Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas

updated - Monday 21st August 2000

The next update will be on during the period 24th thru' 31st August 2000
(I am on holiday and will try to provide a short report) 

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 weather last week was mixed and provided some nice photographic opportunities. An enthusiast called Robert Jowett has made an art of taking pictures of girls and buses. He has even had a book published on the subject. I think the picture shown below outdoes anything Mr Jowett has achieved !! Last Saturday this charming group of young ladies appeared in Gloucester Green, obviously intent upon a fine night out. They kindly posed for the camera and I hope this may brighten up an otherwise dull day for some of you !

Turning to the subject of the roads in and around Oxford, I must comment on the appalling state of the Cowley Road following recent road works. It would appear that those responsible for the roads do not drive, or worse still, ride a bike along this road, thereby to experience the surface. This has been reinstated leaving large holes which have not been properly levelled. Add this to the condition of The High, which resembles a ploughed field in places and the contrast to St Aldates, now resurfaced, is significant. What a pity some of the money spent on areas like the cobbled bus road by the station ( and soon to replaced !!!!!) was not spent on surfaces elsewhere. Well enough of my gripes for this week.

Fleet News and observations week ending 19/8/00

Cambridge Coach Services/Jetlink

Another noticeable fact of life with this once proud company is the lack of uniforms for some drivers. It hardly gives a professional image when a driver lacks the basic tools for the job and much is often made of the appearance of drivers. Add to this the kaleidoscope of colours to be found on the coaches operating and the change is apparent.  An example of this is the use of Jetlink coaches from the Stansted-Brighton service on the Oxford route. One must appreciate the need for profits, after all a company cannot survive without same but surely route branding could be removed when so inappropriate. My picture below shows how bad the situation is, since K80SAS will not take you to Gatwick on this journey, though of course The Oxford Express will !!!

Oxford Bus Company (City of Oxford Motor Services)

My apologies that the link below did not work. This has now been corrected and details of the proposed new Oxford Bus Company garage can be seen on the company web page under the news section.

http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk 

Trident 120 is still under repaint an should be ready for service shortly in its X3 guise. The vinyls for dedicated route branding will be 'tween decks and this Trident will be used on journeys presently heavily loaded.  Work has proceeded as far as all green areas being repainted red. It has a distinct look of a Metroline bus ! 

Olympian 221 and 222 were on the 22 road on 19th August. Volvo B10BLEs 801 and 816 were on 2 road on the same day. Olympian 224 was on 4 road. Finally Dart SLF 408 has returned from repair and is back in service. This was one of the buses involved several weeks ago in an accident in the High Street. Dart 512 was on 13 road, normally a low floor route.

The Oxford Bus Sports and social Club (Bowls Team) have a very full programme of fixtures during the year and last Sunday faced a winning team from the Cardiff Bus Company in that teams home city. Here they are seen with the Cardiff team holding the Challenge Trophy before the journey home. Volvo 601 provided transport and proved a worthy steed for the 400km round trip.

the Oxford express

Traffic delays and a shortage of Airport branded coaches saw X90 branded 52 operating the 1500 X70 last Saturday. 

58 is still under repair in the body shop. 

Oxford Classic Tour.

The current allocation, based at Tappins of Didcot.

Leyland Olympian/Alexander O51/28 + 15 standing  in service -

300 - E300 MSG
301 - E301 MSG
302 - E302 MSG
303 - E303 MSG

Also Atlanteans  BFS 14 and 48 L are still in service as is the half top covered Panoramic GSC664X.

This completes the update on this fleet.

Stagecoach Oxford.  

514 on 10 City Circle last Saturday. On the same day Route branded (Kidlington) M A N 927 was on 20B seen below at Gloucester Green.

Mercedes Vario 373 was on route 3 to Rose Hill on Saturday afternoon, a most surprising choice.

The Oxford Tube

To recap M A N s 45, 56, 57, 59, 60 and 66 are the coaches to have been fitted with advertising screens. 

Wycombe Bus Company

No special news this week to note.

I will be pleased to receive your reports for this section
Please send your reports to MalcolmHC@aol.com and thank you for all your sightings, they are most welcome.

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

Oxford Carfax on a busy summer Saturday. Low floors are much in evidence.
Also the rise out of Queen Street is noticeable.

Lincoln college on The High provides the background for one of the Oxford Classic Olympians.

The day Oxford Volvo 601 went to Wales. It is seen here in the developing dock area
of Cardiff, outside the National Assembly for Wales building.
OBC standing for Oxford Bowls Club !!!

Oxford Olympian 222 on 22 road (quite appropriate) last Saturday.

A sunny Saturday sees Volvo 816 on 2 road. This bus is normally on 15 road.

Volvo Olympian 521 shows off its advertising livery following a layover at Gloucester Green
whilst operating the 100 service to Witney last Saturday. 
These buses can look "long and low" depending upon the angle of the picture.

Showing the country nature of the 329 Volvo B10B 624 approaches Wycombe 
towards the end of the long 329 route from Reading.

Volvo/Van Hool LSK875 leaves Gloucester Green on National Express
route 347 to Great Yarmouth. The time 1420, the day last Saturday.

 If anyone has any further news please email below.

Malcolmhc@aol.com 

It adds to the interest of the page which I'm sure everyone appreciates.

THE OXFORD BUS MUSEUM