Editorial - 106

So, a little earlier than recent editions, this issue contains a great deal of local events and interest.

Significant has been the entry into service, at long last, of the new Mercedes Benz coaches for the 757 London-Luton Airport route. These coaches are more fully covered on the Arriva page but below is a taster of these new Tourismos.

7002 turns on to Elizabeth Bridge on August 16th seen by Gavin Francis.
On their first days in operation these coaches carried a very small fleet number above the one seen in this picture.

The livery application is somewhat blander than the previous liveries but maybe this is to make the differences between Green Line and National Express less obvious to the passengers. This is also emphasised by the current use of hired coaches on the A1 service!

Developments locally

At High Wycombe developments are hotting up between the two companies, Arriva and Carousel, now that Carousel's Scania deckers are all repainted with 219, 220, 221 and 222 having branding applied for the increased frequency on the X80 to Reading.

220 features X80 branding when seen at High Wycombe bus station on August 16th by David Gray.
I haven't yet worked out if the original Regatta branded StreetLites are now to be spare buses
as 401 was on the 40 to Stokenchurch on August 21st in place of the more usual P&R blue one.

One has to admit that these buses look very much better for their coat of paint and proper branding, giving Carousel a more visible presence in the area.

A number of changes by Carousel are planned for September 3rd and we will report these in the next issue.

Arriva on the other hand, following the arrival of a batch of brand new ADL MMC saloons has reverted to form with the arrival of a small batch of 2005 Scania Wrights  Solar 44 seaters, still with Luton 27 branding adorning these buses. It is ironical that the original batch of Volvos with Wright Eclipse bodywork, 3861-3867 , were transferred away sometime ago now, although occasionally one does return to its old home. Two have moved away northwards but five remain at Luton.

3618 KE55GXR in Wycombe bus station on July 31st seen by Pete Cannon.
Ironically there is a route 27 in the town operated by Vale Travel from Cotswold Way via High Wycombe and Lance Way to Robinson Road !!!
At least Vale use brightly coloured yellow buses!

In Oxford timetable changes feature strongly with the Chipping Norton services of Stagecoach featuring roster and route changes. These have allowed ADL MMC Gold buses to be used through to Chipping Norton and the short workings to old Woodstock have been diverted away from Vermont Drive quite soon when a new bus turning circle is complete at Wootton 1st turn about half mile north of Old Woodstock. Jim Wright has sent a picture of 10782 at the new Old Woodstock, Hill Rise terminus.

10782 at Hill Rise on August 18th by Jim Wright.

Re allocation of resources by Oxford Bus now see regular use of the older Wrights Hybrids on the longer routes to Abingdon but older fleet members are still to be found on now colour branded routes.

David Gray caught this now elderly Citaro on the 6 when 824 was on this route on August 10th.
One supposes these buses have little time left with Oxford and have given good service to the operator. Indeed they are now in their 15th year with Oxford Bus.

One operator that provides great interest locally is Walters of Wheatley, who have a varied and somewhat elderly fleet. Of course such vehicles can still provide useful and cost effective service on the duties they perform.

I well remember driving this coach on X70 and X80 airport services when I was with Oxford bus. It later went to Worth's
and is now a stalwart member of the Walters fleet seen here by James Lambeth near Thornhill on July 24th
closely followed by a later Scania Plaxton of Oxford Express. More pictures from this operator will be found under the Small Operators heading.

The saga of buses or no buses in Queen Street rumbles on with no decision from the government but an insistence from Council that this ban will be implemented. More new on this under Events of Note.

BBC Countryfile Live to place at Blenheim between August 3rd and 6th. Extra services were run from Oxford to this event and a local shuttle service in Woodstock was provided. Full details will be found under Events of Note. Of much interest were the extra buses, from Midlands and West, drafted in by Stagecoach to meet demand. Pictures of the buses and special routes involved are also included in the report.

Special route CF1 operated from Oxford directly into the event saving visitors the long walk into Blenheim Park.
Above 10728 from Warwick depot and on loan to Oxford is seen here leaving Oxford centre on August 4th taken by Gavin Francis.

Numerous changes to Stagecoach operations in Witney are reported under the company heading as are change to Carousel routes in and around High Wycombe. Thames Travel are also making various changes. Most of these changes will coincide with the new school year.

There was a week long closure of rail lines from Oxford which resulted in many hired buses and coaches in the city, often from quite far afield. A couple of pictures below give a flavour of the event and more can be found under Rail Replacement coaches in the 3rd week of July.

Oxford Rail Replacement sees First West of England 65726 in Oxford on July 23rd by Marcus Lapthorn.

From the northern end of the country Confidence of Leicester sent Olympian 69 B187BLG seen on July 23rd by Gavin Francis.
This saw service when new with Crosville in north Wales and had a chequered history serving with Arriva Fox and other operators before ending up with Confidence.

Closer to our are was this Worth's Volvo TW53WMS Seen on July 30th by Gavin Francis.
This Jonckheere Mistral was new to Worth's in early 2004.

Oxford Bus Museum held a 50th Anniversary event and a number of pictures were provided by Hugh Jaeger, one of which is shown below as a taster. Hugh's full report can be found under Trips & Events.

Once a pride of the Oxford fleet was this Volvo B10BLE/Plaxton Verde 601 N601FJO. It has been superbly restored what appears to be an as new condition.
When I drove for Oxford I used this bus on Go Ahead Farnborough services and appreciated is fine riding qualities. It was also no slouch!!

Also Nigel Lukowski has provided some more of his historic photos of Oxford's Buses to be found under History.

South Midland had a variety of liveries, remembered by these two vehicles parked in Bicester. Apart from the Bristol VR, an ex Greater Manchester PTE bus.
This particular bus even ended up with Worth's of Enstone. Much of South midland formed the basis of Stagecoach in Oxfordshire though the fine depots
at Bicester, Chipping Norton and Wantage, locations now covered by out-stations.

Finally under General Observations we always feature buses and coaches from many other areas and this month is no exception. As always Gordon Scott has provided many interesting pictures from north of the border. One of these is shown below as a taster.

Still going strong, a once Oxford tube is now based at Kilmarnock for the X76 service to Glasgow.
Here it is seen in Glasgow, 50203 now UIB3543 seen on July 22nd by Gordon Scott.

Paul Bateson from Canada provides many interesting pictures of buses with an British background and this issue will have a number of very interesting pictures from Paul.

Paul Bateson has provided this ex London Routemaster now working in Montreal. Of now is the platform location now moved to serve a left hand drive country.
Once RML 2437 JJD437D it is seen on Rue Metcalfe, Montreal on May 18th by Paul Bateson.

Well, there is much to see and read in the full issue of this page which I hope to publish later next week. The delay is caused as I have five days work with Stagecoach to complete before I get down to continuing with the page. Do check back to see the next parts of 106 in the coming weeks.

A further delay has been caused by my having to look after my wife who has had a minor stroke. This happened in mid September and I can now vouch for the fact that a "woman's work is never done" !!!!!

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