Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas

updated Sunday 19th November 2000
The next update will be on Sunday 26th 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 !

Another busy week saw me once again in Malmo, Sweden for three days. This week I made time to sample the delights of the local bus scene and bring you a few photos of two more exotic buses in use in the region.

The local buses in Malmo are operated by Skanetrafiken and two colour schemes predominate. One is green, for the newer buses and the other is grey blue with purple trim. I took one of the latest Volvo artics from my hotel to the railway station, sorry should it be train station - I'm old fashioned really, and was fascinated  with the drivers duties and cab layout. A Volvo, it was but a few extra things added to the comfort of the crew. The drivers seat swivels to face the customer, there is a digital display screen with a picture of the bus, showing doors open or closed. Also there is digitally controlled air conditioning, all making for a most comfortable journey. The fare was Sek 14.00 which converts to approx £0.96 p and the ticket maybe used on any city service for just about 1 hour from issue. There appears to be a season ticket costing Sek 200 (£13.80) which is either a weekly or multi journey ticket, further info to follow.

As can be seen from the photo above, the Volvo artics are most impressive. They even have a green box
for paper disposal, Sweden being a very green country !

The next port of call was the Swebus Express terminus, by the side of the train station. I had seen the Neoplan Megaliner coming in on another evening and had planned to at lest get a photo. Things turned out much better than planned. The arrival from Gothenburg (service 849 - due at 1935) arrived some 10 minutes early and I was able to have a really good look around this massive 86 seater, with two staircases. The arriving driver (Mats Nordstrom) was handing over to the night driver (Lars-Gunner Borefelt) who would take the coach to Stockholm overnight departing at 2030. refuelling takes place at a nearby garage and I was able to accompany the two drivers on board for a sample of what a 15 metre coach is like to travel on. Whilst the coach was being serviced we had chance for a chat. It seems their hourly rate is very similar to Oxford. however they work 7 days on and 7 days off which must be tiring during their week on ! The coach runs 24 hrs except for Saturday afternoon and evening. Then time is available for servicing. Two Megaliners are used and run by a coach company in Stockholm called Westin Buss. The company has 30 other coaches on tour work and purchased the Megaliners from Stagecoach Swebus. The coaches are still in the SC livery but will shortly lose the orange band. The coach I saw is the one which seemingly visited the UK when new in 1997. It is 4.25 m high which is too high for most of Europe and indeed its fellow on the services is only 4m high. My thanks to Mats and Lars for a most hospitable and pleasant interlude.

GWF586 ex Stagecoach Swebus 4344, being serviced at a local garage in Malmo.
It had left Gothenburg at 1530 having earlier run up to Gothenburg leaving Malmo at 0900.

Loading at the terminus for the 2030 hrs departure to Stockholm, 
where it will arrive at 0630 the next morning. Lars can be seen at the wheel.

On to more local news, apologies for those not interested in my travels !  The weather continued to be foul with heavy rain again on Saturday. Some local breakdown provided a moment of interest. I was returning from London on the 1715 X90 and had to wait in Speedwell Street for police direction round a breakdown. Before I could move forward I was "apprehended" by one of the traffic policemen, who ORDERED me to switch of my front "fog" lights. It was done in what was frankly a must rude manner as if I was a common criminal, rather than a bus driver doing my duty. One was left with a most unpleasant taste in the mouth and the feeling that the police might be better employed apprehending motorists who flagrantly breach traffic rules in Oxford and the never ending stream of cyclists who ride around without lights, asking for trouble. additionally one does feel that the police are rather rude people !!

Stagecoach have launched their new livery and it is appropriate to bring you a photo of the first double Decker to receive the new livery, since it is a Manchester based bus. Much like Arriva, the fleet name will include the lettering "serving xxxxxxx". Most original !!!! A write up on the new livery appears in the latest edition of Buses on sale now.

Company reports - to 12th November 2000

Oxford Bus Company (City of Oxford Motor Services)

Volvo coach nr 52 left last Friday for a new life in Ireland. Coach 60 is now awaiting its sale whilst 59 is being prepared to return to service on Monday 20th November, however this may be delayed for a few days whilst its livery is updated. It still carries Citylink branding. 

No Darts have yet been sold. Olympian 214 has finally returned to Oxford from Wycombe and is now delicensed. 223 is bearing a sticker saying SOLD. This bus presently carries an all over advert for Fox FM. 

Repainting of Volvo/Plaxton Verdes proceeds with 637 and 638 being the latest through works. Monday 20th sees the weekday 35A service to Didcot doubled in frequency to half hourly. This will require another bus with 611-615 and 628 presently being the usual allocation on this route. It does appear that 620 and 628 will not now join 621-627 at Wycombe !

Low floor Volvo B10BLEs are now the normal bus rostered for the 16 in place the Darts once used. 6 road has Dart SLFs normally and it is often possible to see an older Dart on the 13.

 
Winter is upon us and here Trident 115 loads at New road on its way to Redbridge. 
Many of these buses have unlit route numbers which makes life difficult for intending passengers 
wait for their Park & Ride service on the same road served by both routes.
The time when this photo was taken was just before 3pm on Saturday, another miserable day !

Stagecoach Oxford.  

As mentioned above Stagecoach launched its new livery last week and here a Trident for Manchester shares the stage with a London Trident plus a M A N saloon. From the front Oxford has already had the new livery for some time as displayed on the route 7 !!!!! Repainting is expected to commence in January when this livery will first be seen in Oxford.

Tube 39 has lost its Vinyl over the rear near side upper deck window presumably after an breakage. Many Tubes are losing their wheel trims, with very few coaches able to boast a full set !

Dart MPD 100 was seen on the route 10 City Circle last Friday, it does look funny compared to the other Darts. Sort of half way between a real bus and minibus !

Olympian 516 was seen on route 103 last Friday, maybe a first, it certainly was for me. Dart 844 was on route 1, The Blackbird Flyer on the same day.

The new logo is appearing on Stagecoach Oxford Buses with an advert in the rear window. As seen below branded M A N 940 was seen in Gloucester Green, I think on its way to Stratford on the X50 last Saturday showing off the new logo.

Again showing what a poor day Saturday was, we see SCO 427 on the 44 to Didcot by Carfax Tower in Oxford City Centre.
Oxford Bus Volvo B10BLE 812 waits its turn at this congested junction.

Wycombe Bus Company

As mentioned above Olympian 214 has returned to Oxford.

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

An Airlinks type not seen in Oxford is one of the two deckers purchased for the great Yarmouth service
and now relegated to the A6 service between Stansted and Victoria. 
Seen last Saturday evening sharing a stand with Oxford 4 on the X90.
The photo shows the benefit of a digital camera which doesn't need flash if used on a tripod !

.

  OXFORD BUS PAGE CONTENTS