Issue nr 342
Sunday, April 6th 2025
Past Issues : https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/
From the Editor
A different week with much less Fleet News than usual but an interesting issue nevertheless.
Several events have taken place and are reported here.
There were a good number of photos which I have included.
In this issue
Stagecoach new dark blue livery to sit alongside interior overhaul
Richard Sharman comments on the recent Bicester area service changes
Kevin Fuller pictures upcoming service changes in the area
Grahame Wareham for Issue 342
A&D Rickmansworth event
Derek Dawson was photographing on the A34
North West Vehicle Restoration Trust Running Day by Andrew Simmonds
John Marsh in Newbury
Readers Write about the 280 queries
Buses in the Landscape
Coach visitors to Oxford
Fleet News & Developments
19 Running Day by Andrew Webb
Borough Bus 3 3A
We will be taking over service 3 from Thames Valley Buses, operating a revised route between Maidenhead, St Mark’s Hospital, Wootton Way, Altwood Road and Farmers Way. Quicker, more direct journey opportunities will be created with service 3 operating via Wootton Way and St Mark’s Hospital in both directions. Buses will operate up to every 60 minutes, 7 days a week.
New evening journeys will operate, with the last departure from Maidenhead Frascati Way to Farmers Way now running at 2130 on Mondays to Saturdays, and at 2151 from Highfield Lane to Maidenhead town centre. On Sundays, the last bus will now be at 1930 from Maidenhead Frascati Way to Farmers Way, and 1951 from Highfield Lane to Maidenhead town centre.
Additionally, new service 3A will link White Waltham, Woodlands Park and Cox Green with Farmers Way, Altwood Road, Wootton Way, St Mark’s Hospital and Maidenhead.
To see the timetable for services 3 3A, please click here, and to see a copy of the route map, please click here. You can find an interactive timetable, showing all stops, here.
Carousel Country 127 will continue to provide direct links between the Highway Avenue and Newlands Drive area to the hospital and town centre, as well as running to Knowl Hill, Twyford and Reading up to every 60 minutes. Click here to see the timetable for service 127, and here for a route map. You can find an interactive timetable, showing all stops, here.
Borough Bus 4
Service 4 will replace the links currently provided by Thames Valley Buses service 8. Buses will operate on a revised route through the Ray Mill and Boulters Lock area, with new stops along Blackamoor Lane and Ray Park Road in both directions, perfect for quick journeys into town.
New Monday to Saturday evening journeys will operate, with the last departure from Maidenhead Frascati Way to Boulters Lock now running at 2055.
Additionally, a Sunday service will be restored to this part of Maidenhead, operating every hour from 0855 to 1955 from Maidenhead Frascati Way to Boulters Lock, and 0910 to 2010 from Boulters Lock to Maidenhead town centre.
To see the timetable, please click here, and to see a copy of the route map, please click here. You can find an interactive timetable, showing all stops, here.
Borough Bus 7A
New service 7A will connect Cox Green, Larchfield and Desborough Road with Maidenhead town centre. Buses will operate up to every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays, with an easy to remember timetable throughout the day, from around 0600 to 2000.
To see the new times, please click here, and here for a map of the route. You can find an interactive timetable, showing all stops, here.
Borough Bus 9
We will be taking over Maidenhead service 9, currently operated by Thames Valley Buses, linking Furze Platt, Cranbrook Drive and Halifax Road with St Mark’s Hospital and Maidenhead town centre.
There will be some amendments to the route, with buses running via Castle Hill between St Mark’s Hospital and town. We’re excited to be making some frequency improvements on weekdays, with buses operating up to every 30 minutes at most times during the day.
Additionally, there will be a more comprehensive evening service provided on all days of the week, with new late evening journeys. On Mondays to Saturdays, the last bus will now be at 2215 from Maidenhead Frascati Way, departing Halifax Road at 2236 and St Mark’s Hospital at 2240. On Sundays, the last bus will now be at 2015 from Maidenhead Frascati Way, departing Halifax Road at 2036 and St Mark’s Hospital at 2040.
To see the new times, please click here, and here for a map of the route. You can find an interactive timetable, showing all stops, here.
Carousel Country 10 10A
New services 10 and 10A will provide an hourly service between Windsor, Datchet, Wraysbury, Hythe End and Staines, on Monday to Saturday daytimes. It’s the fastest way between Windsor and Staines by bus!
On schooldays, we’ll be operating journeys to and from Magna Carta school in Staines, and it’s very easy to travel to Churchmead School in Datchet, using the bus stops at The Green.
To see the new timetable, please click here, and here for a copy of the route map. You can find an interactive timetable, showing all stops, here.
Carousel Country 15
We will be taking over service 15, replacing the Slough to Eton Wick route currently operated by Thames Valley Buses.
Buses will run more regularly at peak times, and most journeys will extend beyond Eton Wick to provide new connections to Dorney Court, Bishops Centre and Taplow Sainsbury’s.
Please click here to see the new timetable, and here for a route map of new service 15. You can find an interactive timetable, showing all stops, here.
Carousel Country 37 37B 37M 37S
Services 37 and 37B, currently operating between High Wycombe, Bourne End, Cookham, Furze Platt and Maidenhead, will extend via Bray, Fifield and Dedworth to Windsor.
This replaces the village links currently provided by Thames Valley Buses service 16, and opens up new links from north of Maidenhead town centre to Windsor. Buses will run up to every hour from early to late, 7 days a week.
New late evening journeys are introduced with support from RBWM, with services running as late as 2115 from Maidenhead to Windsor and around 2200 from Windsor to Maidenhead and High Wycombe.
On schooldays, service 37M will provide links from Windsor, Dedworth, Fifield and Bray across Maidenhead to Newlands School and Furze Platt Senior School.
In High Wycombe, all buses will operate via Kingsmead Road instead of London Road (frequent services operate up to every 15 minutes with Carousel Country services 102, 103 and 104).
For a timetable showing all journeys between High Wycombe, Maidenhead and Windsor, please click here. You can find an interactive timetable, showing all stops, here.
Borough Bus 52
We’ll providing new daytime journeys between Holyport, Bray Wick and Maidenhead town centre, providing enhanced connectivity to residents around Stompits Road and Stroud Farm Road.
Please click here to see the timetable, and here for a map of service 52. You can find an interactive timetable, showing all stops, here.
SC West's 37326 on March 28th by Tony Gaze.
Stagecoach has formally launched its new corporate livery. All-over dark blue succeeds the most recent combination, which was introduced in early 2020 with variations on a core blue, teal green, white and yellow approach.
Lighter blue, teal green and yellow are incorporated into the new scheme in a restrained fashion, including via the ‘wheel’ logo. The fleet name has gained a ‘we’ve got you’ strapline. Alongside the exterior overhaul is “a completely redesigned interior that focuses on putting passenger needs first,” the group says.
Application of the dark blue external scheme to some existing buses has been underway for a number of months, although new vehicles for most operations have continued to arrive in the outgoing livery.
Stagecoach says that the work follows extensive customer research, consultation and insight collection “to provide an experience passengers need and want.”
Internally, the changes include synthetic leather seat trim and “a streamlined colour scheme putting the focus on passenger experience and convenience.” Dementia-friendly flooring is part of the package.
The operator adds that new interior and exterior designs reflect is ongoing commitment to service quality and improvements to all customer touchpoints. That will include upcoming changes to its app and to ticketing methods.
Speaking about the reconfiguration, Stagecoach Chief Customer Officer Debra Goodwin says: “This redesign is a bold new direction for Stagecoach. Not only is the new livery distinctive, but the changes inside are the biggest we have ever made.
“We really care about our customers’ experience, and a huge proportion use Stagecoach services every day. We want to make sure our offering and experience reflects their needs and that we provide a quality and reliable service.”
Transition to the new approach will occur gradually as vehicles are upgraded or replaced. However, Stagecoach says it aims to have “at least 30%” of its fleet updated within the next 12 months.
What do readers think about the new livery ? Ed.
Richard Sharman comments on the recent Bicester area service changes
Significant changes to bus services in the
Bicester area occurred on Monday 31st of March when the winners of
recent Oxfordshire County Council tender awards started their routes.
Bicester is one of the corners of the county
where independents have always been present and maintained many local
and rural services, but this round of tender awards sees long standing
Bicester operator, Grayline Coaches bow out of stage service operation
after decades of serving the town and the surrounding areas. Grayline
also used the Local Link name for stage services for a number of years.
The final services operated were the 21 to the
Highfields Estate and the 24 to Oxford, via Weston-on-the-Green. The 21
was first registered in April 2004, and originally served
Chesterton, whilst the 24 has been running since February 2023, as one
of the services OCC brought back.
Oxford Bus Company has gained the 21 service,
whilst Red Rose has been awarded the 24. Meanwhile the 108 service from
Oxford to Bicester, via Forest Hill, has been awarded to Red Rose,
having previously been operated by Oxford Bus Company.
Pictured on the final day of Grayline operation
of service 21 is long standing fleet member, ADL Enviro200 MX61 BCO.
This vehicle was new to Hanson Local Bus and has been used on the 21
service since 2017.
Seen making the last ever trip to Bicester on
Oxford Bus Company's final day of operation of the 108 service is
Sprinter 975.
Towcester-based Ability operates the other half
of the 108 service to Langford Medical Centre, with two trips a day.
They also operate the 81 to Bucknell and the 82 to Finmere.
80598 is seen on its second revenue earning day
in service, whilst operating on the second day of Oxford Bus Company
running the 21 service in Bicester.
Somewhat of an odd sight seeing a Red Group
vehicle on this side of the City, E200 YY64 YKG loads up on a 24 service
to Bicester on Magdalen Street. This vehicle now seemingly having moved
to Red Rose from Redline.
A Red Rose E200 is seen operating a 108 service
into Oxford, although displaying the other 108 service Red Rose
operates.
and Derek Taylor
Oxford 80524 works route 21 in
Bicester on March 31st.
Red Rose E18RRT works route 24 in Bicester
on March 31st.
Red Rose YY64YMG wokrs route 24 in Bicester
on March 31st.
and from Graham Mildenhall
3 images
illustrating recent changes in Bicester, taken on Tuesday morning 01
April 2025 whilst waiting for a Stagecoach X5 to Milton Keynes.
Recent re-tendering
has resulted in Bicester Town Service 21 being operated by Oxford Bus
instead of Grayline as of this week and image attached is of their 80598
(YX25OJL) E200MMC devoid of any fleet numbers or markings operating that
service.
Second change this
week is Red Rose now operate the 24 service from Bicester to Oxford via
local villages again replacing Grayline. Redline liveried ADL E200
YY64YKG is pictured at the Bicester terminus, no Red Rose names and no
legals displayed!
Final image is another Red Rose ADL E200, YU15AAF that was acquired
recently - according to the company “to improve reliability” on their 25
service between Bicester and Upper and Lower Heyford. It does seem to
now be “our” bus with only a very occasional substitute!
Kevin Fuller pictures upcomingg service changes in the area
Before the upcoming changes to routes and operators in the Maidenhead
area at the end of this week, I took a trip out to record some of the
existing operations. Pictures were taken on Saturday 29th March.
1) Optare Solo 192 waits time at Wootten Way shops on its way back to
Maidenhead town centre on route 3
2) Enviro 200 132 collects passengers at Wessex Way shops whilst working
route 7
from Woodlands Park to Maidenhead. This bus is in the Wokingham area
orange livery.
3) On Shoppenhangers Road, Enviro 200 663 heads towards Woodlands Park,
also on route 7.
This route is half hourly on Saturdays, and vehicles interwork with
routes 3 and 9, which run hourly.
4) Also on route 7, Solo 192 is seen in Wessex Way, heading for
Woodlands Park.
) Solo 192 again, seen climbing out of Maidenhead on the A308 whilst
working a route 9 service to Cranbrook Drive.
6) Route 8 to Boulters Lock also runs hourly on Saturdays, utilising a
vehicle from route 16 (Maidenhead - Windsor).
Route 16 branded E200 659 provides a late afternoon journey in
Blackamoor Lane.
Grahame Wareham for
Issue 342
H342 MWL976 1948 AEC Regent II with Weymann H30/26R body, renumbered H876 in 1952. Withdrawn in January 1960 and sold to PVD (dealer) Dunchurch and sold on to Gibson Barlestone no. 44 the same month who added platform doors to it making it H30/26RD. It was finally withdrawn in July 1964 and presumably scrapped.
342 342TJO 1964 AEC Renown 3B3RA with Park Royal H38/27F lowheight
forward entrance body.342 was allocated to Oxford City routes mainly 2
road and received the new duotone livery in 1970. 342 was withdrawn in
December 1973 and sold to TPE (dealer), Macclesfield who quickly resold
it to Greenhalgh & Pennington (GB Coaches) of Longton near Preston,
along with sister bus 345 345TJO. By September 1975 it had been sold to
Curran of Edinburgh who then resold it to Fraser, Elgin the following
month. It got sold on about three years later to the Findhorn Foundation
at Forres but was sold to Carl Ireland (dealer) Hull for preservation.
Carl Ireland sold it on to Roy Lawes a preservationist in Hull who
restored it back into original COMS tri-colour livery with assistance
from the Oxford Bus Preservation Syndicate who supplies transfers and
destination blinds. Unfortunately Roy Lawes became ill and it was sold
back to Carl Ireland, Hull (dlr) sometime in the late 1990's. It was
later Exported to Austria March 1998.rereg. NE-P 138 and then operated
by Pull Touristik,Neuss; rereg.ML-GB 499 It appeared in the Hartz
mountains, Germany by February 1999 and is recorded as being with Der
Blickfang (dlr), Neudorf-Platendorf in August 2009 and then to
Mark Strabberger, Strabberger Immobilien Gmbh, ‘Roy on Tour’ mobile
restaurant, rereg. BI-TJ 342 September 2009.
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Nigel Eadon-Clarke
Nigel Eadon-Clarke was at The Rickmansworth Running Day on 30th March.
He recreated a scene of 53 years ago on March 30th 1972 when he rode on
the last GS in public service GS 42. He was able to ride on the same bus
again so turning back the
clock 53 years.
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53 years ago in March 1972
and on a Sunday in March 2025
Today was the Amersham
and District's first running day of the year held at Rickmansworth.
These photos are
probably a bit late for the latest issue and in addition you will
probably have had a number sent already!
Probably the highlight
of the event was the society being allowed to run a service through the
exclusive Loudwater estate 53 years to the exact date when the service
was withdrawn by London Country. As was the case then the service was
provided in the main by the GS class. Unfortunately for one of the
owners GS13 went unserviceable so a small Bristol LT LH also
joined the 2 GS's to help clear the crowd
The GS photos are all
at Loudwater and T 792 is at Harefield, RF 136 is seen leaving
Rickmansworth Station on a feeder service to Epping. This vehicle itself
while working a 309 journey encountered from what I could gather
unannounced road closure on it's way to Chorleywood, and as both the
Driver and guide were not over familiar with the area, had to proceed
along some very tight roads.
As can be seen a very
sunny though somewhat chilly day, the sun again while welcome made
photography difficult in places.
Derek Dawson was photographing on the A34
Highlights from the A34
20/3 Polish Flixbus WGM-3343K
21/3 (F) Cottin, Montford-sur-Meu DT-709-AW
26/3 Assume an AD Demonstrator NX74 ZEB
Several Irizar's on delivery most all white but two in this 2-tone blue
but operator unknown
Luckily all carried the vin's on the front this one being 116801
28/3 (F) Taquet Voyages GV-527-MX Saleux
The Taquet coach is part of the RATP groupe and carried fleet number
24876
Volvo electrics on delivery for Manchester's Bee network BU25 YUL the
2nd was BU25 YTM (DD)
North West Vehicle Restoration Trust Running Day by Andrew Simmonds
Hi Malcolm Some photos from the North West Vehicle Restoration Trust Running Day held at Southport on 30th March 2025
I remember fromm days long ago that when providing the commentary at Trans Pennine Runs in Harrogate noting that the various local liveries proving a clue if one was home or at your destination by the colour of the buses seen. For many years nowe this is not the case in modern days. Ed.
John Marsh in Newbury
A good livery spoilt. Newbury & District 789 (SN16OHG) ADL Enviro400MMC
with a somewhat unfortunate rear advert for Newbury College. 4 4 2025 (John
Marsh)
Newbury & District 1427 (YX73MVH) Volvo B8R Plaxton Leopard
looking very smart in the town's bus station 4 4 2025 (John Marsh)
Reading 258 (YX74ORO) outside Newbury's Parkway Centre 4 4 2025 (John Marsh)
Readingbuses 252 (YX74ORG) ADL Enviro400 City in Newbury bus station
with a backdrop of what must be the worst of 1960s development. 4 4 2025
(John Marsh)
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Readingbuses 252 again (YX74ORG) Jet Black arrives in Newbury 4 4 2025 (John
Marsh)
Thames Travel 651 (SL15SGC) Wright Streetdeck Ultroliner arrives in Newbury
from Didcot on the X34
and passes Readingbuses 258 (YX74ORO) in Parkway 4 4 2025 (John Marsh)
ThamesTravel 651 crosses the River Kennet in Newbury on its way back to
Didcot
on Service X34 4 4 2025 (John Marsh)
Matt Cooper - Route 261/280/282 query
It had me puzzled but I
think I've solved it! In the Oxford Bus timetable dated 4 February 1990
(which included all Luton & District journeys) there were three journeys
which departed Grange School in Aylesbury at 15:45, a 280 bound for Oxford
(operated by Oxford Bus Co) a 261 for Thame (Luton & District) and a 282
also bound for Thame (Luton & District). I think it is the latter which is
photographed by the pond in Haddenham as the 282 ran via Kingsey and you can
see a member of OBC's G-VWL (230-235) Leyland Olympian batch on the
main bus stop behind. All three journeys would reach Thame within minutes of
each other (between 16:33 and 16:38) which would have made for a busy
scene!
By July 1991 things had
changed. The OBC journey no longer began at Grange School and ran half and
hour before and after the L&D school bus journeys, so this picture wouldn't
have been possible then unless the 280 was very late! A 261 ran to Thame but
didn't serve Church Way running via Long Crendon. The 282 was retimed to
depart Grange School at 15:53, served Haddenham Church End at 16:23 and
terminated at Kingsey at 16:29. Interestingly it was then timetabled to
return straight to Rabans Lane (for the depot) I wonder if anyone ever
travelled on the return journey (which didn't serve Aylesbury Town centre!)
The timetables were
full of differing journeys on different days of the week, some applied to
Oxfordshire school days some Buckinghamshire school days. Pre-July 1991 the
15:01 L&D journey on route 260 ran as the 517 from MK on Tuesdays only,
presumably through fares were available. The 517 was acquired with the Red
Rover business.
So I'd say the driver
has set the blinds incorrectly in David's picture as it should be a 282, I
couldn't find any reference to a 281 at that particular time. Some great
memories evoked from these pictures and articles. I had an Aunt and Uncle
who lived opposite the village hall on Church Way at during the 1980s and
early 1990s and I attended The Vale School at Peveril Court by the Bugle
Horn pub at Stone between 1993 and 1995. The school shut that year and the
building is now a nursing home!
I attach pics of the OBC timetables in use then. The 1990 version depicts a
Bristol VR which changed to an Alexander-bodied Leyland Olympian by 1991.
The 1994 leaflet has reverted to an ECW-bodied Olympian and was the last
leaflet published pre rebrand to 'the' Oxford Bus Company with 'Cityline'
name used on local bus services.
and Derek Taylor
A Colleague who I worked with at Arriva Neil Roughton who
reads the newsletter has asked me to pass on his comments on the 280/1/2/3.
"In answer to queries in the last two editions, the 281 was a SDO return trip from Aylesbury to Thame via Haddenham and Kingsey and the 282 was a single late pm peak trip from Thame to Aylesbury as per a 280 but it did a double run to Long Crendon from the "services roundabout" and turned via The Square in Long Crendon (which was a bit of a struggle when I did it just on the one occasion). I cannot recall a 283 though! "
Matt Cooper re MK
'Loop' liveried Optare
Solo 2503 (YJ57 EKD) of Arriva laying over at MK Central. I'm sure I
remember some yellow Solos in MK before.....! Stop Y4 was in use that day by
rail replacement to Northampton with the line closed for engineering work.
This was a better stop to use being in sight of the station and controllers,
of Stagecoach I believe, we're most helpful in assisting some confused
passengers.
Second pic is one for the rail nuts. Apologies for the sunlight in the shot, although it was nice to have warmer, brighter weather! I guess this was a rail tour if not that's a heck of a 'wrong route' taken by the staff of the GWR Devon and Cornwall sleeper service! The north end unit was 57 602, named 'Restormel Castle'. Built as a class 47 it entered service in February 1965 (!) and was 'upgraded' as a class 57 in 2003 (still over 20 years ago!) and earns it's keep on the GWR sleeper service.
The last pic is something of a joke, or maybe ice been out in the sunshine
too long! With works currently taking place on Station Square footpaths have
been diverted and temporary fencing is up around the site. I did see some
cycles in storage but not the pedestrians who went with them! Anyway, on
that note keep up the excellent work, as always, and I ll be in touch again
very soon.
I had seen David Ive's
pictures before on his website and really enjoyed them. Equally excellent
are Mike Penn's pictures and surely a great candidate for a 'then and now'
collection.
It was the presence of the OBC Olympian in the background that made me check through the timetables a bit further to find what journey it could be.
Tony Bungay
Immaculate Imperial Coaches Enviro 400mmc, parked
up in Exchange Street while working a trip to the nearby Theatre.
Nigel Peach
If you had a feature "Bus stops in the landscape" this would qualify!
Taken by my brother Derek last night (2nd April) from his
home in Sllverknowes, Edinburgh.
Coach visitors to Oxfordshire
David Beynon
Some of todays
visitors at the Kassam, the team coach, not shown, was
Fleet News and developments
James Allum
At last I've been in a position to catch up with the latest arrivals at
Hemel garage although a trip to Watford to get most was needed.
3032 working the 322 in Hemel
Tony Bungay
A slightly less immaculate Arriva Enviro 400 4431, working an X6 journey to
and from Aylesbury.
I wonder if it will get a repaint into current livery!
Nigel Peach
We were away for a few days last week in Kent. A
couple of the Arriva Versas displaced from Wycombe when the depot closed are
now working in Tunbridge Wells. This is 2955 on 26th March.
Dave Clements
Carousel 452 YX69NVJ at Bartco,
Cassington on April 6th.
Hirasawa Yui
112 is Go ! 50538 YX69 NRN seen at Friar Street on its First Day of
112
Lewis Nagle
453 sporting its new colours ready for the voyage to Staines from next week
682 with an X40 on April 4th in Oxford.
Mark Turner
Red Rose Travel have now sent back YX22 OKA/OKB/OKC to lease company and
YX22 OKD & YX72 ONA are now in a company in Brighton called Compass's Travel
I think Red Rose are still waiting for more of the new buses to arrive as
none yet been seen in service or going to be re painted into Red Rose
colours before entering service
Dave & Deric
Stagecoach West Fleet
Card for Period 12, dated 28/03/2025.
Only two items to record
this month. The changes affecting Oxford (Thames Transit) depots being shown
in yellow as usual.
|
New Vehicles |
80050 |
New |
To |
Oxford |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For Disposal |
18312 |
Gloucester |
To |
For Disposal |
Of interest, Oxford’s 36926 has moved from Oxford
to Bristol this week, but won’t be on the Fleet Card until next time.
Peter Edgar
Stagecoach West 10987 photographed in the Botley Road, Osney Mead, Oxford.
Personally whilst the new livery looks good on a sunny day I much prefer the
beach ball style and colours.
London operations
19 Running Day by Andrew Webb
March 29 saw the latest running day organised by the London Bus Museum which
saw them organise a range of heritage vehicles as extras to run alongside
the usual New Routemasters on route 19 from Finsbury Park to Battersea
Bridge.
The RT class was well represented. Always a distinctive and popular
vehicle whenever it takes to the road is doyen of the class
RT1, seen here with a healthy load at Hyde Park Corner.
The way most Londoners will remember the RT is in red livery,
such as RT2293 seen in the same location whilst working a short to Sloane
Square.
RTW467 represents the wider incarnation of the RT. It is seen here
turning into Charing Cross Road.
Whilst most RTs were built on AEC chassis, the RTL used Leyland running units.
RTL554 is a typical example, also making the
turn into Charing Cross Road at Tottenham Court Road station.
The Routemaster was the successor to the RT and the bus which started it all
was RM1.
Seen making the same turn, it prominently advertises who is responsible for
its upkeep.
When delivered the prototype Routemasters had a different front grille
arrangement as seen on RML3
in the care of the London Bus Museum. The 'L' in the class code stands
for Leyland on this vehicle.
The RML class code was later used for longer Routemasters with an additional half bay amidships.
RML2735, owned by the Hendy & Pendle Charitable Trust, carries route
branding for the annual Imberbus event.
The conductor makes it clear which way the bus is headed as it turns into
Charing Cross Road.
Lord Hendy also owns RM1005, the only Routemaster to be powered by a Euro 6
engine. It is seen at Hyde Park Corner.
The same location is the setting for preserved Roe Leyland Atlantean which
saw service with Ipswich Buses.
Whilst undoubtedly an interloper on route 19, it proved very popular in the
sunny spring weather.
Double deckers are usually used for moving large numbers of passengers.
This Ayats Bravo from Le Grand Luxury Sightseeing however only seats 32, but
in luxurious armchairs and sofas.
Delivered in 2024, it carries a cherished plate as it round Hyde Park Corner
on 29 March.
The new First Bus logo is rapidly being applied to vehicles acquired with
the takeover of RATP operations in the capital.
The fleet is also scheduled to be renumbered into First's scheme, but for
the moment it is RATP numbers
on BCE47015 at Westminster Bridge and OME46020 at Hyde Park Corner on the
same day.
Seen at Hyde Park Corner is Pulhams Van Hool EX16M.