The "new" South Midland was formed in 1984, when the rural operations of COMS were hived off to form the new company. The "OXFORD - SOUTH MIDLAND" fleetnames which had been used since early NBC days were removed, and the names OXFORD and SOUTH MIDLAND could once again stand on their own!
Of course, South Midland was soon to disappear again and this time for good, coming under the control of Thames Transit, now Stagecoach Oxford. Details of all vehicles which have been owned by Thames Transit will appear on a separate page, currently under construction.
This is an attempt to summarise all the vehicles which operated for the post-1984 South Midland operation. A large proportion of the initial fleet was ex-COMS, but full details are repeated here for completeness. Like all our other lists, it is unofficial, and probably contains inaccuracies and/or omissions. Any corrections are therefore welcome (however pedantic they may seem) and will be credited.
| Minibuses and Midibuses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/No. | Reg.No | Chassis | Body | Notes |
| 1 | A103 JUD | Ford Transit | Ford B16F | 0 |
| 2 | XBW 4X | Ford Transit | Dormobile B16F | 0 |
| 3/4 | B268/9 UWL | Ford Transit | Mellor B16F | |
| 5-10 | B105-10 XJO | Ford Transit | Carlyle B16F | 1 |
| 11 | B411 YFC | Ford Transit | Carlyle B16F | |
| 12-28 | C112-28 DJO | Ford Transit | Carlyle B16F | |
| 29 | D939 KNW | Volkswagen LT55 | Optare City Pacer B25F | 2 |
| 30-2 | D230-2 TBW | Volkswagen LT55 | Optare City Pacer B25F | |
| 33-6 | E233-6 VUD | Volkswagen LT55 | Optare City Pacer B25F | |
| 37 | D81 NWW | Volkswagen LT55 | Optare City Pacer B25F | 2 |
| Single Deck Coaches & Dual Purpose Vehicles | ||||
| F/No. | Reg.No | Chassis | Body | Notes |
| 101 | LWL 6S | Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R | Duple Dominant II Express C49F | 3 |
| 103/4 | YFC 16/7V | Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R | Duple Dominant II Express C49F | 3 |
| 105-8 | VUD 28-30/2X | Leyland Leopard PSU3G/4R | ECW C49F | 3 |
| 113-8 | EYH 806-11V | Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R | Duple Dominant II Express C49F | 4 |
| 119-23 | EWW 215/05/6/3/4T | Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R | Plaxton Supreme IV C53F | 5,6 |
| 124 | VJD 44S | Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R | Plaxton Supreme C53F | 7 |
| 125/6 | EBW 101/2Y | Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3R | Duple Dominant IV C50F | 3 |
| 127 | YYF 307 | Volvo B10M-61 | Plaxton Paramount I 3500 C49F | 8 |
| 128/9 | C128/9 KJO | Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RZ | Plaxton Paramount II 3500 C53F | |
| Double Deck Buses | ||||
| F/No. | Reg.No | Chassis | Body | Notes |
| 601-9 | NUD 101-9L | Bristol VRTSL2-6LX | ECW H41/27F | 9,12 |
| 610/1 | JWL 996/7N | Bristol VRTSL2-6LX | ECW H43/34F | 9 |
| 612-6 | PJO 445-9P | Bristol VRTSL3-6LXB | ECW H43/34F | 9 |
| 617-9 | TBW 450-2P | Bristol VRTSL3-6LXB | ECW CH39/27F | 9,11 |
| 620-6 | YBW 600-6R | Bristol VRTSL3-6LXB | ECW H43/31F | 9 |
| 627-32 | AUD 460-5R | Bristol VRTSL3-6LXB | ECW H43/31F | 9 |
| 633-7 | CJO 466-9/73R | Bristol VRTSL3-6LXB | ECW H43/31F | 9 |
| 638-40 | YBW 487-9V | Bristol VRTSL3-6LXB | ECW H43/31F | 9 |
| 641-3 | EJO 490-2V | Bristol VRTSL3-6LXB | ECW H43/31F | 9 |
| 644 | VOD 592S | Bristol VRTSL3-6LXB | ECW H43/31F | 10 |
| 645 | GUA 378N | Bristol VRTSL2-6LX | ECW H43/31F | 10 |
| 646 | OUD 432M | Bristol VRTSL2-6LX | ECW H43/34F | 10 |
| 647 | DGR 476S | Bristol VRTSL3-501 | ECW H43/31F | 10 |
| 648 | VOD 590S | Bristol VRTSL3-6LXB | ECW H43/31F | 10 |
| 700-5 | GNF 6-11V | Leyland Titan TNLXB/1RF | Park Royal H47/26F | 13 |
| 803 | OFC 902H | Bristol VRTSL2-6LX | ECW H39/31F | 14 |
| 805/6 | VOD 546/7K | Bristol VRTSL2-6LX | ECW H39/31F | 15 |
| 901 | TGX 886M | Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXB | Park Royal O45/27F | 16 |
| 902 | GHV 121N | Daimler Fleetline CRL6 | Park Royal O45/27D | 16 |
| 903 | THM 538M | Daimler Fleetline CRL6 | MCW O44/24D | 16 |
| 904 | TGX 840M | Daimler Fleetline CRL6 | Park Royal O45/27F | 16 |
| 905 | NUD 106L | Bristol VRTSL2-6LX | ECW O41/27F | 12 |
| Notes | |
|---|---|
| 0 | 1,2 were ex-COMS SM1, SM2 |
| 1 | 9 was converted to DP16F |
| 2 | 29,37 were ex-Optare demonstrators |
| 3 | 101/3-8/25/6 were ex-COMS 6, 16/7, 28-30/2, 101/2 |
| 4 | 113-8 were numbered 52-7 in the old series. They were acquired from Grey Green |
| 5 | 120/1 were reregistered to VDF 769 and VNP 893 respectively |
| 6 | 119-23 were numbered 94-8 in the old series. They were acquired from Wallace Arnold |
| 7 | 124 was numbered 99 in the old series. It was acquired from Limebourne |
| 8 | 127 was originally A228 TMA, later 712 GRM and then A662 XDM. It was acquired from Stewart of Dalmuir |
| 9 | 601-43 were ex-COMS 311-9 (originally 101-9), 443-69/73, 487-92 |
| 10 | 644-8 were ex-Devon General 582, 959, 955, 622, 580 respectively |
| 11 | 617-9 were H43/34F; 617 remained as such |
| 12 | 606 was converted to O41/27F and renumbered 905 |
| 13 | 700-5 were ex-Greater Manchester 4006-11 |
| 14 | 803 was ex-COMS 302 (originally 902). For contract use; temporarily numbered CON3 |
| 15 | 805/6 were ex-Devon General 546/7, and initially retained their DG fleet numbers with South Midland. Contract use |
| 16 | 901-4 were ex-Ensign Bus, 904 arriving via London Pride |