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

Issue 208
Sunday 21st July 2002

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

Tragedy in Witney

The remains of the bus shelter opposite the Stagecoach Garage in Witney.

Welcome to issue 208 with news of a tragedy in Witney on Friday evening around 2330hrs. A car was heading out of Witney past the Stagecoach garage when the driver seemingly lost control, hit the bus shelter in which three people were waiting. Two of those people jumped clear but the third, a man, was hit by the car and is now in hospital with very serious injuries. It seems amazing that a car could so effectively demolish a shelter as the photo shows, leaving little or no trace of the shelter in its original location. Our sympathies go out to the man and his family.

Thursday last saw a tube strike in London which caused mayhem with traffic in London and on the outskirts. coach services from Oxford were seriously affected and journey times of nearly four hours were not uncommon. Matters eased later in the day but late afternoon journeys were also taking two and half hours. One significant delay was that of buses trying to enter Victoria Station forecourt where a tailback formed towards Buckingham Palace. The police were on hand to keep things moving but life was far from easy. Indeed the queues for buses were reminiscent of wartime and even Original sightseeing tour buses were working shuttles between Marble Arch and Victoria rail station.

Much resurfacing work has taken place on the roads leading into Oxford and one noticeable point is the re-resurfacing of the London Road out of Headington where the new surface had crumbled and needed attention. It seems the new quiet surface being laid is subject to some problems.

Rail replacement services were evident on Saturday with a number of "foreign" coaches working through the outskirts of Oxford on Chiltern Rail services.

Work still appears not to have started on the fifth Park & Ride site near Kidlington, it will be most interesting to see how this progresses once started.

An interesting old stop still remains in Bladon, where a Bus & Coach stop remains
on either side of the road running through the village. tour coaches use the stops for
tourists visiting Churchill's grave.

The new Corgi model of the Bristol Lodekka has now reached the model shops and one looks forward to a Thames Valley example in the future. First examples are of a BH&D Southdown example plus a Brighton & Hove FS type.

I am off to Farnborough next week (Monday through Sunday) so the news page will be posted on Monday all being well.

News of the local companies - 21st July 2002

Arriva serving The Shires & Essex

Arriva 3365, on loan from Stevenage, is flanked by 3834 and withdrawn 3810.
Seen in Newlands Bus Station this morning, Sunday.

Newlands Bus Station, High Wycombe (NBS)

Lynx:3070,3345,3806,3809.

Dennis Dart SLF:3821,3822,3823,3824,3825,3826,3827

Dennis Dart DW:3811,3812,3813,3814,3815, 3816, 3817, 3818,3819,3820

Dennis Dart DM:3833,3834    3365 on loan from Stevenage.

Scania:3144,3145,3146,3158,3163,3169

Olympian:5822,5824,5825,5826,5827,5828,5829,5830,5831,5832,5833,5834,5835,5379,5074

Volvo:3841,3842,3843,3844,3853,3854,3855

Total:54

CRESSEX (CRX)  (Think this needs an update!)

Bakers of Enstone

Vic Gackowski sent this picture of anew Mercedes/'plaxton Cheetah but does not quote the registration.

Chiltern Queens - Woodcote

James Cusworth sent this picture of two Chiltern Buses Darts at Reading Station,
a site which may soon be a thing of the past.

Heyfordian

Heyfordian is still running several ex Oxford coaches including this Tiger TJI6305.
This was Citylink 117, A117PBW.

The Olympian fleet has now been laid up for the summer following the end of the school year.
All the buses carry VOR (Vehicle off Road) stickers.

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

Summer working continue to produce some interesting sightings in Oxford. Tuesday 16th July saw 2 road fielding 222, 223 and 208 on the Barton-Kidlington services. On the same day 220 worked the students extra X3 service whilst 214 and 221 both saw service on 5 road.  Paladin dual door 644 saw a spell of duty on 35 road and 224 spent the day on 400s.

Wednesday 17th saw 221 and 807 on 2 road services, with both 220 and 222 on X3 services. 610 and 653 saw service on 15 road , normally a low floor route. 220 saw a short spell on 400s but of more interest was all day use of 813 on 400 road.

Sunday last saw 601 on a private hire for The Princes Risboro' Model Railway Club
when they visited The Oxford Bus Museum. Photo Alan Gelson.

224 gained a logo in an unusual place for its visit to Carlton Coalville. It is seen passing
Volvo 657 on 15 road. Sometimes the new blinds do not photograph well.

As mentioned before the new style is now being applied to older coaches on the
airport services and here 26 stands alongside 32 in Gloucester Green, 26 complete with new logos.

Oxford Bus paintshop has been busy with an outside job on Metrobus M1435.
It is seen here nearly complete except for vinyls earlier last week.

Stagecoach South Midlands Group

A visit to Witney last Saturday revealed the work done on the old COMS garage now decked out in Stagecoach colours. At last they have covered up the old name which they admit took a lot of doing.

The frontal appearance of the renovated Witney garage. Much interior work has also been completed..

Out back!!!! - Four Olympians bask in the afternoon sunshine, 525, 526, 524 and 521.
there is a noticeable difference in the application of the new livery. 524 is now single door.

516 has now received new colours, having spent much of its time on the 77, it is now back
sat Witney and performing on the 100 service to Oxford.

520 round the island in the centre of Witney, nearing the end of its journey from Oxford.
Seen last Saturday afternoon these buses give excellent service on this arduous route.

M86WBW now fleet number 886 in the Swindon fleet works a 66 service last week.

Swanbrook, Cheltenham

Seen passing through Witney en route to Gloucester last Saturday ex Oxford Citylink 161(61),
UJI1761 seems a long way from its Shearings origins.

Thames Travel, Wallingford

Also in Witney and quite far from its home of Wallingford, Thames Travel Solo works a 19 service last Saturday.

Dart 255 seen on the 105 to Science Park in the rush hour last Friday morning.

One of the most picturesque setting for a bus photo is Shillingford Bridge. Here TT 972
heads towards its home town of Wallingford on a late morning 105 service from Oxford.
The swimming pool was busy and the Thames full of passing craft when this photo was taken last Saturday.

Worths of Enstone

The Worth's Taxi Bus is seen at Charlbury on Friday 12th last.  (Vic Gackowski)

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

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

First 217 seen leaving Newlands bus Station , this morning, Sunday on a 74 service
to Slough. It would see neither Windsor, Datchet or Heathrow as advertised!!!
It appears that all First buses are to be renumbered in a UK wide fleet numbering
system with 5 digit fleet number.

Another Plaxton coach now with Rollright Training.

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

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