News Page
News of the local
companies
Issue 277
(OBP-490)
Monday 3rd November 2008
(next update week ending 16th
November 2008)
Now ten years old
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News of the local companies – 03 November 2008
The new Citaros have entered service on the 321 Watford-Luton service at last though earlier last week some services were still in the hands of the older buses. The look smart in the Arriva Interurban livery and are most welcome to the passengers using that route.
The branding somehow suits these
buses and they do look rather smart. This time 3913 at Luton Airport on the 27th
October.
I rather think this was the first day in service for these buses.
I was pleased to receive an email from Martin white including a picture of one the ex Carousel Tridents now with East London buses, even given what is in effect an ex Stagecoach style fleet number. All the ex Metrobus/Carousel Tridents are now with this operator.
Pictured by Martin White.
Martin writes "Carousel's Tridents recently sold on are now back in London rejoining sisters with East London on the 248 Romford Market - Cranham taken over recently on re tender from Blue Triangle who also used East Lancs Tridents."
Centrebus
CENTREBUS LUTON FLEET LIST
as at 30.10.2008
Woodside Depot - UNIT 34, HUMPHRYS ROAD, WOODSIDE IND ESTATE, DUNSTABLE LU5 4TP
106 J648XHL Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3004 Plaxton B40F Ex-Plaxton, Scarborough
107 P27MLE Dennis Dart Plaxton B37F Ex-Centrebus Leicester & Armchair, Brentford
111 M210EGF Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer B35F Ex-London General DPL10
112 L712 JUD Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3035 Plaxton Pointer B40D Ex-M K Metro 712
114 M214EGF Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer B35F Ex-London General DPL14
181 XIL6081 Ex-K860LGN Dennis Dart 929HMN1080 Plaxton B34F Ex-London Buses Ltd DRL60
118 XIL8418 Ex-K866LGN Dennis Dart 9SDL3016 Plaxton Pointer B34F Ex-London General
121 M821 RCP Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3040 Plaxton Pointer B40F Ex-Centrebus Leicester
124 J374GKH Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3010 Plaxton Pointer B24F Ex-London Buses Ltd DR74
125 J125DUV Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3010 Plaxton Pointer B24F Ex-London Buses Ltd DR125
128 K828NKH Dennis Dart 9SDL3016 Plaxton B34F Ex-London Buses Ltd CRL28
129 M829RCP Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3054 Northern Counties B39F Ex-Country Hopper, Ibstock
148 KUI8148 Ex-H118 THE Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3003 Reeve Burgess B28F Ex-Roberts, Coalville
158 P158MLE Dennis Dart Plaxton B37F ex Centrebus Leicester & Armchair Brentford
160 P160MLE Dennis Dart Plaxton B37F ex Centrebus Leicester & Armchair Brentford
168 K628YPL Dennis Dart 9.8 SDL3025 Plaxton Pointer B40F ex Safeguard Guildford
170 J370GKH Dennis Dart 8.5SDL3010 Plaxton Pointer B24F Ex-London Buses Ltd DR70 has gone to LEICESTER as a SPARE BUS
189 M389 KVR Dennis Dart 9.8SDL3054 Northern Counties B37F Ex-Country Hopper, Ibstock - this bus was new to Star Line of Knutsford, Cheshire.
301 FJ08 MBU Optare Solo M950 B33F (New 2008)
302 FJ08 MBV Optare Solo M950 B29F (New 2008)
303 FJ08 MBO Optare Solo M950 B33F (New 2008)
502 S502 APP Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B39F Ex-Sovereign 502
503 KUI 6564 Ex-S782 RNE & 98-D-70567 Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton B38F Ex-K~Line, Huddersfield
511 T411 LGP Dennis Dart SLF SCC B30D Ex-Independent Way, Battersea
512 S462 LGN Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B29F Ex-Centrebus Leicester
516 S466 LGN Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B29F Ex-Centrebus, Leicester
519 T419 LGP Dennis Dart SLF SCC B30D Ex-Independent Way, Battersea
521 Y451 TBF Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B29F (new)
522 W922 JNF Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B29F Ex-Connex DP22
566 W566 XRO Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B40F Ex-Sovereign 566
585 W985 WDS Dennis Dart SLF Caetano B34F Ex-Lutonian 985 & Centrebus Leicester
594 X194 FOR Dennis Dart SLF Caetano B42F Ex-Burtons, Haverhill & Centrebus Leicester
601 FH06 KGK VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
602 KE06 NZW VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
603 KE06 NZX VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
604 KE06 RXL VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
710 L170 EKG Scania N113CRB Alexander B48F Ex-Newport Transport 70
115 N430 CHL Dennis Dart Northern Counties B39F Ex-Yorkshire Traction
116 N431 CHL Dennis Dart Northern Counties B39F Ex-Yorkshire Traction
117 N432 CHL Dennis Dart Northern Counties B39F Ex-Yorkshire Traction
Loan from Dealer
Major repair
Scrapped
On-Loan to opposite garage
Gone to Centrebus North (Bowers, Derbyshire etc.)
Recent Addition
Pin Green Depot UNIT 6, SENATE PLACE, WHITWORTH ROAD, STEVENAGE SG1 4QS
132 N132 XND Dennis Dart Plaxton B40F Ex-Stuart, Dunkinfield 132 has gone to LEICESTER FOR ROUTE 747 LEICESTER - UPPINGHAM
304 FJ08 MBF Optare Solo M880 B29F (New 2008)
305 FN08 CHH Optare Solo B??F (New 2008)
306 FN08 CHG Optare Solo B??F (New 2008)
363 S285 NRB Optare Solo M920 B33F Ex-Nottingham 285
364 T297 BNN Optare Solo M920 B33F Ex-Nottingham 297
365 T298 BNN Optare Solo M920 B33F Ex-Nottingham 298
---- T294 BNN Optare Solo M920 B33F Ex-Nottingham 294
382 MX53 FEG Optare Solo M850 B29F Ex-Winson, Leicester 91
383 MX53 FEH Optare Solo M850 B29F Ex-Winson, Leicester 92
387 MX03 YCM Optare Solo B29F Ex-Cumfybus, Churchtown
388 Y38 HBT Optare Solo M850 B29F Ex-First Somerset & Avon 53039
389 Y39 HBT Optare Solo M850 B29F Ex-First Somerset & Avon 53038
390 MX03 YDA Optare Solo M850 B26F Ex-Ex-Even, Birkenhead
391 VU02 TSV Optare Solo M920 B29F Ex-Ex-Irvine, Law
392 VU02 TSX Optare Solo M920 B29F Ex-Ex-Irvine, Law
393 MX07 JNL Optare Solo M780SL B23F (new)
394 MX07 JNN Optare Solo M780SL B23F (new)
395 MX07 BCF Optare Solo M920 B33F (new)
501 P501 VRO Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer B39F Ex-Sovereign 501
605 FJ56 YBV VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
606 FJ56 YBW VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
607 FJ56 ZWC VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
608 YJ56 JYB VDL SB120 Plaxton B40F (new)
Example pictures of the Centrebus fleet can be seen on the Editorial & Features page where you can read an article by John Hammond on his recent visit to Bedford.
http://www.citysightseeingoxford.com/
Several readers wrote advising that the Oxford CSS was about to be updated.
John Hammond and Ralph Adams were amongst those writing and john reports "City Sightseeing Oxford has done a deal to purchase 4 Dennis Tridents from City Sightseeing’s parent company, Ensignbus of Purfleet. The four buses will be converted to open top over the winter and are expected to replace the current Atlantean fleet (three ex Edinburgh Atlantean’s and one ex Plymouth Atlantean) bringing an end to Atlantean operation in Oxford.
The current fleet are some of the (if not the) last ex LRT “Classic Tour” or ex Guide Friday buses still in regular operation in the UK.
Ensignbus have been advertising a batch of ex Blue Triangle East Lancs. bodied Dennis Tridents for sale recently and it has been confirmed that V902/4/5/8FEC are the buses in question."
One wonders if cherished registrations will be applied?
One snippet of news this week is that the some of the Plaxton Cheetahs used on the X30 or S22 services at Stansted have appeared in Air coach livery
First 56004 in the revised livery at Stansted last week. They look quite smart.
Some quite interesting news involving this group is covered under the City Sightseeing banner above
http://www.nationalexpress.com/
More new Enviro 200's have appeared at Stansted for use on a Business Park services, these include KX58GUJ as seen below plus at least one more. As yet these do not carry any fleet numbers.
A nice picture of a tri-axle at Hatfield UH, SC46 taken by Gavin Francis.
This coach was being used by Stansted on the A9 last week. It is seen alongside
SC Oxford's 59212.
Is this now the only coach in the old livery????
This may have been the first time a Woottens coach has operated a National
Express coach service.
A Levante on the 787 had broken down at Hemel and this coach was substituted. It
is seen at Luton Airport.
Picture taken on 24th October by Gavin Francis.
I remember when Oxford Bus took two Volvo B10B/NCME Paladins from a Scottish operator and spent quite a bit on bringing them up to their standard. These buses are still giving good service as seen in the picture below taken by Woody last week. The buses were snapped up by Wilts and Dorset for their Damory operation.
Market day in Dorchester means a visit to Trinity street car park to see what is
on offer on the rural services.
Route 311 had this Damory Volvo/NC Paladin working in from Blandford.
Pictured in Dorchester by Woody - 29th October 2008.
Curly C notes that Trident 102 has been painted into the new livery and Gavin Francis managed to get a shot on Sunday of this bus.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Another picture by Gavin, this time of Trident 905 working 5 road on 20th
October - most unusual!
The Scanias recently transferred from
airport work to the X90 and suitably repainted, are now gaining rear branding.
Gavin Francis sent these two of 37 and 39 at Gloucester Green.
R H Transport
Ralph Adams writes
"Just seen that RHT have purchased two T registered 25 seat Solos ex Go Northern. I presume they are for the recently gained tendered X9 service. If so there will be some unhappy passengers - the capacity is a lot less than Worth's Citaro but I expect they have to reduce the costs somehow.RH are also are stopping the 800 in December which has not enjoyed very good loadings."
Oxford
Picture by Gavin Francis who writes
Manchester
Chris Lowe writes "Just a quick email to let you know there are a few changes happening at the moment within the Stagecoach Manchester fleet, which is currently affecting some of the former Stagecoach Oxford batch of Alexander R-type bodied Volvo Olympians. A service revision taking place today (26th October) which includes the integration of the former services of Bullocks of Cheadle, will see the following allocation changes to them.
16505/10 (R505/10UWL) will move from Hyde Road to Princess Road.
16512 (R512UWL) will move from Stockport to Princess Road.
Other changes happening at the moment concerning this batch, sees 16507/11 (R507/11UWL) have already been repainted into Magic Bus livery and have re-entered service as such, with 16505/10/2/3 (R505/10/2/3UWL) also to be repainted over the next few weeks along with a large number of native Manchester examples.
This means that the batch will eventually be split between Corporate liveried examples;- 16501-4/6/8 (R501-4/6/8UWL)."
Worth's to continue their local bus services despite subsidised competition
Richard Worth has announced that he will continue to run the 69 bus service between Chippy, Charlbury and Witney after the subsidised RH service begins on December 15. The popular Banbury 71 services will also continue to run. The new Worth's service will be basically hourly between Charlbury and Witney, with one or two cuts from the present service, and less frequent between Charlbury and Chippy.
It will receive no subsidy from the County Council, but free bus passes will still be valid.
The present service will continue to run as it is until Christmas Eve (last bus back from Witney on Christmas Eve at 5.08). The new service will begin on December 27.
More details at www.evenlodebooks.co.uk
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