Some months ago Stagecoach initiated a consultation regarding the increased use of better buses on services to Witney.

The consultation started when a ‘proposed timetable’ was published on-line. Passengers were encouraged to write to the company or turn up to one of the public meetings held around the Witney area.

Trevor Bayliss, manager for the S1 and S2 said “we were very please with the level of response, publishing a timetable before it’s finalised is a great way to encourage people to tell you how they feel about it and the areas they would like to see improved”

The new timetable includes:

• A new evening service to Shilton Park from Monday to Saturday
• Increased frequency on route S1 at commuter periods
• New early morning journeys into Oxford from Witney

The new double deck buses will use state-of-the-art euro 5 environmental engines, have low level floors for easy access, high back leather seats and free Wi-Fi on board.

Talking about the new buses Trevor said, “They are great, people really love the free Wi-Fi and with Oxfordshire being so environmentally conscious these buses should go down very well”

You can read full details the consultation at the following link: http://www.stagecoachbus.com/s1-s2-consultation.aspx

Following the consultation a further twelve buses were ordered, this time to full euro 5 specification and these commenced delivery towards the end of February. Initially these were stored at Network Oxford and preparation were made for their introduction to service on March 28th. This date would also see the introduction of new ticket machines for Stagecoach in Oxfordshire starting with Witney and Banbury depots.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup week always produces a very high demand for extra buses within Stagecoach and eleven of the twelve were loaned to Cheltenham depot prior to them entering service in Oxford. This exercise was fully reported in route One which had a nice cover photo of 15609 on these duties. It seemed most appropriate that these gold buses should see their first service on these prestigious duties.

Cheltenham Gold Cup duties and various Scanias including 15609, 15611, 15612, 15613 and 15620 all hard at work.
Pictures by Rob McCaffery taken on 19th March 2010.

The buses were then returned to Oxford in readiness for their entry into service on March 28th. During Saturday night and early Sunday morning the twelve buses were transferred to Witney in exchange for eleven Tridents which saw 18131-18137 and 18394-18397 returned to Oxford. 18393 has remained at Witney for the time being covering for MOT work etc on the earlier gold buses.

Most if not all these buses will now see further service with other group companies.  Indeed Richard Sharman reported that he saw "Trident/ALX300's 18137,18394 and one other leaving Oxfordshire early on Saturday Morning (3rd April).....destination unknown!"

During the following week many of these buses were located at Network Oxford prior to transfer.
All those seen in the picture above had lost their branding. Picture by Gavin Francis.

18394 is seen at Horspath depot on March 29th - picture by M Crowe.

Chris Maxfield provided some nice pictures of the final days of the Tridents in service on the S1 taken early in March 2010.

 
18131, 18134, 18135, 18137, 18393, 18394 and 18396 seen at work on March 6th.
some have fully lost their branding whilst others remain to be done. Pictures by Chris Maxfield.

On delivery and following preparation for service, the new Scanias seen in during March.
Pictures by Chris Maxfield.

Entry into service took place as planned on March 28th and a number of pictures have been taken by readers showing them hard at work.

Pictures by Chris Maxfield for comparison.

These are four buses (15534-15535-15536-15537) from the first batch which were reassigned to Oxford having been intended for service in Cheltenham.
They are seen on February 26th and March 6th.

The new buses in service.

Pictures by Gavin Francis.

15609 loads in George St and 15615 is seen turning into Worcester St, all buses on the S1.
Seen on the April 3rd (first two) and March 30th.

Pictures by Richard Sharman.

Seen above outside Oxford are 15609, 15610, 15614 and 15619 on their first day in service, March 28th.

Drivers report that passengers are most impressed by the quality of service now being offered and one feels sure that passenger number must increase in the coming months.

I think I am correct is saying that Stagecoach in Oxfordshire now has the largest fleet of "Gold" double deckers in the group.