News from Oxford, High Wycombe
& the surrounding areas

update Saturday, May 15th 1999 by Dave Root

As our main News Editor (Malcolm) is in Various Other Parts of the World this week, I have been put in charge of producing a news update. You'll notice a bit of a difference from usual, namely the lack of pictures, as Malcolm has the digital camera! We apologise for this and assure you that normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. In the meantime, I have included news items from the past couple of weeks and hopefully, time permitting, will scan in a few random pictures later this week to liven the page up a bit.

The past week has seen several items of interest. Road works continue for the implementation of the Oxford Transport Strategy, due on 31st May. Junction modifications at the end of Longwall Street have now been completed, and the new traffic light sequence has conspired to cause delays to bus services since the associated closure of High Street to through traffic has not yet taken place. The road widening and junction layout changes near the Rail Station are also beginning to take shape.

New Oxford Tube coaches continue to enter service, with 38/41 (T38/41 BBW) and 39 (T39 DJO) now in service, joining 35-37 and 40 (T35/36 DFC, T37 BBW, T40 UBE). 41 entered service with a plain red rear end without vinyls, no doubt these will be applied very shortly. In addition 47 (T47 BBW) was seen on the road, though not in service, on Saturday 15th May, again without vinyls on its rear end. A further addition to the Stagecoach fleet comes in the form of 750 (NDZ 3150) another 8.5m Dennis Dart/Wright Handybus from London. It seems likely that grey Darts 707/8 have finally gone to London, as neither has been seen by your co-editor for nearly two weeks now. The departure of these vehicles renders the "Carousel" branding, as well as the grey livery on full-size vehicles, extinct.

The past weeks have also seen a few unusual workings from Stagecoach. In particular, the blue-roof MANs normally to be found on the 7A have scored a number of "escapes", with examples appearing on routes 10 and 20, and 925 putting in an appearance on the X30 to Abingdon, whilst 924 even made it onto the X39 to Heathrow on Friday 14th. Even this was topped by the appearance of 914 on the X50; this is normally a duty for a Tube coach. The 20 is now seeing regular appearances from the white MAN buses, and conversely the Lances from this route occasionally escape, with one appearing on routes 3 and 7A last week.

Stagecoach Dart 772 has been noted erroneously displaying registration M62 MJO on the front, presumably following minor collision damage repairs. The correct registration, M62 VJO, is still displayed on the rear of the bus.

Oxford Bus news includes the return to service of Titan 966, now registered YAZ 8774, which has previously seen use as a training bus since its return from Wycombe. It has been in use on the 300 Park and Ride alongside sister 970 (YAZ 8773). 950 currently retains its original registration GYE 280W, the only one of the three remaining to do so. Although the introduction of new Dennis Tridents and Volvo B10BLEs will eventually see off all the current double deckers, between 10 and 15 are to be retained over the summer period acting as "Q-busters", relieving overcrowding by providing duplicates on whichever routes need them. Although no indication has been given of which vehicles will stay to take on this role, it seems likely that Olympians will be chosen for maximum flexibility, because of the height restriction on Titans at the Station Bridge. Meanwhile, it has been suggested that buyers for the Olympians will include Charlton Services and Guide Friday, and also that eight Volvos will be destined for Wycombe once all the new vehicles have arrived.

Dart 512, which for a while displayed a "Low Emission" vinyl on its rear end like the new Darts, has now lost this in favour of an advertisement. Although the vinyl was designed for the new Darts, it should not be forgotten that the older Marshall-bodied Darts, with their Eminox exhaust CRTs, were some of the first "low emission" buses. An important correction to the news page of two weeks ago is that 628 retains its overall advert for Citylink X90, and has not been repainted red. The list of buses repainted should have read 505, 512, 623, 625, 626 and 627, to which may be added 601, 602, 603 and 624. In addition, those interested in architecture may wish to note that the college behind 612 is All Souls' and not Queen's!

Finally, Ian Allan's BUSES magazine reports that the first three Metroriders to go will be 779, 780 and 781, with 777/8/82/3 staying awhile longer. The eventual intention is to keep just two, for use on 61 road and for staff transport. Darts are now being used increasingly on 51 road and are set to become the standard type on this road as from next week. From Monday 17th May the 51/51A will no longer serve Three Corners Road in Greater Leys, and the council will be moving several bollards in other parts of Greater Leys to ease the passage of buses when vehicles are parked nearby.

You can still view the Tube launch report here.