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  

Issue 117
(OBP-332)
Sunday 27th February 2005
next update week ending 12th March 2005

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

A very cold week has drawn to a conclusion and if the weather forecast is to be believed we have not finished yet. It seemed that The Chilterns caught a lot of snow and at Stokenchurch it lay for several days.

My last trip to Germany prior to my retirement last Thursday was undertaken by car and I did enjoy the German autobahns, especially the A3 where I could cruise at 200 kph without fearing a "jam sandwich" up my rear with blue lights flashing. Ah well back to reality and 70 mph from now onwards. Not only was the fuel cheaper (£0.66p per litre) but also the cigars I smoke are half the price we pay in the U.K. and that's duty paid. On my return I nearly got caught up with the Bush cavalcade on the A3 but just got through in time. I also enjoyed the Channel Tunnel except for the 45min delay on the outward journey at Calais (Coquelles) where there had been a light snow shower as we arrived and they seemed totally unprepared for such an event.

Well, now I'm home for good and can devote more time to the page and our very pleasant hobby of an interest in buses.

Your contributions continue to give me a lot of pleasure and there is always some very useful items to make the page what it is.

The Oxford Times continues to feature articles about the new Westgate Centre highlighting the problems facing public transport. If I can summarize matters as I see them, it all hinges on how far people want to walk to get a bus. The planning suggests on street termini in Castle Street and Norfolk Street with a new road being built between Speedwell Street and Norfolk Street. The Oxford Times quotes Ms Jane McFarland as saying " I am confident an appropriate solution will be brought forward." She also predicted that the Westgate solution would make a major contribution to existing transport facilities in Oxford.

Other options being looked at, according to The Oxford times, are The Oxpens, Gloucester Green, the Rail Station and Speedwell Street.

Now it is always risky to comment on what is so obviously a difficult problem for those in the position of solving the problem. However one must note that the old Gloucester Green had a great deal of space for services, especially layover facilities. Today the problem of layover points is a very difficult one for operators and during the summer The Oxpens is often very crowded indeed. Also The Oxpens offers no refreshment facilities for waiting crews and as such is rather unpopular. There are public toilets but these are not exactly salubrious. Equally in the evening there are often a large number of "kids" around and young people racing around and generally giving an air of a lack of safety.

Speedwell Street and Castle Street are already used by a number of terminating and through services and there is the ever present problem of illegally parked cars, of which nothing ever seems to be done. Added to this is the fact that "OTS" areas are still ignored by many drivers until the police start a check and then, as if by magic, the number of cars reduces dramatically. It must be the jungle telegraph at work.

Whilst on the subject of the roads in Oxford has anyone but me noticed how poor the surfaces are. There is a large area in the middle of St Aldates which has what appears to be a temporary surface, the London Road in Headington, whilst resurfaced a year or more ago is also now badly holed. I won't pass comment on The High, representing as it dies a main entry into this historic city. What visiting tourist think I cannot imagine. In fairness the Abingdon Road is much improved but is, of course, far too narrow for the volume of traffic.

Running a bus service under these conditions must I feel sure prove most trying for the operators as the present work in George Street has shown over the past week. I do feel that the city fathers have a decision to make, is it to be public transport or private cars. I don't think there is room for both in the centre. Surely OTS supports this point but if it is to work it must be properly enforced.

I hasten to add that the foregoing is made by way of a personal commentary on the present situation and not as a criticism directed at any party involved in the running of the city, be they council, operator or user of the city facilities. Equally I would not wish any reader to feel I am on a soap box but more that it represents a point of view which I accept is open to challenge.

 
George Street is presently one way, except of course for the cyclists who have the own version  of the highway code.

The 66 is also of course rerouted around the block and 52157 is seen here in Worcester Street.
14.50hrs on 19th February 2005.

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MK Buses page - your comments requested

James writes "I don't know if you could give me a quick mention on your site.. I'm currently redesigning my bus news site (at http://www.mkbuses.net/test.html) and could do with peoples views on which direction I should go with it. Any suggestions would be welcome to arrivatheshires@aol.com"

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Larger size photos on this page.

Last week I asked for views on the size of photos used on this page. Your comments were most interesting and it seems there is 95% vote for the 800 pixel size. Brian Matthews writes "Whilst for printing purposes it is ideal to get the biggest .jpg size image that you can I do not think that it is ideal for the OCBP page.    I think the previous arrangement was a better approach  -  a reasonable size 'thumbnail' that, if you had further interest, could be immediately selected to display at app. full screen size.     In my opinion it is detracting to the pleasure of viewing the image when you have to scroll up and down and sideways to view all of it.   In addition, unless you have Broadband, I would guess that the download of these 'big pics' takes quite a time. 

I know we all have different screen sizes, different modem speeds etc. but in general I think an image of app. 800 x 600 pixels might be reasonable for most of us.   I accept that if you are looking to see whether all the wheel nuts are in place then a large image is essential but I would guess that most of us may just like to view the overall image and background in one go. 

I appreciate that there will be other opinions to support the 'big pic' and perhaps it might be useful to have a poll on the subject  -    over to you

I thus intend reverting to the 800 size but if anyone wants a larger copy they only have to ask. malcolmhc@aol.com

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Slough/Windsor Running Day - 17th April 2005

Peter Cartwright writes to say "the timetable booklets for Slough/Windsor Running Day on Sunday 17th April are now available price £5 inclusive of postage from me at 54 Guinions Road, HIGH WYCOMBE HP13 7NX. Cheques payable to Amersham & District Motorbus Society please. 

For those in the Oxford area there is a special X20 connecting with the X39 at Henley. It will leave Henley (Hard St) @ 10.37 & 14.37 via Hurley & Maidenhead arr Windsor St Leonard's Rd 11.30 & 15.30, Windsor Castle 11.33 & 15.33 arriving Slough Bus Stn 11.45 & 15.45. 

Returning from Slough @ 13.25 & 17.25 via Windsor, Maidenhead & Hurley arr Henley @ 14.33 & 18.33 for X39 departures to Oxford @ 14.40 & 18.40. 

There are 136 scheduled departures from Slough Bus Stn on the day and full details are incorporated in the timetable booklet."

I am sure this will prove to be a great event and I certainly intend to be there on the 17th.

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Historical notes

John Bristow writes to say "I note the reference to route X5 in newsletter 115 and thought that you would like to see what was running between the two cities in the mid '60's.  I photographed this rather nice Premier Travel AEC Regal at Oxford on 25 September 1966."

I well remember these coaches in service with their original operator, Yelloway motor Services of Rochdale, running between Manchester and Torquay only a couple of years earlier. Ed.

Ed Maun writes "I was recently browsing through the October 1988 Newsletter (No. 11) of the Alder Valley and Bee Line Interest Circle (Currently the Thames Valley and Aldershot Bus Interest Circle). An item indicates that Thames Valley 857 VJB948 Bristol MW6G ECW B41F was in preservation at this time. Does anyone know what became of this vehicle and whether it still exists?"

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Now on to this week's News and photos. Thank you to everyone who has contributed this week.

Malcolm Crowe - Sunday 27th February 2005