From the Editor

Short but I hope sweet for this issue - not so many contributions !

In this issue

20 years of Arriva in MK (Part 2) by Matt Cooper 

Uxbridge Interlude with Kevin Fuller

Oxfordshire with Michael Wadman

Grahame Wareham remembers COMS 377 

Coach visitors to Oxford

Fleet News and developments

London Operations

 

20 years of Arriva in MK (Part 2) by Matt Cooper 

111 - Easy Group have offices in MK and the group, led by charismatic entrepreneur Sir Stelios Haji-loannou, has operated all manner of businesses from the airline to pizza restaurants, cinema and gyms. In 2004 EasyBus was established in conjunction with Lutonian and MK Metro using a batch of 16-seat Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 411D minibuses on two routes into London. Lutonian journeys served Luton Airport whilst MK Metro operated route EB2 saw buses run between The Point cinema in the city centre (then run by EasyGroup) and Hendon underground station (for London!) The terminus was later changed to Baker Street, somewhat more convenient. Branding was distinctive but offered a restrictive view for passengers. Lasting just over a year the MK service was dropped but the airport link was later associated with the high frequency Green Line 757 serivce which used conventional coaches. On 9 July 2005 304 (KE04 WBK) was laying over at the main Bleak Hall yard.  

112/113 - A real treat for drivers and the travelling public arrived in March 2005 in the shape of two long wheelbase Optare Solos numbered 26 & 27 (YJ05 JXU/V) The pair were fitted with 37 seats featuring the company's preferred 'Aztec' moquette and the engines gave a spritely ride.  All lengths of Solo were operated by the company with most delivered new in small, steady batches from 1999. The location is Arden Park Depot in Wolverton, the site of the administration and engineering functions. The bus pictured later became Arriva The Shires 2447 and survived into the early 2020s. 

 

114 - The 'van centre' was a facility at the north end of Chesney Wold (the opposite end to the other main depot) The contracted mobility fleet was ran from the site with a batch of unusually configured vehicles of all sizes operating duties on behalf of the council. An engineering inspection pit was used for MoT preps and the training centre and personnel office was later housed upstairs.  

115/6/7 - Later in 2005 the first two of eight Wright Solar-bodied Scania L94UB were delivered to MK Metro. Few full size single deck vehicles had featured in the fleet and the Scanias were initially used on the significant cross-city route 5. On 18 October 2005 81 (YN55 PZY) had just arrived at the 'van centre' for a pre-entry to service inspection. The rear end shot could be captioned 'where shall I stick the registration plate guv'?!' It was later housed in the correct location behind the rear window glass. Can't you just smell that new upholstery? 82 was the other 55-plate example with the remainder delivered after March 2006 giving them '06' plates and actually delivered to new owners Arriva. It would become 3621 and remain allocated to MK until around 2020 after which it joined similar vehicles at Luton for a further three years. 

   

200 - Double deckers were even rarer in the MK Metro fleet and the handful operated were all rather unusual. Optare Spectra 202 (K302 FYG) was new to London Buses as SP2 in 1992 and the only example with dual doors. It performed a range of duties with London Buses and was later sold to Bennetts of Gloucester. At this point it was converted to single door configuration and joined MK Metro in 2001. A number of contracts were won from Northamptonshire CC in 2005 the most significant being routes serving the university campuses. A route to the village of Harpole was also ran and on the first day of operation, 11 September 2005, a novelty one-off Sunday operation ran as route 43A. This was in conjuction with the Scarecrow Festival held in the village that weekend. It was the only time the bus and route were operated in Northampton.  

201 - An outstation was established in Northampton from September 2005 located at Wright's Truck yard at Billing Mill. Four regular Solos were operated, the lowest numbered example being 12 (V412 UNH) later numbered 2424 under Arriva ownership. Route 22 ran cross-town from the university to Harpole village with the bus serving the last stop within the Northampton Borough at Berrywood Road on 28 February 2006 having served Upton and St. Crispins estates which were newly constructed. This area has recently seen considerable housing construction (behind and to the right of the photographer) but bus services have yet to be enhanced. 

202- In 2003 MK Metro won the contract to operate Northampton town route 11 which served the estates of Links View and Parklands. A new Solo was ordered for the route and was unique in carrying the 'Metro' fleet name and branding to reflect its role. Initially it ran dead to and from Wolverton depot but was later allocated to the Northampton outstation. It would later work in MK wearing the purple livery variation for route 8.  

203 - External washes were an issue at the Northampton outstation as the only equipment available was a pressure hose. This belonged to Wright's Trucks and the hose lengths were suitable for a lorry cab not a bus. The Solos could just be done and on 28 October 2005 branded 24 was receiving an early morning wash. A member of driving staff remained behind after his late shift to clean the buses internally. Later vehicles were taken to MK during the day for a run through the automated wash at Wolverton depot.

Another comprehensive part of this interesting operator Ed. 

Uxbridge Interlude with Kevin Fuller

Despite the rain, I ventured to Uxbridge on Saturday 17th, and managed a few pictures of various operators there. All pictures taken on 17th January.

   

   

   

Uxbridge update. Ed.

Oxfordshire with Michael Wadman

Herewith some miscellaneous photos for you. 

Firstly a couple of shots of service H2 in Witney Market Place on 27^th November. I understand that this route was transferred from Pulhams to Thames Travel last July along with five vehicles, but in November 80809 was still in Pulhams’ livery. 

 

Next, the Oxford Sightseeing Tour is in the news because of its recent transfer from the Tom Tappin licence to City of Oxford’s.

I photographed 80291 at Oxford station on 7^th August last, when the weather was more appropriate for open-toppers. 

Finally, Red Rose YU15 AFS (formerly YX67 UYS), an Enviro 200 new to Leeds Bradford Airport,
loading in Magdalen Street on service 24 on 27^th November. Is this the only independent bus route in Oxford nowadays? 

Grahame Wareham remembers COMS 377 

L377  OFC377  1950 AEC Regent III 9612A with Park Ryal L26/26R low-bridge body. In 1952 L377 was renumbered to L153.L153 was sold to TPE,Macclesfield(dlr) in November 1963 and resold to Burnett,Mintlaw as their No.14. It was later converted with platform doors  to L26/26RD and passed to Alexander Northern No.NRC23 on Burnett's takeover in December 1966. Upon withdrawal in January 1972 it was sold to British Promotions, London W12. The same month and exported to James C. Nikikas t/a Lorries of London, 474 Central Drive, Highland Park, Illinois, 60033, last seen in Chicago December 1982 being recorded Chicago Motor Coach  Company. It was reported as being with the Limelight Club Oklahoma USA in 2001. 

   

     

377 KFC377G Daimler Fleetline CRG6LX  with Northern Counties H41/31F low-height body. Part of an initial batch of ten these were used on conventional conductor operated duties, mainly 2 road for the first few months of their lives and then sere subject to ticket machine trials with motorised equipment pending agreement to be used as full OMO double decker's. Once the second batch of similar but dual-doored vehicles arrived the following year 377 and its sisters migrated to country depots, Watlington depot becoming 377's home  for a number of years until transfer back to Oxford for the final service years before withdrawal. On withdrawal 377 along with 375,6,8-80 were transferred to NBC special projects and was converted by Midland Red's Carlyle Works into hospitality units promoting PHAB a charity based on childrens welfare in Exeter and South West. After use as an  NBC Area Exhibition Unit for London & S.East in October 1980 it was donated to Archaos Theatre Co Arles (O-F) as a   Mobile box office by May 1990. Presumed scrapped after its use with Archaos. 

 
   

377 THX177S Leyland National 10351A/2R with DP36D body. Owing to the  demise of 1335 GPC734N with severe accident damage a replacement was required to meet the needs of the daily PVR output and as OBC were receiving Titan's through London Bus Sales OBC was offered  East London's showbus LS177 and was acquired as an additional vehicle. It was converted at High Wycombe to DP41F retaining its coach seating. In 1996 it was renumbered 377 lasting until August 1996 when it was sold to Daly (dealer) Leighton Buzzard and resold to Barclave, Chislehurst lasting until February 1997 when it was sold for scrap.

 

Fascinating as ever. Ed.