News from Oxford
High Wycombe & the surrounding areas

update Monday, 16th 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.

Well, nearly back to normal and if you've missed a week then check with the Archive Page for an update on the 12th August.  Again apologies to all my readers for the delays to the updates in recent holiday weeks. 

News from Oxford Bus is limited in the last few days but we note that the X3 branded Volvo/Plaxton Verdes have received additional lettering to the roof cove panels advertising the service extension to Oxford Rail Station.

The traffic problems in Oxford have meant that this extension has been less than reliable but this is being addressed by the company and should be resolved within the next week. An additional bus has been drafted in and now FOUR buses will maintain the service ! Dear old 950, popular with many drivers has seen its last service and was captured on film for the record awaiting its new owners. These Titans have given good service to Oxford and will be missed. We have just learned from our correspondent in the Cambridge area that 950 has been purchased by Whippet of Fenstanton.

975, the Titan now part of the Museum collection is seen behind 950. 975 has been helping out with driver training. 

Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the correct type of bus is allocated to each route, there are occasions when it is impossible to provide the right bus if service is to be maintained. Last Friday saw an example of this when Dart 402 put in a spell on the 52 road and is seen here in Castle Street, Oxford en route to the Rail Station.

A regular scene at any bus garage is the refueling of the fleet. Oxford has two roads with four pumps to speed this process. Here we see an Olympian, 201, just in off a morning Q buster duty, sharing the roads with 501, which as been working a shuttle service for the X3 to the Rail Station q.v.

Stagecoach Oxford now operate a basically full service to London with double deck coaches. The view from the upper deck is excellent and the front seat are especially popular. Here we see the forward view from the upper deck of 37, as it proceed towards Grosvenor Gardens and Notting Hill Gate along Holland Park Avenue. 
Another interesting working last weekend was the use of 516 on the 32A to Didcot. This was followed by a Blackbird Leys branded  M A N which added to the general interest. The little Bristol LH training bus is still in regular use and makes a brave sight as it trundles up the bypass !

Wycombe Bus 711 is now repainted and adorned with revised vinyl's for its role as an advert for the Freedom Cards in High Wycombe. It was due to return to High Wycombe last weekend. The use of the Web Page address on the back is a new feature for Wycombe based buses.

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

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