Issue 64
(OBP-280)
Sunday 25th
January 2004
corrected links to pictures - 26/1/04
next update
week ending 6th February 2004
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 on
malcolmhc@aol.com
A quieter week than usual but some interesting photos nevertheless. Stagecoach are working on applying the vinyls to their new low floor Darts to be used on the X4 and the new garage for Oxford Bus is now taking shape.
We are told that the weather in the coming week will be of artic proportions and this could have an affect on services throughout the area. It would be nice, if the weather does turn bad, for some photos of buses and coaches coping with the conditions.
The Bucks Free Press reports that the new bus services around Princes Risboro are being praised for being both cheaper and more eco-friendly than taking the car. Rider On Call is the name given to the new facility serving the areas of Saunderton, Bradenham, West Wycombe and Bledlow Ridge. Walters Limousine Services are operating the on call service and if their success in the Bicester area is repeated then a success seems very likely.
The Oxford times reports a major review is to be carried out on subsidised bus services by Oxfordshire County Council. OCC, who say they cannot go on throwing huge sums of money at the bus companies to keep big buses running, feel that they need a completely different approach. The review will examine the possibility of voluntary and community groups running buses and of taking more mobile services to villages instead of bussing handfuls of people from village to town at great expense. Maybe the examples being set in Buckinghamshire will provide food for thought on this subject. We will have to wait and see.
Another item of interest is also reported in the same paper saying "
Bus campaign pays
dividends
A pensioner who campaigned for a bus link between Abingdon and Witney was
celebrating today after it was announced that the idea has won a £400,000 grant.
Money from the Government's Rural Bus Challenge scheme will support the
Abingdon-Witney Link Bus, providing a new service from Berinsfield and Abingdon
to Witney, serving villages along the A415.
June Weatherall, 71, of Bellamy Close, Southmoor, started the campaign 12 months
ago when she collected 350 signatures on a petition calling for an
Abingdon-Witney link.
She said: "It's the best news I have received for a long time. At last we're
going to get a bus service so people from Southmoor and other villages along the
route can use public transport to get into the towns.
"I have friends in Witney but they don't drive now and neither do I, so this new
service will be a great help not only for visiting people, but it will make it
easier for us to go to both towns for shopping."
The service will be run by Thames Travel, of Wallingford. It will receive
£410,218 over three years from the Government.
The buses will call at Millet's Farm Centre at Frilford Heath and its owners
have also contributed to the costs of the service.
Mrs Weatherall's campaign won the support of Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor
parish council, district councillor Melinda Tilley, and MPs Robert Jackson and
David Cameron.
The county council took up the project, but it stalled last August when the
Countryside Agency said it could only offer a 63,000 grant, rather than £93,000
requested by the county council.
The county's Rural Transport Partnership then lodged a bid for the Rural Bus
Challenge grant instead.
The county council executive member for transport, Witney councillor David
Robertson, said: "There's enough money to keep the service running for three
years, but after that we're on our own.
"It's important that people use this service so it can become established and
self-funding in the long term."
A few points of note from the OCC site say
W/C 8th February 2004
106 (Thames Travel) - Thames Travel site says that the route will be curtailed
at Kassam Stadium - NOT Science Park as stated by OCC
"Woodstock Wanderer" 201 / 203 / 242 (RH Transport): Slight timetable
alterations including additional journey on service 201 and earlier finish on
Saturday.
W/C 22nd February 2004
4 Group (Oxford Bus Company): Timetable alterations to improve reliability at
peak times. Service 4 route altered in Abingdon Town Centre - Ock Street served
and departures towards Oxford depart from outside Coxeters instead of High
Street.
16/16B (Oxford Bus Company): Daytime route of service 16 altered to run via
Iffley Road instead of Abingdon Road, numbered 16B. Evening service unchanged
via Abingdon Road.
W/C 29th February 2004
"Oxford Espress" X90 (Oxford Bus Company): Frequency increase during peak times.
Ed Maun wrote re an article he saw on BBC :
Gloucester Green Coach Station
An item on the early evening BBC 1 local news programme today (19/1) reported on tests at Gloucester Green Coach Station by Stagecoach to see whether the mooted 13.7 double deck coaches could be manoeuvred safely in the coach station. One of Buzzlines vehicles of this size was used one evening (!) in a series of tests with measurements being taken. Stagecoach seemed to accept that some bus services would need to be relocated elsewhere to provide more space for these monsters and a representative of Oxford City Council seemed to imply that the layover bays would have to be dispensed with to provide the necessary space for manoeuvring. The piece concluded with a reference to COMS recently re-launched “Oxford Espress” with a shot of the new livery and a member of COMS’ staff extolling the virtues of the upgraded service.
Well, now on to the reports for our area. Your contributions continue and I am pleased to receive them each week. My thanks to everyone who sent information.
Malcolm Crowe, 25th January 2004.
Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002
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News of the local companies – 25th January 2004
Arriva is quieter this week but I secured a number of interesting photos.
With the advent of the new MPD Darts shown last
week, the Varios are now available for
other routes and 2198 is seen last Saturday on the 33 Red Route.
Another surprise performer on the same day on the 33
was Dart 3811 seen heeling over as it leaves
Newlands Bus Station at speed.
Another shot of one of the ex London Olympians which have now gained
proper route number displays.
Here 5853, again, shows off the large route number as it leaves NBS for Great
Missenden on Saturday.
Carousel Buses, High Wycombe.
A Carousel Lynx LX559 puts in a turn on the A40 last Saturday in place of the
more normal Citaro.
Cressexpress - Silverlink - Rider On Call (BCC)
Ed Maun writes "I followed a “Rider on Call” service between Bledlow Ridge and Princes Risborough today (19/1) which was provided by Optare Alero YN53YGR in a greyish livery with the “Rider on Call” branding on the sides and the “Rider on Call” web address on the rear window."
Further "espress" coaches entered service last week, when Scania/Irizar nr 3 took to the road. Presently coaches 14, 15, 16, 18, 24, 25 and 26 are all away for refurbishment. In their place coaches 8-12 and 69-71 are filling in. As the other coaches return these latter coaches will be taken out of service, though 69-71 may become pool coaches for use on either The Airline or Oxford espress services. It appears that coach 80, the loaned Irizar is now off charge.
Nr 20 seen on arrival at Victoria Coach Station
again lacking a fleet number when it was seen last Friday.
The new garage on the Watlington Road is beginning to take shape and occupation is suggested later this year. The current Cowley road premises are due for demolition and are to be replaced by housing. Work has already started at the rear of the depot.
Work is proceeding apace on the new depot for Oxford Bus which is due for use
later this year.
Last week saw some interesting allocations, especially on Friday. 837 was seen on 2C, 16 and 18 roads whilst Volvo B10BLEs 813 and 816 appeared on 400 road. Since 827 was also on this road, this meant that only green Tridents 109, 114 and 117 and red Trident 103 were deckers on the service.
One Oxford Bus duty which covers several routes
fielded a Citaro last Friday.
Here 837, having just worked an 18 to Herschel Crescent, now works a 2C to
Templar Road.
Later on Friday, Neil Gow pictured 837 again,
this time on a 16 working.
On 300 road B10BLE 814 started the days services but was replaced Trident 929 (shortly to appear as a model) later in the day. In addition green Citaro 826 was also on 300 road. The foregoing use of non green Tridents on P&R services is caused by the fact that three are away for attention and others are required for routine maintenance.
Peter Leyman caught 838, unusually on a 300
working a week ago. This is a rare occurance.
The use of B10BLEs on P&R services resulted in B10Bs 614 and 618 appearing on 5 road, 643 on 15 road and 612 on 13s.
The Oxford Tube continues to call at SANDHILLS during the day though inbound services to Oxford now use Thornhill after dark
The Oxford Tube has placed a large sign on the
stop at Sandhills now mainly used by Tube services
although the U1, 260, 280 and 757 still use this stop.
The new batch of Darts have arrived and details may be found below.
34466
KV53NHA
34467 KV53NHB
34468 KV53NHC
34469 KV53NHD
34470 KV53NHE
34471 KV53NHF
34472 KV53NHG
Correspondents suspect that the new Darts will literally replace the B10Ms currently used on the X4.
It appears that the new low floor Darts for the X4 will enter service on
February 2nd.
Here two KX53NHC & NHF await application of the vinyls last Saturday.
The interior of one of the new Darts seen at Horspath Depot.
22209 has received branding for route 1 in addition to 22207. However older M A N s continue to appear on the 1s.
22940 waits time at "The Terminus" in Blackbird Leys
last Saturday
"Meanwhile at Nuneaton the first of their new Darts has arrived (and is awaiting
the launch date), whilst Keith Wood informs me that existing Alexander
Dart 33651 has been repainted into corporate livery (ex Primeline livery for
route 48) pending its transfer to Oxford."
writes Keith Wood who goes on to say "I
hope I don't miss anyone out here ? PrimeLine Dart 33651 is the first to be
repainted out of PrimeLine livery and into standard Stagecoach Livery in
anticipation of it's move to Oxford. Our new Transbus Darts are imminent I
understand. If anyone has the fleet / registration
numbers I'd be grateful ?"
Ross coments "Its ironic that 33821/2 are due to return to Oxford from
Nuneaton in Feb/March to go onto the 10, which that batch used to do the evening
duties on (when it was the 10/A)! "
Rev Ian Kirby writes "A
contact has told me that Stagecoach in
South Wales
are expecting a number of step-floor Darts from Stagecoach Oxford."
Rob Williams comments
"I actually suspect that the X4 B10Ms may leave - for use elsewhere in South
Midlands. My reasoning is that they probably wouldn't have repainted 20704 if
they were expecting to get rid of it so soon and the other two NW examples also
seem well settled. I agree the two B6s seem a bit silly on their own, but don't
think they'd be getting rid of low floors when there are still Darts lurking at
Witney for example. We'll have to wait and see I think."
Adrian Lancer notes the under mentioned workings.
32057 -
7A for the third time in five days!
22057 - U1
31330 - 1
Saturday 17/1
32627 was the 1807 100 departure to Carterton
Monday 19/1
A Plaxton Dart (class 32) on the 7A this morning and also 22925 has had what
looks like a crystal eyes screen installed!! It was covered up though!
It is unusual to see this display on a Tube,
this time 50046 which was resting up at the depot in Oxford.
Adrian Lancer writes "Something which seems have gone unnoticed is that megabus is now operating to a third different timetable in five months! The timings have been completely changed and most journeys have one set of timings for Mon-fri and another set at weekends! Does anyone know the actual change date? - I've only just noticed it, but it definitely occurred after Xmas." this being followed by John Hammond who adds "The new Megabus.com timetable was due to come into effect from Sunday January 18th."
Details of the current timetable from the web site are
| MFr | SaSu | MFr | SaSu | MSu | MFr | SaSu | SaSu | MFr | MFr | SaSu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oxford, Oxpens Coach Park | 0600 | 0730 | 0900 | 0930 | 1130 | 1500 | 1600 | 1700 | 1800 | 2030 | 2100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Giles, outside the Taylorian | 0605 | 0735 | 0905 | 0935 | 1135 | 1505 | 1605 | 1705 | 1805 | 2035 | 2105 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Banbury Road (Lathbury Road) | 0610 | 0740 | 0910 | 0940 | 1140 | 1510 | 1610 | 1710 | 1810 | 2040 | 2110 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marston (Cherwell Drive) | 0615 | 0745 | 0915 | 0945 | 1145 | 1515 | 1615 | 1715 | 1815 | 2045 | 2115 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Headington (Sandfield Road) | 0620 | 0750 | 0920 | 0950 | 1150 | 1520 | 1620 | 1720 | 1820 | 2050 | 2120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| London Road (Gladstone Road) | 0625 | 0755 | 0925 | 0955 | 1155 | 1525 | 1625 | 1725 | 1825 | 2055 | 2125 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sandhills | 0630 | 0800 | 0930 | 1000 | 1200 | 1530 | 1630 | 1730 | 1830 | 2100 | 2130 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hillingdon Underground Station | 0730 | 0845 | 1015 | 1045 | 1245 | 1630 | 1730 | 1830 | 1915 | 2145 | 2215 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| London, Gloucester Place, Allsop Arms | 0800 | 0910 | 1040 | 1110 | 1310 | 1700 | 1800 | 1900 | 1945 | 2215 | 2240 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Swanbrook, Cheltenham
Swanbrook no longer serve Gloucester Green and now start from outside the
Old Fire Station in George Street.
Here ex Oxford Citylink UJI1762 awaits departure time last Friday.
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
I welcome your photos for
inclusion on this page. Please send them to me at
malcolmhc@aol.com
This is a most interesting site which I do recommend
Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002