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

Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002

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

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

Issue 500 of the Oxford Bus Page and OCBP.
Luton service changes from May 10^th from Glenn Knight
Optare reviews production capacity at Blackburn plant
HOON reveals Bus Services Operators Grant (formerly called Fuel Duty Rebate) change

Aylesbury Transport Hub and Bourg Bridge - latest news
Stagecoach Group launches GREEN WEEK

Brighton coach Rally 2009 by Adam Green
Chris Duncombe visits Hamburg
Tim Hall visits Germany

The Cabinet Member for Transport, Ian Hudspeth, heard views on the proposals for the Queen Street improvement and 20 mph speed limits in Oxford.

On Thursday 23^rd April I attended a Delegated Decisions by Cabinet Member for Transport which related to Transform Oxford Vision and Queen St improvement and also included proposed 20 mph speed limits on all radial roads leading into Oxford from the ring road, as well as most residential roads.

A number of people spoke on their views relating to the proposals and whilst there was some consensus of opinion with the Council most people were concerned with the speed in which the proposals were to be implemented and the effects on many of the local population.

The subject of Queen St relates to the eventual pedestrianisation of this city centre shopping street and the proposals to move many buses to other stops in the city centre.

The Bonn Square area which will still have bus stops in the plan and means buses will continue to traverse Queen Street.

For example the locations for the re-sited bus stops, following removal from Queen Street are not entirely satisfactory for a number of reasons.

Often these revised stops require a much further walk for intending users.
In one case the location on High Street will, it is claimed, present dangers for cyclists.
Buses arriving in the city from origin are seemingly not catered for in terms of layover and Speedwell St is already over used for layover purposes. Some buses already use Castle St for short layover and with the re-siting of bus stops; this will no longer be possible.
It should be realised that the removal of services from Queen St, does not at present mean the removal of buses using Queen St and with no stops there could be the possibility of buses moving slightly faster creating a further risk for pedestrians. Indeed there will be two stops in Bonn Square and the 15 will now use a stop in Castle Street before traversing Queen St.
The St.Aldates situation is even more interesting as the 13 will move to G2 and the 10, 12 and U5 share the City Sightseeing stop when the 1, 5, 10, 12 and U5 move to St.Aldates, creating additional traffic in Butterwyke Place.
The additional Services in St Aldates could mean that lay over buses or buses waiting to load at their stop will queue opposite Christ Church where the road narrows, creating potential traffic congestion for through traffic.
If one cares to spend time looking at Castle Street, one will son notice how with the current services using the street, the present layout of stops and the oft indiscriminate parking by private cars, traffic delays occur. If one is to consider putting additional buses through this currently overused street, private cars would need to be totally banned.

High Street showing an already crowded street with delivery vans adding to the congestion.

Oxfordshire County Council had faced calls to delay its plans to remove bus stops in Queen Street and work is planned to start in late June with the council aiming to cut the number of buses Queen Street by a third. This is set to be achieved by removing seven bus stops, with two replacements being provided in Castle Street, two in New Road and one in High Street.

Oxford Civic Society and Liberal Democrat councillors asked for the scheme to be delayed for 12 months until the formation of a partnership between the city�s two main bus companies Stagecoach and the Oxford Bus Company.

Mr Hudspeth said local powers to form bus partnerships were so new that no-one knew how long that could take.

He said: �We have got to make sure we deliver the benefits to the city of Oxford sooner.�

�There was always going to be short-term pain, but we think it�s worth it for the long-term.�

Hugh Jaeger, of Bus Users UK, said: �The only thing this will get rid of in the city centre is people from Blackbird Leys, Barton and Rose Hill who find it more difficult to get there.�

Tony Joyce, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, said: �There will be winners and there will be losers, but the sad part about it is the losers are the least advantaged members of society.�

The first phase of a scheme to pedestrianise Oxford�s busiest shopping area was given the go-ahead today and approval was given to the �985,000 scheme by the authority�s head of transport, Ian Hudspeth.

Also mentioned at the meeting was the subject of the pedestrianisation of George Street at some time in the future.

It appeared that this could result in a public enquiry and potential endless delays to such a scheme.

The matter of the requirement for all public service vehicles to be Euro 5 compliant did not come up and indeed any possible interruptions from the floor were swiftly dealt with by Ian Hudspeth who advised those interrupting that they could be removed from the chamber.

On the matter of the 20mph zone proposals it was noted that Oxford will become only the second city in Britain to introduce such speed limits on almost all of its residential roads.

Work on the scheme will begin in July, with 1,450 new signs being placed on residential roads.

However it appears that the majority of Oxford�s main routes such as the Botley, Woodstock and Iffley roads will keep 30mph limits.

Road safety campaigners had called for a blanket 20mph zone across the entire city.

Cabinet member Ian Hudspeth today approved a �300,000 scheme which will see a large number of new 20mph speed limits become law in August.

This could affect bus services as the intention does seem to be to slow down even further the overall speeds on the city�s roads.

The report is now available online at the following link:

http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/content/public/Resources/hlpdownloads/XT/XT230409-03.htm

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Issue 500 of the Oxford Bus Page/Oxford Chiltern Bus Page.

News reached me this week that Google intend to close Geocities later this year. I hear you ask what does this matter?

Well, Geocities was the original host used for The Oxford Bus Page started in 1998 by David Root, then a student at Hertford College.

When I took the page over in August 1998, I expanded on the use of the Geocities hosting and for just over four years, until September 2002, this is where the page was hosted. It was at this time that I felt the need for a better host and changed to 1&! who have hosted the page since that time.

Learning of the timing of Geocities closure gave me the impetus to recover all the files at Geocities, a process I am presently involved in, to ensure access for the future.

I will be checking the pages, reinstating the photographs which have not been available, to upload them to my present hosting service 1&!.

A long but worthwhile job which will, I hope, be appreciated by readers. I will keep you updated on progress.

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Luton service changes from May 10^th from Glenn Knight

Service 8:

Frequency reduced to half hourly, service extended to Wheatfield Road Surgery.

Service 9:

Frequency reduced to every 15minutes

Service 9A:

service withdrawn and replaced by hourly service 15

Service 15:

Every 15minutes Bury Park, Marsh Road, Toddington Road, Hockwell ring back same way

Service 31:

Minor timetable amendments to improve reliability

Service 38:

Minor timetable amendments to provide better frequency with the 31 from L&D Hospital

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Optare reviews production capacity at Blackburn plant

Lack of order visibility in Quarters 3 and 4 for these vehicles has forced the board to act and the Group has announced a 90 day consultation process at its Blackburn plant.

For the first few months of 2009 demand was exceptionally strong and the business expanded its manned capacity through overtime and the recruitment of contract labour to ensure production throughput. Although there is no indication of a significant downturn in passenger demand for bus travel, an element of caution amongst some of the major operators has become evident. The increasingly weak demand for double deck vehicles has been highlighted in recent weeks as Optare�s two main UK competitors announced significant redundancy programmes. Since bus manufacturing typically requires a three-month lead time, the Group is taking the necessary steps to provide a better fit of its manned capacity to the order book and to re-align its cost base.

Although currently busy there is not enough work to sustain current levels of employment when these orders have been completed. As such the company has released all of the temporary workers it recruited at the peak of production. Based on the company�s current best estimate of demand in Quarter 3 there may be a reduction of up to 50% in the number of permanent employees. In order to prepare for this possibility the company is consulting with the Trade Union Representatives at Blackburn regarding future manning levels and has written to all employees at the Blackburn site to explain that redundancies could potentially affect every area of that operation.

Commenting on the announcement John Fickling, Chairman said: �Optare remains committed to the double deck market. We continue to provide a further choice to operators not just for body on chassis vehicles but shortly an integral double deck vehicle also. However, we are taking appropriate action to mitigate the impact of the current reduced demand for these vehicles so that our business is in a healthy position to maximise opportunities as the market improves.�

At this stage the Leeds site, where the majority of the Group�s single deck products are made, remains unaffected.

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HOON REVEALS BSOG CHANGE

Operators who achieve at least 6% improvements in fuel efficiency will receive 3% increase in BSOG (Bus Services Operators Grant (formerly called Fuel Duty Rebate) from April 2010.

Making the announcement moments before today�s (22 April) Budget speech, the Secretary of State for Transport Geoff Hoon told 200 industry guests at the Passenger Forum�s annual conference that the change was part of the governments green agenda.

Further details are expected after the Budget.

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Aylesbury Transport Hub and Bourg Bridge - latest news

Colin Richardson writes "On Friday - 17 April - at noon the bridge will be officially opened. My wife and I have been invited and will be attending this important for the event for the town. Cyclists will travel across to officially open the bridge. There follows a French market outside the train station. An official lunch and speeches will conclude the event

Some bus services will start using the boulevard inward bound to Great Western Street and Bus Station from Monday 20 April 2009. These routes are 1, 2, 4, 6,7,9 (both directions) 300 & 500 plus Sunday route 501. Other routes are likely to follow in due course. Routes T1, 50 will continue to use the complete hub.

Route 501 note: This route only serves the station in the direction of The Coppice.

As the Hub is nearly complete (due to finish by early June,) when the lift from the bridge to station forecourt is completed."

I look forward to readers pictures of the changes.

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Stagecoach Group launches GREEN WEEK

Monday 20th April marked the start of the first ever Group-wide Stagecoach Green Week.

Green Week ran from Monday 20 April until Friday 24 April and was a very important initiative for a number of reasons. It allowed Stagecoach to highlight the environmental benefits of using public transport and it also gave the opportunity to the Group to show its customers the many ways in which the company is reducing its own carbon footprint.

Launching Green Week, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, Brian Souter said: �We want to grow our business in a sustainable way, enhancing the communities in which we operate and playing our part in meeting the global challenge of climate change.

�By ensuring our business is run more efficiently, we can help reduce the effects of climate change, save money and demonstrate to our customers that they are travelling with a responsible and sustainable company.

�Public transport has a crucial role to play in reducing global carbon emissions and our research has told us that the issue of climate change is of real concern to our customers. By promoting our message of greener, smarter travel during Green Week, we hope we can help our passengers and our employees identify ways in which they can live greener lives � not just for one week, but day in, day out.�

Throughout the week events were held across all areas of the business to raise awareness of environmental issues among customers and staff.

There was the chance for customers across the UK to win a year�s free travel on their local Stagecoach bus network through an online competition, with a similar competition being run by Coach Canada. The Group also be handed out 20,000 practical � and environmentally-friendly � green kits around the UK as well as running poster competitions at a number of schools. There were similar giveaways, as well as roadshows and green demonstrations, which took place across rail operations, along with energy saving trials and initiatives.

Throughout the week, there was a Group-wide staff poster campaign to highlight the key role employees have to play in helping the group to reduce its carbon footprint.

Green Week was a chance for the group to remind people that the single most effective way for them to reduce their carbon footprint is to use public transport instead of commuting by car.

As well as looking to save time and money, people want healthier and more environmentally friendly ways to get around. By providing good value, reliable and convenient low-carbon travel, the group believes it can attract even more customers on to Stagecoach services.

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Brighton coach Rally 2009 by Adam Green

The 55th UK Coach Rally was held at Madeira Drive,. Brighton on 18th & 19th April 2009

http://www.asyi32.dsl.pipex.com/

Adam Green who attended writes "It was a nice and sunny day in Brighton on Saturday is the coach rally there were 40 coaches from Motts, Crawley Coaches, Coopers and much much more. I also got some photos of Brighton & Hove buses plus Stagecoach and National Express."

Adam did not think there were so many entrants as in previous years.

Some of the pictures sent by Adam Green.
Motts is of course a local operator, Parry's not so near but oft seen on the M40
and Shearings of interest as this is the first view of the 40 or so Setras ordered by the company.

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Chris Duncombe visits Hamburg

I have included this piece as Germany provides an interesting destination for short breaks in the summer. Chris writes "Please find attached some photographs you may be able to use for Buses in the Cityscape. I say may because they are neither from the area covered, nor even the U.K, but show (I think) some not altogether bad photos, considering (as all of mine are), they were "point and press" efforts.

They show buses in the HafenCity in Hamburg, the former docklands area that is now being developed into a living/working/free time quarter, with new university, philharmonic, cruise terminal and more museums than Oxford in less space (or so it seems).

They are taken from about half way up the lookout tower, which will eventually be removed as the ground it is standing on is developed, but gives a good look over the Magellan Terraces at the moment.

"Hochbahn Citaro 1495 on 6" is taken looking towards the stop at Magellan Terraces, whilst "Hochbahn Citaro 7833 on 4" is taken on the (present) layover area, with another Citaro on the 6 behind. "Sightseeing tour at HafenCity" shows one of Hamburg's many sightseeing tour operators, usually with ex Berlin MAN double deckers. It is actually on the road parallel to the layover, and most buses will turn down there to form a circuit of the works and pull up. If, as was the case with 1495, no other vehicle is on layover, then they operate both directions along this road, turning in a turning circle at the end, just visible behind the yellow bus in "Citaros at HafenCity 1". "Citaros at HafenCity 2" shows a shot of one Citaro in each direction, the one on the left arriving, the one on the right departing back towards Central Hamburg. Hochbahn is the main contractor for the HVV (Hamburger Verkehrsverbund - a bit like TfL for Hamburg), and is possibly their own company a la London Buses, but I've never been able to work out the exact relationship."

"The picture "Bei St Annen" was designed for "Millar's Tales" in BUSES more than the OCBP, but may be of interest anyway. Due to works, the bridge has been removed and buses diverted, but the bus stop is still there."

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Tim Hall visits Germany

A couple of photos from a recent trip to Bremen in Germany via Stansted and Paddington.

These pictures are:

On arrival at Bremen the first thing I see is this ex eastern counties Bristol FLF KPW483E. Note the roof is lowered to comply with the 4m height regulations.

In Bremen was this bio gas Solaris artic quite new I think with the local company BSAG 4996.

This 3 axle Mercedes Benz Citaro 2 outside Bremen main station was most impressive.

Then on return to Stansted I took this artic MB citaro2 outside the terminal whilst the security weren't looking KX58QUA

Then at Paddington crossing the road instead of the subway produced a new big bus co Volvo part open top with Olympus body DA213 PN09EOB

Pictureview & seen in Oxford

Gavin Francis sent this picture of the First X6 service from Glasgow to London Victoria. This is the service once operated by now defunct Silver Choice.

Richard Sharman sent this picture of two EYMS coaches, A8 and A9EYC in Oxford last week.

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