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

updated Sunday, 12th May 2002
the next update will be on Sunday 19th May 2002

  Issue nr. 198

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

Welcome to Issue 198, which as ever is much enhanced by all your contributions. If I have not responded to your e-mail personally, my apologies but this week time is short. I am preparing this update rather late in the day, its now 9pm when I am starting!

The article last week by Newman Morgan on memories in and around Wycombe has prompted a number of your to write, some of whom I have not heard from before. It does make it all worthwhile when I hear from so many of you each week, the compliments are most welcome but I also appreciate the corrections and suggestion so many also make.

H M The Queen visited Marlow this week and many people turned out to see her. There was even a Park & Ride service laid on from a site just off the Marlow By-Pass and Arriva-Wycombe and Nightingale each provided a bus to operate the service. I went down to the site on Friday morning and took pictures of Arriva 5833 arriving from Marlow centre. Before I could get more pictures a security guard came over to me and asked what I was doing. He advised me that I could not take photos of the building, a new office complex, since the architects prohibited this. Since I was on a public road I am not sure what the legal position of such an order is, also if I went on a Sunday when so few people are about how would they stop me then. I know people have the right to object to their picture being taken without permission (indeed some bus drivers get very annoyed if you take the bus with them in it) but can I expect (and others) to find that we are prohibited from taking pictures of trees and general views, if they include private property? Seems to me the world is going mad. Oh and of course I was taking pictures of 5833 not the blessed building.

It reminds of the time I was taking pictures in Gloucester Green shortly after the new bus station opened. I was standing on the path in a public area outside the main station. A gentleman who will remain nameless, since he still works for one of the two major operators in Oxford as a London Controller, came over and told me I was not to take pictures of the buses. I commented that I was in a public area, not private property and I thought he was wrong. I will not publish his reply. It does however raise some interesting points. Does anyone have any views or experiences of their own. I find it rather interesting and wonder if I am alone. Most of my colleagues now in the local bus industry, Managers, Drivers and other employees and those who do not know me so well, just smile and probably many think, another anorak. Some drivers will slow down for the picture and many others wave. Still, I suppose it would be a dull world if nothing untoward ever happened. I do however wonder exactly what the legal position is?

5833 turns into the Park&Ride site near Marlow last Friday.

On Friday evening I had the opportunity to attend The National Federation of Bus Users (NFBU) meeting at County Hall, Oxford. The meeting was attended by around 20 people, including representatives of the main local bus companies, NFBU members and was chaired by Dr. Caroline Cahm , the National Chairman. Each company was given the opportunity to highlight recent developments and then the meeting was thrown open to the floor. Various comments and questions were asked and affected varying aspects of bus operation in the Oxfordshire area. One lady commented on the injury she sustained falling from the seat of a low floor bus. She had injured her back quite seriously and questioned the safety of new low floor buses who have large circulation areas often lacking in grab rails for seated passengers. Each company noted her concern and acknowledged the difficulty in providing areas for wheelchairs and buggies whilst also giving proper facilities for other passengers. They also commented on buggy rage which often happens when more than the approved number of buggies try to board the bus. Another member commented on the problems of stop 7 at the Rail Station. This stop is variously quoted as being in Station Square, Park Street or Station Approach. It is also badly signposted in the station area. I can comment on this. Whilst  working the rail replacement London service last Sunday, I was asked for stop 7 and had to think twice as to where it was. Other comments were made about drivers pulling away from stops before passengers were seated, especially elderly and infirm passengers. Both companies present stressed that drivers were instructed in this matter and that any driver pulling away should be reported to the company. A very serious view would be taken of such drivers.

I found the meeting most interesting and can only briefly report what took place. The NFBU has a web site which readers may wish to visit.

http://www.nfbu.fsnet.co.uk

Saturday was Balloon Fest day in Oxford and the evening time provided some fine sights
as various balloons flew over the city.

Newman Morgan wrote regarding the Oxford Bus order for Citaros mentioned last week. I found his comments most interesting and also look forward to the forthcoming article on Wycombe. Newman says "Thanks for a very interesting Oxford Bus Page once again. I will sit down and write a potted history of my route by route memories of Wycombe in the 60s 70s and early 80s. I can use some of the timetables to jog the memory. I may have been wrong in my thoughts on the Wycombe TVT Running Numbers. I can't remember entirely, but I believe that the Wycombe Marsh run out had a 'W' etched into each running number metal whilst Desborough Road may well have had a 'D'. In any event the numbers 1 - 41 etc were correct for 1968 at least.

I wanted to comment on the Mercedes Benz Citaro machines. I first came across these brand new into service last year in the French city of Metz, down in Lorraine. The local operator - TCRM (transports en commun de la region messine) had just placed into service 3 standards and 1 artic. They were very noticeable as they were the first non-Renault vehicles that I had ever seen in the TCRM fleet and were in a new livery. The old livery was deep dark blue skirt with red band otherwise white whilst the Citaros were in Jaumont yellow - this being the colour of the local jaumont stone. They actually looked like they should be carrying adverts for Colman's mustard (Dijon variety of course!)

I rode on the artic for about a mile from the Place de la Republique to the Gare and, despite its orange box looks, was a superb vehicle to ride on. These 4 vehicles were the first of an order for TCRM for both standards and artics. Like all Metz city buses, these vehicles play the local equivalent of Fox FM to their passengers except when loaded with school and college kids when the music station is changed to NRJ ('energy' in English) - the French equivalent of Kiss FM. Strangely, at 7.30am on a cold, dark, wet morning in Lorraine, the head banging trance and dance sounds of NRJ do not seem to deter the more mature commuter!!

Shortly afterwards I found myself in Saint Etienne and the local operator - STAS (Societe de transports de l'agglomeration stephanoise) - had also recently placed a batch of standard (non-artic) Citaros into service. I rode from the city to the outer terminal of the route they were used on and then came back on another one. Once again a superb ride and the deep (albeit tinted glass) windows gave excellent vision from within the bus. One downside though - at least on the St Etienne models. At the rear of the bus there is a row of 4 seats instead of the more usual 5 found on other manufacturers vehicles. On the offside there is a piece of bodywork inside that obviously hides a mechanical requirement. On the top of this Mercedes Benz has thoughtfully designed a small baggage area big enough for a couple of sports backpacks for example. What Mercedes appear not to have taken account of is that this little area provided a perfect place for graffiti. Both Citaros I rode on in Saint Etienne were covered in graffiti in this area and the buses had only been in service a few weeks. (Glad to know it is not only in the UK that such things happen. Ed.)

The Citaro has made some quite big inroads into France and makes a nice change from the more usual Renault and Heuliez models currently seen everywhere, especially as, to the casual onlooker, there is no difference in body style used by these two marques except for the go faster roof spoiler used on Heuliez gas buses.

In 2001, RATP, the Paris transport organisation, ordered 70 Citaros which must by now be in service in a first attempt to de-standardise on total Renault orders, although for 2002 they have ordered MAN's instead. For both years hordes of Renault Agoras have been ordered as well.

It should also be remembered that Go Ahead are taking delivery of 31 Citaro Artics for London for use on revamped Red Arrow routes 501 and 521 working out of Waterloo (RA) depot and due to enter service early June. First in London are taking 12 Citaro standards for a new riverside route to be Route RV1 and Stagecoach in London are taking 1 Citaro which is to be used I think by Ken Livingstone's team to determine whether or not the Citaro should become the standard London bus. There is a desire in London to place into service many more artic single deckers and it seems that Evobus (the parent of the bus division of Mercedes Benz) has the biggest foot in the door at the moment.

First Manchester run 61 Citaros out of Oldham depot and First has capitalised on the Merc name for advertising purposes. On the rear of virtually all the Oldham Citaros there is an advert which reads "leave the car at home and take the chauffeur driven Merc to town". The advert features a smiling First driver and a picture of the front of a Citaro where the picture homes in on the Merc badge. The advert then promotes the Oldham-Manchester 'main road' which runs every 5 minutes and enjoys high Citaro operation. Interestingly Oldham depot has been converted to 100% Mercedes (Citaros + 0405's drafted in from other First group companies) as Mercedes is the contracted maintenance provider to this large depot.

Thanks to Newman for that contribution which makes interesting reading and provokes thoughts on the new Oxford batch.

Another reader and friend, Geoff Cunliffe, visits Oxford from his home in Lancaster from time to time and I received an account of his visit which makes some interesting points. Geoff says "I managed about three hours in the centre of Oxford on Friday 3^rd. May. My wife and I came in from Pear Tree. Access was different since someone had clobbered the traffic lights at the entrance to the Park & Ride so, if approaching from the south (A40), you had to go from Wolvercote Roundabout right up to Pear Tree Roundabout, turn back on yourself then enter from the northerly direction. I normally seem to gripe about my experiences with drivers these days, but no so about whoever was driving a Trident P&R; he had already set off when he spotted us. Obligingly, he drew up on the exit road to allow us to board. Now that is good for PR these days!

Not sure I had seen two of the Thames Travel Optare Solos before - X385 VVY was showing service 103 whilst X249 VWR, with Thames Trains and Oxfordshire County Council lengends on the back, was on the X39.

Similarly, I had not actually seen the dot matrix displays on the front of the Stagecoach route 1 vehicles showing the £1 maximum single fare information.

I managed to see three of the new coaches, 29, 30 and 33. Very smart. What miniscule headlamps they have!

The repainted Guide Friday Roe-bodied Atlantean, STK 124T, looked smarter than most after its repaint! Shame their paintwork seems to age fairly quickly – certainly after the work that goes into some of them. I wonder if it is open air storage?

Traffic flow in St.Aldates seemed to be fairly delicate; it was not helped by an Ebdon’s coach, P91 VEE, from Sidcup parked outside the Town Hall for five minutes about 2pm. Am I mistaken or are more private cars using the High Street illegally again? One rather yobbish driver managed to get himself boxed in at Carfax Corner, having dropped off a passenger. I was rather alarmed at the deliberate, un-necessarily aggressive behaviour of two drivers, from the same company, who were apparently prepared to risk purposely damaging their vehicles to make a point. The car escaped unscathed, just. Now that was not good PR however illegal the car’s presence was.

Like many, I have become fascinated by the wheel trims, or absence of them, on some of the Tube coaches. The foremost rear axle seems to have least as a generalisation. Is it the location of Accutrak devices, when fitted, I pondered? Although Tube 48 was totally complete, I spotted at least five with missing ones. (I am aware that Stagecoach are making strong efforts to resolve these problems and most coaches do have a full set of trims - guess you were unlucky Geoff. Ed.)

Being a Friday afternoon, and a Bank Holiday Weekend as well, the M40 northbound was crawling intermittently which caused the A34 to back up. Also, there was an accident on the M25 at junction 10 in the outside lane northbound, both of which had the potential to affect good timekeeping.

It seemed to me that the hump is coming back again at the start of Queen Street. (Yes, I've noticed that - Maybe someone from the council will read this bit? - Ed)

Some excitement was caused when there was an obstruction at Underhill Circus at Barton; one bus managed to get itself wedged. Apparently, local knowledge enabled those following ones to get through by the garages, whatever that means!

As ever, it was an extremely pleasant three hours in the City. I shall be back in July." Thanks to Geoff, it is always interesting to hear a visitors view.

A lucky shot, (I WAS A PASSENGER ON nr 30) of an old Crosville RE passing near
Gloucester Green last Saturday. I wonder if it remembered the many times it must have
worked this way? It was before my Oxford days but I suppose they came through GG.
It looked beautiful and belied its passing years.

Saturday saw me on the "O" card for the last time. Oxford express duties have been changed from today and the "O" card is no longer the same. I enjoyed coaches 9 and 11 on my two trips to london, 11 being rather better than 9 which seemed very sluggish. It is always strange how vehicles from the same batch can differ so much. Loadings were good and I enjoyed seeing Trafalgar Square at something past 10pm. A lot of the boarding passengers must have been to see River Dance who opened last Saturday in London. One elderly gentleman turned out to be a member of the NFBU but had missed Friday's meeting. He was very pleased that I waited until he was comfortably seated before drawing away from the stop.

The page is now finished and ready for uploading - midnight!!! sorry it's late. Well read on for other findings and happenings in our area under the various operators headings.

News of the local companies - 12th May 2002

Arriva serving The Shires & Essex

The next "Running Day" is planned for Sunday May 26th with a number of local routes being run as usual. There will be visiting Routemasters.

Charlton Services.

Another offering from Mike Penn, this time of ex COMS OFC400

Roland Cox wrote to say "I was in Charlton yesterday afternoon and parked in yard was L600 CLA Jonckheere white coach with Charlton Services across the top of the windscreen"

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

Jeffs of Helmdon

Matt Cooper writes re last week's report "Yes ! for the time being 17 (ex COMS) is still on the road ! It may be withdrawn once the OBC Volvo's enter service, but that isn't confirmed.  I hadn't noticed the pattern in the new reg. numbers you had spotted!  Olympian 209 would have been on site Saturday too. (Yes, it was. Ed.) This is used on a contract in the MK area. 204/11 (VJO 204X, WWL 211X) are at Buckingham and 207 (WWL 207X) is at Witney. Im waiting to get some photos developed, some of which include the Volvos and Leopard 17, I'll see how well they come out."

Thanks to Matt for that report, I look forward to the photos.

Pete's Travel, West Bromwich. http://www.petestravel.co.uk

Pete's have an excellent web site with a full fleet list on. Well worth a visit.

Carrying a number of route learning drivers, Trident/Plaxton PO51WNJ
leaves Gloucester Green last Bank Holiday Monday on route 50.
Is it normal for deckers on this route by Pete's?

Trevor Langford wrote "I thoroughly enjoy reading your articles each week - they are very interesting indeed.

A few weeks ago there was a comment at how poor Pete's Travel publicity is in Oxford with timetables etc - I was informed by a Pete's driver of the website petestravel.co.uk which is quite useful - Apologies if you have seen it before.

Keep up the good work!!"

Thank you Trevor I have made the point above. It is useful to get some feedback from someone in the area.

Stagecoach in Warwick & Banbury

Keith Wood writes regarding National happenings in his neck of the woods (very droll!)  "Well as 469 was missing from my Nuneaton survey on Saturday I'd assumed it must have gone for a repaint ! Interestingly both 462 and 464 were in stripes when I last saw them 3 weeks ago so the pace is definitely quickening ! Only 3 B6LE's remain in stripes 459/460 and ex Oxford 472 all at Nuneaton.

Rob was right when he said Leyland National 705 had been transferred to Rugby. It was working the 86 this morning with full blinds in operation. Nuneaton B6LE's 462 and 464 have both received new livery.

Following Rob's revelation that Leyland National 705 had moved to Rugby it's been turning up all over the place ! Yesterday it visited Leicester on the X40. On Monday it was Coventry on the 86. I haven't seen 722 this week although 706 / 710 / 772 have all been active. I shall be in Nuneaton again on Saturday but last Saturday there was no sign of the solitary 702.

Stagecoach in Oxford 

As mentioned last week ex London Olympian 528 has now entered service.
It is seen here leaving Gloucester Green last Saturday..

Repaint 903 is seen leaving for Chippy on route 20 last Saturday.
I espied Jim Wright Station bound on 901 but he didn't see me!.

Ralph Adams writes "In this week's news report (197), it credits the paint work on Stagecoach 918 to Banbury. I believe that it was repainted at Bedford who do all the full length single deckers and all double deckers. Banbury, I understand, only do up to Dart / B6 size. This is not a criticism of the repaint quality, both paint shops (and COMS) all produce very high quality. It is a pity that they do not stay in that condition for long with minor accident damage.

The local papers are carrying stories about the reduction in night services on routes 1 and 7.

Woottens of Chesham

My apologies for the wrong spelling of this operators name in last week's News Page.

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

The last time I saw NEx 539 it was operated by Chiltern Queens. Last Monday saw
a Zak's Bova KBZ3618 operating the morning northbound departure from GG.

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

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

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