From the Editor

Variety and interest in this issue with local development surprises

As winter approaches the remaining events are reported about

In this issue

Thames Travel opens refurbished Didcot depot

Keith Briant's Midland Interlude

Adrian Small visits North Wiltshire & Gloucestershire

COMS 369 from Grahame Wareham

A nice piece of history from Gavin Francis

Transport Fest 2025 by Nigel Eadon-Clarke

Readers Write

The Isle of Wight with Jack Cooper

London operations

Avon and Somerset with Graham Low

 

Thames Travel has completed the refurbishment of its depot in Didcot to accommodate Pearces Coaches, which was bought by parent company Go-Ahead earlier this year. 

The upgrade has increased the size of the yard via new surfacing, and improved office and rest facilities for staff. It also includes improved technology in the control room.

Wantage MP Olly Glover was present to officially mark the completion of work as Pearces becomes part of Oxford Bus Group. The move also coincides with Thames Travel increasing its services in the area. Mr Glover was given a tour of the facilities by Luke Marion, Thames Travel Managing Director, and Martin Dean, Go-Ahead Group Managing Director, UK Regional Bus. Mr Marion says: “We’re pleased to have introduced extensive improvements to our depot, thanks to a significant investment by our parent company, The Go-Ahead Group. 

“The changes have improved our working environment and enabled us to successfully complete the integration of our Pearces colleagues into our group and welcome them to Didcot.

“Several of the improvements followed valued feedback from colleagues which we listened to and acted on. 

“It looks fantastic, and the changes have been well-received. The increase in the size of our yard will also enable us to expand our fleet and continue to improve our network where possible.” 

Mr Glover adds: “It was a pleasure to open the fantastic new facilities for staff at the Didcot depot.

“Access to convenient, frequent and affordable buses is vital for employment and quality of life, particularly in rural areas which, of course, cannot happen without bus drivers. 

“Nationally, the Liberal Democrats are campaigning to replace multiple funding streams with one integrated fund for local authorities to expand bus services, but in the meantime, I am pleased to see Oxfordshire County Council using funds from the temporary congestion charge to work with bus operators to improve routes like the X2 and X32 and trial free park-and-ride services.”

Events from August 30 – October 26 – Bristol Vintage Bus Group

David Gray was at The Bristol Vintage Bus Group Autumn Mini Running Day

The Bristol Vintage Bus Group held an Autumn Mini Running Day at Aerospace Bristol, Filton today and I attended the event. 

It was a small but well attended event with plenty of exhibits. There was an hourly trip to Westbury village with two different buses operating each hour allowing visitors the opportunity to change buses at Westbury. Some more modern vehicles operated a shuttle to Bristol Parkway station. 

No programme was produced for the event but there seemed to be some additional services and I was lucky enough to travel on one via Almondsbury, Redwick and Pilning. 

It was described as an 'experimental' event with a new location and from speaking with other enthusiasts there was a hope that it would be considered worthy of a repeat.

     
      
     
     

     

An interesting display for those all things Bristol lovers. Ed. 

Keith Briant's Midland Interlude

This week is the first part of a focus on some of the smaller or more specialist operators seen in my area with a second installment to follow next week. It makes no attempt to be comprehensive, but I've tried to include some more interesting sights and variety as well.  

Dunwood Travel based in Dudley specialise in providing holidays and weekend breaks. They also have offices in Coventry and Nuneaton bus station. Seen parked adjacent to their Nuneaton premises are Scania/Irizar YN75 VLG, with it's destination set for a weekend break in Weymouth and a newly delivered 19 seat Mercedes-Benz Sprinter GO75 DUN, followed by a closer view of the latter.  

   

The wide variety of coaches in their fleet are also illustrated by DT25 DUN, a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo; PJ24 WKV, a Scania/Irizar and YN22 YNC, a Scania/Higer combination.  

South Staffs Coach Hire are based at Fazeley near Tamworth. They're a family business who celebrated their 25th anniversary last year. They specialise in private hire, schools, have a small number of stage services and operate the western zones of Leicestershire's Fox Connect DRT. Their vehicles can also be seen over a wide area on rail replacement work.  

 

Temsa 35 (MY24 SSC) was delivered last year in a special 25th anniversary livery. 34 (KBZ 556) is a MAN 19.290 with Mobi coachwork. Both were photographed in Nuneaton bus station. 35 is seen again in this line up taken at the Statfold Country Park's Statbus event. It is accompanied by Volvo B8RLE/MCV 135 (LF24 DTN) and Mercedes-Benz 150 (YD75 WPF). 

The Fox Connect contract is operated by a variety of Mercedes-Benz minibuses, some delivered new. Older 146 (EX65 EPU) is seen here. Rail replacement work is a significant part of this operator's work and frequently employs the four ADL Enviro400 MMCs purchased new since 2023. These replaced a selection of elderly, but always well presented Dennis Tridents. 108 (YX73 PKF) and 111 (YX24 PFV) are seen laying over from their Cross Country Trains work in Nuneaton bus station.   

The owners of South Staffs are active enthusiasts and have a heritage fleet, not all of which are licensed as PSV. 

 https://southstaffscoachhire.com/Heritage+Fleet

 

One such bus is former Midland Red 227 (JHA 227L) a Marshall bodied Leyland Leopard seen at Snibston Colliery Park for the centenary celebration of Midland Red's Coalville depot. One bus recently sold, but still for continued preservation is former West Midlands Travel MCW Metrobus 2636 (ROX 636Y). 

   

Leicestershire operator Orbit Coaches is celebrating it's 30th anniversary this year. Yutong OO75 ORB is newly delivered and entered service on 10th October. These photos were taken by the company the previous day and are used with their kind permission. This Coach joins similar 2023 arrival OO73 ORB and marks a return to Yutong following the delivery of Temsa OO74 ORB last year.  

At the other end of the fleet age are these rarities, still in excellent condition. Scania N113DRB/East Lancs R879 HCD and MUI 7939 (R880 HCD) were new to Brighton and Hove and are two of the three still used on schools work.

 
Finally, with apologies to Malcolm, but I couldn't resist, company mascot Wilf who is very friendly
and usually found in the office, yard and on the occasional private hire! 

Part 2 next week.....

A well presented article. Ed. 

Adrian Small visits North Wiltshire & Gloucestershire

I recently had a visit to North Wiltshire & Gloucestershire. 

Here is a selection of my photos that I took: 

Chippenham 

Faresaver, Chippenham YX75 KTE, new AD E40D MM,
seen arriving into Chippenham bus station on route X31 from Bath.

Coachstyle, Nettleton BD74 FKF, Vo B8RLE/MCV,
seen leaving Chippenham on route X99 to Malmesbury & Swindon.

Stagecoach West 15990 (YN64 XSU), Sca N230UD/AD,
seen leaving Chippenham on route 55 to Swindon. 

Swindon 

Salisbury Reds 1601 (HF64 BOV). AD E40D/AD, seen arriving into Swindon on route X5 from Salisbury.
This bus has recently been transferred from Bluestar.

Stagecoach West 10988 (SN18 KUV) AD E40D MMC, seen in the new Stagecoach livery
in Fleming Way, Swindon on route 7 to Highworth. 

Cirencester 

Stagecoach West 37009 (YX63 ZTG) AD E20D/AD, also seen in the new Stagecoach livery,
arriving into Cirencester on route 882 from Gloucester.

Pulhams 80697 (YX75 KXE) AD E40D MMC, seen leaving Cirencester on a College service.

Cotswold Green J900 BTS, DAF DB250/East Lancs, seen in Blackpool Transport livery, parked up in Cirencester between duties.
This bus was originally Isle of Man Transport 55 (FMN 497T).

Swindon's Buses 1278 (BX09 PGO) AD E40D, also seen leaving Cirencester on a college service.
This bus was originally West Midlands Travel 4820.

Swindon's Buses 1013 (YN06 JWG) Sca N94UD/EL Omnidekka, again leaving Cirencester on a college service.
This bus came from Damory & Bluestar, but was originally Reading 823. 

Cheltenham 

Stagecoach West 80239 (YX25 NXJ) AD E40EV seen in Cheltenham on Driver Training duties.

Stagecoach West 11747 (YX73 OYS) AD E40D MMC seen in Cheltenham in the Arle Court Park & Ride livery on route 100 Park & Ride.

Pulhams 80592 (CD04 BUS) AD E20D MMC seen in Cheltenham in the Cotswold Designer Outlet livery on route L to Leckhampton.
This bus was previously registered YX25 KCX.

Pulhams 80374 (N99 NHS) WT Streetdeck seen in Cheltenham on route 99 from Gloucester.
This bus was originally Oxford 374 (OX68 FND).

Swanbrook MX14 FTY, Wt Streetlite WF seen in Cheltenham on route R.

John Dix Travel, Gloucester SN56 AAY, Volvo B7TL/WT seen in Cheltenham on a Private Hire working.
This bus was originally Lothian 759 but came from Green Transport 405 whose livery it is still in.

Pulhams 80699 (YX75 KXG) AD E40D MMC seen on layover in Cheltenham bus station. 

Moreton-in-Marsh 

 
Pulhams 80699 (YX75 KXG) AD E40D MMC seen in Moreton-in-Marsh on route 801 to Chipping Norton.

 
Pulhams 80698 (YX75 KXF) AD E40D MMC seen arriving in Moreton-in-Marsh on route 801 from Cheltenham.

If one wants a reason  to visit the area, this is it ! Ed. 

Grahame Wareham remembers COMS 369

L369  NWL717 1949 AEC Regent III with NCB L30/26R lowbridge body. L369 was renumbered L143 in the new divided series in 1952.  L143 spent its life at most of the country depots to the west of the City and was withdrawn in January 1963. It was subsequently sold to Transport (Passenger Equipment) Ltd.,Macclesfield  (dealer) in March 1963. It was sold on in March  1963 to C.Hoyle Wombwell Diesels (dealer) Wombwell, Barnsley where it was scrapped. 

 

369  FWL369E 1967 AEC Renown 3B3RA with Northern Counties (NCME) forward entrance low-height body. 369 spent its early life as a Oxford Cowley Road based bus used on City route 2. It was repainted into the two colour red and duck-egg green livery in 1970 receiving NBC corporate poppy red livery in 1974. It was sold to Ensign Bus (dealer) in December 1978 and immediately dispatched to P.Blatchley (Contractus), Stevenage along with sister buses 368 and 370. Operating on schools and film contract work 369 was withdrawn in April 1982 and sold to West, Biggleswade who exported it to Germany.  No further information has appeared of its final existience. 

     
   

      

369 Y25OXF  2013 Volvo B5LH with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 low-height H45/27F body. It featured  Volvo parallel hybrid technology using battery power when available to move the bus up until the first gear change into second gear where the engine automatically starts and the bus proceeds as a normal diesel bus. 369 was originally delivered in red City livery and operated mostly on service 500 receiving additional branding for that route, along with eventually 367 and 368.. In April 2019 it received a colourbus livery to commemorate Girlguiding in Oxford which OBC and many of its staff supports. In 2022 the route 2 ceased to be operated by OBC and 369 along with others were mainly to be seen on route 35's and 369 plied this route until February 2024 when it was dispatched to Stagecoach Manchester to run the franchised services on behalf of Transport for Greater Manchester becoming 13193 in that fleet, It was reregistered OE62ZSG prior to departure on 24th March 2024 and was very quickly repainted in the TFGM canary yellow.

 

       

Evoking memories. Ed. 

A nice piece of History from Gavin Francis

Went over to Aylesbury this morning and parked in Whitehall Street was a white Volvo/Wright registration BV10WVO which turned out to be owned by Masons. 

Looked up its history when I got home to find it had been operated by no less than 3 London operators in its time. 

   
Masons white BV10WVO, First 37885 in Belmont Road, Uxbridge in 2010,
Metroline VW 1837 parked just around the corner outside Uxbridge Station in 2014
and Go-Ahead WVN 43 outside Kings Cross Station in 2015, all the same bus!