Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas
from THE OXFORD BUS PAGE

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updated Sunday 4th November 2001
the next update will be on Sunday 11th November 2001

   Issue nr. 171

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 171 with many of you writing to me regarding developments in your areas. Some vehicle developments this week have proved interesting with new deliveries to some operators and news of orders from another.

Time is limited tonight and so this week will have be somewhat shorter than usual but will, nevertheless hopefully prove just as interesting. During my visit to Amsterdam last week I happened upon an M A N double deck coach, 13.7 metres long and seating 88 passengers. This made me wonder what might have been for Stagecoach's Oxford Tube as the coach I saw was just three years old. I was also surprised that 88 seats were squeezed into 13.7 metres and wonder just how many seats could be achieved in the proposed 15 metres due in a few years time.

With bodywork by Van Hool, this Beuk owned coach was picking up from Unisys
near Schiphol Airport. Beuk operate many hotel services in and around the airport and
seem to be one of the largest operators in Holland. The coach additionally has a
luggage locker on the rear adding to the 13.7 metres.

News is now coming in each week from Stagecoach in Warwickshire and now Reading and Newbury. I am including this since we seem somewhat related to these areas by routes or company. transfers of buses within the Stagecoach South Midlands region gives linked news each week anyway.

New bus shelters are appearing in the centre of Oxford and one notices how much better in design such structures are these days. I took the opportunity to get a shot of the new one at Gypsy Lane in Oxford with services loading as seen below.

Somehow a tram would not seem out of place, picking up from a shelter like the one above.
Oxford Trident 118 overtakes Tube 52 loading for London in the autumn sun last Saturday.

Photography is now quite difficult with the sun s low in the sky, even at midday. It is now only some seven weeks to the shortest day and yet the summer seems only a few weeks past. Even the trees seem reluctant to lose their leaves and temperatures have been unusually high in recent days. I was surprised by the length of the traffic queue out of Oxford to the lights on Cowley road by the Swan. Delays seemed very lengthy for a Saturday morning and I avoided the area by cutting up to Hollow Way by Crescent Road. I was then able to pass by Brookes University to take the shot above. how useful it is to know ones way around a city or town.

This weekend I took the opportunity to visit not only Oxford but High Wycombe and the fascinating yards up at Cryers Hill. Here I came upon the first "51" style registration on a coach for a local Wycombe operator. this was a school bus for Magpie which followed the new trend for specific buses designed for school work, a la American fashion. The Mercedes was bodied by Euro Coach Builders and has seats for 53 on a three/two basis. It is to the best of my knowledge the first NEW bus for the Magpie fleet.

AE51VKH has only just arrived and maybe a reader can advise which route it is operated on?

A few weeks ago I visited Chipping Norton and snapped a Worths coach arriving with music playing children. I thought this was probably from Oxford and indeed off the Cowley Road, near the bus garage, is Oxford School. Here I caught up with a Tappins Volvo and the same Worth's coach KAZ2755. I thus presume I now have both ends of the journey each Saturday. some Grayline coaches were also seen heading for the school and I must get a shot of these in a future week.

Tappins N175LHU keep the Worths company whilst they await the children.

  FROM THE PASSENGER'S SEAT  
A CHANGE FROM THE USUAL COMMENTS, RECEIVED FROM A PASSENGER.

This week I received a most interesting e-mail from one of my correspondents who had travelled on buses up in Manchester. His comments are edited but give a view from another angle. I could not possibly imagine such problems, as described, happening here in Oxford or this area. I am quite sure all local companies would be horrified to have such incidents.

although my correspondent of course gave his name, I do not propose to give it here, as I do not think it necessary. however I can assure you all that this is what he wrote - "... back from sunny Manchester (yes, it really was!). Outside of the training course I managed to sample several local bus routes and operators. Of course Stagecoach in Manchester and First Manchester are the main operators but, in the area where I was staying, there were also several routes worked by Arriva serving the North West. Other operators noted were Finglands (who I believe are a subsidiary of East Yorkshire Motor Services of Hull), UK North, R Bullock & Sons and Mayne of Manchester. Dennis's Buses were also seen on the Glossop road and I believe there has been some recent altercation between SiM and Dennis's over bus stop blocking, etc. The Wilmslow Road is a bus enthusiast's paradise with buses passing about every 1 to 2 minutes as they all tout for University traffic. SiM have a low-cost fleet unit under the fleetname Magic Bus. these are painted dark blue with yellow lettering and relief. Several of SiM's 3-axle ex-Hong Kong machines work these routes. (actually they are from Stagecoach Kenya Bus. Ed.)

I must say I found most drivers to be most unhelpful and not particularly courteous. At Altrincham Bus Station a driver didn't know whether he passed Baguley Tesco - he did! For customer relations my booby prize goes to a well established local operator and especially to the driver of the 10.35pm from Altrincham on the 370 road last Thursday night. Having tendered my 90p fare to Baguley Tesco by means of a 50p piece, a 20 piece and some small change, the small change all went out of the driver's window. I did get a ticket for 90p though. I don't care whether it is 20 pence or £20, the driver had no right to throw my money out of the window. When we were approaching Baguley Tesco I rang the bell to stop the bus and made my way to the door. The same driver informed me that I would have to get off at the next set of red lights as he couldn't be bothered to stop on a bus stop. Luckily this stretch of road has several sets of lights and I didn't get taken too far past my desired stop. I found other drivers from the same company to have a scruffy appearance. Had we been travelling through an area of high incidents on the buses then I could have been more sympathetic. Actually, I thought that SiM's and First Group's vehicles looked smart and were by and large pretty clean and graffiti free for big city operations.

My 'prize' if that's the right word would go to First Manchester's Oldham depot and its fleet of 61 Mercedes Benz Citaro buses. Despite being orange boxes on wheels in shape the machines looked smart and on the rear end all those I saw were carrying an advertisement which read 'leave the car at home take the chauffeur driven Mercedes', with a front end picture of a Citaro, a pronounced Mercedes badge, and a smiling driver. The ad then when on to promote the 82/83 roads as every 5 minutes Oldham to Manchester. The buses were of course used on several Oldham routes including the busy 409 Rochdale-Oldham-Ashton.

The other point I didn't mention was that I am a keen collector of bus timetables, although current issues I usually bin when they are out of date or have been replaced. Although GMPTE travelshops are few are far between for the size of Greater Manchester, individual timetable leaflets for each area, or borough, are readily available. However, Wythenshawe was closed when it should have been open, no reason given and Altrincham was closed Friday 'due to sickness', resulting in many disgruntled people being unable to renew passes, etc.

I agree the whole bus system appears to be a mess these days. Oh for the days of of Selnec, and the earlier North Western, Lancashire United (the original!) and the Corporations!!

On another point, there appeared to be an unholy row on the trains between First North Western and Arriva Trains (ex-Northern Spirit). It seems that Arriva had been poaching drivers from FNW in an attempt to cut Arriva's chronic driver shortage. I gather the Arriva manager has gone and the company has been fined mega money for failing to run its advertised service, which from Manchester, is mainly the Trans-Pennine routes."

Thank you for that. As a young man I grew up in this area mentioned and remember the reliable services with polite crews, always a conductor, with much pleasure. It is sad to see these problems related. I was once waiting for a specific bus on Wilmslow Road and due to the multitude of buses running failed to get on three consecutive services. But... Wilmslow Road is probably the most bussed route in the U.K. On the subject of driver shortage, this seems to affect trains as well as buses. I was told that one North West operator is replacing trains on certain routes with buses.

Next week I have been promised an article on driving for Stratford Blue with Olympian deckers, running through london on hire to COMS. I am sure many will look forward to that.

News from the companies - 4th November 2001

Arriva serving The Shires & Essex

Arriva's acquired Volvos ex Oxford are now all in blue livery. Three, 3843, 3854 and 3842
are seen here at rest today Sunday at Newlands Bus Station, High Wycombe.

Lynxs are now popular in Wycombe and three are seen here in NBS.
They are 3076, 3067and 3070 all now based at Wycombe.

Wycombe developments this week are that no further buses are away for repaint. This programme seems to have come to a stop for the time being. Surprisingly 5822 is still in 1170 advertising livery. Nigel Peach writes to say "...as you may know the local radio Eleven Seventy has become 107 Swan FM this week (many buses are advertising the fact). I wonder, therefore whether Olympian 5822 will now go for repaint as it is advertising a radio station which doesn't now exist!!  Just for the record, you mention accident victim Volvo B6 3115. This wasn't one of the pair that originated with Motts. Those are L922/3 LJO & are numbered 3138/9. (3115 is indeed L315HPP delivered originally to The Shires - apologies to all. Ed)

Nigel goes on to say "Managed to get a copy of the new Bus Fleets book for the South East. It was in Smiths in Wycombe. They've recently moved everything around & it took a while to find the bus books. The transport section has disappeared & I discovered them in the "Military" section!!! (This is also one of my pet hates - smiths in Staines moved the mags and it took an age to find my copy of Buses. Ed)

Pete Brown of Showbus fame wrote to say "....went into Newlands Bus Station today and made a few interesting observations.
1. There was a Lincoln road Roe bodied Olympian up on jacks
2. There was Lincoln road based G131YWC in the workshop.
3. Lincoln road based Volvo B6/NCME Paladin noted working ex Wycombe bus route 346.

Do you know of the whereabouts of Heyfordian's ex United Olympian since the only ones I have seen for two or three weeks are JTY 375X, B255 RAJ and C265XEF, the latter two out shopped in the Heyfordian livery.

When in the Bus Station I also noticed one of the ex Oxford Marshall bodied Darts displaying 5B - Bus Garage on the side electronic destination blind, possibly a reminder of its past in Oxford!

A very unusual working on Monday evening was of Aylesbury's Carlyle bodied Dart on the 324, a bus which didn't seem too out of place in Wycombe with all their Darts!

Thanks to Pete for that report.

City of Oxford Motor Services (The Oxford Bus Company)

News of the week is that Oxford Bus has ordered six brand new Volvo B12Bs
with Jonckheere bodywork for delivery next year. One of the first B12B chassis to be bodied
is seen above and was displayed at the recent NEC show in Birmingham.

Work is nearly complete on the first of the three Lynxs purchased from Travel West Midlands
for use as training buses in Oxford. Some work has been done to prepare these buses
for their new duties and the quality of that work can be seen in the glimpse below
of the revised cab area with an instructors seat behind.

These buses will replace the three training Leopards
presently in use with Oxford Bus.

Hard to believe it is November, except for the long shadows at midday. Volvo 605
approaches the Gypsy Lane stop, inbound from Barton.

Regarding the report last week of ex Oxford Darts in Crawley, I made a cardinal error, the report was from Nigel Barnes-Evans and Not Edmund Tresham as stated. My apologies to both gentlemen for this error.

Heyfordian

Another Heyfordian Olympian spotted in Oxford last Saturday was also ex Arriva north East - B246NVN.

Luxicars

Steve Annells wrote to say "I note Luxicars have at least 2 new-reg Mercedes minibuses, but haven't got the registrations - I think they had 51 in them.

Although I haven't seen the new buses mentioned I did spot this older Mercedes in the Cowley Area. I suppose at a distance it might be confused with LZ51VSU?

Stagecoach in Banbury and Warwickshire

Keith Wood and Rob Williams wrote to say - Rugby's Volvo B6LE'S for Route 4 are as follows:
832 P322 JND
833 P323 JND
834 P324 JND
835 P325 JND
836 P326 JND

All are now branded for "Route 4" presumably the branding is transfer based as it was applied at Rugby.

On Saturday the bus stops were being upgraded with new "Route 4" stickers depicting a B6LE and route description.

Basil sent me a picture of 836 in its new role and new fleet number 456.

Nuneaton's service revisions strart today (29/10/01). One other change to take into account start TBA is the upgrading of PrimeLine 48 from 30 mins. to 20 mins. This will account for the check paintwork on extra vehicles which will be required to work this route. I'll be surveying Nuneaton on Saturday (3/11/01) and reporting on Monday although extra vehicles will be needed as services have been expanded. Services 50 /51 and 17 / 717 are all expected to be low floor which will mean service 10 reverting to normal vehicles unless more low floors arrive.

B10M's 221 and 224 were working 86's this morning as normal.

I have a hunch that Leamington Routes 64 / 65 Leamington - Harbury - Southam - Napton / Long Itchington have been transfered to Rugby. A Rugby DD and Merc 811D 420 were working these services on Saturday and the DD returned to Rugby in the afternoon.

Volvo B10M 226 (R226 CRW) has been transfered from Rugby to Nuneaton. 221 / 223 / 224 / 225 remain at Rugby (the last 4 ) and are to be found on Rugby - Coventry services. At one point earlier this year there were 12 B10M's at Rugby.

Chris Morton, a new correspondent wrote saying "...listed below are changes from the fleet movements details received yesterday.

204 Nuneaton to Banbury
244 Banbury to Nuneaton
257 Leamington to Oxford
316-25/9/30 Nuneaton to Disposal
342/4-7/52/65-72 Leamington to Nuneaton
420 Leamington to Rugby
425 Stored at Banbury
721 Stored at Nuneaton
846 Leamington to Rugby

3 Stagecoach Western Scottish Dennis Darts have been transferred to Nuneaton they are as follows :
156 R465LSO
157 R821YUD
158 R822YUD

What is most interesting in that report is the return south of two ex Oxford Darts 821 and 822. These were ousted by the arrival of the  M A N s 914-941.

Basil also sent a picture of Leyland National 772 now based at Rugby. Seemingly the locals have a great love of these wonderful old buses. Some people even preserve them!!!!!

Stagecoach in Oxford

Newman Morgan wrote to say.....in Bicester, a notice has mushroomed in Bure Place Bus 'Station' to the effect that Stagecoach's changes on the 25 - 29 roads due for this weekend have been put off until late-November.

New show model M A N 946, awaits entry into service, registered OV51KAJ.
This bus has  M A N and Alexander badging!
Note the black small fleet numbers which have been applied to the four new buses 945-948.
It seems 948 entered service on Saturday but the others remain to be licenced.

941 has now returned from repaint and is now unbranded.
Fleet names and numbers have yet to be applied. See last week's page for the before photo.

The London Tridents have now gained route blinds and are expected to stay
until the New Year. TA 429 shows 77A route.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STAGECOACH IN OXFORD - SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE OPERATIONS
OXFORD - DIDCOT - WANTAGE

Part 2

Again held over until next week - apologies but time defeats me! Ed.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

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

Cliffs Coaches of High Wycombe have this very smart Neoplan W898MDT in service.

As a tail piece to this week's report I took this picture of the departing Tube 52 for London,
showing off the new advert appearing on some coaches. Oxford Trident 118 is ahead on its
way to Thornhill Car Park, about to be enlarged..

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

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