Issue 57
(OBP-273)
Sunday
7th December 2003
next update
week ending 19th December 2003
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
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Following on from last weeks page full details of the Citaro fleet for Oxford have been released by OBC and further Citaros have been delivered to Carousel for their A40 service from High Wycombe to Heathrow. All the details may be found under the relevant operator headings below.
A visit on Saturday morning to Binders Yard at Cryers Hill, as usual, revealed some interesting buses to be seen. In a compound next to Prestwood Travel's location there was an ex Barton AEC Regent V and in Ward Jones yard an excellent Harrington bodied coach was in for attention.
I always find it interesting to visit this location due the number of operators and yards with a variety of buses and coaches.
Saturday proved a dismal day in the early part of the morning but the sun did manage to shine through later. however at this time of year the sun is very low in the sky and it is difficult to get really good shots. I spent a little time around Wycombe and witnessed one of the recently transferred Arriva London Olympians which have now added to the local bus scene. The bus in question was on the 363 to Penn and is seen below on Totteridge Road prior to turning into Bowerdean Road. Whilst I am sure Arriva have given this much thought I could not help notice what a struggle the bus had to get up Arnison Avenue with only about 8 people on board. I wonder how these buses would manage with a full load, especially as a number of bus stops are on the hill.
With Christmas approaching a number of houses are donning their usual Christmas lights and I noticed some nice displays in Kennington and parts High Wycombe. One has to admire the people who must spend pounds on these displays and I hope to feature some of the more exotic ones in the coming weeks with a bus in the picture if possible.
I received the following
email from Ian Pinnell who says "I
am a young teenage bus fan and I would like to congratulate everyone
who works on this website for all the hard work they do. I stumbled upon your
page whilst searching for bus information. I have since read your news page
every week and I now know my Tridents from my Olympians.
Well done once again and I will keep reading your news page every week.
Congratulations "
Thanks
Ian, comments such as these make it all worthwhile and indeed without
contributions the page would not be so newsworthy.
Well, now on to the reports for our area. Your contributions continue and I am pleased to receive them each week. My thanks to everyone who sent information.
Malcolm Crowe, 6th December 2003.
Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002
News of the local companies – 6th December 2003
This Olympian, 5856, seen above nearer to Wycombe
centre,
is seen climbing Arnison Avenue on Saturday working the 363.
These buses lack full destination displays so far and have to rely upon a card
in the windscreen to display a route number.
A Dart, so far not seen by me in our area is 3137,
originally with Stevenson's of Uttoxeter.
It is seen here in Oxford Street, High Wycombe on a 323 working to Aylesbury
last Saturday.
This Olympian, 5133, seen above in Oxford Street, Wycombe centre,
is seen on Saturday working of the 317.
Olympian, 5124, seen at Terriers above High Wycombe, turning onto Amersham Road
on Saturday working the 345.
Arriva have now publicised their Christmas holiday timetables and unlike operators in Oxford will not run buses on Boxing Day and New Years Day.
Details are given below.
CHRISTMAS SERVICE ALTERATIONS - AYLESBURY AREA
Wednesday 24 December (Christmas Eve)
A normal Wednesday service will operate on all routes, but with early
finishes from around 1900,last buses as follows:
231 1715 Thame to High Wycombe, 1815 High Wycombe to Thame
260 1815 Aylesbury to Thame, 1745 Oxford to Aylesbury
280 1740 Aylesbury to Oxford
1810 Oxford to Aylesbury
1840 Oxford to Thame only
Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) & Friday 26 December (Boxing Day)
No Service
Saturday 27 December
Saturday service on most routes, however a reduced Saturday service will
operate on the following routes: 132, 261, 280. Special timetable available.
Sunday 28 December
Sunday service.
Monday 29 & Tuesday 30 December
Saturday service on all routes except: Monday or Tuesday service on routes:
132, 261 the 0750 from Thame will start at Worminghall (0735) via Shabbington
(0742)
Wednesday 31 December (New Year's Eve)
Saturday service with early finish on all routes except: Wednesday
service on routes: 132, 261 the 0750 from Thame will start at Worminghall (0735)
via Shabbington (0742)
Early finish from around 1900 with last buses as follows:
231 1710 Thame to High Wycombe, 1815 High Wycombe to Thame
260 1605 Aylesbury to Oxford, 1745 Oxford to Aylesbury
280 1740 Aylesbury to Oxford,1810 Oxford to Aylesbury, 1840 Oxford to Thame
Extra bus: 1810 Aylesbury to Thame only
Thursday 1 January 2004 (New Year's Day)
No service
CHRISTMAS SERVICE ALTERATIONS - HIGH WYCOMBE AREA
Wednesday 24 December (Christmas Eve)
A normal Wednesday service will operate on all routes, but with early finishes
with last buses as follows:
231 1715 Thame to High Wycombe, 1815 High Wycombe to Thame
320 1848 from Princes Risborough
328 1815 High Wycombe to Reading, 1750 Reading to High Wycombe
329 1845 High Wycombe to Henley, 1905 Reading to High Wycombe
Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) & Friday 26 December (Boxing Day)
No Service
Saturday 27 December
Saturday service on most routes, but a reduced Saturday service will operate
on routes: 328/329
Sunday 28 December
Normal service
Monday 29 & Tuesday 30 December
Saturday service on all routes except: 261 the 0750 from Thame will start at
Worminghall (0735) via Shabbington (0742)
Wednesday 31 December (New Year's Eve)
Saturday service with early finish on all routes except: 261 the 0750 from
Thame will start at Worminghall (0735) via Shabbington (0742)
Early finish from around 1900 with last buses as follows:
231 1710 Thame to High Wycombe, 1815 High Wycombe to Thame
328 1815 High Wycombe to Reading, 1745 Reading to High Wycombe
329 1845 High Wycombe to Henley, 1820 Reading to High Wycombe
Thursday 1 January 2004 (New Year's Day)
No service.
Friday 2 January 2004
Saturday service on all routes except: 261 the 0750 from Thame will start at
Worminghall (0735) via Shabbington (0742)
Saturday 3 January 2004
Normal services resume on all routes.
One wonders if the lack of major competition in Aylesbury and High Wycombe (excluding Carousel in HW) affects a decision by Arriva on the running of buses on the holiday days.
The three new Citaros have now arrived at the depot and are expected to enter service during the coming week.
The buses still await full livery which is provided by Heathrow Airport Limited. This livery will be red and applied in a similar fashion to other operators buses working on the partnership schemes.
Seen last Saturday prior to the entry into service of the Citaros is a Lynx
LX559 on London Road HW.
Further arrival of new Citaros include 828, 830, 831 and 831. The company has now released full details of the new batch including chassis numbers etc.
828 |
X28 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023103885 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
829 |
X29 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023103990 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
830 |
X13 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023104142 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
831 |
X31 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023104157 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
832 |
X2 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023104175 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
833 |
X3 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023104183 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
834 |
X4 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023104194 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
835 |
X5 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023104213 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
836 |
X6 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023104244 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
837 |
X7 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023104271 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
838 |
X8 OXF |
Mercedes 0530 |
WEB62804023104281 |
Mercedes Citaro |
B42F |
Note the use of X3 and X13 within the batch which makes an interesting use of registrations related to route numbers. The batch also features a variety of messages applied to the rear of each bus and should make identification from a distance easy.
The company advises "829 was delivered 11/03 and used (on trade plates) for promotional work. It will enter service 12/03 along with the remainder of the batch. 828-836 are branded as ‘abingdon oxford direct’ and the remainder as ‘oxford bus company’. Each has a different promotional message on the rear." This seemingly suggests that 837 and 838 will be for use as spares for the Abingdon services but will also appear on other routes in Oxford.
Ed Maun writes "There is an article in the latest issue (5 Dec) of Transit about OBC’s new Citaros together with a picture of 829. The article states that OBC believes it now has the cleanest bus fleet in the UK in terms of exhaust emissions. It says that each of the new buses cost £135,000 and they are fitted with air conditioning and exhaust particulate traps to reduce harmful emissions. It also comments that the new Citaros have heightened the competition with Stagecoach on the lucrative corridor between Oxford City and Abingdon, and feature a new “Abingdon – Oxford Direct” identity designed by design agency Best Impressions".
Further news from the company advises
Vehicles to be withdrawn (12/03):
502/6/8/11: returned ex loan to Metrobus, Crawley.
Vehicle on hire:
60 poses at Cowley road Garage last Friday
afternoon.
60 YS03ZLE Scania K114 YS2K4X20001844171 Irizar Century C49Ft to service 28/11/03 with X90 branding
To cover for Volvos having refurbishment work completed.
Liveries:
Trident 105 received red livery 11/03
Vehicles reregistered:
Some of the reregistered Darts.
402-407 to R2-7 OXF 11/03
Rob Williams sent the following observations:
Tue 2nd
15 - X70
113 - 4A (with blinds set to 000 Oxford Bus Company and paper A4 blind with 4A
Elms Rise on it)
403 - 400
510 - X13 (had perfect shot of it until a tourist decided to walk in front of my
lens!)
Wed 3rd:
650 on 5
Fri 5th:
408 on 5 & 508 on 5B
Friday night in Oxford always produces some interesting workings due to late running caused by severe traffic congestion. Last Friday was no exception and Volvo 639 worked the 1730 35A service to Didcot.
As advised above 511 will shortly return off hire to Metrobus when the Citaros
enter service.
Harris - High Wycombe
On a visit to Harris depot at Binders Yard last
Saturday a new structure was noted
providing covered space for work on the coaches and outside was this recently
delivered Mercedes/Beluga YE03VSL.
Carfax corner is always an excellent spot for
spotting and here route 3 branded 936 turns into St Aldates.
Rob Williams wrote to say ... 16522 - X1, 20008 - X27 (X4 branded) & 22930 - 10 on Dec 1st.
Tue 2nd
22209 also on the 10, and I think 16141 went on the route in the evening. 16402 on 7A
Fri 5th:
20704 reappeared at the depot today in new livery
Ralph Adams writes regarding the use of deckers "One double decker is out stationed at Harwell. It starts as a 32 at 0604, then an X4 to Oxford at 0635, 34 to Harwell at 0700, 34 0737, 32 0802, 0856, 0948 to Abingdon, then for daily fuelling at Oxford. 32 1215,1350, and somehow then becomes the 27A at 1730 to Bicester returning to Oxford. Initially the afternoon service from Harwell was another double decker having worked as a 31 from Oxford. Not sure if it is now a 32 via Didcot as that would be the time the scholars leave Didcot."
Ralph says that these
observations were from a few weeks ago and may now have changed.
Tube 50038, the victim of fire damage in December 2002 is about to return to
Oxford having had work done on the interior which has been retrimmed and spruced
up and it appears some work has also been done to the exterior.
Witney Dart 32628 works a 20 service from Gloucester
Green
SCUC 16227 works an X6 service towards Oxford
Station.
It was interesting to note that yesterday, Saturday, the 1800 departure from Oxford to London seen climbing Stokenchurch hill on the M40 was very fully loaded indeed. It is difficult to see how many passengers were actually on board but every seat seemed to be taken.
Thames Travel.
Thames Travel have also announced their Christmas programme of services.
Tuesday, 23rd December - Normal Service
Wednesday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
Normal Service until 2000 hrs ? No Service after 2000 hrs
The last buses on this day will be
X39 1940 Wallingford to Oxford, 2015 Oxford to Wallingford
101 1915 Oxford to Watlington
105 1905 Wallingford to Cholsey, 1911 Cholsey to Wallingford,
1915 Oxford to Wallingford
132 1917 Wallingford to Goring Station, 1932 Goring Station to
Benson, 1957 RAF Benson to Wallingford
Thursday 25th December (Christmas Day) - No Service
Friday 26th December (Boxing Day) - No Service
Saturday 27th December - Normal Saturday Service
Sunday 28th December - Normal Sunday Service
Monday 29th December & Tuesday 30th December
Saturday Service, EXCEPT the following will NOT OPERATE:
X39: 2245, 2345 Wallingford to Oxford
2315, 0015 Oxford to Wallingford
102: 1915, 2015, 2215 Watlington to Oxford
2115, 2315 Oxford to Watlington
132: 0015 Goring Station to RAF
Benson
135: 2340 Wallingford to Goring
Station
140: 1945, 2045, 2145, 2245 Reading to Woodcote
2300 Woodcote to Reading
142: 2004, 2104, 2204 Woodcote to Reading
2320 Reading to Woodcote
The following additional services will operate:
TB35: 1740 Wallingford to Moulsford
135: 0805 Goring to Wallingford, via Moulsford
140: 1840 Reading to Woodcote
Wednesday 31st December (New Year's Eve)
A Saturday Service will operate until 2000 hrs. No Service after 2000 hrs
Last buses X39: 1940 Wallingford to Oxford
2015 Oxford to Wallingford
101: 1915 Oxford to Watlington
1810 Watlington to Oxford
102: No Service
105: 1905 Wallingford to Cholsey
1911 Cholsey to Wallingford
132: 1905 Wallingford to Benson, 1915
RAF Benson to Goring Station, 1950 Goring Station to Wallingford (ONLY)
140: 1840 Reading
to Woodcote
142: 1800
Woodcote to Reading
The following additional services will operate:
TB35 1740 Wallingford to Moulsford
135 0805 Goring to Wallingford, via Moulsford
Thursday 1st January 2004 (New Year's Day)
Sunday Service on Route X39 ONLY (Wallingford - Oxford)
Friday 2nd January 2004
Saturday Service,
EXCEPT the 140/142 late services will NOT OPERATE. Hence
Last Buses: 142 1800 Woodcote to Reading
140 1840 Reading to Woodcote
The following additional services will operate:
TB35 1740 Wallingford to Moulsford
135 0805 Goring to Wallingford, via Moulsford
All Friday Market Services will run - 131, 133, TB31 & Warborough TB103
Normal services resume 3rd January 2004.
PHOTO CORNER
If you have a digital camera and wish
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malcolmhc@aol.com
I welcome your photos for
inclusion on this page. Please send them to me at
malcolmhc@aol.com
This is a most interesting site which I do recommend
Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002