Editorial

Issue nr 339
Sunday, March 16th 2025

Past Issues : https://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk/

From the Editor

An interesting week with some surprises for readers.

Another new livery for Oxford plus new coaches for the National Express 737 and glimpses of the expanding Carousel fleet.

There also was the Cheltenham Gold Cup took place with extra buses brought u==in to help out.

Once again some items are held over for the next issue.

In this issue

Cheltenham Festival

Aldridge Transport Museum event

Grahame Wareham on 339

Brooklands Members Day

Newbury Interlude with John Marsh

Readers Write

Fleet News & Developments

Carousel update

New eVoRas for Red Rose

London operations by Andrew Webb

Jack Cooper visits West Yorkshire

Race Services by Tony Gaze

A bit of snow around Cheltenham this morning!! March 12th 2025

I have also attached a list of visiting Stagecoach vehicles. There were numerous 'West' vehicles on duty as well

Oxford 'Electric' 80016 and 80043 also appeared (though I didn't see them)
Picture below by Jack Cooper

East 10804
East 10869
East 11727
East 11728
East 15218
East Midlands 11682
East Midlands 11683
East Midlands 11684
East Midlands 11690
East Midlands 11693
East Midlands 11763
London 10333
London 11076
London 11359
London 11367
London 12345
London 12429
London 12524
London 19834
Merseyside 11638
Midlands 11230
Midlands 11651
Morecambe 11207
North East 11611
North East 11617
North East 11717
North East 11722
North East 11772
South 18077
South 18510
South 18511
South 18520
South 19078 South
19081 South 19355
South East 11543
South East 11548
South East 11551
South East 11557
South East 11604
Wales 15613
Wales 15838
Yorkshire 11626
Yorkshire 11647
Yorkshire 11648
Yorkshire 11714

Pictures from Tony Gaze

Other operators on March 13th and 14th.

Charles Powell

Race week extra capacity on the 801. Never know how busy it’s going to be

Jack Cooper

80043 seen in Cheltenham on March 14th.

In addition, Stagecoach Oxford sent 11761 from Witney all week, plus each evening a number of buses were sent from Oxford to help out. Interestingly for the first time, this included two electric buses, 80016 and 80043. All the Oxford buses returned home each evening.

More to follow in the next issue. Ed.

Neil Bridges who took an SC Ldn bus to Cheltenham

I collected 12345 from Plumstead today (March 11th) and brought it up to Cheltenham for the races, and will be returning it on Saturday.

Dave & Deric

Buses on loan at Cheltenham this last week for the Cheltenham Gold Cup Race Meeting:

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire: 11207

Stagecoach East: 10804, 10869, 11727, 11728, 15218

Stagecoach East Midlands: 11682, 11683, 11684, 11690, 11693, 11763

Stagecoach London: 10333, 11076, 11359, 11367, 12345, 12429, 12524, 19834

Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire: 11638

Stagecoach Midlands: 11230, 11651

Stagecoach North East: 11611, 11617, 11717, 11722, 11772

Stagecoach South: 18077, 18510, 18511, 18520, 19078, 19081, 19355

Stagecoach South East: 11543, 11548, 11551, 11557, 11604

Stagecoach Wales: 15613, 15838, 15754

Stagecoach Yorkshire: 11626, 11647, 11648, 11714

Andy Millwood visited the Aldridge bus event

Arriva Scania

Birmingham - West Midlands variety.

Other operators.

The Event took place on Saturday 8^th March 2025

My thanks for this interesting report. Ed.

Grahame Wareham for Issue 339

H339 MWL973 1948 AEC Regent II with Weymann H30/26R body, renumbered H873 in 1952. Withdrawn February 1960 and sold to PVD (dealer) Dunchurch. It was resold to Knightswood of Watford as a staff bus in May 1960 but only lasted until March 1962 when it was sold for scrap.

Unfortunately I have no images of this bus either with COMS or its subsequent owner.

339 339TJO 1964 AEC Renown 3B3RA with Park Royal H38/27F lowheight forward entrance body, These and all subsequent AEC Renown's were fitted with CAV DPA rotary fuel pumps which gave a more responsive throttle setting meaning speedier acceleration, however they were not quite as robust as the older in-line versions but considerably lighter when you had to fit one! All in all these later Renown's were quite popular with the road staff as they had outside hung sliding cab doors with a subsequent advantage of a much lower and wider threshold step into the cab, 339 spent the first half of its life allocated to country depots including spells at Thame, Bicester, Aylesbury, Chipping Norton and cumulated quite a high mileage. 339 was withdrawn from passenger service in June 1974 and was converted into a mobile exhibition unit on behalf of Oxfordshire City Council and later the County Council. It received a striking mauve, purple blue and white livery for its use by the Council. Later in the same guise it was also used by the Company in the same role as well as being used to tour the depots for things such as staff bus pass renewals and uniform issue. In July 1981 it was repainted into a yellow and orange sunshine scheme as a mobile publicity unit for the Company and was withdrawn in this scheme in June 1985 and sold to the writer where it was based at the Oxford Bus Museum as a mobile sales stand. It was hired out to Chatsworth Horse Trials in Derbyshire on a couple of occasions before being retired as surplus to the Museum's requirements. It was subsequently sold and exported to Spain in May 1992 being used by a private fashion company in Vizcaya.

Brooklands Members Day
by Gavin Francis

Saturday 8^th March was Members Day at The London Bus Museum at Brooklands. Nigel Eadon-Clarke was there and amongst the buses of interest were.

T448 restoration was completed last year and Nigel’s pictures show it giving rides to members, my 2 show it being restored in October 2022
and finally Paul Bateson supplied a picture with T448 at a very early bus rally on the South Bank in May 1971.

At the opposite end of the restoration process is T 357 currently in The Museum Workshop.

Nigel’s picture shows XF 3 which has been recently acquired and received a fresh coat of paint
nd Paul Bateson’s shows it in Crawley when the bus was new in September 1965.

Finally a nice picture of RML 3 to compare with my picture taken at Brighton at the annual HCVC London to Brighton Run in 1974
before the front of the bus was returned to its original condition.

Newbury Interlude with John Marsh

Go Ahead's Swindon's Bus Company 1018 (YN06JWV) having offloaded a goodly number of passengers heads for Newbury Bus Station 7 3 25 (John Marsh) (002)

Newbury District 601 (ND74BUS) leaves Newbury for Thatcham 7 3 25 A touch of spring in the blossom. (John Marsh) (002)

Newbury & District 790 (SN16OHH) leaving the town centre for the Vodafone Campus 7 3 25 (John Marsh)

Reading Buses ACADEMY 311 (RG53BUS) makes an appearance in Newbury 7 3 25 (John Marsh) (002)

Rear view of Newbury District 601 (ND74BUS) arriving from Thatcham 7 3 25 (John Marsh) (002)

Who could deny the slogan on the rear of Newbury District 790 (SN16OHH seen leaving for the Vodafone Campus 7 3 25 (John Marsh) (002)

Thiss is a different view of Newbury from that seen to date. Ed.

Alexander refer to the last issue

Congratulations on your latest issues, as always they were A pleasure to read. I enjoyed reading 'The Story of the 280 by Tony Bungay' in last week's edition. It was good to see the service went out with some style! I'd however like to point out that what he said about an exchange of services between LDT the Shires and Go Ahead is incorrect as Go Ahead didn't give the 280 to LDT The Shires in exchange for any of their services. The reason why they did it as they were giving up on country routes to concentrate on keeping with Thames Transit in the city during the bus war which you might remember. I do remember the 260 service that he talks about but I didn't know it had some journeys extended to Oxford in the 1990's although I do remember seeing it there occasionally 'til about 2004 so it does make sense. I don't however remember it ever being renumbered 110 or being operated by Redline. With regards to what he says about the 280/282 in the early 1970's there was also A 281/283, how did they differ from the 280/282?

I also enjoyed reading Barry Hollman's recollection of Oxford/South Midland's 500 service, I can see that it does have similarities with the current one! I didn't know the number had been used before in the early 1980's although it does make sense as it followed A similar route to the 501 and 502 which also ran between Queen's La and Blackbird Leys. In those days all the city services in Oxford had 5XX numbers due to the MAP changes in 1977 that Tony Bungay talks about. They certainly have been reintroducing A lot of old bus routes from years ago recently, is that the reason that OBC is now using 500 rather than 11X the way they did before?

Graham Low was in Taunton

I was in Taunton today and saw a new First Yutong single decker on driver training, and the front of this double decker, 3005, both part of a First order, which I read is for 28 single and double deckers for Somerset. The green Buses of Somerset brand has been dropped on these buses.

James Allum has thoughts on the X5 and 500

Just thought I'd add further to the comments re the X5 and 500.

Arriva are to make further changes locally in Watford and Hemel areas with the 20, 322 affected mainly by going every 30 mins as well as the 2 in Hemel!

One journey of the already diminished 320 is to be withdrawn also!

Considering the 2 used to run up to every 10 mins and currently up to every 20 minutes I'm quite shocked at how this will impact the people of Hemel.

Sad to say it but can see it happening now, could this be Arriva's final daring deed before pulling out of Hemel after all these years!

From a point of view giving up the 302 could be run by Stevenage depot and route extended, the Hemel and Watford town routes will probably be left to be run by Red Eagle or Red Rose.

Julian Walker writes about buses on the SL5 (Superloop)

I wanted to comment on Gavin Francis' report on Bromley in the 2^nd March edition, specifically the Arriva buses on the SL5 Superloop which he describes as looking 'a bit weary'.

It may seem strange that Arriva would put such elderly buses onto what should be a prestige new route. However Transport for London had to move quickly and introduce all the routes by the end of the 2023-2024 financial year in April or they stood to lose funding. The routes were introduced with short-term interim contracts using existing vehicles. There were low trees along the route of the SL5 which could not be trimmed in time, so Arriva used the ENXs which were spare from another route which had recently converted to double deck.

The good news is that the trees have now been dealt with. Arriva has now been awarded a seven-year contract for the route and has ordered new BYD B11 electric double-deck buses which are due to enter service later this year - the same vehicles as depicted on route 320 in the same article.

Nigel Peach in road works

I was stuck behind 609 in a long queue of traffic (workers' traffic lights) for a long time on the A40 London Road yesterday (8th). 610 is coming in the other direction. Both buses will have been extremely behind schedule.

The Eden Bus Station by Bridge Street in High Wycombe on March 12th by Gavin Francis.

Fleet News and developments

Nick Ross

Arriva's 3944 at Leighton Buzzard station prior to working the 0701 F70 to Luton Airport on March 14th 2025.

This was the first of a busy day for 3944 on the F70/F77 corridor.

Paul Coley

My Arriva source has told me this evening that the X5 from Hemel to Aylesbury is being withdrawn entirely from the end of April. Drivers were told today, apparently.

Tony Bungay

I managed to photograph some of the Enviro 400 vehicles that are now at Milton Keynes, replacing the previous East Lancs Olympus vehicles which I understand have gone to Luton.

Not the first time Milton Keynes have had Enviro 400 vehicles, service changes at Aylesbury a year or so ago saw the former Derby sapphire ones move to Milton Keynes, only to later go back to the Midlands.

Photographed in Aylesbury and Leighton Buzzard are 4432, 4437. 4438 and 4439 working on Services X4/X6.

Gavin Francis

Countrywide CW24CWC seen in Stokenchurch on March 12th.

Gavin Francis

63303 with the X74 on March 10th.

63316 with the X74 on March 10th.

I asked for an update on the fleet. Ed.

Luke Marion

80536 is one of the former NCT vehicles, this is shown on your website last week! Picture by Gavin Francis.

The green ex NCT vehicles will be going off for repaint this week, we have 5 of the 7 vehicles now painted into red so you will see these appearing over the course of the next week or so. The seats are having the headrests replaced to remove the NCT stitching also.

On the Scania double decks, we have 3 off for engine replacement currently, and the 4^th (229) was seriously damaged after being driven through flood water back in September, this is expected back on the road soon.

Ah right, that explains your confusion!

The correct numbering is

NCT Fleet	Reg	OBG Fleet
303	YX69NRJ	80535
304	YX69NRK	80536
305	YX69NRL	80537
306	YX69NRN	80538
307	YX69NRO	80539
308	YX69NRU	80540
309	YX69NRV	80541

We already have 80531-80534 but yes there will be 80526-80530 in due course, these are new ADL vehicles in build which will be delivered later in the year.

The leased 25 vehicles will be numbered in the 8059x series.

These are temporary, leased vehicles and will be fleet numbers:

YX25OHV - 80597 Picture by Jack Cooper

YX25OJL - 80598 - Arrived back from a busy Heathrow duty to see this one fresh out of the box with Carousel legals.
Photo by Alex Horwood.

Gavin Francis in Wycombe on Mrch 10th and 14th.

The current fleet of Scania E400 is kept busy at Wycombe.

The Streetlites are all back in service now.

431 and 432 may have reliability issues.

441 and 442 are working hard at Wycombe

451 still carries TT livery.

The MMCs now in service at Wycombe are performing well.

The Citaro fleet at Wycombe looks really good.

The PMU fleet is kept busy with generally fivbe in service each weekday.

The 12 E200MMC from Glasgow are all now repainted and look very smart.

Looking spruce from the outside sadly this bus still carries Nottingham signs inside - 80535 working the 275 in Chinnor.

80535, 6 and 40 in their new livery.

To be 80541, I like red !

80824 works a 37.

Peter Edgar

Carousel 514 on the recently introduced 127 service between Maidenhead and Reading.
Photographed in Frascati Way, Maidenhead. 07/03/2025.

Sanjay Baker

80535 on March 12th and 80540 the following at at the end of the 275 route - Oxford.

Bob Chalmers

First day back in service since the end of December '24 and in a new livery too. Taken in Abingdon High Street on Sunday 16th March on an X1 service to Wantage. Assume others that need re-liveries will follow suit too. Very similar to TT682 but without the X2/3 branding - but looking very smart none the less.

James Freeman

To be 80835 (MEC58) & 375 on the route 11 today 13-03-2025

Jack Cooper

495 with a 35 in Radley on March 3rd.

Peter Edgar

Stagecoach Oxfordshire 37401 in its heritage Midland Red livery
photographed in London Road, Bicester this morning about to turn into Bicester Village Station on March 12th.

Gavin Francis

PEARCES OU64BZX seen in STOKENCHURCH 130325 G Francis on March 13th.

Grahame Wareham

Pictures I took today on the M69 of 942's last trip on the road on its way to Carlton, Barnsley, courtesy off PVS!

Sanjay Baker

80951 has moved from Carousel to Thames Travel as seen on March 11th.

Charles Powell

Oxford's 80062 driver training in Woodstock Road on March 13th.

Malcolm Crowe

Travelling into Wycombe on Wednesday, we followed ex Stagecoach 36266 now with Red Eagle with a local working from Chinnor. It still carried the SC fleet number.

Gavin Francis in Wycombe and Thame on March 10th & 11th.

Serving the 130.

GJV is seen in Oxford Road, Wycombe with a 130.

V119LGC at Lord Williamson school in Thame.

The 130 has a significant PVR as watchers can see.

The 300 sees variety and the fleet looks smart.

Tony Bungay

Another of the former University of Wolverhampton's BF67GJX looking to be recently repainted with Redline.

Taj Khan advises new Volvo/eVoRas due soon..

New Red Rose Volvo MCV EVoRa's due in two weeks

BU25 YZH YV3T7U52XRA218224 Red Rose

BU25 YZJ YV3T7U521RA218225 Red Rose

BU25 YZK YV3T7U523RA218226 Red Rose

BU25 YZL YV3T7U525RA218227 Red Rose

BU25 YZM YV3T7U527RA218228 Red Rose

Gavin Francis

All change for the 40 after a long spell with Y25 and Y27 two different buses, Y22RRT and YX10BGK, on March 10th.

Tony Gaze

10984 was working the 51 Swindon - Cirencester - Cheltenham today.

I'm sorry but I don't like this livery. Ed.

Peter Edgar

37401 in heritage MR livery seen in London Road turning into Bicester Village Station on March 12th.

Sanjay Baker

36760 appears often now working the Oxford staff bus as seen on March 12th.

London operations

Andrew Webb

Reese's chocolate is advertised on The Original Tour's VXE728 as it crosses Westminster Bridge on 8 March.

Designer fashion brand Cos has launched a new campaign, once again featuring different models.
Transport UK's LT463 is coy about its destination as it crosses Parliament Square on 8 March whilst working route 24 to Pimlico.