number was withdrawn, being replaced by 280 short journeys extended to Thame and Haddenham Parkway Station, this seemed to cause or add to operational problems, as there was a large amount of road alteration work in Oxford causing lengthy delays.

The frequency from Aylesbury to Oxford was uplifted to every 20 minutes, but again cut back to half hourly, though the extra Thame - Oxford journeys remained. Redline X20 operating a quicker journey appeared, the fallout from Covid and the effects that has had, have all contributed to the problems Arriva have had on this route.

In January 2024, after 50 years of so, the number 280 was changed to the X7 and the Thame - Oxford short working became once again the X8. The Sunday service between Aylesbury and Oxford once again became half hourly, this had been tried before, but eventually come back to Thame. Therefore, with competing Redline X20 there were 4 buses an hour between Aylesbury and Oxford, and 6 an hour between Thame and Oxford. This did reduce to 4 briefly as the X8 was once again withdrawn, about the time of the Aylesbury Garage closure announcement! A month or so later, the number of journeys went back up to 6 per hour as the Oxford Bus Company started to work Service 280!  

I would have liked to have got a photo of the X7 passing a 280, but really needed one or other of them to run late! As it is the best I could get is this somewhat less than satisfactory shot of Oxford Bus Company Wright StreetDeck 655 passing Arriva Citaro 3019. The Citaro once again failing to capture the destination! Slightly better luck with 655, though a 280 branded one would have been better! Equally I felt the title, the 280 past, present and future could apply? 

The building partially visible to the left behind the trees, was for many years the local Tourist Office until spending cuts forced its closure.
Thame being a popular location for the somewhat tongue in cheek murder drama 'Midsomer Murders'.
This building sported Midsomer Gazette across the doorway. Citaro 3019 was the first large bus at Aylesbury to be repainted in the current Arriva scheme. 

Generally looking pristine is Enviro 400 5461 on an Oxford bound X7, i contributed a photo of this vehicle a day or so after it had returned to Aylesbury following a repaint,
adding the comment would this be the only repainted sapphire Enviro 400 before closure. In the event that distinction fell to 5462. 

Passing Enviro 400 5464 Aylesbury bound, is Redline Enviro 200 working the X20 outside Thame Town Hall.
New to Nottingham City Transport as its 378, a slight pity it was not one of the new Volvo/MCV  Evora (apologies if i got that a bit wrong) vehicles.
One wonders what the thoughts are, if any of the Arriva Driver looking on?  

In the middle of the picturesque village centre of Haddenham,
Citaro 3019 stops in Fort End on an Oxford bound journey 

Approaching Fort End Haddenham on an X7 Aylesbury bound journey is Citaro 3030 previously 3930.
Once again curse of the failed destination has struck! 

Citaro 3024, actually with destination visible just! Enters Haddenham on an X7 Oxford bound journey.
This vehicle was previously numbered 3904. 

A selection of photos you may find worth using, firstly there is no history article attached!

Just generally photos, some I think you will agree are unique. 

 
The first qualify for bus in Landscape 

In middle distance in both instances Enviro 400 Sapphire livered vehicles, one passes new build housing as it heads into Haddenham on an Oxford bound X7. 

An Aylesbury bound X7 on the A418, the ridge line in the distance behind,
has seen X7 journeys on diversion, due to HS2 road closure. 

Enviro 400 5461 passes the building known as Dinton Castle on an Oxford bound X7.

The building also known as Dinton Folly was built in the 18^th century, derelict in the 20^th century, it was purchased in recent years for a £100k and renovated for a further £300k. Featured in Channel 4 programme 'Grand Designs', it has since been sold and can be available as an Air BNB!    

Aylesbury bound X7, Enviro 5463 passes the entrance to Hartwell House Hotel.

The building was built in the early 17^th century, in the early 19^th century was home to the exiled French Royal family. In the late 20^th century, it was converted to a up market hotel. Roughly 10 years ago it was used to host a G7 summit. I had hoped to get a photo of the bus shelter with the vehicle, as it is built into the stone wall. But a procession of cars meant i had to get what photo i could! 

The penultimate day of Arriva operating from Aylesbury. But the last say ever that Arriva would operate over this bit of the A418.

 
Citaro 3019 and Enviro 400 5461 and unknown Sapphire livered example, pass over a road
that is intended to vanish by the end of the year, due to HS2 cutting through at this point.

The concrete bridge in the background is the new over bridge for a realigned A418. The last day due to the road being closed the X7 was forced to take long diversion. For those who are interested there are numerous videos available on You Tube relating to construction of HS2. In the Aylesbury area those done by Karl Vaughan are worth watching, for the construction and impact in the surrounding land.

As commented on in a previous post, the construction of the HS2 Railway line has impacted on both Services X7 and X9. In the case of X7 closure of the Oxford Road for an entire weekend last November 2023 and the weekends of the 13/14 of July and 27/28 of July has required buses to go on a lengthy diversion, in the case of the X7, vehicles heading to and from Aylesbury along the A41, turning off onto a country road, climbing a hill and proceeding along the ridge line, before turning off down a narrow road in one place descending a hill before climbing up again to the village of Cuddington, shortly afterwards regaining the original route.

For passengers on the top deck some good views can be had, which hopefully some of the photos can give an idea. 

Enviro 400 5465 heads back towards Aylesbury having just climbed up to the road from Cuddington 

Heading the other way to Oxford is Enviro 5463 which will shortly turn off for the descent down  

Citaro 3031 working towards Oxford, destination just visible!

 
Citaro 3030 and Enviro 400 5467 both heading towards Aylesbury,
pass the lodge where Waddesdon and Eythrope Estates meet 

Enviro 400 5461 again! Climbing up the hill from Waddesdon Crossroads on the A41 heads for Oxford.
The silo structures seen in the background middle, are to do with HS2 Rail construction. 

The A418 was again closed weekend 27/28 of July, as Arriva was finishing operation of the X7 and closing their Garage, they only had to contend with the 27th, therefore the remaining photos are on the last day   

Climbing the hill up to accessing the ridge road back to the A41 and Aylesbury is Sapphire Enviro 400 

There seemed to be some gaps in service on the last day, perhaps not surprisingly, so 5461 features again, as Bus in Landscape photos. One having descended Waddesdon hill and heading for the A41, and the second on the A41 near the new roundabout, where due to HS2 crossing here the A41 is being realigned 

Probably at best, if you have time and indeed space, you can perhaps use edited bits over a couple of newsletters, after all it's now fortnight old history, and very sadly a lot of more important things have occurred across the UK over the past week!

 
Enviro 400's 5463 and 5468 and Citaro 3021 previously 3907, having climbed the hill from Cuddington turn on the road that will them to the A41 and Aylesbury. 

Heading the other way to Oxford is Enviro 5465, about to get ready to turn down the hill. 

 

8pm Saturday 27/7/24, the Arriva Aylesbury Garage has I assume 4 hours until it officially closes. Just before these photos were taken an Enviro 400 had left the Garage with not in service displayed. The Maintenance Bays are already shuttered, what will happen to the site is unknown. Whether another Bus or Coach operator, or indeed perhaps Haulage will take it on remains to be seen. Given what has happened in that area, it could well become a site for development of Apartment blocks. The fate of many a Bus Garage since 1986.   

It seems in the case of Aylesbury; it experienced a managed decline over the past 10 years or so. One long established service withdrawn before Covid, the 61 originally going to Luton but in its final days Dunstable, was described in an article in 'Buses' magazine as death by a thousand cuts!  

The writer and he understands many of the Arriva staff there, felt the days were numbered at Aylesbury when last September, not only was the last town service operated, the number 9 withdrawn, but the operation of the long-established Leighton Buzzard road service was transferred to Milton Keynes.

This left Aylesbury with the operation of just 3 routes, at the time numbered 280, 300, 500, ironically prior to the early 1990's never operated from Aylesbury other than out stationed City of Oxford vehicles. And indeed, only in recent years had Aylesbury had complete operation of the 300 and 500 

At the end of 1985 the then United Counties Garage in Aylesbury had a compliment of 21 vehicles at the time of the handover to newly formed Luton and District.

Nearly 3 years later with the acquisition of independent Red Rover, the 2 fleets numbered 48.  That number was somewhat inflated as this was the era of the van derived Minibus. But    nonetheless it is probably correct to say that after last September's changes, the number of vehicles needed probably just about made the United Counties total, but Arriva's premises being much larger than the former! 

But these days more than ever cost is king. Arriva as a company up for sale, and indeed being no longer wanted by a debt laden European Rail operator. In the case of Aylesbury at least, 2 of its 3 remaining routes subject to intense competition. Unfortunately for its employees the outcome was probably inevitable.

Arriva Post script

Unlike High Wycombe the closure of the Arriva Garage at Aylesbury did not spell the end of Arriva working services into Aylesbury Bus Station. The only difference being they were worked from other garages, the X6 since at least Covid, and the X4 since September 2023. Until January 2024 Services X60 and 150 respectively. Both being worked from Milton Keynes, and the X5 previously numbered the 500, from Hemel Hempstead.

Unlike the X4/X6, the X5 only until fairly recently in comparison, had always been partially or completely worked from Hemel Hempstead as far back as London Transport days at least.

The X4/X6 had their roots back into 1920's, operated by a small local operator, which then as much as now was taken over by a larger company. This operator being London based, was itself taken over with the formation of London Transport. The resulting changes saw Northampton based United Counties gain operation of the forerunners of these 2 services, and at the same time control of the Eastern National Garage and services in Stony Stratford.

As United Counties did not have a base in Aylesbury at that time (only gaining the Eastern National one in 1952) one assumes that at least the forerunner of the X6 was operated from Stony Stratford, so possibly operation of this service has gone full circle somewhat, as it now runs from MK. Will be interesting if anybody can clarify or knows different. 

Where less than 48 hours earlier, four Arriva vehicles would be present on the hour, now there are only two.

The first weekday after the closure of Aylesbury, would see Mk based VDL/Wright 3110 and ironically Enviro 400 5462 side by side. For the Enviro this would almost be a case of never having gone away! Nick Ross commented on Oxford Chiltern News page 1/8/24, that seeing no Enviro 400 on the Oxford Bay would seem strange, it would seem 5462 heard him!

Enviro 5462 does seem to have been the last vehicle repainted while Aylesbury was open, i did see it working i think an X9 journey, but could not get a photo. After which i never saw sight of it again until this photo!  

Enviro 400 5462, Enviro 400MMC 6524 and still branded for Sapphire route 320 6525, Volvo B7RLE/Wright 3887, all in Exchange Street Aylesbury working Hemel bound X5 journeys. Unlike 5462 all these have probably worked this service before when it was the 500! 

 

Readers follow up re Tony Bungay's recent articles

from Ian Williamson

An update on Tony Bungay’s comments:

315/6 continued  from Maidenhead to Reading, 315 via Sonning, 316 via Woodley.

317/8/9/20 continued to Windsor, the various numbers being for different routes in Maidenhead (Cookham Road or Marlow Road) or between Maidenhead and Dedworth (Bray or Moneyrow Green). The only survivor today is the Wycombe to Maidenhead service which Arriva renumbered 37 then 7 and is now 37 again under Carousel.

Perhaps one day it will again run through to Windsor like their 103.

from Ed Maun

The demise of Arriva in High Wycombe is producing a lot of comment amongst the enthusiast community!   It must be the biggest change to the bus scene in the Wycombe area in nigh on 20 years!    

I was drawn to comments in Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page 312 where Tony Bungay comments on the history of the High Wycombe to Aylesbury route.  The history from Alder Valley onwards appears quite accurate. However, the Thames Valley years needs expanding.  

Thames Valley commenced operation between High Wycombe and Aylesbury as service 21 on 1st June 1926.   This became service 30 on 1^st October 1926 when Thames Valley grouped their services in geographical areas.  The service was renumbered 20 on 18th July 1959 when it was joined end to end with the existing service 20 to run Aylesbury – High Wycombe – Windsor. This service was divided again from 23rd October 1965 with the Aylesbury to High Wycombe section becoming service 21; which survived into the Alder Valley era.  The main service always went via Butlers Cross (with A variants (when used) going via Little Kimble) and using the main road (A4010/A40) into High Wycombe. 

From Witney

George Candelin

WOCT HX73DFY  in Witney on August 6th. 

Aftermath of Arriva closure
High Wycombe and Aylesbury by Thomas Walker Werth

I had the exceptional good luck to see two of Arriva High Wycombe's Citaros (BG59FCZ 3029 and BJ12YPT 3008) leaving the depot yesterday. I'm informed they only went as far as Aylesbury. One ran with the blind set for the 850. I also got a nice selection of Carousel's fleet additions for their expanded High Wycombe network, including an ex-Dundee Volvo Wright Eclipse on their 850. All my photos can be seen here:

https://mktom.smugmug.com/2024/August-2024/UK-Bus--Other-Transport-August-2024/i-7MWpzsR

 

   
   

 

Some memorable photos from Thomas. Ed. 

The BIG Bus Show is a collection of historic and modern buses and other vehicles featuring transport through time for enthusiasts of all ages to enjoy.

The show featured buses ranging from 1930 to the present day.

Stonham Barns Park, Stowmarket

Stonham Barn Park is near Stowmarket (the mid Suffolk Showground) and the rally (its 3^rd year) is arranged by the Eastern Counties Bus preservation group, they expected over 100 vehicles but I haven’t counted how many made it.  There were a few ‘no shows’ disappointingly RMF1254 was one of them.

Pictures from Andrew Churchill

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Pictures from Nigel Eadon-Clarke

     
     
     
   

A very broad selection of vehicles with some I have not seen before. Ed. 

https://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/

by Gavin Francis on August 11th

Last Sunday a colleague and myself took RTL 554 to the Preserved Steam Railway at Chinnor. On board were a group of both train and bus enthusiasts and whilst they were all riding on the railway it was my job to stay with the bus.

I cannot tell you how many people came up to me and wanted to know all about it and get on board and have a good look around. It’s nice to know these old buses still give a lot of pleasure to people of all ages and many were complimentary of the condition of a 73 year old bus.

     
Visiting RTL557 providing a bus interest.

   
   
The trains.

Oxford United football services - Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel

James Freeman

     
 
Oxford, Pulhams and Thames Travel now operate the OX services.Sanjay Baker

 
691 and 623 on the new OX5 this afternoon

I have happy memories of driving the Kidlington-Kassam route back in 2003/4 for Oxford Bus often with an ex Park & Ride Trident. Ed. 

Bustronome are a familiar sight on the capital's streets, using bespoke Ayats coaches to serve fine dining experiences as passengers enjoy a tour of London landmarks.  The company also operate a similar operation in Paris, with one of the French vehicles currently on loan to the London operation.