The more pieces appear, the bigger the jigsaw of history of a single route becomes! 

I am not surprised that the service between Oxford and Southampton was run jointly. But I had imagined two operators. Three working together seems impressive, albeit logical as it crossed the territories of each one.

I have just heard that route 275 is to be transferred from Red Rose to Carousel. Did you know about this, or why it is being transferred? 

I thought route 275 was mostly commercial, except for the one trip each way that goes via Great Milton. Have I got that wrong? 

It feels like only a year or two ago that route 40 was transferred from Carousel to Red Rose. Does either Bucks or Oxon CC subsidise route 40?

Bucks and Oxon county councils used to subsidise the off-peak trips on route 275. Under the new tender, they will now subsidise the entire service.

a MetroRider! There's a blast from the past. 

The wide diversity of vehicles rather highlights the matter of what sort of service one wants to bridge the big gap between Harwell Campus and Newbury. If one wants to maximise passengers between big towns, run a coach or high-spec "coach-bus" and stick to the main roads. If one wants to serve small villages, run a short-wheelbase single decker, preferably with a narrow body. I know of no bus that would do both jobs to a high standard. And the more one tries to serve villages that are not on the main road, the fewer passengers one will attract for the longer-distance town-to-town journeys. 

Thank you again for forwarding your followers' recollections of the route.

Ian McNeil

In the early 1960s Thames Valley were running two buses on the 112, usually Lodekkas 763 and 764.  COMS (country buses) also ran two on their identical route 12, and these were highbridge AEC Regents.  All were fitted with platform doors and together they provided an hourly frequency 7 days a week via the old A34 main road.  The journey time was indeed 100 minutes.  The first weekday departure from each terminus (at 07:30) worked only to AERE Harwell where the two vehicles connected and then returned home; all other journeys covered the complete route.  

COMS also had a route 13 which was effectively a short working of the 12 between Gloucester Green and Abingdon, but its 30 minute frequency was not co-ordinated with the 12, more with the 14 which ran between Gloucester Green and Abingdon via Kennington and Radley with lowbridge Regents.  (Notably a 14 and the 12/112 left Gloucester Green together at half-past each hour.)

It's interesting that the 275 is to be run by Carousel; back in the day it was the 75 and was mostly operated from the former COMS outstation at Stokenchurch.  Not many ex-COMS country routes have such a long history using a recognisably similar route number!

Tony Bungay

As the reuse of the X34 route number has prompted a few responses , I thought I would enclose a couple of photos of the service being operated by the Hampshire Bus share of the operation. The Plaxton bodied coach I believe was previously an Oxford -South Midland vehicle.

The service operated by Alder Valley- Hampshire Bus – City of Oxford contributing one vehicle each. The last Southampton to Oxford journey of the day required passengers to change from a Hampshire to Oxford vehicle at Newbury Bus Station.

The service in this form ceased on the 25/10/86. I made that statement in that form, as Newbury Buses were operating a Newbury – Oxford X34 service six days a week at least, as late as 1996, though my copy of the Great British Bus Timetable published by Southern Vectis shows that by the summer of 1998, the service had shrunk to four journeys each way on Saturday only. The timetable stating the weekday service being withdrawn to loss of subsidy.

Some readers may recall a submission of a photo on this Newspage by a contributor, of a Newbury buses vehicle operating this service, asking if any readers knew the location. The answer if I recall correctly was East Ilsley.

As the Newbury operations of Alder Valley became The Beeline, before the sale to Reading Buses. I do not know if they or anybody else for that matter operated a form of the X34 after deregulation day 26/10/86.

I note a question was asked about the Oxford – Newbury service before the X34, well certainly in the mid 1970’s it was numbered 112 and was operated jointly by Alder Valley and Oxford, giving an hourly frequency, there was also a Sunday service. At a guess here, I doubt the hourly frequency lasted until the introduction of the X34. I would assume that the service was probably trimmed down or more, as a result of the ‘KennetBus’ MAP project, which along with others in 1980 made considerable inroads into Alder Valley operations (it had reportedly been one of the NBC’s biggest loss makers).

A map of Thames Valley operations presumably before 1970, shows Thames Valley service 112 and alongside City of Oxford 12 operating between the two places. Also on the same road but continuing beyond Newbury onto Winchester – Portsmouth and Southsea is South Midland Coach service F, in Thames Valley ownership at this time, but moving to City of Oxford in 1971. 

On a different note anybody remember the X10, this service lasted about four months in the summer of 1986 and was operated by Wilts and Dorset to and from Oxpens road. Two journeys a day operated Salisbury – Andover – Newbury – Abingdon? – Oxford. If I find a photo I will send it up! 

Buckinghamshire Council bus changes website lists a number of changes. Perhaps standing out is the return after an absence of 51 years, of the 710 service number in Chesham and Amersham! Operating to London Airport, will be interesting if anybody is dedicated enough to get a photo in either town! Why? The timetable I think will show the answer!

Roger Thompson

A further small comment on these services.  I lived in Abingdon and travelled to school in Oxford by bus from 1957 to 1962, and throughout that time one of the three bus services that I could use was the joint COMS/Thames Valley service between Oxford and Newbury, which ran hourly on the hour from Gloucester Green, alternating between COMS and Thames Valley buses.

The COMS service was number 12, the Thames Valley was number 112. During that time TV used what, to my mind , were the more modern looking buses, the ubiquitous Bristol Lodekka. COMS used one of the large number of AEC Regents in their fleet, usually one of the more recent Regent Vs with hand operated rear platform doors, but still with an exposed radiator.

The route of the 12/112 through Abingdon was different to that of the half hourly COMS Service 13, which otherwise followed the same route along the old A34 via Hinksey Hill top and Sunninwell turn - long before the A34 dual carriageway and Abingdon bypass was built. In Abingdon the 13 followed the A34 directly into the town centre, but the 12/112 turned into Northcourt Road, and then took Wootton Road to regain the A34 opposite the then open station, at the top of Stert St. This added about another 5 minutes to the journey, but provided a service to the new estates off the Wootton Rd.

This service remained unchanged for many years - timetables didn't change every few weeks like they seem to nowadays!

Thomas W W Knowles

I thought that with the correspondence relating to the bus services between Newbury and Oxford creating such interest, a few photographs  taken over the years would be of interest.

You may already have seen my photographs of the two COMS buses PWL 417 and 954 AJO taken at Newbury Wharf in 1959. At that time COMS buses used route number 12 whilst the joint operator, Thames valley used 112. Thames Valley acquired Newbury & District  in the early 1950s, and all the services taken over received route numbers in the 1xx series. However at the end of Newbury & District's operation the route number for the Oxford service was 30 but by June 1952 the Thames Valley timetable book was using service number 112.

We then become a bit more modern with the Alder Valley Bristol LH in Gloucester Green showing route number 104
which was a number used only on a Sunday and was photographed on 8th July 1973.

The Hampshire Bus Bristol RELH was photographed in Oxford on 1st August 1983 at a time when the X34 was a service
that operated through from Oxford to Southampton - hence Hampshire Bus participated in the joint operation.

At the end of June 1995 Reading's Newbury Buses Optare bodied Mercedes F362SDP was in Oxford showing service number X34, but with no destination.
The bus was in an all over advert for the Newbury & Thatcham Chronicle. At this time there was no longer any joint service operation.

A few weeks later on 29th July 1995 the Newbury Buses vehicle on service 34 (no X being shown) was an Optare bodied MAN 801 K801DCF.
I do not know if this was the correct route number at the time. 

Michael Wadman

An interesting conversation in OCBP on the X34. I’ve been having a look in my records, which unfortunately are not as complete as I would like, but this is what I’ve been able to find. 

There was indeed at one time an X34 Southampton – Oxford service via Bassett, Compton, St Cross, Winchester, Newbury, Chieveley, Beedon, East Ilsley, Harwell, Rowstock Corner, and Abingdon. It was jointly operated by Hampshire Bus, Alder Valley, and City of Oxford, and by including several non-stop sections and using the improved A33 and A34 it achieved a journey time of 2 hours 20 minutes. It started on 19^th June 1983 and was withdrawn on 26^th October 1986. 

On 8^th December 1990 Bennett’s Coaches started a service numbered B34 from Newbury via Chieveley and Compton to East Ilsley, extended on Saturdays to Rowstock, Steventon, Drayton, Abingdon, and Oxford.

Bedford YMT / Duple YYL 784T is seen loading in Newbury bus station with an East Ilsley journey.

The route and destination display is on the bit of paper cellotaped to the windscreen; the coach had been new to Grey-Green of whom World Wide Coaches was a subsidiary, so I'm guessing it still had its original blind and the driver was having  a laugh – or expressing his opinion on the indirect nature of the route. 

On 4^th October 1993 Reading Transport started a new service X34 from Newbury to Oxford via Chieveley, East Ilsley, and Abingdon, which replaced the Saturday extension of Bennett’s service, by then just numbered 34. 

Reading 216 (WOI 3005, formerly G683 KNW) is seen leaving Gloucester Green for Newbury on 11^th February 1994.
This MCW Metrorider was used as a demonstrator before being acquired by Ipswich and later by Reading.

Keith Newton photographed Reading Transport no 784 (F774 OJH). a former Bee Line Volvo B10M-60 / Jonckeere,
in East Ilsley (Broad Street) en route to Oxford. 

I’m not sure when the X34 was withdrawn. In April 1997 the Monday to Friday service became an Oxfordshire contract whilst the Saturday service stayed commercial; I have a note that the latter was withdrawn on 20^th March 1999, but I don’t know about the M-F operation.   

More interesting and informative responses. Ed.

A question of full buses in Oxford

Chris Huntingford

Chris Huntingford writes “One of the current problems in Oxford is frequent bus departures saying Sorry, Bus Full. However, if looking side on, there is often room to stand towards the back. This isn’t the fault of the driver, but instead, because standees often cluster near the cab, giving the impression of full capacity. Would it be possible to put in signage saying if standing, please move down the bus? And maybe the odd friendly shout from the driver - move down the bus folk, so I can squeeze a few more on”.

Any answers? Ed.

Happenings in Aylesbury with comments on service changes

Paul Coley

Confirmation that Arriva are throwing the towel in against Red Rose on their final Aylesbury town service, Route 9, effectively from 2nd September. Once the jewel in the Arriva town service crown, one of the original Aylesbury Rainbow Routes, Red Route 9 had new Darts in a dedicated livery, running every 15 minutes. Even during COVID, Arriva trumpeted improving the frequency to every 10 minutes stating due to 'increased demand'. However, competition from Red Rose has tarnished the profitability of this cash cow, which was reduced to every 15 minutes a year ago, then to every 20 minutes in June. That, and a rag bag selection of buses in various corporate liveries (Aylesbury hasn't had delivery of a new single deck bus for over 14 years), means the end was entirely predictable and inevitable. In typical Arriva style, nothing has been done differently to improve the viability, no new links offered that might have made a difference against their competitor. Reducing frequency and charging slightly more than your competition is never going to win over prospective customers. I feel sorry for the staff, who must despair at the apparent apathy, seeing all their hard work handed over the new dominant force in Bucks, the Red Group.

Red Route 9, including this Dart, seen on 2nd July 2010, heading along Orwell Drive, Hawkslade.
Clean, tidy, branded for the route it was on….how times have changed

August 8th sees 3920 working a current route 9.

   
Citaro 3920 would have been the pride of Aylesbury garage, when delivered new 15 years ago for the 300 to Wycombe.
Really sad to see it in this state (you can't really be any kinder than this) taken on August 15th.
and assume it will be a casualty of the withdrawal of the 9 in just over 2 weeks' time. 

In contrast to withdrawing services, it was standing room only this evening, August 15th, on this Red Line E300, seen departing Stoke Mandeville Hospital, bound for High Wycombe. It is a shame that the Red Group never seem to repaint replacement panels on any of their buses !

Interestingly I was reading comments on another web site about Arriva changes and the renumbering of routes which leaves one wondering. Ed.

      Coach visitors to Oxfordshire     

Jack Cooper

Barnes WJ17EZB in St Giles on August 13th.

Laguna Y19LAG in St Giles on August 13th.

Richard Sharman

   
Eynsham-based OMC Global operates a modern fleet, and its vehicles can regularly be seen around the city on a variety of work.

     Fleet News and developments   

Malcolm Crowe

988 appears to be off the road since it worked an Oxford 11X on August 4th. I wonder what has happened ?

 
432 is seen in the overflow yard on August 5th and 12th having not seen service for many months now.

Caught at the back of the depot on August 12th is E200 YY64TXJ most recently working in Cornwall.
Is this destined for Carousel ?

https://www.citysightseeingoxford.com/great-cities-combined-ticket/

Daryl Major

One my greatest supporters, Jack Cooper, is seen in this picture of 24 at Gloucester Green on August 10th.
Someone questioned was he leaving on the back of the coach !! Ed.

Güy Wæ

Bicester Village bus 662 (and at one time the GWR IEB) back on the shuttles on August 10th covering for an absent 514.

Jack Cooper

353 is seen in Magdalen Street West working 6 road on August 13th.

675 is seen in Magdalen Street West working 300 road to Pear Tree on August 13th.

679 is seen in Magdalen Street East working a 300 service to Redbridge on August 13th.

205 is seen in Magdalen Street East with sight seeing on August 13th.