Editorial
This picture just about says it all - M40 at junction 5 on Sunday, April 5th
2020 around 10 am by Gavin Francis.
May I add that I have received magnificent support from so many of you and I hope this may continue. Thank you !
Since last Monday things have been much quieter, especially with the suspending of coach services by megabus, National Express, Oxford tube and Reading-Green Line.
Jack Cooper writes: City Sightseeing service suspension notice on Bay 14 and a Tube temporary reduction of service note on Bay 4 - however on the 4th April there were no notices that the service would be suspended the next day. Disappointingly there were no notices advising passengers that there is a reduced service on the S2, S3 and S6 and no service on the X5 and no notice advising customers there are no National Express services running through Oxford - with the office now closed and from what I have heard the office will be closed for 3 months.
Further news about any service changes is to take place on Tuesday, April 14th. Notable is the service to Gatwick is being suspended and coaches will only serve Heathrow. This is hardly surprising since there are very few flights currently operating from Gatwick.
Airline - Hourly service to Gatwick via Heathrow Central Bus Station and Heathrow Terminal 5. Now additionally calling in at High Wycombe, Coachway until further notice.
Please note, there will be further changes made to the airline service from 14th April 2020. More information (including the special timetable) is available below.
Further changes to the airline service from April 14th 2020From Tuesday 14th April 2020, we are making further reductions to the airline service as part of our response to the fast-moving COVID-19 pandemic. This will unfortunately mean that the airline coaches will only operate to Heathrow Airport, and will be unable to serve Gatwick. Please see the timetable below for details.
Tourismo 32 is ready for a departure to Gatwick via High Wycombe and
Heathrow on April 4th by Jack Cooper.
We've made further changes to services 7, S1, S2, S3, S7 and city routes 10, 12 and 16 inc. the 14 to cover a new NHS Staff car park facility at Court Place Farm. Full details and temporary timetables can be viewed here:
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/oxfordshire/covid-19
Stagecoach Megabus/Joint Venture
We understand that LHD Van Hool Altanos 55004/06/07 are stored at
Stagecoach
Manchester’s
Wigan depot whilst similar 55003/05/13/15/15/16 are stored at
Stagecoach
East’s
Ely depot.
Upcoming Events News
The society has announced that due to the current ongoing restrictions ALL EVENTS planned up to June 30th have been cancelled.
This also applies to many of the other planned events from other Groups and Societies.
I have also heard a suggestion that after this next issue of Buses Magazine, the publication will be suspended until things get back to normal. This reminds me of the very early issues of Buses Illustrated when publication was every three months due to a paper shortage after the Second World War in the late '40s and early '50s
Worcester Street roadworks finished during coronavirus lockdown
Roadworks on Worcester Street, which started in February, have been finished as part of a £210,000 scheme to make roads between the railway station and the city centre safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
The work has changed a four-way crossroads at the junction with Hythe Bridge Street into two separated lanes.
The change in the junction layout can be seen in this picture from Gavin
Francis taken on March 29th, also how deserted it is now!
When construction first began on Monday, February 10, it caused long tailbacks of traffic but now, as the work has come to an end, the roads are much less used following the lock down.
Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Martin Crabtree said the work had been completed on March 25 saying "The improvement works on the Worcester Street and Hythe Bridge Street junction were completed last week.
“The traffic lights are now working. The operation of the new layout will be monitored when road conditions return to normal.The old crossroad layout was in place since 2014 when the junction was first changed because of major work being carried out in Frideswide Square.
When the changes were first announced, city and county councillor Susanna Pressel welcomed them and added the alterations made in 2014 were a mistake.
At the time, she said the new layout would be a welcome change for pedestrians and cyclists trying to navigate the confusing junction, but added the road would be ‘put back to almost how it used to be five years ago’.
It was also welcomed by the chair of Oxford cycling group Cyclox, Dr. Allison Hill.
London coach operations in lock down from Mark Atkinson
The passenger entrance to VCS on April 7th 2020.
No more departures for the time being - VCS
coach exit on April 7th.
Green Line Coach Station, Victoria on April 7th
2020.
Oxford in lock down
These pictures of Cornmarket,, High Street and
Queen Street were taken by Jack Cooper on Saturday, April
4th 2020.
Hard to believe that these normally busy streets
could be so very quiet.
There are now signs at Gloucester Green telling
people to be observe the new social distancing measures -
taken by Jack Cooper on Saturday, April
4th 2020.
Sadly my limited experience of people, especially younger ones, making an effort at 2 m has been sadly lacking!!! Ed.
More pictures taken on April 4th by Jack will be found under the appropriate company heading below.
Builders plate on the boarding steps of older
coaches.
A request from a Plaxton fan - Mark Atkinson
I also attach a couple of pics of my Plaxton
collection...At a time where everyone will be sorting Garages, lofts, cupboards
and various rooms around the house... if any Plaxton memorabilia is found and
unwanted.. it could go to a good home...
Marks treasured Plaxton coach on February 29th
2020
Letter from Canada by Paul Bateson in Brampton
Brampton
Züm buses
Brampton Transit has reduced its regular service to an enhanced Saturday service, further reduced with some additional route cancellations and now effective Monday, April 13th 2020 it is reducing its services to a Sunday service with route cancellations.
In my case, my address is served by four bus routes and all have been cancelled so I will have no choice but to walk with physical distancing or take a taxi when I go grocery shopping.
Capacity on each bus is limited to half seated, therefore a 40 footer will take 15 passengers and an articulated bus about 25 passengers. The articulated buses are used on the Bus Rapid Transit network, marketed as Züm and carry an orange and grey livery, similar to buses in Los Angeles.
A nearby route to where I live serves an important north – south road called Bramalea Road. This is route 15 that normally carries very good passenger loads with regular 40 footers. As a result of the reduced service, the route has been converted to “bendy-bus” operation using the Züm buses which has created a strange sight. Needless to say I just had to get some pictures of this rarity and a walk on the perimeter of Chinguacousy Park to the intersection of Bramalea Road and Queen Street East provided an ideal location for pictures.
The
service is every 30 minutes, 120 minutes a round trip and so I was out for
two hours to capture all four articulated
Züm buses.”
Paul provides a most interesting item and of note, preceeding TfL centre door boarding is being used in these difficult times. The No Fare is interesting, the company is municipal owned.
Whilst with Paul I would mention a new book just published which shows British Buses Abroad Illustrated. A City of Oxford double deck is also included!!
This publication covers most countries in the world and probably wherever
you go will be a precursor to what you may find.
It has been thoughtfully edited with many interesting pictures, two full
colour to each of the 114 illustrated pages.
The quality of this reasonably priced book is £12.50 inc. p&p in the U.K.
For your copy follow this link: https://busesworldwide.org/wp/?page_id=48591
Times of Old
In these times of lock down I was pleased to get a number of interesting local pictures from times past and will include a small selection each week. The contributors name is in the detail.
Gary Seamarks brings back some memories
RM1858-858DYE exhibiting the benefits of
inflation bags after a turnover on August 11th 1985 by Gary Seamarks.
More from James Freeman
This week, nearly 11 years ago!
May 19th 2009 sees Levante 59214 heading for
Stansted with 737 working.
May 25th 2009 and we are now by Sammy's in
Victoria as 54024 arrives at the end of its journey for megabus.com
This coach or one similar turned up at Oxford
for use many moons ago, here 52644 is seen with an X5 working on June 24th
2009.
Matt Bullock remembers those day gone
House, Watlington
This really is a superb picture. Ed.
Hart Street in Henley-on-Thames hasn’t changed much in the fifty years since this picture was taken on August 4th 1967. The bus is a Duple Vista-bodied Bedford OB of JRA House, Watlington, heading for its home town.
DUD 810 was new to House in June 1949 and would
survive another year; it was sold for scrap in September 1968. Some
interesting cars here too, not least the BMW 700 in the right-turn lane with
the registration 80 PE, dating it from October 1963. The Catherine Wheel was
a coaching inn and dates in parts from the 16th century; it is
now a Wetherspoons.
It was a great trip but after a long day at the races some wanted to stop on
the way back for a drink!
Andrew Dyer remembers the day he took Charlton's KGU239 to Brighton
Greetings from lockdown New
Zealand!
Your contributors have done it again...getting my nostalgic juices flowing. Matt Bullock's picture of Charlton-on-Otmoor Services' KGU 239 going past "The Crown" in the village brought back great memories of working there at various times between 1970 and 1983....and also of the many pints I've sunk in The Crown!
When I passed my PSV test in
1975, KGU was the only ex-London Transport RT Type still in service at Charlton
and I was lucky enough to drive it many times in the nine months between my test
and it being withdrawn at the end of the year. It was still in pretty good order
when it came out of service and was replaced only because it was seen as out of
date with no doors or heaters! With hindsight of course I should have bought it
for preservation rather than let it go to the Barnsley mafia, but I had no funds
then of course!
My most memorable drive in it was to take a full load of Oxford University students on an end of term booze up trip to Bournemouth....a 200-odd mile round trip, not bad for a 26 year old bus! Somewhere I have a picture of it on Bournemouth sea front. I now have a challenge to find that pic!
Sadly Andrew's picture of KGU is somewhere in his
house in the U.K. so we shall have to wait for a sight of same !
North of the Border with Gordon Scott - our man in Drum Brae!
Closed Lothian Longstone depot with 142 - SK07CFP
Line up of stored buses parked up in the depot yard.
Central depot covering all routes with Covid 19 service
Lothian closed Longstone depot now operated by
Lothian 5 - SN13BDF Volvo 7900H on route 30.
Lothian 308 - SN09CUA Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini
Lothian 1057 - SJ18NFH Volvo B5TL Wright Gemini 3
The Airlink three axle buses are
Lothian Country have the
No sign of Skylink buses on Airlink 100 route today.
Taken at Drum Brae Corstorphine Edinburgh April 7th
Lothian 1125CE - SJ19OZD Volvo B8L Alexander
Lothian East Coast Buses are to get 19 Lothian Buses
Lothian Skylink 508LS - SF17VPJ Volvo B5TL
Longstone depot Skylink 434, 498, 508 & 510 all
Taken April 9th on my doorstep Drum Brae
Lothian Skylink Longstone depot based on Airlink 100.
Volvo B5TL Wright Gemini 3 fitted with bandit screens
It just shows how over the whole of the U.K. with many changes and unusual working happening.
Fleet news and developments
Nick Ross
Busway fitted Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2 KX11OSF
with an empty F77 from Bletchley to Luton on April 2nd 2020
Adam Green
5462 working the 500 to Aylesbury on April 1st.
6426 working the 2 to Bennetts End taken on April 6th.
GreenLine are only running the 748 to London in the morning and the return from London in the evening which then runs to Luton in service.
Two
photos of the New Coaches 7101-7102 Parked up in Bridge Street Hemel
Hempstead
Significant changes continue with the company and various interesting workings have been seen.
On April 5th Citaro 878 was in use working Link40 at Stokenchurch when seen
by Gavin Francis.
This is a well travelled bus now having worked in London, Oxford, Wycombe
and Didcot for four different companies !!
Park & Ride StreetLite 409 is seen crossing the overbridge of the M40
heading for Thame on April 7th taken by Gavin Francis.
On that day 408 was also working the service in the early morning and 407 is
also a regular!
Gavin has also contributed four pictures in the life of 420.
Then ENV16 - the bus seen when new at Showbus Duxford on September 26th
2010.
As she now is, 420 working Link40 to Stokenchurch today, April 10th 2020.
The bus still looks smart and well kept!
There will be no PickMeUp service on 10th, 12th and 13th April.
Both of our Travel Shops (Queen's Lane and Gloucester Green) will be closed from Friday, April 10th until further notice.
Our Customer Services department will be closed from Friday, April 10th through Monday, April 13th inclusive.
Various contributors have provided pictures of unusual workings during these difficult times.
Jack Cooper
Park & ride 673 is seen above with a 6 road service on April 4th.
Graham Wareham
683 and 655 both on service 2 to Oxford taken in Mill Street, Kidlington,
these being the only two OBC vehicles out on 2 road on April 8th.
Giles Woodforde
From Mill Street, Kidlington a different angle.
Taken on April 9th, 658 heads for the City.
683 is seen on April 4th heading for the City.
A poster at Gloucester Green announcing the
suspension of service seen April 4th by Jack Cooper.
Simon Caygill
E200 511 with a 94 service at Didcot Station on
April 6th
E200 512 with a 94 service at Didcot Station on April 2nd. Scania 222 is
seen behind with an X2 duty.
All coach services are now suspended UK wide.
Gary Nolan
Here's the photo as requested. I assume all training has stopped in the current
circumstances?
National Express West Midlands recently announced the arrival of its last
diesel powered bus
but have yet to launch the vehicles which will form future orders.
Seen at Solihull on driver training duties is E002 (LF20 XOB) a BYD
Alexander Dennis Enviro 400EV, devoid of any branding and looking bland.
Charles Powell
I was pleased to hear from Charles with some nice pictures of Pulhams current operations.
First picture is taken at the Cheltenham Hospital stop on College Road in
Cheltenham. Taken April 7th.
Second picture is at Arle Court Park and Ride in Cheltenham. Taken
Taken April 7th.
The 99’s are carrying on with a full timetable
linking Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals taking our
wonderful NHS to and from work.
Third is in Bourton with YJ57EGV on the 802 and DP12BUS on the opposite side
of the road about to depart for Cirencester on the 855.
Taken April 8th.
Final picture is again of YJ57EGV about to do a 802 circular around the
local villages back to Bourton. Taken April 8th.
Many thanks to Charles for some interesting pictures.
We've made further changes to services 7, S1, S2, S3, S7 and city routes 10, 12 and 16 inc the 14 to cover a new NHS Staff car park facility at Court Place Farm. Full details and temporary timetables can be viewed here:
Various pictures now showing the extensive reduction in services.
Jack Cooper
Pictures taken on April 4th.
An Enviro 400MMC at Peachcroft Roundabout in Abingdon - this bus was
displaying 34 Wantage.
However the 34 only runs Monday - Friday however the time that I had taken
the picture fits in with the time shown on the timetable.
Gold 10785 on a 7 service to Woodstock laying over at Magdalen Street.
New E400MMC 11251 on layover at Magdalen Street on an S1 service to
Carterton.
Gold E300 28744 on layover at Magdalen Street on an S4 service to Banbury.
MMC 10674 on a 2A service to Kidlington on layover at Magdalen Street.
Gold 15966 on an S5 service to Bicester on layover in Magdalen Street
Fondly remembered for the SW1 service to
The Tower of London !! Its sisters are now in South Wales.
New E400 MMC 11236 seen at Gloucester Green before working an S2 service to
Carterton.
Note all S1/2 buses now have advert frames
showing the advantage of using the bus to Oxford.
I wonder why the off side ones are a lot further back than other
Stagecoach buses?
Gold 15836 seen at Gloucester Green - there were a few buses for the S3
using bay 13 whilst the driver had a break in Oxford.
Charles Powell
Stagecoach 28746 travelling though Steeple Aston
on a Oxford bound S4 on Sunday April 5th 2020.
From Phil Rumsby who has used the service since the late '80s
I’ve attached a couple of
photos in case you need suitable material for the Oxford Chiltern Bus Page which
I continue to follow.
(the driver Paul has given his permission to use this photo)
My car looking very lonely in a deserted Thornhill Park and Ride car park
This was a typical loading over the last week of service.
I‘ve booked a train ticket to get to work next week.
We’re now working 4 on and 4 off and the BBC will pay for hotel accommodation
between shifts. It will be very strange not travelling on the coach which I’ve
used almost every day since the late 80s.
50281 heads London bound along the M40 near junction 5 from the camera of
Gavin Francis on April 5th 2020.
I wonder which coach will be back in service first when the problems are
over?
Stagecoach Megabus/Joint Venture
We understand that LHD Van Hool Altanos 55004/06/07 are stored at
Stagecoach
Manchester’s
Wigan depot whilst similar 55003/05/13/15/15/16 are stored at
Stagecoach
East’s
Ely depot.
A Cardiff departure from a deserted VCS,
54293-YX67UPY ready to leave on April 3rd.
Last service of megabus - a Plaxton Panorama -
on April 5th ready to depart VCS by Mark Atkinson.
megabus fleet at Rugby out of service by April
1st.
Smaller operators and London developments
A new Yutong coach joining this High Wycombe based fleet is shown below.
| YK20YRS | Yutong ZK6938HQ LZYTCTE67K1058918 | Yutong | C??F | 3/2020 | Sprinters, High Wycombe |
https://thetransportlibrary.co.uk/
When I had occasion to need some photographs recently I was delighted to find just what I needed on The Transport Library Web Site. The collection is significant and if you do use the site please mention the Oxford Chiltern Bus Page.
Robin who runs the site wrote to me:
"I was recently put in touch with a local transport photographic image
company called Kezlan Images. They run two sites – the Transport Library
and The Transport Treasury. Together they provide over 200,000
images to purchase with both Road and Rail transport from
the UK and overseas. I was drawn mainly to the Transport Library as this
site has a larger volume of Bus images. In particular they offer the
images from J S Cockshott, Geoffrey Morant and also several
photographers who left their collection to the Omnibus Society. Started
in 2012 the Transport Library started as a way of marketing Russell
Fell’s large collection of London Country and London Transport Images.
This collection alone numbers around 25,000 and contains a great many
shots from the local area. From there though they have picked up other
collections plus run a service for individuals and societies to market
images on their behalf in exchange for royalty payments. The site is
well worth a look as there are images from a wide variety of operators
from across the country, so there should be something for everyone.
Kezlan Images also buy transport photographic collections, and have
started to move into publishing through the Transport Treasury brand.
Currently the books they have produced are based on rail subjects, but
they hope to move into road matters in the near future.
I would note that prices are most reasonable for the photographs, especially if one take the Digital images.
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