Editor 5. When was the last Leyland Tiger built?
Rodney Barnes, 13 Whimbrel Close, Southsea, Hants, PO4 8YP. 6. In which town do buses operate to King’s Heath,
Telephone 023 9273 1061 e mail rodneybarnes20@hotmail.com Kingsthorpe and Sixfields?
7. Who primarily operates local services in Lancaster?
Editorial 8. Who is the builder of the Paragon coach body? 9. What was unique about Sothern Vectis Bristol RE
Welcome to newssheet 172. This is the summer of new buses. Go TDL564K?
Ahead and First are scheduled to allocate many new vehicles to 10. What is the route number of the occasional Unilink
are area shortly. service from Southampton to Eastleigh?

Fuel prices are currently a big issue with the bus industry
realising this could be a paradigm shift. However massive bus On the Net
fare increases are tempering the potential benefits for the bus www.omnibuses.blogspot.com/ is providing me a rapid news
industry, but for the over 60s, leaving the car at home can be a service with virtually a daily entry. The site has now reached 1000
great attraction. The collapse of used car prices can be features. I first came across the site when I was looking for
attributed in part to these changes. The provision of evening bus information on the spring wave of takeovers. Features include a
services can be a major factor in leaving the car behind. London, wide range of topical issues such as modal shifts as a result of fuel
Blackpool and Southern Vectis provide good evening frequencies, price increases, restrictions on Stagecoach’s acquisition of
whilst hourly or irregular services at best are offered in much of Cavalier, and changes to operators over a period of time. This is
our area. What do you think the bus industry should do in their claim”Omnibuses2.0 we aim to reflect in bite-sized pieces,
current circumstances to maximise their opportunities? the many facets of the UK bus industry. The first posts date from
2003 and since the summer of 2005, we’ve been examining the
Another issue involves the looming accessible bus requirement bigger picture almost daily...” This site has become a daily must
from 2015/6. It is argued that the replacement rate for step for me. What do you think?
buses is insufficient to meet the deadline. Any acceleration of
the purchasing rate for new buses will cause the manufacturing
industry some problems to meet demand. Many of our buses now Bits and Pieces
come from mainland Europe, which is also affected by low floor The following appears on First’s website but it appears to be a
requirements. There are always pockets of delays occurring drivers’ instruction!
such as the recent financial problems at East Lancs. which Portsmouth - road resurfacing Edinburgh Road 28th July to 5th
resulted in a London operator waiting 18 months for a new bus! August.
Due to ongoing resurfacing works in Portsmouth, Edinburgh Road,
Dear old London could come to the rescue. Many contract from Alfred Road Lights to Unicorn Road, has been programmed
renewals for London now specify new buses. The displaced ones
which are all low floor will provide second hand opportunities for the above dates. The diversion for our services will be as
but they are dual door, which are despised like the plague in follows.
most of non TfL Britain. From The Hard to Commercial Road South
Services 17-18-15 Normal route to HMS NELSON then at traffic
When adding in the fall out from the credit crunch and potential lights turn LEFT into Alfred Road to traffic lights. At lights go
reduction in demand for travel (at least from the under 60s) we straight ahead to Market Way roundabout. At roundabout do a
have interesting times ahead. ‘U-Turn back down to traffic lights at Unicorn Road then turn
LEFT into Unicorn Road to Commercial Road South and back on
Club News normal route. Service 5 and 41. When leaving The Hard turn RIGHT into The
Our June meeting saw a members’ theme evening on the subject Hard/St.Georges road to Cambridge Junction roundabout. At
of 20 years ago. Members showed a wide selection of
photographs and slides to show how we saw buses in 1988. roundabout take FIRST exit into Cambridge Road then follow
Surprisingly the buses of that age seemed so old, but perhaps a 1A/40 route into Commercial Road and back on normal route.
lot of that reflects the liveries of that time as twenty year old The diversion for the 5 and 41 will help keep traffic up Queen
buses are still around today with much brighter paintwork than Street flowing. Drivers of 15/17/18 services are to take
they had then. Meetings like this focus on the ageing process passengers for the 5 and 41 services to Commercial Road for
(and not just with buses) How old were you 20 years ago? Ouch! transfer on to their appropriate service.
Many thanks are given to all the participating members for Services to the Hard will not be affected by these road works.
making it an enjoyable meeting.
The three Coliseum coaches reported in newsletter 171 are
Another enjoyable evening on 4 July saw a home visit meeting at 435SFC and 663VHX M.A.N/ Beulas Cygnus new in March and
the home of Roger and Marion Watts. Roger’s style was to leave April respectively; KEN959 is a Neoplan Starliner M.A.N also
transport books, timetables and other memorabilia throughout new in April.
his home for browsing amongst the conversation and discussions
of the evening. Another good attendance had a very relaxing Lucketts have obtained three leased Plaxton Cheetah bodied
evening, Marion worked hard refreshing us. It was only when Mercedes. These are in all white.
Roger shared his very early morning experience that day in a 2904 KX08ONF C29F, 3304 KX08ONA and 3305 KX08ONB. They are
hotel near Heathrow that the editor decided it was time to beat involved in a Zurich insurance contract to Whiteley.
a retreat into the night!
Angela has a new Toyota/Caetano Optimo DAZ4523 C21C delivered in June. It is in a maroon livery. From the paint colour and internal
Quiz finish ex Parry, Cheslyn Hay who had such a coach for sale in CBW
1. What is unusual about First Bluebird 68000, currently at recently.
Portswood?
2. On what chassis does Wrightbus build the Eclipse Urban Former Hants & Dorset, SRU 981, Bristol LD6B, ECW, 1956, is for
body? sale in August Bus & Coach Preservation. It was used as an
3. The most easterly road in England is Gas Works Road, exhibition unit and drop-in centre Saga Radio, Birmingham from
Lowestoft. Who houses buses there? April 2003
4. Name the four operators who serve Hedge End
Superstores? In June Zenith took delivery of a new King Long C49F coach 1
registered BX08FAJ. Now that is an unusual vehicle!
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