Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas

updated Sunday 14th January 2001
posted Wednesday 17th January 2001
the next update will be on Sunday 21st January 2001

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 !

One of the problems at this time year is that the sun is so low in the sky, when it is out, that photography becomes very difficult indeed. The last weekend was no exception and many photos ended up being less than satisfactory. This shot of Tube 49 leaving "The Green" for London on Saturday afternoon highlights the problem very well. The shadows at this time of day were more than 10ft, hence the photographer was also caught !

During the afternoon I rode down to the Station and noted that as ever the bus/taxi only area was full of cars, defeating the well laid plans of OTS one and half years on! Can nobody do anything to resolve this matter. Why have OTS unless it can be properly enforced?

Various commitments prevented my producing this week's update on time and I apologise for the delay. As I prepare this edition I am already in Sweden where the weather is VERY cold and foggy. No sunshine problems here but short and rather dark days. I have been using the Airport buses and enjoying being driven for a change.

Some of you have already responded to my points about maybe renaming the page. Generally it appears that you all think I should retain the name. The similarity to The Oxford Bus Company site was mentioned and I will probably redesign the page with new graphics and navigation buttons. So watch for developments and thank you all for your input.

Company reports - to 13th January 2001

Arriva serving the Shires & Essex.

Renumbering is almost complete. The only class so far not renumbered is that of the Lynxs. Also a number of Darts remain to be actioned. 

The first sighting of an ex Wycombe vehicle at Cressex by me was last Sunday. 3811(521) . It seems that shortages at Arriva old depot have needed some help from Arriva (Wycombe Bus) depot.

A visit to Newlands Bus Station last Friday by Nigel Peach revealed 5828 as the first bus he saw in Arriva livery. It was in Newlands Bus Stn at lunchtime showing route 363. Later he saw it on the 301. When he passed back through the Bus Stn. just before 3pm 5825 was also there. When I visited today I was told that 5831 (231) was now away for repaint. 226, 227 & 229 were all still in original liveries (229 is still carrying Thames Valley lettering ! ). 

Arriva at Wycombe are using this Mercedes as a Crew Shuttle. It was noted some week or so ago by Nigel Peach and caught on camera by me last Sunday.

The renumbering of the Volvos, except 621 is complete and as given below.

621 to become 3841 (N621FJO)
622 to become 3842 (N622FJO)
625 to become 3843 (N413NRG)
626 to become 3844 (N414NRG)
627 to become 3853 (N415NRG)
623 to become 3854 (N623FJO)
624 to become 3855 (N624FJO)

503 now carries Arriva vinyls on the rear but shows full details of The Oxford Bus web site on the rear window !!!!!!!

5831 is back from repaint with some changes in vinyl locations especially the fleet numbers. Also the yellow band is not continued round the front. Another Olympian dispatched for repaint is 230 (5830). I am told the repaint programme will be speeded up ion the coming weeks by drafting in additional loan buses from Arriva.

I now have an  updated allocation list for Arriva at Aylesbury and High Wycombe. I will amend the Arriva page this week and thereafter hope to keep it fully updated.

Oxford Bus Company (City of Oxford Motor Services)

The new coaches are to be delivered in February, entering service on March 1st 2001. As mentioned before they are to be numbered 23-28 and whilst registrations are not yet confirmed, it seems likely that they will be Y23-28OXF. This will be the last time that these type of registrations will be available since the new registration system takes effect later this year. One supposes that it may be possible to buy cherished registrations such A, B, C, D or E and thereby get the numbers wanted with OXF but after 30 only tens and doubles are available. Sadly this means that it unlikely we will ever see the whole fleet of coaches with OXF registrations !

Saturday saw me on my usual duty to London where I had the unexpected experience of having to call on DTS - engineers at VCS - to effect repairs to a loose exterior mirror. I must say they were most efficient and I only suffered a five minute delay to my departure. Coach 57 was the vehicle involved as can be seen below.

A shortage of Tridents on Saturday saw Volvo B10BLE 819 performing on the 400. It is seen below passing Oxford Rail Station.

The bus area mentioned earlier still suffer abuse from car drivers, who seem oblivious to the signs stating buses and taxis only. The X3 stop at the station has been moved and services now depart from the stand formerly used by the 2 road buses. Trident 120 is a regular performer and is seen below travelling up New Road towards Carfax. The branding can be seen to excellent effect, leaving car users in no doubt as to where it is going!

As is often the case, when a commodity is scarce there is something of a "fight" for same. Parking at Gloucester Green is no exception and the major users are, of course, Oxford Express and Oxford Tube. Layover bays on a Saturday are at a premium and a rare occurrence caught on film was of FIVE Express coaches lined up. The moments lasted only minutes but was well worth the picture seen below.

Last week saw Volvo 643 going through the paint shop and , I think, completes this batch of buses. There are still some ex London Volvos to be completed. The next buses due for work will be the Dart SLFs.  

Stagecoach Oxford.  

Significant changes took place on the Abingdon services at the beginning of the month. This was already recorded in these pages. A regular performer on these services is 713 , an ex London Dart. It seen here slowly traversing Queen Street last Saturday.

Another Stagecoach bus, this time a Volvo B6 is seen on route 3 at Carfax. 839 was an ex demonstrator, hence it's registration P677NOJ, received from Manchester with the ex Manchester B6s. Following a serious front end accident it was rebuilt and acquired a later type destination display, seen here to good effect.

Thames Travel.

News of the week is the arrival of the first of a batch of Optare Solos, bringing to an end the "reign" of the Mercedes Vario. The first was collected by the owner of Thames Travel last Friday and was seen in service shortly thereafter by Steve Annells.

Showing the older order is the Vario pictured below, V254BNV, on the X39 at St Aldates. Sister bus V251BNV was on hire to Stagecoach Oxford for a number of months last year. 

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

Stagecoach Swindon Volvo/Alexander PS 407 seen leaving Oxford , Swindon bound, last Saturday.

Following a recent report, a slightly better shot of Arriva Lynx training bus 3066, now stationed at High Wycombe.

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