Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas

updated Sunday 25th February 2001
the next update will be on Sunday 4th March 2001

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 !

A small problem with the Car Parks in Oxford!

Trident 106 makes it way down George Street en route to Redbridge from Seacourt.
George Street will be closed for repairs from  Sunday evening until Friday morning this week.

Following on from the announcement that the 5th Park & Ride is to go ahead, the council have now plans to double car parking charges at the various sites around Oxford. It appears that the plan to increase charges from 50p to £1 has succeeded in achieving the seemingly impossible, by infuriating opponents and supporters of OTS alike. It seems that there is a deficit in the council budget of £1.7m and this is a way to offset that problem. As regular readers of this page will know, I am somewhat critical of OTS as it is not enforced in many areas to achieve its objectives. This latest proposal seems set to either turn people away from Park & ride, meaning more cars in the City Centre, or worse still put off visitors and shoppers alike thereby damaging the overall trade in the City. One wonders what the City Fathers are thinking of!

Another difficulty facing travellers this week will be the closure of Magdalen Street and George Street from Sunday until Friday. This will affect most city bus services but specifically Oxford 2 and 6 group routes plus the 300. Stagecoach will be even more affected with the 7 and 10s being diverted plus all arrriving services from North and East Oxford (20, 27, 28, 29, X1 plus the X5) and National Express and Jetlink services. I wonder if everyone knows about it? One presumes that access to Gloucester Green WILL BE maintained! Certainly further up George Street near to Debenhams the surface is apalling.

Following the withdrawal of the X30 by Stagecoach and changes in the Abingdon area, Whytes of Oxford have started an hourly service covering Dunmore road. They use one of two Mercedes 709Ds, G928WGS being seen above.

Other comments in the local press this week covers the abuse of bus lanes by local motorists. From personal experience, even if the motorists don't go into the bus lane, they "hang over" the lane blocking the buses. Yet another case of the council and, dare I say the police, failing to enforce the local laws covering public transport flows.

Personal trips this week have seen me in Manchester and Amsterdam. Stagecoach in Manchester have numerous new M A N s , the newer ones (X regs) having new Alexander body plaques. Unusual advertising appears on some of the buses, well unusual for Stagecoach and an example is hown below with 120 on a terminating service in Altrincham Bus Station. 

Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is a veritable hive of activity on the bus scene with numerous services passing through this busy international airport. Most local services have been rebranded CONNEXION and this name appears somewhere on most buses, even though used airside.

DAF buses feature strongly in Holland with local bodywork providing a sleek and modern appearance.

Finally under the general news heading this week I include a picture of the Rail Station. It clearly shows the long line of traffic waiting to exit the sation. It can take 10 minutes or more to get out, a fact which does nothing to help the reliability of services using the station. The fact that Oxford is bike city is also clearly shown!

I have unfortunately had to pend putting up a Motts fleet list this week received from a regular correspondent. This is due to time constraints. I hope to have it ready for next weeks edition. 

Company reports - to 25th February 2001

Airlinks

The use of unusual coaches appeared to subside during the last week. Most services were worked by Jetlink or ex CCS vehicles. The fitment of dot matrix destination blinds proved amusing , to say the least, when a Jetlink coach running through Stokenchurch, showed (amongst a garble) clearly the name Brighton on the screen. This necessitated the use of a National Express sticker in the window. Also a number of coaches now carry full rear end advertising for Luton Airport, the basic colour being purple. This colour does not sit well with the remainder of the coach - green or blue.

Arriva serving the Shires & Essex.

A sunny Sunday and a visit to Cressex depot provided the opportunity for a picture of recently repainted 5074. This bus has Garston blinds and has only recently been transferred to Cressex.

A recent repaint at Wycombe (Newlands) is Dart SLF 3822. I am told by a regular traveller on these buses that they are now struggling with the hills around Wycombe and 3822 for example is only capable of 4 MPH on some routes when climbing. It seems something may have to be done about the situation.

A hang over from the Oxford ownership days is still to be seen on Olympian 5827. An advert for drivers is still carried clearly showing Oxford influence. The driver portrayed even works for Oxford to this day!

Repainting is still going on at a rate of one per week and I am told that all 50 plus buses at Newlands should completed by July.

Oxford Bus Company (City of Oxford Motor Services)

Volvo/NC Paladin 649 is under repaint in the works, Olympian 220 having been completed. This decker is now being prepared for its MOT.

The new coaches have still to arrive but I have learned that the air conditioning will be carried in a pod on the roof. This will give the new vehicles a distinctive appearance when compared to the older coaches. 

The use of 815 and 817 on X3 duties last Saturday evening was most unusual. It seems at least one was on the route all day. It is the first time I have known of the X3 being fully serviced by such types. 

Volvo B10BLE 808 has been fitted with an audible warning system. This gives passengers warning about holding tightly and remaining seated when the bell is activated. Warnings are also given as the bus is moving off. The bus will be allocated to routes 15 and 16 for a trial period.

Due to unexpected bus shortages on the 22nd February, Dart 519 was allocated to 5K card. Volvo 628 was allocated to X3E card on the 13th February, another unusual allocation. The changes on X3 have been caused by rear end damage to 617, under repair in works.

My Saturday duty, again on X90s, provided me this week with nr 50 on the first run followed by 59 on the second trip. both coaches performed well.

Saturday saw Milwall supporters visit Oxford for a tussle in the sun. Oxford Bus runs the special bus services from the Rail Station to Headington and the blues ground. Above we see 636 reversing into the down side of Oxford Rail Station to collect its load. The picture below shows the bus loading and some of the numerous police drafted in for such occasions.

Three or four police travel on the bus and each bus is followed by two police vehicles.

Stagecoach in Oxford.  

The picture above shows Volvo 912 operating on the 100 to Witney. Olympian 520 has gone away for repaint which probably caused this use. Further repaints of Volvo B6s are 839 and 841.

Gloucester Green becomes very crowded on Saturdays and at one time during this last Saturday every parking bay in The Green was taken by Stagecoach!

Swanbrook Coaches

Swanbrook now have their own Web Site which includes details of their service to Oxford. This is mainly worked by ex Oxford vehicles, especially the ex Shearings Volvo coaches, 61, 62 or 63. The address is given below.

http://www.swanbrook.co.uk

Thames Travel.

A updated fleet list is given for Thames Travel this week. It shows the loss of one Vario and the arrival of three more Solos. The interior of the new buses is shown below. The last of the four Solos arrived on Saturday afternoon from the body builders.

FLEET LIST

  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

Oxford Bus are working on the restoration of an AEC Regal, ex Maidstone and District
 but latterly serving with guide Friday. This bus is privately owned.
HKL826 is hoped to be ready to attend the Brighton run this year.

  OXFORD BUS PAGE CONTENTS