Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas
from THE OXFORD BUS PAGE
Oxford, High Wycombe &
surrounding areas
from THE OXFORD BUS PAGE
updated
Sunday 23rd December 2001
the
next update will be on Sunday 30th December 2001
Issue nr. 178
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.
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Welcome to the Christmas Issue 178 and I take this opportunity to wish all my readers a very Happy Christmas and a special New Year 2002. Little did I expect when I took this page over from David Root some 4 years ago that I would have so many regular visitors and more especially so many contributors. You are the ones who have helped to make this page and for that I do most sincerely thank you all.
This week has seen a number of interesting developments which are covered in this issue. Perhaps the most noteworthy was the appearance of a Routemaster on the 105 Oxford-Wallingford service run, of course, by Thames Travel. Sadly this was a one off event especially for last Saturday, 22nd December. It seems one of the drivers working for Thames Travel has a friend who has one of the ex Reading Mainline Routemasters, which is licenced as a class VI and so it was arranged for this bus to work duplicates during Saturday. It certainly provided a great surprise when I saw this bus coming down High Street.
I was caught out in a rush to get the picture, so it is not quite how I would have wished, especially since I had to risk life and limb round the back of a Volvo, seen on the left and hope I didn't get knocked down in the process. The bus is 859DYE and had a full set of blinds for the 105.
It seems Wycombe Bus will just not die, indeed it keeps appearing which may have something to do with the enthusiastic drivers based at Newlands Bus Station. I caught up with 5074 near Booker Airfield as it was on its way to Lane End. This is of course the only "highbridge" decker in Wycombe's NBS allocation and it appears on almost any route except for the Reading and Oxford services.
This week news was released about plans for road improvements in the county of Oxford totalling some £30m. One scheme which seems fated to be delayed yet again, is the provision of a bus lane on the A40 road to Witney. There are plans for a £9.6m scheme to provide a bus lane on the heavily used piece of roadway but this is postponed yet again. This is the second time in two years that the scheme has been deferred by Government.
Matt Wheeler wrote to say that "Bucks County council now have the Christmas/New Year service modifications listed on their site. At http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/passenger_transport/xmas_2001_bus.stm"
Most local operators have posted details of their Xmas services including Oxford Bus and Stagecoach. Stagecoach will once again run the Tube on Christmas Day diverted to call at Heathrow. They will also offer service through Kennington on Boxing Day when Oxford Bus will not run local services.
Well the remaining news is covered under the operators and I hope you will all enjoy the Witney Survey from Vic Gacowski. This will make Christmas reading.
News from the companies - 23rd December 2001
Arriva serving The Shires & Essex
Arriva's 5829 heads towards Wycombe on a winter's morning.
The Golden Ball at West Wycombe is seen in the background.
Arriva's 3127, a Volvo B6 is seen Oxford bound passing the
Dashwood Arms before the long climb towards Studley Green.
It is operating the 275, whilst showing 300 on the side and rear
which is the only way it can show OXFORD in the front blind.
The 275 is shown on a piece of paper in the front nearside screen.
Steve Warwick wrote with some notes on Arriva this last week. "Not much happening this week though Volvo B6 3843 was damaged on Wednesday night when being parked up in the back row. The back window of bus was broken and part of the corridor outside cashing up room which was also damaged."
Other news is that 3243 was certainly back in service by Saturday when it was on the 275 to Oxford. On that day it was joined by 3826, an SLF Dart which was able to show a full display on the rear and side but no destination on the front. 3127 was also on the 275 as seen above and had 300 on the side and rear as this is the only way the blind can show Oxford.
Nigel Peach wrote to say " Saw Volvo 3243 on the 275. Not only was it displaying route no 275, but it also showed Oxford on its blind.
Unusual working - SLF Dart 3823 on the 329 to Reading at approx 2:20pm today.
Another quirk - 2 Lincoln Rd Volvo B6s were parked at the back of the bus station. They were 3126 (branded for 74) and 3139 whose twins (3127 & 3138) coincidently were both transferred to the bus station last month.
Matt Wheeler wrote regarding New Year's Day services in County. He says "Nothing much out of the ordinary, (i.e. mostly Saturday service on 24, 27, 28 and 31), apart from New Years Day, where buses in the north of the County (i.e. around Aylesbury and 323 to High Wycombe) will run a Sunday service, whilst most Arriva services in/around Amersham and High Wycombe will not be running at all."
Carousel - High Wycombe
Oxford Bus (City of Oxford Motor Services)
Oxford Bus operates the 6 to Wolvercote normally using SLF Darts like 404 above.
The bus is seen entering Magdalen Street East from St Giles, where it will
terminate.
Services run until the late evening, when they also serve Jericho on a route
with lots of humps due to road calming measure. Here 407 has just set down its
passengers
at the end of its run from Wolvercote.
At the same spot, where the 300 from
Pear Tree Car Park also terminates, due to a
split in the route resulting from traffic delays around this time of year, we
see loaned
Trident 929 - V929FMS, which is with Oxford whilst they resolve body problems
with
the batch of 20 delivered a couple of years ago.
The interior lights are very bright on 929, however this bus has a video camera
so that
the driver can see the upper deck, plus a P.A. which certainly surprises
passengers when it is used.
Trident 103 has returned from Alexanders and completes the three red repaints for use on services such as the X3 and Football specials. It has gained another type of digital display, said to be very much better than anything else so far used. I hope to get pictures by next week. I am also told that coach 14 has had its display changed and it now displays X90 London in very large type face which can seen a long way away. The other displays possible are:
0 = blank
1 = Sorry... not in service
2 = Sorry... coach full
3 = Heathrow
4 = Oxford
5 = Gatwick
6 = London X90
7 = Oxford X90
One expects that passengers should now have less difficulty in seeing if it is the coach they require, a problem in the past when three coaches appear all at once going to three different destinations. Coach 15 is to be fitted with a similar display and such displays may also appear on next year's delivery of new coaches.
Boxing Day is expected to produce more than 10,000 supporters at the Kassam Stadium for the match against Luton Town. Oxford Bus are running 8 or more buses on specials and there may well be a lot of interesting coaches carrying visiting supporters. Your scribe will be on had to record the happy event.
Stagecoach in Banbury and Warwickshire
Keith Wood writes "I have just seen B10M 244 N814 DNE in service in new livery.
SiW yesterday (16/12/01) raised fares by 10% ! the second increase this year. The company has blamed this on increased Drivers Pay although the large driver pay increases actually occurred last year. My return fare into town has gone up 20p from £1.75 to £1.95 an increase of 11%. This is because SiW has rounded the fares to the nearest 5p ! I usually have a Zone Ranger pass but this ran out on 16/12/01 ! and I'm not sure whether I'm going to renew it. If it has gone up from £32 to £35.20 I will be approaching the point where it is cheaper to use my car. This is a sad fact but one which will be being asked by a lot of SiW customers today."
Stagecoach in Oxford
Ralph Adams notes that on Christmas Day the Oxford Tube will operate via Heathrow and the 32 via Kennington or Radley on Boxing Day. He suggests that some photos of this working would be most interesting. Any offers?
Newman Morgan writes from Bicester "I have seen Stagecoach in London Tridents on the Bicester road of late. TA429 Y429 NHK was noted in Bure Place Bicester at 16h42 on 13.12.01 on the 15h50 27 from Oxford to Bicester/Glory Farm/Langford Village. It was later seen laying over outside my local, the Nightingale, in Langford with its destination set to 'Oxford Express'
TA431 LX51 FKE was seen on Sunday 16th December at 14h45 on the 27 en route for Oxford and again today in Bure Place, also at 14h45 on the 28 to Oxford from Launton.
These vehicles have yellow on black route and destination blinds, not matrix blinds. Side route number/destinations blinds are fitted and on the rear there is a one track route number blind, again yellow on black. In the dark, looking at these vehicles from a distance the blinds a reminiscent of the T-shaped blind of the earlier models of Bristol FLF / VR !!
I must say they look in good nick and I like the 'Bus Lane Cameras, Stay out of Bus Lanes £80 fine' stickers. Maybe a giant sign like this should be put up at the Bus Gate on High Street, Oxford !!
My sources tell me that Bus Lane prohibitions are not yet legal in Oxford as they are in London. This may however happen in the spring of 2002.
Heralding the end of Stagecoach to Watlington (January 31st) Vario 371 loads
in St Aldates by the LT Bus Stop outside the Old Tom. Wonder if Thames Travel
might run
the first day of their tenure on the 101 with that Routemaster used last
Saturday?
Dart 710 shows of its latest super rear ad for the MG car.
It is on layover at Redbridge last Saturday.
And so to the Witney Survey produced by Vic Gacowski. Enjoy!
STAGECOACH in OXFORD
WITNEY GARAGE
A GUIDE TO CURRENT
OPERATIONS
(MONDAY TO FRIDAY SERVICE)
By - Vic Gackowski
(Survey Date - Friday 7th December 2001)
Introduction
Welcome to the last in the series of surveys focusing on the country operations of Stagecoach in Oxford. I hope readers new to Oxfordshire bus operations will have found them useful. It is my intention to do a final page in the next few weeks to bring readers fully up to date with all four surveys published and detail any changes. Before any one wonders why the 101 and 103 roads from Oxford to Little Milton and Watlington have been excluded as country routes , these are exclusively operated by Horspath Road and I will tie these in with the a city operations survey at a later date.
The market town of Witney with a population of 17,500 people lies just under ten miles to the west of Oxford and is home to the only true country garage operated by Stagecoach in Oxford. Although outstations are located at Stratford Upon Avon , Chipping Norton , Bicester and Harwell IBC these are purely parking areas without facilities. Vehicles at these outstations are part of the Horspath Road fleet and rotate back to the Oxford Depot for servicing. Witney on the other hand is a garage with all the facilities to be self sufficient except for major maintenance. Witney has its own allocation of vehicles with fuel, maintenance , office and messing accommodation provided together with a large yard to the side and rear of the building. The garage was built by COMS in 1929 and the company name CITY OF OXFORD MOTOR SERVICES LTD is engraved into the stone work across the front of building. Refurbishment and company renaming over the years has now covered these but one can still read the entire name through the layers of paint now covering this historic piece of Oxfordshire bus garage architecture. A lot of effort went into the construction of buildings years ago and a stone mason must have taken a lot of care in cutting each letter in to the stonework. It would be a nice from an historical point of view if the current refurbishment of the garage restored the lettering which will be there for many years to come. Sadly I doubt this will ever happen as Oxford Bus Company would no doubt object as they still are officially COMS. During its history the garage has carried various company names , COMS , Oxford/South Midland , South Midland , Thames Transit and currently Stagecoach. The garage is located in Corn Street about one mile from the town centre. Many Witney services pass the garage and there are stops outside in both directions. The interior of the garage and yard are clearly visible from the road and there is no need to enter the garage itself although one can call at the office but safety regulations will prevent one from progressing further.
Spending just a couple of hours in the Market Place at Witney is well worth it with Stagecoach in Oxford vehicles coming and going constantly. Independents are also regular visitors with Worths operating two low floor vehicles on the hourly 69 road to Charlbury and Chipping Norton whilst Swanbrook pass through on the Gloucester to Oxford service often using ex Oxford Express vehicles. The Villager mini bus (From Stow on the Wold) and Jeffs of Helmdon are also regular visitors. Jeffs often use ex Oxford Olympian 211.
If you get hungry Smarts Fish and Chip shop opens at 10 AM and is located in a building once used as a COMS waiting room back in the 1920’s. Photographic opportunities are excellent.
Witney Garage - Vehicle Allocation
306 / 307 Merc / Wright B25F
377 / 378 / 379 / 380 / 381 Merc Vario / Ax B29F
410 Merc / Wright BC33F
415 / 422 / 423 Merc / Wright B31F
453 / 455 / 457 / 458 / 459 / 462 Merc / Ax B25F (461 is now on Staff Bus duties in Oxford)
515 / 517 / 518 / 519 / 520 / 521 / 522 / 523 / 524 / 525 / 526 Vo Olym / Ax B45/23B
725 / 726 / 727 / 728 / 729 / 730 Den Dart / Ax B40F
912 Vo / Pn Paladin B48F
Total - 36
Road by Road
In general but with some peak variation ,vehicles allocated to each road remain on that road for most of the day. It is therefore possible to see all of the Witney Garage allocation with the exception of X8 and 488 roads by spending time in both Witney and Oxford on the same day.
From the Witney allocation of 36 vehicles , 32 are required for service each day.
X1 Carterton to Oxford (GG) Express
This service is the high speed link between Carterton and Oxford via Brize Norton and the A40 (not serving Witney) entering Oxford from the north along the Woodstock road. Carterton is located just a few miles from Witney and has a population of 14,000 people. The town has expanded in recent years and most of its population are connected with the nearby air base of RAF Brize Norton. Brize is the RAF’s main transport base with twice weekly Tristar flights to the Falklands being among the many destinations served by the bases fleet of Tristar and VC10 aircraft. Brize is also the RAF’s main Tanker base also using Tristar and VC10 aircraft. Anyone spending a little time in Witney or Carterton will not have to wait long to hear the roar of an aircraft taking off or landing. Training circuits are also frequently undertaken.
X1 road operates to a thirty minute off peak frequency and depending on vehicle availability at Witney garage can be operated by 3xx (Not Varios) / 4xx or 7xx vehicles but normally at least one and often two of the vehicles are 7xx Dennis Darts. The basic requirement off peak is for three vehicles. Each vehicle departs Oxford every 90 minutes. During the morning and evening peaks the service increases and vehicles working these services are connected with 11 and 20/50 road cards.
X3 Milton-Under-Wychwood to Oxford (Magdalen St)
This service operates hourly throughout the day and is operated by two 3xx Mercedes Varios. Along its route it serves the popular tourist town of Burford. From Eynsham X3 road runs along the A40 to north Oxford and enters the city via the Woodstock Road. In addition there are X3 School Journeys in the morning and afternoon operating from Ascott - Under - Wychwood via Burford to Witney only. These two journeys are operated by Volvo Olympians off 100 road duties.
X8 Chipping Norton to Kingham Station and Bledington
This road is operated by a single 4xx series minibus which is based at Chipping Norton Outstation. The vehicle returns to Witney when required for servicing during a break in the service at lunchtime. This service is one of the rail link services being promoted in a partnership between the Bus and Rail operators in Oxfordshire. Selected journeys from Kingham Station will wait for a few minutes should the connecting train be delayed with the last journey of the day waiting for up to twenty minutes after its booked departure time for the connection from London Paddington.
11 Witney to Oxford (George St) via Long Hanborough
This road operates via the villages of North Leigh , Freeland and Long Hanborough before entering Eynsham and following the same route as 100 road into Oxford City via the Botley Road. A basic requirement of two vehicles is required off peak to maintain the service. Normally 306 or 307 or any 4xx series vehicles maintain the morning service but from the 1210 departure ex Witney a 7xx Dennis Dart normally replaces one of the mini buses. The Dart had previously worked a morning peak journey on 100 road . There are some variations during the peaks with some inter working with X1 road. One journey is also operated by a 42 road vehicle.
12 Witney - Witney (Cogges Estate)
15 Witney - Witney (Smiths Estate)
42 Witney - Woodstock
12 / 15 and 42 roads are operated by two vehicles all day from the 45x/46x series. In addition one 11 Journey is also operated by one of the vehicles. One 20 / 50 road vehicle also positions to Woodstock working a service 42. 42 road runs along the same route as 11 road as far as Long Hanborough before continuing to Bladon (Buriel place of Sir Winston Churchill) and on to Woodstock the seat of the Duke of Marlborough whose magnificent Blenhiem Palace is passed on entering the town. In Woodstock one can connect into 20 / 50 road operations.
19 Witney - Carterton via Bampton (this route will pass to Thames Travel in February 2002)
This road operates hourly all day with some peak hour variation. Two mini buses (except the Varios) operate the road all day. Vehicles often run to and from the garage in between journeys.
20 / 50 Oxford (GG / Station)- Woodstock - Chipping Norton and Stratford Upon Avon
These roads were the subject of a survey published on 20th August 2001 .Witney Garage provides two 7xx series Dennis Dart vehicles for operation on these roads. The cards detailed in this survey are only those worked by the Witney vehicles. To position to Oxford to commence duty vehicles operate in on X1 and 42 roads.
45 South Leigh to Witney Market Day Service - Thursday Only
One Vehicle (Type Unknown) operates the one journey in each direction
64 Witney / Carterton to Swindon
This road is operated by a single 3xx Mercedes Vario minibus. The first outward and last inwards journeys are advertised from and to Witney whilst all other journeys operate between Carterton and Swindon only. The vehicle card allows for a break at Swindon enabling one driver to operate this route all day.
100 Witney (Thorney Leys) to Oxford (George St)
This is the main road from Witney to Oxford and is almost exclusively operated by the Witney allocation of Volvo Olympian Double Decks and the solitary Volvo Single Deck vehicle, 912. A frequency of ten minutes in the peaks and fifteen minutes off peak is provided. During the morning peak a 7xx Dennis Dart also covers a 100 road journeys. The road starts on the Thorney Leys Estate to the south of the town and then runs via the market place to Eynsham , Swinford Toll Bridge , Farmoor and into Oxford via Botley. 11 road also follows this route from Eynsham and from Botley these roads join Oxford Bus Companies 4 road therefore providing an intensive service along the Botley Road into the city. Selected peak hour journeys and all evening services start and terminate in Carterton. Some spirited double deck running can be experienced between Witney and Eynsham along the A40 and between Farmoor and Botley.
101 Witney to Carterton via Curbridge
102 Witney to Carterton via Minster Lovell
103 Witney to Carterton via Minster Lovell & Deer Park Estate
Carterton with its large military presence is connected to Oxford by the fast X1 road already detailed. However Witney is also a key shopping and administrative town requiring an intensive service between the two towns to be provided. Taking slightly different routes between the towns, roads 101 / 102 and 103 together provide a ten minute peak and fifteen minute off peak service for most of the day. During the evenings 100 road serves the two towns via Thorney Leys. Three minibuses (except Varios) operate the roads all day . Although many drivers wait time in the market place at Witney between journeys a quick dash back to the garage for a driver change or other reason is occasionally observed.
488 Chipping Norton to Banbury
This road was recently taken over by SiO from SiW and is operated by a single 3xx series Mercedes Vario. The vehicle is based at Chipping Norton out station and is changed over when required.
Vehicle Cards (Survey date Friday 7th December 2001)
306
Dead ex Garage
11 0630 Witney - Oxford 0715
11 0720 Oxford - Freeland 0750
11 0755 Freeland - Oxford 0845
11 0905 Oxford - Witney 0955
11 1010 Witney - Oxford 1100
11 1105 Oxford - Witney 1155
Dead to Garage
Covered 101/102/103 for brief period up to apx 1600
Dead Witney Garage to Oxford GS
11 1830 Oxford - Witney 1915
Dead to Garage
307
Dead Witney Garage to Clanfield
19 0651 Clanfield - Witney 0721
19 0725 Witney - Carterton 0804
19 0810 Carterton - Witney 0851
Then ex Witney at 0900 / 1100 / 1300 / 1500
Then ex Carterton at 0945 / 1145 / 1345 / 1545
19 1630 Witney - Carterton 1709
19 1715 Carterton - Witney 1754
19 1800 Witney - Carterton 1839
Dead Carterton to Witney Garage
377
Start Chipping Norton Bus Park
488 0730 Chipping Ntn - Banbury 0825
488 0905 Banbury - Chipping Ntn 1000
488 1005 Chipping Ntn - Banbury 1100
488 1105 Banbury - Chipping Ntn 1200
488 1205 Chipping Ntn - Banbury 1300
488 1305 Banbury - Chipping Ntn 1400
488 1440 Chipping Ntn - Banbury 1535
488 1545 Banbury - Chipping Ntn 1640
488 1650 Chipping Ntn - Banbury 1745
488 1750 Banbury - Chipping Ntn 1845
Finish Chipping Norton Bus Park
378
Dead Witney Garage to Milton-Under-Wychwood
X3 0650 Milton - Oxford MS 0810
X3 0825 Oxford MS - Milton 0918
X3 0918 Milton - Oxford MS 1017
Then ex Oxford MS at 1025 / 1225 / 1425
Then ex Milton at 1125 / 1325 / 1525
X3 1625 Oxford MS - Milton 1724
Dead Milton-Under-Wychwood to Witney Garage
379
Dead Witney Garage to Milton-Under-Wychwood
X3 0811 Milton - Oxford MS 0910
Then ex Oxford MS 0925 / 1125 / 1325 / 1525
Then ex Milton at 1025 / 1225 / 1425 / 1625
X3 1735 Oxford MS - Milton 1843
Dead Milton-Under-Wychwood to Witney Garage
380
Dead ex Garage
64 0720 Witney - Swindon 0838
64 0842 Swindon - Carterton 0935
64 0945 Carterton - Swindon 1038
64 1042 Swindon - Carterton 1135
64 1145 Carterton - Swindon 1238
Layover Swindon
64 1342 Swindon - Carterton 1435
64 1445 Carterton - Swindon 1538
64 1542 Swindon - Carterton 1635
64 1645 Carterton - Swindon 1738
64 1742 Swindon - Witney 1855
Dead to Garage
381
Spare at Witney on survey date.
410
Dead ex Garage
11 0725 Witney - Oxford GS 0830
Dead into Gloucester Green
X1 ex Oxford GG 0840 / 1010 / 1140 / 1310 / 1440
Then ex Carterton at 0920 / 1050 / 1220 / 1350
X1 1520 Carterton - Oxford GG 1555
Dead into George St
11 1605 Oxford GS - Witney 1700
Dead to Oxford GG
X1 1750 Oxford GG - Carterton 1835
Dead Carterton to Witney Garage
415
Dead ex Garage
11 0910 Witney - Oxford 1000
11 1005 Oxford - Witney 1055
11 1110 Witney - Oxford 1200
11 1205 Oxford - Witney 1255
11 1310 Witney - Oxford 1400
11 1405 Oxford - Witney 1455
11 1510 Witney - Oxford 1600
11 1635 Oxford - Freeland 1710
11 1710 Freeland - Oxford 1740
11 1745 Oxford - Witney 1840
Dead to Garage
422
Not Seen on survey date.
423
Not Seen on survey date.
453
Dead Garage to Church Hanborough
11 0800 Church Hanborough - Witney 0825
Dead to Farmers Close
42 0910 Farmers Close - Witney 0920
15 0925 Witney - Witney (Smiths) 0940
42 0940 Witney - Woodstock 1015
42 1015 Woodstock - Witney 1050
15 1125 Witney - Witney (Smiths) 1140
42 1140 Witney - Woodstock 1215
42 1215 Woodstock - Witney 1250
15 1325 Witney - Witney (Smiths) 1340
42 1340 Witney - Woodstock 1415
42 1415 Woodstock - Witney 1450
15 1525 Witney - Witney (Smiths) 1540
42 1540 Witney - Woodstock 1615
42 1615 Woodstock - Witney 1650
15 1725 Witney - Witney (Smiths) 1740
Dead to Garage
454
Not seen on Survey Date (Suspected to be at Chipping Norton on X8 road )
455
Dead ex Garage
42 0639 Witney - Woodstock 0704
42 0707 Woodstock - Witney 0737
42 0738 Witney - Woodstock 0808
42 0813 Woodstock - Witney 0845
42 0845 Witney - Woodstock 0915
42 0918 Woodstock - Witney 0953
12 1005 Witney - Witney (Cogges) 1025
15 1025 Witney - Witney (Smiths) 1040
42 1040 Witney - Woodstock 1115
42 1115 Woodstock - Witney 1150
12 1205 Witney - Witney (Cogges) 1225
15 1225 Witney - Witney (Smiths) 1240
42 1240 Witney - Woodstock 1315
42 1315 Woodstock - Witney 1350
12 1405 Witney - Witney (Cogges) 1425
15 1425 Witney - Witney (Smiths) 1440
42 1440 Witney - Woodstock 1515
42 1515 Woodstock - Witney 1552
12 1605 Witney - Witney (Cogges) 1625
15 1625 Witney - Witney (Smiths) 1640
42 1640 Witney - Woodstock 1715
42 1720 Woodstock - Witney 1750
42 1750 Witney - Woodstock 1820
42 1830 Woodstock - Witney 1900
Dead to Garage
457
Dead ex Garage
19 0655 Witney - Carterton 0734
19 0740 Carterton - Witney 0821
19 0830 Witney - Carterton 0909
19 0915 Carterton - Witney 0956
Then ex Witney at 1000 / 1200 / 1400
Then ex Carterton at 1045 / 1245 / 1445
19 1545 Witney - Carterton 1624
19 1630 Carterton - Witney 1711
19 1715 Witney - Carterton 1754
19 1800 Carterton - Witney 1841
Dead to Garage
458
101/2/3 Road - See Notes below
459
101/2/3 Road - See Notes below
462
101/2/3 Road - See Notes below
725
Dead Witney Garage to Carterton
X1 0755 Carterton - Oxford GG 0850
Dead to Oxford Station
20 0910 Oxford Station - Old Woodstock 0949
20 0955 Old Woodstock - Oxford Station 1034
50 1110 Oxford Station - Stratford-U-A 1310
50 1320 Stratford-U-A - Oxford Station 1504
50 1530 Oxford Station - Chipping Ntn 1638
50 1640 Chipping Ntn - Oxford GG 1733
50 1740 Oxford GG - Chipping Ntn 1852
Dead Chipping Norton to Witney Garage
726
Dead Witney Garage to Carterton
X1 0655 Carterton - Oxford 0730
Dead to Carterton
X1 0820 Carterton - Oxford 0905
Then ex Oxford at 0910 / 1040 / 1210 / 1340
Then ex Carterton at 0950 / 1120 / 1250 / 1420
X1 1510 Oxford - Carterton 1545
Dead Carterton to Witney Garage
727
Dead Witney Garage to Carterton
100 0756 Carterton - Oxford GS 0924
Dead Oxford GS to Witney Garage
Dead ex Garage
11 1210 Witney - Oxford 1300
11 1305 Oxford - Witney 1355
11 1410 Witney - Oxford 1500
11 1505 Oxford - Witney 1555
11 1610 Witney - Oxford 1700
11 1710 Oxford - Witney 1805
Dead to Garage
728
42 0659 Witney - Old Woodstock 0724
20 0725 Old Woodstock - Oxford Sta 0804
20 0805 Oxford Sta - Old Woodstock 0837
(Via Botley Road / A34)
20 0840 Old Woodstock - Oxford Sta 0919
20 0940 Oxford Sta - Glympton 1037
20 1042 Glympton - Oxford Sta 1134
50 1210 Oxford Sta - Stratford -U- A 1400
50 1410 Stratford -U-A - Oxford Sta 1604
Dead to Oxford Gloucester Green
X1 1610 Oxford GG - Carterton 1645
X1 1650 Carterton - Oxford GG 1725
X1 1730 Oxford GG - Carterton 1815
Dead Carterton to Witney Garage
729
Dead Witney Garage to Carterton
X1 0720 Carterton - Oxford 0805
Then ex Oxford at 0810 / 0940 / 1110 / 1240 / 1410 / 1540
Then ex Carterton at 0850 / 1020 / 1150 / 1320 / 1450 / 1620
X1 1710 Oxford - Carterton 1755
Dead Carterton to Witney Garage
730
Dead Witney Garage to Carterton
X1 0625 Carterton - Oxford 0700
Dead to Carterton
X1 0740 Carterton - Oxford 0840
Dead Carterton to Witney Garage
Dead Witney Garage to Carterton
X1 1550 Carterton - Oxford 1625
X1 1640 Oxford - Carterton 1720
X1 1725 Carterton - Oxford 1800
X1 1810 Oxford - Carterton 1855
Dead Carterton to Witney Garage
101 / 102 / 103 Road Cards
Vehicles in use
306 / 462 / 458 / 459Each card journey is not detailed as the three vehicles which operate on these roads are normally in use all day. It must be noted that a change of vehicle took place on two cards during survey day but the swap was for the same type and number series in one case and 306 had been in use on 11 road earlier and in the evening peak this vehicle returned to 11 road working. These swaps were most likely for maintenance purposes. An off peak rotation for each vehicle is shown and these are largely the same in the peaks although working to a much tighter schedule.
462/306 458 459/462
Witney 1025 101 1040 103 1055 101
Carterton 1035 1055 1105
Carterton 1035 103 1055 101 1105 102
Witney 1100 1115 1130
Witney 1110 102 1125 101 1140 103
Carterton 1120 1135 1155
Carterton 1120 101 1135 103 1155 101
Witney 1145 1200 1215
Witney 1155 101 1210 102 1225 101
Carterton 1205 1220 1235
Carterton 1205 102 1220 101 1235 103
Witney 1230 1245 1300
Witney 1240 103 1255 101 1310 102
Carterton 1255 1305 1320
Carterton 1255 101 1305 102 1320 101
Witney 1315 1330 1345
100 Road Cards
Although 100 road vehicles work a rotation from Thorney Leys to Oxford and return with balance working back at Thorney Leys for the next journey it is noticeable that vehicles are taken off these balanced workings during the morning and return to the garage. Another vehicle is positioned to replace the one taken out of circuit. It has been observed that the vehicle then returns to the road forty five to sixty minutes later . To aid readers a basic rotation is shown but not the working for every vehicle seen on survey date but one should note that if the expected vehicle does not reappear as expected it may do so up to one hour later or be parked at the garage. However with a fifteen minute frequency and a spell spent in Witney Market place one will soon see all of the 100 road vehicles in use. With the exception of the X3 School Journeys Volvo Olympians rarely work on other roads except in emergency and the complete garage allocation is required to maintain 100 road plus the X3 School Journeys. One anomaly noticeable in the 100 road time table is that vehicles appear to operate to a one minute minus turn around in Oxford. For example the first journey of the day arrives in Oxford George St at 0559 but is shown to depart again at 0558.
Basic Circuit -
Thorney Leys 1005
Oxford GS 1058
Oxford GS 1057
Thorney Leys 1141
Thorney Leys 1150
Oxford GS 1243
Oxford GS 1242
Thorney Leys 1326
This shows that on basic circuits a vehicle on 100 road departs from either Terminus every 105 minutes off peak. During the peaks this reduces with the ten minute service .
On survey date the following vehicles were operating 100 road -
Morning (To Noon) -
515 517 519 520 521 522 523 525 526 904 912X3 Schools - 0800 Ascott-Under-Wychwood to Witney operated by
523Not in use at the Garage - 518
Afternoon (From Noon) -
515 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 525 526 904 912X3 Schools - 1440 Witney to Ascott-Under-Wychwood operated by
525Not in use - None
Peak only 100 working operated by Dart
727Dead Witney Garage to Carterton
100 0756 Carterton - Oxford GS 0924
Dead Oxford GS to Witney Garage
(Next working 11 Road 1210 ex Witney)
Volvo Olympian 524 is currently undergoing repairs and 904 was on loan from Horspath Road on survey date.
X8 Card - Vehicle not seen on Survey Date but suspected to be
454Start Chipping Norton Bus Park
X8 Depart Chipping Norton for Kingham Station (K) and Bledington (B)
(Bledington is served 4 minutes after Kingham Station)
0655(K) 0725(K) 0810(B) 0855(B) 1045(K) 1215(B) 1315* 1505(K) 1620(B) 1720(B) 1815(K) 1848(K) 1920(K)
* Chipping Norton Cornish Road Only arrive 1323.
X8 Depart Bledington (B) and Kingham Station (K) for Chipping Norton
0710(K) 0745(K) 0833(B) 0924(B) 1123(K) 1240(B) 1530(K) 1640(B) 1740(B) 1835(K)
1904(K) 1943(K)
@ @ This departure will wait up to 20 minutes in the event of the train from Paddington running late.The vehicle has no work from 1323 at Chipping Norton Cornish Road until 1505 at Chipping Norton West St . During this time it can return to Witney for servicing.
Unknown Type
Thursdays Only
Dead Witney Garage to South Leigh
45 0950 South Leigh - Witney 1030
Dead to and from Garage
45 1300 Witney - South Leigh 1342
Dead South Leigh to Witney Garage
I would like to thank Vic most sincerely for this very comprehensive work and I am sure you will all join me in those thanks. If you have any comments you can contact Vic at Victor91@btopenworld.com
Thames Travel, Wallingford.
The two east Oxfordshire routes, 101 to Watlington and 103 to Little Milton will be operated by four additional Darts to the present fleet.
A loaned Dart/Wright R531YRP
operating 105 in high Street, Oxford last Saturday
Z&S Travel, Aylesbury
Further to last weeks report, Matt Wheeler writes "Z&S travel were still operating their school bus 651 this morning with Leyland Titan "T435". (I didn't catch the proper registration, as I was more concerned about my broken down car)."
PHOTO CORNER
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Nice picture from Pete Brown of Motts Volvo 6957MT last summer.
I welcome your
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malcolmhc@aol.com
Visitor count since 19th April 1999.
