The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~   The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  ~~~~   The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too  

Issue 193
(OBP-408)

Sunday 10th September 2006
next update week ending 23rd September 2006

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

Please note that any comments made in this news page are those of the Editors' and in no way constitute 
any official points of view from the bus companies mentioned,  or indeed any other official body. 
As a news page we reserve the right to make valid comments as seen from an editorial point of view.

If you wish to be included on a mailing list where I will advise of any mid-week news please let me know
malcolmhc@aol.com

To see the pictures full size just click on the small one

The highlight this last week was the annual St. Giles Fair in Oxford which causes the local operators quite some work in re-routing their services and coping with the extra crowds generated.

St Giles Fair 2006

The weather was kind to fairgoers this year and it was interesting to see the use of Broad Street as a terminus for north side services. Indeed I could only feel the atmosphere of the area which seemed to have an old time ambiance. It was not always easy for services to turn round in Broad Street and the parked cars and cycles did little to assist operation. However one had to conclude that with a little thought Broad Street could well provide a better location for the stops presently located in Magdalen Street. The layover of buses in Magdalen Street East is often extremely congested and not the best of locations.

Somehow this raises the whole problem of a suitable bus terminus in Oxford which compare to so many surrounding towns lacks adequate facilities. One wonders what the future will bring?

I took several pictures to enable readers to get an idea of how things were on the two days of the Fair.


The reason fore the move of buses to Broad Street


Services to and from Witney came up to Broad Street to turn round before exiting to George Street.
The Park & Ride service between Redbridge and Peartree ran through Broad Street and Parks Road to regain its normal line of route.


The City 2 to and from Kidlington terminated and departed from Broad St and the open toppers were able to run through George Street.


Turning was not always easy and little effort seemed to have been made to restrict parking in Broad Street.


A large parking area for bicycles restricted the set down and pick up points of buses.


Three distinct services were using the departure points on the north side of Broad Street as seen in this photograph.


As can be seen there were no restriction placed on the car parking which continued as normal.

More pictures of the various operators involved, taken by Chris Maxfield, appear under the operator headings.

Showbus 2006

A reminder about Showbus 2006 which takes place on Sunday 24th September is that it is now only two weeks away. There is a good turn out from our area and this year Plastow's have an entry and no less than eight of Woottens 2006 fleet will be present.

Once again we hope to have an Oxford Tube Neoplan at the event.

Developments in and around Luton & Milton Keynes by Mike Penn

Mike Penn writes to say "Some photos from Luton and Milton Keynes for you.

It's nice to see that at least one of the Arriva The Shires Bristol VRs has survived the school holidays.  5033 (SNV933W) is seen in Dunstable Road, Luton on Monday having just left the garage to do a school run.

Another survivor is Leyland Olympian 5165 (EWW544Y) which is seen in Chaul End Lane, Luton on Thursday.  When first acquired this was based at High Wycombe and was registered 544WRA.

I understand that the United Counties coaches used on the Virgin rail link between Milton Keynes and Luton Airport are about to be replaced by newer models.  To this end at least two of them have lost their cherished "VC" registrations and reverted to their original marks.  52332 (N132VAO ex 9737VC) is seen in Chaul End Lane, Luton on Thursday.

Z & S are now running the 33 service between Milton Keynes and Northampton. Ex Go Gateshead Volvo B6 N670 VUP is seen in Milton Keynes on Wednesday." (My goodness that seems a long way to go from their base at Aylesbury. Ed.)

A very smart Metrobus?

On Friday morning I saw a very smart red and grey Metrobus, M975, joining the M40 at High Wycombe, London bound. It was lettered Atbus. Can anyone shed any light on this interesting double decker?

Peter Relf

I need to get hold of Peter Relf's contact details, can someone please help, or indeed Peter himself.


Again my thanks to all my contributors, both old and new.

Malcolm Crowe - Sunday 10th September 2006

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002 to date

News of the local companies – 10th September 2006

Mike Chadwick writes on several matters.

1. Arriva revisions in HW from last week. And Carousel ones shortly? Unfortunately I haven't seen simple comprehensive summary anywhere.

2. Free travel on Wycombe Park & Ride in town centre. This is from WDC Weekly Planning Bulletin:

"From Monday 4 September you can travel across the town centre for free. Hop onto one of the distinctive green Park and Ride buses. They run every fifteen minutes.

There will be no charge for travel between bus stops on Queen Alexandra Road, Queen Victoria Rd, Crendon St, Castle St, Oxford St and the Bus Station.

This trial is being run by the District Council and the County Council. During the current construction of Eden some disruption is inevitable. The new bus station is a massive improvement on the old but while the construction continues is not that easy to get to. We hope this new FREE initiative will help you to get across the town centre during this time of transition."

3. Extension of Arriva Day Ticket High Wycombe Inner Zone to Stokenchurch,
Radnage and Ibstone (flyer through my door this morning)

4. Mercedes 2416 on this morning's 1030 342 (9th September)

Paul Davis writes saying "Malcolm, last weekend (Sunday?) long-standing route number 326 disappeared from our streets. I hadn't seen any advance notice of this. 

I think I'm right in saying that just 305 and 362 are the only route numbers now in use in Wycombe that date back to LT days. 

 
A couple of pics from today 07Sep showing the new order. 
Unfortunately, if you are blessed with a bouncy castle, they don't seem able to show the new route number.

I passed through Thame yesterday and had a moment to secure a nice picture of Olympian 5160 on the 280.


Vikki Lee caught up with Trident 5431 on the 280 in Oxford.


Glenn Knight sent this picture of coach 4362 freshly turned out in the latest Green Line livery.

Charlton Services

Chris Maxfield and I popped over to Charlton last Wednesday and I took a couple of pictures of members of the current fleet.

 
Most coaches have been reregistered and the one service bus now is this Optare Metrorider new to Reading Buses.

There were two ex Shearings Volvos in the workshops which came from P & O Lloyd of Bagillt in North Wales. I am waiting full details of these from contacts at Charlton.

Chris Maxfield took several pictures of buses in Broad Street last Monday.


Two Tridents were in use on the 500 last Monday including red 101 seen above.


The other bus rostered to that route was more usual Citaro 824.


Once a green Park & Ride bus, 825 is seen on a 2C working again in Broad Street.


A non route branded Citaro seen on the City 2 last Monday was 838.

On several days last week green X90 branded coaches including nr 14 have been seen on Airline workings to Heathrow.

Newbury Buses


John Marsh says there is a new livery at Newbury Buses and sent this picture to illustrate it.

R & H Transport


Chris Maxfield caught this R&H Solo passing through Broad Street last Monday.

Red Rose, nr Stone on the A418, Aylesbury

This operator has moved to a new location and I think the move only took place last week. They are now located in the premises previously used by Motts who recently moved to new purpose built premises in Aylesbury. Their old yard, located on the road between Aylesbury and Thame seems ideally suited their size of fleet and several buses were in when I called.


I think this Dart MPD started life in a special livery and now carries this orange livery for a Watford service.


A line up of various Darts all carrying the updated livery which features a broad yellow band.


Two Mercedes which often appear on the 275 from High Wycombe to Oxford.


MB mini N784JBM displays the revised livery to some advantage.

Just a few pictures from Chris Maxfield showing operations in Broad Street caused by St. Giles Fair.


Fairly new Trident 18393 is seen on a 20 working heading up Broad Street last Monday.


Volvo B10M-55 20004 on a 59 working to Banbury last Monday. This route is normally worked by this type of bus now.


M A N 22054 is normally to be found on the 27 group of routes now and is seen here in George St last Monday.


Two of the S reg M A N s now fitted with digital displays. 22915 precedes 22926 in Broad St last Monday.

The Brookes Bus Tridents which spent the summer on loan to Devon have now returned ready for the new term at Brookes.

Marcus Lapthorn writes "The last of the 9 Volvos (20684) that are nominally allocated to the 66 & 51 routes out of Swindon, has now been refurbished and appeared on the 66 route on Thursday 7 Sept."

This operation continues to provide interest and unusual workings.

 
A Cheltenham based Trident 18082 operated the 1110 service to Cheltenham and Gloucester last Tuesday.


Ben Morroll sent this nice picture of new Dart 606 taken in Reading last Saturday, 2nd September.

Z & S Travel, Aylesbury


Chris Maxfield visited Z&S in Aylesbury last Tuesday and caught this double decker on camera. I think it may be ex Flights?

PHOTO CORNER
If you have a digital camera and wish to submit photos for this page please send them to the me at 
malcolmhc@aol.com


Another location visited by Chris Maxfield was Reynolds Diplomat who have this very nice Neoplan.

HISTORY IN PICTURES AND WORDS


Peter Edgar sent this very nice shot of RML2440 which compliments the in service picture below.
This was taken at Dorking Running Day with Peter Cartwright at the wheel.


Paul Davis sent this picture of RML2440 in service outside Wycombe LT depot in December 1975.


Mr Slatford sent this picture of ex COMS 956 outside the workshops at the new OBC Depot last week.


If you have any pictures or historical memories and wish to submit them for this page please send them to the me at 
malcolmhc@aol.com

Coming events & models

Duxford - Showbus - 24th September 2006.  http://www.showbus.co.uk/

Running Day as advised by Peter Cartwright, Running Day Organiser  Amersham & District Motorbus Society 

Sunday 1 October 2006 - the 18th Running Day at Amersham.

As route 724 is 40 years old this year, apart from the feeders, I want to schedule a service between Watford and High Wycombe via Amersham - the original route south of Watford. This will be 29 years to the day since MA Garage took over duties from HE - High Wycombe Garage which closed the previous day, 30 September 1977.

This year should see the brand new bus station at High Wycombe open by this date and this would be the ideal place to terminate. More on this Running Day in due course.

It is hoped to celebrate 40 years since RMLs took over route 363 Totteridge - Holtspur in February 1966. Weather permitting it is hoped to have RML/RMLs running over the route on Sunday 19 February. Likewise a month later to run over the full length of Route 347 Hemel - Uxbridge which received RMLs on 20 March 1966. Anyone else interested in joining us?

Please feel free to contact me by phone 01494 437750 or by e-mail - Peter_Cartwright@wycombe.gov.uk - or post at 54 Guinions Road, HIGH WYCOMBE, HP13 7NX.

DVD s by Robin Clare

The full details of DVDs available from Robin Clare may be found at his web site :- http://www.robinclare.co.uk/

Latest Citaro models revealed

Dave Rogers sent the following press release.

CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD - PRESS RELEASE 

Mercedes-Benz Citaro - ukbus 5004 Arriva Manchester  -  ukbus 5007 Oxford Bus

 

Creative Master Northcord Limited is proud to release two brand new liveries on its well known Mercedes-Benz Citaro casting. Both models have received significant, yet different, modifications to the tooling in order to represent, as close to 100% accuracy as possible, the real buses on the roads. 

ukbus 5004 represents fleet number Arriva North West’s 2851 (CX55 EAA). This Mercedes Citaro is one of three such vehicles with dedicated route branding for service 700 and with the destination set to Manchester. The model features a redesigned interior layout that includes the reduced seating capacity and luggage racks. 

Starting on 29th October 2005, Arriva North West’s service 700 runs from Manchester’s Piccadilly Railway Station to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport. For the service, 3 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses were purchased and numbered 2851-3. They were painted in the same style and colours as the Scania OmniCity buses that already operated between John Lennon and Liverpool city centre. 

ukbus 5007 represents fleet number 830 (X13 OXF) of Oxford Bus Company. 830 entered service in December 2003, to upgrade the X3 & X13 Oxford – Abingdon services. The bus was painted in a new and distinctive livery designed by Best Impressions. 

ukbus 5007 features the smooth, curved windscreen with the destination display set behind the windscreen glass rather than the protruding destination found on the Park & Ride Citaros in the fleet. This feature is one of the standard specifications on other Citaros that the Go-Ahead Group has purchased. 

Mercedes-Benz Citaro ukbus 5004 and 5007 models are each a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square-mounted, double-glazed windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on both models is the extensive portrayal of handrails. The headlight / indicator units at the front and indicator / tail light units at the rear are made of individual components to look more realistic.

 

The brand new single-door Mercedes-Benz Citaro bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The ukbus 5004 and 5007 models are limited to 1700 pieces worldwide respectively. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Model Buses for Sale
prices revised with immediate effect

I have a revised deal on Models for your readers...

Each of the following models are available for the following price : 

Each Model = £10.00

Postage is £4.00 regardless of the number of models.

UKBUS 1014 - CREATIVE MASTER OXFORD P&R TRIDENT

UKBUS 5002 - CREATIVE MASTER OXFORD P&R CITARO

 

UKBUS 2012 - CREATIVE MASTER BROOKES BUS TRIDENT

 

CORGI ORIGINAL OMNIBUS OXFORD ESPRESS EXCALIBUR

Once again this offer is only available by emailing me direct at modelsmk@aol.com

More models are for sale on my eBay store, http://www.modelsmk.co.uk/shop

Thanks!    James

Would readers who respond to the above please quote my site when doing so.

 

If you wish to be included on a mailing list where I will advise of any mid week news & when each News Page is posted
please let me know on malcolmhc@aol.com

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002 to date

Links

These are three most interesting sites which I do recommend

Bus Zone Logo (2421 bytes)

Mike Penn's photo page with much from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire as well as Buckinghamshire

Chris Lowe's Photo page - mainly North West UK

The Oxford Bus Museum


Ray Jackson Art

A web site which has paintings of buses.
Nice present for a Christmas or Birthday wish list !!

http://www.rayjacksonart.co.uk/index.htm
 

 


Stagecoach Handbook for 2006
from British Bus Publishing

http://www.britishbuspublishing.co.uk/

The latest handbook from BBF was on sale at Cobham and was the ever popular Stagecoach edition now in its 13th year.
It includes all the latest takeovers and as ever is invaluable
in keeping track of this now very large fleet.

As in earlier editions it includes the 2006 new bus orders.

Links

Bus Services in Buckinghamshire

Bus services in Oxfordshire

Where are the Chilterns?

Visit this informative site through the link below.

back to home page
Map showing the Chilterns Hills beginning in Oxfordshire in the Thames Valley and stretching north-east through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire to Hitchin in Hertfordshire. The highest points are over 250m. There are various water courses running from the Chilterns to the South East.

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002