Issue nr 314
Thursday August 22nd, 2024
Past Issues : https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/
From the Editor
An interesting issue this week with a new livery revealed for Redline X20 buses and a different livery for Stagecoach.
A large number of pictures relating to Carousel in Wycombe with a number of livery variations and a significant upcoming change to the allocation.
The electric buses for Oxford are now being used for weekday 280 journeys.
In this issue
ImberbuS report in pictures
Grahame Wareham relates to 314
Redline reveals a new livery for the X20
Recent update on Aylesbury by Tony Bungay
Readers Write with questions and comment
Coach Visitors to Oxford
Fleet News and Developments
Revised National Express branding from Andrew Webb
Reading Bus changes in September
Redline increases the double deck fleet
Adrian Small in the south east
Paul Hawkins goes to Yorkshire
2024
by Gavin Francis
On Saturday 17th
August the annual Imberbus Event was held based at Warminster Station. I went
with my good friend Dave Allen and we were both slightly concerned of how the
day would go due to the crowd congestion last year resulting in long queues to
board the buses. We were assured by a friend that there would be many more buses
this year and that turned out to be the case.
We arrived at
Warminster Station at 11.00 and could immediately see there were lots of buses
and only a short queue waiting to board. Our first ride was on Transport UK
Electric 3080 wrapped as an advert for The London Transport Museum which took us
to Imber Village.
We took a
lunch break there and it was to be the place where I saw a bus I thought had
disappeared many years ago.
Back in 1973 I used to travel from my home to Wycombe
Station every morning by RML which was the standard double-decker at HE at the
time. Suddenly in the opposite direction came an RMC on Rte 326 not only a class
not seen at HE before but it was wrapped for London and Manchester assurance
possibly the first wrap I had seen in Wycombe. Turned out to be RMC 1490
and I just hoped it would be around for a few
days so I could get some pictures.
RMC 1490 on Rte 326 at Micklefield Road in 1973 and
then at Totteridge on Rte 363 in 1975 and then at Imber Village last Saturday.
From memory it stayed for about 3 months and then it moved onto another garage.
Then in 1975 it reappeared again but although the same advertiser the design had
been changed. The fleet number stayed in my mind to this date and until Saturday
I had not seen it for 49 years and assumed it was no longer with us.
We then moved on with further rides to Gore Cross, Chitterne Church and The
Lavingtons before returning to Warminster.
Overall a very well organized event which hopefully made a large sum of Money
for charity.
Below are some of the other buses either on display or used during the day.
Dave Allen
Imberbus (not least from
Gavin) but here’s a few
took might interest you. video at Brazen
Bottom when bus met tractor on the hill!!
Take care and keep up the good work
Jack Cooper
Here are my photos from yesterdays Imberbus
Grahame Wareham with 314
Herewith the images relating to 314 HP11OXF that
Gavin has provided, with the final one from me.
H314 LWL309 was a 1946 AEC Regent II with Park
Royal H30/26R semi-utility body. In the 1952 renumbering H314 became H848
Withdrawn and sold to Deacon (dealer), Dorchester in April 1958 passing to
Edwards Lydbrook in May 1958 H848 stayed with Edwards for three years brfore
being sold to Contract Bus Services Tredegar in March 1961, being withdrawn in
February 1962.
314 314MFC was a 1961 AEC Bridgemaster 2B3RA
with Park Royal H43/29F low height bodywork. It was originally allocated from
new to Witney depot and stayed there being used mostly on the 53/54 Oxford
services until transferred to Cowley Road Garage in 1968 for City services. In
1970 314 was COF overhauled and received the red/green dual tone livery, one of
the five that received this, In October 1973 314 was withdrawn and sold to TPE
(dealer) Macclesfield but going direct to Richards, Moylegrove, Cardigan lasting
there until August 1978 when it was dispatched to Barraclough (dealer) Carlton
for scrap. This bus initially provided a few spares to aid the restoration of
312MFC in the early days.
104 NUD 104L was a 1973 Bristol VRTSL2 with ECW
CH41/27F ultra low height body with dual purpose high back seating initially for
use on London services. When new this batch of buses also shared the Outer
Circle routes 10 and 20 Thereafter 104 was allocated to Witney depot operating
into the City Centre and being renumbered 314 in September 1982 to make way for
the new forthcoming batch of Leyland Tigers 101-110 delivered in March 1983. 314
became a South Midland vehicle in June 1984 and was later renumbered 604 June
1986. In late 1986 314 was sold to Martins Bus & Coach, Middlewich in April 1987
and was resold to North Wales Weekly News being kept at Crosville Llandudno
Junction depot. It was later donated to Anglesey Playbus Association at Holyhead
ending up with Greater Manchester Play Resources Unit for as a playbus. .It was
scrapped in January 1995
314 HP11OXF is a 2011 ADL Enviro E40H Hybrid double
deck with Alexander H47/21F. This was part of a batch of seventeen diesel
electric BAE systems for use on Oxford three main Park & Ride routes painted in
a dual metallic green livery. In 2016 314 received red generic City livery being
replaced on P&R duties by newer buses. In 2018 a decision was made to convert
all the ADL Hybrids to normal diesel mechanical configuration owing to the
increasing high cost of replacing the battery packs for a mid life vehicle In
2024 after thirteen years in the City 314 was transferred to Go South
West/Plymouth City Bus as their 5038 but being reregistered. OE11YNH prior to
departure.
You have probably received a few different images of the OBC Streedeck
Electroliner 720 in its new Oxford Hospitals NHS Trust livery, although I
haven't actually seen it myself yet.
I thought I would send you some images of an old friend, 201, which still exists in
my care, in a very similar scheme !
I believe that these adverts were hand
painted in house. Ed.
are delighted to announce a special livery for the X20 service
..... this will be applied to the recently delivered fleet of Volvo eVoRa buses in the coming weeks as advised by Taj Khan for the Red Group
Recent update on Aylesbury by Tony Bungay
Z and S Ex South Wales Transport Enviro 200, heads out of Aylesbury Town
Centre on return journey of Service 112.
This Service whose destination is Waddesdon Crossroads roughly 6 miles
distant,
is timetabled to take 1 hour 40 minutes! And runs 1 return journey
Wednesday and Friday.
The route in part is I think the only stage carriage service to serve
the section of road featured on the Arriva X7 rail diversion photos in
last week's news page.
Anybody tempted to do the whole journey will
be taken through some picturesque but very sparsely served places along
the way, indeed the start/finish point of the route is half a mile or so
from the village.
Red Rose, former Redline Optare Solo at Thame Town Hall, working a
Service 121 Journey to Haddenham
In Haddenham is Red Rose Mercedes Minibus, again working a Service 121
from Thame.
As already mentioned in last weeks news page, former Aylesbury Enviro
400 5462 appears to be a regular performer on the X5.
The last vehicle to be repainted when Aylesbury was still an Arriva
base, it effectively links pre and post July 27th.
East Lancs Olympus 4105 Milton Keynes bound on the X6; these vehicles
seem to appear less on the X6 then the X4
Alexander about Brookes - a question ?
When Stagecoach operated the U1 service why did busses sometimes show
Brookes University as the destination?
Brian Butler
Village Connect, Aylesbury
At long last this scheme has commenced. The link below gives details;_
Gary Hall regarding a trial Stagecoach livery and Aylesbury
I was in Tamworth this week and spotted a former 300
branded Citaro BK58 URN in service, didn’t take them long! Also saw one of the
recently former Aylesbury 15 plate Enviro 400’s in Aylesbury working the Hemel
based X5, talk about rubbing salt in former employees wounds…
Coach visitors to Oxford
Jim Wright
A few local photos
Bakers of Moreton in Marsh TB73MTB at Chipping Norton
school,9-8-24.
Birmingham International YD73FOT at Stow on the Wold
10-8-24.
Fleet News and developments
Jim Wright with a memory
Arriva the Shires 5461 at Oxford Rail stn.20-7-24.
Gavin Francis with the X74 in Wycombe on August 19th ....
Whilst not as yet confirmed, it is suggested that the ex West Midlands E400's presently at Carousel are expected to move Thames Travel. This is due to the fact that they are full height and already a few more Scania E400's are now at Carousel, these being 208, 209 and 226.
Gavin Francis
80955 works a 30 in the Eden Bus station on
August 19th.
DOE15 seen in the Eden bus station today, August 22nd possibly for staff
transport as it is not listed as allocated to Wycombe.
Jack Cooper's visit on August 15th
Bob Chalmers comments about the upcoming X1 changes
So details have been released about changes/expansion of this service. The X1
will continue to be half hourly between Oxford/Abingdon and Marcham/Frilford but
will then 'change' - X1's going on hourly to Wantage but the alternating half
hourly buses will actually be X15's from Oxford and then on to Witney (from
Frilford) via Southmoor, Standlake, Ducklington etc - replacing the Pulhams 15
service. This will give an improved service between Witney and Abingdon - but
not 'so good' between Marcham and Wantage. The 43 service will transfer to
Thames Travel, allowing the X1/X15 to offer a more regular service between
Marcham and Oxford. Also good to see the last X1 towards Oxford will be after
midnight using Wootton/Dunmore Roads rather than Oxford Road. Also the Oxford
X3's will no longer continue to Wantage at night - they will terminate in
Abingdon as before and X1's will again run through to Wantage in the late
evenings. Not sure why OBC changed this in the previous timetable as it seemed
to cause much confusion.There are several other changes to other 'South
Oxfordshire' services from the same date too. Exciting times ahead.
Jim Wright
A few local photos
Oxford Bus 67 at Worcester st.Oxford.20-7-24.
Oxford Bus 672 at Oxford Rail Stn.
Oxford Bus Company 721 in Thame High Street on August 21st.
Charles Powell
One of two ex West Midlands E400s now with
Pulhams and in fleet livery, BX09PGV, on August 21st.
James Freeman
Pulhams UK73PUL at Wheatley services on August
20th.
David England
Firstly, service 44 awaiting time in Wootton heading towards Oxford's Osney
Island.
Secondly, service 33 awaiting time in Wallingford before heading on its last
trip to Didcot Parkway.
Now no longer route branded, 665 and 666 are with
Thames TRansit by August 17th.
Andrew Webb
National Express
have updated their livery to coincide with a new media campaign to encourage
more passengers on board. The 'lines' at the rear have been abandoned in
favour of 'if you know, you go national express'.
The two versions are illustrated here in views taken
at Heathrow on 16 August.
Despite gaining an apt cherished registration, this
Levante operated by Bennetts retains the old livery.
including Courtney, Newbury & District &
Thames Valley
Martin Dowling with an update
There are quite a lot of
changes in Reading and more to come from September.
Two Enviro 200 have been
purchased from Lyloyds Coaches in Machynlleth, north Wales. These are
648 YX18KUH and 649 YX18KYE which are to be used to strengthen the fleet for
service improvements and to eventually end up with Thames Valley.
Three more Enviro 200s are being rented from Dawsons for use on the 500 Park
and Ride from Winnersh which now runs six days a week. Until last week
it was Saturdays only. London Road from Suttons Seeds to Cemetery
Junction has a new bus lane inbound which should greatly help this and the
Woodley routes avoid congestion. 648 and 649 are already here - I'm
not sure about the Dawson buses and what fleet numbers they will have.
From 2nd September there
will be more frequent services on several routes, notably 3 to Shinfield, 21
to the University and Lower Earley and 25 to Sonning Common and Peppard
Common.
Thames Travel 143
will be replaced by Reading's 43 on the same day.
On Mondays to Saturdays four services per day to Henley will run as 28A via Binfield Heath and Dunsden Green following the old 800 route.
Gavin Francis
YX08MFO with the 158 in Wycombe on August
19th.
Gavin Francis in Wycombe on August 19th
BF62UYN newly arrived with Redline seen in Wycombe.
and when new with Golden Tours in 2013, 2015
and 2016.
Gavin Francis
A nice change for the 40 today, August 22nd, was this E200
normally usEd in Croxley Park.
Two of the older Darts with Red Rose in Aylesbury on August 18th.
Paul Hawkins saw this E400 in a new livery in Yorkshire.
10661 in Barnsley on August 18th - what do readers think?
Jim Wright
A few local photos from recent weeks.
Stagecoach 80001 at Horspath depot 1-8-24
Stagecoach 10676 at Besselsleigh School 13-8-24.
Nick Ross
Stagecoach Oxford Enviro 200 OU62 BYT fleet no 36768 crosses the canal at
Banbury with a B9 local service on August 16th 2024
Dave & Deric
Stagecoach West Fleet Card for Period 4 dated
16/08/2024. There is only one change on the Card and it concerns Oxford
depot.
Oxford depot have received
54208 (SF62 CTU), a Volvo B11R/Plaxton Elite Interdeck in Megabus livery,
from Stagecoach South Wales. Apparently, it’s for use as a driver trainer,
not PSV use.
Gary Seamarks
Few from London on Thursday, August 15th, five Tube departures
off Park Lane
of note ALL are showing different destination displays,
for what in the past was a very 'standard route' ?
50429's driver seems happy for a photo !
London operations
Andrew Webb
Kraken black spiced rum uses this intricate design to
promote their product on the streets of London. The 2024 campaign has
detail differences to previous campaigns as illustrated by Arriva's LT491
passing through Cavendish Square on 15 August at the start of another journey on
route 73.
Fellow Arriva stablemate LT215 is seen later the same
day on London Bridge carrying an advert for Wagamama, a chain of Asian food
restaurants.
Flixbus contractor Whippet are trailing this full electric Yutong GTe14 on the
route between Cambridge and London. Initially completing one round trip
per day, this will soon double to twice each day, with the journeys operated
clearly shown as 'e-bus' on the booking website. On 15 August, the second
day of the trial, the coach is seen nearing journey's end at Victoria.
Despite generally not accepting adverts for 'junk food' or gambling, vaping
seems to be an acceptable product to advertise on London's buses. Vuse is
promoted on this view of Go Ahead LT445 arriving at Waterloo on 19 August.
Adrian Small - Brighton, Crawley and Redhill
Brighton:
1 - Brighton & Hove 593 - Scania/Alexander Dennis part open top - was 203 in the
Oxford/Tappins fleet
2 - Brighton & Hove 741 - AD E40D/ AD E400MMC in the new Fleet livery
3 - Brighton & Hove 946 - Wright Streetdeck in the new livery, ex Coaster
4 - Brighton & Hove 728 - AD E40D/ AD E400MMC in the
new Coaster livery
5 - Brighton & Hove 805 - Wright Streetdeck in the Coaster Local livery
6 - Big Lemon BIG 822 - Higer Steed Electric Bus
Crawley:
7 - Metrobus 6056 - Wright GB Kite Hydroliner
8 - Metrobus 6060 - Wright GB Kite Hydroliner
9 - Metrobus 6019 - VolvoB7RLE/Wright in the Metrobus heritage livery
Redhill:
10 - Metrobus 6987 - Scania N230UD/AD E400, ex Southdown PSV 501
11 - Compass Bus 1306 - AD E20D/AD on route 32 to Guildford
12 - Metrobus 6990 - Scania N250UD/AD E400MMC, ex Southdown PSV 504
Andover, Salisbury, Devizes, Frome, Bath & Chippenham.
Photos in order
1 - Stagecoach South Switch/Optare Solo SR 48138 (YJ24 BAA), new for Andover
services
2 - Beeline, Warminster YJ72 OJV, ex Ashford & St Peters, Chertsey, Surrey on
route 24 Salisbury-Warminster-Frome, seen in Salisbury
3 - Faresaver BC24 EKZ, one of 6 new Vo B8RLE/MCV, in Devizes
4 - First West of England 67105 (SN16 OSD) on the D2 in Frome, ex First Cymru
5 - Faresaver BF15 KFJ, Vo B5TL/Wt, ex Bournemouth Yellow Buses, seen in Frome
on route X34 from Chippenham
6 - Frome Bus KX15 BLF, Optare Solo SR in Frome
7 - Libra Travel JB51 BUS, AD E200/AD also in Frome
8 - First West of England 33486 (YX66 WKJ) AD E40D MMC, on route 172 in Bath, ex
First West Yorkshire
9 - First West of England 67091 (YX65 RHY) on the 5
in Bath, ex First Cymru
10 - TootBus 619 (TO07 APP) - Vo B9TL/EL in Bath on the open top tour,
originally LJ07 XEW with OLST, London
11 - Bath Bus Company YX23 OWJ - E40D, on route A4 to Bristol Airport in Bath
12 - Faresaver
BC24 EHJ, another of the 6 new Vo B8RLE/MCV, this time in Bath on service 231
from Chippenham.
13 - Coachstyle
BV24 LNT, also a Vo B8RLE/MCV, seen in Chippenham on service 99 to Malmesbury &
Swindon.
Paul Hawkins from Yorkshire
Seemingly the first vehicles repainted into the new corporate colours are in the Yorkshire fleet a E400MMC at Barnsley and a E200MMC.The 200 according to bus times has not been out recently but the 400 was operating service 66 at Barnsley along with the new Yutong electrics
Leeds incl Diesel Streetdeck in new colours and 4 types of electric vehicles and red bull
It is always nice to see what is happening in other areas of the UK. Do you like the Stagecoach black livery? Ed.