Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas
from THE OXFORD BUS PAGE
Oxford, High Wycombe &
surrounding areas
from THE OXFORD BUS PAGE
Visit the Archive Pages going back to 1998
Your reports are welcome at malcolmhc@aol.com
updated
Sunday 2nd December 2001
the
next update will be on Sunday 9th December 2001
Issue nr. 175
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.
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Welcome to issue 175, the weeks seem to fly by and update time is always just around the corner. This week has been a busy one with something happening in just about every corner of the area. New vehicles, repaints, unusual workings and at last I found the Heyfordian depot in Bicester.
The weather this Saturday in Stokenchurch started wet and miserable but as I drove to Oxford the sun started to come through and most of the day until early afternoon was good for pictures. A quick visit to Automodels in Bicester proved a wet one as there was a cloud burst as I returned to my car. Otherwise I was able to get a nice selection of pictures for this week's update.
Oxford centre was busy on the lead up to Christmas, only 24 shopping days to go now. Have you all decided what to ask Father Christmas for this year or maybe like me, its what everyone else wants that seems to count!
Friday was a memorable day for the Oxford Bus Company when time came for Managing Director, Douglas Aide, to retire. After 28 years in the bus industry, Doug is taking a well earned break. The company laid on a nice farewell which included speeches, presents and Trident 102 with a special message displayed on its new destination display.
Doug is seen 4th from the left,
front row, with a group of Directors, Managers and Staff
who wished him Farewell in a small presentation ceremony at Cowley Road.
Doug had an enjoyable career in the bus industry, starting with Midland Red, when it really was Midland Red or BMMO. He then moved on to Alder Valley and well remembers the introduction of the three short wheelbase Olympian coaches at Bracknell (now 5822-5824 with Arriva -see photos below). Thereafter he moved north to Manchester and was much involved in setting up the Manchester Mini Bus Company in 1986. Lots of Sherpas rushing around and often "buzzing back to depot". The logo I well remember was a bee and the minibuses were all Little Bees. Greater Manchester retaliated with Little Gems and a Metrorider in this livery was trailed in Oxford, culminating in a substantial order for similar buses by Oxford Bus (one is still in Training service with Oxford - 781). Doug's next task was with The National Bus Company and he eventually came to Oxford in 1995, when he comments "I couldn't believe my luck! To get a job at the head of such an excellent company was one thing, but to get such a job within a few miles of home was almost too good to be true". Doug lives near Abingdon with his wife Jane and I am sure we all wish him well in his retirement. Now Philip Kirk takes the helm of Oxford Bus, assisted by Nigel Eggleton as Commercial Director and the team continues much as before, though we may expect a few interesting changes in style and operation as the months progress.
Some weeks ago I noted that although the local radio in High Wycombe had been renamed, Olympian 5822, was still carrying the old livery. This has now changed and Swan FM 107 is launched. Arriva have made a nice job of 5822, once the pride of Alder Valley's London services.
The news today on BBC TV carried a piece about criticisms that scholars and elderly people were being subjected to travel on old and often less than safe vehicles. Of course the article failed to mention that cost is a major factor and often tenders are given on a very low price basis making the purchase of new vehicles prohibitive. It is certainly clear to see that many elderly buses and coaches are used on this type of service though they are normally maintained to good standards and VI checks sometimes result in vehicles being stopped from service and even companies facing prosecution for faults and transgressions.
Some companies are now investing in newer buses and one such local operator is Magpie, who have recently introduced the vehicle pictured above and referred to in these columns a few weeks ago. The bus is used quite intensively and I have seen it in Marlow and Maidenhead in recent weeks. Bucks County Council have introduced their Handy Bus services a few months ago and often these services provide shoppers services aimed at elderly passengers. Again new buses are used - FIVE Optare Solos. So, it is not all bad news and some general tidying up is going on with even older buses receiving attention and now presenting a smarter turnout.
On the matter of safety, I have been surprised in recent weeks, when using South West Trains services from Staines to Waterloo, at the condition of the rolling stock. The 455 sets used from Windsor to Waterloo often have seats which are not safe to sit on. The cushions having come out of their holders and head rests hanging down. On a Waterloo-Reading service a metal strap on the door pillar (these sets are known as slam door stock) was bent outwards, presenting a lethal weapon to the unwary "customer". (Why is it that we are now customers and not passengers I wonder?) I am told that these faults are inevitable due to the intensive use the stock gets. But, please tell me, if a bus or coach ventures on the road with similar faults, the company and the driver would and often do face prosecution and sometimes nearly a whole page in Coach & Bus Week. The "customers" of that company often make a great fuss and yet, seemingly, our railways get away with it. Am I biased, or is something fundamentally wrong? Add to these comments the fact that on South West Trains, I have not enjoyed an on time journey for a very long time now. Oh and by the way, I don't recommend complaining because you will get precisely nowhere!
Well, enough of griping, I know some of my readers really dislike that but I do think it needs to be said.
News from the companies - 2nd December 2001
Arriva serving The Shires & Essex
Arriva's 5822 (ex Wycombe Bus 240 and 1822) has returned from the paint shop
sporting
this smart livery for local radio station 107, swanfm.
The bus makes an interesting comparison with that of Motts below, a longer
version of
the same type and again with a rebuilt front end!
One correspondent mentioned below noted that the 323 last week was operated
by 3099, a Dart which has been transferred to Aylesbury depot. It is seen here
"on shed" last Saturday having come in off the 61.
Did 3206 next to it work the 323, I wonder?
Wycombe news this week are that Volvo B6 3243 operated route 328 on Sunday and the three transferred Volvos, 3127, 3138 and 3243 have been running on the 275, albeit with stickers in to show the route number. It seems there is no equipment at Wycombe to update the dot matrix displays.
Nigel Peach wrote to say "...thinking about the Volvo B6s transferred for the 275. I'm surprised they've "split up" two pairs. ie 3127 from 3126 and 3138 from 3139. As observed 3127 has an all over ad for a garage in Chalfont - an area it is not likely to frequent now unless it goes back to Lincoln Rd. 3138 is one of those that was ex Motts. Ironic that these buses are now appearing in Oxford again like they did when the 300 went all the way there.
Then I thought that maybe the original intention was to transfer the 3 L--- LPPs ie 3110/5/6. They seem unfortunate at the moment. You noted that 3110 is unable to be transferred just yet pending a PSV inspection, 3115 was the one that came to grief with the Onyx dustcart & 3116 was damaged by fire at Amersham.
Good to see the pictures of the Thames Valley bus on the 28. I wonder how long they'll be able to keep it out of the Arriva paintshop!
Further to my comments, above, on the 3 Volvo B6s, yesterday 3138 was in the bus stn with 275 written on a piece of paper! 3243 was also in there but displaying 327 on its blind. This morning on my way to work I caught up with 3127. It was displaying 300 on the rear, but it pulled out of Station Rd Loudwater, so it must have been on either 301 or 317. I didn't pass it all the way in to Wycombe because, for once, the bus lane actually benefited the bus!! (3127s "twin" 3126 is, as you probably know, the bus branded for the 74 joint service with First Beeline to Heathrow). 3126 and 3127 have been based in Wycombe since new, which is unusual for the Lincoln Rd depot. I'll stick my neck out & say that I think that apart from the 3 branded R reg Mercs & the 3 branded V reg B6s, the only others that have been there (or at their previous homes in West Wycombe Road & Amersham) since new are the 4 NCME bodied Olympians 5109/10 & 5134/5 (G129/30 YEV & G131/2 YWC).
Both Arriva liveried Olympian coaches 5823/4 are now sporting route numbers on pieces of paper! I've complained a number of times before about their poor dot matrix displays. I wonder if they have plans to improve them or will the pieces of paper become more & more common. They certainly look extremely unprofessional!"
Steve Warwick wrote to say "no real news as yet except to say that Cressex bus 5167 was on 326 duty yesterday." - followed by "Only two observations yesterday (Wednesday). Cressex 5108 working the 317 to Maidenhead all day and Dart 3099 working the 323 Aylesbury, obviously an Aylesbury driver, I thought, according to my fleet list was a Garston vehicle."
See the photo above Steve, its transferred to Aylesbury.
Thanks to both correspondents for that information.
I went to Aylesbury depot on Saturday. I was told that Volvos 3315 and 3316 plus Lynx 3338 have been transferred to Southend. This means that they will leave the Shires fleet since the Essex part of our operation is to be transferred to Arriva Southern Counties from this month. I was also advised that 3321 and 3324 are to become training vehicles instead.
Grayline
Newman Morgan wrote to say "...noticed that Grayline had route and timetable changes effective 29/10/01:
21, Bure Place-Greenwood Estate-Highfields. This is the former 26 (ex-Thames Transit route renumbered. Runs generally half-hourly.
22, Bure Place-Fields Farm (new development)-Langford Village-Bure Place-Southwold-Bure Park Village, Runs generally hourly.
23, Bure Place-Langford Village-Fields Farm-Bure Place-Southwold. Runs generally hourly.
24, Replaced by revised and re-routed 22/23 (and by Stagecoach 27).
I don't yet know if the 22 re-routing via Southwold follows the route of the 23 which uses Buckingham Road to Bicester North Station. The Oxon CC timetables posted in Bure Place are very lacking in specific route details. I will find out more details in the coming days.
Also,
37, Bicester - Fringford - Brackley. This service provides three journeys to and from Brackley (once worked 3 days a week by Midland Red South) plus two additional journeys Bicester-Fringford."
Heyfordian
Motts
Oxford Bus (City of Oxford Motor Services)
Trident 101 has yet to receive a new dot
matrix screen but this will be completed on Monday next.
Seen here last Saturday on a City Centre terminating working from Pear Tree, it
waits time before its return.
Oxford's Trident 120 is now due for return to Alexander's as part of the
rectification programme
presently on going. On its return it will revert to green Park & Ride livery and
the removal
of the X3 vinyls was the subject of some discussion when this photo was taken
last Friday.
Another Trident, this time 108, turns short in the City and will reload outside
the Randolph Hotel before making its way up the Woodstock Road to Pear Tree Park
& Ride.
It is hard to believe that it is December and green leaves still cover the tree.
Oxford Bus 649 makes it way down Banbury Road last Saturday on its way to the
Rail Station.
The trees in this shot are much more autumnal.
The three Oxford Olympians loaned to Go Ahead in Chester-le-Street are back.
208, 223 and 224 all returned to Oxford late on Thursday and will now be placed
in store before maybe being loaned elsewhere.
As mentioned in the editorial above, Douglas Aide has retired as Managing Director being replaced by Philip Kirk effective December 1st.
Ralph Adams wrote to note that "....on Monday, as you are probably aware, a lorry was stuck under the Railway bridge causing problems. In the evening, there were long queues for the Peartree P&R, so a route 2 dual door was diverted with a full load to Peartree. (Reported by one of my staff - she got on the bus, was squeezed in, then remembered that she left the car at Redbridge in the morning, so she had to push her way off again with difficulty)
On Tuesday, Red 102 was on Route 30 Peartree - well the bright illuminated display, which looks good, did not show the final 0.
Today Red 101 was on Route 300 with roller destination blinds.
Tonight Dart 519 was used to Redbridge (reason unknown).
Will the green change to standard red as they are becoming more common?"
Thanks for that Ralph, no the green will not change. however three Tridents are being repainted into red, 101-103. As noted above 120 is reverting to green.
Red Rose - Aylesbury
Optare R843FWW is seen waiting departure time in Bicester. It is on service 16
to Aylesbury.
Stagecoach in Banbury and Warwickshire
News this week from my regular correspondent Keith Wood who says "SiW's PrimeLine 48 went 20 minutes yesterday (26/11/01) (Monday-Friday Frequency). The timetable leaflet is in the new corporate Stagecoach style with the legend "loliner buses GUARANTEED" although the buses themselves have no extra branding. Existing Dart / ALX200's 150-155 R150-155 CRW have been joined by new Vehicles 156 R463 LSO & 157 R821 YUD both in service today (27/11/01). They both carry PrimeLine livery although without the frequency and showcase partnership branding as carried by 150-155. Apart from that they look identical and so blend in perfectly with native 150-155. 158 Y822 YUD was in service today on the 48. It's livery is the same as 156/157.
The three additional Dennis Dart / ALX200 for PrimeLine 48 Coventry - Nuneaton - Atherstone are therefore
156 R463 LSO
157 R821 YUD
158 R822 YUD
All are in the normal PrimeLine livery minus frequency and partnership vinyls. Apart from that all are identical to native 150-155 R150-155 CRW.
As highlighted a couple of weeks ago B10M 231 P559 ESA was in for a repaint. It was back in service yesterday in it's new colours.
Stagecoach in Oxford
Very sexy! Barbie on the back of a Tube, nr 41.
Another interesting point to note is the difference in number plate area of 55
on the left and 41.
Ralph Adams wrote "Botley Road Rail Bridge closed by lorry stuck under all morning, Monday. Many diversions and problems to the buses. SciO say services diverted via Woodstock Road with minimal delays.
Neil Gow wrote "...re the Oxford station bridge, this may be a good opportunity to mention that until it was renewed in 1979 buses had to be built to a special 13' 5" height to get underneath as a standard 13' 8" lowheight decker wouldn't get under. Also worth mentioning that neither of the bus companies in Oxford have ever had a low bridge accident with this bridge.
Well it had to happen. Trident TN431 was running on service 10A from the station to JR Hospital in the afternoon peak today. Sadly I didn't have my camera with me as I was cluttered up with the scanner I was returning to Dixons."
Finally two items, one - Vic Gackowski has almost finished a survey on Witney operations which I am sure will prove most interesting. Second - I have received the period 8 allocation list but time prevents me from posting them on this week's page. sorry!
Volvo 910 seen at Bure Place,
Bicester last Saturday on a 29 working.
Olympian 517 has gained this Nokia
super rear advert, seen as it worked a 100 service
down George Street last Saturday morning.
Thames Travel, Wallingford.
X49VVY has, it seems, had a repaint at Cowley road, Oxford workshops.
It is seen here last Saturday on service 18 which serves Clanfield from Oxford
under tender.
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
Oxford 101 on its way to Pear Tree passes a tour coach IVECO Y326AUT in St
Giles.
Stagecoach United Counties 675 heads out of Oxford on the X38 to Northampton.
Wycombe Wanderers were about to provide some sad passengers for this
Tellings Golden Miller BRENTFORD FC team coach last Saturday. Wycombe won 5-3.
The driver was a Chelsea fan and as a Mancunian we won't say too much more!! .
I welcome your
photos for inclusion on this page.
malcolmhc@aol.com
Visitor count since 19th April 1999.
