Editorial
Following on from last week's issue it has been sad to learn that three people were killed in the head on smash on the M40 when a 4x4 and caravan drove the wrong way down the fast lane of the northbound M40. Our thoughts must go to the families of the deceased. It does do to show how dangerous motorways can be. Also the delays and congestion caused must have upset many travellers.
The work towards producing a viable electric powered bus continues and I am sure a number of models will be on display at the upcoming Coach & bus show in the NEC at the end of this month. I have an operation scheduled for October 30th so would appreciate pictures and small report from anyone who does attend.
£3.1 million invested in 13 new buses
X4 runs between Northampton, Wellingborough, Kettering, Corby, Peterborough
Buses have Leather seats, Wi-Fi, USB charging points and Euro 6 engines
Contactless payment technology now available
Pictures courtesy Stagecoach Midlands.
https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/ian-field-takes-trophies/
It was fifth time lucky for Stagecoach East Scotland driver Ian Field as he took the title at the 52nd annual Bus Driver of the Year event in Blackpool.I remember competing in BDoY a few years ago and can assure readers it is not an easy challenge. I didn't come anywhere in the placing's! Ed.
Paul Hubbert visit IbizaI thought a few pictures on this popular holiday destination would interest readers and make a welcome change as the nights draw in.
In 2015, EMT-Palma transported more than 39 million passengers, covering 12,772,286 kilometres with a network consisting of 31 bus routes in the municipalities of Palma, Llucmajor, Marratxí and Calvià.
This was possible thanks to the following factors:
Its own staff of 670 transport professionals, the majority of whom are drivers with a fleet comprising 180 buses.
Municipal de Palma -
http://www.emtpalma.cat/en/route/-/L/14/son-ferriol
The aim of the Majorcan Transport Consortium (CTM) is to coordinate financial, technical and administrative cooperation between the authorities and public and private bodies that are members so that their responsibilities in the field of organising and managing scheduled public transport for travellers are carried out jointly and in a coordinated manner.
https://www.tib.org/en/web/ctm/autobus/linia/500
AMERSHAM & CHESHAM RUNNING DAY by John Horsman
The new base at Chesham Broadway and good weather this year made for an excellent running day
RML2412 at Chesham Broadway having arrived from Ley Hill
MB90 at Chesham Broadway having arrived from Windsor
RLH48 at Rickmansworth station having arrived from Chesham Broadway
AN262 at Chesham Broadway having arrived from Gerrards Cross (Packhorse)
RF406 at Buckland Common having arrived from Chesham Broadway.
Red RFs were allocated to Amersham Garage for a couple of short periods and it
is possible that one could have appeared on this route.
RT3491 and RML2456 at Chesham Broadway
Lowland Bristol VR visits the Oxford Bus Museum
October 12th 2018 and NDL656R makes a stop at the Oxford Bus Museum on the way to the Isle of Wight. The two buses are actually painted on the roller shutter door, picture provided by Jim Crichton
Fleet News
BUSES IN THE LANDSCAPE - 3839 KE53NFC on route 8 near
Wendover on October 16th by Nick Ross.
Les Burton sent a great picture of an unusual bus with Arriva North East Temsa 4726 YJ11GHG, this fleet being at Redcar.
Picture at Whitby Bus Station by Les Burton.
Pictureview
Green Line 7011 with a 757 working heads over
Elizabeth Bridge, VICTORIA on October 19th by Gavin Francis.
At Cressex 6002 is resting on October 20th by
Malcolm Crowe.
A gathering of DAFs at Cressex with 6003, 6310
(now elderly) and 6004 at rest on October 20th by Malcolm Crowe.
Cressex with withdrawn and partially cannibalised
4518. 6301 and 6300 on October 20th by Malcolm Crowe.
The company has published the latest allocations list at the under mentioned link
Buses in the Landscape - Carousel line 40 heads
west out of Stokenchurch on September 28th by Malcolm Crowe.
From Sunday 28th October 2018, changes will be made to the X90
Oxford - London service timetable. We’ll also be introducing
some affordable fares, and a brand new advance booking portal!
Find out more:
https://
81 working the X90 heads across Elizabeth Bridge
at VICTORIA on October 18th by Gavin Francis.
With the reductions in service, mentioned above, are the days of these
coaches numbered.
Extract from Notices & Proceedings.
Operating between SEACOURT Car Park and THORNHILL Car Park given service number 400 effective from 03 November 2018. To amend Timetable.
The company has published the latest allocations list at the under mentioned link
Next is information received from Phil Southall, with our thanks, regarding the current developments.
Phil Southall, MD of Oxford Bus Company
writes "201 is now back from H+D Trim and should be
entering service this week to release 2903 to go away to Magtec to be converted
to electric. 202 is now at Hants & Dorset trim and 203 and 204 will follow in
quick succession. 205 is still in the OBC fleet and part of the Brookes fleet
covering for the removal of the Flywheel systems from 601 to 614 that are going
away to ADL one at a time. 203 and 204 are 'float' vehicles until they go away
for conversion to open top and may be used at any of our companies.
368 is now also in an overall white
based advert for Prostate Cancer and should be hitting the road
shortly. This is to raise awareness of this important issue amongst our
predominantly male workforce and will appear at rallies next year.
Citaro
Also, to correct your
last newsletter, we only have two additional PICKMEUP
vehicles coming (not four) and they are due on November 5th. They will be EVM
bodied Mercedes to a higher specification than the six we have currently.
I am sure many of you will appreciate the information direct from Phil.
Brookes had an open day on Saturday, October 20th and a special service was run from Thornhill Park & Ride to cope with the extra passengers.
MMC red 603 with a U1X working in St Clements on October 20th by Gavin Francis.
Pictureview
303 with a 4A passing through the roadworks at Carfax
on October 14th by Gavin Francis.
Park & Ride 680 with a 400 working passing
through the roadworks at Carfax on October 14th by Gavin Francis.
Wrap 367 with a number 8 passes Queens Lane
on September 29th by Jack Cooper.
657 with a number 5 at the Station on September
29th by Jack Cooper.
CSS 2058 (once Oxford's 110) passes Queens Lane
on September 29th by Jack Cooper.
The company has published the latest allocations list at the under mentioned link
Common use Citaro 870, at present with Thames
Travel, with a 250 working in Magdalen Street East on October 19th by Gavin
Francis.
Ex Carousel 214, now with Thames Travel is seen
on a T1 working on September 29th by Jack Cooper.
Heyfordian OU17OTF in Beaumont Street, Oxford on
October 19th by Gavin Francis.
Horseman of Royal Berkshire's RX12HNU heading
towards Reading on September 28th by Malcolm Crowe.
Further to pictures in the last issue, the following new coaches are being delivered to National Express.
BF68LBX | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LBY | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LBZ | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LCA | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LCZ | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LDA | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LDC | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LDD | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LDE | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LDJ | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LDK | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LDL | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LDN | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
BF68LDO | Sca K410EB6 | Co | C59FLt | 10/2018 | National Express |
It is not known if all these coaches are for Stansted or spread throughout the group?
BF68LBJ | Vo B11RT YV3T2U821JA189694 | Co F183043024 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park, Hamilton |
BF68LBL | Vo B11RT YV3T2U823JA189695 | Co F183043025 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park, Hamilton |
BF68LBN | Vo B11RT YV3T2U825JA189696 | Co F183043026 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park, Hamilton |
BF68LBO | Vo B11RT YV3T2U829JA189717 | Co F183043027 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park, Hamilton |
BF68LBP | Vo B11RT YV3T2U825JA189729 | Co F183043028 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park, Hamilton |
BF68LBU | Vo B11RT YV3T2U826JA189769 | Co F183043029 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park, Hamilton |
BF68LBV | Vo B11RT YV3T2U822JA189770 | Co F183043030 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park, Hamilton |
Another 68 plate coach seen by Gavin Francis was one from Parks new fleet of Volvos, BF68LBO, as seen below. Note that these coaches are only 56 seaters unlike the National Express ones which are 59 seaters!
Parks BF68LBO resting by Elizabeth Bridge at VICTORIA on October 18th by Gavin
Francis.
Parks BF68LBV with a 561 working on Elizabeth Bridge, VICTORIA, the date
October 19th by Gavin Francis.
Edwards BV66WPK with an 040 working heads across Elizabeth Bridge, VICTORIA
on October 18th by Gavin Francis.
Start Hill's SH201 BN64FKO with an A7 resting by Elizabeth Bridge at
VICTORIA on October 18th by Gavin Francis.
Bournemouth's Yellow Coaches 333 FJ61EWD with an 035 working by Elizabeth
Bridge VICTORIA on October 18th by Gavin Francis.
Extract from Notices & Proceedings.
Operating between Slough and Cippenham given service number 5 / 5 effective from 29 October 2018. To amend Timetable.
Operating between Central Reading and Mereoak P&R given service number 53 / 53 / 53a / 53x / 53b effective from 29 October 2018. To amend Timetable.
Following on from my remarks about school buses Gavin Francis has provided pictures of some of the buses which serve Stokenchurch.
New to Tates of Barnsley, YX10TAT in 2010, this bus is the regular on the 28 to
Ibstone, seen on October 16th.
Mostly school children use this term time Ibstone service.
Following on from my remarks about school buses Gavin Francis has provided more pictures of some of the buses which serve Stokenchurch.
X458KUT new to Hill of Wolverhampton in September 2000 now often working
school services. Seen on October 17th in Stokenchurch.
Dart KF52NBM new to Universitybus, Hatfield in 2002 now seen on October 16th in
Stokenchurch working route 655.
Ex London Central Volvo PVL234 is now with Redline and is a regular on the 643
to Stokenchurch seen on October 16th.
in Oxfordshire
MMC 10435 with a 1 through the roadworks at
Carfax on October 14th by Gavin Francis.
By the 19th 10435 was working the S3 seen by
Gavin Francis.
10438 with a 1 heading through the roadworks at
Carfax on October 14th by Gavin Francis.
10669 with a 3 heading through the roadworks at
Carfax on October 14th by Gavin Francis.
Gold 10789 with an S9 heading through the
roadworks at Carfax on October 14th by Gavin Francis.
Merseyside & South Lancashire
53290 works new route X5 from Liverpool to Widnes
taken by Barry McGuire. The picture is nicely framed by The Liver Building.
Midlands
Gold-Spec Optare Solo SRs 47967-71 have been confirmed as having moved from Leamington to Stagecoach South Wales and further, in exchange 36483/44/45/50 and already reported 37169 are at Leamington.
New Gold 11129 with an X4 working by SKM.
West
WEST's 10993, S6 branded in Oxford on
September 29th by Jack Cooper.
Still with the tube 50237 is seen at Queens Lane on
September 29th by Jack Cooper.
50262 passes through the roadworks at Carfax on
October 14th by Gavin. Francis.
50270 awaits departure from Oxford on a night
service on October 18th by Gavin Francis.
A surprise to Gavin Francis was this advert on a cash machine in Oxford.
From Mike Lewis
"Further to your excellent pages on the oxford chiltern bus page, the ex Oxford Tube coaches with Andrews of Foxton, they are:-
From James Freeman
As seen on the M34 Portsmouth
to Newcastle megabus service
Very new 54606 waits time on a northbound M34 on
October 16th by James Freeman.
54601 | YX68UAJ | Vo B11RT YV3T2U822KA192945 | Pn | C??FLt | 10/2018 | Western |
54602 | YX68UAK | Vo B11RT | Pn | C??FLt | 10/2018 | Midland Red (South) |
54603 | YX68UAL | Vo B11RT YV3T2U82XKA192983 | Pn | C??FLt | 10/2018 | Western |
54604 | YX68UAM | Vo B11RT | Pn | C??FLt | 10/2018 | Midland Red (South) |
54605 | YX68UAN | Vo B11RT | Pn | C??FLt | 10/2018 | Midland Red (South) |
54606 | YX68UAO | Vo B11RT | Pn | C??FLt | 10/2018 | Midland Red (South) |
54607 | YX68UAP | Vo B11RT | Pn | C??FLt | /2018 | Midland Red (South) |
54608 | YX68UAR | Vo B11RT | Pn | C??FLt | 10/2018 | Midland Red (South) |
54609 | YX68UAS | Vo B11RT | Pn | C??FLt | 10/2018 | Midland Red (South) |
54610 | YX68UAT | Vo B11RT | Pn | C??FLt | /2018 | Midland Red (South) |
Gavin Francis writes
"Megabus 54202 was parked in Bullied Way tonight
repainted in dark blue but with no branding. Maybe with the arrival of the new
coaches it is being stood down from Megabus work.
Megabus 54202 heads along
BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROAD, VICTORIA on April 13th 2015 by Gavin
Francis.
Megabus 54272 with the M12 heading along
Elizabeth Bridge, VICTORIA on October 18th by Gavin Francis.
South Gloucester's SG34 left hand drive Van
Hool, once 55012, near VCS on October 18th by Gavin Francis.
More London Wraps
Abellio LT616 with wrap FORCE, and LT780 with
wrap Spider-man passing BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROAD on October 19th by Gavin
Francis.