Editorial
The first page of 2019 and heading for our 21st anniversary, which has given me many hours of pleasure and I hope this has been the same for my readers?
A nice touch, Edwards Llantwit Fardre BV67JYE with New Year greetings seen in
Bulleid Way on December 31st by Gavin Francis.
Gavin was working extra return trips from London to Oxford on New Year's Eve.
Reading and listening to various parts of the media I gathered some items in the piece below which may give some moments of thought to readers.
Bus versus train related to usage and faresTaxi sharing could replace bus routes
SUBSIDISED, pooled taxi services that are part of a wider public transport network should replace lost bus routes in rural areas, a report by the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) says. It says new technology will enable private hire vehicles to offer shared transport for small groups of people.Read about success of Didcot Night Bus
A bit
weird this, when tidying up my e-mails discovered this in drafts folder, as from
date shown it is a few months old!
Thought these may be of interest for the historical bit,
essentially its United Counties Bristol VR 800, not in
order on attachments, first shot of 800 taken at Milton Keynes in 1983 carry
United Counties sixtieth anniversary colour scheme. Same bus in Milton Keynes in
summer 1986 in Milton Keynes City Bus livery, which was short lived as after
deregulation that year the company disposed of many full size buses in favour of
minibuses, this bus was sold to Luton and District of where it is seen in Luton
the following year. The bus later received the school bus livery of which the
photo of 804 shows.
800 taken at Milton Keynes in 1983 carry United Counties sixtieth anniversary
colour scheme.
Same bus in Milton Keynes in summer 1986 in Milton Keynes City Bus livery.
Luton and District of where it is seen in Luton the following year.
The bus later received the school bus livery of which this photo of 804
shows.
Many thanks to Tony for those interesting and indeed colourful pictures. Also I think these four pictures of the same or similar bus show, clean wheels maketh the bus, dirty wheels look awaful!
Stagecoach South 29106 with the 100 Guildford - Spectrum Leisure Centre. The
interior is rather striking!
Stagecoach South 29101 with the 400, 29102 with the 200 and 29108 with another
400 all Guildford Bus Station.
These new buses will hopefully encourage people to use the Park & Ride, which
Gavin certainly did.
However of interest is that Gavin had to use his Stagecoach Staff Pass as
Concession Pass Holders are charged £1, which puzzled me as he was outside peak
hour travel?
It would appear, that for some reason, one of the buses in use on the 200 was
this elderly Dart, 34417, seen in Guildford Bus Station.
Some more pictures taken in Guildford can be seen under Stagecoach below and more including the independent operators will be included in next week's issue.
Arriva 280 branded Enviro 5459 at High Wycombe bus station on January 2nd, this
unusual visitor having a day on X30/300 turns for a change of scene
Seen in The Eden Bus Station, High Wycombe E400 5459 YY14WFT with a 300 working
on January 2nd 2019 by Nick Ross.
E200 MMC 4088 YX17NYA working route A in Guildford
Bus Station.
Optare Versa 4200 working route 53 from Guildford Bus
Station to Cranleigh.
Report from Phil Southall, MD of The Oxford Group.
I am pleased to include comments from Phil which answer various questions raised.
Citaro 837 has been disposed of to a private buyer. It
suffered a mechanical defect and we therefore chose to dispose of it rather than
repair.
PMU 978 is at Carousel on loan at the moment and will be
for the foreseeable future. It will return to Oxford eventually.
There are no plans to take 222, 877 or 878 out of Carousel at the moment but we have left them 'bare' for flexibility should we wish to do so.
602 has not yet been wrapped in Chiltern colours. It will
be soon but there has been a delay for some reason.
41 to 44 are parked up at of use at various Oxford Bus
Group premises
45 and 46 are still in service (although 45 has been VOR
but should be back soon)
Scania 222 mentioned above by Phil Southall with a 35
working leaves The Eden Bus Station on December 27th by Malcolm Crowe.
870 (Animal) still has TT logo on the front plus TT
details on the side. Ralph could not see any clear operator details on the side
for COMS (previous details slightly visible under TT details) although in
use on route 6. It did have a COMS disc.
Thames Travel legals on 870 whilst working Oxford City routes. Ralph Adams.
969, the brown PICKMEUP is back on Oxford duties. 977
also seen today. It looks the same length as 971-6 but the earlier batch were
reported as 18 seat whilst 977/8 are noted as 15 seats. Difficult to see as they
have no specific stopping places for a visual inspection.
The X90 coaches have new advertising on the rear
promoting the service. It appears that COMS are trying hard to encourage use of
these coaches whilst taking money from Chiltern trains (Arriva) for
advertisements of their fast rail service to London. This is as bad as times
past with advertising for driving schools on the buses – pass your driving test
with us and save having to wait for a bus.
Today 604 was on the X3.
See attached pictures. In the third picture the screen is telling us we are on a BROOKESbus service, but it was the X3 service I was on!
Scania 214 is still in daily service in its red livery. The comment from a driver about it being prepared for repainting has not yet occurred.
Roger Mott last week, he informed that he has ordered two tri-axle Tourismos for
the Crusader fleet for March delivery. I assume they will registered UK &
GB19CRU . Being the first of the new shape models for Crusader, they should look
very smart.
I'll try and keep you updated and get some fresh photos when they arrive.
BF68LBJ | Vo B11RT YV3T2U821JA189694 | Co F183043024 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park, Hamilton |
BF68LBL | Vo B11RT YV3T2U823JA189695 | Co F183043025 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park,Hamilton |
BF68LBN | Vo B11RT YV3T2U825JA189696 | Co F183043026 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park,Hamilton |
BF68LBO | Vo B11RT YV3T2U829JA189717 | Co F183043027 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park,Hamilton |
BF68LBP | Vo B11RT YV3T2U825JA189729 | Co F183043028 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park,Hamilton |
BF68LBU | Vo B11RT YV3T2U826JA189769 | Co F183043029 | C56FLt | 9/2018 | Park,Hamilton |
BF68LFG | Vo B11RT YV3T2U828JA192284 | Co F183043067 | C59FLt | 11/2018 | Park,Hamilton |
BF68LFH | Vo B11RT YV3T2U823JA192287 | Co F183043068 | C59FLt | 11/2018 | Park,Hamilton |
BF68LFJ | Vo B11RT YV3T2U821JA192319 | Co F183043069 | C59FLt | 11/2018 | Park,Hamilton |
BF68LFK | Vo B11RT YV3T2U822JA192376 | Co F183043078 | C59FLt | 11/2018 | Park,Hamilton |
The first batch starting BF68LBJ are Caetano 2 bodied Volvos hence 56 seat and the last four are Caetano 3 with 59 seats.
This picture by Gavin Francis shows the later batch with
restyled bodywork on Elizabeth Bridge taken January 5th 2019.
Ralph Adams
reports "After a quiet period for
Stagecoach,
changes are made at Banbury from January 6.
The B5 peak extension to Ermont Way industrial area is
now withdrawn due to low usage with a minor reduction in frequency on the main
section.
The B4 which had an occasional mid day operation using
the peak bus from B5 is extended to Hardwick Hill now every 40 minutes in
morning and evening peak using the bus released from the B5. I think this covers
the far end of the former B10 withdrawn over a year ago.
The overall PVR therefore remains unchanged."
East & West Scotland
Pictures are from Gordon Scott taken in Glasgow Bus Station on January 3rd 2019.
SC East Scotland 54122 "Dunc Stewart" leaving Glasgow with an M9 Stirling
service on January 3rd 2019 by Gordon Scott.
Mentioned in previous issues new Volvo Plaxton coaches 54601 and 54603 are based
in Ayr for the X77.
50237 remains in service and may stay for a much longer period than at first thought ?
50237 seen in Gloucester Green on January 3rd by Ralph Adams
Picture is from Gordon Scott taken in Glasgow Bus Station on January 3rd 2019.
Once pride of the Oxford tube fleet, 50286, is now decked in corporate livery
and working the X76 from Glasgow. Picture by Gordon Scott.
Ironically seen in Glasgow on January 3rd 2019.
Current advertising!
Other operators
From Ralph Adams
Culham operating centres.
Whites
appear to have all their Optare buses now withdrawn in various stages of decay.
In contrast their coaches are all in good condition.
JD
have 7 active vehicles and 12 awaiting MOT – many unlikely every to run again
Oxford Taxis
have 7 active vehicles and 8 awaiting MOT – again many unlikely every to run
again. They have 3 3axle Olympians here, TIL 6571 in daily use, 6572 licensed
but in reserve and 6573 still unlicensed, obviously hoping for another high
capacity school contract.
West Coast Motors M40WCM departing Glasgow with the
926 to Campbeltown on January 3rd 2019 by Gordon Scott.