Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas

updated - Sunday 10th September 2000

The next update will be on Monday 18th September 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 !

Like so many people, last week was back "to the day job" !! playing and holidays over for another year, or at least a few months. However some driving was possible and a few duties on X90s satisfied the interest and enthusiasm. I was also pleased to meet another reader, when Geoff Cunliffe from St Annes visited Oxford. 

Oxford continues to be the home of the road works brigade and the Cowley Road especially, seems to represent a world war one battlefield rather than a main road leading out or into a very beautiful city. There are two very vicious holes which if caught seem to shake the very foundations of even the most comfortable bus or coach. What visitors can think one may only imagine. Several roads have been resurfaced and we can only hope that The High and Cowley Road are top of the list for attention ?Last week I was on holiday in Somerset and enjoyed a ride on the West Somerset Railway. As a result my report is somewhat limited. 

With the summer drawing to a close and the onset of the X registration period, I was wondering how long it would be before I saw my first X reg PCV. The prize goes to Thames Travel with a new Mercedes Vario. X181BNH was the first and so far only PCV seen and I managed to get a shot late on Saturday evening between London trips. As yet the bus is awaiting vinyls.

The business sections of many dailies carried stories of the rejection of the French bid for Go-Ahead and for the time being things seem set to continue unchanged. But for how long is far from certain. 

On the Stagecoach front there are major changes in the management structure and we will report these as soon as full details are received.

Fleet News and observations week ending 9/9/00

Oxford Bus Company (City of Oxford Motor Services)

Volvo coach 58 is still under repaint and should emerged during this coming week. Volvo B10BLE 821 is still at Bristol under repair following accident damage. New blinds are being fitted to the Volvo Paladins 644-656 and Darts 501-520. These will cover the route extensions for 12 and 22 roads. Also the Paladins need new route number blinds as they cannot show 5 or 6 etc at present. A few Darts are fitted but so far no Paladins seem to have been dealt with. 

Unusual workings during last week include the appearance of Volvos 607 and 644 on 13 road in the evenings. 

Stagecoach Oxford.  

939 was seen working the 7s last week on a day when many branded buses were not on their assigned route. A driver claimed they were not a success and they would seen be repainted out of such liveries into a new corporate livery. this remains to be seen although of course 932 has gone from Blackbird flyer livery into corporate livery in recent weeks. wrong allocations were seen on the 1, 7 and X50.

Thames Travel.

As reported above with a picture it would appear that Thames Travel have one of the very X registered buses in our area.

Wycombe Bus Company.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to secure a potentially unique photo of " the 24s " during a visit this morning, Sunday. 424, 524, 624 and 724 were caught in a line at the bus station, 724 about to leave for Reading. This must be a first and one I was really delighted to get.

The three Olympians on loan from Oxford, 214, 221 and 222, still continue at Wycombe with 227 under repair at Oxford. 229, the one with roof damage, has gone to First Mainline at Sheffield for repair. 

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.

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

Arriva 3138 seen Wycombe, Newlands Bus Station, carrying "serving the Shires and Essex branding.

Neoplan P891MHE of Box, Cumbria, seen on National Express 310 leaving Gloucester Green on Saturday.

Airlinks (ex Cambridge Coaches) N303BAV shows a rather peculiar paint job during its layover at Gloucester Green.
The offside lower panels appear to be a shade of blue rather than grey !!!

Oxford bus 607 waiting time on 13 road in the City.

35 road services now turn at the company office on The High. 613 is seen waiting time last Saturday evening.

Ex Oxford Citylink 62 is now with Swanbrook in a pleasing silver livery.

Neil Gow sent this lovely photo of the 4th 975, a Leyland Atlantean on 52 road some years ago. Thanks Neil.

 If anyone has any further news please email below.

Malcolmhc@aol.com 

It adds to the interest of the page which I'm sure everyone appreciates.

THE OXFORD BUS MUSEUM