Spottings & Jottings nr.
93 -
March 10th 2016
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Current archives from October 2002
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Oxford City centre and not a red bus in sight
on March 1st as shown by Gavin Francis.
Oxford has indeed become a kaleidoscope of colour!
Editorial
Oxfordshire advises dates for termination of Tendered Services
July 20th 2016 sees the termination of tendered service in the county with many services lost as a result.
Background information
On 10 November 2015 Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet met to consider public feedback to the subsidised bus service and Dial-a-Ride service proposals that were put forward in a consultation held between June 19 and September 15, and to then make a decision about how to make the savings needed from these services.
They took the decision that the council withdraw subsidies paid to run 118 subsidised bus routes in Oxfordshire. This decision was approved at the full council’s overall budget setting meeting on 16 February 2016.
It is important to note that the withdrawal of an Oxfordshire County Council bus subsidy does not necessarily mean that the service will be cancelled (or subsidised portion of the service). The operator may decide to continue running it without any Oxfordshire County Council subsidy (or another operator step in and take it on).
Oxfordshire County Council is in discussions with operators and will work with them to try to maintain or commercialise services wherever possible if a subsidy is withdrawn.
Bus routes affected (follow the link below)
This gives full details of ALL services affected and is worth your consideration.
I found the changing face of transport in Oxford and interesting item for this issue of the OCBP.
Long gone are the days of the faceless image of the National Bus Company and, if nothing else, each company now has an opportunity for self expression. One questioned the sense in having route branding extended to the actual colours of the buses on each route but time has proved that it can work and Oxford Bus who now appear always to keep route liveried buses on their appointed route.
Indeed the company has now produced timetables which are artistically rather nice and feature some nice artwork as can be seen above.
Stagecoach has applied some route branding on routes such as The Headington connect group and with its Gold Buses and Hybrids does give some contrasts.
Local companies have been slow in introducing 16
plate vehicles and probably the first is Stagecoach who have a new staff
transport based on a Ford Transit crew bus, a
12 seater L2 Medium wheelbase
The new staff bus MX16 XYM. with fleet number 93069
Picture by Gavin Francis taken on March 7th at the depot.
GHH VDL ST16GHH ready to work a Megabus M11 service caught in the lens of
Mark Atkinson on March 3rd in Elizabeth Street, Victoria.
Abellio are taking delivery of a large batch of
E200 MMCs and one of the first, 8846 YX16NZU, is seen on crew training
on Buckingham Palace Road on March 1st, a coup by Gavin Francis. There are
some 17 new buses for the C10.
Go Ahead London's SE288 SN16OLP, one of three, leaves Alexander's works on February 26th
taken by Gordon Scott.
Three of these are charming little 25 seaters for the Metrobus operation,
for an increase in the pvr on route 162 Eltham to Bromley.
For the East Kent fleet a new Scania N250UD leaves
Alexander's works on February 26th taken by Gordon Scott.
This bus is one of four reported to be for Canterbury, YN16WVB, WVD,
WVF and WVL in a batch of 30 with fleet numbers 15261 to 15290.
They are scheduled for delivery during March 2016 and are to Euro 6
standard.
The £3.2m development in Cheney Manor Industrial Estate has been designed and project managed in-house by Stagecoach, and will service a peak vehicle requirement of 55 buses. Besides five pits and an area with vehicle lifts, the site also houses a DVSA Authorised Testing Facility, complete with all the equipment required for MoT testing of Stagecoach’s own fleet.
Stagecoach West MD Rupert Cox says: “44 weeks after construction began, we have a fully-functioning bus depot that we’re incredibly proud of, and excited to showcase to our staff, stakeholders and the community.” He adds that Stagecoach’s operation in Swindon has boomed over the past decade.
“Ours is a growing business. We have increased employee numbers by 40% in 10 years, and we are carrying 50% more passengers. I look forward to the first buses departing from the depot on Monday (7 March).”
Mr Cox also points to the new facility’s environmental credentials as an indication of Stagecoach’s recognition of its place in the community, with the 200 solar panels on the roof not only powering the depot, but also feeding energy into the grid.
The drive-through wash reclaims between 90-95% of water for re-use, meaning that is consumes just 23 litres to clean each bus. An underground water attenuation system also stores rainwater in a large below-ground tank and releases it slowly to prevent flooding.
Around 200 staff will be based at the depot, which is fully equipped to support them. It has more parking space than is currently required, opening the potential for further growth in the future.
Pictures of the buses attending the open day on the 28th taken by Malcolm Crowe.
Stagecoach current vehicles and the visiting Hybrid from Oxford.
Other visitors seen on the day.
The pit area taken from the upper level area in the new depot.
Other items covered in the next parts of this issue include your Editors
visit to Manchester, a report on running days in deepest
Buckinghamshire by John Horsman and news from the fleets
around our area and further afield.
Stagecoach donates bus to school
Stagecoach have donated a Volvo Olympian S317CCD at the end of its working life. The bus has been given to Tower Hill School, Witney for use as a library. A lot of work on modifying the bus to its new role has taken place. The pictures show how well the bus is suited to its new role.
The bus spent most of its working life with
Stagecoach South, based around Hastings and Eastbourne.
The interior of the donated bus.
Running Days
Amersham & District
Motorbus Society
http://www.amershammotorbussociety.co.uk/
The programme for 2016.
John Horsman writes
John Horsman writes "Here is a picture of the Saturday Red Rose journey through the picturesque Chiltern village of The Lee in case it is of any interest. The 177/190 routes are worked by Red Eagle during the week.
It is a favourite place to visit on running days also and is one of the
Chiltern Ridge villages near Great Missenden.
Red Rose 50525 on a Saturday
journey through the picturesque Chiltern village of The Lee on February 6th.
The longstanding 394 route ran from Chesham to Great Missenden via a number
of Chiltern Ridges villages including Chartridge, Swan Bottom, The Lee, Lee
Common, Ballinger and South Heath. A useful route that was quite irregular.
As is common with such routes, it did change format over the years but was
most consistent in the 1960s to 1980s period with RF and then BN operation.
An excellent running day took place locally on 2nd August 2015, on which date the photograph of the RF at The Lee was taken.
RF679 NLE679 on the 394 in The Lee on August 2nd 2015.
On this date a T also operated the re-enacted 394 route, taken here near
Chartridge and also at The Lee. One is posed near one of the last remaining
old LT bus stop flags that must date from around the 1960s, but not
unsurprisingly is now in poor condition! I understand that Ts operated the
route in 1956?
The current route 177 is a mere vestige of that operation, the photograph seen above having been taken on 6th February 2016. "
I hope this gives readers the encouragement to
enjoy the future events planned for 2016. Ed.
Oxfordshire Bus Enthusiasts Society
The Oxfordshire Bus Enthusiasts Society was formed in June 2010 and aims
to provide an informal monthly social meeting in Oxford for those
with an interest in buses. Meetings are normally held on the 3rd Tuesday
of each month and normally take the form of a picture show with
local and guest speakers. A small charge is made to cover the cost
of hiring the function room and this is usually around £1 for members
per meeting depending on numbers. For
non-members a charge of £3 per head is made.
Next meeting:
Tuesday 15 March at 7.15 p.m.
Graham Low will give us a talk on "the Buses and Coaches built by Eastern Coach Works - quality and variety",
illustrated with his own photographs.
the location of the meeting
The Tree Hotel
OX4 4EY
The restaurant is open well before the meeting and serves a wide
variety of British and Indian dishes.
The Tree Hotel is about 5 minutes walk from bus stops on Iffley Road served by frequent bus service number 3 (jointly operated by Oxford Bus/Stagecoach).
For the walking route from the nearest bus stop, here is a MAP.
A detailed programme of meetings can be found at the following link and we hope many of you will attend future meetings.
When readers take copies of pictures from the OCBP site
Some of the contributors to this site have noticed that their pictures are appearing on e-bay sites selling such things.
Needless to say this is a theft of copyright and one which I deplore!
I would not wish to have to watermark photographs, thereby making them unsalable as such but if this practice continues I shall be left with no alternative. I am sure this would detract from the pleasure so many of you get from the OCBP.
May I please ask readers to do two things?
1/ If you see any photos on sale please let me know and where they are appearing.
2/ If you are someone who has copied and sold photos please desist as this is theft and I will have to take legal action against anyone found doing so.
The site is free to all readers and I pay a price to publish the pages which is not passed on.
Please respect those freedoms and I hope I may not have to mention this matter again.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The level of contribution to this page by readers, as ever, remains excellent! Thank you all.
Malcolm Crowe - Editor - OCBP - March 10th 2016
Spottings
Observations and pictures
As ever Gavin Francis has been very busy with his camera in various locations and some of his London work is included below.
However above we see two of their present fleet near Waterloo, BK14XNX and LF12BFK on February 10th.
Tower Transit WSH62998 on the RV1 near Waterloo on February 10th.
Airport Bus BX65WBE in Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria on February 10th.
MEC 28 and 29 on the 521 near Waterloo on February 10th.
Stansted Citylink BG65VXA at Bus stop S on Midland Road, St Pancras on
February 19th on the 767 to Stansted.
These coaches are housed at the Central Engineering Unit near Hangar Lane,
West London.
Gordon Scott as ever has provided some interesting pictures shown below.
McGills DAF SB250 Wright Pulsar ex Arriva London DW121 LJ05BNA now 6904
KFZ33 on X23 in Glasgow on March 6th.
McGills now operate some 400+ vehicles and took over the Arriva West
Scotland operations sometime ago.
East Fife 26019 YX65 PZU, an E200MMC, approaches Halbeath Park & Ride on 747
service on February 23rd.
The first fleet of Volvo/Plaxton's, which launched the Amsterdam and Paris
Megabus services, are now being cascaded to more mundane work in Scotland.
They are being repainted at Kings of Grangemouth and then will be used on
various Scottish services.
53641 and 53643 are seen awaiting treatment and 53636 and 53637 are seen
after completion and awaiting collection by the new operators.
The pictures were taken in February and March of 2016.
Graham Low writes
"I
was briefly in Plymouth last week and saw various new buses including
Stagecoach Volvo B11R/Plaxton Elites on the Falcon to Bristol,
Stagecoach E40D/400MMCs in Park & Ride and standard livery, Stagecoach
Enviro 200MMCs in park &Ride livery, Plymouth Citybus E2oD classic in
new Green livery and E40D/E400s in the new Cornish Bus livery - this view
from the top deck of another bus!
Devon's 10491 on the 1 in Plymouth
Devon's 26035 on the Park and Ride service in Plymouth
on February 26th by Graham Low.
Devon's 10461 on the Park and Ride in Plymouth
on February 26th by Graham Low.
Devon's 54325 on the Falcon service in Plymouth
on February 26th by Graham Low.
Plymouth Citybus's 159 E20D classic in new green livery in Plymouth
on February 26th by Graham Low.
Plymouth Citybus E400 in the new Cornish Bus livery in Plymouth
on February 26th by Graham Low.
An interesting livery application but I wonder how many people will connect
with this innovation?
Graham Low will be speaking on “Eastern Coach Works - Quality and Variety” at the next meeting of the Oxford Bus Enthusiasts Society - 15 march at 7.15 p.m. at The Tree Hotel, Iffley.
And now on to the company news.
and TGM
Ben Christie
Ex Park & Ride 3701 is seen on the 34 in Cressex on March 5th - picture by
Malcolm Crowe.
For those interested in the allocation of Arriva at High Wycombe, this can found in the following link which shows the three Optare Versa 1100s as now being at Derby, although very late news from another source suggest they are now back at Shrewsbury from whence they originally came.
http://www.ukbuses.co.uk/fleet/amn.pdf
There now follows a recent selection of pictures taken of Arriva buses.
Arriva 3703 leaves Eden Bus Stn on March 6th by Malcolm Crowe.
Variety on the 800 with 3865 and 4532 on working on March 6th by Malcolm
Crowe.
Cressex depot and the out of service area showing buses in the area on March
5th by Malcolm Crowe.
Sunday March 6th at Cressex depot by Malcolm Crowe.
6280 followed by 6244, recently arrived and I believe now the oldest bus on
allocation, seen in Eden Bus Station on February 11th by Gavin Francis.
Not normally the haunt of deckers, the 34 saw 6302 on a working on February
11th by Gavin Francis.
Hemel's 3968 seen on a 758 working in Victoria on March 4th by Gavin
Francis.
Much more unusual was the use on March 1st of 4072, a training coach in
service, on the 755 in London by Gavin Francis.
One wonders what passengers must have thought when boarding a coach with L
plates on ???
Levante 4103 on a 757 service near VCS with an NEx Levante with easyBus
sticker to the rear on March 2nd taken by Gavin Francis.
Carousel Buses
http://www.carouselbuses.co.uk/timetables-and-fares/
Carousel's 403 at the Coachway on the PR1 seen
on February 13th by Malcolm Crowe.
Interior shots of 403 taken by Gavin Francis on
February 11th, one showing the very sensible floor indications used on these
buses.
404 calling at Wycombe Rail Station on its way
to the Eden Bus Station. On the return to Cressex the bus calls at the
hospital.
Taken by Gavin Francis on February 11th.
Now I made an unforgivable mistake on last months' page when I referred incorrectly to 873-5 as being Citaros. They are of course Mercedes OC500Us and are noted as being very reliable and from a passenger point of view and excellent ride. They are also very snappy buses not known for hanging about.
Thanks to Nick Aris for his correction on the type.
I have quite a few pictures to include this month which are seen below.
Pictures by Malcolm Crowe.
The High Wycombe depot on Sunday, March 6th and not a decker in sight. Do
they have other parking facilities, I wonder?
E200s 420 and 421 in and around the Eden Bus Station on March 6th.
Solo 713 on a 40 working in Stokenchurch on Saturday, March 5th. A strange
thing was the destination which kept going on and off!
Pictures from Gavin Francis
111 is seen in Stokenchurch on the short
working on February 26th. Seemingly these buses do not have a 40 blind other
than that used on the Thame service !!
Also it is unusual to see a decker on these workings by Carousel.
This is the regular type on the short workings
when 403 is seen at Stokenchurch on February 11th.
418 on the one leaves the Eden
Bus Station on February 11th.
E200 422 seen after a 28 working in the Eden
Bus Station on February 11th. This one of three red E200s, the other two
being orange for the 39 route.
A nice shot of an ex Stagecoach Manchester Alexander PS on a local working
into Oxford taken by Gavin Francis on February 16th.
This was 20835 in the SC Manchester fleet. Latterly I believe this bus was
with SC South based at Chichester.
http://http://www.nationalexpress.com/
The A6 was once the p[reserve of NEx owned
coaches with a fleet of tri-axle Levantes, these days it appears anything
goes.
Here Chalfont's WF63LTE is seen approaching VCS on February 17th by Gavin
Francis.
Go South Coast 7131 SIB5373 which was on a
Levers coach works the 033 on March 2nd by Gavin Francis.
RATP London United VL5 r 561, a recent addition
to LU fleet, seen opposite VCS on February 25th by Gavin Francis.
Silverdale of Nottingham's FJ61EWP in Armed Forces overall at Victoria on
March 1st by Gavin Francis.
From March 1st Skills took over operation of the 310 which passes through Oxford's Gloucester Green.
Several new 55 seat tri-axle Levantes are used on this service and first we
have BD65JFG heading north to Bradford
and next we have BD65JFN heading south to Poole on March 5th both by Gavin
Francis.
For a period of time Parks operated this route which was somewhat removed
from their normal sphere of operation.
Towards the end of their tenure Elite NBW999 is seen leaving Gloucester
Green for Bradford on February 25th by Gavin Francis.
Skills SIL9543 on a NEx working near VCS on March 1st by Gavin Francis.
An ex Parks Elite tri-axle now Skills SAN10JKE on the 440 to Derby near VCS
on February 17th by Gavin Francis.
Travelstar FJ61GZA on the 210 waits time at Wycombe Coachway on February
13th by Malcolm Crowe.
Another operation to have seen a variety of operators is the Eurolines
service to Amsterdam.
Now Kings Ferry with one of two VDL Synergy CH61-16DT EO3 WJ65EHU
operate this route seen on March 1st by Gavin Francis
By now we should be seeing some new 16 plate coaches.
Andrew Webb
As can be seen from the Oxfordshire County Council link above concerning loss of tendered services Oxford Bus are marginally affected.
eliteI 75 on the X90 near Victoria. I have
wondered why is route number on the wrong side on some OBC coaches?
Seen in London on March 1st.
Branding is now complete on these 2 road buses
as seen on 223 - March 5th.
Wrights Hybrid 660 passes through Friedswide Square towards the Rail Station
on March 2nd.
The present fleet of the company is entirely Jonckheere's of this model.
This presents an excellent image for this local company.
Picture taken on February 28th by Malcolm Crowe.
Oxfordshire
Fleet details and changes.
Wi-Fi fitted vehicles (150)
10067 10068 10069 10070 10071 10431 10432 10433 10434 10435 10426 10437
10438 10439 10440 10441 10442 12001 12002 12003 12004 12005 12006 12007
12008 12009 12010 12011 12012 12013 12014 12015 12016 12017 12018 12019
12020 12021 12022 12023 12024 12025 12026 15533 15534 15535 15536 15537
15609 15610 15611 15612 15613 15614 15615 15616 15617 15618 15619 15620
15752 15753 15754 15755 15756 15757 15758 15759 15760 15761 15762 15830
15831 15832 15833 15834 15835 15836 15837 15838 15933 15934 15964 15965
15966 15995 15995 15996 22761 22762 22763 22764 22765 28742 28743 28744
28745 28746 36763 36764 36765 36766 36767 36768 36769 36770 36771 36926
36927 36928 36929 36930 36931 36932 36933 36981 36982 36983 36984 37401
37402 37403 37404 37405 50261 50262 50263 50264 50265 50266 50267 50268
50269 50270 50271 50272 50273 50274 50275 50276 50277 50278 50279 50280
50281 50282 50283 50284 50285 50286
37401-37405 ADL E20D/ADL Enviro 200MMC (2015) B37F
37401 YX65PXS
37402 YX65PXT
37403 YX65PXU
37404 YX65PXV
37405 YX65PXW
New staff bus at Oxford:
Registration number is MX16 XYM. Fleet number 93069Stagecoach Oxford 33463/4 both are now Withdrawn from Service at Diamond and stored at Kidderminster Depot as seen in Richard Sharman's picture below. These buses spent a short time at Oxford following the demise of RH Services.
Two Optare Solos transferred to Stagecoach
South Wales, 47238 from Stagecoach
Oxfordshire and 47285 from
Stagecoach Yorkshire, are at Bulwark Engineering for component
recovery and the remains will then be disposed of.
At Stagecoach Oxfordshire the Optare Solo on loan here was providing cover whilst rectification work takes place on the Optare Solo SRs. This bus has now returned to Optare.
Solo 47455 has remained at Banbury, although the S4Connect contract it was
used on has now terminated.
It is providing cover for the B7 route which is disrupted by major
roadworks.
Banbury’s Dart SLF 34469 is currently out of service undergoing major engine
repairs, whilst most of the service 500 route branding has now been removed
from Enviro 200 36448.
Disposals
Scania/Enviro 400s
15434/35 have transferred to Stagecoach South West and 15436-39 have
transferred to Stagecoach South East.
MAN/Enviro 300s
22761-64 have transferred to Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire and are
no longer part of this fleet.
MAN/Enviro 300s
22765-22771 have transferred to Stagecoach Yorkshire and are no longer part
of this fleet.
Dart SLFs
33651/52/54 have been sold.
Optare Solo 47238
has been sold
Optare Solo 47434
has been transferred to Stagecoach West Scotland
Clarification on the allocation of vehicles to routes at Banbury. The
information we have received is:
Banbury
Dart SLF 200, 488,
B5, B6, B8, B10
ADL E20D/Enviro 200
200, 488, B5, B6, B8
ADL E20D/Enviro
200MMC 500 (B5, B8, B10, 200, S4)
Scania/E300 (Gold)
S4
Optare Solo B1, B2,
B6, B7, B10, S4C
Route 500 branding
has been removed from Enviro 200 36450.
|
West's 15969 on the 66 heading homebound through Frideswide Square on March
2nd by Gavin Francis.
Astromega 50265 off its normal inbound route,
turning from Marylebone Road into Baker Street (the X90 route) on February
10th by Gavin Francis.
The date is February 19th and the time around 0735.
The once daily tube operated X30 service from Wantage to Oxford, coach 50276
is seen at the main stop in Grove. Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
Megabus 50233 near Victoria on February 10th by Gavin Francis.
With its home depot now Plymouth, elite I 54272 is seen by VCS on an Exeter
& Plymouth working on February 24th by Gavin Francis.
Thames Travel has variety of liveries and perhaps the most significant is that used on Harwell Campus services with the connector brand. This also has its own timetable style as seen above.
Thames Travel's 212 is seen in St Aldates on an X2 working on February 24th
by Gavin Francis.
Transport
Minister Andrew Jones used the UK Bus Summit in London to set out some more
detail about what will be in the Buses Bill.
“In preparing this bill, we have one clear aim, which is this: To increase bus passenger numbers,” he told the audience.
He also said that the bill will not impose any
particular arrangement on local authorities or on bus operators. Neither
will it give local authorities “new powers to take bus operators’ assets,
such as vehicles or land.
“Instead, the Buses Bill is an enabling bill. It
gives local authorities new choices.
“Choices about how they can improve bus services in the interests of their residents, and, I believe, in the long-term interest of the bus industry too.”
He said the government is
“plainly on the side of
free enterprise” and “in favour of cutting red tape,” adding
“there’s so
much about today’s de-regulated bus industry that works well.”
He went on: “But it would be wrong to pretend that
there’s no room for improvement. We only have to look to the streets outside
this building to see how, in some circumstances, things can be done
differently.
“And just as in London, passengers right across
the country want Oyster-style ticketing, better access to information about
timetables, better information on fares before they travel, and real-time
data about when the bus is going to arrive at their stop.”
The bill will require all operators to make data
about routes, fares and times open and accessible to allow app makers to
develop products for journey planning.
The proposals also remove the requirement that a
quality partnership scheme must always involve new infrastructure.
It will also introduce “new, enhanced,
partnerships that allow local authorities and bus operators to agree their
own standards for all services in their area — such as focusing on frequency
and reliability along a particular route or transport corridor, or setting
emissions standards to improve local air quality, or introducing common
branding, marketing and ticketing rules over a wider geographical area.”
The most dramatic part of the bill will include
franchising powers for local authorities, if they want it.
“I want to keep the good parts of the quality
contract scheme process, which at least forces people to think things
through properly, but I want to lose the parts which don’t work, such as the
excessive cost, the bureaucracy and the second-guessing.”
He says that powers will have to be “accountable”
and not disadvantage cross-border bus services.
He concluded:
“Everything in the
bill will be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny. So there’s plenty of
opportunity to shape the content.”
Full speech at www.bit.ly/1PZgdQP
For my readers to more fully understand the current
rules regarding current DDA requirements I thought this piece might be
useful.
The Driver and
Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed that it is actively pursuing
operators that are not complying with the Disability Discrimination Act
(DDA).
DDA compliance became mandatory for buses with a
maximum gross weight (MGW) of 7,500kg or below and a carrying capacity of 22
or more passengers on 1 January.
Compliance is enforced by the DVSA.
Buses in this category require certification of
compliance with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000
(PSVAR). Any that do not comply fully with the regulations cannot be
certificated, which is necessary if they are to continue to be used on
registered services. “If operators are found to be operating buses without
the required PSVAR certificate, then the matter could be raised with the
Traffic Commissioner,” says the DVSA.
Guidance issued by the DfT also states that
operators using a vehicle that does not conform to the relevant provision of
the Regulations are liable to a fine up to £2,500.
Operators should be aware that the vehicle being
low-floor and having a wheelchair ramp does not mean automatic compliance
with the regulations, although both are necessary for certification.
Many early low-floor buses were built before PSVAR
was agreed, and are not compliant. Issues for these vehicles are the size of
the wheelchair space, positioning of handrails, and the lack of side
destination displays.
Several other factors are considered, such as
contrast between handrails and surrounding surfaces, ramp angle, wheelchair
space provision, and provision of destination displays, meaning that
vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz Vario are no longer permitted to be used
on stage carriage services.
DVSA also enforces certificated buses’ compliance.
“If buses with PSVAR certificates are found not to be in compliance –
defects are listed in the Categorisation
of Defects – then a
prohibition notice and fixed penalty notice can be issued,” adds the DVSA.
It is suggested that a number of operators
are still
using non-certificated buses with an MGW of below 7,500kg on local service
work. The DVSA says the agency is “at the early stages” of three
investigations into non-compliance with PSVAR. All single-deck buses used on
stage carriage service must comply with PSVAR from 1 January 2016, and all
double-deckers by 1 January 2017. Coaches on scheduled routes must be
compliant by 1 January 2020. In all categories, vehicles used on ‘closed
door’ contracts are not subject to PSVAR.
Guidance at www.zigs.me/4St
Trips
Manchester day out by Malcolm Crowe.
I enjoyed an outing to Manchester a few weeks ago and was able to visit the Manchester Museum of Transport and whilst waiting for my train home to Oxford, saw bus operations around Piccadilly Station. My pictures are shown below. I would like to thank Les Burton, my friend from those parts, for his hospitality on the day.
The variety to be seen on a visit to the museum.
A particular favourite of mine is this 1929 Leyland Tiger similar to nr 33
which I an a friend drove from Manchester to Exeter back in the '60s.
Sadly 33 donated much to the superb restoration seen above.
An amazing find and one of the more recent additions to the collection is
this 1934 Crossley, nr 436, which had its original body by Crossley
replaced in May 1938 by an MCTD Car works body carried today. Much works
needs to be done but it certainly is a challenge.
The gentleman in the picture was making a fine job of hosting a young school
group.
What an antique vehicle - 106 - YM9410 - Karrier recovery vehicle dating
from 1926 and in use until 1970.
What a tribute to the manufacturer and the operator Stockport
Corporation Transport.
Far more up to date and reminiscent of the minibus era is this BeeLine Buzz
Company Sherpa of which dozens hit the streets of Greater Manchester in the
'80s.
I always loved the destination shown at the end of the day, "I'm
buzzing back to depot"
On the streets of Manchester
They still have bendi-buses in Manchester!
First has many faces in the city - this one looks quite smart.
Metroshuttle is a free city circle service operated by First. The fourth
picture was such a change from the days when a two row taxi rank occupied
this approach.
This is the A6 London Road which passes Piccadilly Station. How the buses,
taxis, trucks and trams merge is something to watch.
The trams are a bonus to travellers and offer fast journeys to the outskirts
of this large northern metropolis.
Stagecoach plays a large part in transport in the city and London Road gives
access to the east.
On my way back on the train I caught this picture of Mersey Square in
Stockport with the Pennines in the background.
It was a most enjoyable day and I would like to spend a little more time when I go again. It was my home area for 30 years but has changed out of all recognition now.
As a postscript Jonathon sent this nice picture of a Stagecoach Manchester
bus bedecked for the Chinese New Year.
The livery is reminiscent of SELNEC livery of nearly 50 years ago!!!
Paul Bateson in Canada.
Paul sent some most interesting pictures of some amazing coaches used in Canada for sightseeing. There are more items in the next issue on some ex Oxford buses,
New aren't they something?
Megabus in Canada by Paul Bateson.
Note that the tag axle is not at all like the UK
models. Seen in Toronto.
Another variety on Megabus in Toronto.
Similar bus but in full Megabus livery leaving
Toronto.
History and questions
Eagle Coach Company
A reader recently asked about the Eagle Coach Company and Marcus Lapthorn
says it was situated just off Park Road, Faringdon and the site was
redeveloped for housing in the 1970’s. The area is still called Eagles. It
was alleged that petrol from the coach company leaked into the cellar of the
nearby Swan pub.
Luxicars, Oxford
Andy Hunt asks if any reader has any details of the fleet used by this company established in 1917.
Gavin Francis writes
"During the week I saw Cobham's RLH 53 being
towed towards Wycombe on the M40. Happened to call in Binders Yard this
afternoon and there it was. I wonder if they no longer want it as they now
have RLH 48?
At Cobham in April 2015 and now at
Binders Yard in March 2016.
Les Burton provided this picture of an Oxford entry at the Trans
Pennine Run of 1969.
I was making the commentary at this event at
Harrogate.
LT2 in its present green livery which is rather nice. March 7th Victoria.
LT 50 among many other NRMs advertising Sky Q. February 17th.
LT159 for Tressime on February 19th.
LT643 for Tommy Hilfiger - February 17th. The offside is very different!
LT174 for L'Oreal - February 17th.
Other company's vehicles.
Omega old and nearly new. THe Skyliner is of course ex Oxford Tube and going
strong. February 10th.
Angel Executive Travel of High Wycombe have AT15AET, a Yutong Executive
seen on February 11th.
Cliffs of High Wycombe have LCA183Y a Volvo B10M-61 ex Bostocks of Congleton
seen on February 11th.
M&M Coaches in High Wycombe have seen very interesting coaches , many
carrying cherished plates seen on February 11th.
Golden Tours have recently applied revised branding to those buses used on
the Harry Potter tours from London.
Pictures by Daniel Doyle.
My grandson is in India for 4 months and sent these pictures of Ashok
Leyland deckers taken on February 26th.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
I think this is a fairly recent addition to the M&M fleet, its a BMC Coach.
Mike Penn's interesting web site for pictures
You might be interested to know that I have now uploaded 268 photos taken in
Beds, Bucks and Herts in the year 2000 to my website -
http://166emj.piwigo.com/index?/category/50-beds_bucks_and_herts_photographs_2000
One of the
major events of the year was the purchase by Arriva the Shires of the City
of Oxford operation in High Wycombe on December 13th. Two days later, as can
be seen from the photographs, vehicles had received Arriva The Shires fleet
names and legal lettering but retained their Oxford fleet numbers.
The other
major event was the enforced sale of the Lutonian operation by Arriva the
Shires.
Both Arriva
The Shires and Arriva East Herts & Essex continued to repaint vehicles into
Arriva livery though there were still many in previous liveries.
Elsewhere in
the region M K Metro continued their policy of purchasing various
interesting secondhand vehicles. Some of these came from Border Buses – the
company in Lancashire that M K Metro had bought.
Buffalo
Travel continued to run but Seamarks were taken over by Dunn-Line early in
the year.
Many other
independents are also represented.
Mike Penn