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

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Your reports are welcome at malcolmhc@aol.com

updated Monday 15th October 2001
the next update will be on Sunday 21st October 2001

   Issue nr. 168  

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 !

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Welcome to issue 168, which due to my absence abroad relies upon correspondents for much of the input, thank you to all who have contributed. Also my apologies for the lack of photos this week but overseas travelling and a lack of time has prevented more than you have below.

Headlines in The Oxford Times this last week state Legal hitch lets drivers flout OTS. The article notes that due to cameras monitoring traffic flows only being accepted for prosecution in London , Oxford finds itself in a difficult position. Even bus lanes are at risk on this matter as of abuse can only be followed through for persistent offenders. So far over 1000 motorists have been prosecuted but only after being stopped by police officers on the beat. This situation only serves to highlight the problems facing the bus companies trying very hard to run an efficient service. However it is noted that in the new Transport Act there is provision for the county council to take over camera enforcement and we may see an improvement. It is certainly my experience that motorists do indeed ignore the signs stating clearly buses and taxis only, especially on the route used by buses running to New Road and Gloucester Green. It is indeed time something was done.

News is also featured in our local papers of the bus service withdrawn due to lack of support, which runs in the evenings from High Wycombe to Thame and back via Chinnor and Princes Risborough. Very few people have been using the service and it appears the each passenger use cost the county a subsidy of £15 per head!

Newman Morgan writes regarding rail and bus services in the Chilterns to say "I picked up a copy of the Winter Chiltern Railways timetable this afternoon at Bicester North Station. This edition includes a section on Rail-Bus add on fares, etc. The section on Bicester reveals new bus services. The section mentions the service that Heyfordian run on Thurs, Fris, Sats and Suns which is free and runs between the North Station, the Market Square and the Bicester Village Retail Outlet. The section carries on to mention 'Starting in Late 2001' and reads that Chiltern Railways will be providing a regular, reliable Rail Link service linking the residential estates in Bicester and Bicester North Station, connecting with the most popular London trains on Mondays to Fridays.  The passage goes on to read that Chiltern Railways will also be providing a Taxibus service to many of the villages around Bicester. It seems the Taxibus services will be timetabled in the peak hours and then operate as a 'ring and ride' service in the off-peaks. There is a small map printed in the timetable and this shows Rail Link buses and/or Taxibuses running to the station from all of the Bicester neighbourhoods plus Ambrosden and Arncott. It also shows services from a) Middleton Stoney and Chesterton (on the Sio 25/25A route), b) Ardley (by J10 of the M40), and Bucknell, c) Hethe (out near the A43 and the USAF Croughton tracking station), Fringford and Stratton Audley. The villages mentioned in b) and c) are currently only getting market day - type services.

This may go some way to explaining the timetable change at the end of October on the Sio Oxford-Bicester road, 5 weeks after it was changed 23rd September.

Chiltern Railways do not mention any operators of the Rail Link services but these days the majority of local services in Bicester are run by Grayline (22 to Bure Park, 23 to Southwold, 24 to Langford Village, 26 to Greenwood Estate (Bowmont Sq.)) with SiO serving Glory Farm (27,28), Launton (28), Langford Village (27) and Ambrosden and Arncott (29). At the moment SiO pass Bicester North on the 27, 28 but don't stop particularly close by. I think there is a traffic issue pulling in and out of the station itself. Grayline 23 also passes outbound but inbound pulls into the station yard.

No Rail Bus from Brackley!!!!!!  Many Brackley commuters travel from Bicester North however!"

Further to my remakrs about Banbury last week, Newman says "I was in Banbury today - car being serviced - and having ridden into town from the Vauxhall dealer on SiO B8 service, I took the opportunity to ride back on Cheney Travel's No.401  W1 CTS, one of the two Caetano bodied Darts. (PHOTO ON LAST WEEK'S PAGE) Very nice vehicle and preferable to SiB's vehicles. No. 401 has seating for 44 plus 16 standing. Cheney's other Dart/Caetano W3 CTS was seen carrying fleet no. 402. These vehicles are of course identical to those used by Geoff Amos on his Banbury - Rugby service (Great Central ConneXion). No. 401 was working Cheney's B8, which actually takes a different route to SiO's B8 whilst No. 402 was noted coming into Banbury on the 508 from Brackley via Halse and then leaving on the 480 to Sibford Gower. The 480 and 508 were of course both SiB roads until recently."

Thanks to Newman for his interesting notes.

On the subject of Banbury Ralph Adams writes "You comment on the smart appearance of Banbury bus station which I agree with. I have visited several times (on Thursday market days) and during the rebuilding, the bus station was very over crowded with all buses using the site. The local buses now stop in the road outside, which has probably reduced the buses in the bus station by 50%.

Why do the local buses not use a purpose built bus station which is shared as a delivery yard with the adjacent shopping centre. Do passengers prefer the on street facilities - nearer the shops, or is it because the bus station was not big enough. For local passengers connecting with National Express etc in the bus station, the distance is very short."

Well Ralph maybe someone has some comments to add?

You will remember that in recent issues I have commented on the new registration system which brought a number of responses. I quote here from Grahame Wareham of Oxford Bus as I think this may explain some apparent anomalies in other areas. Grahame says "Just to put the record straight regarding some of the Oxford Bus registrations. R406FFC was never issued by the DVLA, the number being void. It was to be assumed that no 406 marks were to be issued all being taken up by Peugeot. I approached Peugeot at Coventry and indeed our local Oxford dealer at the time, both would have been only too pleased to give us 406, but the fact is that the DVLA just did not issue it at that time. The same thing happened with 820, and although the Rover 820 (if this is the assumed reason) had not been in production for a couple of years, the DVLA would not issued it, again the number being void. By strange fate I then applied to purchase W20FBW which was OK, then when I was about to pay for it, the second search rendered it void (probably because the computer had already registered my  first enquiry on it) so I opted for W20FWL, solely to boost the WL marks in the fleet. No 111 was a different matter, this being one of the reserved numbers that you could buy from the DVLA.

As the new system doesn't allow any matching purpose for the fleet number, I do not propose to purchase any more specials, not even in the OXF range, as in my view the system has lost its purpose."

I quote these comments from Grahame at this point because I believe his comments are valid for all companies, not just Oxford. Has the DVLA shot itself in the foot, surely the many companies who purchased matching fleet and registration numbers would have given the DVLA a nice source of revenue which they have now lost. I still think there is validity in my suggestion that we could have number instead of letter for PCV and HGV classes. i.e. OX51 029 or OX 02 029 etc etc  I just cannot see why this would not work. It would also have the added advantage of easily identifying an HGV or PCV to police and the authorities. Indeed the DVLA is now selling registrations which encourage people to make names and break the law! i.e.D1ARA for D. Lara (fact not fiction)

However maybe I am flying a pointless kite?

Finally at this point I am reproducing an article from Vic Gackowski, now becoming well known for his in depth research on various routes and schedules. This time it is a history of a route. I hope you all enjoy this work.

OXFORD - WALLINGFORD - READING

A BRIEF HISTORY

By Vic Gackowski

1961 - In 1961 and   the Wallingford outstation of COMS operated four main routes , these being -  
33 Oxford (GG) to Wallingford , Nettlebed and Henley  and
34 Oxford (GG) to Wallingford  and Reading.
38 Wallingford to Didcot
40 Abingdon to Wallingford and Reading 
Routes 33 and 38 were entirely COMS operated.    The 34 ran hourly and was  operated jointly with The Thames Valley Traction Company.
Route 40 was  also jointly operated with the Thames Valley Traction Company  running roughly every two hours and following the same route as the 34 between Reading and Wallingford thence via Dorchester and Culham.

1967 - The same pattern of service as 1961  was still in operation 

1970 - Although no timetable is available a Map of the Thames Valley Traction Co network  reveals the route from Oxford to Reading is now the 5 with Oxford to Wallingford shown as the 35. The 5 was exclusively operated by Thames Valley and the 35 by  COMS .It is also interesting to note that a 5A is also shown running as the 5 to Streatley then running via Rowstock to Wantage also operated by Thames Valley. The frequency of this route is sadly unknown

1976 - By 1976 the 5 was now jointly operated with Alder Valley. The hourly frequency was hourly  and the Wallingford outstation still operated the COMS journeys. Route 38 had been withdrawn and replaced by a Fridays Only , One Journey each way , service from Didcot to Wallingford and return. The timings appear to make this a Market day shopper journey. Route 40 was replaced by route 510 to 513 and operated Abingdon to Oxford then Oxford to Wallingford. Routing Abingdon , Shippon RAF Station , Wootton , Oxford Station , Sandford , Dorchester  , Wallingford. The service was hourly but with slightly different calling points every other hour. (Readers will note that the route from Abingdon to Oxford is that currently covered by 4B  road of Oxford Bus Company) . The journey time from Wallingford to Abingdon via Oxford was nearly two hours.
Also at this time the 390 Oxford to London Coach service was in operation running via Wallingford.
There is no Reading to Wantage service as detailed in 1970 .

1979 - In Mid 1978 the Wallingford outstation was closed and 5 road  journeys were operated by Cowley Road along with Alder Valley. 

1983 - Oxford Bus Company and Alder Valley introduced the  joint CITYLINK X55  Oxford to Reading Express. This was  roughly an  hourly service . The route by-passed Wallingford and ran via Dorchester , Crowmarsh and entered Reading via Caversham having passed non stop through Nettlebed. This service sadly only lastly about a year until the old well established 5 road re emerged.

1983 - South Midland (Wantage Garage)  were operating a Coach service from Wantage to London via Didcot and Wallingford. This was route 391 and it operated three return journeys per day. Sadly this was withdrawn by 1986.

1984 to 1994 - The joint service 5 operated largely the same as in 1979 but was changed at one point to route 105 , Alder Valley became the Bee Line and by 1992/3 Reading Buses had taken over this Bee Line route. In 1992 Oxford Olympians 230 to 235 were regular performers on the route along with Bee Line Nationals. Reading Buses later introduced Optares when they took over.

1990 - The established 390 Oxford to London Coach service that served Wallingford was withdrawn by Oxford Citylink and soon after Thames Transit took up the challenge still retaining the 390 route number. They branded some vehicles for the route with a large Jumbo Jet on the sides.

By 1995 - At the start of the year Oxford Bus Company now ran the 105 from Oxford to Wallingford only whilst later in the year  the full route to Reading was reintroduced hourly operated exclusively by Reading Buses. Sometime in the years up 1995 to 1998 Reading Buses again pulled off this route running services at their end to Wallingford only. There appears to be a brief gap in through working in this year. By 1998 Stagecoach were operating the route from Oxford to Wallingford only. 

1997 - Thames Transit withdrew the 390 Coach Service and replaced it with the X39 running to Heathrow only. This service still served Wallingford.  An allocation of mini buses with route branding were introduced.

1998 - Stagecoach Oxford now operated route 105 between Oxford and Wallingford with Reading Buses operating their service between Wallingford and Reading. Two journeys a day in each direction ran to Henley reviving the old  route 33 from years ago. These two new journeys ran under the route number 39.

Present Day - Stagecoach withdrew their X39 service from Oxford to Heathrow a  few  years ago and now concentrate all London Operations on the Tube Service. Heathrow is left in the hands of The Oxford Express. Wallingford sadly now lacks a London service. Thames Travel have established the excellent new  X39 Henley , Wallingford , Oxford service  which was  extended to Jericho when Oxford Bus Company pulled  out of this City route in 1999.  It is therefore possible to once again travel from Oxford to Henley retracing the old 1960s COMS route 33.  In September 2001 Stagecoach handed over the 105 to Thames Travel who retain this route number.  The old COMS routes 38 and 40 also live on with Thames Travel operating as the 130 (38)  Wallingford to Didcot (For many years since COMS , Chiltern Queens had operated this route) and  139 (40) Wallingford to Abingdon.  Thames Travel also operate other local services from Wallingford  , Didcot and Reading and have a rapidly expanding fleet. Our editors recent photograph of their Wallingford Depot shows this well.

Reading Buses only operate the 105 from Reading to Pangbourne whilst Thames Travel encourage travel from Wallingford to Reading with their service to  Goring Station and thence by Thames Trains services. I suppose this is understandable in these days of speed and shows good road / rail integration. One can get from Oxford to Reading by train in just 25 minutes and between Thames Trains and Virgin Trains up to seven services an hour are available. The service from Goring Station takes just fifteen minutes with a half hourly frequency operated by Thames Trains. Thames Trains and Thames Travel work well together and the station signs at Goring state "Change for Bus Link to Benson and Wallingford",  With timetables changing all the time the day may come again when it is possible to travel from Oxford to Reading by road on one vehicle.

FLEET ALLOCATIONS  - COMS Wallingford Outstation
Allocation - December 1975
386     MJO 386 H         Daimler / Northern Counties
611     611  TJO              AEC Rel / Marshall
615     615  TJO              AEC Rel / Marshall
620     DFC 620 D           AEC Swift / Willowbrook
621     DFC 621 D           AEC Swift / Willowbrook
793     793 TJO              AEC Rel / Willowbrook
795     795 TJO               AEC Rel / Willowbrook
796     796 TJO               AEC Rel / Willowbrook

Allocation - September 1976
385     MJO 385 H         Daimler / Northern Counties 
650     NWL 650 M         Ford / Willowbrook
651     NWL 651 M         Ford / Willowbrook
652     NWL 652 M         Ford / Willowbrook
751     SWL 51 J             AEC Rel / Willowbrook
752     SWL 52 J             AEC Rel / Willowbrook

Allocations - 1977
Actual Vehicles Unknown but an allocation of six is confirmed

1978
Outstation Closed with service covered from Cowley Road.

Vic says that he hopes readers find this of interest and I must say I feel that we gaining some useful historical information. At this rate we will be able to write a book on day!  Thanks again to Vic and I am sure some of you will have your own comments and information to add.

  FROM THE DRIVING SEAT  
A weekly commentary on your Editors favourite pastime.

Time is limited this week and I will pend this part of the page until next week.

News from the companies - 12th October 2001

Airlinks

Arriva serving The Shires & Essex

Arriva 3046 at Hemel Hempstead on route 500.
Photo by Matt Wheeler.

Arriva 4047 loading in Hemel for a run to London

Matt Wheeler writes this week to say "I went to Hemel Hempstead and Watford yesterday, and actually remembered to take my camera (hence the photos). To get there I took route 500 (Aylesbury - Watford), which is run jointly between Arriva's Aylesbury and Hemel Hempstead depots. Aylesbury contributing 3 vehicles, Hemel the other 4, these usually being East Lancs bodied Scania single deckers, Aylesbury's from batch 3163-6, and Hemel from 3151-3162. A picture of one of Hemel's Scanias is attached, 3050, which carries a special livery for West Herts College. One of Aylesbury's contribution on Saturday was 3164, which has now received full Arriva livery (two pictures attached or bus passing through Marlowes in Hemel Hempstead), but has not had its previous branding for route 500 carried over onto the new livery. The other two "Aylesbury" buses were more unusual, they being Greenways 3053 and 3046 (pictures attached of them in Moor End bus link in Hemel Hempstead).

Whilst in Hemel Hempstead I was able to get photos of a couple of coaches, including Jetlink D315 on route 787 to Norwich and Jetlink D317 on route 757 to Cambridge, these taken as they stopped just outside Hemel bus station. (See photos above under Airlinks section - Ed) I also managed to get photos of a couple of Arriva's coaches for Greenline route 758 (Hemel - London). 4047 was seen unloading in the bus station, whilst 4048 was seen parked up in the Moor End Bus link, before returning to Arriva's Hemel Hempstead depot.

Mike Penn wrote following a day out to say - 

Aylesbury

Ex Arriva Colchester Leyland National Greenway 3305 (JIL 2195) was seen on the 61 service from Luton while ex Arriva Colchester Leyland Olympian 5383 (TPD 123X) was on a local route.  Northern Counties bodied Leyland Olympian 5079 (A699 EAU) was used on service 57 to Halton Camp at lunchtime - a rare outing in normal service.  These two vehicles (5078/9) have now been with Arriva The Shires and its predecessors (LDT and Luton & District) longer than with any of their previous operators  - Nottingham, Southend and Buffalo Travel - not a bad record for two very distinctive and non-standard vehicles.  They still retain their Nottingham style very narrow entrances and centre exits.

High Wycombe

Olympians 5822 (D822 UTF), 5827/9 (E227/9 CFC) were all noted in their old Wycombe Bus liveries, respectively Eleven Seventy AM, Travelwise and Thames Valley.  5822 was parked in the bus station while the other two were in service.  5823 was in service in Arriva livery while 5824 wasn't seen.  The Sainsbury's mini 2820 was still parked in the bus station.

Thanks to both of you for those notes. 

Beckwith's Coaches.

Following my comments on this company last week, Chris Beckwith writes to update matters regarding the company.

Fleet List for Beckwith Coaches:

1976 Leyland Leopard Plaxton Reg No 910 OCV
1981 MCW Metrobus MK1 Reg No LOA 346X
1983 Leyland Tiger Plaxton Paramount Reg No XIB 2679
1983 Volvo B10M Joncheere P59 (Deuville front) Reg No GIL 4605
1988 Volvo B10M Plaxton Paramount 3500 Reg No F214 NLE

As you have pointed out in your news letter, F214 is soon to be replaced by a '96? Volvo B10M on a Van Hool Alizee. This will become our front line vehicle as you would imagine. Up until then, the Tiger will be run on the 290 service, which we are planning to put GIL 4605 on.

We have managed to dig up a little bit of history on the Tiger. The original registration number was XUF 535Y. It seems to have been changed a number of times. As far as I can make out, the first change was to UWP 105, but was changed back 13/7/99. On 21/12/99, it was changed to SIL 2955, presumably by Ladybird Travel, the registered keepers at this time. On 8/5/2001, they then changed it to its current registration mark. We are  the vehicle's seventh owners. Obviously there was Ladybird Travel from Workington. The only other owner I know of was Western Buses Ltd, from Ayr.

Chris promises to let us know when their new coach arrives. Many thanks for that update, interesting and useful. 

City of Oxford Motor Services (The Oxford Bus Company)

Chris Maxfield of Oxford Bus writes to say "Today has certainly seen some unusual workings. 22 has today had low floor Volvo 810 in use. When I saw this it was heading for Harcourt Hill but as this is not on the blind was still showing Risinghurst (I bet that caused some confusion).

Then tonight, one card on the 13B was also being worked by a low floor Volvo, this time 812. I spoke to the driver who said "they were a bit apprehensive about putting it on the 13B". But it still went out. I wonder how hard he found it taking round the Northway Estate. Also tonight 16C card was being worked by 409. This bus was what 812 replaced, the driver saying it had no guts up Headly Way.

It seems as well that 816 has re entered service after its accident at the bottom of New Road a good few weeks ago. However 102 is still in the body shop. Could this be having its rectification work carried out down here instead of at Alexander's, As for the amount of damage caused its been in the shop a long time?

Finally I took 637 out on 16C card on Monday night. a great change this made than having the usual low floor.

Just to note that Trident 102 had severe centre door accident damage and it has taken sometime to repair due to the length of time parts took to arrive.

On another note several drivers and engineers from OBC went to the Coach & Bus Show at NEC to look at new vehicles. All were most impressed by what they saw and a decision on next years new coaches is expected soon. 

Nigel Peach responded regarding the question by a reader about the ex Harwell Olympians. He says "Mark Wilde asks questions about the ECW bodied Olympians. This was the batch of 4 buses which came to Oxford from UKAEA Harwell in 1991 (236-9 FWL 778-81Y). They transferred to Wycombe in late 1995 and  237/8 were withdrawn in early 2000. These were sold to Weavaway, Newbury. 236 and 239 survived until the Arriva takeover in December 2000. (They weren't part of the deal - Arriva got Marshall Darts 503/4 instead.) 236 and 239 were sold to Hedingham Omnibuses and 237 and 238 have also joined them there. It must be unusual for a whole batch of four buses to have been all together in four different locations over the 18 years of their lives."

Thank you Nigel.

Stagecoach Group

Keith Wood writes "Today saw the official launch of the fifteen new Optare Solos for Stagecoach in Warwickshire's Leamington depot. Solos 604, 601 and 603 were parked up outside the town hall (in that order) by 11.00am ready for a quick ceremony about 10 minutes before midday. There were a number of drivers on hand to help promote the buses and to show members of the public around, pointing out the low floors and wheelchair ramps. 604 had two red ribbons wrapped around it which were cut by the mayor after a few words and then it took an official party on a brief ride around the town. All three Solos were showing promotional destinations - the front flashed: Stagecoach / route 66 / Warwick to Whitnash via Leamington / NEW! easy access buses / from 1st October 2001. The side displays flashed: Welcome aboard / another brand new / all singing / all dancing / easy access / low floor bus / for route 66.

When I briefly checked back twenty minutes later, 601 was outside the town hall, and I noted 604 a minute later heading in that directions still with officials on board. Special bus stops have been put up in the town centre with a side view of one of the Solos and other adverts for the route. Very attractive temporary notices in the new corporate Stagecoach style were also attached below the timetable stating that new easy access buses would be operating the route from 1st October 2001."

The pictures in last week's News Page refer to the above report by Keith.

Stagecoach in Banbury and Warwickshire

Keith Wood writes to note that Volvo B10M / PS 244 N814 DNE has been transferred to from Banbury to Nuneaton. It was working the 157 to Nuneaton on Friday afternoon. Don't know what's gone the other way !

Toured Leamington and Rugby (10/10/01) yesterday and saw 13 out of 15 Solos. 2 were missing 605 and 607 but the others are

601 KX 51 CRU "66"
602 KX 51 CRV "66"
603 KX 51 CRZ "66"
604 KX 51 CSF "66"
605
606 KX 51 CSU "66"
607
608 KX 51 CSY "66"
609 KX 51 CSZ "66"
610 KX 51 CTE "66"
611 KX 51 CTF "Solo"
612 KX 51 CTK "Solo"
613 KX 51 CTO "Solo"
614 KX 51 CTU "Solo"
615 KX 51 CTV "Solo"

"66" Route Branded for service 66 Warwick - South Farm    -  "Solo" Branded for Solo Services in Leamington & Warwick

Other news and 709D 369 has moved to Rugby and was in service yesterday.  367 was in the depot but not in service. Also present was withdrawn 316 purpose unknown. 

No N reg 709d's were in service in Leamington yesterday so must have moved. I'm checking Nuneaton on Tuesday (16/10/01) to see if they are there or have left for another operator.

I went via Warwick Parkway to Birmingham NEC and got a picture of the Solos mentioned by Keith, They were not well loaded and Keith says the routes  would be 75 / A and 76 / A at Warwick Parkway and yes your correct in stating that few passengers use these services. They are heavily subsidised by councils and Gallagher housing who have built Warwick Gates Estate which the 75 / A serve. There are no SiW timetables for these services (as far as I'm aware) SiW is now using Warwickshire County Council timetable booklets.

Stagecoach in Oxford

The appearance of a Leyland National, on the 50 from Stratford, as noted below caused
no little surprise to onlookers. It is seen at Horspath Garage last Saturday morning
and is referred to in Ralph Adams notes below

He says "257 (Leyland National)  John Woodley tells me it is to be a trainer, plus another National still to be delivered.  If so, will it be the first National to ever be based in Oxford? The bus has route 50 on display, and arrived at about the time 903 became VOR. Was this a convenient way to do a transfer? 

Again from John,  942-944 apparently have security panels, with a sold metal bar holding the panels. From the drivers seat, they cannot see out of the mirror.  Oh dear!!  Buses cannot be put into service yet until the problem is resolved. They were due to start on 22/10/01, and Nuneaton was to start a new low floor service on 29/10/01 - presumably with 831-837.  

The Oxford Tube has a new leaflet on display, dated September 2001 with a new red cover. The inside looks identical, but the cover deletes all reference to Stagecoach, just operated by Thames Transit Ltd. The website was www.stagecoach-oxford.co.uk, but is now www.oxfordtube.com. The latter brings you into the tube page and then into the normal pages. The inside pages still refer to Stagecoach Oxford "

Thanks Ralph.

Tracey and Jim, my regular correspondents fromn Chippy write to say -

General News From Chippy

18.25 ,50 Stratford to oxford bus no 903 broke down in Stratford. It was the last bus of the day. Leamington bought out Leyland National SJI 4558(Q.V.) as a replacement. It ran it's last journey late. The bus was at Oxford garage on the Saturday returning over the weekend.

Following last week's notes regarding the Bicester services, David Whitley , Marketing Manager of Stagecoach in Oxford wrote to say - "The decision to withdraw buses from the various stops between Gosford and Bicester was partly due to the Danger aspect and partly to conform to new regulations from the Traffic Commissioner. However, having been in correspondence with the local residents and the Traffic Commissioner's office, we have been able to resolve the issue, with Wendlebury and Chesterton now being served. The Weston-on-the-Green stop on the A34 has been withdrawn, however, for safety reasons."

Thanks to David for that update.

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

...and what was I doing when I should have been taking photos for you Guys?
Nice really is a nice place and the flight back to London Gatwick on a BA RJ100
was preceded by a ride on this Neoplan airside coach. Sorry!!

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

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