News from Oxford
High Wycombe & the surrounding areas

update Thursday, 12th August 1999 by Malcolm Crowe

Please note that any comments made in this news page are those of the Editors' and in no way constitute 
any official points of view from the bus companies mentioned,  or indeed any other official body. 
As a news page we reserve the right to make valid comments as seen from an editorial point of view.

Apologies firstly to all my readers for the lack of update last weekend. Sorry but I was on holiday in Devon and Somerset and time was not available to post an update. 

News from Oxford Bus is of further completions of single door Olympian conversions for Wycombe Bus, with the completion of 225. The remaining older Olympians continue to give good service in the Q buster role and 223 has now moved over to the student contract STS and as such has lost ticket equipment, since the STS contract is a no ticket operation. On a number of occasions during the past week, older Olympians have been noted on the 300 and 400 Park & Ride services. Buses noted have included 202 and 224. We are now seeing the last few weeks in service of the ex Shearings Paramounts, 59-63.  These five coaches will be replaced by new Excaliburs 14-18, though on which Citylink duties, it is not yet known. The extended X3 service between Abingdon and Oxford, now terminating at the Rail Station in Oxford has experienced delays and a retiming exercise is to be implemented. The new traffic measures in the City Centre, whilst easing congestion, are sadly being ignored by car many drivers and private cars can often be seen, flagrantly violating bus only areas. The police presence has reduced and congestion results.  

Stagecoach Oxford has been suffering from reliability with its double deck M A N coaches and must be somewhat frustrated, considering the high level of investment, to be faced with what appear to be very regular breakdowns of these new coaches. Your correspondent had the opportunity to ride from Lewknor to London and return this week and was pleasantly surprised by the good ride quality on the upper deck. Sadly on the return journey, the toilet was out of service due to a valve problem which did not give the best impression to passengers, who may have wished to avail themselves of this facility. All these M A N s have now received full livery and are certainly eye catching if one uses the M40 Motorway.   Ex London Olympian 529 was seen on the X33 Abingdon service earlier this week and the batch (526-530) have been seen on several other routes this last week, including 3s to Rose Hill.  further to the continued use of branded buses on other routes, one of the Rose Hill "red tops" was seen on 105 s , Wallingford, which must somewhat confuse passengers who wish to travel the terminus of the 3 at Rose Hill. It is advised that Mercedes 300 is to be withdrawn as indeed will a number of other buses following the withdrawal of a number of services such as the X33 at the end of the month. 

Thames Travel have been seen on route proving for their part in taking over Stagecoach services in the Wallingford area.

Wycombe Bus 711 is presently being repainted and is receiving new vinyl's for its role as an advert for the Freedom Cards in High Wycombe.

Finally I have included a few pictures from my holiday travels and the visit to London. Interesting in London, whilst waiting for a Tube, two ex Citylink Metroliners, both open top but both with different companies, turned up within seconds of each other at Marble Arch. See the pictures below.  

You can still view the Tube launch report and the Oxford Bus P&R Trident launch - Dateline Tuesday June 1st 1999 here.

PICTURE PARADE
INCLUDING MY HOLIDAY SNAPS & WHERE ARE THEY NOW !!

ex Oxford Citylink 906, now serving with London Pride on 
the open top tour bus services in London.

ex Oxford Citylink 904 (B904XJO) , converted to open top,
now serving on The Original Sightseeing Tour, run by Arriva.
Seen loading at Marble Arch, ironically on the same stop as the X90 !

TA69, T69KLD, Metroline Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 dual door, 
with bright blue interior making a contrast to the Oxford versions.

An ex Oxford Dennis SLF Dart/Alexander ALX200 saloon, 805 (R805YUD)
now 757 with Stagecoach Devon. seen here leaving Exeter Bus Station 
en route to Budleigh Salterton via Exmouth, route 57.
The "easy access" lettering is still in place less the "First Oxford"
lettering which was in place during its service in Oxford.  

Another ex Oxford area bus, was this Daimler CVD6 which worked with 
Guide Friday, first in Oxford and then on The Cotswold's tour.
It is now operated on The Rexquote Heritage Tours based on
the Taunton area of Somerset. A very fine tour with good hill climbing
can be made on The Blackdown Hills with a £6.00 day Rover ticket. 
The bus originated with West Riding in Yorkshire.

Little used when in Oxford, this ex Plymouth PD2 is now fully used
by Stagecoach Devon between Paignton and Torquay.

An ex Oxford lad drives this Dart of First Red Bus. Alastair Dubber
was the crew for the run between Exeter and Moretonhampstead.
The 359 runs through the narrow lanes of Devon in a lovely area.

The Editor on holiday, not driving but what a lovely area.
Devon and Bigbury on Sea. 
The Mercedes operates from Plymouth each day to the South Hams.

Classic coaches of High Wycombe operate this ex London Country
National UPB307S and it is seen here on the Stokenchurch-Marlow
service at origin. It seems reluctant to admit its ownership and
the LT notice suggests that the 356 is a London service !!

Nearly ready for service in Wycombe, 225 awaits the fitment of destination
blinds. It looks most resplendent in its new livery !

 ex London Selkent Olympian L115 - C115CHM is now 529 with
Stagecoach Oxford and is seen here laying in Oxford 
over before working the X33 to Abingdon. 

Oxford Tube nr 55 seen passing along Park Lane, London 
on its way to its terminus at Gloucester Gardens. 
These coaches are now fully in service with 27 plying between
the University City and the Capital. 
Two Volvo coaches remain as backup.

Variety in Oxford, provided by the Olympian Q busters. 
999, 214,223, 202, 221, Dart 518, 224, 208 and a Park&Ride Trident 
show how much interest remains in the Oxford Bus fleet !
518 had operated a peak hour journey on the X3 !!

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