Issue nr 349
Wednesday, May 28th 2025

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

Graham Mildenhall 

Currently at MK Central Station waiting for an X5 to Bicester.
Rather surprised when this First Leicester electric pulled up! Apparently on Moto GP shuttle to Silverstone. 

I thought that Stagecoach provided the buses for this event ? Ed. 

New Irizar's Enter Service
https://www.kent-fastrack.co.uk/24-hour-bus-service

The next batch of Go-Ahead Irizar Electric Trams have entered service on the Kent Fastrack Routes. Nigel Eadon-Clarke went to Bluewater Shopping Centre to get some pictures on the first few days in service.

   
This batch of Irizar Trams carry a different livery to the first batch on Rte 358, not the most attractive of designs.

     

There are still plenty of the original buses brought in until all the Irizar's have arrived including MEC 6, SE 96, SE 97, SE 98 and SE 125. 

Andrew Dyer

A couple of comments on this latest issue 348. 

Because it’s from my era growing up in Oxford , I’m always fascinated by Grahame Wareham’s excellent review of each fleet number. It’s very that the  lives of the AEC Renowns were a short 11 years and as Grahame says, were still in excellent condition when they met their end. I suppose that the big push all around the UK for a speedy switch to one man operation meant that there was just no market for secondhand half-cab buses, however good they were. 

How times have changed ……I note on another group that East Kent has just taken delivery of 17 year old deckers from Stagecoach Manchester to upgrade their fleet. After all those year pounding the streets of Manc, they won’t be in anything like the condition of the Renowns!  

My other interest was the delivery of new electric buses to Stagecoach’s Cheltenham depot. Having been manager at that depot for six years in the 80s, I know how tight for space it is and I cannot imagine how they can squeeze in all the charging infrastructure unless it’s up in the roof and buses are charged from above.  Alternatively perhaps they have acquired adjoining premises to give them more space or reduced the fleet strength.  Perhaps one of your readers will know more.

Chris Huntingford

 "The interesting network recent changes in Oxford include the 700 hospital bus, which is being extended on Mondays to Fridays to Temple Cowley (and then on to Blackbird Leys). This is important as it opens up the possibility of travelling from Kidlington, Summertown, or Marston by direct bus to the many shopping options available at Temple Cowley. This extension deserves to perform well in terms of passenger numbers and is part of the long-held wish to establish more orbital routes in Oxford, reducing the need to change buses in the city centre. If you live on or near this route, then why not give it a go to the new destinations!"  

     Fleet News and developments   

Chris Loddington

Chris Lodington from Cheshire. I haven't corresponded with you for some time, but still thoroughly enjoy and look forward to reading your bus page every week.

Just thought I would send some comments on a visit to Luton a couple of days ago, having read on my phone that major service changes are taking place there from next Sunday, 1^st June. Unfortunately I have to say, that in typical Arriva fashion, there is absolutely no printed material or advertising about the new services to be seen anywhere. I went in the small travel office at the bus/station interchange, where the girl didn't seem to know much about it and was more interested in reading her book. I believe they are in the process of receiving thirty new Evora's as well, but I only saw one in service, 3206 (BU25 ZBC), of which I have attached a photo. As regards the rest of the fleet, I couldn't believe how scruffy and unkempt looking most of the vehicles were, some of them even having  layers of road dirt on them, despite the fact that we haven't had any rainfall for some considerable time. All in all I found it a very depressing picture. On my way home I called in at Milton Keynes, where the fleet appears to be more presentable.. I have to say that in contrast, the Arriva Merseyside fleet is always very well presented. It also made me realise how lucky you are in the Oxford/Thames Valley area to have several top-rate operators.

Michael Penn

Yesterday (22 nd) three of Arriva The Shires new Volvo B8RLE/MCV Evoras entered service at Luton on busway routes.  These were 3206/8/9 (BU 25 ZBC/E/F).  Here are two photos taken today.

 

Keith Briant in Nuneaton on May 24th.

Arriva Midlands 4560 (YX72 OED) an Enviro 400, is seen speeding along Nuneaton's Hinckley Road with a 148 service to Leicester. 

Gavin Francis 

63307 at The Eden Bus Station in High Wycombe with an X74 on May 21st. 

Gavin Francis with a selection taken between 21st and 24th in Wycombe and Amersham

Carousel at Amersham Station, Tescos Amersham and HW Depot.

HIGH WYCOMBE

     
     
     
   

AMERSHAM

     
     

George Candelin

Oxford City Sightseeing have re-coded their buses:    

80290	BJ73 WVW	Wright Streetdeck Electroliner	OH44/26F	CitySightseeing Oxford
80291	BJ73 WVX	Wright Streetdeck Electroliner	OH44/26F	CitySightseeing Oxford
80292	BJ73 WVY	Wright Streetdeck Electroliner	OH44/26F	CitySightseeing Oxford
80293	BJ73 WVZ	Wright Streetdeck Electroliner	OH44/26F	CitySightseeing Oxford
80294	BJ73 WWA	Wright Streetdeck Electroliner	OH44/26F	CitySightseeing Oxford
80295	BJ73 WWB	Wright Streetdeck Electroliner	OH44/26F	CitySightseeing Oxford
80296	BJ73 WWC	Wright Streetdeck Electroliner	OH44/26F	CitySightseeing Oxford
80297	BJ73 WWD	Wright Streetdeck Electroliner	OH44/26F	CitySightseeing Oxford
80298	PO55 NXU	Volvo B7TL Magtec EV / East. Lancs Myllennium Vyking	PO49/35F	CitySightseeing Oxford
80299	MIG 7119	Volvo B7TL Magtec EV / East. Lancs Myllennium Vyking	PO49/35F	CitySightseeing Oxford

Two additional E200MMCs have arrived as below. They are used on the H2 service.

80593	YY25 DJV	H2	ADL Enviro200 MMC	YX24 PBU
80594	YY25 DJU	H2	ADL Enviro200 MMC	YX24 PBO	USB-A

Sanjay Baker

80594 transferred from Oxford working the H2 on May 20th. 

David Gray

80689 with an X34 in Newbury on May 20th.

 
including Courtney, Newbury & District & Thames Valley

Tap on, Tap off comes to Newbury & District

Bus travel is set to take a giant leap forward for customers of Newbury & District from the start of next week. 

The introduction of a tap on, tap off payment system, already in operation on parent company Reading Buses, will benefit many existing customers and is thought will also attract more people onto the bus. 

From June 2 customers will be able to use contactless bank cards, watches and phones to pay for bus travel across the Newbury & District network by simply tapping on at the card reader on the ticket machine and tapping off on the reader by the exit door without having to ask the driver for a ticket. 

The new system will automatically calculate the fare and then cap it at the day ticket price of the zone in which the customer is travelling. 

This means that if a customer is travelling in the simplyNewbury&Thatcham area their first journey will be a single fare. For the next journey they will be capped at the day ticket price. 

They will be able to continue travelling all day within the same zone at no extra cost – providing they remember to tap on and tap off with the same device they previously used. 

This system will also apply in the simplyNetwork area.  

Said Chief Executive Officer, Robert Williams: “By using tap on, tap off customers will never pay more than the day ticket price and don’t need to worry about having the right fare or asking for the right ticket. 

“It also means that if a customer ends up making more journeys than they planned they don’t have to buy more tickets as their fare will likely have been capped.”  

Newbury & District say the tap on, tap off system will only be available for adult single and day tickets and not return fares or longer duration tickets at the time of launch. 

Said Robert: “If customers want to buy young person, group or period tickets they should do so on the app. For those travelling regularly, buying a period ticket on the app is still likely to be more cost-effective to give better savings. 

We think this will be another step change in bus travel in the Newbury area to help speed up boarding, and follows investments in new, high specification single deck buses, new double deck vehicles on jet black, and the dedicated Newbury & District website with live tracking information.”  

The tap on, tap off system will be available on all Newbury & District services, excluding football, school services and Flightline 730/731. It is already available on all Reading Buses services, including the Newbury to Reading service, jet black 1. 

Full information on the new system, including a video showing how it works, plus a list of frequently asked questions, are on the Newbury & District website www.newburyanddistrict.co.uk.

Gavin Francis in Wycombe

 
Working the 334 is this ex SC E200 LX11AVW on May 21st.

Tony Bungay

One of Red Eagles recent Enviro 200mmc arrivals, passes Aylesbury theatre on a Hemel bound 500,
on the penultimate day of Arriva operating the parallel X5 service on the 16/5/25  

 

Gavin Francis in Wycombe

 

 
Serving the 130.BF67GJV on May 21st.

Gavin Francis in Wycombe

Currently a regular on the 40, E27RRT on May 21st

Tony Bungay

Red Rose Croxley Park liveried Enviro doing a rare turn on Aylesbury local service 10 on 17/5/25 

Now with Red Rose, but previously with Redline for many years is early Enviro 300 now registered E13 RRT.

This vehicle from the time it first arrived at Redline from South Wales has mainly been used for schools work. though recently it was seen working Aylesbury local service 9 and to Bicester on the 17. For a number of years at Redline it wore an overall yellow livery.

Photos taken 21/5/25 at The Square Brill and later returning through Long Crendon.

While I am only speculating, I would guess the sight of one of these early Enviro 300 vehicles still working must be quite rare! I do stand to be corrected however!!!  

11582 in Amersham working Rail Replacement on May 24th by Gavin Francis.

Andrew Churchill

|
West's YX25NWZ at Oxford depot on May 16th. 

Keith Briant on Saturday 24 May.  

Further Yutong electrics have entered service at Stagecoach Midlands Nuneaton depot this week with a total of 12 now being used.  

The first photo shows 73052 (YK74 PMU) leaving Nuneaton bus station on service 57 to Coventry.
73029 (YK74 PJY) follows behind with a service 148 to Leicester.  

The Yutongs all carry a nearside promotional advertisement for the Coventry Electrics project which has seen a massive investment from National Express West Midlands and Stagecoach Midlands with substantial input from the government's ZEBRA funding. The elephant is a Coventry symbol from the city coat of arms.  

73039 (YK74 PKV) is seen inside Nuneaton bus depot alongside Enviro 200 26216 (SN67 XSJ), |
one of the vehicles being replaced on the long service 148  Coventry-Nuneaton-Hinckley-Leicester by the new buses. (Photo taken from public space). 

A view of Nuneaton's former Midland Red bus depot.  

Stagecoach Midlands operate Hinckley town service 11 from their Nuneaton depot. A reversal of the pre NBC days when Hinckley based vehicles had some duties on Nuneaton town services. Service 11 runs from Hinckley bus station to the massive new Hollycroft Grange development still being built alongside the A47 Normandy Way perimeter road on the western edge of the town. This has been provided with Section 106 funding and runs every 30 minutes requiring just one bus, but loadings are light with many buses seen running empty.

Enviro 200 36170 (KX60 DTO) awaits time from the outer terminal point with the third departure of the day. 

Gavin Francis in Amersham

 
Rail Replacement on May 24th.

Nick Ross

Z & S Enviro MX62 GNJ loads up at Leighton West Street with the 1340 to Aylesbury on May 10th 2025.West St Roadworks caused traffic chaos and huge delays on the final day, with revised routings and cancellations.  Sadly this was the last day of Z & S operation of the 165, Red Rose taking over on May 12th 2025. Z & S having operated the 165 since 2005 taking over from the then Aylesbury and the Vale who operated this as the 65. 

 

  London operations 

Andrew Webb

Travel London LT999 is seen arriving at Hammersmith bus station on 24 May wrapped in an advert for Vuse vapes. 

The next bus on the 267 was also in an allover advert, this being LT788 which carries this advert for a range of Twinings sparkling fruit teas. 
It is seen on layover before returning to Fulwell. 

LT637 displays the offside of the advert as it heads for Hammersmith at Paddington on the same day. 

The Adidas advert carried by Stagecoach's 12525 featured in issue 347. 
The nearside is significantly different as can be seen as it leaves Stratford City bus station on 24 May.

 

 

Gary Seamarks

Attached is this weeks offering, perhaps not where I would have expected to have gone but... shops....  

Its Springfields Spalding, a much scaled down Bicester Village, worked out main route as 505 Kings Lynn - Spalding of S/C East Midlands that runs every 30 minutes, but only need to pop back to bus station hourly as they crossed there and was 30 minutes to town and back... S/C East operate an hourly service from Peterborough, Delaines also operated hourly from Stamford/Bourne and take 40 minute break at Springfields. The Brylaine was a bonus, ex Lothian and two coaches parked up. The S/C Solos were on town routes.

 

   

 

     
     

On way up at Peterborough passed an Elite tri-axle in Distance livery heading south (Ensigns ??) on trade plates, then on return at almost same spot a Beachball Trident ALX400 was on suspended tow by what looked like (was straight into sun)  a Barnsley dealers wrecker, assume ex East Kent via Dartford Crossing, M25, M11, A14 to A1 ?  notice an Ex Busway and ex Oxford Scania .. held back a few minutes for the latter. 

Next week unsure where yet, but not off till Thurs PM... possible local, and all day Fri, bit annoy thats Half trem week.

Tony Bungay in NEWCASTLE

Newcastle the other week without adding any written text.

One photo could be called Bus in Riverscape! A Yutong Electric at the Sage with a number of the Tyne Bridges behind