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Issue 236 |
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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
A note regarding photographs which show drivers faces.
Following one complaint from a bus driver in Oxford but considering the
fact that the photographs are taken of the vehicle not any person,
I will blank out the face to avoid any discomfort to the individual concerned.
If you are the person involved send me an email to have this action taken.
I am sure people will realise that to ask everyone in advance of publication,
whose face may appear in a picture is wholly impractical in both time and
practice.
I am sorry to have to mention such a matter but we now live in a world of human
rights and political correctness which must be considered.
Editorial
Rain and more rain, flooding and more flooding just about says it all. The misery, chaos and problems that this has all caused is well known to all, if only through the medium of TV but the longer term and effect cost is not yet known. For example several drivers I know have had their houses flooded, had damage to their uniforms apart from all items of household content and of course some have even had their cars submerged under water for many days all adding to their problems. Bus services have been diverted or curtailed and the trains have also been badly disrupted.
Ironically it is also true to say that is an ill wind that blow nobody any good and many rail commuters from Oxford have used the coach services to London resulting in a steady stream of coaches on many days proclaiming "Sorry Coach Full". Indeed it may persuade some commuters and travellers to change to coaches in future, especially as the local papers prior to the flooding often carried stories of the rail commuter's dissatisfaction with their peak hours offerings. Only time will tell.
This week's issue also contains news of a new delivery to Heyfordian and details of re-routings due to flooding under the appropriate operators heading.
£d Webster writes "I've attached some pictures taken at Didcot Station of the Didcot - Oxford rail-replacement services operating this week, which you may like to use on your site. Many more on my website: http://buspics.interbeat.co.uk -> Browse by date -> July 2007."
Park & Ride services were badly hit in the city with some sites being under water as the picture from Mark Shepley shows. Seacourt was under water for many days and the OBC 400 service was terminated in the city centre. This was also because the Botley Road was under water and had only started to dry out on Saturday.
Ironically the Park & Ride at Seacourt looks rather more like a water park and appears rather attractive. This last weekend's issue of The Oxford Mail contains many flood pictures and is of interest if you have a copy.
On the subject of heavy rain Roger Spence sent some nice pictures from Hemel Hempstead which were taken at the height of the rain storms.
I thin Roger did very well to get these pictures considering the appalling
weather.
Finally my erstwhile staff photographer, Gavin Francis, spent some time in the Osney Island area and took some interesting pictures which give some idea of the flooding in this area of the city.
Sorry that there are no buses in
these pictures but suffice to say no buses were seen in this area for over a
week.
Dave Godley has kindly allowed me to use his picture of an ex Cooks Solo showing the new ownership of this Somerset company.
Peter Edgar visited the North Weald Rally some weeks ago and sent me some nice pictures saying "Possibly the star of the show at North Weald last Sunday was the reappearance of V3,the ex London Buses Volvo-Ailsa. This was one of three experimental Volvo's which were used to conduct trials along with other experimental vehicles in the 1980's,V3 was unique in having a front entrance, and a rear exit."
Ben Morroll visited Milton Keynes a few weeks ago and sent a couple of interesting pictures shown below. The older Dart has been repainted out of Arriva into MK Metro but retains Arriva fleet numbers. So it seems that MK Metro will be around for a long time to come.
Reading update
Following last week's report on Reading I can now advise, thanks to The Thames Valley and Aldershot Bus Interest Circle, that the new coaches are 20601-3 (LK07 CDE/F/N). They are Volvo B12Bs and will allow three of the current Irizars to be cascaded on to the Windsor-London service.
The same publication notes that a Plaxton Panther C49Fl bodied MAN coach - WX07 OVJ in all white livery arrived fro demonstration on the Railair service.
Andrew Webb wrote saying
"Whilst
at Reading yesterday morning at about 11:00 all three of the new Railair Coaches
were present at the station.
They are in a similar livery to the existing Scanias, the main difference being
that there is indeed a yellow band at the top, whilst the frequency message on
the new vehicles says "up to every 20 minutes", the Scanias having, from memory,
"every 20-30 minutes". They have yet to carry fleet numbers, apart from very
small paper ones on the lower nearside windscreen.
One arrived and left in service, another was parked up and appeared to be
engaged on training drivers in the use of the wheelchair lift, whilst the third
was just around.".
Marcus writes "the attached pictures were taken in Antalya, Turkey. There is just the one route which runs from one side of the City, through the centre to the other side. The second of the two pictures shows the seated conductor taking fares at the terminus."
(I thought these pictures would interest those who may be taking a holiday in Turkey. Ed.)
Buses in cityscape and landscape - do you like AEC s?
John Marsh sent an interesting shot taken in the TfL area.
I couldn't resist this one of Plymouth Hoe taken by Simon Coates.
Simon has three interesting web site which readers might like to look at:-
http://cornish-bus-scene.fotopic.net
http://cornishbussceneontour.fotopic.net
http://devon-bus-scene.fotopic.net
Mike Penn writes
"I
thought you might like this photo for your buses in the landscape feature.
It is of Luton & District Robin Hood bodied Iveco 49-10 MBI58 (D21 RPP). It was
acquired from London Country North West but later moved to Aylesbury garage. It
is seen at Weston Turville on a 55 working from Halton Camp to Aylesbury in July
1994. The patrons at the Chandos Arms seem to be enjoying a Sunday lunchtime
drink in rather better weather than we are suffering at the moment."
This evocative picture from Mike Penn almost makes on wish one was there.
Finally whilst walking the dogs last night and happening to have my camera to hand I caught two Tubes near Lewknor which I thought readers might like.
Model News
Guy writes to send a picture of the latest offering on the model front related to Oxford.
Amersham & District Running day September 30th 2007 - a date for your diary
http://www.amershammotorbussociety.co.uk/
The final Amersham & District Running Day for 2007 is as follows:
Sun 30 September 2007 - 19th Amersham Running Day based on Amersham but commemorating the 30th anniversary of the closure of HE Garage (30/09/1977) so there will be a reconstruction of certain routes in the High Wycombe area.
Malcolm Crowe - Sunday
29th July 2007
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002 to date
News of the local companies – 29th July 2007
Matt Robinson sent a newsy report but sadly has had problems with his camera. Matt writes "as been busy once again this week. Matt writes
"Good news and bad news today (Saturday)... The good news is there were plenty of 'odd' workings by Arriva today. The bad news is that my camera died when taking my first photo of the morning, so I've attempted to take pictures on my phone during the day. The quality is so poor I wouldn't consider them usable, which is a shame as I doubt certain workings today will be repeated.
Aaron Tibbett sent this picture of Leyland Olympian 5086 (F636LMJ) at Luton
depot following roof repair and repaint.
Luton-based Volvo 3267 (V267HBH) was involved in an accident with a car at the
Flowers Way/Castle Street traffic lights on Wednesday evening. The nearside
front corner of the bus was damaged.
The fitting of LED displays to Luton's B6s appears to be progressing at the rate
of one per week. 3132 (M712OMJ) is this week's lucky recipient (taking the tally
to 4). Aaron, a driver on the regular route of the B6s (the 5/15s), told me that
in some cases it's almost confusing passengers into thinking it's a new bus
approaching !!
Finally Aylesbury-based Dart 3178 (P178SRO) was in Milton Keynes today, working
a local service. I'm not sure if the bus has transferred or was a temporary
loan, as it is still in full Arriva livery and did not have an MK destination
blind fitted. Two other buses transferred, 3119 and 3104 still carry full Arriva
livery too. However a number of Mercedes Varios transferred, together with Darts
3398 and 3334 (L118/24YVK) received MK Metro yellow and blue before entering
service."
Roger Spence writes "Here are a few more pictures for you - use if/how you want.
One of the two Van Hool bodied Scania coaches, now used for a different type of
'coaching'.
Two Vario rears, and two Volvo fronts. Following all the debate about the
correct order for destination blinds,
I notice that the newer of the two Volvos (3301) has it's destination box
arranged with the route number to the left, whilst on the older one (3851) this
is reversed.
The next day, and bouncy castle 3820 has apparently been on routes 2 and 6, if
the large paper sheets in the windscreen are anything to go by.
Scania 3162 with it's 'explorer' advert was on the 500.
16 July, and recent transfer from Wycombe, Volvo 5144 was
also on the 500 - pictured at the Marlowes.
18 July I was in Luton, where I took this shot looking down from where I parked.
On 20 July, 1251, the little LDV was in attendance at Hemel bus station, along
with two Darts on route 3.
And then it
rained. It was really too dark (and wet) for good photography, but I was amazed
at how quickly Waterhouse Street became flooded. At one point the water in the
lake was level with the pavement, as was the flooding on the road. People
waiting at the bus stops looked like they were on jetties awaiting a ferry! It
was also quite amusing to see them spot their bus coming, and then not know
whether to move towards the edge of the pavement to signal it to stop, or run
away from it to avoid the huge bow-wave!
Anyway, here are a few shots taken despite the unfavourable conditions. (You can
these in the Editorial above.)
I was wondering if anybody knew what the significance is
of the Arriva 'inter-urban' livery? I had assumed that since most recently
repainted vehicles seem to emerge carrying it, it was the new standard - but if
so then why are new vehicles still arriving in the original version? (eg: the 07
reg Solos at Watford).
Keep up the good work."
Can anyone answer Roger's question on livery?
Well, here's a surprise. This ex Lucky Bus Dart has turned up at Wycombe.
Picture by Gavin Francis.
Scania 3144
has been given a new version of Lakes livery as these pictures from Gavin
Francis show.
A six week road closure is in force in high Wycombe and buses are diverted
inbound to the bus station
from the wets end by Desborough Road.
Terravision comes to Luton Green Line style. Picture by Gavin Francis.
Richard Sharman sent this picture of an "Arriva" coach in Oxford.
First Berkshire
Two offerings on the 74 from First in Slough as seen by Gavin Francis.
Where have the deckers gone?
Steve Warwick writes to say "The new Ayats Bravo (OU07 JWD) has arrived in the new livery, it was in the workshops so I couldn't get a good shot at it, but what I did get I have attached.
Also in the workshops was the 'spare' bus for the two Enviro 200s which will receive the new livery soon. SL52 CPX."
As luck would have it, on a rare evening visit to Oxford with my wife, what should I spy - see below.
The new tri-axle Levantes went into service at mid day last Friday, well the first six did. I hope to get some in service pictures for the next issue.
Stephen Le Bras writes "four tri-axle Levantes were out on the A6 NEx service to Stansted Airport today, Saturday. SCt5-8 FJ07 DVK/M/N/O. One of the NX drivers reported that 6 were around but I noted 2-axle NXSC2 which may have been included in this list."
Another ex Trathens Neoplan is now with Regency Travel and was caught at Thorpe
Park by Gavin Francis last week.
I thought it would be useful fir the record to put down a copy of the route changes resulting from the recent floods. Here is what OBC had to say.
Oxfordshire Floods
Currently buses are unable to
serve the Botley Road and are diverting away from the area in order to serve
Botley. There are no buses from Seacourt Park & Ride car park into Oxford.
The Abingdon Road is currently
closed. However, buses are serving Redbridge Park & Ride via a diversionary
route.
In Kidlington we are
now able to serve the Evans Lane/Mill Street area so city 2A is back to normal
route.
We are unable to
serve Kennington on city 35 A/B but are able to serve the route beyond
Kennington to Radley, Abingdon, Drayton, Steventon to Didcot.
Buses are currently
serving Abingdon as normal (except the Kennington closure above)
The situation
regarding the flooding in Oxfordshire is changing by the hour, therefore we
would suggest that customers listen to BBC Radio Oxford on 95.2FM for up to date
information.
Also attached is a notice regarding upcoming roadworks at St Clements and resultant diversions.
Coaches to divert during St Clements closure
You may have heard, or read in the local media over the last couple of days the news that coach services will be diverting away from the St Clements and The Plain roundabout area of Oxford when St Clements is closed to all traffic in August. click for details
11/07/2007 13:05 GMT
Gazz writes to say "In
case you haven't been informed Tridents 3881-3884 / 3892 - 3895 are transferring
to Oxford from the North East.
I also like to mention that I've just updated my photos of the Presidents at Go
North East which include photos of the ones that are due for service in Oxford.
The link is
http://gnebp.fpic.co.uk/c841593.html
Also here is a link of some photos of the B10B we had on loan from Oxford last
summer -
http://gnebp.fpic.co.uk/search.php?txt=9603&action=Go&t=p
Gavin Francis sent this picture of the latest Trident to enter service from the
ex north east batch - 905.
The company has released the following information regarding these Tridents.
With 904 and 905 in the fleet, the remaining Tridents have now been released by sister company Go North East. They are all receiving attention with 901 and 907 expected to be in Oxford very shortly or even now. 902, 903, 906 and 908 are expected by early August. I am betting that 901 will be registered R11OXF.
When the Tridents have entered service 601, 605, 608, 609, 610 and 611 will leave the fleet and join the Diamond fleet in the West Midlands. So the coming weeks will be your last chance to get pictures of these buses before they leave Oxford. How about a new Trident and a retiring Volvo?
And now for a few topical pictures from Oxford taken in the last few days. The re-registered coaches have gained their OXF registrations.
A traffic incident at Green Road seems to have resulted in the driver of the airline coach below routing via the Eastern By Pass, The Slade and Morrell Avenue.
The older Tridents are still very active in all day service. Below we see a Park & Ride Trident approaching Thornhill last Saturday and then a red 105 on route 8. This is quite unusual as these Tridents tend to work 4 road more often.
This picture could be entitled "ready for work" Oxford style. The depot on
Saturday night.
Finally mention was made of a Diamond Bus Lance on training work in Oxford.
At last Gavin Francis caught it on disc for us to see.
Red Rose, Aylesbury
Gavin Francis caught up with three Red Rose buses last week and sent pictures of same.
On the subject of registration I received the following from Dave Stewart who writes
"In your page for 25April you had a picture of Red Rose Enviro200 OV07 FKH, and on 3May again but Martin Isles commented that that reg. was more properly allocated to a Mercedes car. I had seen both E200s OV07 FKH and FKJ at that stage. However, yesterday (24 July in Uxbridge I saw FKJ on the R21 (one of its usual routes, the other for the pair being the W19 in Watford) and it is now OU07 FKJ. I presume that FKH has been altered, too - I must now get to Watford to check unless anyone else has seen it recently. All most odd, but presumably someone somewhere has noticed the duplications.I saw it again on Wednesday on the road at Maple Cross so I know it is now OU. I have checked the DVLA website and both OV07 FKH/J are Merc. cars and they are now showing OU07 FKH/J as the E200Darts, so it looks like either (a) the DVLA issued the regs twice over or (b) Red Rose, or their dealer suppliers, fitted the wrong reg, plates."
Following the line taken on the Oxford Bus section I am now appending details from the Stagecoach site to put the record straight.
20 July 2007
Following the heavy rain across Oxfordshire, as at 1530 on Sunday 22nd several services are being affected by flooding as follows:
Route 11 - North Leigh. Services passing with care, possible delays.
Route 18 - At this present time service is unable to run.
Route 20/20A - Yarnton, The Paddocks. Buses are diverting via the A44 instead of serving the village.
Route 27A. Launton. Buses cannot service this location, but will return there as soon as possible.
Route X30/31. Service running from Wantage to Oxford and Oxford to Wantage but are unable to service Marcham and East Hanney village. A shuttle bus is operating between Oxford and Abingdon.
Routes 32/33 - Sutton Courtenay and Harwell. Service expected to operate with major delays on Monday.
Route 59/59A - Steeple Aston. Services passing with care, no major delays.
Route 100 - Oxford, Witney & Carterton. Buses unable to service Botley Road or Eynsham.
Route 242 - New Yatt. Services passing with care, possible delays.
Route 488 - Wigginton. Buses diverted direct from Milcombe to Hook Norton.
Route 500 - Shuttle service operating between Banbury and Middleton Cheney, but not serving Chacombe. The bus station is closed due to extensive flooding.
Marcus Lapthorn writes re the Swindon route "Re' 66 route between Swindon & Oxford, no buses have run on this route for the last 2 days, Sat & Sun (as far as I am aware) due to the A420 being closed in an easterly (toward Oxford) direction at the junction with the A 419 near Sainsbury's supermarket. This is due to flooding of course."
912 is seen on the staff bus last Wednesday picking up from Gloucester Green.
This bus was to find itself on a far more surprising working on Friday.
I wonder if any reader can guess what?
Richard Sharman writes
"Ex United Counties OL 14023 is on loan to Stratford for the Global Gathering Shuttle service at Long Marston, this one is based at Rugby but Latterly Bedford.
Another 4 vehicles are due to help out with the service which operates Fri-Sun."
Whilst in Oxford I caught up with a couple of Tubes on London workings. Indeed where else would they be/
Woottens Coaches
Michael Wootten writes "I thought you might be interested in my latest enthusiast page update - http://www.woottens.co.uk/fleet.htm
Gavin Francis has sent a number of interesting pictures all taken in Oxford last week.
PHOTO CORNER
If you have a digital camera and wish to submit photos for
this page please send them to the me at
malcolmhc@aol.com
A Max Irisbus
of the Las Vegas transit --cat -- mo1 at the downtown transportation centre last
September by Tim Hall.
Gavin caught up with this
Metrobus in Stokenchurch.
HISTORY IN PICTURES AND WORDS
If you have any pictures or historical memories and wish to submit them for this page please send them to the me at malcolmhc@aol.com
Coming events, models and useful links
Britbus
A new casting with a local flavour has been released by Britbus as a picture from Mark Lyons shows. It is a nice model but as Mark says, a little pricey at £33.
A photo disc for your collection
This week I can bring details of a really super new photo disc from Vics cliix. The disc contains pictures taken in the early 1970s by Vic Zealey and copies can be obtained through Malcolm Hyland's web site http://www.cliix.co.uk.
Here are some samples of the 158 pictures on this disc.
The quality is good and they are all at high resolution.
Oxford Bus 125 commemorative book
In last week's issue I mentioned that Oxford Bus were publishing a book to commemorate the 125 years of public transport in Oxford. Thanks to Phil Ashworth I have had a review copy and hereunder give my thoughts on this book.
The book is well presented and includes a number of historical pictures of interest including some I had not seen before. The modern pictures have received a nice treatment reflecting the modern fleet against a background of typical Oxford architecture. The Botley Road rail bridge gets a mention and a picture of an AEC pre war decker which has done battle with said bridge and come off worse from its encounter is included.
The book, whilst rather small to reflect the 125 years in detail is nevertheless a must for all who love Oxford, historians and enthusiasts alike.
Copies of the book can be bought from the Oxford Bus Company, Cowley House, Watlington Rd, Oxford OX4 6GA. The cost is £5.95 including postage. Cheques should be made payable to "Oxford Bus Company", it is also available in person from the Oxford Bus Museum during normal opening hours.
Robin Clare publishes Volume 15 DVD
Many of you will be aware of the various volumes on DVD of buses in the U.K. from Robin Clare.
His latest offering gives a glimpse in some locations in this area, such as Oxford, Reading and High Wycombe. I think it is well worth the £10 and it can be obtained from:
Robin Clare
Transport Video
74 Polruan Place, Fishermead,
Milton Keynes MK6 2EA
The full details of DVDs available from Robin Clare may be found at his web site :- http://www.robinclare.co.uk/
Citaro models
Dave Rogers sent the following press release.
CREATIVE MASTER NORTHCORD - PRESS RELEASE
Mercedes-Benz Citaro - ukbus 5004 Arriva Manchester - ukbus 5007 Oxford Bus
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Creative Master Northcord Limited is proud to release two brand new liveries on its well known Mercedes-Benz Citaro casting. Both models have received significant, yet different, modifications to the tooling in order to represent, as close to 100% accuracy as possible, the real buses on the roads.
ukbus 5004 represents fleet number Arriva North West’s 2851 (CX55 EAA). This Mercedes Citaro is one of three such vehicles with dedicated route branding for service 700 and with the destination set to Manchester. The model features a redesigned interior layout that includes the reduced seating capacity and luggage racks.
Starting on 29th October 2005, Arriva North West’s service 700 runs from Manchester’s Piccadilly Railway Station to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport. For the service, 3 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses were purchased and numbered 2851-3. They were painted in the same style and colours as the Scania OmniCity buses that already operated between John Lennon and Liverpool city centre.
ukbus 5007 represents fleet number 830 (X13 OXF) of Oxford Bus Company. 830 entered service in December 2003, to upgrade the X3 & X13 Oxford – Abingdon services. The bus was painted in a new and distinctive livery designed by Best Impressions.
ukbus 5007 features the smooth, curved windscreen with the destination display set behind the windscreen glass rather than the protruding destination found on the Park & Ride Citaros in the fleet. This feature is one of the standard specifications on other Citaros that the Go-Ahead Group has purchased.
Mercedes-Benz Citaro ukbus 5004 and 5007 models are each a one-piece casting whose clean lines accentuate the square-mounted, double-glazed windows and the livery application on which all logos and lettering are clearly legible. Another main feature on both models is the extensive portrayal of handrails. The headlight / indicator units at the front and indicator / tail light units at the rear are made of individual components to look more realistic.
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The brand new single-door Mercedes-Benz Citaro bus models will be distributed by John Ayrey Die-Casts Limited (UK), Porte Publishing Company (Japan) and Concorde Hobby Shop (HK) respectively. The ukbus 5004 and 5007 models are limited to 1700 pieces worldwide respectively.
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Would readers who respond to the above please quote my site when doing so.
If you wish to be included on a mailing list where
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Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002 to date
Links
These are three most interesting sites which I do recommend
Mike Penn's photo page with much from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire as well as Buckinghamshire
Chris Lowe's Photo page - mainly North West UK
John Marsh's pictures with a difference
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A web site which has paintings of buses.
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Arriva Handbook for 2006-2007 http://www.britishbuspublishing.co.uk/
The latest handbooks are now
on sale, the ever |
Links
Bus Services in Buckinghamshire
Where are the Chilterns?
Visit this informative site through the link below.
Visit the "OXFORD BUS PAGE" Archive 1998 - 2002
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Archives from October 2002
