Spottings & Jottings nr. 89 - 22nd October 2015
Visit the "OXFORD & CHILTERN BUS PAGE " Current archives from October 2002
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malcolmhc@aol.com
Editorial
I have been rather busy in recent weeks hence the delay in publishing this issue. However it does mean that I can bring you the very latest news from our area.
Stagecoach has just received five ADL E200 MMC saloons for use on the 500 Banbury-Brackley service which are expected to enter service sometime next week. They arrived in Oxford on the 14th and 15th October. These are the very first MMC saloons for Stagecoach provincial operations. More details may be found under the operator headings below.
New 37405 - YX65PXW - is seen at Horspath depot after arrival from
Scarborough on 15th October - Malcolm Crowe.
This issue has much to interest readers including events in Blackpool, the Coach & Bus event at the NEC in Birmingham, a Running Day at Willesden, this year's Showbus at Wooburn Abbey and some pictures from Alexanders in Falkirk during an OS visit.
The E200 line at the factory as seen on September 5th by Gordon Scott.
Running Days
Hemel Bus event with pictures by Mark Turner
Hemel Bus Rally on 16th Aug Arriva 3968 by Mark
Turner
Hemel Bus Rally on 16th Aug Arriva 5435 by Mark
Turner
Hemel Bus Rally on 16th Aug Arriva 5439 by Mark
Turner
Hemel Bus Rally on 16th Aug RF530 - Mark Turner
Hemel Bus Rally on 16th Aug RM1397 - Mark
Turner
Hemel Bus Rally on 16th Aug RML2412 Mark Turner
Hemel Bus Rally on 16th Aug RML2440 Mark Turner
Hemel Bus Rally on 16th Aug RML2456 r 310 Mark
Turner
Oxfordshire Bus Enthusiasts Society
The Oxfordshire Bus Enthusiasts Society was formed in June 2010 and aims to
provide an informal monthly social meeting in Oxford for those with an
interest in buses. Meetings are normally held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
and normally take the form of a picture show with local and guest
speakers. A small charge is made to cover the cost of hiring the function
room and this is usually around £1 for members per meeting depending on numbers.
For non-members a charge of £3 per head is made.
The Tree Hotel
The
Tree Hotel is about 5 minutes walk from bus stops on Iffley Road served
by
frequent bus service number
3
(jointly operated by Oxford Bus/Stagecoach).
For the walking route from the nearest bus stop, here is a MAP.
A detailed programme of meetings can be found at the following link and we hope many of you will attend future meetings.
When readers take copies of pictures from the OCBP site
Some of the contributors to this site have noticed that their pictures are appearing on e-bay sites selling such things.
Needless to say this is a theft of copyright and one which I deplore!
I would not wish to have to watermark photographs, thereby making them unsalable as such but if this practice continues I shall be left with no alternative. I am sure this would detract from the pleasure so many of you get from the OCBP.
May I please ask readers to do two things?
1/ If you see any photos on sale please let me know and where they are appearing.
2/ If you are someone who has copied and sold photos please desist as this is theft and I will have to take legal action against anyone found doing so.
The site is free to all readers and I pay a price to publish the pages which is not passed on.
Please respect those freedoms and I hope I may not have to mention this matter again.
The level of contribution to this page by readers, as ever, remains excellent! Thank you all.
Malcolm Crowe - Editor - OCBP - 22nd October 2015
Spottings
Observations and pictures
Gordon Scott writes "I was at
Dunfermline last weekend, shots attached of Stagecoach East
Scotland Dunfermline Fife depot based Buses attached.
53291 SSA11X Volvo B7R Plaxton route branded for route 51 Dunfermline to
15th August 2015
Another shot from Perth depot last week.
SC 16763 Dunfermline Fife depot ex Manchester
Magic Bus seen on 5th September by Gordon Scott.
First
Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 MMC in Demo livery.
ALX500 leaves the ALX factory on 11th September by Gordon Scott
E400 in build at ADL Falkirk on 5th September
050915
Stagecoach Scania Enviro 400 Gold livery near completion
This bus is for Teesside.
SC Cumbria 15221 YN65XFB leaves the ALX factory on 11th September
https://www.flickr.com/photos/east_lancs/21808795569
SC Teesside 27254 SN65OCR leaving Alexander factory on a test run on 11th
September
For a photo in service follow this link.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/21522965748
SC Teesside 27248 SN65OCJ leaving Alexander
factory on 18th September by Gordon Scott
Go-Konectbus 631 SN65OAM, destined for
Norwich's new Park & Ride, leaves the ALX factory on 28th August
E200 in build at ADL Falkirk
on 5th September
SC Manchester 10448 leaves ADL Falkirk on 1st
October seen by Gordon Scott
SC Megabus Gold 50305 working the G9 at Glasgow
on 1st October seen by Gordon Scott
Once with London, A101SUU seen at the OS
Weekend on 5th October
SC Fife Hybrid 13043 during the OS Weekend on
5th September
SC Rennies 19543 seen during the OS Weekend -
5th September
SC Western 27211 - SK15 HBJ seen on the X19 in
Glasgow on 1st September
SC Manchester 10404 loads in Piccadilly on an 86 service to Chorlton on 21st
September
SC Manchester 17521 LX51LOA Magicbus r 141
SC Manchester 19239 MX08GLK Magicbus r 142
SC Manchester 19246 MX08 GMO Magicbus r 142
SC Manchester 36077 MX58SGV ex Bluebird r 118
First 39301 - SN15 ELC in Stirling
First 39305 SN65CVM in Stirling on 23rd September
Reays Alexander PS YSV695 ex SC 20435 on 22nd
September
SC West Scotland 15945 having replaced Astromega coaches on the X25 in
Glasgow on 4th August
Pictures from other readers
Stagecoach LT241 in allover advertising livery for the 2015 Rugby World Cup sponsored by Dove Care for Men.
Rear view photographed at St Paul's, front view at Trafalgar Square / Charing Cross sent by Peter Edgar
Transdev Portugal 2782 in Semley Place London by VCS
on 1st September by Gavin Francis.
From this morning Idbus have started running Setra double
deckers on their Paris runs VCS on 1st
September by Gavin Francis.
ID Bus 904 near VCS on 4th September by Gavin
Francis
ID Bus 143 rear view at VCS on 19th August by Gavin Francis
Strongbow Cloudy Apple overalls on LT 52 and LT's 50 & 64 carry the same,
seen on 14th September by Gavin Francis
Tommy Hilfiger's on LTs 65 & 68
Go LONDON LT68 on the 11 on the 14th September by Gavin Francis
Romanian Rugby World Cup Coach in VCS on 17th September by Gavin Francis
RELIABLE COACHES YN13BWY on Rugby duty
This minibus has made it all the way from
Romania for the Rugby World Cup.
Could be here for 6 weeks so with the
travelling will be away from home about 8 weeks
Briannatour RO NT97UMV in Victoria
on 17th September by Gavin Francis
Adrian Hartless
SC West 15767 on the 94 in Cheltenham on 30th
August.
Banbury's 28743 on the S4 in Oxford
Bob Morley of
Newbury & District Transport Group
Routemaster LT586 on loan to Reading Buses seen in Friar Street on route 17.
1214 at The Lion promotional display in West Street. The service replaces the 90 Reading to Bracknell taken over
from First Group.
Some of the Lion liveried buses are already in service running on the 90
service as seen with 1211 in St Mary’s Mutts, Reading.
Euro 5 Optare City on loan as demonstrator to Reading Buses seen on
Vodafone service V1 at Newbury Station on Friday, August 28.
Reading Buses
temporary fleet number 104.
Mercedes Benz Citaro demonstrator at Reading Buses on service 500 crossing
into West Street on its way to Loddon Bridge Park & Ride
on Thursday, August
27. Reading Buses temporary fleet number 102.
Useful information on coaches now operating National Express routes are that
Go Ahead London now has four coaches in cream with purple and gold relief.
They are VC1 NX51AAA (LK53KVY), VC2 NX52AAA (LK53KWE) both ex South
Gloucester B&C plus VC3 UK05BCL, Volvo B12B/Plaxton Panther, new to Burtons, Haverhill
and VC4 SF05XEC a
Jonckheere
bodied Volvo B12M.
London United are operating coach
services on behalf of National Express.
The fleet includes Levantes acquired from Yourbus, Heanor, Derbyshire.
VL1-7 – FJ11GLY, MME, MMF, MMK, MMU, MLY and MOA.
VL1,3,4 and 7 are in full NEx livery with VL2,5 and 6 all white.
LUL also have other coaches including
SL1 FJ09DXP and
SL2 FJ09DXR originally with
Arriva plus VB1
HF53OBH and VB2
HF53OBG but first with Yellow Bus of
Bournemouth.
London United SL1 FJ09DXP surprisingly
works the 737 from Oxford to Stansted on 29th August seen by Gavin
Francis
Adam Green
Anglianbus
102-WX62HHF-On the 61 to Southwold via Kessingland
Arriva The Shires 4070-YJ55KZS on the 900 Summer Special
Mike Lewis
Geoff Cunliffe
Richard Sharman
and TGM
New StreetLites (2525-28) have been delivered to High Wycombe.
Arriva 2526 named Peter on 33 seen on 17th
September by Malcolm Crowe
Arriva 2518 named Gareth on 33 seen on 17th
September by Malcolm Crowe
My son (who is a sports fan rather than a bus
fan!) has pointed me to the following link which says which five "High
Wycombe legends" will have their names on the five new Streetlites Arriva
will be putting on route 33."
"You will see that Wycombe Wanderers manager
Gareth Ainsworth is among the five, along with Benjamin Disraeli and Peter
Cartwright. It's not often you see those three names in the same sentence!
The unveiling took place at Adams Park on 11th September."
Luke Braham
"This year, Arriva Aylesbury took three buses along to Showbus with these being Optare Solo 0441 YJ10 LZV (as mentioned above), Sapphire Enviro400 5461 SN15 LPK and MAX Citaro 3932 BD12 DHK. They can been seen parked next to each other shortly before this years event was opened to the public."
"Currently, High Wycombe-based Wright Renown 3307 W134 XRO is parked up in the Aylesbury depot but it doesn't appear that it is due to be used in service."
Above pictures by Luke Braham.
Arriva 3930 on a 280 working in Park End St, Oxford on 22nd August by Gavin
Francis
Arriva Southern Counties Optare 4216 on the 402 at BROMLEY NORTH on 2nd
September by Gavin Francis
Carousel 401 and 402 at the depot on 27th
September seen by Lewis Nagle
Some fleet changes have taken place and I would like to thank Geoff Lovejoy for a very useful update.
The second of
FIVE StreetLites is 402 – SM15HWD.They are B45F.
Trident 120 (DXZ7120) has moved to Thames Travel.
On Friday 28/08 I drove 415 to Oxford, for storage
awaiting disposal, I returned 418 to High Wycombe which is freshly painted
in Carousel Red One livery, it is scheduled for service from the 3rd
September, this will displace a Tempo to A40/740/730 diagrams, possibly 807.
So this is the state of the withdrawals.
415 Withdrawn and awaiting disposal, in storage at
Oxford.
417 Withdrawn and awaiting disposal, in storage at
Oxford.
480 Withdrawn, in reserve, in storage at High
Wycombe.
804 Withdrawn, in reserve, in storage at High
Wycombe.
809 Withdrawn, in reserve, in storage at High Wycombe.
I've also included a couple of photos of 871 since
it's return from collision damage repairs and repaint into Carousel livery
as opposed to Link branding, and two bus stop flags from the Wycombe Bus
Company days which are still displayed along the A40.
Oh, by the way, we haven't received 553 as yet.
709 is out on Bucks CC County Rider services most
days, I suggested using it on these as it's a small number of passengers
using the services who will quickly get used to seeing a different coloured
bus, rather than using it on other services and confusing more people than
necessary.
Carousel 415on 28th August by Geoff Lovejoy
Carousel 418 at Tetsworth on 28th August by
Geoff Lovejoy
Mercedes 871
at the Wycombe depot on 29th August by Geoff
Lovejoy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
422 suffered a breakdown in Stokenchurch on the
40 on 29th August as seen by Malcolm Crowe
This was an extremely unusual event as since taking over this route Carousel
have gained a very good reputation from passengers.
Stephen Le Bras writes "You did
ask me to provide a report on the closure of Bracknell garage but, to be
honest, there was not much of a commemoration. I witnessed the last 191
leaving Windsor for Slough and its final journey towards Bracknell, a short
time later.
Since then, it has been a case of building up the
driver numbers at Slough to meet the additional operation of route 200 to
Legoland and the 702 Greenline services from Bracknell to London, now
diverted via the old 191 service through North Ascot.
The last three years
have seen the arrival of 15 hybrid Volvos to work alongside the existing
Citaros, the end of the Solos replaced by new Wright saloons, the end of the
Scania/Wrights and the impending departure of the last Dennis Darts. Just 5
remain in use-red 41336 and Barbi liveried 42339/41/656/673.
First 64018 on a 702 working at Bracknell on
the 28th August by Lewis Nagle
Heyfordian YJ11EJO on the 104 in High St Oxford
on 19th August by Gavin Francis
and
Crusader Holidays
http://http://www.nationalexpress.com/
Bruce Salsburgh FJ14GPV on the 539 bound for
Edinburgh leaves Oxford GG on 16th August as seen by Gavin Francis
Oh dear! pity the driver - ast Yorkshire 78
YY63OEJ in VCs on the 18th August by Gavin Francis
Skills Coaches - MIG 9440 once an A6 stalwart
seen on the 461 in Elizabeth St W1 on 19th August by Gavin Francis
National Express West Midlands BK15AJU on the
444 seen on 13th September by Richard Sharman
The company has now received the first two of three new coaches for the National Express 737 service as noted by Managing Director, Phil Southall.
53 at Hemel Hempstead at 1839 on 14th October seen by Adam Green
He writes "We
have two new Volvo B8R coaches as follows:
53 BX65WAO
54 BX65WAU
These will replace 48 and 49 that were only on hire from National Express
and will be returning to them this week.
A third new coach to be numbered 55 is expected sometime in November and
that will replace coach 50 that is also only on hire to us.
You may also have seen that we have coach 12 on hire from Volvo until the
end of the year as coach 5 is long term VOR but should be back with us in
early in 2016.
12 YN11AXW ex G Line of St Annes, Fylde Coast
on the LHR service in Castle St on 10th October by Malcolm Crowe
12 loading at Queens Lane on 14th October seen
by Graham
Jack Cooper writes
"From the 3rd September Oxford bus company started a service between
Kennington and Mathuarnald school
the service will operate schooldays only.
It is now quite common to see the neglected hybrids from the 5 operating on
X3,X13 and 13 also I have seen some unbranded citaros on the Abingdon
routes.
Richard Griffin
https://twitter.com/13milepost/status/640158485540380672
"Former OBC
Dart/Marshall 513 still out and about, seen during September working a Rail
Replacement service on the Thameslink line.
An unfortunate incident occurred recently as shown
in the link below.
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/13804758.Major_disruption_as_bus_catches_fire_in_Kidlington/
Busy times at Gloucester Green as coach 7 loads for Heathrow at GG on 5th
September seen by Gavin Francis
The Wrights Hybrids are now appearing on longer routes having been displaced
off the City 5.
356 is working the 35 in St Aldates on 29th August seen by Gavin Francis
Standing in for the more ususal green Hybrid, 360 is working the 300 on 5th
September as seen by Gavin Francis
As work on Frideswide Sq progresses Park End St is temporarily one way
eastbound and westbound services must use Hythe Bridge St.
Here 612 works the U1 in Hythe Bridge St on 28th August seen by Gavin
Francis
660 on 5 road seen in Worcester St before turning left into Hythe Bridge St
on 29th September by Gavin Francis
New Wright Streetdeck 661 on a 3 road working seen in St Aldates on 29th
August by Gavin Francis
Citaro 832 on the 3B School service in Castle St on 1st October by Gavin
Francis
Citaro 833 on 400 road in Castle St seen on 1st September by Gavin Francis
225 on the Half Marathon service on 11th October by Malcolm Crowe
661 climbs St. Aldates on 26th August by Richard Sharman
Front and Rear of Elite I's on The High
OX Streetdeck-E400MMC comparison
E400MMC's in Oxford with front and rear for comparison
Once Oxford's coach nr 2, Notts and Derby R813NUD seen in Worcester on 17th
October by Richard Sharman
This coach spent many years with Wilts and Dorset and then Southern Vectis
on the Isle of Wight
Gary Seamarks visited Eire in July and look what he found!
Padraig Naughton Eire Tour using ex Oxford 22 now registered 00-G-15162 and
seen on 13th July 2015
Plastow's
Brent Ricketts advises "Volvo B12M with VDL Jonckheere FJ05AOK has been sold to M and M Coaches of High Wycombe and one of the 08 plates has been sold to Angels Executive of High Wycombe bringing the fleet down to seven instead of nine."
Pulhams Coaches
Pulhams PU15HAM seen in Oxford on 26th August
by Richard Sharman
Redline Buses new unregistered Enviro200 on 1st
September by 1st September seen by Luke Braham
|
YX65RGV |
AD E20D SFD7E1AR6FGY15050 |
AD F214/10 |
B39F |
9/2015 |
Redline, Aylesbury |
Luke Braham writes
"Redline Buses of Aylesbury have recently taken delivery of a brand new ADL
Enviro200 for a new Bucks University contract that they are due to start.
Currently the bus is parked up in there yard with no registration plate but,
since my photo, has been given branding for the service. I will send more
details of this over to you when I have it!
Redline Buses have also repainted ADL Enviro300
KH55 KMH and ex-OBC Plaxton Panther KB07 OXF into a base red livery."
Mike Walker
I understand that originally a vehicle from Stagecoach London was planned to
be trial vehicle but in the end a LT586 was sent which as far as I know is
from a batch due for either Arriva ,or GoAhead.
David Stevenson
writes "Reading have this on trial. Apparently only one driver has been trained to drive it so when she is on a break so is the bus! It’s coming back from the Three Tuns so either the blind has stopped working or she forgot to set it. I think Reading screens work automatically on location, so understandable."
Reading with LT586 as their 105 on 17 at Cemetery
Junction on 21st August by David Stevenson
Oxfordshire
As reported in the introduction five new ADL MMC E200 single decks have been delivered. They will work the 500 service between Banbury and Brackley.
| 37401 | YX65 PXS |
| 37402 | YX65 PXT |
| 37403 | YX65 PXU |
| 37404 | YX65 PXV |
| 37405 | YX65 PXW |
The other new buses at Banbury, the Gold Scanias, have now gained fleet numbers.
Here is a new Stagecoach Gold liveried Scania K230/ADL E300 in Oxford on the
S4. It's the 25th August and is taken by Graham.
Weighing in at 10925kg, they are heavier than the new OBS Streetdecks, and
only slightly lighter than the new Stagecoach E40D/E400MMCs.
28746 on a short working S4 to Deddington leaves Banbury on 25th August by
Richard Sharman
The Deddington service is every hour alternating with the through Oxford
service.
A batch of new Solos SR's has joined the Midland fleet at Leamington.
An early picture taken in a hurry, 47968 YJ65ETT a Gold Solo at Leamington
by Andrew Buckingham.
|
YJ65ESF |
Oe M990SR 1178 |
Oe 291178 |
B??F |
/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47973 |
|
YJ65ESG |
Oe M990SR 1179 |
Oe 291179 |
B??F |
/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47974 |
|
YJ65ESN |
Oe M990SR 1180 |
Oe 291180 |
B??F |
/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47975 |
|
YJ65ESO |
Oe M990SR 1181 |
Oe 291181 |
B??F |
/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47976 |
|
YJ65ESU |
Oe M990SR 1182 |
Oe 291182 |
B??F |
/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47977 |
|
YJ65ESV |
Oe M990SR 1183 |
Oe 291183 |
B??F |
/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47978 |
|
YJ65ESY |
Oe M990SR 1184 |
Oe 291184 |
B??F |
/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47979 |
|
YJ65ETA |
Oe M990SR 1185 |
Oe 291185 |
B??F |
/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47980 |
|
YJ65ETR |
Oe M990SR SABNDK2A4FS291172 |
Oe 291172 |
B??F |
9/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47967 |
|
YJ65ETT |
Oe M990SR SABNDK2A6FS291173 |
Oe 291173 |
B??F |
9/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47968 |
|
YJ65ETU |
Oe M990SR SABNDK2A8FS291174 |
Oe 291174 |
B??F |
9/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47969 |
|
YJ65ETV |
Oe M990SR SABNDK2AXFS291175 |
Oe 291175 |
B??F |
9/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47970 |
|
YJ65ETX |
Oe M990SR SABNDK2A1FS291176 |
Oe 291176 |
B??F |
9/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47971 |
|
YJ65ETY |
Oe M995SR 1177 |
Oe 291177 |
B??F |
/2015 |
Midland Red (South) |
47972 |
Other pictures of buses and coaches in the Oxfordshire fleet are shown below.
Dart 34466 works a B8 local in Banbury on 25th August by Richard Sharman
ADL E400 10071 is seen on an X30 working heading west on Hythe Bridge St on
29th September by Gavin Francis
Recently delivered E400MMC 10440 on the X30 in New Rd Oxford on 1st October
by Gavin Francis.
Another new E400MMC, the last one for Oxford, 10442 works the 8 loading in
Castle St Oxford on 3rd September by Gavin Francis
St Giles Fair always means a change in the terminus of the Kidlington and
other services which move to Broad Street.
12014 on a 2A working seen in Broad St during St Giles Fair diversions on
8th September by Gavin Francis
Gold 15757 branded for the S5 seen on an X30 service in New Rd on 1st
October by Gavin Francis
Hybrid 12023 seen on a 10 working on Sunday 26th August by Richard Sharman
Hybrids are often used on the 10 on Sundays!
Jack Cooper
reported an Enviro 400 branded for the S1 & S2 services was working on the
14:55 X15 from Abingdon to Whitney on the 14th September.
Graham writes "I was in North Devon last week and
found two former Stagecoach Oxford Scanias at work on the North Devon Wave
routes 21/21A, as these views of 15434 in Appledore and 15433 in
Barnstaple show."
South West 15433 on the 21 seen in Barnstaple
on 13th August by Graham
In a nice location South West's 15434 on the
21A at Westward Ho on 13th August by Graham
The journey to Braunton will take around 1 hour and 20 minutes and alternate
with journeys to Ilfracombe.
East
John Marsh
East's 15213 YN15KHK in the centre of Cambridge on 19th September by John
Marsh
Yorkshire
Several vehicles have been sold including MAN/ALX300s 22934/40 ex
Oxfordshire
Pictures of these buses in their new location would be appreciated.
South
A large number of Volvo Olympians taken out of frontline service and placed
into the Reserve Fleet here including 16523/24/25 also ex Oxfordshire
South East
Now in service at Folkestone are Scania/E400s 15436-39 where were recently
transferred from Stagecoach
Oxfordshire.
15438 in Hythe on 27th August by David Rouse
The bus is working the 100 service
runs from Hastings to Dover, a journey of over three hours, as part
of the Wave group services
Click on the graphic to see the timetable for
these routes
At Thanet Volvo B10M/Plaxton Paladins 20008 (ex Oxford),
20312 and 20642 are withdrawn for disposal leaving just 20011(ex
Oxford) (see the link below) and 20956 of the type in the
operational fleet.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/68628359@N04/6659904197
Manchester
Demonstrator 80027 in Manchester on trials seen
on 27th September by Chris Lowe
The five Astromegas previously with the Oxford Tube are now gaining Megabus livery. Now these include 50221, 50222 and 50224 so far completed. This leave 50204 and 50223 to be completed. Drivers comment that these coaches are much better than their 61 plate coaches.
Megabus 50221 arrives in London passes VCS on 11th October seen by Malcolm
Crowe
Megabus 50224 meets Tube 50267 in Green Line on 11th October by Malcolm
Crowe
Leaving Oxford for London 50262 heads down Hythe Bridge St on 28th September
by Gavin Francis
The early morning commuter X30 service operated by 50281 heads up Park End
St nearing the end of its journey
on 29th September by Gavin Francis. Your Editor is at the wheel!
Keith Aveyard
writes "On holiday in Yorkshire my son and I were taking pictures in Skipton Bus Station and Castle Coaches when T46BBW came in and laid over for a while. I believe this a former Oxford Tube coach.
The link below relates to a coach once used by the Oxford tube in 2008 but also was new to Megabus.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/116535434@N04/15807392547
50222 days before going for repaint sets off
for Cardiff from VCS on 18th August as seen by Gavin Francis
Two days earlier 50222 is seen on Elizabeth Bridge on 16th August as seen by
Gavin Francis
Megabus 54059 waiting for the lights before it turns into the street leading
to VCS on 19th August as seen by Gavin Francis
Iy is ready to operate the service to Plymouth.
Another waiting Megabus, 54203, is ready for its next service on 19th August
as seen by Gavin Francis.
This coach carries branding for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone when
Megabus operates special services from around the UK each year.
See the special article below on Megabus Italy.
Ex Oxford 209 ready to work an X40 service on break in Castle St Oxford seen
on 30th August by Gavin Francis
Ex Oxford Citaro 864, in it's new livery - rather smart I must say, arrives
in Oxford from Wantage on 29th August seen by Gavin Francis
One problem with moving buses between fleets is shown by the picture of 830
- on loan to Thames Travel from the parent fleet - where the rear
corner panels have been replaced at one time or another giving a
Kaleidoscope of colour when seen in Abingdon on 2nd September by Malcolm
Crowe
Oxford's 828 on loan to Thames Travel, surprisingly without any vinyl's,
arrives in the City by Carfax on a T2 working
seen on 26th August by Richard Sharman
The Kings Ferry
The Kings Ferry
is launching a new commuter service between Maidstone and London, taking in
Grove Green and Weavering. Starting 5 October, the service will cost less
than £10 per day and has a guaranteed seat policy. It will also have a brand
new bespoke vehicle allocated to the route. To launch the new Maidstone
service, all new customers will be offered a two week free trial, or eight
weeks for the price of four. Commuters making the move from the train or
other coach services can take advantage of the ‘Ticket Trade-in’ offer.
The Kings Ferry MD, Ian
Fraser, said, ‘The Kings Ferry has operated tens of millions of
commuter journeys directly into the heart of London for decades and we’re
really delighted to launch our new Maidstone service. Our expertise is built
upon almost forty years of business and we hope commuters will enjoy both
the quality of the service on offer and the financial savings too. We’re
really looking forward to welcoming people on board.’
Bus Travel at risk
Several transport groups have warned that ‘everyday transport’, including
bus travel, is at risk. In a letter to the Transport Secretary,
Patrick
McLoughlin, the organisations note that his department’s unprotected
budget faces a cut of 25% to 40% in the Chancellor’s spending review. Since
major investment programmes for roads and railways are ring-fenced, they
believe this means cuts are expected to fall disproportionately on local
transport. The letter warns that as a result local bus services will see
further reductions in services and increases in fares.
The groups involved in the letter include the
Campaign for
Better Transport (CfBT),
Passenger
Transport Executive Group (PTEG),
Sustrans,
Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and
Living Streets.
The organisations claim such cuts to roads and public transport would have
hugely damaging economic and social consequences. They wish to see the
government protect and enhance everyday transport, through smarter spending,
such as creating efficient cross-government funding programmes; rebalancing
capital and revenue funding; and reviewing major transport programmes,
especially the Road Investment Strategy.
Chief Executive of the CfBT, Stephen Joseph, said,
‘Our analysis shows that the Spending Review risks hitting very hard the
everyday transport that people and communities rely on, while programmes
like big road building schemes will escape unscathed. We hope the Transport
Secretary will ensure that the Review has a better balance between the major
capital programmes and the funding for this everyday transport.’
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee Chair, Cllr Keith
Wakefield, has added his concerns to those expressed in the letter to
government. He said, ‘People and businesses
across West Yorkshire and the City Region rely upon bus and train services,
cycling and walking provision and local roads. Cuts to these critical local
links through a reduction of up to 40% in the DfT’s budget will undermine
the growth to which we and the government are committed as part of the
Northern Powerhouse. They could also lead to people and communities being
cut off from vital local services and facilities and missing out on
education, training and employment opportunities. The Combined Authority
recently took the decision to extend half-fare bus and train travel to all
16 to 18 year olds living in West Yorkshire from November to increase young
people’s access to apprenticeships and training. But the local services need
to be there for those young people to use.’
‘Of course we need the major road and rail investment programmes that are protected in the Spending Review, although we’d like to see some firm commitments on the electrification of rail routes in the north. However, there is a danger that the investment in these high-profile schemes will be wasted if the local, everyday transport is neglected by the Government’s Spending Review.’
Trips
Yorkshire by Marcus Lapthorn
All the foregoing pictures by Marcus are taken
in Halifax on 20th September.
All the foregoing pictures by Marcus are taken
in Harrogate on 21st September.
All the foregoing pictures by Marcus are taken
in York on the 22nd September.
Buses event at Gaydon on 23rd August - pictures from Marcus Lapthorn
Astromega TX27's enter service with Megabus Italy
In the on-going development and expansion of Megabus, the company recently introduced services in Italy. Various members of Megabus have provided the following photographs for readers to have some idea of the operation. You can read about their routes and other details at the link below.
http://uk.megabus.com/megabus-now-serves-Italy.aspx
Willesden Garage Running Day by Adam Green
Lytham Park & Ride
Furthermore,
some of the operational fleet of the RVPG was enhanced by some other local
vehicles. Although many buses used were reasonably modern, there were also
some gems.
First
there was a line of relatively modern vehicles on display):-
884, FCK 884, 1954 Leyland PSUC1/1T, Saro B44F; 811, NRN 811C, 1965 Leyland
PSU2/3RT, Weymann DP49F;
1036, PCK 618, Leyland L2T, Harrington Cavalier C32F; 1052, UTF 732M, 1974
Leyland PSU3B/4R, Duple C49F and 338, 1971 Bristol RESL6L, ECW B47F.
Others on display included ex. Lytham St. Annes 10, JTD 381, 1948 all Leyland PD2/1, H30/26R , originally owned by Alan Rydehead now with Derek Calrow
Some vehicles providing the Park & Ride service were:-
900, B900 WRN, 1984 Leyland TRCTL11/2RH, Duple B49F (Image 3) and 2057, RN
8622, 1934 Leyland TD5 with 1949 Alexander L53R
Gems included ex. Lytham St.Annes 24, TJ 6760, a 1934 all Leyland LT5A B32R
demonstrator also owned by Derek Calrow. This vehicle (Image 5) which was
withdrawn as long ago as 1957, was re-imported from Canada in appalling
condition and has been almost totally rebuilt. It looks superb. It features
the Scottish-type cut-away rear entrance step.
Two lovely Ribbles were 1568, a 1936 Leyland LZ2 with Brush C31F (Image 6) and 1161, CK 4518, a 1931 all Leyland LT2 with B30F bodywork
Helping out were a couple of ex. Blackpool MCW bodied Leyland PD3s, ex.
Fishwick 5, 528 CTF, Leyland PD2, Weymann and ex. Ribble 1397, NRN 397P, a
Leyland AN68 with Park Royal body.
Some nice vehicles, all in good condition.
I am sure the foregoing may tempt you to visit Blackpool next year?
Gary Seamarks visit Eire
Eire Tour in July 2015
Bracknell by Gavin Francis
Gavin visited Bracknell on 25th August shortly before First closed their depot and many services changed or had changed operators.
Courtney continue to grow and grow.
Polski Bus
Developments continue in Poland with Polski Bus. The latest service is one called Polski Bus Gold. A luxury service not unlike Megabus Gold is illustrated below.
Amersham & Chesham 2015 by Richard Stiles
Coach & Bus 2015 at NEC Birmingham by Malcolm Crowe
Showbus 2015
By now readers will appreciate that this is becoming more than a mammouth edition and so most pictures from Showbus 2015 will be held over until the next issue.
However as a taster here are some pictures taken by Gary Seamarks.
COZY KP04GJX ex Tube 50108 on 20th September.
East Kent WFN513 on 20th September.
General K502
on
20th September.
General S433 on 20th September.
Selnec 2236 heads towards the Abbey through Wooburn on 20th September.
UCOC 862 passes the church near Wooburn Abbey on 20th September.
Megabus 55013 arrives at Showbus 2015 taken by D Law
Your Editor arrives at Showbus taken by Andrew Cowell
BBC PO56JFV in LEWISHAM on 11th September
Links
Mike Penn's interesting web site for pictures
You might be interested to know that I have now uploaded 268 photos taken in
Beds, Bucks and Herts in the year 2000 to my website -
http://166emj.piwigo.com/index?/category/50-beds_bucks_and_herts_photographs_2000
One of the
major events of the year was the purchase by Arriva the Shires of the City
of Oxford operation in High Wycombe on December 13th. Two days later, as can
be seen from the photographs, vehicles had received Arriva The Shires fleet
names and legal lettering but retained their Oxford fleet numbers.
The other
major event was the enforced sale of the Lutonian operation by Arriva the
Shires.
Both Arriva
The Shires and Arriva East Herts & Essex continued to repaint vehicles into
Arriva livery though there were still many in previous liveries.
Elsewhere in
the region M K Metro continued their policy of purchasing various
interesting secondhand vehicles. Some of these came from Border Buses – the
company in Lancashire that M K Metro had bought.
Buffalo
Travel continued to run but Seamarks were taken over by Dunn-Line early in
the year.
Many other
independents are also represented.
Mike Penn