Welcome to the fifth Weekly Briefing, which is publishing one day later than usual due the writer having a really foul cold. Anyway must get on and use the really great material which contributors have sent to me.
Coach
catches fire on the M40 with 32 schoolchildren on board
A coach caught fire on the M40, on the night of
March 26th, with 32 children on board.
Firefighters from High Wycombe, Beaconsfield and
Gerrard’s Cross were called to the northbound carriageway between Loudwater
(junction 3) and Handy Cross (junction 4) just after 11pm on Monday night.
Fortunately, the 32 children and six adults on board
were safely evacuated from the coach before the blaze took hold.
Fire crews battled the fire with hose reels,
breathing apparatus and a water tanker.
Passengers jetting off for a short break to make the
most of the long Easter weekend face potential delays because of the blaze.
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/stansted-airport-fire-flights-evacuated-14477214
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18 plates
This is an opportunity for pictures of new buses and coaches submitted by readers.
One of seven Lucketts/Worthing Coaches new
tri-axle Scania Levantes NEx Worthing Coaches XW561256 BK18OSN works the 025
by VCS on April 1st by Paul Hawkins.
London General have a large fleet of ADL Hybrid
MMCs as seen here by EH219 YX18KPJ working the 176 Penge route on April 1st
by Paul Hawkins.
Eva Travel of London own this Mercedes Tourismo
BU18YMK seen in Windsor on March 19th by Paul Bateson.
Arriva operated the 35 route from High Wycombe to Bourne End on Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd April, this route normally being operated by Carousel, the 35 service operating Monday to Saturday (Excluding Public Holidays). by Carousel.
I was lucky enough to be at High Wycombe when the Arriva 1230 service left on Easter Sunday.
The customers were treated to a nice relatively new ADL MMC, 3109 heading to
Bourne End and leaving the Eden Bus Station.
Other Arriva operations were noted on the same day including:
Citaro 3013 with the 800 arriving at the Eden Bus Station from Reading.
Earlier in the week I had chance to catch another Citaro 3018 with the 850
to Reading heading out of Wycombe on March 29th.
I wonder if this is a float bus used whilst others are away being painted such as this ex MK Citaro shown below.
Citaro 3929 seen working the 1A in Wycombe on March 27th by Gavin Francis,
came from Milton Keynes in Platinum branding.
The operator has a fairly static fleet now with 837 and 838 having departed. One wonders if 878 is also about to depart as it no longer has any branding other than fleet number?
I found it looking rather forlorn outside the depot on April 1st looking as
if it might have been towed in from an A40 duty.
I didn't realise that the 1 goes through to Hemel Hempstead on Sunday as
seen by Solo 709 leaving the Eden Bus Station on Sunday, April 1st.
Two pictures of the depot on Sunday morning, April 1st with variety on show.
Carousel 217 and then 419 working the 1A from Wycombe to Chesham on March
27th by Gavin Francis.
IT seems that the 35 does not always go to Bourne End as seen in this
picture by Gavin Francis of 422 to Flackwell Heath only on March 27th.
As you will see elsewhere in this issue Paul Bateson has been on a trip over here from Canada. He has provided some interesting pictures taken in Windsor which would seem to be a good photographic destination for the enthusiast when the weather improves.
Hybrid VSH69929 BV13ZCY working the 8 in Windsor on March 19th by Paul
Bateson.
Citaro 64038, route branded for the 8, seen in Windsor on March 19th by Paul
Bateson.
I noted a High Wycombe based coach on the back of a low loader outside Wycombe High School last Thursday. It seems to be becoming more regular for recovery to be made by low loader these days.
6 road sees a variety of buses and here is Hybrid 310, once the pride of the
Park & Ride fleet in Magdalen Street East waiting for its next journey.
Picture taken by Gavin Francis on March 30th.
Another but later Hybrid, 661, is seen working the X13 (a
card) in St Aldates heading for the J R on April 1st by Gavin Francis.
A staff car with Oxford Bus, one we've not seen before, is 981 leaving
Gloucester Green on March 30th by Gavin Francis.
Interesting if anyone can provide pictures of X90's on this diversion.
Please be aware that with immediate effect until the end of May 2018, Phase
2 of the Baker Street two-way project will be in place with temporary
traffic signals and lane closures at the junction of Marylebone Road and
Baker Street. We will endeavour to serve Baker Street at all times but in
peak times, our London bound X90 services may need to use a dedicated
diversion route which does not serve Baker Street to avoid any serious
congestion. However, they will observe the bus stop at Sale Place on Praed
Street, very close to Edgware Road Station. Oxford bound coaches will not be
affected.
Click here for more information on the Baker Street Two Way works.
Reading TV 4 at Windsor Parish Church working
route 2 on March 8th by Frank Brown.
Reading 195 YJ62FMD is one of four ex Courtney
Solos acquired for TV route 5 seen on March 8th by Frank Brown.
The 702 continues to provide interesting vehicles and I have several interesting pictures.
A current performer is this Wrights demonstrator, 900 SK17HHC, working the
702 in Windsor on March 19th by Paul Bateson.
Well disguised of its origins, 530 re-registered X100RDG working the 702 in
Windsor is ex Arriva London DW55 LJ04LEU and seen on March 19th by Paul
Bateson.
Rather surprising is 1203 in jetblack livery working the 702 in
Bulleid Way London on April 1st by Gavin Francis.
In front of the new Slough Bus Station, E200
MX09HHL works the WP1 to Wexham Park Hospital on March 19th when seen by
Paul Bateson.
This bus started life with Metro Shuttle in
Bolton and for a time was with Arriva
0352 in Arriva's
Milton Keynes fleet on a high profile 300 service.
Variety on the 321 sees X154FBB approaching the
Eden Bus Station, Wycombe on March 27th by Gavin Francis.
This was a regular on the Go Ahead
Route 185 as their VP5.
Not much to report this week, except that just maybe 10905 is due to return to Gloucester shortly?
Otherwise the Gold buses seem to have had April Fool's Day off as three Gold services seen had City buses on them!
10069 is working the S5 outside Randolph Hotel on April 1st by Gavin
Francis.
10071 works the 7 again near the Randolph Hotel on April 1st by Gavin
Francis. Now this is not necessarily a Gold Route but is interworked with
buses off the S3.
Soon to be released in model form on the route 3, 10684 is seen working the
S8 in St Aldates on April 1st by Gavin Francis.
I must apologise for omitting this picture from earlier editions, Gold tacho
fitted 15966 is seen at Thornhill Park & Ride
on December 27th by Gavin Francis . This bus was not a stranger to Thornhill
having been used on the short lived SW1 at the end of 2016.
It is seen here working the 900 hospital service which is certainly not a
normal place to find a Gold bus!
It can sometimes be seen on an Oxford tube relief service in times of need.
West's 15650 with fresh or repainted appearance with branding for Swindon
49-51 routes removed works the 66 out of Gloucester Green on March 30th by
Gavin Francis.
Out of our area but sometimes their vehicles can be seen passing through our area.
Young Scot Awards 2018 - 54128 YX63NFT seen working the 900 service in
Glasgow on March 26th by Gordon Scott.
This coach has appeared several times in London on megabus service so keep a
look out.
An interesting picture as it shows 50313 leaving Glasgow Bus Station with an
ex Oxford tube behind it on March 26th by Gordon Scott.
It is on service to Inverness, that is the Citylink Gold coach.
Jim Wright advises that
"Swanbrook are operating the lrizar i4 Hybrid coach demonstrator on 853, morning & evening departure from Oxford.
Kennetbus
Amun S. Bhomra
I thought Id get in contact with you to inform
you the reason for their presence in Abingdon is they provide school
transport at my school.
I hope this clears it up?"
Following on from last week Gavin Francis has provided pictures of the ex Arriva VLAs which have joined the Weavaway school fleet.
Modifications include three additional tip up seats in the disabled bay
and still keeping centre door. Painted bright green with black roof and
looking very smart today. No fleet name applied yet but they will by
Countywide (hence CW in registration)
Arriva VLA41 inn BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROAD - VICTORIA on April 14th 2006.
this is now CW51TOP (pictures please)
Arriva VLA42 near LAMBETH TOWN HALL on September 12th 2014. This is now
CW52TOP.
Arriva VLA73 at CLAPHAM COMMON - NORTH SIDE on March 28th 2012.
This is now CW53TOP.
White Bus Services Solo SR YJ14BBN working the P1 in Windsor on
March 19th by Paul Bateson.
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