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February 2006

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| Site Last Updated: 01-03-06 |

24-02-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: Further to the previous report, it has now been decided that 1022-5 are to be painted light blue for route 37. Thanks to Sam Simpson for this.
  • Courtney Coaches Fleet List: It seems that X9 CCL has in fact been reregistered X854 VAF and not X851 or X751 as previously reported. The DVLA website currently shows X851 however a physical check confirms X854. Quite what the final outcome will be remains unclear. It seems that R672 NFR never left fleet after all, meanwhile T141 LAF has passed to Comley ( Ammanford Bus Hire) Capel Hendre and Y811 KDP has also departed. Thanks to Derek Bradfield for this.

23-02-06:

  • Reading Optare Vectas: Former 803 was sold by Central Buses to Deanery Church of England High School, Wigan in December 2005. Thanks to Central Buses for this.
  • Reading Irizar Centurys: Since having tables fitted 215 is primarily for the use of Henley Hawks Rugby Club as an executive vehicle. Thanks to Mac Head for this.
  • Courtney Coaches Fleet List: R672 NFR has returned to the fleet, whilst a mystery Mercedes-Benz Vario registered X854 VAF has also appeared. Thanks to Ian Milhell for this.
  • Horseman Coaches Fleet List: The three Toyota Optimo Vs on order have now arrived, along with five new Volvo B12B / Plaxton Panthers which will all go on the road in early March. Thanks to Bob Stanger for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: 18398 was delivered to Oxford yesterday

21-02-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 819-26 are expected to be delivered week commencing 20th March to enter service on 27th. They will be in light pink for routes 25/26. 827-34 will be in dark pink for routes 23/24 for introduction on a date still to be decided. 901-10 are being taken to Southampton Docks on 16th March 2006. 1021-4 are expected to arrive week commencing 24th April, 1025-8 week commencing 1st May and 1029-30 week commencing 8th May. 1021 will be in dark green livery to enhance the frequency on route 5, whilst the others will be in grey but some may be repainted into light blue for route 37 later in the year. 501-10 have been sold and will be replaced by 511-20 from Reading in April. 624, 627 and 629 have also been sold and will depart with the Deltas in April, whilst the Olympians will go when the Solars arrive in April. Thanks to Sam Simpson for this.
  • Reading Area Bus Routes: Full details of the service changes on 27th March added. Thanks to Sam Simpson for this.
  • Reading Optare MetroRiders: Text updated
  • Reading Optare Deltas: Text updated
  • Reading Optare Excels: Text updated
  • Reading Wright Solars: Text updated
  • Reading Scania OmniDekkas: Text updated

20-02-06:

  • News Page: 739 Returns to Service
  • Thames Travel: New company logo added
  • First Berkshire Fleet List: The last two remaining yellow Darts 46924 and 46928 have been withdrawn and placed into reserve until a new home can be found for them. Thanks to Mat Wooll for this. Three further Dennis Dart SLF / East Lancs are on order for the Surrey County Council Pegasus project, with an expected delivery date of March.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: 18396/7 were delivered to Oxford today

19-02-06:

16-02-06:

  • Thames Travel Fleet List: 877 joins 383 having been repainted into the blue and green Save Fuel livery, 877 formerly being in Chiltern Buses livery. It is reported that the blue and green is set to become the operator's standard fleet livery.
  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 471 has a new MegaRear for Lynx body spray replacing one for Chicken Little. Thanks to Jon Nutt for this.
  • Courtney Coaches Fleet List: X9 CCL has been reregistered X751 VAF pending sale. Thanks to Ian Milhell and Derek Bradfield for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: 18395 was delivered to Oxford yesterday. 42383 finally transferred from Oxford to Witney a few days ago allowing 40654 to be withdrawn.

13-02-06:

12-02-06:

10-02-06:

09-02-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: Ten Wright Solars have been ordered for delivery in May. Thanks to RouteONE magazine for this. It seems extremely likely that they are to replace 901-10 and convert another route into a 'quality' route.
  • Thames Travel Fleet List: The Scania OmniTowns reported as on order for May now turn out to be Scania N94s with newly announced East Lancs Esteem bodywork.

08-02-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 629 returned to Reading from Newbury on 15th December, whilst 627 followed on about 6th January. 519 was returned to Reading from Newbury on 20th January whilst 515 went the other way on the same day. 101 was loaned to Newbury from 31st January to 1st February as 116 required attention in/near Reading. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
  • Reading Scania / Irizar Century: 215 had back-to-back seating and tables fitted by December 2005, reducing the seating capacity to 41. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
  • First Berkshire Fleet List: 41267 moved from Slough to Bracknell at some point (by 2nd January) during it's loan here from London but did not see intensive use from the latter location. 43911-8 are garaged at a location in Guildford whilst nominally being Bracknell based vehicles for maintenance etc. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: 18393 was delivered to Oxford depot today. 16521 also received the MegaRear for Westbury Homes last month, whilst 16524 has lost it's rear for Smollenskys. Notes added to the fleet list by vehicles that are regularly parked at Oxford's outstations.

06-02-06:

  • Oxford Bus Company Fleet List: 821 have been repainted into Oxford Bus Company City 15 livery, and 104 has now appeared in the Oxford Bus Company livery as expected, ex Park & Ride livery.

02-02-06:

01-02-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 630 is thought to be off the road, probably explaining the continuing presence of 627 there. Thanks to Jon Nutt for this.
  • Reading Area Bus Routes: New school service 14SC operated by Whites from 23rd January added. From 26th March route 23 appears to be Town Centre - Caversham Park, route 24 appears to be Coley Park - Town Centre - Emmer Green - Caversham Park and routes 25/26 Town Centre - Calcot.
  • Thames Travel Fleet List: The vehicle presumed to become 155 has not actually arrived yet, but is expected shortly. Also it is a Dennis Dart chassis with MCV bodywork, not an MAN as previously reported. Meanwhile 305 will depart in mid-February once 155 has arrived.
  • Oxford Bus Company Fleet List: 103 has also been repainted, joining 105 in red/blue The Oxford bus Company livery, ex Park & Ride livery. 104 is expected to follow shortly.
  • Oxford Area Bus Routes: Changes to Stagecoach South Oxfordshire and Bicester services from 26th March 2006. Timetable change to route Whites Coaches route 108 from 6th November 2005.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: Delivery of seven new Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400s for Oxford is due to commence on 3rd with one expected that day and six the week after. The batch is to be numbered 18393-9, registered KX55 TLK/N/O/U/V/Y/Z and should enter service in mid-February on route 27. Some of the displaced Volvo B10Ms are expected to transfer to Witney to replace Dennis Darts on routes X1/X2, and others to replace older B10Ms 20203-5 at Banbury. 42383 still temporarily remains in service at Oxford whilst 40172 has now fallen out of use as expected. Meanwhile Witney 40654 remains in situ pending the arrival of 42383, whilst 40657 and 40658 are in store at Banbury.

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