News Page
Concessionary
Travel, Buses in the Landscape, Running Days and Historical articles
Issue 285
(OBP-498)
published 1st April 2009
Now in our 11th year
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002
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
To see the pictures full size just click on the thumbnail
Concessionary Travel, Buses in the Landscape, Running Days and Historical articles
Concessionary Travel
Changes to the rules from April 1st 2009
Possibly the biggest change to the use of Concession Passes since their introduction a year ago is that from today, April 1st, it will no longer, in nearly all cases, to enjoy free travel on National Express coach services.
It was possible to use ones pass on certain sections of a journey if not for the whole journey. Indeed last year I travelled from Plymouth to St. Austell using my pass during my journey from Stokenchurch to Land's End. On the service of which I have most knowledge, the 737 Oxford-Stansted service, one could use ones pass between High Wycombe and Hatfield or v.v. and also on the 767 or 777 service between Luton Airport and Stansted.
This use was related to stops within less than 15 miles, hence the lack of use between Hatfield and Stansted for example.
Changes to the rules effective April 1st mean that any coach service where more than 50 per cent of the seats can be pre-booked will no longer accept passes. This means all National Express services and maybe some other services will be affected.
To be honest, from a personal point of view, I have always wondered why coach services should accept such passes, since these were created with bus travel in mind.
So now this concession is no more and the problem of funding rumbles on here in the U.K.
Don't forget the Travel Line web site: http://www.traveline.info/index.htm
This site is really good and one only as to realise it is in regions so you need to know where you want to go and which route roughly you want to use.
For some ideas refer to my report on my trip to Land's End : http://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/120608.htm
Buses in the Landscape
From Bob Stanger
"During the past five weeks I have travelled to Edinburgh on four occasions to collect ex LT Routemasters from Lothian Transport. They have been bought by EnsignBus. Most of the vehicles were open top tour buses in various liveries - please see attached by way of example - however the remaining two were as withdrawn examples bought by Lothian following the sale by Arriva.
On the first three trips I was certain that a good photograph could be obtained if we were able to park the buses in a lay-by just short of Berwick on Tweed on the A1. However, the lay-by was always full until the last journey. I hope you like the result and will consider it for the above feature."
Other contributions
Richmond Bridge on 9th March from John Marsh.
Luton Airport bus station backed
by the Control Tower and easyJet buildings. 23rd March - Malcolm Crowe.
Luton town centre with spring
flowers - 23rd March Malcolm Crowe.
Heading towards Dunstable on the A505. 23rd March 2009.
Geneva.
Running Days
Don't forget Cobham on April 5th : http://www.lbpt.org/events.html
If anyone has any events that they would like included on the OCBP please let me know: malcolmhc@aol.com
Historical items
Answer to a recent question from John Hammond.
From Steve Annells on the stop "City Vicar"
The stop has been named 'City Vicar' for at least forty years, probably more, but you'd have to be local and of a certain age to use that name for it. In the same way, I don't know how many people who live at the north end of Drayton would still refer to it as Newtown, since it's over fifty years since it was the new end of the village."
New Thames Valley history from Paul Lacey
Paul's latest volume in his comprehensive work on Thames Valley will soon be available.
Paul Lacey is pleased to announce the completion of his latest and long-awaited book:
A HISTORY OF THE THAMES VALLEY TRACTION CO. LTD., 1946 ~ 1960
224 A4 pages, perfect bound in laminated covers, with 544 half-tone illustrations, full fleet list, service fleet list, route map, and appendices covering livery details, background to Newbury & District and South Midland, as well as allocations of vehicles, working arrangements and premises. A highly detailed and evocative account of all aspects of the Thames Valley activities, with the experience of over 40 years of research, fully illustrated with almost all unpublished photos
Retail Price: £25 Order your copy NOW direct for just £20!
Please quote the OCBP when ordering
Other titles currently available:
A History of the Thames Valley Traction Co. Ltd., 1920 – 1930
Retail Price: £15 Special Offer Price: £5
A History of the Thames Valley Traction Co. Ltd., 1931 – 1945
Retail Price: £25 Special Offer Price: £5
Thackray’s Way – A Family in Road Transport
Retail Price: £10 Special Offer Price: £5
50 Years of South Midland, 1921 – 1970 Written by David Flitton
Retail Price: £11 Special Offer Price: £5
Offer prices apply to orders placed with the new volume only. Send to:
Paul Lacey, 17 Sparrow Close, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 3HT, cheque payable to Paul Lacey -(post & packing inclusive).
If you live locally and prefer to collect, please call on 0118 979 4097 to arrange a mutually convenient time to visit (please do not just turn up!).
Menu for News Page Issue 24th March 2009
Archive Index (previous News Pages)
Editorial & Features plus Picture Corner
Concessionary Travel, Buses in the Landscape, Running Days and Historical articles.