from THE OXFORD BUS PAGE
News & Pictures from:
 Oxford, High Wycombe, The Chilterns & surrounding areas

Issue 205
Tuesday 2nd July 2002
(delayed from 30th June)

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.

Visit the Archive Pages going back to 1998

Your reports are welcome at malcolmhc@aol.com

Emergency vehicles attending the incident seen from the Bonn Square end of Queen St.

Now at issue 205 and an eventful weekend for all bus services in Oxford. A pub called BAR-MED went up in flames in Saturday afternoon causing considerable mayhem to the bus and coach services using High Street, St Aldates, Castle Street and New Road. Queen Street was closed for several hours and those services normally using Queen Street were seriously affected. One service less affected than others was the recently split 300 route of Oxford Bus which now terminates at St Aldates rather than proceeding through Queen Street. Services going east of the city were picking up in St Aldates and of course westbound services were not so affected. There were however certain periods when traffic was backed up in High Street causing dfelay to many routes.

Below we can see the Stagecoach routes loading on the Arriva 280 stop. The Oxford Bus 300 has come from Redbridge via Donnington Bridge and Iffley Road. Queen Street was reopened around 1830 hrs.

London services were busy on Saturday with passengers going to Wimbledon and also a pop concert in Hyde Park. Many coaches of both operating companies were leaving London full as their blinds proclaimed for all to see. As both services, Oxford Express and The Tube are pay and go, it is always difficult for the operators to gauge load factors.

Last week brought me once again to Holland and a trip to Friesland. In one small town we visited I found this 15m DAF coach loading up. The length is very apparent and we can expect so see these types from 2004 here in the UK.  Bodywork is seemingly by Smitt.

Earlier in the week I had to attend a meeting in Central London and went up by train. Whilst in Whitehall this DUKW passed by with its compliment of tourists, making a somewhat strange sight to many people.

My return journey from  Waterloo to Staines was on an afternoon working to Reading via Hounslow. I was delighted to have the opportunity to ride on one of the recently introduced Junipers, on the only Reading working of the day. 8104 is seen waiting time at Staines. I have to admit they are very much better than the current fare of slam door trains and class 455s used on the Windsor line.

Whilst in London I had chance to sample the new Citaro artics in service on two new Red Arrow routes the 507 and 521. I must say they are very nice to travel on. however there is a new fare system where you buy the ticket BEFORE boarding the bus. Each stop has a ticket machine with clear instruction what to do.  However several passengers were confused and one lady was really most abusive to the driver when he said he could not issue a ticket. She claimed instruction were in her opinion a matter of choice and not mandatory. As I already had a day card there was problem but it did seem odd to see passengers boarding through all three doors at stops. There are seemingly Inspectors who check tickets to prevent fraud but I didn't see one when I travelled in both directions. Brand new MAL27 is seen below waiting fro time at Victoria. Much care has to be taken by drivers as in some cases, especially on the 521, there are some very tight turns. Yet again I was much impressed by the quality of the Citaro, lacking in rattles, fast acceleration and very quiet.

Citaro MAL23 - BX02YYL - one of the 31 new buses now in use on routes 507 and 521.

A broad view of the junctions near Gloucester Green with a Stagecoach Olympian on the 100 rounding the
corner from George Street and in the background THREE Guide Fridays following each other on tour.

I was amused by a note from Nigel Peach relating to the picture last week of the Tube on the M40 near Loudwater. Nigel says "However did you get that picture of the Tube on the M40 going over Tredaway Hill?! I have visions of you standing in the middle of the road with your tripod set up, holding back the traffic, somebody else (probably your mother) having clambered up the bank of the motorway and giving the signal as the Tube approaches and then quickly darting out of the way so as not to be in the picture!!"

Well Nigel, first I was on the pavement and its amazing what editing can do. Secondly Mother is 88 and does not find walking easy, she was itting in my car under the bridge. And third with a lot of patience.

The picture in question!

Nigel finishes by saying "Am I right? I can't think of any other way you managed to get it! Anyway, I really appreciated it. Thank you."

Following my comments re parking in Oxford and the activities of the wardens Ralph Adams writes "The parking attendants can only issue parking tickets to vehicles parked in the incorrect places. They cannot issue tickets for any moving offence, so going through the bus gates can only be enforced by Traffic Wardens (there are none of these now employed) or the Police, who are too busy to be involved. Cameras were installed to take registration numbers of offending vehicles on a computerised digital method. (Speed cameras are on film) This was held by the Courts not to be able to be legally valid, so new legislation has been raised. I believe that camera enforcement will recommence in July (hopefully 2002)."

Paul Coley writes with an amusing interlude saying "I am sure many of your regular readers know this stop well....on the A420 at Littleworth on the Oxford side of Farringdon. Without the Gatso speed camera, it could have been taken at any time over the last 30 years. It does seem strange that Stagecoach didn't remove one flag before erecting another.

Well now on to our area happenings.

News of the local companies - 30th June 2002

Arriva serving The Shires & Essex

Arriva 5824, one advised below by Steve Warwick as not having long for this life.

Newlands Bus Station, High Wycombe (NBS)

Lynx:3069,3070,3076,3345,3806,3808,3809,3810.

Dennis Dart SLF:3821,3822,3823,3824,3825,3826,3827

Dennis Dart DW:3811,3812,3813,3814,3815,3816,3817,3818,3819,3820

Dennis Dart DM:3833,3834

Scania:3144,3145,3146,3158,3163,3169

Olympian:5822,5823,5824,5825,5826,5827,5828,5829,5830,5831,5832,5833,5834,5835,5379,5074

Volvo:3841,3842,3843,3844,3853,3854,3855

Total:56

CRESSEX (CRX)  (Think this needs an update!)

Chiltern Queens - Woodcote

Regular contributor Mike Penn sent the photo above and some interesting notes. We look forward to more from Mike.

With the recent takeover of Chiltern Queens I wonder if you would be interested in some vintage photos of this operator.  I first got to know them in 1963 when I started studying at Reading University, prompted by an article about them published in "Buses Illustrated" a few months earlier.  I used to get the bus to Woodcote on Saturday mornings, take some photos and then walk the eight miles back to Reading - it was the quickest way!  Rural bus services weren't frequent even in those days!  On one occasion a kindly driver offered me a lift as he was running dead into Reading.  At that time they had an amazing collection of vehicles - Guy Vixens, Dennis Lancets, Tilling-Stevens, Albion Victors, Maudslay Marathons, Leyland Comets and with body makes long forgotten by most - Whitson, Dutfield, Vincent, Wadham, Gurney Nutting, Strachans, Yeates.  Of course they also had the unique Dennis Pelican.

They aren't the best quality photographs but interesting nonetheless.  I am attaching, as a sample, a photo of LPH429, a Maudslay Marathon III with Whitson body rebuilt to full front for one man operation.  It was taken in Reading on September 30th 1963.  I always thought this looked like a fire engine.  If it had been painted in the red bus livery......

Many many thanks to Mike again for those notes.

Motts

Noted Motts` P373XGG in Reading today (! July) with this high-visibility display fitted. James Cusworth

Oxford Bus (City of Oxford Motor Services)  http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk

This the one! Coach 1 approach VCS in London last Tuesday morning.

The weekend was marred by the fire mentioned above in the editorial and many problems to bus services resulted. Above we see Trident 113 diverting via Castle Street on its way to Thornhill. It will pick up passengers in St Aldates instead of Queen Street.

A new Mercedes coach was inspected last week but I do not have any more details than that.

Of much more interest is the arrival for a two week trial of a Scania/Irizar coach. It is a 49 seater with rear mounted sunken toilet and will be used on route X70 to Heathrow. Registration is YS02XED and its temporary fleet number will be 38. It is presently being prepared for service (Tuesday 2nd July). OBC are seemingly interested in keeping up to date with what the market has to offer and it will be most interesting to see what the 2003 order for new coaches turns out to be.

Rail replacement services were once again operated on Sunday last using Tridents 101 and 102, plus Volvo 658 and coach 17. This is the last week of the present 4 week contract.

London General M1435, 435CLT. is now in the paint shop for repaint in a special livery.

Traffic congestion on the Abingdon Road caused severe delays yesterday Monday and is set to add to operating problems for the next 12 days.

The not so new and the new, Volvo B10M 28 finally with its new livery completed
poses alongside new Volvo B12B 30, making livery comparison most interesting.

Coach 28 shows off its "time travel" rear display, applied last week.

Volvo 645 on diversion last Saturday afternoon due to the fire off Queen Street.

Stagecoach in Warwick

Rob Williams sent in the three photos and says "I spent Monday afternoon thoroughly checking out operations in Leamington after neglecting things for a couple of months now. Two brand new repaints are 920 (the Olympian which was at Oxford for a time) and 334 (the Merc which was withdrawn upon the arrival of the Solos and later reinstated). Olympian 842 gas gained new Stagecoach in Warwickshire logos above the cab on the offside (I couldn't see any other bits of the bus to check them).

During my survey the only Leamington buses that I didn't see were Volvo B10Ms 218, 229, 230, 232, 233, 238, 243, 246, 261/2, Merc 418, Solo 605 and Olympians 827, 831, 909, 915-8, 921, 928, 931, 962. This might sound like quite a few to have not seen, but what is quite interesting is the fact that most of the elderly Olympians were noted in service following the two new arrivals entering service a couple of weeks ago. Two more stripies were in the depot and a third (possibly 831) could have been out on a school run so that would account for all of them. What was also interesting was all but two minibuses in the fleet were in service which shows that there isn't much margin for breakdowns with them, but conversely I saw very few of the B10s. Overall it seemed to me that deckers had taken a couple of B10 duties on the X16-8, (one B10 took a decker's X12 duty though), and all the minibuses were fit so B10s weren't needed on any of their duties. I wonder if any more B10s might head Oxford's way???

I also saw trainer T6 in use in Leamington, its not often that I see these.

The Olympian which spent sometime at Oxford, 920, now repainted.

The ex London Olympian mentioned in the report from Rob Williams.

Rob says "I forgot to report that 930 broke down last Saturday (15th) at the University whilst I happened to be there with my camera. I have attached a couple of interesting photos for the news page of it being fixed on site by the mechanic. He took various panels off to allow access to the engine, he also had to pull the bottom deck back seat off! (The shot of the engine also shows the numeral display with London blind that has been left in place on this one, these rear displays on the other five have all been totally removed.)"

Stagecoach in Oxford

Tube 36 has gained a bright green super rear ad which certainly stands out.

The fire also caused many problems for Stagecoach who strategically placed a controller at the entrance to Bonn Square. much of his time was spent answering questions from the public as to where they could get their bus.

Stagecoach in Oxford M A N 928 still in Kidlington Cavalier livery. This one has gained
the new corporate logos plus a "new style" registration plate. It is seen in New Road
waiting for a driver changeover on route 7A last Saturday.

Ralph Adams writes "

According to LOTS, TA431 is now at Romford. This was anticipation as the bus is still in Oxford. Olympian N340HGK is still not ready for service, although back in Oxford again., but still without a fleet number.

Stagecoach now accept Euro Notes (no coins) on the Tube.
Students are 10 euros (conversion rate £6.60, normal £6.50) 
Adults are 15 euros (conversion rate £9.90,  normal £8.00)
Family at 35 euros (conversion rate £23.10, normal £22.00 )
This is based on the Euro being worth 66 pence, but of course the rate is constantly changing. It will be difficult to make sure the student rate is not better in Euros than Sterling, otherwise students may go to the Foreign Exchange dealer before they catch the coach.…
 

Gloucester Green with two recent "arrivals" with the Oxford fleet. 203 and 204
came from Warwickshire and have dual purpose seating. They retain the Warwick fleet numbers.

Thames Travel, Wallingford

Thames Travel write to advise that the two Mercedes 411CDi's are now in service. They are as follows.

A further Dart MPD has arrived in the shape of W552YAP entered service on 21/6/02. It is B26F.

Dart W552YAP seen on the X39 in George Street last Saturday.

Dart 270 picks up on the 103 in St Aldates followed by diverted OBC 2 road service
Olympian 223.

If you wish to be included on a mailing list where I will advise of any mid week news please
let me know on malcolmhc@aol.com

PHOTO CORNER
If you have a digital camera and wish to submit photos for this page please send them to the me at 
malcolmhc@aol.com

A "1" registered Merc N1VWL crosses Magdalen Bridge.
Last week I questioned where this little bus came from.
Two readers have responded.

Roland Cox wrote "Have just read this weeks News page (204) and I think the Merc N1VWL could be Charlton Services. There was one parked in the yard one day last week and I was not near enough to see it clearly but I thought that this was the reg nr. and on Saturday my wife saw it in Kidlington."

Ralph Adams wrote "The Merc N1VWL was I believe previously with Pearce coaches"

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME?

Now that's long! - MAL14 - BX02YYV - prepares to cross the river on its way
from Victoria to Waterloo.

And a long interior as well. Capacity for 140 passengers in total.

MAL27 - BX02YYP - at Waterloo. A very nice bus indeed. A fare machine is seen to the right.

I welcome your photos for inclusion on this page.
malcolmhc@aol.com

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