Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas

updated Sunday 8th October 2000
The next update will be on Sunday 15th October 2000

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.

Problems with the pictures ! - sometimes it seems that the pictures do not load.
I have found a solution which does work normally - 
RIGHT CLICK ON THE PICTURE AND THEN CLICK ON "SHOW PICTURE"
Good luck !

First my apologies for the lack of an update last week but as explained I just ran out of time, having such a busy schedule. This now includes weekly visits to Sweden for the rest of the year but I still have a few hours each week to pursue my hobby. Indeed I hope to bring you some pictures of Swedish buses. Yesterday I was able to fit in a duty on the Oxford express airport services and saw Gatwick and Heathrow, 17 and 22 being my steeds. Scoop of the week, if one can call it that was as  a witness to an unfortunate accident involving a Stagecoach 7B and a car. The lady driver of the car was somewhat upset by the incident and it caused a minor traffic problem for about 30 minutes until the police arrived.

Several readers have answered my request for information and their replies are included below. I am especially grateful to Steve Annells for information on Thames Travel, which is growing in size every day or so it seems. Richard Griffin also sent in a most interesting and useful report on the current status of the Oxford Tube fleet. Finally my good friend Nigel Peach has written to keep me up to date on developments in Wycombe. This included a report from sources in the area which suggest that Wycombe Bus is about to be sold. This is somewhat surprising as some investment has been made by Oxford Bus in improving the fleet, especially the transfer of several Volvo B10Bs during the summer. It would be sad if this was to happen but there again it will add to the interest in the area. I would stress that no information is forthcoming from the company, either official or unofficial !

A report in The Oxford Times this week mentions the fact that Oxford Rail Station could be set for enlargement and major changes. Although it is not known what the final developments will be, such things as new bus loading areas, following an integrated transport policy are not beyond contemplation. One wonders if plans for the new Westgate Bus Station could be affected.  The same paper also carries a story concerning the cuts in services announced by Oxford Bus from October 15th. Whilst this is claimed to be the result of driver shortages, one cannot help but wonder if the time has come for a radical re think on bus and transportation services generally. Whilst in the City centre on Saturday for about 1 hour, I counted only 3 Stagecoach "Blackbird Flyers" on a route supposedly offering a very frequent service. Indeed during a 20 minute period at Carfax I saw only one inbound and none leave the Carfax stop. One must feel sympathy for both operators, since driver shortages plague not only Oxford but London and other major centres as well. Indeed when other operators in the UK pay less than £5. per hour Oxford's operators offer considerably more and still can't fill vacancies !

Company reports - 8th October 2000

Airlinks - the Airport Coach Company (Cambridge Coach Services)

A Flighlink coach was seen leaving Oxford on Saturday by way of New Road, though I was unable to ascertain where it was off to. It was not on a 757 or 767 service, since they leave by way of George Street.

Oxford Bus Company (City of Oxford Motor Services)

As mentioned above service cuts come into effect on October 15th and it seems that this will result in the withdrawal of some Darts and a coach (50-55 batch) . 

801 and 805, Volvo B10BLEs were on 400 on Saturday instead of the rostered Tridents. Following the withdrawal of the Olympians these are the next most suitable replacements in the event of shortages.

The whole batch of ex London Volvos (644-656) are now going through paint with 645 presently in the paint shop. They look very smart following repaint and still give excellent service on 4 road.

Coach 43 seems to have been involved in some work on the rear and currently has no vinyls at all. It looks most strange !

It seems that due the success of extending the 22 through to Harcourt Hill at Botley, Volvos in the 600-643 range are now the regular performers on this road. These buses are unable to show the new destination,  although all 20 Darts in the 5XX series have received new blinds to show the correct destination!!!

First Beeline.

Nigel Peach reports that a new Alexander bodied Dart (236) rom the batch as shown below, operated the 74 recently, in place of the more usual yellow and green Darts. Is this becoming a feature on wonders or was it a one off.

244 from slough garage operates the 43 through Englefield Green on its way Staines.

Stagecoach Oxford.  

Repaints of Olympian deckers see 515 back in service. The rest of the batch are beginning to look care worn now, though examples were on 3 (514) and 7 (516) last Saturday.

MAN branded buses are now appearing with increasing frequency on non branded routes. However the prize for this week must go to 935 which following skirt repairs has appeared with its Blackbird feet going the wrong way. Maybe there is a competition in the offing or is it that pop tune again from the Goon Show, "I'm walking backwards for Christmas" !!!!!!

Also as can be seen in the picture above, it was operating the 105 to Wallingford !!!   Branded 937 was on 27 to Bicester as seen in the picture section below.

The Oxford Tube fleet has gained some variation over the months and reader Richard Griffin has come up with an interesting record of his observations. He says and I quote: 

" I have been able to examine the new Oxford Tube fleet for myself;  I collated some further details which you may find useful.

 Vehicles 34-36 have an all-over advert as already stated; the other vehicles 37-60,66 all have red backs, but what is displayed on the red back varies from vehicle to vehicle.  With one exception (57) they all have an unrelated advertising panel half-way up the back;  most have one of two "slogans" above that, and most have one of two pictures at the top.

As you point out, 34 doesn't have vinyls over the windows towards the rear; having looked closely, I see that 34 actually doesn't have the "ribbons" vinyls at all - there is only the basic outline in the bodywork paint (the vinyls have brighter colouring and "reflections" on them).

The vinyls on the left side of 39 stop at the lower edge of the upper window (the right-hand side is normal).  35 has yellow transfers along the upper edges of the side windows on both sides, stating the main calling points (Oxford, Lewknor, Hillingdon, Shepherds Bush, Marble Arch, Victoria); this looks very similar to what the X90s have had for some while.

 Key: A = London picture            B = Oxford picture           C = May Ball advert          D = no picture (blank red back at top)           12 = slogan saying "Oxford to London every 12 minutes"
        88 = slogan saying "Oxford to London 88 times a day"    

34     C (no slogan) no "ribbons" vinyls applied                                        
35     C (no slogan) "destinations strip" (like on X90) on side windows
36     C (no slogan)
37     A 88
38     A 88
39     A 12 "ribbons" vinyls at rear on left side (only) stop below window
40     A 88
41     B 12
42     A 88
43     A 88
44     A 88
45     D 12
46     A 88
47     B 88
48     B 12
49     A 88                                                                  
50     B 12
51     B 12   
52     B 12
53     B 88
54     A 12
55     A 88
56     A 88
57     D (no slogan, no advert either)
58     D 12
59     A 88
60     A 88
66     B (no slogan) (Oxford Tube logo)

I am sure this will prove useful in the future, remembering the difficulties we had with the corgi model research. Ed.

Tappins Coaches, Didcot.

It appears that a couple of Tappins coaches are carrying white fleet numbers, as reported by Steve Annells. This follows another report a few weeks ago, which I did not mention at the time. This was a suggestion that Tappins may be about to be the subject of a take over. Anyone know anything further ?

Thames Travel.

Steve Annells wires to say that he is aware of the following Merc Vario/Plaxton Beaver 2 operating for Thames Travel over the last six weeks or so: R846-8JGD, R476GFM, S552BNV, T465HNH, the two X39-badged V309/99SVV, V253/4BNV, V376SVV and new X181/2BNH.  

There are two Optare City Pacers: D560YCW and H847UUA.  There is a Merc L709 L965VGE, and a Merc crewbus-type minibus W682MVV, also Dennis Falcon YDX104Y and a Leyland National II RSG824V in white/grey with a blue skirt.

There have been two or three other City Pacers (it's unclear because one was in bits at Hithercroft with no reg, but certainly E557/8GFR were owned at one time), the Dodge D142LTA, at least one other Vario S737RNE (I think), also two Ivecos M86/7JTA, a National B and a long time ago a Dennis Javelin coach M42KCU.

Meantime he understands that the Saturdays-only St Ox Abingdon to Swindon X65 is to be withdrawn in October, despite good loadings.  It's County Council supported and there have been no offers from other operators to take it over.

Many many thanks to Steve Annells for this useful update.

Wycombe Bus Company.

Nigel Peach writes to advise Oxford Olympians 214 and 224 have both been back at Wycombe. One is certainly deputising for accident damaged 229 (the Thames Valley liveried Olympian) now away at First Mainline Sheffield for repairs to its roof. 224 may be on loan for 529 in at Oxford for damage repairs.

Nigel also noted 232 on the 313 recently, normally the haunt of the SLF Darts. On another recent day he noted SLF Dart 422 on the 331 , a most unusual occurrence. Again on another day he noted non branded Darts 521 and 524 on the 326 whilst branded buses 526 was on the 307. Seems Wycombe have similar problems to Stagecoach Oxford concerning branded buses on branded routes !!

othing special to report this week.  

  PHOTO CORNER
If anyone has a digital camera and wishes to submit photos for this page please send them to the above email.

Oxford Trident 120 waits time in St Aaldates on service X3 to Abingdon.

Ex London route 88 "The Clapham Omnibus" Volvo, now Oxford 651
leaves Queen Street, with Carfax Tower behind on its way to Rose Hill.
It has recently been repainted along with 654.

Earlier in the day during a heavy downpour, Volvo B10BLE 805 picks up in The High
en route to Seacourt Car Park, whilst substituting for a more normal Trident.

Later in the day when the rain had stopped, passengers wait to board Volvo B10BLE 801 
in Queen Street, plus someone in a wheelchair. The driver will need to put the ramp out !

Stagecoach 937, in Blackbird Flyer livery with the legs the right way round
waits to go on stand to form the 27 service to Bicester at 1730hours last Saturday.

"Back Home"  !!
Ex Oxford Tube Volvo/Berkhof Excellence M105XBW was 25 in the Tube fleet. 
Seen here with United Counties as their 105 leaving on an X5 service to Cambridge.
You may remember I included M107XBW of Fife at Duxford. 

Running repairs Oxford style !
Attnetion is given by the duty fitters to the windscreen wipers on an Oxford Volvo B10M.
It will leave for Gatwick at 6pm.

To end this section we see Volvo B10BLE 813 picking up in New Road by The Castle.
This batch of buses is seeing wider use although purchased for 5 road.

A COLOURFUL VISITOR

Hot Trips Mercedes Vario W416HOB collects its passengers Speedwell Street last Saturday.

I will be pleased to receive your reports for this section
Please send your reports to MalcolmHC@aol.com and thank you for all your sightings, they are most welcome.