www.buszone.co.uk
October 2009
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Reading & Newbury Fleet Reshuffle
10-10-09
Recent changes to routes and vehicle allocations in Reading and Newbury have led to a few new livery variants appearing over the last few weeks.
721 (former 737) has returned from Newbury to Reading and has received Reading Buses logos on its Newbury Buses livery, similar to step entrance 712/3. It retains it's Thunderbird 1 lettering and even its Newbury Buses interior customer information and service change posters. Meanwhile Reading 1001-4 have received Newbury Buses Vitality fleetnames on their dark green route 4/5/6 livery for use on routes 1 and 11.
721 on route 21 in Minster Street today.
1003 rounding Jacksons Corner this afternoon.
1003 at Newbury Bus Station preparing to depart on route 11 on 8th. Thanks to David Settle for this photo.
Route 2A has replaced parts of recently withdrawn route 3 as neatly displayed by 1007 on 8th.
New Look for RailAir?
08-10-09
First have started to repaint some of the RailAir fleet into plain white, pending the application of what is rumoured to be a new livery. The first vehicle to be treated is exGreenline liveried 23011 to boost the RailAir fleet strength.
23011 in the RailAir bay along with sister 23012 on 8th.
Bus & Coach Live 2009
08-10-09
The Bus & Coach show took place at the NEC in Birmingham on 7th and 8th, this year being the smaller "Live" event. One vehicle of local interest was this 100 seat Volvo B9TL / Optare Olympus for Mortons which greeted visitors as they entered the hall, featuring wood effect flooring and leather effect seats.
Both of the new models launched by Optare last year, the Solo+ minibus and Rapta double decker have now officially been dropped, the Solo+ not receiving sufficient interest as a replacement for the original style Solo, and the Rapta in favour of an integral Olympus which is due to be unveiled in 2010. A Solo SR, Versa and Olympus were on display.
The overall star of the show was probably the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 with restyled front light clusters (paired with a similarly styled Enviro 200), meanwhile the opportunity to sample a hybrid Enviro 400H demonstrator was also very interesting.
New Look for Green Park FastTrack
03-10-09
The Green Park FastTrack fleet have rapidly been receiving a new livery to reflect Green Park's new logo and oust the unpopular 'grass' contravision vinyls which cover the windows on the current livery. The new livery continues to be agreed in association with the developers of the Park PRUPIM, and it is expected to take six weeks to complete the six vehicles.
1031 leaving Reading Station on 29th September. Thanks to Peter Coney for this photo.
Showbus 2009
03-10-09
The season's largest bus rally of the year, Showbus, took place on Sunday 27th September. Amongst the vehicles on display were Reading's Wright Solar 1012 and a couple of former Reading vehicles in disguise.
Former London Line Hestair Duple 425 number 241 is now with Trekkers. At some point it appears to have received a front bumper from a Plaxton Profile and has been reregistered LIL 5072.
Similar former Goldline 233 is now with Gale Motors and has been reregistered LBZ 4329.
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