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Another page, another week - how time flies. Thanks to everyone who contributed, I am spoilt for choice on the photographs!

On a special note Paul Coley has offered to put a link on Facebook. It will be interesting to see how this works.

Quite some change to our local fleets with Carousel receiving four ex Thames Travel/Oxford Citaros which are in the process of being painted red from green/blue. First seem to have ben using their branded StreetLites elsewhere and we have been treated to double decks from Portsmouth, Plymouth and Leicester! Now this really does something for my comments in previous editions regarding the use of branded buses away from their intended routes, this time in a big way!!

Carousel's 857 with a 1 working, this bus still in TT livery and seen at The Eden bus Station on July 18th by Malcolm Crowe.

The ultimate in not working in its intended area, First 31590 from LEICESTER with an X74 working in High Wycombe on July 22nd by Malcolm Crowe.

Throughout July, the Oxford Bus Company is donating 50p from every return ticket purchased on the X90 to Helen & Douglas House.

All proceeds raised from return journey sales between Oxford and London in July will be donated directly to the Oxfordshire-based hospice.

Helen & Douglas House provides hospice care for babies and children in Oxfordshire and surrounding countries.

Oxford Bus Company, Managing Director, Phil Southall, says: “When possible, we like to give something back to the community we are proud to serve and share.”

Many of the bus routes serving rural areas of Buckinghamshire need ongoing financial support from the County Council to operate. We want as many people as possible in our village communities to have access to public transport, so you can get out and about and do what’s important to you, such as go to the doctors, the shops or visit friends and family. We need to plan carefully to make sure we use this money as effectively as possible.

It’s now five years since we looked in detail at our council supported bus routes and how they are used. Between then and now a lot has changed and we’d like to understand how current bus services are being used. We’ll use this information to review how future services can better meet people’s travel patterns, and this may include revising existing routes and timetables or looking at alternatives such as community transport other flexible transport services

Please take a few moments to complete the following survey, which is open for responses between 7 June 2018 and 20 July 2018. We’ll review all the feedback from the survey this summer, and later in 2018 we’ll carry out a consultation on any proposed changes. Updates on this review will be available on this page.

Many of the bus routes serving rural areas of Buckinghamshire need ongoing financial support from Bucks County Council to operate. BCC wants as many people as possible in the village communities to have access to public transport, so you can get out and about and do what is important to you, such as go to the doctors, the shops or visit friends and family.

Since the last review 5 years ago a lot has changed and they would like to understand how current bus services are being used. This survey information will be evaluated to review how future services can better meet people’s travel patterns, and this may include revising existing routes and timetables or looking at alternatives such as community transport or other flexible transport services.

Please take a few moments to complete the survey at www.buckscc.gov.uk/bussurvey which is open for responses until 20 July 2018. BCC will review all the feedback from the survey this summer, and later in 2018 will carry out a consultation on any proposed changes. Updates on this review will be available on the BCC website.

Whether you are a regular or occasional bus user, feedback to BCC via this survey is important to help shape and protect the future of your local bus service.

For those unable to complete the survey on-line, paper copies of the survey are available. Please contact the Clerk on 01296 651800

Stagecoach bus drivers win award for their 'outstanding' quality of driving

BUS drivers in Oxfordshire have beaten 18 other areas for the outstanding quality of their driving.

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire has been given the Christopher Ball Memorial Award for the fourth consecutive year.

The award ceremony is held in memory of Christopher Ball, a project manager at Stagecoach who died in 2014.

Mr Ball was instrumental in introducing the GreenRoad eco-driving technology to Stagecoach’s bus companies across the UK .

The GreenRoad system is installed on all Stagecoach vehicles and uses a traffic-light LED system on the dashboard which gives drivers instant feedback on their driving performance, encouraging smoother, safer, and more fuel-efficient driving.

To date, use of GreenRoad system and Stagecoach’s comprehensive driver training programme has helped deliver a significant improvement in fuel efficiency and reduction in CO2 emissions.

Every ‘event’ such as harsh braking or steering is recorded, and the system produces a safety score for the driver. To achieve Fleet Elite status drivers must have driven at least 500 hours and had a score of five or under throughout the year.

Forty-five per cent of Stagecoach in Oxfordshire drivers were awarded Fleet Elite status and, of those, a further 88 (45 per cent) achieved the ‘Master Fleet Elite’ status for consistently maintaining the highest driving standard for four consecutive years.

Martin Sutton, the company’s Managing Director, said the award was recognition of the professionalism of the drivers.

Bus driver left traumatised after unknown liquid thrown on him in Frogmoor, High Wycombe

A bus driver has been left traumatised after an unknown liquid was thrown on him in an attack in High Wycombe.

CCTV images have been released of a woman police believe may have “key information” about the assault, which happened in Frogmoor.

A woman got onto the number 1 bus in Hazlemere and showed an out-of-date pass to the driver at 11.50am on June 12th.

When the driver challenged the woman, she became verbally abusive and carried on into the bus, sitting down in a seat.

The driver refused to move until she paid for her ticket, prompting a member of the public to offer to pay for her ticket.

When the bus stopped at Frogmoor, the woman walked towards the door and, on her way out, threw the contents of her water bottle over the driver.

Investigating officer PC Karen Collet, based at High Wycombe police station, said: “I am appealing for the woman in these CCTV images, or anyone who recognises her, to come forward as I believe she has information that could prove vital to this investigation."

(We really are going on a slippery slope. As a person who has suffered an attack when driving a coach, it does impact on one's feelings. Ed.}

This event took place last Friday and Saturday when transport was provided from High Wycombe to the event site by Reading Buses especially brought in for the occasion. Gavin Francis happened to be in the bus station at The Eden Centre and took pictures of the various buses involved.

The Oxford rail blockade is due to end this coming Sunday with normal services restarting on Monday 23^rd. There is a further closure over the weekend of 28^th/29^th to finish off. As far as I’m aware the works are going well and on schedule.

So, the Rail "Blockade" at Oxford is all but over and services are returning to normal. The second pictures shows the large number of buses required to move the train passengers between stations.

New rail track layout now installed at Oxford and it appears ready for use. Caught on camera by Gavin Francis on July 22nd.

Of course the rail overbridge is still at the same height as it ever was and the picture below has several points of interest.

Stagecoach West's Scania 15346 with a 66 service but with 55 branding heads under Botley Rd Bridge on July 10th by Richard Sharman.
Oxford always has numerous baskets of flowers which add to this colourful picture.

This picture makes an interesting comparison with that shown first above with a mountain of work in progress on July 10th by Richard Sharman.

I'm taking this opportunity to record all the pictures submitted recording the variety and size of the Rail Replacement fleet used over the past two weeks.

When is an Oxford Bus and Oxford bus and the same for Carousel. Here is an ex Carousel and an ex Oxford side by side on July 7th by Richard Sharman.

One of the less usual operators, Courtney Buses using an E200, BD14KXZ near Oxford Train Station on July 7th by Richard Sharman.

Reading Buses 654 enters the loading area on July 10th by Richard Sharman. This bus will be seen later helping out at Penn Fest.

Dekkabus 358 L400BTS ex Blackpool and the I.O.M seen on July 16th by Gavin Francis.

Once the pride of the Carousel fleet and dedicated to the Heathrow service, 871 now has dedicated space for cycles and a few seats for their riders seen on July 16th by Gavin Francis.

Stagecoach provided these two deckers on July 22nd for work between Oxford and Didcot.

Dekkabus 357 L400BTS running along the A4130 near Didcot old power station on July 19th.

Now we know where the branded X74 StreetLites are, 63315 SM65LNK at speed on the A34 on July 19th.

A long long way from home for Rail Replacement - Grangeburn of Motherwell - N14ARV runs along the A4130 near Didcot old power station on July 19th.

From the foregoing readers can see what variety was to be seen during the 14 days or so of the Oxford Blockade.

Two contributors sent pictures of this event but time has defeated me this week. I will publish a full report next week.

A very nice line up from Tony Bungay of attendees at Alton on July 14th. More to come next week.

A lovely shot of ex COMS 105 intended when new for the London services. July 15th by David Gray.

Reading's 899 in full Green line livery at Alton. Doesn't it look so very smart?

Stagecoach South East Fleet Handbook 2018
A6 portrait, 44 pages, laminated card cover
£6.50

Laminated card cover and illustrated in full colour throughout.
This book covers the Stagecoach South East fleet and is fully updated to June 2018, which includes the fleet changes made following the withdrawal of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinters from the Ashford Little & Often network which has been upgraded to larger vehicles.
The book details all vehicles currently in the Stagecoach South East fleet together with details of liveries, branding and depot allocations. Details are also given of the normal weekday allocation of vehicles to routes

A great new book on Reading Buses with up to date information at June 2018.
A really nice selection of colour pictures which will answer many question the enthusiast has about Reading's buses.
The book includes Reading, Newbury, Slough and Green Line plus much about Reading works etc.
Price: £13.50 from Vision at the link below.
http://www.visionsinternational.biz/html/bus_books.html
I ordered the book on a Thursday and it arrived postage free on the Saturday. (Excellent service)

Surprisingly MMC 3108 is still with us in Wycombe. The remainder are now settled at Wigston, Leicestershire and I wonder if anyone can provide pictures of these buses in their new area?

MMC 3108 with a 37 working leaves the Eden Bus Station on July 21st as seen by Gavin Francis.

One not so old by Gavin Francis and one rather old, in fact seventeen years old by Malcolm Crowe.

This route is soon to be split with the 41 replacing the 48 from High Wycombe to Lane End. 3016 leaving the Eden Bus Station on July 21st.

Freshly painted in the latest livery, 3926 works a 1A service to Chesham Pound Park on July 21st.

3919 is seen with a 32 working but branded for the 300 to Aylesbury. I am told that Wycombe now has two workings on the 300. July 21st.

Once the pride of Luton's local bus fleets these thirteen year old buses still look good though maybe a repaint would improve them.

Now around 17 years old, this DAF 6303 is seen working the 37 from Bourne End. July 18th.

I was amused by the Arriva staff car seen in the bus station on July 22nd, more by the advert on the rear door. I can't think of anywhere else that this happens.

Not everything goes to plan, here a 280 service is delayed for a short time whilst a problem is resolved on July 7th by Richard Sharman.

Green Line 7002 showing a Megabus sticker whilst working the 757 in London on July 17th by Gavin Francis.
This was a surprise to Gavin as we were unaware of this service accepting Megabus bookings and tickets.

Another of a number of coach companies offering private hire and contract work in the High Wycombe area.

Buzz Lines are a hire company in London and Cliffs have ow acquired this lovely Neoplan for their customers, BT11BUZ, seen on July 20th by Gavin Francis.

Cliffs WK03EKW at the depot in Binders Yard on July 20th by Gavin Francis. This coach started life on National Express with First as their 20537.

As mentioned earlier the use of double deck buses from other areas seems to predominate at present. I even have an X74 branded StreetLite working a rail service from Oxford.

63315 on its branded route - see under rail replacement above for another picture of this bus. July 21st by Gavin Francis.

Portsmouth from Wycombe !!!!! 37164 with Uni branding leaves High Wycombe on an X74 service on July 18th by Malcolm Crowe.

And now to Leicester, 31590 again on the X74 this time July 22nd by Malcolm Crowe. Now, can you pay with Contactless on First Slough?

As we've already mentioned four Citaros have moved from Thames Travel to Wycombe and for those interested the company now publishes a fleet list on its web site. Use the link below:

At present there is no change in the double deck fleet although 914 has returned to Thames Travel.

Already in Carousel colours, 856 is seen with a 1A in the Eden Bus Station on July 21st by Gavin Francis.

Heading for Slough, 857 still retains Thames Travel livery, no doubt ready to go away for repaint, and heading for Slough on the 104. July 21st by Gavin Francis.

858 looks very shiny and new, working a 102 service on July 21st by Gavin Francis.

Scania double decks 219 with the 36 and 220 with the 39 in the Eden Bus Station on July 21st by Gavin Francis.

418, with traces of an older livery - now it's all red, branded for and working the 1A to Pond Park Estate in Chesham on July 21st by Gavin Francis.

Solos 711 and 712 with 103 workings and branded Chiltern Hundreds, on July 21st by Gavin Francis.

It still seems somewhat odd to see deckers on the 39 and not orange!! 218 seen on July 18th by Malcolm Crowe.

The white destination screens stand out well as seen on 404 with the 102 on July 22nd by Malcolm Crowe.

Not quite a Chiltern Hundreds, 406 (minus a front fleet number) working the PR1 to the Coachway on July 18th by Malcolm Crowe.

E200 423 working the Link 40 passes Mudds Bank Stokenchurch on July 18th by Malcolm Crowe.

Solo 712 is seen leaving for Uxbridge on a 102 service on July 18th by Malcolm Crowe. I don't think this bus is Chiltern Hundreds branded?

To clarify the situation regarding the Citaros sent to join Go ahead Ireland, they are as follows:

8101 – 03D121520 ME52OXF                         826
8102 – 03D121525 MF52OXF                          827
8103 – 03D121530 GX53WDP X29OXF           829
8104 – 03D121528 GX53WCN X13OXF           830
8105 – 03D121532 GX53WEP   X31OXF           831
8106 – 03D121526 GX53WYW X2OXF            832
8107 – 03D121527 GX53WUC X3OXF            833
8108 – 03D121531 GX53WBY   X4OXF            834
8109 – 03D121533 GX53WZL X5OXF            835
8110 – 03D121529 GX53WDC X6OXF            836

Readers may remember that a picture appeared of 826 at Hants & Dorset Trim for repaint into blue and this is now revealed as to the reason why, it was going to Dublin.

For those who are interested in what buses are in the fleet please check the link:

These lists are extremely useful and if saved provide an interesting comparison in the years to come.

Quite a few photos for your interest this week. Of note are the use of Scanias 203 and 204 on rail replacement work. These buses are due to go to Hants & Dorset Trim shortly to be converted to open top for the City Sightseeing Fleet. Now, you may say, that with some buses or coaches we have seen those pictures before but also they can represent an historical record as to when and where they were working at a particular time.

673 works the 500 through Frideswide Square on July 22nd to a final destination of Blenheim Palace when seen by Gavin Francis.

There were questions as to why 838 had been painted blue and here's the answer. It is a wrap for PICKMEUP, seen on July 16th by Gavin Francis.

838 and 846 in High Street on July 19th by David Gray. I am sure the blue is identical to that used on the ones in Dublin?

882, also looking very smart, whilst working a 6 road service on July 17th by Gavin Francis.

No one has mentioned this before but on the roof of Brookes buses they have this vinyl! Picture from Richard Sharman.

610 shows of the intricate branding whilst waiting for departure with a 500 service - taken by Jack Cooper.

Jack Cooper writes "On the 7th July I had got to ride on the Pick me up Service, my journey was between the Station and Blackbird Leys, the journey was much quicker than the bus but for someone like me who pays a fair on the bus there is not really an advantage with the Pick me up journey costing £2.50 and a single on the 1 between the Station and Blackbird Leys costing £1.10. The Pick me up buses are really nice and are air-conditioned, you don't get that on the 1 or 5, the buses also have free Wi-Fi and USB chargers, to get USB chargers on the 1 is very rare as it is often operated by 15 plate Enviro 400 MMC's. The driver on the pick me up bus was very friendly and I had a really nice chat with her.

I think that the Pick me up buses are a really good idea, according to the driver there are already more buses on order and people are requesting for the boundary’s to be made bigger. This is really good as it means the service is proving popular. The only thing I would change is having child and adult fairs but other than that the service is really good and really convenient, and the buses are really comfortable. Good work Oxford bus Company!!"

The interior seat and facilities. As one can see the seta is much like a nice bus seat.

The wheelchair space is adequate and gives such passengers a good view. One can see the map display used by the driver to make his pick ups and also his directions.

As we the other constituent companies a fleet list is now available on the web site and for ease the link is included below.

Noted elsewhere is the transfer of four Mercedes Citaros, 856-9, to Carousel and the return of Scania 914 joining its brothers who had already returned.

Gavin Francis caught up with a couple of their coaches, one of which pictured below, was for some years ago part of the Plastow's fleet.

The latest deliveries of new coaches are to Edwards of Llantwit Fardre and are Volvos with the latest style Caetano bodywork. As will be seen one of the batch is on a Scania chassis.

BU18OTE	Vo B11RT YV3T2U826HA184663	Caetano	C56FLt	7/2018	Edwards,Llantwit Fardre
BU18OTF	Sca K410BE6 YS2K6X20001902961	Caetano	C56FLt	7/2018	Edwards,Llantwit Fardre
BU18OTG	Vo B11RT	Caetano	C56FLt	7/2018	Edwards,Llantwit Fardre
BU18OTH	Vo B11RT	Caetano	C56FLt	7/2018	Edwards,Llantwit Fardre
BU18OTJ	Vo B11RT	Caetano	C56FLt	7/2018	Edwards,Llantwit Fardre
BU18OTK	Vo B11RT	Caetano	C56FLt	7/2018	Edwards,Llantwit Fardre
BU18OTL	Vo B11RT	Caetano	C56FLt	7/2018	Edwards,Llantwit Fardre
BU18OTM	Vo B11RT	Caetano	C56FLt	7/2018	Edwards,Llantwit Fardre

One of the new Volvo coaches seen in Bulleid Way is BU18OTG pictured by Gavin Francis on July 19th.

Oxford Bus of course operate the 737 Oxford-Stansted service on behalf of National Express.

HIGH WYCOMBE - They have two tri-axle coaches, 56 heading for Stansted on July 21st by Gavin Francis .

HIGH WYCOMBE - Sister 57 is seen leaving for Oxford on July 22nd by Malcolm Crowe.

Another part of Go Ahead is South Coast and Tourist Coaches with a once branded National Express coach on the 033, 7132 SIL7914 Departing VCS on July 16th by Gavin Francis.

Dylan jones has provided some interesting pictures from West midlands who operate in a northerly location adjacent to ours.

A nice surprise for one of my readers, Joshua Sammons, was a Yutong full electric bus seen working the 703 through Slough.

Joshua included some interior shots and also branding giving the virtues if a Yutong.

Once again a StreetLite has appeared working the 702 in London, 167 is seen in Bulleid Way on July 18th by Gavin Francis.

Dart Y158NLK is seen in Eden bus Station HW with a 38 working on July 18th by Malcolm Crowe.

I was surprised when this E200 arrived in High Wycombe on July 18th as I would have expected this to be Hemel Hempstead. - by Malcolm Crowe.
Can someone tell me what's going on?

There is one working only to Ibstone, the 28 from Wycombe schools in the afternoon and inbound in the morning. Picture by Malcolm Crowe.

Witney's 15617 works route H at Silverstone F1 2018 on July 7th by Richard Sharman.

MMC 10668 with an S5 working by the Randolph Hotel on July 17th by Gavin Francis.

MMC 10680 with an S3 in Park End Street on July 22nd by Gavin Francis.

The use of non gold buses on Gold routes is unfortunate as the public is becoming very conscious of such matters.

Gold 28746 with an S4 working from Banbury in Oxford on July 17th by Gavin Francis.

The Coasthopper branding has been removed from Optare Solo SRs 48033 and 48035 at Bedford and ‘Stagecoach in Bedford’ branding applied to the green and blue base livery. ADL Enviro 200MMC has also had most of the Coasthopper branding removed.

The new Gold-spec ADL Enviro 400MMCs for Kettering depot (11126-38) for the X4 Northampton-Peterborough service are due here in September/October. They will displace a similar number of Gold-spec Scania/Enviro 400s (15739-51) which will transfer to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire

Following the departure of 50285 and 50286 to Chesterfield for repaint (it is believed that these coaches will be used for a period on the Derby Blockade for rail replacement work.) Megabus 50237 has now entered service. It operated for a few days with £1 branding sign on both sides but this has now been removed. This follows an instruction from on high as this branding is no longer legal.

50237 leaving and in Gloucester Green on July 17th by Gavin Francis. note the £1 sign is still on!

50237 seen on July 22nd by which time the £1 sign had been obliterated - pictures from Gavin Francis.

Barnes WA13DWX works the Megabus G10 to Silverstone British F1 on July 8th by Richard Sharman.

Barnes YN18ZNS works the Megabus GP10 to Silverstone British F1 on July 8th by Richard Sharman.

uno Hatfield 251 working the 614 to Queensbury Station on July 20th by Gavin Francis.

Walter's Neoplan Skyliner SV54ELX which is ex Megabus 50132. Seen at Handy Cross on July 18th by Gavin Francis.