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Post by vjaska on Jan 12, 2022 22:33:34 GMT
Go North East's 6 cyclinder Streetdeck 6377 is currently on loan to Oxford Bus Company for a trial on the River Rapids X40 route between Oxford & Reading.
Great to trial it on - I did the River Rapids with a ex WVL towards Reading and a ex MEC on the return to Oxford
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Post by wirewiper on May 5, 2022 17:03:44 GMT
Pulham's Travel will no longer operate route 63 (Oxford-Southmoor) after Friday 6th May.
From Monday 9th May the route will be operated by Thames Travel, and will also operate via Dean Court replacing Oxford City route 4C - some short journeys will operate between Oxford and Dean Court to maintain a roughly hourly service.
Route 63 operates Mondays to Fridays only, with no evening or weekend service.
Although not Go-Ahead, Stagecoach in Oxfordshire is consolidating its Hospital services 700, 800 and 900 into a single route, operating half-hourly between Kidlington and Thornhill Park & Ride via Oxford Parkway, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford Brooked University, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthapaedic Centre. The changes are not popular, as some of the stops around Churchill and Nuffield are no longer served meaning some patients have longer walks to and from bus stops.
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Post by thesquirrels on May 29, 2022 7:37:15 GMT
Carousel Buses are withdrawing the 103 between Watford and Amersham from July. Source: Intalink website, upcoming changes section. Leaves the A404 between Little Chalfont and Rickmansworth without a regular bus service for the first time, though the Met does shadow the majority of it.
Guessing Herts CC have pulled their funding for that end of the route. The section between Amersham and Wycombe via Beaconsfield remains. There is some schools traffic to the Chorleywood area which the Met won't be able to replace directly so I'm guessing something will be put in to replace that.
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Post by wirewiper on May 29, 2022 7:58:37 GMT
Carousel Buses are withdrawing the 103 between Watford and Amersham from July. Source: Intalink website, upcoming changes section. Leaves the A404 between Little Chalfont and Rickmansworth without a regular bus service for the first time, though the Met does shadow the majority of it. Guessing Herts CC have pulled their funding for that end of the route. The section between Amersham and Wycombe via Beaconsfield remains. There is some schools traffic to the Chorleywood area which the Met won't be able to replace directly so I'm guessing something will be put in to replace that. I travelled on that route a couple of times a few years back, the Amersham to Rickmansworth section was not well used even then. Sad to see it go though, it was a continuation of the former London Country route 336 which ran between Watford and Chesham. The 336 also had a localised 336A variant that linked Rickmansworth with the Loudwater Estate and was the last route to be operated by the diminutive 26-seater GS Guy Vixens. The buses were nominally allocated to Garston Garage but one was outstationed at the home of the route's regular driver. He would drive over to Garston once a week to swap the vehicle over and pay in the week's takings. The service ceased in the early 1970s.
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Post by thesquirrels on May 29, 2022 12:21:08 GMT
Carousel Buses are withdrawing the 103 between Watford and Amersham from July. Source: Intalink website, upcoming changes section. Leaves the A404 between Little Chalfont and Rickmansworth without a regular bus service for the first time, though the Met does shadow the majority of it. Guessing Herts CC have pulled their funding for that end of the route. The section between Amersham and Wycombe via Beaconsfield remains. There is some schools traffic to the Chorleywood area which the Met won't be able to replace directly so I'm guessing something will be put in to replace that. I travelled on that route a couple of times a few years back, the Amersham to Rickmansworth section was not well used even then. Sad to see it go though, it was a continuation of the former London Country route 336 which ran between Watford and Chesham. The 336 also had a localised 336A variant that linked Rickmansworth with the Loudwater Estate and was the last route to be operated by the diminutive 26-seater GS Guy Vixens. The buses were nominally allocated to Garston Garage but one was outstationed at the home of the route's regular driver. He would drive over to Garston once a week to swap the vehicle over and pay in the week's takings. The service ceased in the early 1970s. It is technically my 'local' route now, but other than a recent use-in-distress following a suspension on the Met line I haven't used it since it's 336 days (with an ex-LT M, when Carousel had them grizzling up the hillsides of High Wycombe). I see it a lot though and outside of school peak times the buses rarely carry more than a few people. This is it's problem; nobody uses it. East of Little Chalfont there isn't much for it to serve - the housing running off the Amersham/Rickmansworth Road through Chorleywood Common and past the M25 towards Rickmansworth is some of the most expensive in the country. Rickmansworth to Watford is well covered by Arriva's Watford routes anyway. Some of the roads off White Lion Road between Amersham and Little Chalfont are more 'bus friendly' and will miss the service, I think - the Amersham 'Town Bus' 71/73 provides the necessary links but is very infrequent, to the point where you need to plan your day around it, and doesn't run at weekends.
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Post by ADH45258 on May 29, 2022 23:07:50 GMT
Carousel Buses are withdrawing the 103 between Watford and Amersham from July. Source: Intalink website, upcoming changes section. Leaves the A404 between Little Chalfont and Rickmansworth without a regular bus service for the first time, though the Met does shadow the majority of it. Guessing Herts CC have pulled their funding for that end of the route. The section between Amersham and Wycombe via Beaconsfield remains. There is some schools traffic to the Chorleywood area which the Met won't be able to replace directly so I'm guessing something will be put in to replace that. Definitely doesn't help that the 103 is only hourly. Some passengers may live much closer to a bus stop than a station, but the Met Line/Chiltern combined give 6tph through Chorleywood. The Rickmansworth-Watford section is also very useful, but has little usage due to the frequency. The 103 is the fastest link here, other than the 724 which doesn't serve Watford Town Centre as directly - with passengers opting to instead use Arriva's more frequent services (recently changed to the 321), despite taking a longer route around residential parts of Croxley. The loss of a local service at Little Chalfont is probably the main concern - perhaps Chiltern's route 105 could divert to serve Little Chalfont, between Amersham and Chalfont St Giles?
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Post by thesquirrels on Jun 10, 2022 18:56:49 GMT
Carousel Buses are withdrawing the 103 between Watford and Amersham from July. Source: Intalink website, upcoming changes section. Leaves the A404 between Little Chalfont and Rickmansworth without a regular bus service for the first time, though the Met does shadow the majority of it. Guessing Herts CC have pulled their funding for that end of the route. The section between Amersham and Wycombe via Beaconsfield remains. There is some schools traffic to the Chorleywood area which the Met won't be able to replace directly so I'm guessing something will be put in to replace that. Definitely doesn't help that the 103 is only hourly. Some passengers may live much closer to a bus stop than a station, but the Met Line/Chiltern combined give 6tph through Chorleywood. The Rickmansworth-Watford section is also very useful, but has little usage due to the frequency. The 103 is the fastest link here, other than the 724 which doesn't serve Watford Town Centre as directly - with passengers opting to instead use Arriva's more frequent services (recently changed to the 321), despite taking a longer route around residential parts of Croxley. The loss of a local service at Little Chalfont is probably the main concern - perhaps Chiltern's route 105 could divert to serve Little Chalfont, between Amersham and Chalfont St Giles? Haven't seen official word on it yet but informed rumour is that the 106/107 from Slough up to Chalfont Common will be extended via Little Chalfont to Amersham to cover. Given the regular use of E400s it will be a squeeze around the B roads between Chalfont Common and Little Chalfont, but it does at least provide an hourly service up White Lion Road for most of the day.
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Post by wirewiper on Jun 28, 2022 16:41:19 GMT
An innovative service commenced on Sunday 20th June, in partnership with the Raymond Blanc-owned restaurant and hotel Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, and with Oxfordshire County Council. Route 46 is now operated by Oxford Bus and provides an hourly service from early morning to late evening, seven days a week, between Oxford City Centre and Great Milton, the village in which Le Manoir is situated. Buses run to the same timetable every day, with the first departure from Oxford at 07.00 and the last bus back from Great Milton at 01.00. The route is supported by Le Manoir and is intended to help with staff recruitment and retention as they now have a cheap and reliable way of getting to and from work. It isn't really aimed at Le Manoir's wealthy clientele - although I dare say a few will find their way on board! The route is also a boon to residents of Great Milton and Wheatley, who now have a vastly improved seven-days-a-week link into Oxford. One resident has already written to thank the company as she has been able to accept a job offer in Oxford that she would otherwise have had to turn down. The improved route has also brought back regular and direct links within Oxford for Abingdon Road, Iffley Road, Florence Park and the shopping centre at Templar Square, Cowley, aided by a bus-only gate en-route. Oxford Bus Company has obtained a new ADL Enviro200 MMC for the route (YX22 OJZ, fleetnumber 515); it has entered service in dealer white but will carry apprporiate branding for the route (and no doubt Le Manoir too) in due course. A second vehicle, to be 516, is currently in build; in the meantime Oxford Bus has Enviro200 MMC YX22 OGN on loan from Dawson Rentals with temporary fleetnumber 599; this vehicle was previously on loan to Vectare for park & Ride work in Chelmsford. www.oxfordbus.co.uk/improved-city46-from-20th-june-2022
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2022 11:34:33 GMT
An innovative service commenced on Sunday 20th June, in partnership with the Raymond Blanc-owned restaurant and hotel Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, and with Oxfordshire County Council. Route 46 is now operated by Oxford Bus and provides an hourly service from early morning to late evening, seven days a week, between Oxford City Centre and Great Milton, the village in which Le Manoir is situated. Buses run to the same timetable every day, with the first departure from Oxford at 07.00 and the last bus back from Great Milton at 01.00. The route is supported by Le Manoir and is intended to help with staff recruitment and retention as they now have a cheap and reliable way of getting to and from work. It isn't really aimed at Le Manoir's wealthy clientele - although I dare say a few will find their way on board! The route is also a boon to residents of Great Milton and Wheatley, who now have a vastly improved seven-days-a-week link into Oxford. One resident has already written to thank the company as she has been able to accept a job offer in Oxford that she would otherwise have had to turn down. The improved route has also brought back regular and direct links within Oxford for Abingdon Road, Iffley Road, Florence Park and the shopping centre at Templar Square, Cowley, aided by a bus-only gate en-route. Oxford Bus Company has obtained a new ADL Enviro200 MMC for the route (YX22 OJZ, fleetnumber 515); it has entered service in dealer white but will carry apprporiate branding for the route (and no doubt Le Manoir too) in due course. A second vehicle, to be 516, is currently in build; in the meantime Oxford Bus has Enviro200 MMC YX22 OGN on loan from Dawson Rentals with temporary fleetnumber 599; this vehicle was previously on loan to Vectare for park & Ride work in Chelmsford. www.oxfordbus.co.uk/improved-city46-from-20th-june-2022Roger French has taken a trip on the route and written up a report on his blog: busandtrainuser.com/2022/06/28/route-46-is-now-on-a-michelin-star-menu/
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Post by wirewiper on Jul 1, 2022 12:18:08 GMT
The Airline has an increased timetable from 17th July, with the Gatwick Airport service doubled from two-hourly to hourly. All journeys will continue to run via Heathrow Airport calling at Terminal 5, Compass Centre and Central Bus Station. Additional shorts will run between Oxford and Heathrow Airport (CBS) providing a half-hourly frequency at most times. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/airline-service-changesIt is reported on Oxford & Chilterns Bus page website that seven new coaches are to be ordered for the Airline route due to increased passenger demand, and it looks like the plan is to restore direct services to and from Gatwick Airport (i.e. not operating via Heathrow Airport) in the near future.
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Post by wirewiper on Jul 1, 2022 12:41:50 GMT
Carousel has announced a number of service changes, to take effect from Sunday 24th July. 40 (High Wycombe-Stokenchurch) - withdrawn due to low passenger numbers. Red Rose Travel will operate a replacement service. 101/102 (High Wycombe-Uxbridge) - new timetable, with two buses an hour during Monday-Saturday daytimes (alternate 101 and 102). The 102 will serve the new Wilton Park housing development in Beaconsfield, and will also be extended once again to and from Heathrow Airport, with early and late journeys to assist airport workers and travellers. 103 (High Weycombe-Watford) - withdrawn between Amersham and Watford, with off-peak journeys diverted to Chesham instead. The section between Amersham and Little Chalfont will be covered by changes to routes 106/107. Hertfordshire County Council is in discussion with other operators about covering the Amersham-Watford section of route, especially the Rickmansworth-Chorleywood section which is entirely within Hertfordshire and will have no alternative apart from the Metropolitan Line. 104 (High Wycombe-Uxbridge via The Chalfonts) - revised timetable to improve punctuality 105 (Uxbridge-Amersham) - route withdrawn. Route 104 will continue to provide a link between Uxbridge and The Chalfonts, and revised routes 106/107 will provide an alternative link between Gerrards Cross and Amersham. 106/107 (Slough-Chalfont Common) - extended to Amersham as a partial replacement for routes 103 and 105. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-changes-24th-july-2022
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Post by M1199 on Jul 2, 2022 22:03:17 GMT
That's a pain in the @rse Carousel are withdrawing the 105, the old girl catches that from Uxbridge to get to my sisters house in the Little Chalfont/Amersham area. Will have to come up with another solution now (she can't use the train on her own!) Whilst it's never carried many passengers, was/is quite a nice route, having been round a number of years now, originally being the A30 & then 730.
To me, the 103 is an odd decision, the last time I used it, I was the only passenger between Amersham and Chorleywood, where we gradually picked up a fair load on the run into Watford. The previous occasion (on a Solo, a few years ago now) we had a standing load out of Watford and decent loadings all the way through to High Wycombe.
Do wonder what Carousel's obsession is with Chesham and seemingly wanting to send almost every route there!
Wonder how long this time the 102 will last going to & from Heathrow!
I spend a lot of time in & around the Chilterns, so I see a lot of the Chiltern Hundreds services. A lot of the time, I see their vehicles only carrying single number loadings, I do wonder how economical it is for them to have those Citaro's and Scania's bombing about for most the day carrying so much fresh air, surely something smaller and more economical, ie e200's or something similar, would be better suited in the current climate (Although the enthusiast in me would prefer a Citaro or Scania over a e200 any day!)
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Post by kmkcheng on Jul 9, 2022 8:41:36 GMT
According to LOTS, Arriva will replace the withdrawn section of the 103, running between Watford and Amersham and they will be reusing the former route number of 336
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 1, 2022 10:25:14 GMT
Carousel Buses has announced further service changes from Sunday 4th September. Arriva will withdraw from the joint operation of route 1/1A between High Wycombe and Chesham, giving Carousel sole tenure of the route. In return Carousel Buses will cease operating route 36 (High Wycombe-Bourne End) which will give Arriva sole tenure over the 35/36/37 corridor. Route 103 (High Wycombe-Chesham) will be further cut back and will no longer operate between Beaconsfield (Maxwell Road) and Amersham/Chesham. It will be diverted instead to operate to Slough via Farnham Common and Salt Hill. Route 39 (High Wycombe-Totteridge) will have minor timing changes and the schoolday 39A variant will no longer operate. There are also changes to a couple of other school routes. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-changes-4th-september-2022
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Post by wirewiper on Aug 3, 2022 17:07:41 GMT
Thanes Travel is once again providing direct services to Oxford United's Kassam Stadium on match days: OX2: Didcot, Steventon, Drayton and Abingdon OX3: Carterton, Witney, Eynsham and Botley OX7: Kidlington, Summertown, Marston, Headington and Cowley In addition, stopping arrangements on Oxford Bus route 3A have been amended with a new stop directly by the Stadium. www.oxfordbus.co.uk/oufc-football-services
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