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www.buszone.co.uk

October 2015

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| Site Last Updated: 08-11-15 |

25-10-15:

  • Carousel Buses Fleet List: Three further Wright Streetlites are on order. 415 had returned from Thames Travel by 28 August and was withdrawn for disposal alongside 417. Both are in store at Oxford Bus Company. 480, 804 and 809 have gone into reserve. 871 has been repainted into Carousel livery from The Link, but retains the route lettering above the windows. Thanks to Malcolm Crowe for this.
  • Courtney Buses Fleet List: Two further plain white Enviro 300s that have joined the fleet for routes 171/2 are KX10 DVH/J. Optare Versa YJ10 EYZ is also in use in plain white, and Optare Versa YD63 UZN (not UZM as previously reported) also remains in use on long term loan from Optare. Thanks to Tony Atkins for this.
  • First Berkshire Fleet List: 32348 and 37274 moved to First Eastern Counties on 11th. Thanks to Glenn De Sousa for this. 34348 has been repainted into First fleet livery, and 37274 is away being repainted into blue Excel livery suggesting they are transfers rather than loans. Thanks to Ian Hardy for this. 65724-6 have transferred to First Hampshire & Dorset at Weymouth with former Bracknell 64020/1 and 64030/1 transferring to Slough as a result. 64021 has lost its 94 branding but 64020 retains it for now. Thanks to David Fuller for this. 64019 has returned from First Hampshire & Dorset following repaint into ordinary First Urban livery with Berkshire fleetnames added. Thanks to David Fuller for this.
  • Oxford Bus Company Fleet List: New are Volvo B8R / Caetano Levante 53/54 for National Express work which replace 48/49 which were on loan from National Express. A third is on order for November to replace 50. YN11 AXW has been given fleet number 12 during its time on loan which is to cover repairs to coach 5 until early 2016. Thanks to Malcolm Crowe for this. 367-9 have lost their Park & Ride 500 branding, with 251-4 gaining new branding for the route. 316 has been down seated to H47/22F with cycle bays added as a spare for 251-4 which retain this feature from their time on the Chiltern Railways contract. 23 has been repainted plain blue. Thanks to Ralph Adams for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire Fleet List: 37401-5 are now confirmed as being for Banbury route 500 rather than Oxford. They will transfer over towards the next of next week following the completion of type training.

20-10-15:

19-10-15:

  • Apologies for the delay in posting updates recently
  • News Page: Winnersh Triangle Park & Ride Ready to Roll with photo of 652
  • Reading Transport Fleet List:
    • 526 entered service on 28th September in as acquired condition, followed by 525 on 6th. 524 has gone to Thorntons for single door conversion and repaint. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
    • 653 had returned to service by 10th in base blue livery.
    • 805 went away for repaint into generic silver on 14th. Thanks to Steve Wickens for this. 808 re-entered service on 1st October. Thanks to Geoff for this. 809 re-entered service in Claret Spritzer livery by 10th and 807 by 14th. 802 had returned by 14th but has yet to return to service.
  • Reading Transport MegaRears: 220 and 231 have gained new rears for Ebay.
  • First Berkshire Fleet List: 32348 and 37274 have gone on loan to First Eastern Counties for the winter. Thanks to Glenn De Sousa for this.
  • Oxford Bus Company Fleet List: 201-6 have regained Brookesbus fleetnames on the front after the summer on City work. Volvo B9 / Plaxton Panther 2 YN11 AXW is on loan from Plaxton. Thanks to Ralph Adams for this.
  • Reading & Wokingham Coaches Fleet List: New is an 06 registration Neoplan. SIL 6303 has been reregistered back to X812 XEX, XIL 7396 to Y58 THS and WH04 BUS to SF05 GGV. SF05 GGV has been sold to an operator in Manchester.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire Fleet List: New Enviro 200 MMCs 37401-5 are in the process of being delivered registered YX65 PXS/T/U/V/W.

30-09-15 posted 19-10-15:

  • News Page: Reading Summer Bus Trials with photos of 102, 103 and 105 (2), plus links to photos from James Cusworth of 104 and 106.
  • News Page: The Lion Launches with photo of 214
  • First Berkshire Fleet List: Following the closure of Bracknell on 28th August 33141/83 and 44502/3 have transferred to Slough, along with Greenline 32348, 37274-6, 37985-9 which actually ran into Slough after service on 28th August. 64001/2/5/12-21/30/1 were withdrawn, including 64002 and 64021/30 from Slough. 64001/2/5/15/8/9 transferred to First Hampshire & Dorset during September with the rest expected to follow. 33179/81 have also transferred to Slough, with the others on loan for special event services in various locations. 20809 has been repainted into the the RailAir & you're there livery with Swansea to Seattle rear. Withdrawn 40721 and 42344 went to Alpha Recovery for scrap in mid September, followed by 42347 and 42654 at the end of September. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
  • Reading Transport Fleet List:
    • Three unexpected new acquisitions are 524-6 DAF DB250 / Wright Pulsar Geminis LJ03 MVV / LJ53 BFU / LJ53 BGU from Arriva London South. They temporarily retain London red livery and centre doors, and are intended for school services along with 521-3 which are to receive 'Silver Stars' livery and replace 551/53/57/58/59/69 in due course. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
    • Official fleet numbers for the un-numbered ancillary vehicles are confirmed as follows 307 - WL03 JZN and 356 - RE60 ZVL, whilst LA51 NUX was withdrawn several years ago.
    • 415 has been repainted into generic livery following reductions to route 9. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
    • 805/6 and 839/49 have gained 'Claret Spritzer' coming soon vinyls on their dark green livery, pending the return of 802/7-9 which are to be branded 'Claret Spritzer'. 808 was the first returned from repaint and refurbishment to Claret Spritzer specification, and was displayed at Whiteknights Campus on 21 September.
    • Whilst the demonstrators were in service on the 500, 651/2 have been away for repaint into new a two tone blue livery in a layout very similar to Greenwave, 652 returned to service on 15th and 651 on 23rd both in base colours pending the opening of the new Winnersh Triangle Park & Ride site which replaces Loddon Bridge in October. 653 is currently away.
    • 211 has been repainted into Lion livery, returning to service by 23rd. 209 will go away from repaint once 802/7-9 have all returned.
  • Carousel Buses Fleet List: 402 is SM15 HWD and was in service in Heathrow Link livery by early September. 418 is in Carousel Red with Red One branding. TPL254 had gone by August, duration of loan unknown.
  • Reading & Wokingham Coaches Fleet List: Scania / Irizar YN55 NFR has been acquired. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
  • Oxford Bus Company Fleet List: 251-4 are expected to be used on route 500 when Oxford Parkway opens next month and the rail replacement contract ends. Thanks to Ralph Adams for this.
  • Thames Travel Fleet List: 114 has transferred in from Oxford Bus Company, with the seats removed for the Chiltern Trains contract replaced, and still retaining the centre door. 868/88 have also transferred in, now in Connector livery. 418 and 709 have been transferred to Carousel Buses. 914 has been repainted into a slightly amended version of the livery to match the Scania/E400s. 912/3 are also likely to be treated. Thanks to Ralph Adams for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire Fleet List: 10440-42 entered service by early September, with 15436-39 transferring to Stagecoach South East. Likewise 28972-6 were all in service by mid September with an official launch on 17th. As a result S4 branded 36452/4 have transferred from Banbury to Oxford, with 36453 remaining (all three loosing their branding) and 34470/2 going into reserve.

31-08-15 posted 19-10-15:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: A further acquisition was to be Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 DU61 FVY (LC61 WYN) from Lloyds Coaches, however Lloyds have since decided to retain the vehicle. Training vehicle 311 was sold to Rotala in late August. Thanks to Brian Coney for this. 212/3 have been repainted into Lion livery as expected, 213 loosing its MegaRear for Pack Send. 212 was back in service in full Lion livery by 28th. 214/7 gained full Lion livery for the official launch on 27th.
  • Reading Transport Former Vehicle Fleet List: Wright Streetdeck demonstrator 106 had arrived by 24th.
  • Carousel Buses Fleet List: 553 has been transferred in from Thames Travel and reregistered C3 WYC. Thanks to Malcolm Crowe for this. Presumably 803 has been reregistered back to YJ56 WUC.
  • Courtney Buses Fleet List: Correcting the August update, Mercedes RK15 DNX was not acquired. In addition, Optare Tempos YJ10 EXS/T are X1260 models rather than X1200.
  • Reading & Wokingham Coaches Fleet List: Tri-axle Leyland Olympian K346 OFM has been acquired.
  • Oxford Bus Company Fleet List: 251-4 are now regarded as official acquisitions instead of loans from Southern Vectis. Thanks to Malcolm Crowe for this. Withdrawn 94 and 99 have been sold to Travellers' Choice. Thanks to Gez for this.
  • Thames Travel Fleet List: 831/2 had returned to Oxford Bus Company by the end of August. In exchange 866/8 have transferred in gaining Connector livery, with 865 due for collection in early September. Thanks to Ralph Adams for this.
  • Weavaway Travel Fleet List: A146 OFR carries Ribble fleetnames rather than Noah Vale. Thanks to Derek Dawson for this. 653 GBU has been reregistered back to RX12 HWK
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire Fleet List: 28744 entered service on 25th August. Thanks to Graham Low for this. 34469 has gained a new MegaRear for Fostering & Adoption, whilst Banbury 34470/2 have gone into reserve at Oxford/Banbury respectively. Thanks to Martin Townsend for this.
  • Stagecoach in Warwickshire Fleet List: Following the creation of Stagecoach Midlands in 2010 and it's continued development as a combined unit, and the distance of it from the core Bus Zone area, it no longer seems relevant to keep this list up to date. Thanks to those who have contributed over the years.

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