Anything to report or photos to contribute please email me at:
malcolmcrowe@oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk
Editorial
A sinkhole opened up in the centre of Oxford causing a main road to be closed
The hole appeared on the A4144 Worcester Street near Oxford University Student
Union on Monday night, July 1st.
Although the opening of the hole on the road surface appeared small, Oxford City
Council said there was a large one metre deep cavity beneath./p>
It was closed both ways between George Street and Walton Street for repairs and
it reopened at 1330 on Tuesday, July 2nd after it had been suggested that
repairs might take up to three weeks!
During the closure traffic into, out of and through the city centre was
seriously congested with major delays.
Late news from July 2nd
As reported today Yellow Buses has been
purchased by its managers from RATP. Somewhat unexpected but it seems RATP are
reviewing their operations in the UK.
Read all about it at this link:
https://www.yellowbuses.co.uk/Management-buyout
Bucks CC service changes in our area - 28/29
July 2019
A number of changes are to take place in Bucks County
Council area on July 28th and 29th as detailed below. Pictures of those route to
change or the new routes when operating would be much appreciated.
To view each route there is a link on the service number
and operator i.e. 724 Arriva.
724 Arriva Heathrow
Airport - Denham - Harlow: Revised timetable throughout, no change to route or
frequency.
Aylesbury Vale Changes:
1 Silver rider Red Rose Travel Aylesbury
to Fairford Leys: Route revised to operate via Fowler Road on all journeys.
Frequencies changed to up to every 20 minutes Monday to Fridays, Saturday late
afternoon service changed to run every 30 minutes. Sunday service withdrawn and
replaced by new Service 17.
7 Red Rose Travel Stoke
Mandeville Hospital - Aylesbury town centre - Broughton - Bedgrove: Introduction
of a new bus service operating up to every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturdays.
8/8A Arriva RAF
Halton - Wendover - Bedgrove - Aylesbury: Revised timetable with off-peak
journeys revised to additionally serve Welbeck Avenue and Ingram Avenue,
Bedgrove in both directions.
9 Arriva
Aylesbury
- Walton Court - Stoke Mandeville Hospital: Revised Monday to Saturday timetable
with no change to frequency. Evening journeys renumbered to service 9A and
revised to operate as a circular, after reaching the Hospital via Southcourt and
Walton Court as normal route 9, but will travel back to the town centre via
Stoke Road and Walton Street. A couple of journeys on Saturday morning and all
of the Sunday service will be renumbered as 9C these will run as a circular
travelling from town to Stoke Mandeville Hospital direct via Walton Street and
Stoke Road, but then return to town via Walton Court and Southcourt.
11/11A Redline Aylesbury
- Lavric Road - Walton Court - Southcourt - Aylesbury: 11A withdrawn and
replaced by a revised route 11. Route 11 will operate every 30 minutes on
Mondays to Saturdays and extended to serve Walton Court and Taylor Road.
17 Red Rose Travel
Fairford
Leys - Aylesbury - Buckingham Park - Watermead: New Sunday only service
operating hourly between Aylesbury town centre and Fairford Leys, Buckingham
Park and Watermead estates.
60 Arriva Aylesbury - North Marston - Winslow - Buckingham - Maids Moreton:
Arriva have informed us that they will be withdrawing this service from 28 July.
The majority of the route between Aylesbury, Winslow and Buckingham will be
covered by the revised Arriva X60 bus timetable please see X60 below. Since
Arriva's decision we have been working on alternative timetables for the section
of route not served by the X60 as follows:
For journeys to/from Oving,
North Marston and Granborough we are proposing this
route 60 timetable which is currently
being tendered and should be confirmed by 10 July.
For journeys to/from Maids Moreton to Buckingham, we
are proposing this is incorporated within existing Monday to Friday route 18 and
151 and Saturday route 131 and 132 bus services. Please see the
proposed timetable which should be
confirmed shortly.
X60 Arriva
Aylesbury
- Buckingham - Milton Keynes: Revised timetable with the frequency increased to
run up to every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays. Buses will additionally
serve Old Stratford between Buckingham and Central Milton Keynes. Journeys
between Buckingham and Maids Moreton withdrawn, please see route 60 entry above.
500 Arriva Aylesbury
- Hemel Hempstead - Watford: Revised timetable with frequency increased to every
20 minutes on Mondays to Fridays. Additional early morning journeys will operate
from Aylesbury and later evening journeys from Watford.
High Wycombe Area Changes:
1/1A Arriva
High
Wycombe to Chesham: Timing changes including the withdrawal of the last journey
in each direction (2230 from High Wycombe and 2321 from Pond Park) on Mondays to
Saturdays. Minor off-peak timing changes. No change to route or frequency.
32 Arriva
Booker
- High Wycombe - Micklefield: On Monday to Fridays the 2232 journey from Booker
and the 2255 and 2311 from Micklefield will be withdrawn. The 2154 from
Micklefield will terminate at the Bus Station. On Saturdays the 2232 from Booker
and the 2311 from Micklefield will be withdrawn. No change to route or
frequency.
33 Arriva Totteridge
- High Wycombe - Castlefield: On Monday to Friday mornings the 0632 from
Castlefield will terminate at the Bus Station, the 0637 from Totteridge will now
commence at 0654 from the Bus Station. On Monday to Saturday evenings the 2223
from Castlefield will be withdrawn. On Sundays the 1827 from Castlefield will no
longer operate.
Arriva 34 Cressex to High
Wycombe. Carousel PR1, PR2 Coachway to High Wycombe. From this date these two bus routes will
be combined to create a new service,
routes
8/X8 operated by Carousel Buses. This will
operate as the High Wycombe Park & Ride service as well as serving Cressex.
Please see the
timetable for full information.
The routes will run as follows:
Service 8 Coachway - John Hall Way - Cressex Business
Park - Wycombe Hospital - Railway Station - Bus Station - Cressex Business Park
- John Hall Way - Coachway.
Operates Monday to Saturdays, up to every 20 minutes
Service X8 Coachway – Railway Station – Bus Station
(and return)
Operates peak times Monday to Fridays.
35/36/37 Arriva and Carousel High
Wycombe - Flackwell Heath/Bourne End/Maidenhead: Carousel's service 35 will be
revised to operate via Easton Street, High Wycombe in both directions. Service
36C will be withdrawn and replaced between High Wycombe and Flackwell Heath by
additional service 36 journeys. An extra service 36 journey will run on school
holidays from High Wycombe to Bourne End at 1610 to improve service regularity.
Arriva evening and Sunday 35 journeys will now operate as 37A with timetable
changes and some evening journeys withdrawn.
Further timetable changes to routes from 28 July will appear on this page by 1
July.
Service disruption and stop closures provides
information on diversions and disruption to bus services due to road works or
stop suspensions.
ADL, the major bus and coach builder in the UK
taken over Canadian/North American giant
Falkirk based bus builder Alexander Dennis has been bought by Canadian company
NFI Group for £320 million.
Alexander Dennis, Britain's biggest bus and coach manufacturer, employs 2,500
people and supports 1,500 through subsidiaries and partnerships across the
world. The company, which dates back to 1895, was 50% owned by Stagecoach
founders Ann Gloag and Brian Souter.
NFI is the biggest bus manufacturer in North America and employs more than 6,300
people across Canada and the US.
Alexander Dennis chief executive Colin Robertson will continue
to lead operations from Scotland.
He said: "This is
an exciting day for our company and people. We can be proud of the
transformation of our company from a traditional UK bus builder to a global
leader with annual revenue in 2018 exceeding £630 million.
"We look forward to becoming an important part of NFI while retaining our
identity. This partnership is a complementary fit for both parties, allowing
sharing of best practice and technology development, to form one of the largest
independent bus and coach manufacturers in the world.
"NFI is a company we know well having engaged in a joint venture with them
previously, and it was important to all of us at ADL that we were joining a team
that shares our same culture and values, which are built around quality and
excellent customer service, all driven by a passionate and committed team of
people.
"We remain completely focused on providing world-leading vehicles supported by
outstanding after-sales support to our many customers around the globe. Working
with the team at NFI, we will continue to invest in our employees as well as the
products and services for which we are globally renowned."
NFI president and chief executive officer Paul Soubry
said: "ADL is the UK's number one bus
manufacturer and the number one global producer of double-deck buses,
with an established international presence and is recognised as a leader
known for innovative products and a commitment to quality and service.
"We're thrilled to have ADL join the NFI family and to be investing in
such a great engineering and manufacturing success story, and a company
we already know so well. ADL is an outstanding company with a strong
track record and we look forward to working with the whole team to build
more success on those solid foundations."
There has been no mention of job losses but Unite trade union has asked
to meet NFI to seek assurances about the future of its 1,000 workers in
Scotland.
Stroud Vintage Bus Show
Held
in the grounds of SGS Stroud College (GL5
4AH)
in Gloucestershire on Sunday, June 30th 2019 between 10.00 and 16.00. and
reported by David Gray.
FFor many of we older types the Bristol, especially with
an ECW body, was something we were brought up on. Never very fast and often
rough riding with a Gardener engine solid mounted, comfort might not be first
and foremost. However reliability was usually second to none and economy made
them an operators dream. This event certainly provided a lot of Bristol buses
and coaches to feast one's eyes upon.
Probably the oldest Bristol there was this Bristol K decker dating from 1945.
This link will tell you its history:
http://www.bristolsu.co.uk/k/operatordetails/westernnational/ftt704.htm
Some visitors.
Well, well - one of ours! Once 810 in the SC Oxford fleet, part of a batch
introducing "LOW FLOOR" to Oxford. It looks well for its age.
Dylan Jones visited Oxfordshire and Wiltshire
First of all, here is 10992 at Faringdon Market Place with a S6 to Swindon. This
one carries branding for ‘frequent buses to & from Swindon’
Another gold vehicle based at Swindon, here is N250UD/MMC400 15341, branded for
the 55, at Greenbridge Retail Park on the main local service 7 to Swindon Town
Centre.
Stroud have a large fleet of Tridents but all are officially part of the reserve
fleet. 18437 appears to work in service fairly often though, and was pictured on
the 52 to Cirencester, where it continued to its home town of Stroud. Note the
side Christmas advert! 9 Tridents and an Enviro 400 are based at Stroud in
reserve.
One of the most elderly members of the Swindon fleet is 18183. Here it
demonstrates its rather annoying LED display at the terminus of routes 81 and 82
at Thorney Park. This is a former Manchester vehicle as denoted by the
registration. Other older Tridents based here include 18087, 18090 and 18182,
some of which are in reserve I think.
Descending a hill on Highworth Estate is 18448 one of a batch of 2006 build
Tridents allocated here. They make up the bulk of route 7 which runs every 10
mins at peak, with buses frequently swapping on and off in the daytime,
presumably whilst drivers take breaks. 18436, 444, 445, 447, 448, 450 and 501
are the newer Tridents based here.
I didn’t photograph many Thamesdown vehicles as I was aiming for the Stagecoach
Tridents, though most of their fleet of Omnidekka's appeared to be lurking
around in the bus station, including recent transfer 1015 from the main South
Coast fleet.
Just as I was heading to the station, the final Trident in the Go Ahead operated
fleet made an appearance. 365 SN51AYO was new to Lothian Buses as their 599. It
has gained the latest livery, though I suspect is fairly vulnerable to
withdrawal if the South Coast fleets free up another Omnidekka.
Arguably the pride of the Courtney Buses fleet is this former ADL Enviro 400
City Demonstrator. Registered SN66WLK, it has joined YX18KNC and YY67HDO on the
M10 Milton Park Shuttle, as pictured departing Didcot Parkway Station. I’d like
to see this vehicle be employed on Rail Replacements in the future (like the
Hybrids were) where hopefully it’s extra comfort would surprise, and be
appreciated by otherwise possibly angry passengers!
And here is YX18KNC, which almost got taken from us far too early into its
life...
It collided with a bridge whilst on Rail Replacements for South Western Railway
but has returned to service having been rebuilt by ADLs engineers at Anston.
Here it departs for another trip up to Milton Park.
One would never know that this bus was involved in a
bridge event!
Thames Travel 622 departs the Station here with a 98 to Harwell Campus.
I was pleasantly surprised to see two of Thames OmniCitys in my short stay in
Didcot. This one is 912, as seen departing the station for Oxford on the X32.
Both were lacking fleet names, presumably due to their time at Carousel, though
otherwise looked fairly smart.
Many thanks to Dylan for some very interesting pictures which give an idea of
what can be achieved in a day by "train" !! Also somewhat away from his normal
area of interest.
North of the Border with Gordon Scott
Taken on July 1st at Linlithgow
travelled on route EX2
new Lothian Country Green Arrow Volvo B8R Plaxton
Leopard 9207 - SB19GKN.
Last shots sent taken today of new Lothian Country had a
run on new EX1 route to Bathgate also. Volvo B8R Plaxton Leopard.
Fleet news and developments
Tony Bungay
Volvo 3861 is seen pulling away
from vale park Aylesbury on Service 8, destination failed to appear I'm afraid.
Enviro 200mmc 3127
makes an appearance on service 150 in Exchange street Aylesbury, these vehicles
do appear occasionally on this service since most workings were moved to Milton
Keynes.
Southern Counties
Hemel's MMC 6528, branded for the 320, is seen in The Green Line Coach Station
(GLCS) on July 1st working a 758 departure.
Sadly this happens all too often in spite of the fact that they have sufficient
coaches to work this route!
Two new recent deliveries are as shown below. Any pictures or details of seating
would be appreciated.
CT19GWP |
MB Tourismo L WEB41057523001427 |
MB |
C??Ft |
5/2019 |
Cheney, Banbury |
CT19SAP |
MB Tourismo L WEB41057523001428 |
MB |
C??Ft |
5/2019 |
Cheney, Banbury |
Paul Hawkins
First Scotland East started there sightseeing tour
of Edinburgh in competition with Lothian today using Ex Stagecoach Cambridge
ALX400'S,Plaxton Presidents from West coast Motors originally new to Lothian and
various other vehicles including a ex Metroline Enviro 400 that i did not see
today.
Two of the many buses now devoted to this operation
taken on July 1st.
Please look under the Bucks CC bus service changes as
Carousel has some significant changes recorded.
Also 938, 939 and 940 are at work on school's services
but 941 has yet to appear following conversion to single door.
Scania 222 recently transferred from Carousel is seen
with a City 2 service by Debenhams on July 2nd taken by Gavin Francis.
StreetDeck city 5 branded 656 is seen in Park End Street on June 29th by Gavin
Francis.
StreetDeck Park & Ride branded 681 is seen in Park End Street with a short
working on the 500 service on June 29th by Gavin Francis.
Every year Brookes hold a variety of open days for new
or intending students and parents to see what they have to offer. Special
services are run on those day to reduce the use of cars coming towards the City.
One regular Park & ride used is Thornhill as the
pictures below from Gavin Francis show. They were all taken on
June 29th.
608 heading for Marston "School of Health" with a U1B service.
Another U1B service arrives at Thornhill with a good load from Marston.
610 arrives in Thornhill with a U1X, the time is 1 p.m. (13:00hrs) /p>
Graham Low
JJune 29th - the loaned Streetlite was on the X32 this
morning. Sorry about the reflections but it had gone before I could move to a
better spot!
When one wants a particular picture sometimes
reflections are inevitable! Loaned StreetLite SK17HHL is working the X32 on June
29th.
One does wonder if the young lady feels the need for a crash helmet to ride on
this unusual bus!!
Another picture of demonstrator 800 this time taken by Simon Hewings on June
24th.
New Levante III BV19XOW is seen on July 2nd at its arrival in VCS with an A2
service. Picture by Gavin Francis./span>
de Courcey's MD17 FJ13EAA laying over on Elizabeth
Bridge on July 2nd by Gavin Francis.
Oxford's 51 is seen on hire to National Express after
working an extra from Glastonbury Festival 2019,
in Buckingham Palace Road on July 1st by Gavin Francis.
A record breaking open day
Sunday saw Reading
Buses best open day yet, raising £7,354 for our charity of the year, Cancer
Research UK Kids & Teens. This remarkable total is 12% up on last years
£6,572.85 and 7% up on 2017’s £6,862.96.
A big thank you to everyone who supported the event, be
it volunteering, attending or working to keep our company running so that others
could take part. We were blessed with glorious sunshine, record attendance from
the public, sponsorship from our suppliers and some very popular attractions and
for visitors to have their ‘name up in lights’ on the front of a bus. There was
delicious curry thanks to our volunteer driver team. As ever the BBQ, behind the
scenes tours and rides through the bus wash, children’s corner and slime making
proved popular.
Over 100 Reading's own employees volunteered their time
for free to help run the day, supported by months of preparations from teams
right across the company.
The event was opened by the Mayor of Reading, Cllr Paul
Woodward accompanied by The Mayoress Ms. Lyndsey Montgomery. Attending also were
Matt Rodda MP for Reading East and Shadow Minister for Transport, Cllr Tony
Page, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Strategic
Environment, Planning & Transport at Reading Borough Council and a fantastic
time was had by all.
Cathy Talbot and Lisa Sainsbury who represented Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens
on the day wrote in and said: “Cathy and I were
blown away yesterday by the collaborative, dynamic and experienced fundraising
force of Reading Buses. It was a brilliant event to be part of with a wonderful
family feel. We are excited to hear the total amount of funds raised! Thank you
for your energy, commitment and dedication to our cause!”
As always, the open day provides an excellent
opportunity to show off all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to
deliver Reading’s Buses charity of the year and have fun along the way too! It
was great to see all together working and for such a great cause. Several people
commented to me what a great atmosphere there was.
Thanks again for your support. Robert Williams CEO
DDave Allen at Thatcham
June 30th at Thatcham family fete. Nice livery!!/p>
784 is seen at the Thatcham event looking very smart
indeed.
Luke Braham
East Lancs Vykings HJ02 HFD and HJ02 HFF have both been
repainted into a ‘reversed’ version of fleet livery. The pair continue to see
use on school service 650 to Wing.
HJ02HFF, once with Bournemouth Yellow Buses, seen
with the revised livery working the 650 on June 28th
We mentioned the other week that E1RRT had been
repainted into W18 Watford livery and today, July 3rd, Mark Turner
caught the bus in the middle of Watford.
Picture by Mark Turner.
Gerry Gregory
Please find attached a hastily grabbed shot of an
unusual vehicle to be seen at Wantage Market Place, taken this afternoon, July
1st.
Gold 15757 loads for Oxford in Wantage Market Place
on July 1st.
Gold 15609 is seen in Park End Street on June 29th by
Gavin Francis with an S1 working from Carterton and Witney.
I believe this bus was involved in a very serious
front end collision on the S1 route hence the use of Gold fleet numbers on the
front dash.
Now in service here are the three Mercedes-Benz Sprinters 44005/06/09. They are
being used on Citi 2 shuttle services 2A and 2B in Cambridge during the closure
of Mill Road railway Bridge.
Two vehicles are in service each day.
44006 on service 2B by SKM Media
July 3rd.
Latest repaints here are Tridents 18411 and 18412, ahead of their transfer out
of this fleet, along with 18413/14/15 later this summer, and cascade within
Stagecoach UK Bus.
Astromega 50218 - OU59AVE is now with Portsmouth City Coaches
named "Laura". Keep your eyes open Guys for a picture or two please.
Also I'm advised that 50237 should be back by the end of this week. Keep a look
out please.
Flagship of the Oxford tube fleet, 50261, is seen at Thornhill on June 29th by
Gavin Francis.
Oh why, Oh why, do operators not realise that missing wheel trims and dirty
wheel spoil the overall appearance of the coach?
50269 is seen on the same day, leaving Gloucester Green, with a full set of
trims and looking much better. Picture by Gavin Francis.
Interdecker 54604 "Basil Bus" leaves VCS beginning
its long journey to Edinburgh and Glasgow on July 2nd by Gavin Francis.
How much better the coach looks with clean full fitted wheels!!
Megabus promoting its new Airport service now using
ex megabus Gold sleeper coaches
Smaller operators and London developments
London operator changes by Gavin Francis
June 29th - Victoria : I noticed London United have
taken over the 211 and every one of the LTs have been rebranded overnight with
the LU logo!! They even had a couple of their own low number LTs out.
LT664 has been rebranded overnight for service with London United on the 211 -
June 29th by Gavin Francis.
I suppose it is less obvious with Wraps such as LT159 is working for London
United and seen on July 2nd by Gavin Francis.
Wimbledon promotions by Andrew Webb
With Wimbledon about to start for 2019 a trio of tennis themed bus adverts have
begun to ply the streets of the capital.
Several of the Original Tour's Optare Volvos are wrapped to advertise Oppo
Mobile, as illustrated by VLE614 passing Trafalgar Square and VLE612 at Marble
Arch.
LT853, waiting patiently to turn right at Parliament Square is advertising
Adidas 'Supercourt' tennis shoes, whilst the offside version of the advert is
seen on LT434 in Whitehall.
American Express' involvement with the Championships is advertised in the final
wrap, as shown on LT455 LT505 at Parliament Square.
Rail Replacement in Oxford
Gavin Francis
Plaxton Excalibur Volvo B10M - YIL7258 - new in March 1999 as Brighton & Hove
504 registered T504RPN on Rail Replacement on June 30th.
Another Ridleys on Rail Replacement at Oxford Station
on June 30th. YX16NXJ is a Volvo B8R with Plaxton Panther III new to the company
in May 2016.
David Beynon
This coach was on rail replacement duties when I passed through the station
earlier on June 30th.
Previous details are
YKZ 6759 (CN07 BAV)
ex megabus 54006.
Other London
sightings
We have featured this all electric open topper on a
number of occasions but never in service. Hare it is on July 2nd by Gavin
Francis.
Premium Tours have indeed acquired four of these ERMs from a Scottish operator.
JSJ747 was once VLT84 before extension.
Walters of Oxford have recently acquired this nice
Setra from Hamilton Gray, soon to be repainted.
BN09FXB is seen in Oxford by Gavin Francis on June 13th.
M&D Travel of Sunderland now operate this Caetano
Levante K50MND, which as FJ06URH was new to National Express itself in March
2006.
uno will cease operating the Science
Transit Shuttle shortly as far as I am aware. Two of their minis are shown
above.
KX66UVH and KX67SVV are seen in Central Oxford by Gavin Francis on June 28th.