James Allum sent an interesting report as shown below.

Watford:

January 18th - 4517, normally recently spotted on Hemel Locals was observed by myself on the 8 (Mount Vernon Hospital - Woodside via South Oxhey and Watford). 

January 19th -  whilst taking photos at Watford Junction as I had 30 minutes spare before catching my onward train to London I observed three of Hemel's route 300/301 Enviros on the 10 (Woodside to Holywell Estate via Watford town centre/ Watford General Hospital, (Watford locals), they were 3567, 3569 and 3571. As normal the blinds didn't come out well in the photo. 6464 was also observed running it's normal 320 route out to Hemel Hempstead after returning from Rickmansworth.

Hemel Hempstead:

Also on 19/01/2017 Ex Harlow Wright Eclipse 3857 was out on the 2. To note this bus has no working side and back destination blind and at the front it only has 2 programmed onto the blind, missing the destination and via points. This bus was photographed by myself one day last week on the 500 heading to Aylesbury.


See further comment below.

One issue I have had to bring up with Arriva is the running of the Route 2 in Hemel Hempstead as in the timetable it states a bus every 10 minutes after 08.00 but most of the time the 08.00 is the last one we see for about 20 - 30 mins! Arriva bring back the 4&5, all is forgiven!

Update for the Hemel area for 20/01/2017:

Ex Harlow 3857 again on the 2 and also with the same small limited blind, however when you look at the route number it looks like it says 23 which obviously isn't a Hemel route.

Sapphire 6458 was on the 2 to  Woodhall Farm, this bus is usually on the 320.

Also reading a interesting story in the Hemel Hempstead Gazette this week about Arriva Hemel cutting yet another 2 routes due to them making no money.

As of I believe March or April the 823/ 824 Hemel JFK School services are to be axed by Arriva as apparently, they are not making money yet the 824 is always full and standing when it goes along Belswains Lane.

This means that yet again Arriva seem to think less about the people of Hemel Hempstead and about all those poor school kids that now have to cram onto a single route or even 2 buses that run normal service routes.

You wait ages for one then 2 turn up at the same time. Mullanys HP06 BUS passes HP05 BUS at Watford Junction whilst on Harry Potter studio tour shuttle buses.

 

2494 was on the 3 to Long Chaulden


2462 on the 2 to Woodhall Farm.
 (I have happy memories of Hong Kong and rather small drivers taking corners with double deck tri-axles leaning over like this! Ed.)


6042 on the 500 to Watford via Kings Langley.


3517 the 2 to Woodhall Farm


1592 on the 3 to Riverside although Blind showing what looks like 33 or 32 with no destination.


3579 KX12HAE leaves Hemel on January 16th by James Allum.

Photos for Sale.

Side Note: I don't know if I can do this on your site but would be much appreciative of your help in this.  (I am happy to mention this. Ed.)

Due to me cutting down my collecting of photos I am only now sticking to the Arriva the Shires including mainly Hemel Hempstead areas, and due to this I am looking to sell on my Boris bus photos.

If anyone is interested please email me at james.allum@hotmail.co.uk and send me a list of needs and I will see if I can help.

Please note depending on how many people want I would accept cheques to post a small amount out but if any one is interested in a lot it would have to be collection from Hemel Hempstead.

Pete Cabin writes seen in High Wycombe on January 31st was 4711 FE51YWJ and 4721 FD02UKG which are transfers from Luton.


4721 on the 37 on February 2nd by Malcolm Crowe. 

Luke Braham  writes "A rare working on Sapphire 280 on the 11th January was the use of Citaro 3908 BU06 HSN. It worked the full route from Aylesbury and was allocated due to serve delays to the service after two sets of roadworks on main roads in and out of Aylesbury caused the town to gridlock. It was reallocated to MAX X60 later that day."

 

Further arrivals to High Wycombe depot are East Lancs Lowlanders 4711/21 FE51 YWJ, FD02 UKG which have transferred in from Luton depot. They were at Luton whilst there ALX400s were away for DDA modifications.


4711 FE51YWJ on the 31 seen on February 7th by Luke Braham.


4721 FD02UKG on route 32 seen on February 7th by Luke Braham.

"The LOTS website reports the following new buses are due for The Shires later this year:  

“Arriva the Shires hasn’t had any new buses for nearly two years, but two orders have been placed for the  early summer.   Bus-wise, 31 x E20D(MMC)s  for Luton (routes 12 and 27), Milton Keynes (route 5) and Wycombe  (route 32). All those are ‘premium’ routes and it will cause a cascade of mid-life buses to remove much older stock.  Coach-wise , also coming in the summer are 13 x Mercedes Tourismo 0355 coaches for route  757 (London-Luton);  these coaches are similar to those on the Stansted  Citylink 767 service.”

Pictureview


2289 on the 33 enters Wycombe Bus Station on February 8th by Gavin Francis.
This bus came from the reserve fleet at Tamworth!


Branding really does have some problems as buses often stray from their appointed route.
3013 branded for the 800-850 Reading routes works in the 30 to Downley seen on February 8th by Gavin Francis.


A rather outdated super rear on 6302 in the Bus Station seen on February 8th by Gavin Francis.


Solo 2546 works the 34 having come from Derby's reserve fleet, seen on January 31st by Gavin Francis.


One time stalwart of the Green Line 757 service, 4362 was seen on more mundane duties, training drivers at Wycombe, on February 2nd by Malcolm Crowe.


5462 works the 280 passing Wheatley on January 19th by Malcolm Crowe.