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  

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 News of the local companies

Of interest when mentioning Dart 3231 I also saw this bus at Stansted on 13th May. Although branded for route 10 (a Harlow local route),
it was, as seen above, working a 510 duty between Harlow and Stansted. This is the first time I've seen such a branded bus on the 510. M Crowe.

Adam recorded 4368 on the 797 service on 11th May and new Van Hool 4380 on the 757 on the same day.

From Ian Brown, Hemel Hempstead.

According to Intalink, the Herts CC giveaway brochure, Arriva are launching two new diagrams. St Albans and Kinsbourne Green to London Victoria. Starting on 29th June the new 712 will operate 8 journeys to London and nine back on Mon-Fri plus 4 each way on Saturday and none on Sunday. The 713 will operate Mon-Fri peak journey from Kinsbourne Green (north of Harpenden, south of Luton) and one from Harpenden continuing as 712. Four evening journeys back. Apparently operated as Green Line with Hemel vehicles.

The latest news from Intalink can be viewed at the link below and gives full details.

http://www.intalink.org.uk/downloads/PDFS/issue%2058.pdf

John Hammond noted that Arriva "bus of the future" LF02PVA 3890 was on the 280 on 1st May in Oxford at around 6pm with no destination and a bit of paper in the window with 280 drawn on.

I took this picture of 3890, with its distinctive livery, working a Line 300 service to High Wycombe on 15th May.
I was told that although notionally based at Leighton Buzzard, it comes to Aylesbury for maintenance and as such appears on other routes.

Mark Turner asks  ".....can u find out what has happened to the DAF Arriva buses which were based at Hemel for route 500. They were fleet numbers 3441,3442,3443,3449 (R201 VPU etc) of which 3449 has since moved to Luton deport in Feb 09. Please can you find out what happened to the others they not been seen on road since the other DAF buses that came from Watford depot in Dec 08."

Many thanks to Sandi at Arriva who advises that at present they are parked up out of use at Hemel. Can I ask readers to look out for these buses and see where they may turn up?

Andy Millwood writes "..... think I must have been in High Wycombe same day as Gavin Francis took photos of The Ex-London General B7TLs. In the background on one of the photos is Green line Coach 4054. carrying orange livery and on training duties.

I also saw that Arriva had one of the new Enviro DDs on Route 300. It was 5439 in place of the Citaros now used,

Another interesting vehicle was a red Dart 3226, where has this come from."

Between Andy and Gavin Francis we have pictures of these events. However as to why Dart 3226 is at Wycombe remains a mystery as it does not appear on the latest fleet list for Wycombe.

Andy Millwood managed this picture of 5439 on Line 300. This is a rather unusual event.

Gavin Francis managed these three pictures of the red Dart in Stokenchurch, the orange trainer in Wycombe and also another trainer on the same day.
Readers should note that the red Dart, 3226, although on Line 40 is showing Not in Service!!!!

Simon Oliver writes "I've attached a picture of East Lancs Scania 3146, which has been repainted into a dark blue livery and with "Rainbow Routes"  route 32 branding (Booker - Sands - Town Centre - Micklefield). The picture was taken (slightly off route) leaving Reading town centre on the 850 to High Wycombe via Twyford."

The date was 21st May - picture by Simon Oliver.

Gavin Francis also got a number of pictures of this bus on its correct route, 32, and I am reliably informed that a number of other Wycombe based Scanias are to receive the same livery.

Pictures by Gavin Francis taken on 22nd May 2009.

Peter Cabin writes ".....couple of notes for you. Arriva 5121 (G291UMJ) was in service today 21/05/09, working on service 32 Micklefield - Lane End. Was this bus de commissioned in the first place as noted the other week?"

Well Pete I don't think so. It is noted as allocated to Wycombe from May 1st 2009 having previously been at Aylesbury.

On the subject of Olympians and Scanias Mark Munday writes "Last week we waved goodbye to D/D 5120 and the training bus which were in the back row of our yard at Cressex. I am led to believe that 3330 could be going as well but have not had this confirmed yet. All the Scania's at Wycombe are going to be sent to Watford over the next few weeks to be repainted into Blue Route 32 for the Micklefield to Booker Asda/ Lane End route. 3146 was the first one to go. This will leave 3143, 3144, 3145, 3158, 3163, 3203, 3204 and 3205. 3841 the Volvo B10B has been returned to us and a decision on what is happening with this vehicle is awaited."

Nigel Peach writes "...an unusual working on Sat 22^nd, red MPD Dart 3482 (W482YGS) was on Park and Ride route 100 (two of the three P & R VDLs were up at the Cressex depot)."

Scania 3143 mentioned above is a recent transfer in from Stevenage. Picture by Gavin Francis on 22nd May 2009.

I don't think the driver wanted to be in the picture. To be honest it is generally difficult to see clearly who is the driver.
Solo 2497 on Line 40 on 10th May 2009 by Gavin Francis.

Some may say dear old 503, now 3833, is still hard at work in Wycombe. Picture by Gavin Francis on 14th May 2009.

A further selection of photographs follows.

Hemel garage now provides buses on route 52 which brings their buses into High Wycombe. DAF 4523 sets off for its return home.
14th May 2009 by Gavin Francis.

Some of the oldest deckers still in Arriva service are represented by Aylesbury's 5102 seen here on the 261 in Oxford.
Gavin Francis 7th May 2009.

The destinations on these buses are so difficult to get a decent picture of but this Olympian is on the 32.
Gavin Francis - 22nd May 2009.

The one unbranded Volvo 3863 is seen in Frogmoor, High Wycombe on a 31 working.
M Crowe 8th May 2009.

The only time in recent weeks that the 321 sees anything but Citaros is on a Sunday.
However on 13th May DAF 4426 was on this route, seen at Luton airport. M Crowe.

Another unusual working in recent days was this Enviro 400, 5457 branded for route 6, seen in Hemel en route to Aylesbury.
M Crowe - 21st May 2009.

Arriva variety in High Wycombe - M Crowe 8th May 2009

Andrew Morgan caught up with Olympian 5136 operating service 6 in Hemel. 12th May 2009.

Arriva - Versa Demonstrator YJ58VCC r 6 Welwyn Garden City bus station to do with warranty work on Versas 2403-2405 030509 A Morgan.

Arriva GL 4364 Hemel on Tesco route 101 replaced Tesco 2179 which went off on the 32 to Northchurch post office 120509 A Morgan.

Earlier this week I noticed the unique "Bus of the Future" VOLVO B7L 3890 (LF02PVA) with Wrightbus Eclipse Urban 35 seat bodywork, new in March 2002, working Line 300 from Aylesbury and passing through High Wycombe. When sampling Citaro 3923 in Wycombe yesterday, Friday 8th, I was told by the driver that it is based at Leighton Buzzard but sometimes comes to Aylesbury for attention and as such can see service on other routes. Indeed according to the very latest Arriva The Shires fleet list, provided to me courtesy ATS, this bus is allocated to Aylesbury.

On the same subject John Hammond reports that this bus was used on the 280 in Oxford at around 6pm with no destination and a bit of paper in the window with 280 drawn on.

Following the arrival of the ex London General Volvos I now have further details and a final fleet list with the new Carousel fleet numbers. Steve Burns advised that he had used number, if not prefixes, following on from the Agora Line single decks AL1-3.

Nigel Peach writes "....attached are pictures taken on Saturday 22^nd and on Sunday 24^th May. Four of the recently purchased Volvo double deckers were in the yard. The most interesting picture is of EVL6 (EVL26) - PN02XCK. I saw one other later in Flackwell Heath (EVL4). I’ve noticed that rather than having their original London fleet numbers, they are sporting different ones with Carousel. They can be seen below the front windscreen on the passenger side. I have established the various vehicles with their new numbers and have listed the full details below.

EVL6 was running on the A40 Heathrow route on Friday. I wonder if they will be upgrading this to double deck?"

EVL4    PN02XBZ    was LG EVL36
EVL5    PN02XCA    was LG EVL12
EVL6    PN02XCK    was LG EVL26
EVL7    PN02XCS    was LG EVL32
EVL8    PN02XCT    was LG EVL33

One can just make out the fleet number below the front nearside window. Picture by Nigel Peach.

The EVIL rules OK - . Nigel Peach's picture shows EVL33 32 and 12 (PN02XCT/S/A)

The continued use of the EVL type code is nice but I remember that at Sutton they were referred to as "EVILS". Steve tells me they perform really well on the hills around Wycombe.

Nigel goes on to say "I think I mentioned that their oldest Metrobus, M336 (EVE 336V) has received a fresh coat of paint. It is looking extremely smart and shiny and has been working route 1 to Bourne End all this week. It has eluded my camera until Sunday 23^rd."

No problem Nigel, our good friend Gavin Francis has come up with a nice picture of this bus,
which does indeed look rather smart for such an old vehicle which will see its 30^th birthday next year.

Nigel's other picture shows three buses at the main depot, all in different liveries. Ex Hotel Hoppa P232AAP, Olympian G530VBB and Dart S523 KFL. 

Finally Nigel mentions "Optare P202BNR appears to be out of service. It hasn’t moved from its position in the yard for some months now."

In the last full news issue (287) I also mentioned the possible arrival of FOUR M A N 14.220/MCV buses from Birmingham Airport. Thanks to Ben Morroll I can show readers some pictures of these buses in service at Birmingham.

Pictures from Ben Morroll taken in 2006.

The Citaro fleet continues to give good service and whilst these buses normally run the A40 to Heathrow, they can be seen on other route such as Line 4 and school runs.
MB52 seen in the second picture lost its overall branding sometime ago.  Pictures by Gavin Francis.

Ex London General Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking's EVL36 and now EVL4 enters the Eden Bus Station on the 11th May.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

Earlier in the month reports were received from a number of people.

Stuart Turner reported that on Thurs 7^th in Amersham on Carousel Line 4 he saw ex Go-Ahead EVL33 PN02XCT, still in Go-Ahead livery, but with a Carousel fleet name on front. This was the first reported sighting of these buses.

Peter Cabin noted that ex National Express Hotel Hoppa P232AAP had moved into the Baker Street garage from the bus yard up the road.

Chris from Nu-Venture wrote to advise that buses acquired from Carousel Buses earlier this month were:- 

6/5/09 R988FNW

7/5/09 R986FNW

8/5/09 R984FNW 

to become D88/D86/D84 at Nu-Venture

They were acquired for operation on our new Transweald routes 295/297 from 11/5/09 and retain their two-green livery. D88 which was acquired in Red livery was taken straight for repaint into the two green livery and arrived here on 9/5/09. We loaned Dennis Dart SLF [R720BNF] to Carousel buses from 6-7/5/09. Did anyone get a picture of R720BNF during its short stay in High Wycombe?

D88 [R988FNW] after collection from repaint at Nu-Venture's depot on Sunday 10/5/09 - Chris, Nu-Venture.

John Hammond writes "Trident V905FEC is just about to be converted to open top, the last of the four ex Blue Triangle Tridents to be converted. V908FEC is finished, and goes for MOT test prior to entering service." (It should be in service as I write this issue. Ed.)

Pictured here at the hotel on the evening of 18th May - John Hammond.

A recent addition to the ranks of drivers used on CSS services in Oxford is this young lady who passed her PCV test late last year.
She is the first lady driver on CSS since Caz Morgan left to join Stagecoach. Her smile is quite infectious. M Crowe.

These two pictures show the now more normal fare on the 702 and were taken by Gavin Francis in Bulleid Way on 19th May 2009.

Single deck coaches still appear on this service as seen by this Scania-Irizar leaving Bulleid Way en route to Bracknell.
Picture by Gavin Francis taken 18th May 2009.

A nice picture for detail of the rear of the7 series Citaros from Slough, often used on the 74 to High Wycombe.
Picture by Gavin Francis taken on 22nd May 2009.

A new livery variation

Selwyn's operate through Oxford on service 303 and last week one was surprised to see this Levante with Cup Football branding.

An early Volvo-Levante of Selwyn's has a lot of badges!


Seen when working a 303 service through Oxford's Gloucester Green  on 17th May. Pictures by M Crowe

For many of us the problem of catching a PB with its destination showing is always a challenge.
Here NXL19 heads for home after Gatwick and Heathrow. The location - junction 5 of the M40.  M Crowe.

Two coaches from Arriva Leicester used on service 440. Both are seen in London - the first is 3209 (now a relief vehicle) and the second 3208.
Arriva has always used very large offside numbers to help fellow passing drivers.

This time of year, especially on Bank holidays, sees a number of relief services to cater for demand.
This could be a very heavy year for NEx in view of the number of people said to be cutting back and taking UK holidays.
The picture above shows a Roberts 100 seater operating service 440 from Leicester to London on Bank Holiday Monday.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

Originally used on the MK Commuter Express to London, these Arriva owned Levantes are now used on service 455 to London.
Here we see 4102 heading down Park Lane as it nears the end of its journey from Northampton on 11th May 2009 . Picture by Gavin Francis.

This coach is operated by Bournemouth Transport as their 318. This company operates on services 032 and 035 into London.
The coach is seen resting in Sammy's VCS before working a return service to the south coast on 12th May. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Bruce's Coaches operate quite recent Levantes through Oxford on the 539, as seen above on 16th May .
They have used the National Express logos to good effect on the rear view mirrors, something I have not seen on any other operators vehicles.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

Another Stagecoach operation is that of service 007 Dover to London.
The Volvo above is seen near VCS on May 18th. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Veolia Nottingham operate a number of NEx diagrams including the 450 from Nottingham to London.
On May 11th the 0700 service from Nottingham was operated by the Excalibur, once graced with NEx livery but now carrying the colours of Dunn Line.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire operate the 737 service to and from Stansted via Luton Airport.
Here we see the last of the quintet of Levantes used, 59215 crossing the M40 jc 5 overbridge on its way back home.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.

Yet another Stagecoach NEx operation is that on service 310 covered by East Midlands.
The picture above shows the 0935 departure from Poole to Bradford passing through Banbury on 9th May in the early afternoon.
Picture by Richard Sharman.

I have to say how useful I have found the HB Publications - National Express Datafile 2009 edition. Check the link at http://hbpub.co.uk for details. At £11.00 I think it is quite a bargain.

Please refer to the Editorial page for consultation work the company is involved in on services to the Wantage area. Editorial & Features plus Picture Corner

John Podgorski (www.busmopolitan.org) writes that former SC Darts M61/3VJO are now with New Horizon Travel of Frating, near Colchester, Essex. They were acquired recently via Southdown PSV.

A regular duty is on the car park shuttle at Harwich International Port, and they also appear on schools.

Final days of Stagecoach working  Brookes.

An unusual opportunity occurred on May 21st when I was shunting buses up from Excel.
These three Tubes were, by coincidence parked up presenting a unique opportunity for a picture.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.

Gavin Francis was on hand for this excellent picture of 50122 reversing off bay 3 at Gloucester Green on 24th May.
The registration on this coach was changed on May 21st 2009.

Gavin Francis caught 50106 heading southwards on Park Lane, nearing the end of its journey from Oxford on May 11th 2009.

Gavin Francis took this rear nearside shot of 50103 waiting for the traffic lights in Worcester St
on May 19th. This is the coach I photographed in Stuttgart five years ago when it was brand new
and ready to leave the Neoplan factory.

Gavin Francis was well placed to capture the last of the Oxford based Neoplans, 50125,
as it passed the Nostalgia Bristol FLF in St Aldates on May 16th.

Gavin Francis captured two of the Buchan Link Neoplans which operate on hire to Megabus for the Scotland-London services.
Victoria is the setting for these two, 50144 taken on May 7th and 50142 taken on May 19th respectively.

Not all the Neoplans have lost their Megabus livery, as seen above by 50137 in Victoria on May 6th by Gavin Francis.

Of course many Megabus services are now run by the Volvo B12BTs as seen above when Cwmbran's 54007 was seen on May 15th by Gavin Francis.

Another one of Cwmbran's Volvos, 54005, is seen displaying an interesting variation on a destination on May 25th by Gavin Francis.

I would also note that the overnight service from Scotland is mainly worked by Neoplans, very often with trailers when loadings are heavy and extra baggage space is required. We seem to lack pictures of these coaches in service with their trailers.

http://www.thames-travel.co.uk/

M A N/MCV Sterling AJ58PZS seen in Oxford on 7th May showing off its super rear ad by Gavin Francis.

The Scanias are very impressive deckers and 508 was seen on the X40 by Gavin Francis on May 15th.

The 32 is in for a nasty surprise if this Vampire gets loose. May 10th by Marcus Lapthorn.

Some interesting pictures and news was received from Andrew Morgan who says "Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Dart SLF 648 (R648VMJ) which was burnt out in Hatfield it is to be scrapped as the insurance company value it at £10,000 and a new engine is said to cost £7,000 on its own and the rebuild will cost more then the £3,000 left over ."

The vehicle was later seen going north on a low loader.

Uno 252 N431FKK broke down in Welwyn Garden City bus station pictured on May 11th by Andrew Morgan.

Uno KE03TWC is seen working a 634 service at Hemel on May 19th -0 an unusual bus for this route. Picture by M Crowe.