Ecodriver project manager tribute awarded

Oxfordshire’s Stagecoach bus drivers have beaten 18 Stagecoach regions to retain the Christopher Ball Memorial Award for a third consecutive year, after demonstrating consistently strong driving performance over the past year.

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire receiving the Christopher Ball Memorial Award

Christopher Ball, Stagecoach Ecodriver Project Manager, worked tirelessly to roll out the GreenRoad eco-driving technology to Stagecoach’s bus companies across the UK and was a respected and well-liked employee.

Following his passing in 2014 the company paid tribute to him with an awards scheme in his memory.

To date, use of GreenRoad’s system and Stagecoach’s comprehensive driver training programme has helped deliver an improvement in fuel efficiency and reduction in CO2 emissions across Stagecoach operations in the UK.

Of Stagecoach in Oxfordshire’s drivers, 46% were awarded Fleet Elite status and, of those, 21% achieved the ‘Super Gold’ badge for consistently maintaining the highest driving standard for four consecutive years.

"This is a huge accolade for the team and I am delighted that our drivers’ commitment to delivering safe, smooth and fuel efficient driving for our customers has been recognised again.

To be awarded as the best for a third consecutive year is a great achievement and I would personally like to thank all of our drivers for their hard work."

Local developments

Notices & Proceedings - Applications to Vary Existing Services

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire licences as Thames Transit

Changes were made on September 3rd to services to and around Witney.

Operating between Oxford and Carterton service numbers S1 / NS1 effective from 03 September 2017. To amend Route and Timetable. 
Operating between Oxford and Carterton service number S2 effective from 03 September 2017. To amend Timetable.
Operating between Headington and Witney given service number S7 effective from 03 September 2017. To amend Route and Timetable.
Operating between Oxford and Witney given service number 11 / 11B / 11A effective from 03 September 2017. To amend Route and Timetable.
Operating between Witney and Abingdon given service number X15 / 15 effective from 03 September 2017. To amend Route and Timetable.
Operating between Witney and Carterton given service number 19 effective from 03 September 2017. To amend Route and Timetable.

These changes are in place as we publish this section and details can, of course, be found on the company website.

Zone Maps for the Witney Area

 Link to the timetables

Recent changes

The move of 15754 to Witney is interesting as this bus, although not route branded, has seemingly always been on the S5 route to Bicester. 10067 was first used when new on the 700 Headington Connect service. Indeed it was branded for this service!

Dart SLFs 34468/69 are back on the main allocation at Banbury following the start of operation services 6 and 7 between Banbury and Stratford which started on July 24th. These services were previously operated by Johnsons of Henley-in-Arden. We also understand that 34471 may re-enter service at Banbury.

Jim Wright advises "Major changes on routes 7 & S3 from August 13th saw an enlarged Country & Chippy outstation rota. For the first time Chippy is doing daytime 7s. All buses are used daily from Chippy with earlier buses & later buses including NS3. All short Woodstock's' from the Old Woodstock terminus of Vermont drive to a new bus turning circle now complete at Wootton 1st turn about half mile north of Old Woodstock. The Cornish Rd loop in Chippy is diverted two ways down Waterbush Rd and Hailey Rd to the Cornish Rd terminus This avoids a bad turning off Churchill Rd which caused ADL MMC buses to ground out. So it is now possible to use MMC buses fully on the S3."

A "new" route from August is the 7A to Yarnton as seen in the picture from Richard Sharman below. This service is often operated by Chipping Norton (Chippy) crew with a bus outstationed in Chippy.

15832 works the new 7A service to Yarnton on August 24th seen by Richard Sharman.

Other pictures of interest by Gavin Francis.

 
The other hospital services, 800 and 900 continue to be operated by E200s as seen above.
36928 with the 800 and 36930 with the 900 at Headington on July 17th by Gavin Francis.

Also at Headington and now the stable fodder on the 10 is Hybrid 12013  at Headington on July 17th by Gavin Francis.
Many of the original fleet of these Hybrids may now be found operating in Manchester.

10067 works the S1 passing Oxford train station on July 26th shortly before its transfer back to Oxford from Witney.
Picture by Gavin Francis.

Gold buses off route!

15762 provides more luxury to customers using the 2A on August 8th seen by Gavin Francis

MMC 10784 works the 2C on August 3rd seen by Gavin Francis.

Risinghurst residents get a taste of luxury on the predominately hourly service from and to the city.
10784 working route 9 and seen at Headington on July 17th by Gavin Francis.

Further Oxfordshire pictures.

Oxford trainer 20933 seen in the city on August 10th by David Gray. 

A number of E200s have been repainted in recent weeks.

36931 was repainted in August and is seen above on the 15th by Andy Churchill.

Andy writes "Rugby Megabus Volvo B10M /Plaxton Paragon with Trailer 52527 ( Y967PHL) on driver training duty visiting Horspath Road recently and also a picture of 10068 (SK63AUP) undergoing a repannelling and now a repaint in the rear workshop." 

Training buses visit Oxford on a regular basis and here Megabus are training drivers to use a trailer in service.

Work was proceeding apace on 10068 on July 25th seen by Andy Churchill. 

On various occasions in recent weeks and months the 66 has seen a variety of local buses and not the Gold buses which should be used. Regulars are those branded for the 55.

West's 28685 YN64AOR when allocated to Swindon works the 66 from Oxford on August 10th seen by David Gray.

Derek Wiggins advises "Since Swindon's route 3 ceased operations, following a competitive effort with Thamesdown in the town, E300s 28682/5/7 have returned to Cheltenham, Darts 34511,561,588 and 590 to Gloucester and Darts 34784/5/7/8 to Ross on Wye.

A new service van at Swindon is MM17LXH."

A nice long outing for this Cheltenham based trainer, West's 20280 is seen at Oxford depot on August 18th by Gavin Francis.

Since the last issue I have been advised that there will not be any new coaches for Bedford and the X99 will continue to use the old X5 coaches.

Midlands

A number of Midland's buses were loaned for use on services to Countryfile Live reported elsewhere in this issue.

South East

Former National Express Volvo B9R coaches 53701-13 have left Dover, where they were used on the termination of the National Express Kent coast services. We understand that 53701-08 are moving northwards Stagecoach East Scotland and 53709-13 are for transfer to Stagecoach West Scotland.

Of interest is that 53701-5 were new in 2010 to SC Oxford for use on the 737 Stansted service. Pictures of these particular coaches in service in Scotland would be much appreciated.

Below is a link to 53702 in Smugmug.

53702 in full Stagecoach livery at work in Scotland

South

Bob Morley of the Newbury & District Transport Group writes "You may be interested in the two attached photographs I have taken recently. Both Stagecoach Chichester based buses carrying different liveries."

South's 15586 with overall ad for CANCER RESEARCH seen in Chichester on July 5th by Bob Morley.

South's 19063 with overall ad for PORTSMOUTH DOCKYARD seen in Chichester on July 13th by Bob Morley.

Many thanks to Bob for these excellent pictures. 

A significant level of advertising is taking place for Oxford tube services to and from London. Examples are shown below.

Advertising of tube services seen now around Oxford.

83,592 seats per week to and from London!

Notting Hill Carnival and The Last Night of the Proms produced some very busy weekend on the service.

Gordon Scott provides pictures from north of the border and has recorded some Oxford tubes now in service with Stagecoach West Scotland.

 
Some nice pictures of one the earlier fleet of Oxford tubes, now in service in Scotland and with Megabus in South Wales.
SCWS West Scotland's Kilmarnock based 50203 is seen in Glasgow on an X76 working - July 22nd by Gordon Scott.

50225, also Kilmarnock based and again working the X76 seen in Glasgow on July 22nd by Gordon Scott.

It seems that 50209 is held as strategic reserve at Ayr and 50226 has been sold.

A number of schedule changes have seen Megabus services through Oxford now using Gloucester Green Bus Station instead of street stop near and on St Giles. Previously the only time Megabus has been seen in Gloucester Green has been during St Giles Fair. One service now has a five hour layover taken at Horspath Road depot. Pictures of these working are shown below.

Megabus 54212 works the M34 northbound in Gloucester Green on September 3rd by Malcolm Crowe.
This was to change thereafter to be the

The current situation with Plymouth based Megabus 54278 on its 5 hour layover, between M34 duties, at Horspath depot on September 7th by Gavin Francis.

Prior to the changes, Volvo coach 52619 404DCD is seen working the M34 in St Giles on August 3rd by Gavin Francis.
One presumes this vehicle was drafted in to work the service duty due to the rostered coach failing. 52619 is often used as a training vehicle.

On a wet and miserable August day, Megabus 54205 is seen on the southbound M34 in St Giles on August 2nd by Gavin Francis.

In the last issue we mentioned that many of the left hand drive Megabus coaches were stored at Wigan. Some have now reappeared on UK domestic services and Gavin Francis h as taken some pictures of these coaches.

Indeed on September 5th 55026 was working the M10 when seen near VCS.

55021 on driver training September 5th by Gavin Francis.

Queries have been made about the destination "Sammy's Lane 4". This is to indicate to the now controlled National Express "Sammy's"
staff to know when Megabus require refuelling. Above 50253 pulls out of Sammy's on July 13th seen by Gavin Francis,

Trailers are still being used on heavily loaded Astromega operated services on long runs such as Aberdeen.
Here 50291 with trailer is seen laying over near VCS on August 3rd by Gavin Francis.