Issue nr 329
Sunday, December 22nd, 2024
Past Issues : https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/
City Sightseeing 190 BJ73WVW lights up High
Street Kidlington on December 20th by Grahame Wareham.
From the Editor
Some interesting contributions for this issue, the last for 2024.
I've included a number of pictures of Oxford CSS illuminated open top bus which has visited most areas of Oxford and Thame.
Thanks to all who have contributed over the past year and do please continue.
In this issue
Christmas in Oxford from Lewis Hawkins
Horseman Coaches joins The Coach Travel Group
756 EV visits the Oxford bus Museum
Grahame Wareham remembers COMS 329
Recent London sightings and two running days on routes 159 and 227
Kevin Fuller visited High Wycombe
Thomas Walker-Werth visited Oxford and Bicester
Overseas Interlude from Hong Kong and Florida
Coach visitors to Oxford
Fleet News and Developments
London Operations with Andrew Webb
Durham & Yorkshire visits
Christmas in Oxford by Lewis Hawkins
190 Seen At Magdalen Bridge
190 Meets 777 working the 6 at Wolvercote Papermill Square
190 Visits Broad Street Christmas Market with the Double
Decker Carousel
190 Stopping At
Queens Lane With The Brass Band Playing Their Music
190 Seen By Queens Lane
190 at Rose Hill The Oval
190 seen outside the Blackbird Pub With Windrush Tower In The
Background
Horseman Coaches of Reading has become the first acquisition by newly formed The Coach Travel Group.
The 47-year-old operator, which has a fleet of 60 coaches carrying more than 9,000 passengers per day, will continue as an individual brand.
The Coach Travel Group, which was formed as a consolidation of several operators in June, says customers will thus not experience significant changes.
The move furthers major growth plans for the Group, which ordered 42 Scania Touring coaches in November, and strengthens its position in the South East.
Horseman joins fellow Berkshire-based operator The Ready Group within the business, along with the other founding members: of Alpine Travel, Barnes Coaches, Coatham Coaches, JH Coaches, Johnsons Coaches, Swans Travel and Whittles.
The Coach Group has around 700 employees and more than 450 vehicles.
CEO Tom Stables says: “We are delighted to announce the addition Horseman Coaches to The Coach Travel Group so soon after the company was formed in the summer.
“Our ethos is to grow the group by bringing together well-established and like-minded operators, many of them family owned; by building a portfolio of operators with a shared passion for first-class group travel, we will be better equipped to navigate the future challenges of the sector.”
Adding of Horseman Coaches, he says: “The family business shares our commitment to service quality, safety, and passenger experience – that is why we are delighted to have them on board. We have already started the integration process, so Horseman Coaches can benefit from shared resources and UK-wide support.
“The strength of The Coach Travel Group lies in each coach operator’s years of rich heritage, proven expertise, and deep connections within the local communities they serve.
“This unity ensures that, while The Coach Travel Group operates on a national scale, it brings,
Philip Bayliss
756 EV visits the Oxford bus Museum for our first Christmas festive weekend. We had a photo opportunity of the new fleet number 756 EV 2024 and 756 AEC 1960 from Christmas past. Also managed to get Father Christmas and his elf to have a photo with 756 EV Big thankcyou to Father Christmas and his elf and the Oxford bus company. For making this special day.
by Grahame Wareham
Issue 329.
COMS H329 MWL963 was a
1948 AEC Regent II with Weymann H30/26R body. In 1952 it was renumbered
H863 into the new high-bridge number series. After twelve years service
in the City H863 was withdrawn in January 1960 and passed to PVD
(dealer) Dunchurch near Rugby. It was immediately resold to Anderton,
Birmingham the same month, joining recently purchased H861 MWL961, where
it lasted until August 1962 when it was sold for scrap, possibly via
Richardsons of Oldbury who also purchased recently withdrawn H861 from
Andertons.
COMS 329 329RJO was the first of a new era of low-height forward entrance buses based on the then newly introduced AEC Renown 3B3RA chassis, as a replacement for the unpopular AEC Bridgemaster. The 1963 COMS Renown's featured a Park Royal H38/27F forward entrance low-height body on a short wheelbase 27ft 6in chassis frame with mechanical units based on a mixture of Bridgemaster and Regent V parentage. 329 was allocated to Cowley Road garage for its entire life with COMS being used on mainly Abingdon Country routes until migrating into City routes from 1968. 329 received a repaint from the traditional COMS tri-colour scheme into NBC poppy red during January 1973, lasting like this until April 1974 when it was withdrawn and sold to W. North (dealer), Sherburn in Elmet before passing to Bedlington & District , Ashington in May 1974. It was finally withdrawn and sold for scrap in 1979.
Another fascinating memory recall. Ed.
Recent London Sightings
Nigel Eadon-Clarke has been out and about with his camera and these are
a few of his latest pictures.
Pictured at Lakeside Shopping Centre on 6th December 17915
now advertises Yankee Candles however it is no stranger to being
wrapped.
My pictures show it in the Oxford Street area in September 2009
advertising Tous
Jewllery
and in April 2010 advertising M&G.
Rte 227 Running Day
The annual Rte 227 Running Day was held on 15th December
along with a limited number on buses on other routes.
RF 28, RF 226, RF 486 and RF 633 plus pictures of
BS 4 and RT 1702
Pictured above are RF 28 and RT 1702 in Widmore Road, Bromley, RF 486
and RF 633 in Tweedy Road, Bromley and RF 226 at The Crooked Billet,
Penge. The surprise bus of the day was after 30 years of not being in
service BS 4 which is shown at Bromley North Station. By comparison is
my picture of it taken at West Hampstead in October 1975.
Route
159 Running Day
This event held on the 14th December is held to commemorate
the last regular Routemaster route in London in 2005.
RM 188, RM 471, RM 848, RM 1527, RML 2276, RML 2440
and RT 1658.
The start of the run is at The Ace Café on The North Circular Road and
all the buses are pictured there.
Xmas in London.
As the run up to Xmas continues The Lights Tours, Sightseeing Tours and
Tea Bus Tours continue apace.
Londoner Buses
TE 891 (LK08NVF)
and on hire to Londoner Buses for
their Illuminations Tour.
Brigits Afternoon Tea
RM 1204
Over 10 years previous the same bus is shown operating Heritage
Route 9 in virtually the same location.
Golden Tours
RML 2454.
Golden Tours are now using their Routemasters on The Afternoon Tea Tour
alongside their E400s.
RML 2454 is seen on Elizabeth Bridge and RML 2539
in Buckingham Palace Road.
Top View have branded
two
of their buses as North Pole Express.
SN12EHF is
pictured on Elizabeth Bridge and SN12EHW is seen in Buckingham Palace
Road.
Kevin Fuller visited High Wycombe
A few final pictures of the year from me, taken around High Wycombe during storm
'Darragh' on Saturday 7th December - so not the best of conditions!
404 - 213 and 219
226 - 609 and 80829
Thank you for another year of interesting newsletters, and I look forward to
supporting you in 2025.
Thomas Walker-Werth visited Oxford and Bicester
Here are a few catches from a visit to Oxford and Bicester yesterday, December
18th, including
a surprise driver-training Dart. More at
mktom.smugmug.com.
Very interesting picutres with the unusual Dart from Stagecoach. Ed.
Gavin Francis
Driving along US 192 today I came across this bus parked on the grass verge. It
is Lynx Bus 302-420. Not sure if it was waiting to take up service as the start
point is only about 50yds ahead, if it had broken down or on its way to an
event.
Have attached a couple of pictures. Wanted to get pictures of the other side but
as that meant crossing 4 lanes of traffic and standing on the centre island with
4 lanes going the other way so I gave it a miss.
Paul Hawkins
Various single deckers from all the franchised fleets in Hong Kong
The variety of models is fascinating with so many UK designs. Ed.
Isaac Alexander
, I have been looking at your bus page for a while
now(almost 3 years) and I am very interested in buses.
I have visited the obc depot back in 2022.
This is my first picture and I hope you appreciate more
in the
Airline 68 at Queens Lane on December 16th.
Coach visitors to Oxford
David Beynon
December 18th at The Kassam.
These were also in
attendance earlier, the team coach, not shown, was a
A couple of pics from
December 19th, Linburg in St. Giles and Anderson
Fleet News and developments
Nick Ross
An image from December 16th of Arriva's Volvo B9 decker 4102 reversing out of
Bletchley bus station
with the X4 0945 Aylesbury - M.Keynes with the X4 0945 Aylesbury - M. Keynes
Gavin Francis
69386 in Beeline livery with an X74 in Wycombe on
December 20th.
Gavin Francis
404 works a 1C on December 20th.
884works an 850 on December 20th.
885 works the 103 on December 20th.
Nigel Peach
A few pictures from the Carousel depot on Friday 20th. The sun is always
welcome at this time of year, but it makes photography more difficult! Most
of the buses in these pictures have been out of service for a while.
Thanks again for all the weekly updates through 2024. Wishing you both a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
Jack Cooper
29 and 40 in Gloucester Green in December 2024.
Under the Christmas lights in Oxford.
Sanjay Baker
939 working the 0956 X3 to Abingdon on
December 20th.
692 in its new Milton Park livery on the 1440 X2 to Didcot this
afternoon, December 20th.
including Courtney, Newbury & District &
Thames Valley
Reading Buses hosted The Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood MP on Tuesday
17 December
for the announcement of the Bus Services Bill.
The Minister was given a
tour of the depot and met some of the company’s employees as he walked
around. After press interviews onboard one of their brand-new double deck
buses, there was then a roundtable discussion with representatives of local
organisations and stakeholders to talk about how Reading Buses have helped
them with travel solutions.
On the agenda was the company’s development of a
park & ride for hospital staff in partnership with the Royal Berkshire
Hospital. The Hospital park & ride service 300, which was started as a
closed service for staff, has now expanded successfully into a service that
everyone can use.
With part of the new Bus
Services Bill seeking to improve safety for women and girls, the University
pointed out that Reading Buses claret 21 buses running all day and all night
is a key safety feature for them. They also commented on how great our app
was for allowing people to see where their buses were on a map and to have
live times telling you when they will arrive – another key feature for
students - particularly if they are out late at night.
The company also highlighted the great work their
employees do each and every day – and the fact that as a local authority
owned bus company, they are able to offer more for the community and ensure
a full return on investment in things like bus lanes that help make services
more efficient.
The Minister was impressed
with the testimonials from these key stakeholders and said that this was the
reason they had chosen Reading for this visit – to shine a light on how
local knowledge, and a good partnership with local stakeholders, can improve
services for all.
The attendees at the
roundtable were Matt Rodda MP (Reading Central), Nicky Lloyd and Sally Moore
from the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust, Professor Robert Van de Noort,
the Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading, and James Haxell,
President of Reading Students’ Union and Leader of the Council, Councillor
Liz Terry, and Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport,
Councillor John Ennis, from Reading Borough Council as well as other members
of Reading Buses.
Said Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive
Officer; “We were delighted to host not just the Minister and the Department
for Transport, but also key local stakeholders whose praise shows the
importance of local knowledge and partnerships. Our team are among the best
in the industry and providing a blueprint for others to follow – not just
from a local ownership point of view, but also for their knowledge, skill
and determination to be the best for our customers.”
Note to Editors
Caption for picture one:
Reading Buses Chief Executive Robert Williams and Simon Lightwood MP on
board a brand-new double deck bus at the Reading depot
Caption for picture two: Group picture L-R – Cllr
John Ennis (Reading Borough Council), Nicky Lloyd (RBNHSFT), Robert Williams
(Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer), Matt Rodda MP (Reading Central),
Simon Lightwood MP (Wakefield and Rothwell), Professor Robert Van de Noort
(University of Reading), Laurence Jenkins (Reading Buses Finance Director),
Cllr Liz Terry (Reading Borough Council), Peter Milhofer (Reading Buses
Chair), James Haxell (Reading Students’ Union)
Gavin Francis in Wycombe on December 20th
Latest repaint working the 300 "GJO".
Single deck contribution in High Wycombe.
Gavin Francis in Wycombe on December 20th
Red Rose Y25RRT working the 40 in The Eden Bus Station.
Sanjay Baker
Recently in service ev's
80043, 80047 and 80051.
London operations
Andrew Webb
Fashion brand Cos have launched another campaign on
the capital's buses.
Stagecoach's LT259 at Liverpool Street and Transport
UK's LT612
passing Warren Street station illustrate both sides of the advert on
14 December.
South Korean dystopian survival thriller horror series Squid Game launches a new series on Netflix from Boxing Day.
Arriva's LT472, pictured at Liverpool
Street on 14 December, promotes show.
The nearside is seen on LT358 at
Oxford Circus on the same day.
Also photographed at Oxford Circus on the same day is
Go Ahead's EH299 which promotes Prezzee, an online service selling e gift cards.
Bathed in winter sun at Kings Cross on 14 December is
Metroline's LT797 carrying this advert for Emirates airline.
Santa is giving Rudolph et al a rest by using this Enviro 400 on Londoner Buses' Christmas lights tour.
Starting life with Metroline as TE891, it has also
worked on a sightseeing tour of Hull,
whilst the destination blind would suggest
it has seen use in Blackpool. On 14 December it is seen awaiting departure
from Embankment.
A small running day on 15 December saw a selection of
heritage vehicles running on routes radiating from Bromley town centre.
Four vehicles operated short workings on route 227 as
far as Penge, supplementing the regular service operated by Go Ahead.
The RF class was represented by green duo RF226 and
RF633 plus red RF486.
Covering the fourth duty, and arguably the star of the event,
was Bristol LH BS4
which worked in the capital for the first time in over 40 years.
The other two routes operated were recreations of
long lost routes.
T1702
ran between Grove Park and Petts Wood on route 94. It was due to be joined
by RM2037 but this was unserviceable.
RF28 recreated part of Greenline route 725 between Chislehurst and Beckenham.
James Allum
My final submission of 2024
Noticed the Arriva Santa
bus was to visit my village this evening and popped out to get some snaps of it.
Arriva Durham 7595 makes it
first ever appearance in Bowburn on the 2024 Santa bus
Happy Christmas and a happy new year to all readers
Paul Hawkins
Some from Yorkshire and Durham
Arriva in Durham
First West Yorkshire overall ads
New E-Citaro