Oxford, High Wycombe & surrounding areas
from THE OXFORD BUS PAGE

Visit the Archive Pages going back to 1998

Your reports are welcome at malcolmhc@aol.com

updated Tuesday 25th September 2001
the next update will be on Sunday 30th September 2001

   Issue nr. 164  

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 !

Welcome to issue 164, firstly my apologies for the delay in posting this weeks update. Life has been hectic and in the end my return from Duxford was rather later than planned.

Talking of Duxford, the weather didn't let us down, it rained! However, since everyone is expecting rain at this event, one seems to get on with it and the display this year was as interesting as ever. Entries from our area included Arriva (High Wycombe), Oxford Bus, Thames Travel, Worths and Woottens. Oh and I shouldn't forget Motts and Red Rose of Aylesbury. I'm sure there were others but those most readily spring to mind. Indeed this was the first time Oxford Bus had participated for many years and the coach taken attracted a lot of interest. Stagecoach were well represented but this year nothing came from Oxford, which was a shame. In the past Richard Sharman had taken a bus but he has moved on to pastures new in Worcester and so was unable to do so this year.

Woottens UIB4752, a Leyland Tiger with Duple Laser bodywork, previously mentioned in these pages.

Arriva was very well represented with buses included a new Wrights Eclipse bodied Volvo B7 double decker which might be a contender for any new Oxford orders along with the Trident already in the fleet. Articulated buses were also present with examples from Manchester and Southampton. One wonders if such vehicles might find their way into Oxford fleets.

The various stands at Showbus included the usual providers such as EFE, a major sponsor, Allsorts, Classic Bus and the most useful British Bus Publishing fleet books. The latest offering on this stand were two new books, one for South East which includes Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, plus one for South West. They are most useful especially when writing this page each week. Of course not every fleet is included but the books are really up to date and include the very latest buses appearing in the area including those with new style registrations.

The Oxford Bus stand at Showbus with Commercial Director, Nigel Eggleton
pictured on the far left of the photo. A selection of models, ties, caps and pens
were on sale as well as a full selection of timetables and maps for free!!

A further item which interested me this week was the appearance of yet another variation on the National Express livery. This one was on a Wessex vehicle, a company now under the control of Fist Southern National Legal lettering shows the owner as First South National, Taunton. I have yet to read anywhere what National Express are really doing with their livery.

Another variation on the theme

6181, P944RWS was waiting in Buckingham Palace Road before taking up a 420 working.

Finally in my editorial I would like to thank all of you who send me notes on developments, sightings and comments each week. It really does bring the page alive each week. This week you have sent "letters to the editor" and the business of cyclists and buses has brought much comment. I didn't realise the strength of feeling on this matter. Photo contributions are always welcome and the shots of Oxford Olympians in the North East have been welcomed by many local enthusiasts here in our area. So do please keep sending your contributions however short they may be.

I am pleased to publish various comments regarding the matter of cyclists, seemingly from two cyclists which I hope you find interesting.

Sir,
Why don't cyclists use cycle tracks?  Why do they ride in the bus lane instead?  Since I clock up a couple of thousand miles a year just cycling from A to B in and around Oxford, and drive PCVs that far every fortnight, I may be able to shed some light on these matters. In most cases cycle lanes represent more danger to the cyclist than the  roads they parallel.  Such cycle "facilities" in general appear to be nothing more than a keep-the-cyclists-happy measure designed - if that's the right word - by some bureaucrat who hasn't ridden a bike in earnest for decades.  By spending money painting lines and maybe laying coloured topping on the asphalt, the councils are _seen_ to be doing something FOR cyclists.  Of course, exactly the opposite is true.

Instead of being treated as fellow road users by motor vehicles, cyclists are now expected to bump along poorly-surfaced pavements strewn with puncture-fodder, to give way at every side road, dodge pedestrians, lamp-posts and other street furniture, and be wary of cars reversing out of driveways, to name but a few hazards.  To make up for this, they get verbally if not physically abused if they choose - perfectly legally - not to use these "facilities".

Here's a typical example.  The cycle path along Botley Road towards Seacourt is simply a bicycle symbol painted on the pavement, with some white lines in places. I tried riding along it once, and found that a steady cycling pace saw both wheels fly clean off the ground over a particularly harsh bump, and I nearly slid face-first into the posts for a road-sign courtesy of slippery tree deposits on a sharp swerve between tree trunks outside Toys R Us.  I didn't use the path again.  Next time, at the same spot, a Post-Office 7.5-tonne lorry overtook me as I approached a cyclist-unfriendly traffic island; to avoid the  island he cut in so sharply that I had to run into the kerb to avoid being flattened under his wheels; 10 yards further on he stopped having reached the traffic jam.  He saved all that time by overtaking me!  I picked myself up and, badly shaken, walked round to his window and asked why he cut me up: "You should have been on the pavement."  I wanted to find out whether he thought this made it all right for him to kill me with his lorry.  He re-iterated his admission of guilt. Then, predictably, I was told to **** ***. Cycle "facilities" are at best marginally helpful where they aren't really needed, and usually  disappear altogether at awkward points where they might have had some value.  Presumably the cyclist is intended to expire at these locations.  At the Iffley end of Donnington Bridge, half of the cycle lane ejects users onto the roadway - while the other half merges straight into a kerb with no warning or painting whatsoever: frightening by day, potentially lethal in the dark.  And they wonder why cyclists won't use their "facilities"!

Bicycles are vehicles; why should their riders have to dismount?  When I'm travelling by bike and see "Cyclists Dismount", I want to put up a sign next to it that says "Motorists Get Out And Push".  It gets worse between Kidlington and Banbury Road, nobody takes any notice of the Give Way sign on the pavement opposite Wolvercote Cemetery; if they did, they'd still be there.  Cycles are expected to give way to a house.  

With my bus-driver's hat on - and yes, I've been stuck behind bikes on Woodstock Road on 300 Park & Ride too! - I agree it is frustrating to have my passengers delayed by a lone cyclist, and I applaud the many cyclists coming in from Kidlington of a morning rush-hour who pull across from the bus lane into the choked car-lane to allow buses to pass.

Common sense prevails.

To all road users out there: next time you see a bike in a bus lane despite a cycle track alongside, please bear in mind that (s)he has no _valid_  alternative, and merely wishes to get from A to B safely without having to get out and push every few yards.  And that cyclist might perhaps be  -
Yours faithfully,   Richard Griffin - A driver of buses and coaches in Oxford and lifetime cyclist.

Steve Annells writes on the same subject.

On cyclists and buses:  I possibly have a more balanced view than most since I’m a bus enthusiast who regularly cycles to work.

On bus drivers and cyclists:  I’ve found that in the main, most bus drivers do give cyclists adequate room on the road., and the larger the bus the careful the driver.  There is a greater threat from HGVs and private cars.

On cyclists in Oxford:  the biggest danger to a cyclist in Oxford is other cyclists – many are a menace to themselves and to other people.  A degree of road craft is essential to ride a cycle – and many bike users have no idea how to conduct themselves.  A bike is a road-going vehicle and is subject to the same rules as anyone else.  I ride to those rules and expect other road users to do so.  That means riding/driving with courtesy to other users, using legal lights (NOT flashing LEDs) where appropriate, observing road signs, including speed limits – all the basic common sense stuff.  If cyclists do this, they should be entitled to be treated as part of the road using community.

On cycle ways:  as Sustrans have noted, it is illegal to ride on the pavement.  Thames Valley Police are committed to reducing not only crime but the fear of crime – their attitude to the fear of being hit by a cyclist on a pedestrian way is inconsistent.  There are footpaths Abingdon where I won’t let my three-year-old son walk because of the danger from cyclists. Unfortunately the County Council seems to have the attitude that cyclists are simply pedestrians on wheels, and has designed a number of cycle ways on footpaths, sometimes where the path is barely wide enough to walk on.  Worse, the National Cycle Network is blighted by loose gravel surfaces and low-visibility barriers painted dark green.  Sustrans favours tarmac, but the County apparently believes gravel is more in keeping with the rural surroundings.  The section of NCN5 that I use runs between Didcot Power Station and a landfill site – aesthetics is not an issue there, nor should it be when safety is concerned.  There are a number of safety issues with the cycle ways put in by the County – I strongly believe safety should never be compromised for any road or footpath user, but the way the County’s planners are working at the moment fills me with despair.

On bus lanes:  as a cyclist I don’t use them, but I can understand why many cyclists do – it is not a pleasant sensation to be riding down the middle of the road with large vehicles at speed on both sides of you. Any solution is going to take up more road space – giving cyclists a separate lane (physically separated or not) or giving buses a physically separated lane.  If Oxford cyclists were to behave more correctly on the road, then perhaps other road users would be more tolerant.  Rant over!!!

(When I mentioned cyclists and buses I never imagined it would bring such a lot of comment, thank you all. Ed.)

On the matter of the new registrations David Root has written to add his thoughts on the matter. He disagrees with my suggestion that maybe PSV and HGV operators would be able to buy plates with numbers instead of letters. He says "Firstly re these registration marks I thought the following link may be of interest: http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_memorytags.htm . It lists the allocation of second letters to local offices (though it doesn't explain the non-sequential order in which those offices appear to be using them!) Note that Liverpool doesn't have a local office any more, and all 24 M* prefixes are simply Manchester. I said  that after making a very clear law about the way plates are displayed, the DVLC is contacting people to buy plates which make a name, using the 51 as SI. This would seemingly encourage people to break the law. Why any more so than the willingness to sell "corruptible" marks under the old system? 

I then commented "I wonder how long it will be before changes are made to offer bus and truck operators a "number" system such as 414 - RX 51 414"

David says "I can't see there being any demand. Bus operators use fleet numbers for day-to-day identification of vehicles; the registration number is incidental to them. It's only really us spotters whom it affects." (Wonder why so many bus and truck operators pend so much money buying reg marks to coincide with fleet numbers i.e. Oxford and The Tube? Ed) I then commented "I am also sure that Oxford Bus will not buy plates with O?51??? and may well revert to some older plates for new coaches. David replies "I wouldn't have thought they would want to re-use marks, as although the one-letter plus one- or two-digit marks may be more eye-catching, this would hardly be considered a good thing if they make the coach appear older than it is! I don't see why they couldn't choose **51 OXF - the three letters are still grouped separately together, so will be the bit people notice if they're going to notice the mark at all."

"Finally, you suggest that no-one will want to buy marks any more - well, remember that someone, somewhere paid money for R406 FFC, proof that just because a registration looks completely ordinary doesn't mean that no-one will buy it!! (many will be aware that 406 marks were all reserved by Peugeot - Ed)

Well, only time will tell who is right on the matter but I haven't identified any "cherished" style plates under the new system as yet. Of course "cherished" plates are far less obvious if only a persons initials are used, the whole point of my comments last week.

  FROM THE DRIVING SEAT  
A weekly commentary on your Editors favourite pastime.

Changes to duties are an interesting subject when one is involved in a transport industry. You may follow the same pattern week in week out and indeed some drivers are quite happy to work the same route every day of their working lives. Others however thrive on change and some drivers enjoy something different every day. A benefit of this is that you get to drive a wide variety of buses and coaches, which prevents boredom. I suppose it's down to personal taste and I once met a guy who had worked on a production line at Land Rover putting wheels on the vehicles for 35 years. He seemed quite happy with his lot. Last week, helping out one evening, I ended up in London rather than Abingdon. On reflection I was rather looking forward to a trip on 35 road and I do go to London every Saturday but needs must when the devil drives.

A nasty surprise awaited a Stagecoach driver last Thursday evening. He was working the last Watlington service with Vario 374 and when approaching Stadhampton found himself faced with an oncoming car on his side of the road. Now this must be any drivers worst nightmare and our Stagecoach friend took immediate evasive action. 374 ended up with its load in a field and there is some doubt as to its future. However well done to the driver who avoided what could have been a terrible tragedy.

374 recovered to depot after the accident mentioned above. 8 passengers were
slightly injured and I understand the car driver had to be cut free. The front axle looks
to be in a sorry state. I was taking pictures of the recently arrived London Tridents
when the accident happened.

One often thinks, "there but for the grace of God go I" when reading or seeing such accidents. It takes only a moments lack of concentration for a most dreadful accident to happen. Fortunately they are few and far between but I am sure most professional drivers have had occasions they would prefer to forget. In my own early days of driving coaches, I well remember taking a Bedford VAL six wheeler through the wash in the PMT garage at Newcastle-under-Lyme and then very slowly towards the parked line of coaches awaiting their passengers. I was going VERY slowly but due to oil and water on the floor my wheels locked up and I slid very gracefully and very slowly into the rear of another coach. The noise of the crash was dreadful and I was more than unpopular. I still ponder on what I could have done to avoid such a smash and am also still sure speed had nothing to with it. As a result I am never wholly happy when taking vehicles through the Cowley Road wash and watch myself like a hawk. I do admire those who have never had an accident in the driving career, they are very lucky indeed. Must be like those married people who claim never to have had a cross word in their lives!

Last week I mentioned the Motorway breakdown on the M40 and yet again this week another coach, this time a private operator from far away, had allowed his passengers to mill about round the coach. If this continues we really are going to have a disaster. I am surprised that the police don't take stronger action. Bet they will when a number of passengers are killed or maimed. It certainly is a problem waiting to happen.

Another surprising safety issue are those passengers, who having alighted from a coach - say High Street Oxford - then wait by the front of the coach and then as the driver looks in his offside driving mirror to pull away, step off the pavement in front of the vehicle. As time goes by, you just get more prepared for such tactics but I do wonder why people seem hell bent on getting under a bus or coach. This is especially likely when they see their next bus on the stop opposite. This also happens at coach stations where we still allow passengers full access to all areas including those designated for vehicle movements. It is a bit like allowing train passengers freedom to walk on the railway lines in stations, or air passengers freedom to walk on taxiways and ramp areas. Victoria Coach Station went to great expense to segregate coaches and passengers but still people wander round. They are then surprised when they nearly end up under the wheels of a 10 ton bus. Oxford's Gloucester Green is even worse, especially those cars which illegally enter the station to pick up passengers and park behind coaches to collect their friends and relatives. Then its people and cars you have to watch out for. Some companies using GG try to ensure they have a controller or spare driver to watch coaches reversing but other do not. It's not always easy a night time and again seems like an accident waiting to happen. I do think local authorities should take more account of such matters. We are after all not in 1900 with horse and carriages but in 2001 and with the ability to improve on such matters.

Gloucester Green and the passengers arriving on a coach walk across the operating
area taking their life in their hands. There are actually no clearly defined pedestrian
crossing areas marked out in this cramped and inadequate location.

News from the companies - 24th September 2001

Airlinks

Looking through my new British Bus Publishing edition for South East, I now find that there only fourteen new DAF coaches in the new Jetlink livery. They are D301, 2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,13,14,15,17 and 19. D322,4,6,7,9 and 31 are those in Virgin livery which I pictured on these pages some months ago. This answers a question I have for some time and proves the usefulness of these supper books. However I have noticed that the older blue and grey Cambridge Coach Services vehicles are creeping back on to the 757/767 services. I even saw 305 on Saturday working a 757 and completely devoid of any vinyls at all. It was however still in the old colours. 325 is the most regular performer, out of the older coaches, on this route. As mentioned in a recent news page, it is rumoured that the new coaches will leave the 757 after 24th September. This is when the new timetable comes in. I have a copy of the joint 757,787,797 for the four airports which shows D313 on the cover along with a blue and grey CCS and green and yellow Jetlink coach but promoting the new identity. This clearly shows the loss of the 767 Luton - Oxford service. Luton is now only served by the 787 from Cambridge.

It is at this juncture that I feel I must comment on the ever changing timetables for these services. Certainly those people who use the services for more local travel between say Oxford and Stokenchurch and or High Wycombe have seen the timings on these services change too often. This does not encourage the use of public transport. Also sad to note is the loss of the service to the john Radcliffe Hospital, with the 757 now serving St Clements and High Street on the run into Oxford. If the masters in this case, Airlinks, complain of lack of support, then I have comment to make. There was a great shortage of timetables for much of the last period's existence( 757 & 767). There was also no publicity locally on the Bucks area and yet I know people would have used the service had they known about it. There is, I feel, a great deal of merit in continuity but these days profit is king.

Arriva serving The Shires & Essex

Arriva 3825 and 3854 went to Showbus.
Nice that two ex Wycombe/Oxford buses were chosen.

Saturday morning saw these Bovas from Colchester visiting Oxford.
4344 is the lead coach with another following but in the livery of Colchester Coaches.

Olympian 5822 is now away for repaint, 5824 having returned last Friday. That bus is in for check and should re-enter service on Monday 24th. 5823 has gone to a company in Birmingham for repairs to the upper deck floor, before it can re-enter service. The ex London Dennis Dart "sheds" are having supplementary fuel tanks fitted as they are unable to fulfil various duties in Wycombe without refuelling mid duty. This seemingly accounts for their appearance on jacks in Newlands Bus Station., Wycombe.

3812 being steam cleaned last Saturday morning in Newlands Bus Station.

Nigel Peach wrote to say "Saw Olympian coach 5824 on London Road in Loudwater at 8pm last night travelling towards Wycombe. Newly repainted I didn't see what route it showed (its matrix display being notoriously difficult to read). At that time of day I can't think what route it would have been on, so maybe it was on its way back after repaint."  (surprising the VI don't pick up on these illegible destination displays Ed.)

Carousel Buses, High Wycombe

Ex West Midland GOG235W minus much of its roof which is being donated to M1432.
A better picture than last week!!

Charlton Services.

Latest arrival with Charlton Services is this Optare StarRider Merc 811D DYA93A
which came from Phil Anslow in Pontypool this year. It is 29 seater coach new in 1989
having previously been registered G906XJB. It sometimes works the route 108.

City of Oxford Motor Services (The Oxford Bus Company)

Lower case destination displays now appearing on the fleet are shown in comparison
to the older blinds. 601 has a new blind on 15 road, whilst 615 on 35 road has the older.
SSA, Klaus Menzel is seen in front of 615 directing operations in St Aldates last Saturday.

Driver Chris Maxfield and myself took Volvo/Plaxton Excalibur 23
seen at Duxford - SHOWBUS last Sunday. Chris poses with 23 At Duxford.

On our return, passing through Luton, we espied the new Arriva Garage.
As two good bus men our curiosity got the better of us and I think we can claim
to be the first "visitor" to this brand new garage.

The sales stand at Duxford did a roaring trade and we were pleased to have up to date fleet lists on sale. These included details of the new training buses which as you are aware are under preparation for service.

Further news this week of the three Oxford Olympians on loan to Go-Ahead North East. 208, 223 and 224.The three are now in service and from comments reaching me, the staff up there were most impressed by the condition of these buses.

A far cry from the X90 to London Victoria when driven by your Editor.
Seen on the 723 to Newcastle and kindly provided by Christopher Strong.
Oxford 224 - CUD224Y - on Go-Northern 723.

Guide Friday

That elusive Atlantean, OTO574M, running on LPG was caught on camera last
Saturday, as it paused in New Road, Oxford.

Jeffs

Oxford's 207 left the City fleet in March 2000 and joined Jeffs of Helmdon.
It works School Route 6 in Oxford and lives near Fox FM when not in service.
It has a rather Blackpool look about it, somehow!

Stagecoach Group

Seven Volvo B6s are now due to leave Oxford for Rugby. They are 831-837.
This is the reason for the Rose Hill Runners (831-834) being repainted into corporate livery.
Lower down this page you will see a note from Keith Wood regarding what is expected to happen.
832 is seen back on its old route 3 last Saturday turning into St. Aldates at Carfax.

Stagecoach in Banbury, Warwick, Rugby and Nuneaton.

Keith Wood writes to say "As expected Nuneaton Leyland National 605 has been renumbered 705 to make way for Solos. Nuneaton Olympian 836 - D136 FYM has a rear all over advert for Coventry City Centre Shopping although it only works school services. Both vehicles were in service on Friday 14/9/01.

New Optare Solos at the factory on Sunday 16/9/01 were ("66" Branding)

606 KX 51 CSU "66"
607 KX 51 CSV "66"
608 KX 51 CSY "66"
609 KX 51 CSZ "66"
6?? KX 51 CTO

Thanks to Adam Williams for these notes posted on the UK Bus News Group. The delivery of Solos seems slow (I've only seen three !).

Stagecoach in Oxford

Oxford needed extra deckers urgently to meet requirements from 24th September by Brookes University
on route 77. As a stopgap they have borrowed three brand new Tridents from London.
They are TA429 - Y429YHK, TA431 - LT51FKE, TA433 - LT51FKG.
The photo shows them in that order above.
Originally TA435 was here(LT51FKJ) but this was exchanged due to engineering reasons with TA429.

- in its second life this Merc started life in the old Oxford Tube livery of Red and Grey.
F324EJO (324) is now the publicity and stores vehicle with SCiO.

Vic Gackowski writes to bring us his latest work, Bicester operations of Stagecoach. These works will make evwen more interesting reading in the years to come.

In the second of my current ops reports please find my findings on the SiO Bicester Operations. Wantage is next

STAGECOACH in OXFORD - BICESTER OPERATIONS SURVEY - August 2001
(This survey has not been endorsed by SiO and is purely based on the authors own research)
by VIC GACKOWSKI

ROADS - 25 / 25A - OXFORD TO BICESTER VIA VILLAGES
27 / 27A - OXFORD TO BICESTER BURE PLACE / GLORY FARM
28 / 28A - OXFORD TO BICESTER AND LAUNTON
29 / 29A - OXFORD TO BICESTER AND ST GEORGES BARRACKS

The vehicle allocations shown in this survey were those observed on Tuesday 7th August 2001. Normal Vehicles used are the Volvo B10M series 904 to 911 and MANs 913 to 917 (The Volvos also work on Chipping Norton / Stratford services ). It can be seen that on survey date 930 in Barton Livery was in use for a brief period. The Bicester operations are easy to work out. Vehicles rotate all day to a regular pattern . There are some dead moves to and from Horspath Road Depot but in general all vehicles remain allocated to Bicester duties all day.

Roads 25 / 25A are operated by two 3xx Mini Buses supplemented by additional 3xx or 4xx vehicles during the peaks. These additional peak vehicles also operate some of the journeys the 33 / 34 and 44 roads to the south of the county and these duties are included in this survey for clarity to give the full picture of the vehicle diagrams. A full survey of SiO South Oxfordshire operations will be published in the future.

Three Volvo vehicles are out based at Bicester where a booking on point has been re- established after a break since the closure of the London Road Garage in back in 1990. The Bus Park is located on an industrial estate in the town but there are no facilities here and all servicing takes place at Horspath Road. The other vehicles on Bicester road duties run empty to and from Horspath Road Depot.  

All Bicester services Start and Terminate at Gloucester Green

Allocations 7th August 2001

Start Bicester - 904 , 905 , 906
Start Horspath - 907 , 908 , 911 , 913 , 914 , 916 , 930 , 374 , 376 , 410 , 426

904 - Start Bicester Bus Park
27A 0626 Bicester BP - Oxford 0703
27 0705 Oxford - Bicester GF 0742
27A 0740 Bicester GF - Oxford 0833
Dead to Horspath Depot
(Continuation of balance by 913) 

905 - Start Bicester Bus Park
29 0647 Bicester BP - Bicester SGB 0702
29B 0704 Bicester SGB - Oxford 0823
Dead to Bicester GF
27 0903 Bicester GF - Oxford 0945
27 0950 Oxford - Bicester BP 1025
27 1055 Bicester BP - Oxford 1130
Dead to and from Horspath Depot
27A 1630 Oxford - Bicester BP 1712
27 1715 Bicester BP - Oxford 1745
29B 1750 Oxford - Bicester SGB 1859
29 1900 Bicester SGB - Bicester BP 1913
Dead to Bicester Bus Park

906 - Start Bicester Bus Park
27A 0633 Bicester GF - Oxford 0718
29 0720 Oxford - Bicester SGB 0805
29 0807 Bicester SGB - Oxford 0910
Dead to and from Horspath Depot
29 1120 Oxford - Bicester SGB 1210
29 1212 Bicester SGB - Oxford 1300
27 1305 Oxford - Bicester GF 1347
27 1403 Bicester GF - Oxford 1445
27 1450 Oxford - Bicester BP 1525
27 1555 Bicester BP - Oxford 1630
28 1640 Oxford - Launton 1728
28 1742 Launton - Oxford 1825
27 1840 Oxford - Bicester BP 1910
Dead to Bicester Bus Park

907 - Dead ex Horspath Depot
27A 0652 Bicester GF - Oxford 0737
28 0740 Oxford - Launton 0823
28 0827 Launton - Oxford 0920
29 0920 Oxford - Bicester SGB 1010
29 1012 Bicester SGB - Oxford 1100
27 1105 Oxford - Bicester GF 1147
27 1203 Bicester GF - Oxford 1245
27 1250 Oxford - Bicester BP 1325
27 1355 Bicester BP - Oxford 1430
28 1435 Oxford - Launton 1523
28 1527 Launton - Oxford 1615
29 1620 Oxford - Bicester SGB 1708
29 1710 Bicester SGB - Oxford 1755
27 1805 Oxford - Bicester GF 1847
Dead to Horspath Depot

908 -
ead ex Horspath Depot
28 0742 Launton - Oxford 0840
27 0850 Oxford - Bicester BP 0925
27 0955 Bicester BP - Oxford 1030
28 1035 Oxford - Launton 1123
28 1127 Launton - Oxford 1215
29 1220 Oxford - Bicester SGB 1310
29 1312 Bicester SBG - Oxford 1400
27 1405 Oxford - Bicester GF 1447
27 1503 Bicester GF - Oxford 1545
27 1550 Oxford - Bicester BP 1632
27 1635 Bicester BP - Oxford 1710
27 1720 Oxford - Bicester GF 1807
Dead to Bicester Bus Park

911 - Dead ex Horspath Depot
27A 0712 Bicester GF - Oxford 0806
 0825 Oxford -Bicester SGB 0910
29 0912 Bicester SGB - Oxford 1000
27 1005 Oxford - Bicester GF 1047
27 1103 Bicester GF - Oxford 1145
27 1150 Oxford - Bicester BP 1225
27 1255 Bicester BP - Oxford 1330
28 1335 Oxford - Launton 1423
28 1427 Launton - Oxford 1515
29 1520 Oxford - Bicester SGB 1608
29 1610 Bicester SGB - Oxford 1700
29A 1710 Oxford - Bicester SGB 1808
29 1810 Bicester SGB - Oxford 1855
27  1910 Oxford - Bicester BP 1940
27 1945 Bicester BP - Oxford 2015
27 2020 Oxford - Bicester BP 2050
27 2055 Bicester BP - Oxford 2125
27 Oxford - Bicester BP 2200
27 2205 Bicester BP - Oxford 2235
Dead to Horspath Depot

913 - Dead ex Horspath Depot (Into Balance vice 904)
28 0935 Oxford - Bicester GF 1023
28 1027 Bicester GF - Oxford 1115
28 1135 Oxford - Bicester GF 1223
28 1227 Bicester GF - Oxford 1315
29 1320 Oxford - Bicester SGB 1410
29 1412 Bicester SGB - Oxford 1500
27 1505 Oxford - Bicester GF 1547
27 1603 Bicester GF - Oxford 1645
27A 1650 Oxford - Bicester BP 1732
27 1740 Bicester BP - Oxford 1810
27 1820 Oxford - Bicester GF 1857
27 1858 Bicester GF - Oxford 1935
27 1940 Oxford - Bicester BP 2010 FRI
27 2015 Bicester BP - Oxford 2045 FRI
Dead to Horspath Depot

914 - Dead ex Horspath Depot
27 0758 Bicester GF - Oxford 0855
27 0905 Oxford - Bicester GF 0947
27 1003 Bicester GF - Oxford 1045
27 1050 Oxford - Bicester BP 1125
27 1155 Bicester BP - Oxford 1230
28 1235 Oxford - Launton 1323
28 1327 Launton - Oxford 1415
29 1420 Oxford - Bicester SGB 1510
29 1512 Bicester SGB - Oxford 1600
27 1605 Oxford - Bicester GF 1647
27 1648 Bicester GF - Oxford 1730
28A 1740 Oxford - Launton 183
Dead to Horspath Depot

916 - Dead ex Horspath Depot
27A 0730 Bicester GF - Oxford 0836
28 0840 Oxford - Launton 0923
28 0927 Launton - Oxford 1015
29 1020 Oxford - Bicester SGB 1110
29 1112 Bicester SGB - Oxford 1200
27 1205 Oxford - Bicester GF 1247
27 1303 Bicester GF - Oxford 1345
27 1350 Oxford - Bicester BP 1425
27 1455 Bicester BP - Oxford 1530
28 1535 Oxford - Launton 1623
28 1627 Launton - Oxford 1715
27A 1730 Oxford - Bicester BP 1815
Dead to Horspath Depot

930 (Barton Livery) - Dead ex Horspath Depot
27A 0702 Bicester GF - Oxford 0751
27 0805 Oxford - Bicester GF 0847
27 0903 Bicester GF - Oxford 0945
Dead out of Bicester Operations

374 - Dead ex Horspath Depot
25A 0700 Bicester BP - Oxford 0757
25 0800 Oxford - Bicester BP 0857
25 0900 Bicester BP - Oxford 0957
25 1000 Oxford - Bicester BP 1057
25 1100 Bicester BP - Oxford 1157
25 1200 Oxford - Bicester BP 1257
25 1300 Bicester BP - Oxford 1357
25 1400 Oxford - Bicester BP 1457
25 1500 Bicester BP - Oxford 1557
25 1600 Oxford - Bicester BP 1657
25 1700 Bicester BP - Oxford 1757
25A 1800 Oxford - Bicester BP 1857
Dead to Horspath Depot M to TH
25A 1900 Bicester BP - Oxford 1959 FRI
Dead to Horspath Depot Fri 
Additional Journey Fridays
Dead ex Horspath Depot
25A 2320 Oxford - Bicester BP 0012 FRI
Dead to Horspath Depot

376 - Dead ex Horspath Depot
25A 0700 Oxford - Bicester BP 0757
25A 0800 Bicester BP - Oxford 0857
25A 0900 Oxford - Bicester BP 0957
25A 1000 Bicester BP - Oxford 1057
25A 1100 Oxford - Bicester BP 1157
25A 1200 Bicester BP - Oxford 1257
25A 1300 Oxford - Bicester BP 1357
25A 1400 Bicester BP - Oxford 1457
25A 1500 Oxford - Bicester BP 1557
25A 1600 Bicester BP - Oxford 1657
25A 1700 Oxford - Bicester BP 1800
25A 1802 Bicester BP - Oxford 1857
Dead to Horspath Depot

410- Dead ex Horspath Depot
25A 0700 Kirtlington - Oxford 0727
Dead to St Aldates
33 0745 Oxford - Didcot 0840
33 0910 Didcot - Oxford 1031
44 1055 Oxford - Abingdon 1136
44 1140 Abingdon - Oxford 1221
44 1255 Oxford - Abingdon 1336
44 1340 Abingdon - Oxford 1421
33 1430 Oxford - Didcot 1526
33 1535 Didcot - Oxford 1635
44 1645 Oxford - Didcot 1803
44 1805 Didcot - Abingdon 1845*
Dead to Horspath Depot

* - Peachcroft Roundabout

426 - Dead ex Horspath Depot
25 0725 Bicester BP - Oxford 0827
Dead to Bletchingdon
25A 0900 Bletchingdon - Oxford 0927
Dead to St Aldates
33 0935 Oxford - Didcot 1031
33 1035 Didcot - Oxford 1135
34 1145 Oxford - Newbury 1305
34 1310 Newbury - Oxford 1435
44 1455 Oxford - Abingdon 1535
44 1540 Abingdon - Oxford GG 1621
25A 1630 Oxford - Kirtlington 1700
Dead to Oxford GG
25 1730 Oxford - Bicester BP 1830
Dead to Horspath Depot

The Following Allocations are not Confirmed But the diagram is hopefully correct.(Friday variations included for clarity)
The Logical Vehicle to cover this is 911
27 2300 Oxford - Bicester BP 2330 MON - THU
27 2330 Bicester BP - Oxford 2400 MON - THU
27 2240 Oxford - Bicester BP 2310 FRI
27 2315 Bicester BP - Oxford 2345 FRI
27 2350 Oxford - Bicester BP 0020 FRI / SAT
27 0025 Bicester BP - Oxford 0055 SAT
27 0100 Oxford - Bicester BP 0130 SAT
27 0135 Bicester BP - Oxford 0205 SAT
27 0210 Oxford - Bicester BP 0240 SAT

*** Please note that from Late September Bicester Services are being revised to improve reliability. A further survey may be published in the future ***

Well, many thanks to Vic for an excellent piece of work. Not everyone may be interested in workings but I do personally find it most interesting plus it may indeed have a historical significance for future enthusiasts.

Last week, when driving to my office I was treated to an interview with David Whitley , Marketing Manager of SCiO, on Radio Oxford. The piece was about the Bicester services not stopping at certain stops on the Bicester-Oxford A34. There were a number of people who were most upset at the loss of a fast service into Oxford. However I felt David acquitted himself well and explained the reason for the loss of service. If David reads this item I would appreciate his comments for this page.

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

Showbus Interlude

Worth's of Enstone entered this nice little Dart, the newest in the fleet
in Showbus 2001. Y4WMS is a Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton MPD N29F bodywork.
It was purchased to run tendered service 69.

Purchased from London Country in 1998 for use in Wycombe, Oxford Bus sold this Olympian
 to Jeffs of Helmdon in October 1999.  It had fleet nr LR118 with LNC and 978 with Wycombe Bus.
It is seen at Showbus 2001.

Motts used this Neoplan N122/3 with Skyliner bodywork (4442MT) as Rally Control
at this year's Showbus 2001. The vehicle was actually advertised for sale.
This coach came from Durham Travel Services where it was registered H5DTS.
When new it was H882AVK.

Red Rose of Aylesbury took delivery of the Carlyle bodied Dart earlier this year
for tendered services in the Aylesbury area. Y359LCK is seen at Showbus 2001.

This Dart/Plaxton Pointer MPD was purchased by Thames Travel to run service 144
which is a tendered service previously run by Tillingbourne until their demise earlier this year.
Y973GPN is one two for the service and seen at Showbus 2001.

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

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