Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas

updated Sunday 12th November 2000
The next update will be on Sunday 19th November 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 !

The past week brought the awful news of a crash involving one of the coaches from a local company. Most of you will have heard on the news or in the papers about the accident involving a coach belonging to the Oxford Bus company which took place on the M40 last Tuesday. Some more details, as released by the company are included under the company heading below but it comes as sad fact that accidents do happen. When one considers the number of journeys made by both companies along the M40 (the Oxford Express and the Oxford Tube) it is over 20 years since there has been a fatality on these services.

As if to mirror the feelings of everyone, this last Saturday turned out to be a grey day with heavy rain and strong winds. Ones duty for Saturday was two trips to london on the X90 and I have to say, that the weather was really appalling. Photography was yet again difficult and I am therefore pleased to bring you all a few interesting shots in the report this week. Sunday, Remembrance Sunday, dawned fine and sunny and the opportunity was taken to get a few shots of London services on the M40. Wycombe was visited on Saturday and it was interesting to see how effective the rising bollards are in excluding all but the buses from the pedestrianised streets of Wycombe. One wonders why Oxford couldn't have done something similar. Maybe there is just too much traffic !!

Fare increases have taken place on the Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach say they are still reviewing the situation. Costs are said to have gone up by an extra £14,000 per week for COMS. With fuel prices set to stabilise in the coming months and a Government promise of lower diesel prices, maybe fares can be pegged.

Company reports - to 12th November 2000

Oxford Bus Company (City of Oxford Motor Services)

As reported above Oxford Bus suffered the distress of an accident to one of its coaches operating the 1110 X70 service from Heathrow to Oxford. Volvo/Plaxton 56, N156BFC, had just descended through the chalk cutting on the M40 by Lewknor, when it was involved in a collision with a recovery vehicle and an HGV which were parked on the hard shoulder of the M40. As a result of this collision, coach 56 left the motorway and came to rest on the embankment of the M40. Tragically, one passenger on the coach was killed. Oxford Bus are conducting an investigation into the accident, and it is not yet clear how it happened. Both the Sun of Wednesday last and The Oxford Times for last Friday carry pictures of the damaged coach.

As a result of the present loss of 56, Volvo/Plaxton Paramount, 59 - UJI1759, (ex Shearings and withdrawn earlier this year, which remains unsold, is being relicensed and is expected to return to service on Monday 20th November. The ultimate fate of 56 is not yet decided but if it is to be repaired it will of course take a number of months to complete. coach 52, which would have provided an ideal solution to the problem has already been sold and awaited collection by its new owner, seemingly from the Republic of Ireland.

Volvo/Plaxton 52, L152HUD, awaiting collection by its new owner. Seen at Cowley Road 11/11/00

Volvo coach 57, has temporarily lost its destination display. this happened during an MOT inspection but the display is merely hidden behind black glass and is expected to be restored shortly. This leaves 58 as the only coach presently capable of showing a route number !

Olympian 214 remains in service at Wycombe and has been joined by Dart 516, being used in service and 507 held in reserve. It seems that flooding in various parts of area and excessive traffic congestion has caused the need for these two transfers.

Dart 507 and Olympian 214 at Wycombe last Saturday.  

Stagecoach Oxford.  

Andy Gilmour will be interested to find that the only Tube , nr 57, not to have received any advertising or lettering to its rear has at last succumbed and now carriers an adverts as seen above. 

A surprise find at Victoria on Saturday was Stagecoach Viscount 4828VC an ex Oxford Tube coach. In overall white showing only legal lettering, it was on hire to National  Express.

Noted running across Magdalen Bridge on Saturday evening was the Dart SPD on loan to Stagecoach Oxford. It did not appear to be in service.

Wycombe Bus Company

Nigel Peach writes to note that Dart 507 is at Wycombe but not seemingly in service. As mentioned above it joins 516 which is also at Wycombe and is indeed in service.

Oxford Dart 516 on loan to Wycombe sharing space with ex Oxford Olympian 226. 

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

Watford based Mercedes 2166, J456UFS (ex Checkers of Garston stands with Tiger 4020, SIB4780 (E325OMG) 
in Wycombe Bus Station last Saturday seemingly spending time on a private hire duty

Arriva Olympian 5070 - A143DPE leaving Wycombe Depot last Saturday morning. Nearside roof damage
seems to be hazard for all deckers of both companies based in Wycombe.

The changes in the weather are hard to believe, Sunday being the total opposite to Saturday.
Here we see Oxford express nr 3 on its way to london on Sunday morning.

Wycombe Bus 240 waits for the traffic bollards to lower in the centre of High Wycombe last Saturday.
These traffic measures seem to work well in this town.

As an end to this weeks report I include three rear ends in Victoria. Of interest is the new advertising
appearing on National Express coaches, including Airlinks coaches working Airbus services.
J333SAS is a long way on from its origins as a Speedlink coach. Oxford express nr 4 shares the scene. 

.

  OXFORD BUS PAGE CONTENTS