News Page
News of the local
companies
Issue 289
(OBP-502)
Monday 25th May 2009
(next update week ending 7th June 2009)
This section published 9th May 2009
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Company & fleet news – 25th May 2009
This issue contains a lot of activity in the various companies throughout our area. New arrivals, various changes to fleets and reference to the Brookes buses of Stagecoach who are fast approaching their final days of running this contract. One hears that the new buses ordered by Oxford Bus for the Brookes contract are close to delivery. details of the re-registration of the five Oxford Tube coaches which is a forerunner of the delivery of a new fleet of coaches for this service. Even the smaller companies are full of activity with Whites running three different buses in a very short space of time on their route 63.
The road works in Headington are almost completed now with only some traffic lights work to be finalised. Journeys into and out of Oxford from the east are now much quicker and the new road surface is a real treat to drive on. This leaves only High Street to be completed and the major road works, a feature for so long of travel in Oxford, will be completed.
Finally the new arrangements for bus services in Queen Street and the re-routing of services to reduce use of that street are near to introduction, despite criticism and objection in many quarters. It remains to be seen how these matters pan out.
This company has been busy with the introduction of new buses and branding of others. News from readers, including pictures has been prolific and I believe we have one of the most comprehensive updates yet seen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Wrights bodied VDL buses for the 300/301 services are seen at Ware depot on
16th May.
The batch is 3407-3412 and 3412 is registered KX09KDV. Note the black fleet
names. Picture by Adam Green.
The current buses used on the 300/301 services are depicted by 3304 seen here at
Hemel on 19th May.
I understand these buses will move to the 100/101/102 services which run from
Stevenage to Luton.
Picture by M Crowe.
From Adam Green
Adam took a trip to Brighton which appears to have used one of the Green Line liveried coaches, 4053 R453SKX, more normally used on the 758/759 services to London from Hemel.
The photo of
4053 above was taken at Box Hill en route to Brighton. Picture by Adam Green.
Adam notes that Dart 3495 (Stevenage NG) made a appearance on Friday 15th may on route 300 and 301's.
He
also saw 4055 one of the ex Greenline from Stevenage it was in Harlow on trainer
duties. Adam Green.
Whilst in Harlow Adam snapped
3859 in the bus
station ready to go to Stansted. Adam Green.
Adam notes that 3231,2407 & 3255 were on Harlow town services. (Friday 15th May)
Of interest when mentioning Dart 3231 I also saw this bus
at Stansted on 13th May. Although branded for route 10 (a Harlow local route),
it was, as seen above, working a 510 duty between Harlow and Stansted. This is
the first time I've seen such a branded bus on the 510. M Crowe.
Adam
recorded 4368 on the 797 service on 11th May and new Van Hool 4380 on the 757 on
the same day.
From Ian Brown, Hemel Hempstead.
According to
Intalink, the Herts CC giveaway brochure, Arriva are launching two new diagrams.
St Albans and Kinsbourne Green to London Victoria. Starting on 29th June the new
712 will operate 8 journeys to London and nine back on Mon-Fri plus 4 each way
on Saturday and none on Sunday. The 713 will operate Mon-Fri peak journey from
Kinsbourne Green (north of Harpenden, south of Luton) and one from Harpenden
continuing as 712. Four evening journeys back. Apparently operated as Green Line
with Hemel vehicles.
The latest news from Intalink can be viewed at the link below and gives full details.
http://www.intalink.org.uk/downloads/PDFS/issue%2058.pdf
John Hammond noted that Arriva "bus of the future" LF02PVA 3890 was on the 280 on 1st May in Oxford at around 6pm with no destination and a bit of paper in the window with 280 drawn on.
I took this picture of 3890, with
its distinctive livery, working a Line 300 service to High Wycombe on 15th May.
I was told that although notionally based at Leighton Buzzard, it comes to
Aylesbury for maintenance and as such appears on other routes.
Mark Turner asks ".....can u find out what has happened to the DAF Arriva buses which were based at Hemel for route 500. They were fleet numbers 3441,3442,3443,3449 (R201 VPU etc) of which 3449 has since moved to Luton deport in Feb 09. Please can you find out what happened to the others they not been seen on road since the other DAF buses that came from Watford depot in Dec 08."
Many thanks to Sandi at Arriva who advises that at present they are parked up out of use at Hemel. Can I ask readers to look out for these buses and see where they may turn up?
Andy Millwood writes "..... think I must have been in High Wycombe same day as Gavin Francis took photos of The Ex-London General B7TLs. In the background on one of the photos is Green line Coach 4054. carrying orange livery and on training duties.
I also saw that Arriva had one of the new Enviro DDs on Route 300. It was 5439 in place of the Citaros now used,
Another interesting vehicle was a red Dart 3226, where has this come from."
Between Andy and Gavin Francis we have pictures of these events. However as to why Dart 3226 is at Wycombe remains a mystery as it does not appear on the latest fleet list for Wycombe.
Andy Millwood managed this picture of 5439 on Line 300. This is a rather
unusual event.
Gavin Francis managed these three pictures of the red Dart in Stokenchurch,
the orange trainer in Wycombe and also another trainer on the same day.
Readers should note that the red Dart, 3226, although on Line 40 is showing
Not in Service!!!!
Simon Oliver writes "I've attached a picture of East Lancs Scania 3146, which has been repainted into a dark blue livery and with "Rainbow Routes" route 32 branding (Booker - Sands - Town Centre - Micklefield). The picture was taken (slightly off route) leaving Reading town centre on the 850 to High Wycombe via Twyford."
The date was 21st May - picture by
Simon Oliver.
Gavin Francis also got a number of pictures of this bus on its correct route, 32, and I am reliably informed that a number of other Wycombe based Scanias are to receive the same livery.
Pictures by Gavin Francis
taken on 22nd May 2009.
Peter Cabin writes ".....couple of notes for you. Arriva 5121 (G291UMJ) was in service today 21/05/09, working on service 32 Micklefield - Lane End. Was this bus de commissioned in the first place as noted the other week?"
Well Pete I don't think so. It is noted as allocated to Wycombe from May 1st 2009 having previously been at Aylesbury.
On the subject of Olympians and Scanias Mark Munday writes "Last week we waved goodbye to D/D 5120 and the training bus which were in the back row of our yard at Cressex. I am led to believe that 3330 could be going as well but have not had this confirmed yet. All the Scania's at Wycombe are going to be sent to Watford over the next few weeks to be repainted into Blue Route 32 for the Micklefield to Booker Asda/ Lane End route. 3146 was the first one to go. This will leave 3143, 3144, 3145, 3158, 3163, 3203, 3204 and 3205. 3841 the Volvo B10B has been returned to us and a decision on what is happening with this vehicle is awaited."
Nigel Peach writes "...an unusual working on Sat 22nd, red MPD Dart 3482 (W482YGS) was on Park and Ride route 100 (two of the three P & R VDLs were up at the Cressex depot)."
Scania 3143 mentioned above is a recent transfer in from Stevenage. Picture by
Gavin Francis on 22nd May 2009.
Some may say dear old 503, now 3833, is still hard at
work in Wycombe. Picture by Gavin Francis on 14th May 2009.
A further selection of photographs follows.
Hemel garage now provides buses on route 52 which brings their buses into High
Wycombe. DAF 4523 sets off for its return home.
14th May 2009 by Gavin Francis.
Some of the oldest deckers still in Arriva service are represented by
Aylesbury's 5102 seen here on the 261 in Oxford.
Gavin Francis 7th May 2009.
The destinations on these buses are so difficult to get a decent picture of but
this Olympian is on the 32.
Gavin Francis - 22nd May 2009.
The one unbranded Volvo 3863 is seen in Frogmoor, High Wycombe on a 31 working.
M Crowe 8th May 2009.
The only time in recent weeks that the 321 sees anything but Citaros is on a
Sunday.
However on 13th May DAF 4426 was on this route, seen at Luton airport. M Crowe.
Another unusual working
in recent days was this Enviro 400, 5457 branded for route 6, seen in Hemel en
route to Aylesbury.
M Crowe - 21st May 2009.
Arriva variety in High
Wycombe - M Crowe 8th May 2009
Andrew Morgan caught up with Olympian 5136 operating service
6 in Hemel. 12th May 2009.
Arriva - Versa Demonstrator
YJ58VCC r 6 Welwyn Garden City bus station to do with warranty work on Versas
2403-2405 030509 A Morgan.
Arriva GL 4364 Hemel on Tesco
route 101 replaced Tesco 2179 which went off on the 32 to Northchurch post
office 120509 A Morgan.
Earlier this week I noticed the unique "Bus of the Future" VOLVO B7L 3890 (LF02PVA) with Wrightbus Eclipse Urban 35 seat bodywork, new in March 2002, working Line 300 from Aylesbury and passing through High Wycombe. When sampling Citaro 3923 in Wycombe yesterday, Friday 8th, I was told by the driver that it is based at Leighton Buzzard but sometimes comes to Aylesbury for attention and as such can see service on other routes. Indeed according to the very latest Arriva The Shires fleet list, provided to me courtesy ATS, this bus is allocated to Aylesbury.
On the same subject John Hammond reports that this bus was used on the 280 in Oxford at around 6pm with no destination and a bit of paper in the window with 280 drawn on.
Following the arrival of the ex London General Volvos I now have further details and a final fleet list with the new Carousel fleet numbers. Steve Burns advised that he had used number, if not prefixes, following on from the Agora Line single decks AL1-3.
Nigel Peach writes "....attached are pictures taken on Saturday 22nd and on Sunday 24th May. Four of the recently purchased Volvo double deckers were in the yard. The most interesting picture is of EVL6 (EVL26) - PN02XCK. I saw one other later in Flackwell Heath (EVL4). I’ve noticed that rather than having their original London fleet numbers, they are sporting different ones with Carousel. They can be seen below the front windscreen on the passenger side. I have established the various vehicles with their new numbers and have listed the full details below.
EVL6 was running on the A40 Heathrow route on Friday. I wonder if they will be upgrading this to double deck?"
EVL4 PN02XBZ was LG EVL36
EVL5 PN02XCA was LG EVL12
EVL6 PN02XCK was LG EVL26
EVL7 PN02XCS was LG EVL32
EVL8 PN02XCT was LG EVL33
One can just make out the fleet number below the front
nearside window. Picture by Nigel Peach.
The EVIL rules OK -
. Nigel
Peach's picture shows EVL33 32 and 12 (PN02XCT/S/A)
The continued use of the EVL type code is nice but I remember that at Sutton they were referred to as "EVILS". Steve tells me they perform really well on the hills around Wycombe.
Nigel goes on to say "I think I mentioned that their oldest Metrobus, M336 (EVE 336V) has received a fresh coat of paint. It is looking extremely smart and shiny and has been working route 1 to Bourne End all this week. It has eluded my camera until Sunday 23rd."
No problem Nigel, our good friend Gavin Francis has come up with a nice picture
of this bus,
which does indeed look rather smart for such an old vehicle which will see its
30th
birthday next year.
Nigel's other picture shows three buses at the main depot, all in different
liveries. Ex Hotel Hoppa P232AAP, Olympian G530VBB and Dart S523 KFL.
Finally Nigel mentions "Optare P202BNR appears to be out of service. It hasn’t moved from its position in the yard for some months now."
In the last full news issue (287) I also mentioned the possible arrival of FOUR M A N 14.220/MCV buses from Birmingham Airport. Thanks to Ben Morroll I can show readers some pictures of these buses in service at Birmingham.
Pictures from Ben Morroll taken in 2006.
The Citaro fleet continues to give good service and whilst
these buses normally run the A40 to Heathrow, they can be seen on other route
such as Line 4 and school runs.
MB52 seen in the second picture lost its overall branding sometime ago. Pictures by Gavin Francis.
Ex London General Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking's EVL36 and now EVL4 enters the
Eden Bus Station on the 11th May.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Earlier in the month reports were received from a number of people.
Stuart Turner reported that on Thurs 7th in Amersham on Carousel Line 4 he saw ex Go-Ahead EVL33 PN02XCT, still in Go-Ahead livery, but with a Carousel fleet name on front. This was the first reported sighting of these buses.
Peter Cabin noted that ex National Express Hotel Hoppa P232AAP had moved into the Baker Street garage from the bus yard up the road.
Chris from Nu-Venture wrote to advise that buses acquired from Carousel Buses earlier this month were:-
6/5/09 R988FNW
7/5/09 R986FNW
8/5/09 R984FNW
to become D88/D86/D84 at Nu-Venture
They were acquired for operation on our new Transweald routes 295/297 from 11/5/09 and retain their two-green livery. D88 which was acquired in Red livery was taken straight for repaint into the two green livery and arrived here on 9/5/09. We loaned Dennis Dart SLF [R720BNF] to Carousel buses from 6-7/5/09. Did anyone get a picture of R720BNF during its short stay in High Wycombe?
D88 [R988FNW]
after collection from repaint at Nu-Venture's depot on Sunday 10/5/09 - Chris,
Nu-Venture.
The small Dart used on the weekend 327 service is normally used on the Harpenden town service during the week.
John Hammond writes
"Trident V905FEC is just about to be converted to open top, the last of the four ex Blue Triangle Tridents to be converted. V908FEC is finished, and goes for MOT test prior to entering service." (It should be in service as I write this issue. Ed.)18th May 2009.
"Pictures of 53 & 54 used to take a party of passengers from the Four Pillars hotel to Oxford Town Hall. It wasn't the weather for a ride on the top deck really!"
A recent addition to the ranks of drivers used on CSS services in Oxford is this
young lady who passed her PCV test late last year.
She is the first lady driver on CSS since Caz Morgan left to join Stagecoach.
Her smile is quite infectious. M Crowe.
These two pictures show the now more normal fare on the 702 and were taken by
Gavin Francis in Bulleid Way on 19th May 2009.
Single deck coaches still appear on this service as seen by this Scania-Irizar
leaving Bulleid Way en route to Bracknell.
Picture by Gavin Francis taken 18th May 2009.
A nice picture for detail of the rear of the7 series Citaros from Slough, often
used on the 74 to High Wycombe.
Picture by Gavin Francis taken on 22nd May 2009.
The tendered 104 service continues to be provided by Heyfordian with Enviro 200
buses such as KX07KOE seen in St Aldates
on 7th May. Picture by
Gavin Francis.
Heyfordian use Ayats Bravo double deck coaches on the Icknield School contract
as seen in the picture above.OU07JWD seen at Lewknor
on 11th May. Picture by
Gavin Francis.
Heyfordian Y164EAY a recent addition from Hookways and seen in Banbury on the
route 81 - 9th May 2009. Picture by
Richard Sharman.
A new series of "Coach Trip" is now being shown on TV and uses MT04MTT in place of the last series which used T100MTT. This time the coach , whilst once again all white, features a Union Jack on the rear and a very large one on the roof.
A lot of news comes from National Express with the sale of London operations. So far no changes are mooted for the coach side of the business which is what the section covers.
A new livery variation
Selwyn's operate through Oxford on service 303 and last week one was surprised to see this Levante with Cup Football branding.
An early Volvo-Levante of Selwyn's has a lot of badges!
Seen when working a 303 service through Oxford's
Gloucester Green on 17th May. Pictures by M Crowe
For many of us the problem of catching a PB with its destination showing is
always a challenge.
Here NXL19 heads for home after Gatwick and Heathrow. The location - junction 5
of the M40. M Crowe.
This time of year, especially on Bank holidays, sees a number of relief services
to cater for demand.
This could be a very heavy year for NEx in view of the number of people said to
be cutting back and taking UK holidays.
The picture above shows a Roberts 100 seater operating service 440 from
Leicester to London on Bank Holiday Monday.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Originally
used on the MK Commuter Express to London, these Arriva owned Levantes are now
used on service 455 to London.
Here we see 4102 heading down Park Lane as it nears the end of its journey from
Northampton on 11th May 2009 . Picture by Gavin Francis.
This coach is operated by Bournemouth Transport as their 318. This company
operates on services 032 and 035 into London.
The coach is seen resting in Sammy's VCS before working a return service to the
south coast on 12th May. Picture by Gavin Francis.
Bruce's Coaches operate quite recent Levantes through Oxford on the 539, as seen
above on 16th May .
They have used the National Express logos to good effect on the rear view
mirrors, something I have not seen on any other operators vehicles.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Another
Stagecoach operation is that of service 007 Dover to London.
The Volvo above is seen near VCS on May 18th. Picture by Gavin Francis.
Veolia
Nottingham operate a number of NEx diagrams including the 450 from Nottingham to
London.
On May 11th the 0700 service from Nottingham was operated by the Excalibur, once
graced with NEx livery but now carrying the colours of Dunn Line.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Stagecoach
in Oxfordshire operate the 737 service to and from Stansted via Luton Airport.
Here we see the last of the quintet of Levantes used, 59215 crossing the M40 jc
5 overbridge on its way back home.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
Yet another
Stagecoach NEx operation is that on service 310 covered by East Midlands.
The picture above shows the 0935 departure from Poole to Bradford passing
through Banbury on 9th May in the early afternoon.
Picture by Richard Sharman.
I have to say how useful I have found the HB Publications - National Express Datafile 2009 edition. Check the link at http://hbpub.co.uk for details. At £11.00 I think it is quite a bargain.
With the onset of fine weather and the summer approaching, this company seems to have been providing a higher profile, not only in Oxford but further afield. If one is looking for another and more leisurely way to travel then maybe this is the company for you.
Seen in Oxford on 16th May by Gavin Francis and looking very fine indeed, this
Lodekka once worked for Thames Valley.
This time the location is Stokenchurch and another wedding function.
The Bedford OB 29 seater is an all time favourite from the late '40s and early
'50s. M Crowe.
Further to the report in issue 288 on the arrival of two single door Volvo B10BLE/Wrights Renown buses from Brighton & Hove, these buses are presently being prepared for service in Oxford and will take fleet numbers 798 and 799.
Last week I saw Volvo B10B 611 heading towards the depot along the eastern by-pass. It looked quite strange as it is still in the old white top livery. I wonder where it had come from and what was its purpose in going to the Oxford depot?
All three of the green Citaros are now repainted in red and often appear on 15 road.
This picture of 822, the last to be repainted, was taken on 24th May whilst
working 15 road.
Picture by Vikki Lee.
A trio caught in the lens of Gavin Francis on the 17th, 13th and 7th
respectively - 822, 823 and 824.
Gavin was quite sure that 818, now
devoid of route branding, was once adorned with 15 road branding.
The pictures above prove this, showing the bus as it is now and as it was on
13th April 2006.
Pictures by Gavin Francis.
Coming to the end of their lives with Oxford are 640-643, being replaced by the
repainted Citaros and the two Volvos from Brighton.
Here 641 rounds the corner at Carfax on an 8 road working on 16th May 2009.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
I had to include this picture from Gavin of Dart 402 on 5 road.
Much to his annoyance the destination display failed to come out losing much of
the value. However the rear view does show 5 on the screen.
Picture by Gavin
Francis.
If I have a favourite in Oxford at present it must be 817 whose livery is
delightful.
One wonders for how much longer?
Picture by Gavin Francis taken on 7th May 2009.
This picture of 902 backed by a nice building shows the strange combination of
the green front on a red bus.
Picture by Gavin Francis on 16th May 2009, so very different from the
commemorative livery above.
Trident 909 looks very smart on a 35 road working to Abingdon.
Picture by Gavin Francis taken on 7th May 2009.
Recently Trident 101 has gained
another version of the Ashmolean super rear branding, featuring one of OBC's own
drivers.
Taken on 15th May by Gavin Francis.
Normally 5 road only sees single decks but from time to time a Trident will
appear and on May 16th Gavin Francis caught 102 near the end of its
journey to the Rail Station.
Coach feature.
Scania-Irizar 37 nears the end of its two hour run from Oxford being seen in
Park Lane, London on 11th May 2009.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Gavin Francis caught up with the last Scania to be repainted into London
espress livery and only recently given super rear branding.
The date is the 16th May and the location Gloucester Green.
The ancillary fleet.
Oxford Bus have never seemed very keen on admitting that certain vehicles belong to them This is very strongly shown in the two pictures below.
Several Ford minibuses are owned for crew transport from the depot to the city.
This is 958.
Here we see one which has gained a registration once carried by a Plaxton
Excalibur coach, V17OXF.
Taken on 25th May by Gavin Francis.
Training coach 961 is seen in Speedwell Street. This was once coach 16 - V16OXF.
Pictured by Gavin Francis on May 15th 2009.
Pearces of Oxford
A new addition to the Pearces fleet is the Plaxton, OU09BZD seen at Lewknor on
May 11th by Gavin Francis.
Plastow's of Wheatley
Although not brand new, Plastow's also have a recent Volvo addition to the fleet
being another new style Jonckheere, FJ07VKK.
Taken on 19th May by Malcolm Crowe.
Please refer to the Editorial page for consultation work the company is involved in on services to the Wantage area. Editorial & Features plus Picture Corner
John Podgorski (www.busmopolitan.org) writes that former SC Darts M61/3VJO are now with New Horizon Travel of Frating, near Colchester, Essex. They were acquired recently via Southdown PSV.
A regular duty is on the car park shuttle at Harwich International Port, and they also appear on schools.
Final days of Stagecoach working Brookes.
The Brookes
contract has not got long to run for Stagecoach and in the next few weeks we
will record as much as we can of this operation.
The picture above is interesting as one wonders if Oxford's 908 might be used on
a relief working at some point in the future.
Hope they remember not to use it under the station bridge as its height is more
than the equivalent SC model.
. Picture by Gavin Francis.
Brookes variety in Oxford by Stagecoach. Taken on the 7th, 6th and the last two
on the 16th as a record of SC days.
. Pictures by Gavin Francis.
Trident 18127 from
Witney depot works the S2 service on 16th May . Picture by
Gavin Francis.
Enviro 300 22763, branded for the 7A/B works a 7C on 16th May 2009. Picture by
Gavin Francis.
Darts on parade at Horspath. 34472, 33822 and 34471 await their duties on 4th
May.
Picture by
Malcolm Crowe.
Two of the branded backs now in use on route 1.
Pictured on 4th May by
Malcolm Crowe.
Other SC companies.
SC UC 53613 runs into Oxford at the end of its journey from Cambridge on May
16th. Picture
by Gavin Francis.
Sister coach 53603 was having engine trouble when recorded by Richard Sharman
on May 22nd at almost the same spot. The indicator display is unusual..
More trouble for SC Oxford visitors when this M A N -Enviro 300 came to grief in
Gloucester Green.
Richard Sharman also included Oxford depots new engineering van
giving assistance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As mentioned in the Introduction page it seems that a new fleet of coaches for the Oxford Tube is in the pipeline! The first sign of this is the removal of the cherished number plates carried on current Tubes 50121-50125. These were removed during the week ending 23rd May and the coaches in question now carry OX04 plates.
50121 was T40UBE
now OX04BZT this was the second coach to be
changed.
50122 was T44UBE now
OX04BZU this was the first coach to be changed.
50123 was T50UBE now
OX04BZS this was the fourth coach to be changed.
50124 was T55UBE now
OX04BZP this was the last coach to be changed.
50125 was T60UBE now
OX04BZR this was the third coach to be changed.
I am now including various pictures of the changes taken before and after these changes.
An
unusual opportunity occurred on May 21st when I was shunting buses up from
Excel.
These three Tubes were, by coincidence parked up presenting a unique opportunity
for a picture.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe.
Gavin Francis was on hand for this excellent picture of 50122 reversing off
bay 3 at Gloucester Green on 24th May.
The registration on this coach was changed on May 21st 2009.
Gavin Francis caught 50106 heading southwards on Park Lane, nearing the end
of its journey from Oxford on May 11th 2009.
Gavin Francis
took this rear nearside shot of
50103 waiting for the traffic lights in Worcester St
on May 19th. This is the coach I photographed in Stuttgart five years ago when
it was brand new
and ready to leave the Neoplan factory.
Gavin Francis
was well placed to capture the
last of the Oxford based Neoplans, 50125,
as it passed the Nostalgia Bristol FLF in St Aldates on May 16th.
Gavin Francis captured two of the Buchan Link Neoplans which operate on hire to
Megabus for the Scotland-London services.
Victoria is the setting for these two, 50144 taken on May 7th and 50142 taken on
May 19th respectively.
Not all the Neoplans have lost their Megabus livery, as seen above by 50137 in
Victoria on May 6th by Gavin Francis.
Of course many Megabus services are now run
by the Volvo B12BTs as seen above when Cwmbran's 54007 was seen on
May 15th by Gavin Francis.
Another one of Cwmbran's Volvos, 54005, is seen displaying an interesting
variation on a destination on May 25th by Gavin Francis.
I would also note that the overnight service from Scotland is mainly worked by Neoplans, very often with trailers when loadings are heavy and extra baggage space is required. We seem to lack pictures of these coaches in service with their trailers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.thames-travel.co.uk/
M A N/MCV Sterling AJ58PZS seen in Oxford on 7th May showing off its super rear
ad by Gavin Francis.
The
Scanias are very impressive deckers and 508 was seen on the X40 by Gavin
Francis on May 15th.
The 32 is in for a nasty surprise if this Vampire gets loose. May 10th by
Marcus Lapthorn.
http://www.unobus.info/index.html
Some interesting pictures and news was received from Andrew Morgan who says
"Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Dart SLF 648 (R648VMJ) which was burnt out in Hatfield it is to be scrapped as the insurance company value it at £10,000 and a new engine is said to cost £7,000 on its own and the rebuild will cost more then the £3,000 left over ."The vehicle was later seen going north on a low loader.
Uno 252 N431FKK broke down in Welwyn Garden City bus station pictured on May
11th by Andrew
Morgan.
Uno KE03TWC
is seen working a 634 service at Hemel on May 19th -0 an unusual bus for this
route. Picture by M Crowe.
Whites Coaches.
This Versa appears from time to time on the 63 Southmoor route to Oxford.
Picture by Malcolm Crowe taken on May 12th.
Variety was maintained on the 15th May when this Plaxton Cheetah was used and
pictured by Gavin Francis.
Yet again another bus was used on May 19th when this Vario appeared, not seen by
us before, S107HGX. Picture by Gavin Francis.
Menu for News Page Issue 25th May 2009
Archive Index (previous News Pages)
Editorial & Features plus Picture Corner
Concessionary Travel, Buses in the Landscape, Running Days and Historical articles.