This week on the Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page
Gavin Francis visits Northampton and also remembers a visit in 2007
Gary Seamarks report on the Wellingborough event on April 14th
Paul Bateson's weekly report has prompted contributions from others
More photographic memories from Weymann's by Mike Walker
Your Editor visits Reading and the depot
Gordon Scott in pictures from north of the border
Paul Hawkins reports from Edinburgh and Glasgow
Brent Ricketts visits The Gambia
plus all the local news from our area and some pictures of other operators.
Visit www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk

Stagecoach Manchester
Volvo B10M training bus 20970 has been sold to PVS (dealer).
 
Stagecoach South
Enviro 400 19081 has transferred from Winchester to Aldershot whilst similar 19069 has moved from Winchester to Guildford.
Tridents 18078 (from Basingstoke) is no at Winchester whilst 18520 has returned to the main fleet at Winchester.
Enviro 200 36833 has transferred from Portsmouth to Basingstoke whilst also now at Portsmouth from the Reserve Fleet is Trident 18084.
Dart SLFs 34853/54/55/59 are now allocated to Guildford with 346309 now in the Reserve Fleet there. Trident 18118 and Dart SLF 34417 are now in the Reserve Fleet at Winchester with Trident 17740 and Dart SLF 34633 in the Reserve Fleet at Portsmouth. Dart SLF 34415 has transferred from Guildford to Portsmouth. Dart SLF 34844 from Guildford is currently delicenced for repairs.
 
Stagecoach South East
Enviro 400s 19051 and 19059 have transferred from Dover to Thanet, whilst Scania/Enviro 400 15775 from Herne Bay is currently delicenced for repairs.
Enviro 200 36868 is now at Ashford (from Thanet) displacing Dart SLF 33098 to the Reserve Fleet. Optare Solo 47115 has been transferred from Folkestone to Ashford with Reserve Fleet 47113 now at Folkestone.
Enviro 300s 27577/78/59 are now in the Reserve Fleet here from Thanet, whilst 27582 from Eastbourne remains in the Reserve Fleet here although previously earmarked for transfer to Stagecoach West Scotland.
Enviro 300 training bus 27518 has been allocated to Herne Bay.
 
Stagecoach West Scotland
Optare Solo 47496 has been allocated to Ardrossan replacing 47506, which along with 47507, is delicenced for repairs.
Enviro 300s 27580/81, which have transferred here from Stagecoach South East, have been allocated to Kilmarnock displacing MAN/Enviro 300s 22592 and 22860 to the Reserve Fleet
Volvo B7R training vehicle 53234 has gone on loan to Stagecoach East Scotland.
The transfer of Optare Solo 47572 from the Stagecoach North Scotland fleet did not take place.
Van Hool Astromega 50234 has been sold to West Coast Motors whilst MAN/Enviro 300s 22589/94 have been scrapped.
 
Stagecoach North Scotland
There have again been a large number of fleet changes here during the past month including the transfer of new ADL Enviro 400MMC SmartHybrids 11161/62 from Macduff to Elgin.
Arrivals at Orkney are Optare Solo 47565, Volvo B7R 53314 and Volvo B9R 53616 whilost Volvo B12B 53106 is now at Tain.
Scania/Van Hool 59216 has been withdrawn from Inverness whilst now at the Highland depot are Volvo B7Rs 53334/37/38, Volvo B9Rs 53623/24 and Volvo B12B 53105. Caithness now has Volvo B7R 53339 and Volvon B9Rs 53628/29/30/31/33.
Enviro 19375 has transferred from Buchan to Macduff whilst also now at Macduff are Optare Soloi 47601 and Volvo B9R 53609.
Trident 18000 has transferred from Aberdeen to the Seasonal Reserve Fleet at Inverness whilst now on the books at Aberdeen are Volvo B9Rs 53634/35/37/38/39/40/41/42.
Volvo B12B 53110 is now in the Reserve Fleet at Insch and similarly Volvo B7R 53317 is in the Reserve Fleet at Stonehaven.
Now on the books at Buchan is Optare Solo 47486.
Volvo B7R training vehicle 53214 has been allocated to Aberdeen.
Vehicles reported by the company as scrapped are Optare Solos 47483/87 and Volvo B7Rs 53226/68/73.
Vehicles sold to Ferrymill Motors are Volvo B10Ms 52326/27; Volvo B12Bs 53115/16/17; Scania K340 59216 and Bova Futura 59623.

Stagecoach South West
Unveiled in Paignton this morning was Scania/Enviro 400 15893, which has been given a special livery to commemorate the 100thanniversary of Devon General operations.

East Yorkshire
The company has today unveiled the local identity for its’ Scarborough operations. The main service fleet will carry ‘Scarborough locals’ fleetnames whilst the seafront open top fleet in Scarborough will carry ‘Scarborough’s Beachcomber’ branding.
The first vehicle to carry the ‘Scarborough locals’ branding is Enviro 200 390.
The open top fleet in Scarborough is being upgraded and East Yorkshire has acquired eight Volvo B7TLs with Wright Gemini Eclipse bodywork which are being converted to part open top and refurbished. They will carry fleet numbers 889-896. The ‘launch’ vehicle was 895 which was supplied by Ensign Bus and is ex Abellio Group having been new to Travel London. It is registered LF55CYY although it carried BX55XNB when new.

Go North East
The Go North East enthusiasts website page reports that in the week ending April 22ndthere were no full repaints last week, but Optare Solo SR 673 has been fitted with USB charging points at Thornton Bros, Ashington, and has now been returned to Go North East for repaint.
‘Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus’ branded Optare Solo SRs 635 and 636 have both returned to service at Hexham for this year’s operation of the seasonal AD122 service.
 
Stagecoach North East
A further MAN/Enviro 300 to receive the Euro6 engine conversion here is 24107.
 
East Yorkshire
Scarborough-allocated Enviro 200 390 has been repainted in the new livery scheme and is expected to gain a new fleet name shortly for East Yorkshire’s Scarborough and District operations.
LDV Convoy training vehicle 9913 has been withdrawn from use and sold.
 
Stagecoach East Midlands
Withdrawn Volvo B12B 53031 and Volvo B7R 53210 have been sold to A H Hardwick (dealer).
Volvo B7RLEs 21213 and 21214 have been transferred from Skegness to Grimsby whilst 11.8m ADL Enviro 200MMCs 26172/73 have been transferred from Hull to Scunthorpe.
 
Stagecoach East Scotland
Due here from Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire are Enviro 400s 19040 and 19061.
 
Stagecoach West Scotland
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire is reporting that the damaged remains of Enviro 400 19046 are due to be transferred here.
 
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire
Vehicles reported by the company as sold are Tridents 18002, 18147 and 18378; Dart SLFs 34798, 34803/04/14 and Optare Solo 47034.
Open Top Trident 17479 has returned to City Sightseeing work at Chester. Dart SFL 34797 from Chester is now in the Reserve Fleet whilst Optare Solo 47622 has transferred from Chester to Birkenhead. MAN/Enviro 300 24124, transferred here from Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire, is now allocated to Gilmoss. Following the withdrawal and sale of Dart SLF 34803 from Gilmoss, 34820 which had been earmarked for driver training use, has returned to the main fleet at Gilmoss.
 
D&G Bus
We understand that due here are four B41F-seated Wright Streetlites 131-134 from Bus Vannin.
 
Stagecoach South Wales
Scania/Enviro 300 is back in service at Aberdare whilst Optare Solo SR 47863 has transferred from Aberdare to Porth. Optare Solo 47384 has moved from Merthyr to Cwmbran.
 
Stagecoach Megabus/Joint Venture Operations
Volvo B11R 54203 has transferred from the Megabus fleet with Stagecoach South Wales to the main fleet at Stagecoach East Scotland,

Stagecoach East Midlands
Reserve Fleet Enviro 200s 36526 (Scunthorpe) and 36527 (Lincoln) are reported by the company as being on temporary loan to Stagecoach Yorkshire.
A further Dart SLF training conversion here is 34459 which is allocated to Lincoln. 34703 remain to be converted and when completed is expected to replace Volvo B10M 52630 at Worksop which will mean the training fleet here is standardised on Dart SLFs.
 
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
Now back in the main fleet for the summer season are Volvo B5TL open top 13801/02/03/06/07 and Trident open top 17012 at Kendal. Trident open top 17277, 17489/90 and Optare Solos 47721/22 are at West Cumbria.
Optare Solo SRs 47950/51/52/53/61 are currently awaiting cascade within Stagecoach UK Bus following the entry into service here of the Optare Versas which were received from Stagecoach West Scotland.

Stagecoach Oxfordshire
The company has reported the sale of Dart SLF 34437 whilst Van Hool Astromega 50237, on loan from Megabus Operations/Stagecoach South Wales is listed as awaiting disposal here following the return to service of 50281.
 
Stagecoach North East
A further withdrawn MAN/ALX300 to be collected by Alpha Recovery is 22047. Stockton Zone branding has been removed from Enviro 300 27180 upon repaint whilst a further Enviro 300 Gas Bus to gain corporate livery is 28026.
Back at Stockton following Euro 6 engine conversion is 24111, whilst now away for similar modifications are 24104 and 24110.

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
Morecambe-based Enviro 400 10030 has received a version of the post-privatisation Ribble livery as part of the plans to mark the Ribble 100 anniversary this year.
 
Stagecoach East
Dart SLF 34425 is now operational at Peterborough.
 
Stagecoach South East
Enviro 300s 27580/81 have transferred from Eastbourne to Stagecoach West Scotland, with 27582 due to transfer also.


Stagecoach East Midlands
Reserve Fleet Volvo B7RLE 21248 has been returned to the main fleet at Grimsby as cover for Enviro 200 37195 which is delicenced for repairs. 
MAN/Enviro 300s 24193/94/96/99 and 24200 have returned to service at Hull after Euro 6 engine conversion whilst Euro 6 engine conversion work is currently taking place on 24203/04/05. 
MAN/ALX300 22415 from Hull is currently delicenced for repairs whilst Volvo B9R 53210 and Volvo B12B 53031 have been sold.
The two open top Tridents received from Stagecoach London, 18467/73, are understood to be for Skegness once preparation work and repaints are completed.

Oxford Enthusiasts next meeting
London ULEZ came into force on April 8th with big fins for infringement
Oxford's PICKMEUP service reach 100,000 users and now there are plans to expand this service
Bernard Lewendon with a couple more pictures of modern Jeepneys in The Philippines
Times Past by Paul Bateson with more pictures from the '70s and '90s plus Southend loans to Alder Valley
Gavin Francis visits The Spring Gathering at Brooklands
Tony Bungay visits the rally at Detling
Mike Walker sends some pictures from Weymann's in the '40s and '50s
Andrew Tyldesley retires after a lifetime in the bus industry
2019 Coach Rally at Blackpool by Alan Robson
Lewis Parker reports on present day Cyprus
plus all the local news from our area and some pictures of other operators.
http://www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk

East Yorkshire
Volvo B9TL 791 is back here after ‘as new’ refurbishment at Bus & Coach World and carries ‘Coaster’ branding and has been transferred from Beverley to Scarborough.
Recent fleet changes include ADL Enviro 300 from Bridlington to Hull and similar 275 from Scarborough to Hull. Volvo B7RLR 367 has transferred from Pocklington to Hull whilst similar 382/83/84 have moved to Scarborough from Hull. Volvo B9TL 722 has transferred from Scarborough to Hull and 777 from Hull to Beverley.
Open Top Volvo B7TLs 881/82/83/84 and Trident open tops 887/88 have been re-licenced for the summer season at Scarborough whilst Volvo B7TL 886 is re-licenced at Bridlington
Volvo B11R/elite I 94 has been sold.

Stagecoach East
ADL Enviro 400 19697 has formally been transferred over from Go West Travel to the Cambus fleet at Peterborough.
 
Go North East
Repainted last week into the 2019 fleet livery was Optare Solo SR 672. It was also fitted with USB charging points at Thornton Bros of Ashington.

Stagecoach London
All nine of the former megasightseeing.com open top Tridents which had been in use here have found new homes within Stagecoach UK Bus. We have previously reported that 18477 is now with Stagecoach South East and 18497 with Stagecoach North Scotland. Now we can confirm that Stagecoach East Midlands has 18473, which was at Grimsby depot yesterday, and is also due to receive 18467.
The remaining five vehicles - 18471/74/75/82/96 -  are earmarked for Stagecoach Midlands and we believe these will replace the five older open top Tridents, 17412/17/94 and 17527/75, which are used on the City Sightseeing operation in Stratford-upon-Avon.
18467/71/73/96/97 are Part Open Top with 18474/75/77/82 being fully Open Top.

Brylaine
Two former Stagecoach East/Norfolk Green Optare Tempos have reported as returning operate service in Lincolnshire. When based at King’s Lynn former Norfolk Green 25120 (YJ06YSP) and 25121 (YJ56ATU) were regularly used on the 505 Spalding-King’s Lynn route.  Following withdrawal and sale by Stagecoach they passed to Harrogate Coach Travel with its ConneXions operation. Now they have been bought by Brylaine.

First Eastern Counties (Excel)
We understand that the existing ADL Enviro 400 vehicles on the XL Norwich-Peterborough route, which date from 2013, are now being planned for replacement later this year.

Stagecoach West
It is expected that the remaining two Optare Versas here, 25123 and 25127 which are fitted with seat belts, will be taken out of service at the end of the current school academic year and cascaded within Stagecoach UK Bus. 
 
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
The company has confirmed that it is transferrng MAN/Enviro 300 24121 to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire in place of the planned 24120.
 
Stagecoach South West
Scania/Enviro 400 15893 is expected to be painted into Devon General livery. Also expected to receive Devon General livery is Optare Solo 47095 which will now be used as a publicity/information vehicle.
Work is currently taking place on the two vehicles acquired for open top conversion. When complete we understand Enviro 400 19571 will go to Torquay whilst Scania/Enviro 400 15665 will be allocated to Exeter as a replacement for open top Trident 17701.
 
Stagecoach Group
There has been a suggestion that Stagecoach Group may seek High Court action against Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and the Department for Transport after it was disqualified from three rail franchise competitions - East Midlands, South East and West Coast.

Stagecoach UK Bus
Although unconfirmed by Stagecoach there is speculation in the City that Stagecoach could be interested in bidding for parts of DB’s Arriva bus operation in the UK.
There is still no formal confirmation from the company on the new vehicle plans for 2019/20.

Stagecoach East Scotland
Two Tridents for charity donation are 17702 which will be donated via Stagecoach North East and 17705 which is being donated via Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire. 
 
Stagecoach East Midlands
ADL Enviro 300 27198 now carries Park & Ride branding for use on the Bridlington Park & Ride contract. 
 
Stagecoach North East
Another ADL Enviro 300 to lose Stockton ‘Zone’ branding is 27175.
We are pleased to publish some photographs of the Seasider open top Tridents here courtesy of Matt Williamson.

East Yorkshire
The two new ADL Enviro 200MMCs have now been delivered. The two vehicles were pictured outside Anlaby Road depot in Hull before being transferred to their operational depots. 8.9m 515 at Bridlington and 10.8m 396 at Pocklington.