Spottings & Jottings

Issue nr. 26 - 11th May 2010

Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Current archives from October 2002

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

The last week has seen a fervour of activity following the General Election with the result being a hung Parliament. The next few days will see an outcome from all this and then people can get back to a more normal life. One wonders what the future may hold for the transport industry and we will have to wait and see the outcome.

Tragedy struck Queen Street in the early hours of Saturday morning when a 22 year old man was stabbed and received wounds from he subsequently died. Our 03.10 Oxford tube departure got held up in queen Street where there was quite a fight going on between groups of people and the police. I was pleased not to be operating this service which I had indeed done the previous Saturday morning.

Road works continued on the M40 last week with the closure of various slip roads including the ones at junction 6 northbound. Unfortunately the appropriate matrix signs on the M40 leaving London remained blank and several late evening services had to miss Lewknor, their passengers returning from Thornhill by the next service. not very satisfactory and Highways Agency did admit a mistake.

I have received enormous support from readers in the past few weeks, since the last issue, resulting in a significant level of contribution for this issue.

Oxford United play off at Wembley against York on Sunday 16th May

This next Sunday sees a major sporting event for Oxford United fans when their team will play York at Wembley for a promotion place. The best tickets are already sold out and some 30,000 plus fans are expected to make the journey to Wembley to support their team. National Express are running special coaches from Oxford to Wembley, Chiltern Trains are promoting the use of their services via Park & Ride facilities at Banbury, Thame and Haddenham Parkway and other local stations. One would also expect heavy patronage of the Oxford tube and Oxford espress services. The match kicks off at 17.00hrs with doors open at 15,00hrs so we may expect to see some heavy traffic on the M40 during the early afternoon.

I look forward to any pictures from readers of coaches involved in this significant movement of supporters on the day.

Elephants hit London streets

A reader caught a night tube in his lens as he took a picture of an elephant in Holland Park Avenue.

An item of interest in London was the appearance of some 250 colourful fake elephants are starting to appear on London's streets around the capital designed by some of the country's top artists They are being placed around town - including on the South Bank, near Buckingham Palace and in Parliament Square. It's to raise money for a conservation charity which warns elephants are at risk in the wild.

Some more pictures from Gavin Francis.
The Oxford tube is on a trunk service from Oxford!

The Elephant Parade, a much-anticipated open air exhibition, aims to raise awareness for the endangered Asian elephant and will grace London’s streets and parks this summer.

If you’ve got a soft spot for Babar, you’re likely to enjoy keeping an eye out for these 250 brightly painted life-size elephants; decorated by celebrities and artists, each elephant features a unique design. The elephants hit the streets on May 3^rd so head out and take a look.

The Elephant Family charity is the largest of its kind in the world and run by father and son Mike and Marc Spits. This campaign aims to raise £2 million to save the Asian elephant from extinction and it’s estimated that 25 million people will see the exhibition.

Intalink update

The Hertfordshire web and travel site has published an update on services in its area which makes interesting reading.

http://www.intalink.org.uk/downloads/PDFS/issue%2064.pdf

More details on the updates are as follows:

Watford bus service changes May 9th

There are major improvements to bus services in and around Watford from Sunday 9th May

More buses, more often

Buses up to every 10 minutes between Watford and Rickmansworth
Buses up to 15 minutes between Watford and St Albans
Buses up to every 10 minutes between Watford and Hemel Hempstead
Buses up to every 12 minutes on service 1
Buses up to every 12 minutes on service 10
More buses to the hospital

• Service 1 - To improve reliability the service will be split into service 1 and 2.
• Service 1 will operate between Garston-Meridan-Watford town centre up to every 12 minutes
• Service 2 will operate between South Oxhey and Watford town centre up to every 20 mins, M-F, up to every 30 mins, Sat and every 60 mins, Sun.
• Service 5 will be replaced by additional journeys on the 321 service
• Service 6 will be renumbered 320 and will operate between Berry Lane and Hemel Hempstead.
• Service 10 will remain on the same route
• Service 321 will serve Maple Cross
• No increases to ticket prices, so dump the pump and avoid increasing fuel prices with our great value range of tickets

For full details including details of the new timetables

Aylesbury Bus service changes

From Monday 10th May there will be some changes to certain Arriva bus services in the Aylesbury area, as follows:-

Service 4:
• On weekdays only there will be a revised timetable from about 1500 until end of service to give buses more time to complete their journeys and improve reliability

Service 9:
• Journeys from Stoke Mandeville Hospital towards the Bus station and Bedgrove will no longer serve Station Boulevard, running direct from Friarage Road into the Bus Station.
• On weekdays there will be a revised timetable from about 1500 until finish of service to give buses more time to complete their journeys.

Service 60:
• On Monday to Friday the 0625 from Aylesbury to Buckingham and the 0705 from Buckingham to Aylesbury will run approximately 7 to 8 minutes earlier

Service 61:
• Monday to Saturdays, there will be a revised timetable with major changes in the peak hours to improve reliability.
• Buses will generally depart earlier from the majority of stops.
• The bus departing from Luton Church Street at 1735 to Luton Airport will run via route 321 to the Airport, that is via Crawley Green Road and Lalleford Road.

Route 500
• Buses will run up to every 10 minutes between Hemel and Watford
• Service 500 will no longer serve Cassiobury Estate on journeys from Aylesbury, estate will not be served on Saturdays
• Revised route in Tring, Cow Lane will only be served at school times
• Changes listed and an overall improvement to the timetable will offer improvements to reliability
• Current am 501 journeys will be renumbered 500
• School time journeys will no longer serve Kings Langley School
• 3 evening journeys on the 550 extend beyond Hemel to Tring and or Berkhamsted

In addition there will be changes to the bays that buses pick up from in Aylesbury Bus Station so please check carefully for details when arriving in the Bus Station as to what bay your bus will depart from.

Another source gives further information on changes.

Forthcoming service changes in May 2010

Courtesy of Bucks CC

May changes

3rd May 2010

51 – On a Mission
Aylesbury – Prebendal Farm – Southcourt – Stoke Mandeville Hospital
New service calling every 30 minutes Monday to Friday.

10th May 2010

Silverrider 1 – Z & S International
Aylesbury – Fairford Leys
This service which is currently contracted to Buckinghamshire County Council will be become a commercially run service by Z & S International. The route, timetable and fares will remain the same.

305 – Carousel Buses
Beaconsfield – Seer Green – The Chalfonts – Gerrards Cross – Uxbridge
This service will now be fully operated by Carousel Buses. Timing changes will occur throughout the service. On Monday to Friday certain journeys from Beaconsfield will extend to Uxbridge, with the last two terminating at Gerrards Cross. Two extra journeys will run on Saturday between Beaconsfield and Uxbridge. The last two journeys from Gerrards Cross on Monday to Friday (last one from Uxbridge on Saturdays) will terminate at High Wycombe.

327 – Chiltern Rambler Community Action Dacorum
Hemel Hempstead – Berkhamsted – Luton – Whipsnade Zoo – Tring – Hemel Hempstead
This Summer Sundays only service, will start again on 30th May finishing on 26th September. Previously ran by Centrebus this will now be operated by Community Action Dacorum the timetable has changed with the bus now leaving Hemel Hempstead in the morning at 0920.

583 – Redline Buses
Hedgerley – Slough – Wexham Park – Langley – Iver – Uxbridge
This Monday to Saturday service will now be run by Redline Buses. Some timing and route changes will be made to journeys on Monday to Friday. The Saturday service will remain unchanged.

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

There should, as a result, be some good photographic opportunities and I look forward to readers contributions.

An idea from John Hammond for an Interest Group in Oxford

“I am interested in trying to establish a group to offer monthly meeting for bus enthusiasts in the Oxford area. A suggestion is that these meetings would be fixed on an evening once a month and would be based on a format of either members or visiting guests offering a monthly slide or photo show on bus related topics each month in subjects or areas that may be of particular interest to them. Such an arrangement has been taking place in Cambridge for many years organised by the Cambridge Omnibus Society.

To gauge interest in such an event taking place in future, I would like to propose an initial meeting for people interested in joining up to form a bus enthusiasts meeting in Oxfordshire. Anybody who is interested is welcomed to contact John Hammond (john_hammond@msn.com) in the first instance. If enough interest is received, an initial meeting will be arranged in the near future and hopefully with regular meetings following in future. A venue close to Oxford City Centre has already been found and can be booked for certain evenings each month for a very low cost.“

I am sure this could be a most interesting project and I remember the enjoyable evenings I had and many still have with a similar group organised by The PSV Circle in Manchester. Ed.

Finally and as always, my thanks to all who have contributed to this issue.

Malcolm Crowe - Editor - OCBP - 11th May 2010.

A note regarding photographs which show drivers faces.

Some bus drivers do object to their pictures being taken, even though the photographer is taking the bus and not the driver.
So I will blank out the face to avoid any discomfort to the individual concerned. If you are the person involved send me an email to have this action taken.
I am sure people will realise that to ask everyone in advance of publication, whose face may appear in a picture is wholly impractical in both time and practice.
Now that we live in a world of human rights and political correctness which must be considered.

Spottings

Readers varied contributions

From Gavin Francis

24/4/10

Went to see Wycombe play Swindon today. There were five supporters and one team coach from Barnes.

Pictures by Gavin Francis

Also Cape Coaches have acquired this old Volvo/Van Hool. Looks a bit weary. Normally their coaches are very clean and tidy.

This coach has been acquired from Mounts Bay coaches of Penzance, Cornwall.
Picture by Gavin Francis

Whilst saving a picture of a Premier coach came across this fine bus I photographed in Cambridge in 1969!

9/5/10

Arriva 4360 operating the 320 to Bradford. Thought that was a SC route. Driver says coach was covering lots of other broken down coaches!

Uxbridge Interlude on May 7th

Gavin spent a large part of the day in Uxbridge on Friday, May 7th and I have chosen a selection of the many pictures he took. These include the latest 10 plate arrivals to the First fleet working the area. Also included is Arriva, Carousel and other small operators.

abellio is a new name for an old operator in the London area. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Arriva buses on the U9, supplied by High Wycombe depot run into Uxbridge. Pictures by Gavin Francis.

Arriva also run through Uxbridge on the long 724 service from Heathrow to Harlow. Pictures by Gavin Francis.

Carousel are quite a strong force in the Uxbridge area with services to various points in East Buckinghamshire. Pictures by Gavin Francis.

First from slough depot run various services into Uxbridge bringing the "Barbie" livery to the town. Pictures by Gavin Francis.

First London run out of Hayes and Uxbridge on services into the town. New single and double decks feature on the services.
The new deckers are often seen on the N207 to Central london. Pictures by Gavin Francis.

Heyfordian work some school services into the town from their Wycombe depot. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Jason Tours work on the 583 though this may be short lived now. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Blast from the past with some pictures from my contributors library. Pictures by Gavin Francis.

Many thanks to Gavin for some very interesting pictures. It shows that a trip to Uxbridge can be really worthwhile.

From Roland Clausen-Thue

Thanks for all your efforts, the Oxford Chiltern Bus Page is always a very interesting read and I look forward to each edition.

Don't know if you're aware, but as a result of Bracknell Forest Council tendering, Thames Travel will take over the network to the north of the town from First on 29th May. This comprises services 53 (Binfield-Bracknell-Maidenhead-Wexham Park Hospital), 152 (Wokingham-Bracknell-Winkfield), 153 (Binfield-Bracknell-Warfield, extended to Winkfield in peaks), 154 (Bracknell-Bullbrook), 156 (Bracknell-The Parks) and 162 (Bracknell-Winkfield Row-Ascot). The 152 will be split at Bracknell, with the Wokingham section becoming 151. Eight new Solos are on order.

Some of the school day services to Chalfont Community College are now operated by Imperial Coaches who have three tri axle Optare B9TLs in stock. Back up is provided by two recently acquired Nottingham Olympians, one recently back from the paint shop is attached, the other being S464ATV that retains Nottingham livery for the next couple of weeks.

Contributions

from Nigel Peach

I notice that the last of the all Leyland Olympians at Wycombe, 5132 (H202GRO) appears to have been taken out of service. It has been in the row with the withdrawn vehicles at Cressex for two or three weeks now.

Arriva 5132 on the Wasps shuttle bus on 4 April by Gerard Butler.
This must have been one of its last trips if Nigel's thoughts are correct.

from Michael Penn

You might be interested in this photo of former City of Oxford Plaxton bodied Volvo 3844 - N624FJO with Arriva East Herts & Essex at Harlow last week, having moved there from High Wycombe recently. The Thames Valley line branding seems slightly incongruous now!

3844 seen in Harlow by Michael Penn.

Some pictures from other readers prove interesting.

One of the Arriva NEx Levantes used on the 707 service through Hemel has gained an interesting variation to its livery. Pictures by Andrew Morgan.

Glenn Knight provided a picture of a Levante (now 4106 in AtS) recently transferred to Arriva Mk for the 707 operation.

Glenn also sent a nice picture of one of the Arriva fleet at Stevenage.

Gavin Francis caught up with Scania 3196 at Luton Airport, looking very spruce at the end of its journey from Aylesbury on route 61.

Gavin Francis had not snapped this recent arrival at High Wycombe but rectified the omission at Stokenchurch when it was on a 340 working.

Finally your Editor caught Dart 3827 heading for Stokenchurch and High Wycombe, somewhat of its Red Route beat on May 5th.

Fire besets an Arriva Levante in Northampton.

A town centre street was sealed off tonight after a National Express coach caught fire in Northampton.

Huge flames and a blanket of smoke poured out of the back of the coach at about 5.45pm before fire fighters were called to the scene to extinguish the blaze.

Fire crews were forced to work quickly to prevent the flames spreading to nearby buildings. No passengers are understood to have been on the bus at the time of the fire, which started in the seating area of the coach.

The cause is under investigation. Nobody is believed to have been injured in the fire.

Crews from Mereway, Moulton and Earls Barton were called to the scene.

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called following reports of a National Express coach being on fire. Bridge Street has been closed due to fire safety reasons."

From Gavin Francis

A nice shot by Gavin Francis of EVL8 on service to Stokenchurch. The full destination display is noteworthy.

From Glenn Knight

Glenn says "I'm sending these pictures on behalf of John Norman"

531 - P132PPV

KUI8148 148 Transfer to Grantham Fri-23rd April.

Glenn then includes one of his own pictures.

531 - P130PPV

Wright Streetcar 19031 based for many months now at Luton airport has been re-registered T6FCC, following the Citaro artics also in use.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

From Steve Warwick

Indeed 5 DD's at Wycombe now since reallocation of contract as the beginning of the year, plus a new contract 904 from Carousel.

8216 FN, 8548 VF, H804 AHA, 7209 RU & 7298 RU.

Complete High Wycombe allocation list below

ID	Reg No	Chassis	Type	Body	Seats	Base	Year	Comments
34	1435 VZ	Vo	B10M	Je	C53F	HW	4/94	Ex Durham City, Brandon 02. (ex L752 YGE, 6/10/06)
35	2482 NX	Vo	B10M	VH	C49Ft	HW	4/88	E743 TCS, 439 BUS. Ex Lewis, Greenwich 00. E418 JKS
3	2622 NU	Vo	B10M	Je	C49Ft	HW	3/99	From Winson, Loughborough (LE) 3/03. Ex LSK 830, Ex T723 UOS, 6/06
15	2779 UE	Vo	B10M	Je	C53F	HW	3/94	Ex Park, Hamilton. 2/96 (ex L745 YGE, 9/10/06)
5	4078 NU	Vo	B10M	Je	C49Ft	HW	3/99	From Park, Hamilton (SW) Ex LSK 832, ex T725 UOS, 6/06
55	481 HYE	MAN	11.190	Co	C33Ft	HW	3/94	L26 CAY. Ex 9467 MU, ex L26 CAY 4.07
6	4827 WD	Vo	B10M	VH	C49FT	HW	3/98	LSK 502, Ex Park, Hamilton 02.
12	6595 KV	Vo	B10M	VH	C53Ft	HW	2/95	ex Shearings (GM) 4/03 (C46Ft) ex M634 KVU,04.07
63	7209 RU	Ld	On	ECW	CH42/30F	HW	5/86	ex C266 XEF
57	7298 RU	Ld	On	ECW	CH42/30F	HW	5/86	Ex Arriva Durham County 9/01 (ex C265 XEF)
14	7845 LJ	Vo	B10M	Je	C49Ft	HW	3/94	Ex Park, Hamilton 95. (ex L740 YGE 29/7.06)
58	8216 FN	Ld	On	ECW	H45/32F	HW	5/85	Ex Arriva Durham County 9/01 (ex B253 PHN)
56	8548 VF	Ld	On	ECW	H45/32F	HW	6/85	Ex Arriva Durham County 9/01 (ex B255 RAJ)
72	9862 FH	Sca	K112	Je	C53F	HW	3/85	new B157 YBW, ex 1264 LG
37	ESU 940	Sca	K112	Je	C51Ft	HW	3/84	A60 JLW 5/95.Ex Clark & Ellwood, Chatteris (CM) 1/94
109	H804 AHA	Ds	Dom	EL	H47/29F	HW	8/90	ex Midland Red North 804, 10/08
84	L585 JSA	Vo	B10M	Pn	C53F	HW	9/93	ex Bluebird Buses
85	L587 JSA	Vo	B10M	Pn	C53F	HW	9/93	ex Bluebird Buses
33	L743 YGE	Vo	B10M	Je	C53F	HW	3/94	Ex Park, Hamilton (SW) 12/95, (ex L743 YGE, 27/07/06) (ex 8252 MX, 1/08)
32	M833 HNS	Vo	B10M	VH	C53F	HW	2/95	LSK504,M833 HNS,WT 3667, Ex Wickson, Walsall Wood 02.
54	N605 JGP	MB	811D	Cys	B29F	HW	11/95	Ex Crystals, Dartford 02.
73	N722 UVR	Vo	B10M	Je	C53Ft	HW	2/96	ex Shearings, C46Ft
74	N724 UVR	Vo	B10M	Je	C53Ft	HW	2/96	ex Shearings, C46Ft
75	N726 UVR	Vo	B10M	Je	C53Ft	HW	2/96	ex Shearings, C46Ft
38	XCT 550	Sca	K112	Je	C51Ft	HW	2/85	Ex Cross Gates Coaches 92. B504 CBD, HYY 3, B984 MAB
113	YC02 CHJ	Vo	B12M	Ssd	C53F	HW	5/02	ex Wallace Arnold

A recent repaint into the new livery, seen at Wycombe depot by Steve Warwick.

Under the Heyfordian banner, Tappins have started to receive coaches in a revised "corporate" livery. Picture by Steve Warwick.

Little Jim's buses

Jim Petty writes "Little Jim's buses return to Potten End after a 20 year gap! Following Arriva's deregistration of Bus 32 (Northchurch - Potten End - Hemel), Little Jim's Buses will introduce a variation of their Bus 502 which will reroute via Potten End. These variations will be numbered Bus 532 and commence 10th May 2010.

Because the Traffic Commissioners would only allow a short-term registration for the Potten End journeys but not for a change of 502 timings, the Northchurch-Berkhamsted common section will sometimes have both routes running very close to each other until June 9th.

Little Jim introduced a regular service from Berkhamsted to Hemel via Potten End on 3rd April 1989. This (Bus 414) built up in stages to become a 30min service before London Country North West bought it out.

Unfortunately, in comparison, the new service will comprise of only 3 off-peak journeys a day. The "peak hours" will continue to be served by variations of HCC contract Bus 30/31.

He adds "We are still using the Optare Solo V648EEF. It has just had a reconditioned gearbox put in, so needs to do some work to earn it's keep!!!

Because of the Traffic Commissioners decision, we need to use 2 buses on the 502/532 until June 9th., so have hired in a Mercedes from Next Bus, Chippenham (W806PKS) which we are also using on local and London private-hires as it is LEZ compliant.

As previously, this vehicle will probably be changed in the next few weeks.

Gavin Francis writes "Recent pictures of coaches on Wycombe Wanderers supporters work."

The news of the moment especially for this issue is the arrival of a new style coach for National Express work. The coach in question is a two axle Volvo with Plaxton Elite bodywork and Selwyn's would appear to be the first operator of this type with a batch of seven coaches. It is also known that other operators are expecting this model for NEx services and one wonders if this sees a weakening of support for the Caetano Levante. Gavin Francis was on hand at Victoria yesterday to record the appearance of one of these coaches and you can see other pictures at the link following : http://rb-transport.fpic.co.uk/p64737398.html

YN10FKO is one of the new Elites working for Selwyns on National Express diagrams. It is seen in VCs on 10th May.

Further pictures are to hand as we go to press, these being of YN10FKS seen in VCS by Gavin on 11th May.

One of the oldest coaches still in service with National Express's own fleet is this DAF-Van Hool, once in Jetlink livery.
C088 is seen working a 797 service at Stansted on May 5th.

Pictures above by Gavin Francis

Glenn also sent a nice picture of an ex Kings Ferry Mercedes on the 025 service from Brighton to London.

A15TKF Mercedes O404 on service 025 in Brighton Pool Valley by Glenn Knight.

From Stephen Le Bras who writes "Noted a tri-axle Bova in yellow livery on Bank Holiday Monday parked opposite Victoria Coach Station which I strode forward to check it out. I thought it might be from Coachmasters of Rochdale who use similar coaches on Megabus reliefs. However, it was from Dons Coaches of Dunmow and checking the front I noted a Victoria A6 on a paper curled up in the front screen.

I waited as it entered VCS and looked to see if it was parked in the A6 spot. It was just ready to leave and I had enough time to get a photo as it waited at the lights behind another A6.

This was the first time I've seen a stranger on the A6- you're probably more used to seeing the route than I am and perhaps can be more specific than I can."

From Simon James Ingham who writes "I managed to a get a picture of 636 this glorious afternoon whilst in Blackwood. Still red from its Oxford Bus company days can be seen in the one picture, as it awaits its afternoon school duties. Seats look very smart and comfortable. Coach R117OPS alongside has replaced some of IBT's coaches, being reinstated."

Pictures by Simon James Ingham

Enthusiast Update

The company notes that when the new Scania double deck buses arrive then many 7xx and 8xx Volvo B10BLEs, the 4xx Darts and the 9xx Tridents will leave the fleet.

800 YJ58FFM DAF SB220 Plaxton Centro B45F new 09/08 working 15 road and named "The White Knight". Picture by Gavin Francis.

900 SN59AWV ADL Enviro 400 ADL Enviro 400 H37/27F new 10/09 - various pictures by Gavin Francis.

These vehicles are on short-term loan to cover for the absence of Mercedes Citaro single decks and Scania/ADL double decks which are away for warranty work with their manufacturers.

A nice picture of Trident 105 working on 8 road, seen in Castle Street. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Scania 207 waits for time on St Aldates before making its roundabout journey to Marston on the U5 service.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

Scania 209 pauses outside Lincoln College at stop L1 which has been out of use for many weeks during the recent roadworks.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

Perhaps one of the nicest liveries around at present is this celebration livery on Volvo B10BLE 817.
This has been retained for many months now and one hopes it may be retained or kept in this livery by any new operator. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Citaro 864 loads opposite Christ Church College working X23 road ready for its run to the JR. Picture by Gavin Francis.

An unusual performer on 300 road is part liveried 903 more usually seen on 500 road.
It is seen in New road outside County Hall. Picture by Gavin Francis.

From Mark E Lyons

I attach a couple of shots of ex City of Oxford coaches now in service with Southern Vectis taken at the recent "Bustival" event held at Havenstreet Station.

594 carries the "West Wight" brand and is usually employed on schools contracts whilst 590, which stared life registered R811NUD, has arrived via Damory and received a livery based on that used on the open top fleet. It will be use don the Island Coaster service this summer.

594 carries the "West Wight" brand and is usually employed on schools contracts. Picture by Mark Lyons.

590, which stared life registered R811NUD, has arrived via Damory is in Island Coaster livery. Picture by Mark Lyons.

Redline

From Glenn Knight who advises that the two latest additions to the fleet are as follows:-

Volvo B7R-63 Plaxton C70F T107JBC Ex-Rowe, Muirkirk & Pembrokeshire County Council. Picture by Glenn Knight.

Volvo B7R-63 Plaxton C70F T108JBC Ex-Rowe, Muirkirk & Pembrokeshire County Council. Picture by Glenn Knight.

Dart M65HHB looking smart in red livery on the 88 service. Picture by Glenn Knight.

Glenn also notes that V262BNV is back from re-spray and looks very smart. A good picture is awaited.

Red Rose

Gavin Francis is keeping up to date with Red rose operations through Stokenchurch.

Gavin Francis was on hand to record the use of this Dart Y358LCK working the 275 through Stokenchurch o May 7th.

Some interesting reports and pictures this week keep us updated with happenings in Stagecoach.

Two of the ex Oxford tube Neoplans are purchased for group work

The first report and one of significant interest concerns the fleet of 25 Neoplans returned by Stagecoach at the end of last summer after five years service on the Oxford tube.

Chris Orme writes "Just to let you know two Ex Tube Skyliners have been sold by Dawsons. KP04GJJ (50104) & KP04GKN (50120) collected by B&M Starsleeper for use as Pop star/Band buses. It is thought they are going to Poland for conversion...??!!"

The company's registered address is given as B&M Starsleeper Ltd. Unit 3, Folly Lane, Napton, Warwickshire CV47 8NZ. I would be really pleased to receive pictures of these coaches when completed and also confirmation that they are going to Poland for fitting out. Pictures appear on their web site linked above. Many thanks to Chris Orme for the alert.

Other news from Oxfordshire operations are t6hat repaints of the city M A N fleet continue and 22052, 22053 and 22057 are now complete. They look very smart and 22053 even has new chrome wheel trims which really set this vehicle off to the best. Dart 33651 is presently being treated to a body overhaul and eventual repaint.

Trident 18199 was sent to Chipping Norton on Saturday morning, May 8th, this bus is branded for the S5, to cover for S3 branded 15431 which was returned to Oxford - Horspath for servicing.

Stagecoach in Devon finds a new home for ex Oxford Tridents

Stagecoach in Devon say "Something exciting is happening to Service 21 in North Devon - from 4th May it becomes the North Devon Wave - new liveries, better vehicles and an extended route serving North Devon Hospital...

Jump aboard and ride the North Devon Wave...

North Devon Hospital - Barnstaple - Bideford - East the Water - Appledore or Westward Ho

NDevon Megarider Zone

- Frequency of up to every 15 minutes
- Services running from early in the morning until late in the evening, Monday through to Saturday

Plus, a 4 week North Devon Megarider only costs £29.00 - that's a little over £1 a day for unlimited travel within the North Devon Megarider Zone!

Ken Baker has provided pictures of the ex Oxford and Witney Tridents now resident in North Devon at the Barnstaple depot of Stagecoach in Devon for the above service.

He writes "The launch of the new service using many of these buses took place on Tuesday, 4th May at 11.00 on the square at Barnstaple."

Outside the depot on the morning of May 3rd 18134 was seen unbranded, it seems this one was also in service the previous week along with 18135.
Alongside was 18132 and in the garage were 18136,18393 and 18396 with still one to arrive.

Three vehicles were parked outside the town museum on the square 18393/4/5 and 18397 on the site of the “old” bus station on the strand.

Here the Managing Director of Stagecoach in Devon, Michelle Hargreaves cuts the hand held ribbon to allow the celebrations to begin.

Parked on the site of the old bus stn on the strand is 18397. The bus stn building is now a café and that is where the ceremonial party had lunch.

In the afternoon as the old order came into Barnstaple they were replaced by the new. Here 18136 climbs Sticklepath Hill

18131 passes through Bickington

Here is 18393 and 18394 with 18395 just off to the right awaiting the ceremony

18393 in Bickington

18397 minus balloons in Sticklepath

18134 and 18135 were also on duty albeit unbranded, also noted 18133 fully branded today.

Sent to N. Devon to help out was 18115 seen here on school duty

Very many thanks to Ken for the pictures and report. To add to Ken's photos, Dave Godley writes "after doing a tour of the town centre the "wave" splashed into the bus station at 13.45 to replace the Olympians as they arrived on service. At one stage there were SEVEN ex-Oxford Tridents waiting."

18136 and 18397 are seen here with the roof of 18134 just visible. Picture by Dave Godley.

Route 66 enhanced

Picture by John Hammond

John Hammond writes to advise that "Route 66 re-launched and this was held in Faringdon on May 4th, organised by Stagecoach West to celebrate the launch of the newly upgraded 66 service between Oxford, Faringdon & Swindon.

This has been made possible thanks to a S106 funding agreement between Oxfordshire County Council and Bloor Homes who are building a new housing development in the town. As well as the daytime frequency now being every 30 mins throughout the day, there are better evening & Sunday services on the route."

Attending the launch and cutting the ribbon one newly branded MAN 22623 were Ian Manning, MD of Stagecoach West,
Cllr Rodney Rose of Oxfordshire County Council (Cabinet member for Transport) and Dr Mike Wise, mayor of Faringdon.
Picture by John Hammond

Marcus Lapthorn also reported on this launch saying "Route 66 between Swindon & Oxford will benefitted from doubled frequency from Tues 4 May. The existing buses have been route branded now and I attach a shot of 22622.

On May 6th a new short wheelbase Enviro 200 (36128) was on the Swindon to Oxford 66 route. A driver told me that it was one of three new s/d's delivered to Swindon.

Pictures by Marcus Lapthorn

Gavin Francis took several pictures of the revised 66 livery when seen at Gloucester Green.

Each back has a different picture and message. Pictures by Gavin Francis.

Your Editor caught up with 22624 to show its different rear decoration.

Gavin Francis took the opportunity on 11th May to catch the rear aspect of 36127 when operating a 66 service into Gloucester Green.
These three buses are scheduled to receive branding for route 6 in Swindon so we may not see them in Oxford very often.

Stuart Curwen reports that Stagecoach In Swindon have three new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 single deck buses for route 6.

36127 VX10COH & 36128 VX10COJ in the Bus Station

Stuart says these buses are to be branded for route 6 shortly.

He adds that the existing 22622-22626 batch of Enviro300 are being route branded for the 66.

22622 with 66 route branding, Picture by Stuart Curwen.

Also reported by Stuart are three new Scania N230UD / Enviro400 are at the Eastcott Road depot being prepared for service on route 49.

15648 VX10FRL - 15649 VX10VRK - 15650 VX10VRN.

Delivery of new Scanias is certainly proceeding apace.

Two ex-Swindon SPD darts 33502 X502ADF & 33504 W504VDD are now at Gloucester.

Tim Hall from Swindon sent a picture from the town.

36126 VX10COA just about to enter Swindon Bus Station

Glenn Knight reports that Stagecoach Hants have new Enviro400s on the Coastline 700 Brighton - Southsea. Amongst those seen are:-

GX10HBA 15592

GX10HBC 15594

GX10HBO 15604

Some further interesting pictures of Stagecoach vehicles are to hand.

All quiet on the western front - Notting Hill Gate just 3 am on May 5th and Oxford tube has the road to itself.
Picture by M Crowe.

Victoria Coach Station looms large in the background as Volvo B12B 54071 in Scottish citylink livery waits for its next duty on May 5th.
Picture by M Crowe.

Stephen Le Bras writes "Terravision have some more Scania/Irizar 3 axle 10 reg coaches. I popped off to Liverpool Street to see one but photos are difficult. In fact, I saw three - YT10WLA/B/C. Then I returned to Victoria and saw another YT10OAY."

Terravision now have SIX new Scania tri-axle coaches. Pictures by Gavin Francis.

uno

Andrew Morgan writes "the Uno fleet has received fleet numbers and class types which are much more legible than the very miniscule ones used previously. Details are as follows.

DMP        PLAXTON POINTER DENNIS DART SLF 10.1m (fleet no. 100-101)
DMP        PLAXTON POINTER DENNIS DART MPD 8.8m (fleet no.102-105)
DP          PLAXTON/TRANSBUS POINTER DART SLF 10.7m (fleet no. 111-116/118-121)
MB          MERCEDES-BENZ CITARO mk.1 and mk.2 (fleet no.301-322)
DW         WRIGHT CRUSADER DENNIS DART SLF (fleet no.650-652/664-665/667-668)
TP          PLAXTON PRESIDENT DENNIS TRIDENT (fleet no.270-272)
DC          DENNIS DART SLF CAETANO NIMBUS (fleet no.151-154)
DFD        DAF DB250 OPTARE SPECTRA (fleet no.201)
DFW       WRIGHT CADET DAF SB120 (fleet no.774-775,776-778)
OS          OPTARE SOLO (fleet no.401-405)

Additionally the 8.8m and 10.1m darts are both DMP class. MERCEDES-BENZ CITARO type.1 (fleet no.301-305) look like may have a three letter code first two letters are MB like MERCEDES-BENZ CITARO type.2 (fleet no.306-322) just not sure of the third letter or if they do.

401-403 are ex-CENTREBUS plus ex-CENTREBUS PLAXTON POINTER DENNIS DART SLF 563-565/567-569/571-578 are starting to carry the new fleet numbers plus are also DP type coded .

Taken on Saturday 24/04/10 at Hertford showing the new white fleet numbers being fitted to UNO fleet.
I have not seen it fitted to all types yet or any ex-Centrebus buses the type code is only fitted on the offside under the drivers window.

Taken on 28/04/10 in Welwyn Garden City bus station of UNO 153 (UN55 UNO) DENNIS DART SLF CAETANO NIMBUS in its new plusbus allover advert.

Pictures by Andrew Morgan

UNO, Hatfield (with new style fleet-number)

From Glenn Knight

YJ53VBM DFD201

P667PNM DW667

V895DNB DP116

Pictures by Glenn Knight.

Woottens

From Andrew Morgan who has been busy taking pictures of recent Woottens double deck operations.

The LEYLAND TITAN W53 has been in use on T2 and ECW LEYLAND OLYMPIAN W64 (which is spare bus for route T3) is now away for a refurbishment. LEYLAND TIGER W61 is awaiting for a reconditioned LEYLAND TL11 engine to be fitted. TITAN W53 is semi-preserved and is the back up bus to the spare buses, so if they are unavailable it will be used, plus for the present it is to stay in OXFORD BUS COMPANY livery . It is a nice bus to go on and I went on it in case the opportunity did not arise again.

I am attaching four pictures taken today (01/05/10) of TIGERLINE LEYLAND OLYMPIAN W64 on the T2.

Pictures 1 and 2 showing some badges it carries (the Bristol badge on the front was not there when I saw it in Stevenage plus it has Bristol in the centre of each of the wheels)
Pictures by Andrew Morgan

YN06MKV passing through Stokenchurch - May 2010 Gavin Francis

Jottings

Stagecoach expands UK budget coach network

10/05/2010

megabus.com to add new services across the UK
7 new locations to be served in expansion of inter-city network
Scottish Borders and South Devon included in new timetable
Budget coach provider now offering links to Birmingham Airport

The UK’s market-leading budget coach operator megabus.com, today (10 May 2010) confirmed that it is expanding its services to offer even more low-cost journeys between even more locations.

megabus.com – part of Perth-based transport giant Stagecoach Group – launches its new timetable on 24 May, introducing new services to seven new UK destinations including Selkirk, Hawick and Galashiels in the Scottish Borders as well as Paignton and Torquay in South Devon.

The new timetable will also serve Carlisle for the first time and offer a variety of brand new services to and from Birmingham Airport. The expansion means that megabus.com now serves almost 60 locations across the UK.

Among the new return services are:

Edinburgh - Manchester
Carlisle, Selkirk, Hawick and Galashiels to Manchester and London
Cornwall, Paignton and Torquay to Bristol
Exeter – Bristol
Cornwall, Paignton and Torquay to Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle
Exeter to Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle
Bristol - Birmingham
Paignton and Torquay to London
Cornwall, Paignton and Torquay to Birmingham Airport
Exeter - Birmingham Airport
Bristol - Birmingham Airport
Oxford, Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth to Birmingham Airport
London - Birmingham Airport
Sheffield – Birmingham Airport
Manchester - Birmingham Airport
Leeds – Birmingham Airport
Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle to Birmingham Airport

Due to increased demand, additional journeys will also be offered on the following existing services:

Glasgow and Manchester to London
Manchester to London;
Between Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle.

The current service from Portsmouth and Southampton to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds is also being improved to offer a faster journey time of under 7 hours – a reduction of around 45 minutes.

Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Brian Souter said: “We know our passengers are looking for an affordable, reliable, greener travel option and the expansion of our megabus.com services will allow even more people, in even more places to access our fast, comfortable, inter-city coach services for as little as £1.”

megabus.com was launched in the UK in 2003 and revolutionised coach travel by offering fares from just £1 via a simple online booking system. More than 2million passengers now use megabus.com services in the UK every year. In the US, more than 5million passengers have travelled with megabus.com since its launch in 2006 and it now covers 32 locations in the United States and Canada.

Bookings can be made now for the new megabus.com timetable which starts on 24 May. For more information visit www.megabus.com

Stagecoach wins UK Coach Award

30/04/2010

Awards success for Stagecoach East
Second honour for successful express coach service
Stagecoach Oxfordshire also recognised at awards ceremony

Stagecoach UK Bus company Stagecoach East is celebrating after winning a prestigious award at the 2010 UK Coach Awards.

The company won the Coach Marketing award for its successful X5 service between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge. The judges described the marketing of the service as "a clever and well-executed marketing campaign that made excellent use of both conventional and new media, and certainly delivered passenger growth on the route".

The win is the second award for the X5 service in the past six months after it was named 'Express Operator of the Year' at the 2009 UK Bus Awards in November.

Stagecoach East Managing Director Steven Burd said: "It is an honour, and a real credit to our marketing team, to be recognised with this award. We are committed to providing high quality, good value, reliable bus and coach services and I am delighted that our marketing efforts in attracting more people on to greener, smarter travel have been rewarded."

At the awards ceremony, which was held in Manchester's Midland Hotel, Stagecoach in Oxford was named as runner-up in the Accessibility category for it's Oxford Tube service which provides express coach services between Oxford and London, offering journeys up to every 10 minutes. The Oxford Tube marketing team were also Highly Commended in the Coach Marketing Award.

French RATP enters UK market

French government-owned RATP is entering the UK market, with the takeover of much of Transdev’s London operations and its Bournemouth ‘Yellow Buses’.

Although best-known as Paris’ main operator, RATP’s ambition is to be the world’s fifth largest urban transport operator.

The deal is part of the Transdev and Veolia Transport merger, to create Transdev/Veolia. RATP held a 25.66% stake in Transdev and is exiting Transdev, taking with it with assets “of an equal value” from Transdev and Veolia.

The Bournemouth business, a former municipal, was bought by Transdev from the council in a competitive tender in 2005.

The London operation that transfers to RATP is all of London United and the part of London Sovereign, that is the former Transport for London (TfL) contracted business of NSL Services group (itself the former NCP business) which Transdev subsidiary London Sovereign bought for an undisclosed sum in November 2009.

Parliamentary Bus

Paul Davis writes "Malcolm, ref the Ealing Broadway to Wandsworth Road 'parliamentary' bus, this looks set to continue for some time to come, instead of ending in May.

Southern have issued a formal press statement. I believe formal objections had been raised re the couplings on Class 171 units - if a unit fails there's nothing nearby on a regular basis that can couple to them on the western region."

"We will be unable to introduce the new service between Wandsworth Road and Ealing Broadway this May after Network Rail refused to grant access rights. We had planned to run a new daily (Mon to Fri) return service between the two stations, calling at Kensington Olympia and Shepherd’s Bush, from the new timetable introduction on May 23 as required by our franchise agreement with the Department for Transport. However, Network Rail has refused to grant track access
rights for the service and so it will not be able to operate.

Alex Foulds, Southern’s Development Director, said: “We have done everything we can to introduce this service, but without the access rights there is nothing we can do. We have a further meeting planned with Network Rail to see if the issues
can be overcome, but I am afraid there is now no chance of a May introduction.”

The current bus service will continue to operate, while Southern will continue to run the current timetable from Wandsworth Road to Kensington Olympia as follows:

* 10 12 Kensington Olympia to Wandsworth Road
* 16 12 Wandsworth Road to Kensington Olympia

The existing bus and rail services would have been removed if the Wandsworth Road to Ealing Broadway service had been introduced."

North Kent day trip out by John Hammond

I took a recent day out to see the Arriva operations around North Kent which now form Arriva Southern Counties but were once London Country & Maidstone & District territory. To cut down the day I took a train down the night before and stayed in a bargain Travelodge room overnight at Stone Crossing. This was rather handy as the hotel was a 1 min walk from the station and nearby Fastrack Route.

I've wanted to try out Fastrack for a while, so an early start was made and I caught a bus towards Gravesend. The Fastrack infrastructure is all very impressive with roadside ticket machines and decent bus stops with welcoming shelters. However to get the Arriva Southern explorer, I had to pay on the bus which boggled the driver a bit at first. A short ride to Greenhithe Station where we changed between routes A & B. The next leg was onto Gravesend by Fastrack. Lots of bus priority is given to the buses but some of it seemed a little overly complex in places. At Gravesend, buses are mostly stopping around the side of the shopping centre and station. Plenty of Arriva variety to be seen in the short time whilst we waited for our next bus. The Fastrack ticket machine here was more like a rail station machine with card or cash payment options, however nobody seemed to be using it as buses sold tickets on board.

From Gravesend we took a trip to Chatham on the 136, worked by an early SLF Pointer Dart. On arrival into Chatham, it was clear that the town centre was undergoing refurbishment, the bus station here is a rather gloomy affair above ground level in the Pentagon centre. Buses entering and leaving via ramps to street level. Inside the bus station is dark & gloomy (it even made Luton's old Bute Street bus station look nice) and I understand it will be demolished in the near future. Plenty more Arriva variety here with other operators on a smaller scale running mostly tendered services. After a spot of lunch in a cafe, we set off for Maidstone on the double decker worked 101 route. These are ADL Enviro 400's similar to those used on the 280 in Aylesbury although without leather seats.

We arrived into Maidstone early afternoon, again bus passengers arrive into a terrible dark gloomy bus station, only difference being that Maidstone's is not big enough for the number of buses trying to use it. All three places did have Arriva bus information offices open though, its much rarer to find information offices in Arriva's Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire areas.

Killed a few hours in Maidstone before taking our final bus of the day, a 333 to Sittingbourne which was worked by a Volvo B7. It was unbearably hot on board with the heaters going on a hot day, and the bus really struggled with any hills despite being only about 6 years old. Very pleasant ride through some nice Kent villages to Sittingbourne. A little bit of variety here with Chalkwell appearing alongside some community bus operations. We had a brief stop before going to the station to get a train back to London. This was another highlight, a trip on the High Speed South Eastern line train to St Pancras international. Very lightly loaded train as we passed back towards the Thames, the section from Gravesend to Stratford is high speed and we raced under the Thames and through Essex in no time at all.

Very enjoyable day out and great value at £6.40 for a day explorer ticket.

016 - Fastrack B7 GN07AVL at Greenhithe station with the QE2 Dartford Bridge in the background.

025 - R629VEG - an ex London Dart SLF of EnsignBus on the X80 between Lakeside & Bluewater Shopping centres

027 - MLH304L - an ex London DM Fleetline of RedRoute buses taken on fuel at Gravesend.

030 - Fastrack B7 at the end of the line in Gravesend town centre.

The gloomy Pentagon bus station in Chatham

More Chatham variety from Arriva, with independent operators Chalkwell & Kings Ferry also operating some routes alongside Arriva low cost unit Nu-Venture and then Arriva & Nu Venture variety in Maidstone. Even a visiting Stagecoach bus from East Kent. Followed by Maidstone's grim Chequers bus station, pictures from Sittingbourne and Arriva buses with community transport services and Chalkwell buses present.

I hope readers have enjoyed this article which I must thank John Hammond for. It just shows what an interesting day one can have for a very small outlay.

Malta Story – part 2 by Gavin Francis

In January 1970 London Transport introduced a new class of bus to the streets of London when 11 SM class vehicles started working from Catford garage on the route 160. These buses followed on from a batch of 665 buses classed as Merlins which were 36ft long and had powerful 11.3 litre engines. The length had proved a problem particularly where they had been replacing the much shorter RT. London Transport decided the answer was to build a shorter bus at 33ft 5ins but with only an 8.2 litre engine and to be classed as Swifts.

By March 1972 the whole class of 838 buses had been delivered with the last ones entering service on 11^th March on Route 203 from Hounslow garage. They had however proved to be unreliable and sales started in October 1976 when the buses were only 6 years old. Two places where many of the buses found new homes were Northern Ireland and Malta.

In the early 1980s approximately 60 Swifts were sent to Malta and of these about 47 still survive many having been heavily rebuilt by their owner drivers giving them all individual treatment. Most of them have had their engines moved from the rear to underfloor and changed from automatic to manual gearboxes so really making them similar to an AEC Reliance however some do retain their rear engine layout.

This could well be the last full year that they are active as The Government are keen to withdraw and scrap virtually all the old buses and replace them with new low floor buses. If Arriva are awarded the contract to run the buses on the island they have stated they may well send over about 60 of the bendy buses they now have surplus following their withdrawal from London. If this happens I am sure it will only be a matter of time before the Maltese engineers graft the back section onto the front section and produce a rigid Citaro.

Again many thanks to Chris Maxfield for supplying some of the pictures particularly the Ministry of Education ones. The pictures are taken in Valletta unless otherwise stated.

My next article will cover some recent arrivals on the island – open-toppers!

SM 8 (EBY 625). This was one of the buses allocated to Catford on the first day of Swift operation in 1970. The first picture taken in 1980 shows it operating in Greenford very near the end of its service in London as by the end of the year it was in Malta. The 1982 picture taken in Mellieha shows it in the previous green livery with registration Y-1326 and having acquired the front from an ergomatic cab lorry. The latest picture is taken in Valletta with another change of front.

SM 18 (DBY 466). This bus entered service at Hounslow garage in April 1970 on Route 81. By 16^th September 1978 it was operating on Route 273 at Greenford and was exported to Malta in January 1981. It has acquired both a new front and back with parts donated from a Plaxton Paramount coach. The picture of the rear view was taken in Ghaxaq.

SM 33 (FBY 662). April 1970 saw the introduction of this bus into service at Fulwell Garage on Route 270. By the time this picture was taken in 1979 it had moved on to Bexleyheath and running the 132 circular. It was exported to Malta in August 1980. Again another bus to have gained a front with parts donated from a lorry.

SMD 60 (EBY 576). New in April 1970 at New Cross Garage running Route 70, it was exported to Malta in February 1980. Much of the interiors of these buses remain the same with the gray window surrounds and white ceilings. Even some of the signs in the cab area are original. The bus is pictured at Sliema in its original green livery in 1982 and at Rabat in March this year.

SMS 200. (DBY 301). Entered service at Hounslow Garage in January 1971 but after only 9 years in service including periods of storage it was withdrawn from Uxbridge in September 1980 and immediately dispatched to Malta. 31^st March 1978 sees it operating the 273 in Greenford. Another bus to have been fitted with the front from possibly an AEC lorry.

SMS 202 (FBY 641). Was delivered to Aldenham in December 1970 but did not enter service at Enfield Garage until August 1971. Another bus to be withdrawn from Uxbridge in May 1980 where I had previously photographed it on 29^th March 1978. It arrived in Malta in January 1981and again is pictured the following year in original green livery.

SMS 212 (EBY 634). Entered service in March on Route 285 from Fulwell Garage and was another bus to be withdrawn from Uxbridge in April 1980. The picture shows it operating the 209 route from Harrow Weald. Exported to Malta in August 1981again it is pictured in its green livery in December 1982.

SMS 247 (EBY 541). New into Croydon Garage in October 1970 like many others this bus lasted about 10 years in operation before being withdrawn in September 1980 and by December of the same year was in Malta. The pictures show it in Croydon and in Mellieha.

SMS 258 (FBY 744). New at Thornton Heath garage in October 1970. Lasted just less than 10 years being withdrawn in July 1980 and was exported to Malta in May 1981. The rear view shows it waiting at the ferry port at Cirkawwa for passengers from Gozo which has just arrived.

SMS 268 (EBY 564). Like SMS 259 SMS 268 started service at Elmers End Garage on the 194, passing through Finchley and Harrow Weald garages before withdrawal in September 1980 and export to Malta. It is pictured at North Finchley on 3^rd November 1977 and Sliema in March this year.

SMS 274 (EBY 523). A third example of a bus new at Thornton Heath on the 194. In December 1982 it was a recent arrival on the island and the owner driver is carrying out daily checks on it. The latest picture shows the bus to be in immaculate condition.

SMS 275. (FBY 756). Yet another from the batch new at Thornton Heath. Exported to Malta in April 1981. It is pictured in London service at Brent Cross on 11^th July 1980 and also in Mellieha earlier this year. Again another immaculate bus.

SMS 292. (EBY 589). This bus entered service in January 1981 at Stockwell Garage on Route 181. During its time as a London bus it worked from 5 different garages in 10 years before export to Malta in January 1981. Another bus pictured again at Brent Cross this time on 19^th February 1980 and soon after arrival in Malta in December 1982. In the latest picture it is the front of a pair of Swifts and shows again the excellent condition of the bus.

SMS 572. (EBY 534). Delivered to Dalston Garage in April 1971 for operating the 236 route this bus virtually all of its operating life at this garage with only a short period in South London before its withdrawal in August 1980. The pictures show it still to be in almost original condition but has probably had a different engine fitted needing an extension to the engine cover.

Ministry of Education fleet.

This consists of an operational fleet of six operated from the maintenance facility at Pembroke. Again the buses have changed very little in appearance since their arrival. There are also 4 buses stored which are used as a source of spares for the others.

The pictures show SMS 259 (GVH 140), SMS 260 (GVH 132), SMS 266 (GVH 133),

SMS 337 (GVH 137) and SMS 356 (GVH 141) both in London service and in Malta.

Also shown are some of the stored buses which are being broken up to keep the others running at Pembroke.

They are SMS 736, SMS 278 and SMS 602.

From Marcus Lapthorn

Have just returned from another trip to Malta. Attached are detail shots of FBY 744 (formerly EGN 258J in London). as you will see the retention of the 'driver service/self service' signs and split step opening doors is of interest, as is the gorgeous dash board!

Pic 215 : COY 004 (formerly RMF 588) seen at Valetta bus station.

Pic 377: Former RM 432 which has been converted into a mobile disco!

Seen at the Malta bus rally on Sunday 25 April 2010 is this refurbished Malta route bus which left for the UK a few days later, where it will be preserved in Kent.

1946 vintage former Wallace Arnold coach found in Malta quarry in 1998 and now to be returned to its former glory over the next few years! Seen at Malta bus rally on Sunday 25 April 2010.

Pic 327: A study in concentration as the lovely vintage driver very carefully takes EBY 537 from Valetta toward Bugibba on Sunday 25 April 2010.

Pic 332: EBY 537 the Ford ET7 Micalef bodied B36C bus dating from February 1953 at Bugibba bus station. It still looks absolutely superb and would now seem to be the very last normal control bus still in regular service in Malta. The end of an era indeed - very sad.

Former COMS NUD 106L now stored at bodybuilders yard in Malta.

Former Thamesdown Transport's Daimler Fleetline OHR 189R with internal signage still carried.

Formerly with Rambler Coaches of St. Leonards on Sea, BCY 902 has largely retained the original UK livery when it was N625 PYJ.

EBY 473 is a Ford with a very powerful Perkins engine and was rebodied in 2001 by Caruana and looks absolutely fantastic - so well cared for it puts many newer buses to shame! It was known as XBH859S when in the UK.

When I was in Malta in October 2009 I rode on FBY 661 which is a Willlys model 265 normal control former lorry chassis dating from 1934 and carried a 1949 Brincat bus body. The chassis was 75 years old and my driver that day was around 78 years old - so 153 years life experience between them!

In April 2010 I found FBY 661 in a very sad state indeed in a farm yard near to Golden Bay. It is rumoured that the bus is to be restored and there is some evidence of work having been carried out. However with the dreaded Malta bus reforms imminent I would be surprised if it ever saw service again.

Malta's first 'green bus' is FBY 798!

As you liked the Swift photographs here are a couple more. These are taken at the Education Dept garage, which contains a mixture of operational Swifts (total of 4 only now) and buses that are not serviceable, but have been used as a source of spare parts for the others.

GVH 133 formerly EGN 266J in London.

GVH 140 formerly EGN 259J in London.

I hope readers will have enjoyed these articles on Malta kindly provided by Gavin Francis and Marcus Lapthorn. I realise that there is a wide margin between Oxford and The Chilterns with Malta but so many buses in Malta were once close to or in our area and I think they often now look fantastic. There is not much longer for visitors to see these buses as they have been and these two articles provide an interesting record of current and past operations.

Buses in the Landscape

Keith Shayshutt writes "A contender for 'Buses in the Landscape' - DeCourcey 585 taken at Harborough Magna (church), Warwickshire on Saturday 1 May 2010 en route from Coventry to Rugby."

Carousel is still using Metrobuses on local services and this one is seen on the village green in Stokenchurch. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Pictureview

A night shot of a Transdev Scania, SP122 on the 148 at Shepherds Bush on 5th May by your Editor.

A sightseeing operation in London run by a smart looking Routemaster.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

Big bus have added no fewer than ten new or second hand buses to their fleet in 2010. This one plied the street of London in red garb until recently.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

1967 2010
Both taken by Gavin Francis but with a gap of 43 years! One wonders where RT3238 has been in between times.

One of a new fleet of Bovas which have joined Johnsons of Henley in Arden fleet. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Travellers Choice of Carnforth Jonckheere visiting Oxford recently. Picture by Gavin Francis.

Forthcoming Events

The Kemble Steam Extravaganza once again this year, which is taking place at the Cotswold Airport from Friday 6^th – Sunday 8^th August.

Record bus and coach displays at South-West's largest festival of transport

The Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza makes a welcome return to Cotswold Airport (previously known as Kemble Airfield) this year from Friday 6th - Sunday 8th August 2010, taking the show in to its 36^th year.

The show was originally conceived for steam enthusiasts, but the range of exhibits has grown year on year. It now boasts a huge array of vintage transport, including buses, coaches, motorcycles, military vehicles, classic cars, tractors, aircraft, commercial vehicles, traction engines and historic caravans. A live action arena, interactive demonstrations, rare breeds, shire horses, trade stands and a vintage fun fair along with hundreds of curiosity stalls ranging from Victorian memorabilia, antique sewing and knitting machines to model dolls houses, petrol pumps, vintage garden tools and 1940s – 1950’s home wares makes this three day extravaganza one of the UK's best value family outdoor shows.

Widely regarded as a show within a show, the bus section has grown from humble beginnings to a vintage vehicle rally in its own right. Attracting exhibits from the length of the land as well as from foreign climes as far as china, the line up of vehicles is as colourful as it is impressive.

Buses of every shape, size and configuration will be represented, with highlights including a Bristol built double-decker once operated by Lincolnshire Road Car. You can also expect to find an array of preserved buses that you would have perhaps once travelled on as a child, such as classic Bedford OBs. The section is certainly a nostalgia trip not to be missed!

John Hitchings of the bus and coach section of Gloucestershire Steam & Vintage Extravaganza says: "Everybody enjoys seeing old buses and coaches because we each remember special journeys made on them. A ride on a vintage bus is a trip heavy with nostalgia."

A free vintage bus service will be operating to and from Kemble railway station throughout the show to connect with selected First Great Western Trains. A courtesy bus will also shuttle guests to the Bristol Aero collection. Formed in 1990, this collection records 95 years of Bristol aviation and space heritage. Based in a large wartime hangar, the collection includes aircraft, helicopters, missiles and engines. For details of the bus schedule, please refer to the website www.steamextravaganza.com Buses will depart from outside the main show entrance.

Pictures from last year's event

Admission Information:

Discounted tickets are available to buy online, please visit www.steamextravaganza.com

Discounted tickets are also available from Local Tourist Information Centres including: Stroud, Cirencester, Chippenham, Swindon, Malmesbury, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cotswolds and Tetbury.

Prices on the Gate:

Adult: Friday: £7, Saturday or Sunday: £10, Weekender: £15

Concessions: Friday: £6, Saturday or Sunday: £9, Weekender: £13

Juniors: Friday: £4, Saturday or Sunday: £5, Weekender: £8

Under 5’s free of charge

Friday family ticket: £18 (2 adults & 2 children)

Saturday or Sunday family ticket: £25 (2 adults & 2 children)

Gates open: Friday – Sunday, 10.00am Public enquiries contact: 01453 890891

All profits donated to the Cobalt Appeal Fund, Diabetes UK & The County Air Ambulance.