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

Issue 213
Monday 26th August 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

Your Editor visits the North West - Blackpool


Not only does Blackpool have The Golden Mile, The Tower AND Trams but Atlanteans as well.
Here two trams over 60 years old with a 20 year old Atlantean!!!!

Welcome to issue 213 and news of my visit to the north West, including Blackpool, Preston and Manchester. It does mean that this week's News in our area is somewhat limited but I hope you all enjoy some news of another region.

My first stop on my journey north was Manchester and I had the chance to visit the city centre and also two depots, Arriva Piccadilly (St Andrews Sq) and Stagecoach Hyde road Depot. In the centre I saw Chorlton St Coach Station where they have 8 bays, not enough when it is busy, and where there are definite efforts to keep passengers and pedestrians segregated. It didn't seem to fully work but the idea was there with no entry swing barriers.

Another unusual aspect was that certain bays are not for use by double deck vehicles and from experience it would seem that such a restriction is open to disaster at busy times or by drivers unfamiliar with the location. I think it was mainly lighting units which were causing the restriction.

My own memories of Manchester were of Lower Moseley Street Bus and coach Station, where all express services and some local North Western Bus departed from. The site has long since disappeared under the new concert hall and the long queues waiting for seats to Blackpool and the coast are but a memory of the past. The X60 to Blackpool ran every 15 minutes on peak weekends with additional coaches or buses as required. Shades of such capacity now emanate from Oxford with the London services, now the most intensive express service in the world.

My visit to Stagecoach was of interest as the Olympians long transferred from Oxford are still hard to work on those northern streets and the first has recently received the new corporate livery.

Ex Oxford 511 waits its turn for the wash in Stagecoach Manchester's Hyde Road Garage.
Note the London style advertising panel on the side. (R511UWL)

Moving on to Preston the next morning I visited another area where I used to work on the Ribble and saw how operations were at the Bus Station, a far cry from my days when we had two separate bus stations, one dating from the '20s. Buses now have lots of room to park, reverse and load but I believe that there are some plans for redevelopment and changes to the bus station.

Taken from the upper levels of the car park overlooking the operating area this Olympian looks more
like a model. 2251 R251NBV waits for service.

How smart this little Iveco looked in its role as an ancillary vehicle. I think it must be quite recent as
it does not appear in the latest Stagecoach handbook from BBP.  R603KDD.

A very late model Leyland Olympian with Leyland bodywork dating from 1991-2. J110KCW shows off
the latest livery. Two of the batch have coach seating.

My next stop was Blackpool where I was attending a wedding on Saturday. Here I had a few days to sample the delights of a resort, which whilst not the Costa Brava in either looks or weather, nevertheless has some of the oldest trams in the world and an significant fleet of Leyland Atlanteans. The buses are mostly in route branded liveries however the older buses do sometimes carry a small sticker stating the "line" on which they are operating.  A day ticket costs £4.75 and for this you have the freedom of all buses, trams and route operated by Blackpool Transport.

Delivered as an open topper in 1934, 237 now numbered 700, has been returned to virtually
war time condition and livery. As a young boy this is how I remember the trams in Blackpool,
however the destination blinds are updated to current standards. 237/700 is seen leaving the depot
to take up service on the Promenade last Saturday morning.

An ex Trent 1984 Leyland Olympian A707DAU now numbered 407 by Blackpool Transport and seen
here operating line 11 with the small line sticker mentioned above. One wonders if BT would show
interest in the Oxford Bus examples now nearing the end of their lives in Oxford? Indeed one of the
ex Trent Y registered examples has been repainted in full line 11 livery.

Back in Oxford The Oxford Times for last Friday carries a story about coach parking in St Giles. It seems that the Friars priory in St Giles has bedrooms looking out on to St Giles where the coaches park and the Friars object to the parking.

In High Wycombe frustration is registered in readers letters with more complaints about non running 372 route buses. One wonders how this can continue, if it is true, since the Traffic Commissioners are supposed to ensure the proper running of services.

Finally on the subject of buses and local authorities, I was most surprised to find that line 11 running from Cleveleys to Lytham via Blackpool no longer calls at Talbot Road bus Station. Seemingly the council, who owns the station, put up the charges and now very few services and certainly no BT services use the station preferring to stop on the roads outside. Having looked at Preston bus Station and having seen the chance for accidents in Gloucester Green one wonders how planners can make a coach station which is so inadequate for the job in hand. Chorlton Street in Manchester, whilst having some good safety features is still too small at peak periods. If we are to make bus and coach travel more popular and well used these matters need attention.

And so on to this weeks local news.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

News of the local companies - 26th August 2002

Abbey coaches, High Wycombe.

Abbey Coaches has this Mercedes mini coach L566DJV.

Airlinks.

Whilst most 757 services are now in the hands of the Y reg batch of Volvos 823-825 with Plaxton bodies,
some services are still run by the DAF/Van Hool batch and D315 is seen here pausing at Stokenchurch today.

Arriva serving The Shires & Essex

Arriva is still running a few Lynx models in High Wycombe and here we see 3070 on a 329 service today.

Carousel Buses, High Wycombe.

A visit to the depot today revealed repainted and service prepared Lynx LX558. This bus was formerly with Arriva in Wycombe and has also been joined by LX559 (3809). This latter bus is presently under preparation for service on the 333 with its sister.

LX558 ready for service at the depot.

A wider shot shows both Lynx buses and Metrobus M2296

Charlton Services.

Stephen le Bras writes "Ex Oxford and Charlton on Otmoor Metrorider 783 remains as the regular bus for Leggs Travel on Sunday service 442 (Windsor-Heathrow). It has a swinging sign by the driver so that he can change it at the terminus, rather than use of a blind."

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

Oxford Bus 604 on a 2 road working a week ago turns into New Rd from Worcester St.

Recently repainted Oxford Bus 802 overtakes the ex Perth M A N 949 of Stagecoach at The Sawn.

Little other news this week except that drivers are now getting new uniforms giving a more corporate image. This includes a maroon blazer similar to other group companies, navy blue trousers and sweaters or tank tops in navy blue with red borders. A standards tie will be issued seeing the demise of ties associated with the work done, bus, park and ride or express work.

Harris Coaches, High Wycombe.

This local Wycombe operator has taken an ex Rickards Dennis/Plaxton A11FRX now repainted white.

The new acquisition seen parked in Wycombe today Monday.

Heyfordian of Bicester

Roland Cox wrote to advise that "In Bicester yesterday and in Heyfordian yard was L752YGE, not in livery."

Stagecoach in South Midlands & in Oxford

Now in Manchester

Ex Oxford 504 still waits for repaint but carries a super rear ad as do many Manchester buses.

Stratford Blue.

Thames Valley Traction (Historical)

Ed Maun, having read the page last week adds his evidence to the suggestions already expressed as to the location of TV Lodekka 811. Ed says "Reference the photo of TV Lodekka 811 (see issue 212) – Newman Morgan is correct; it is laying over in Watlington. As you know, my father drove the 39 service for many years so I showed him a colour print of the photo. Although he is 93 and his eye sight is not too good, he had little hesitation in identifying the location as Gorwell, Watlington and he confirmed that they used to lay over at this point. Newman is correct (confirmed by Dad) in that on arrival at Watlington the 39 did a right turn into High Street, followed by a left turn into Gorwell to stand. On departure it did a left into Brook Street followed by a left into Couching Street to complete the square and reach the out bound bus stop outside the pub (Hare and Hounds?) by the old fire station that is in the middle of the road!  Finally, I can confirm the location is near the Brook Street end of Gorwell as I have had a look."

I much appreciate the correspondence from everyone on this subject and now it seems the record is straight.

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
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