i would like to take the time to thank you all for reading the blog . but thbe time has come to hang up the blog .
but dont worry the gen i do get will be past on to one of the best blogs going for info that is a good mate of mine andys bus blog who already post about the areas news .
i would like to thank you all for comments and reading of the blog . but due to work/family commitments ive had to end it but look out for top posts on the http://andysbusblog.blogspot.co.uk/
kindest regards
jamie armstrong
Sunday, 21 October 2012
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Weavaway directors to buy Tappins
Breaking News: Weavaway directors to buy Tappins
Michelle Wadsworth and Simon Weaver are to buy Tappins Coaches from Heyfordian Holdings on 30th September. Didcot-based Tappins operates a fleet of over 30 Volvo coaches and can trace its origins back to 1900. It has been operated as part of the Heyfordian group since 2007. All operations, engineering and driving staff are to remain, under the stewardship of General Manager David Walker.
In addition to its Newbury-based coach business, Weavaway trades as Countywide Travel in Basingstoke, Haywards Coaches in Reading, and Abingdon Coaches in Abingdon. Local bus services in West Berkshire and Hampshire are operated by sister company Newbury & District.
‘The Tappins business is an excellent fit with our existing activities in South Oxfordshire. We have successfully developed the Abingdon Coaches brand, and the acquisition of Tappins will enable this part of the Weavaway business to operate from their Didcot site.’
‘It is our intention to promote Tappins Coaches as an Oxford-based business, thereby avoiding brand conflict.’
‘Our Weavaway Travel and Newbury & District businesses operate a total of 60 vehicles, and with the addition of Tappins the size of the overall operation most certainly warrants the type of facility which exists in Didcot.’
A dozen Weavaway coaches will immediately transfer to Tappins, including late-model Skyliners, Van Hools, and high-capacity Iveco Panthers. Brand new coaches are expected to enter the Tappins fleet in early 2013.
‘The acquisition of Tappins will see our catchment area stretch right across the Thames Valley from Witney to Winchester, and Hungerford to Henley.’
A key aspect of the acquisition is the purpose-built site, which provides secure parking for 50 vehicles, large offices, a 6-bay workshop, bodyshop and coach wash.
‘Heyfordian Holdings are to be congratulated for maintaining a state of the art facility of this high standard. We intend to build on this with investment in the future to ensure Tappins continuing reputation as a top quality operator in an area where it enjoys an excellent reputation’.
Michelle Wadsworth and Simon Weaver are to buy Tappins Coaches from Heyfordian Holdings on 30th September. Didcot-based Tappins operates a fleet of over 30 Volvo coaches and can trace its origins back to 1900. It has been operated as part of the Heyfordian group since 2007. All operations, engineering and driving staff are to remain, under the stewardship of General Manager David Walker.
In addition to its Newbury-based coach business, Weavaway trades as Countywide Travel in Basingstoke, Haywards Coaches in Reading, and Abingdon Coaches in Abingdon. Local bus services in West Berkshire and Hampshire are operated by sister company Newbury & District.
‘The Tappins business is an excellent fit with our existing activities in South Oxfordshire. We have successfully developed the Abingdon Coaches brand, and the acquisition of Tappins will enable this part of the Weavaway business to operate from their Didcot site.’
‘It is our intention to promote Tappins Coaches as an Oxford-based business, thereby avoiding brand conflict.’
‘Our Weavaway Travel and Newbury & District businesses operate a total of 60 vehicles, and with the addition of Tappins the size of the overall operation most certainly warrants the type of facility which exists in Didcot.’
A dozen Weavaway coaches will immediately transfer to Tappins, including late-model Skyliners, Van Hools, and high-capacity Iveco Panthers. Brand new coaches are expected to enter the Tappins fleet in early 2013.
‘The acquisition of Tappins will see our catchment area stretch right across the Thames Valley from Witney to Winchester, and Hungerford to Henley.’
A key aspect of the acquisition is the purpose-built site, which provides secure parking for 50 vehicles, large offices, a 6-bay workshop, bodyshop and coach wash.
‘Heyfordian Holdings are to be congratulated for maintaining a state of the art facility of this high standard. We intend to build on this with investment in the future to ensure Tappins continuing reputation as a top quality operator in an area where it enjoys an excellent reputation’.
Sunday, 9 September 2012
Go Whippet up date
Go whippet have had a bit of an update since i last posted in a nut shell two new olys volvo B7 SK52URV enters service city bus and Vanhool coach withdrawn .
So first of with two ex stagecoach volvo Olympians now in the fleet for school service these are ex magic bus Manchester photo below of them after arriving at there depot
SK52URV finally entered in to service on the 5th on its first day of service. Sporting whippets new livery i was luck to photo it after work working 1815 Cambridge-Huntingdon (1A) it looked great for a bus that had not seen service since 2009 Whippet have really spent time bring it back up to scratch
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| 16721 P721GND and 16510 R510UWL (c) CHIPMUNK |
SK52URV finally entered in to service on the 5th on its first day of service. Sporting whippets new livery i was luck to photo it after work working 1815 Cambridge-Huntingdon (1A) it looked great for a bus that had not seen service since 2009 Whippet have really spent time bring it back up to scratch
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SK52URV seen on huntingdon rd
Other news in the fleet is that E441ADV and J689LGA are now withdrawn from service
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Tuesday, 4 September 2012
17099 on hire to daybreak
The latest of the open top tridents to return at Cambridge is 17099 V473KJN bus has now gone on loan to the morning tv news show on itv 1 daybreak (was GMTV) no one quite knows what its being used for why its with Daybreak bus it left on saturday from stagecoach cambridge depot and has now been seen at rugby stagecoach depot . more news on it when we find out
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| (c) Simon J Langley |
many thanks to simon for use of the photo
Olympic how its changed the buses in cambridgeshire
back and bad
Well this blog is making a return after a absence due a busy working 6weeks with few trips out and about but did manage to get a freedom of Scotland 4 day tour covering from Gretna to Inverness stranraer to Aberdeen on a all the stops pulled out great trip what i will never forget for along time yet with possible a blog to follow on it soon .
also come to the blog is info from all over the uk as well as the normal Cambridgeshire goings on
so sit back please enjoy the blog and fill free to send us any info or photos you want you will be fully
credited
kindest regards
jamie Armstrong
also come to the blog is info from all over the uk as well as the normal Cambridgeshire goings on
so sit back please enjoy the blog and fill free to send us any info or photos you want you will be fully
credited
kindest regards
jamie Armstrong
Thursday, 5 July 2012
Stephensons of Essex surprise new buses
Stephensons of Essex have taken delivery of two Scania N230UB Alexander Dennis Enviro400's for there essex services they are the first E400s with the company .there last deckers they bought were optare olympus but as optare will not body anythink but there own Stephensons have made the move to aDL400 scanias .good move in my book . The new buses will be bases at the Rochford .
there expected to be on olympic duties during the summer .the registrations and fleet numbers of the new Enviro 400s are 601 -EU12 HXW & 602 - EU12 HXY
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601 -EU12 HXW (C) Pete Best |
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602 - EU12 HXY (C) Pete Best
THANKS GO'S TO peter best and Stephensons
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Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Greenline upgrade service
Major Greenline upgrade on the Hemel Hampstead- london 758 service
GreenLine (Arriva) has just spent around £300,000 on upgrading there 758 service with newer coaches previously on Arriva's National Express service. The coaches Vanhool T9 SB400S have replaced older vanhool T9'S SB3000'S . The seven new coaches have been re-aposted also now have air con and WIfi fitted.
The overhaul represents an investment by Arriva of more than £300,000 as part of its ongoing commitment to providing customers with a quality service and great value.
Linsey Frostick, Marketing Manager for Green Line Coaches, said: “With major sporting events taking place in and around the city this summer, there’s even more of a reason for people to be heading to London.
“Our upgraded coaches are a great way for people to get out and about, with the added benefits of free Wi-Fi, allowing passengers to access the internet, providing them with the perfect opportunity to look at their emails or carry out research, as they make their way into central London. By opting for coach travel, passengers are not only guaranteed a seat rather than having to stand in a packed train carriage, but great value journeys that also deliver excellent cost savings.”
“Our upgraded coaches are a great way for people to get out and about, with the added benefits of free Wi-Fi, allowing passengers to access the internet, providing them with the perfect opportunity to look at their emails or carry out research, as they make their way into central London. By opting for coach travel, passengers are not only guaranteed a seat rather than having to stand in a packed train carriage, but great value journeys that also deliver excellent cost savings.”
The 758 route, which was a product of the deregulation of coach services, started on 26 September 1981 with AEC
Reliance and today’s route remains virtually unchanged since the original launch. The route was the first Green Line service to serve housing estates and pick up commuters and was an immediate success. On the first day of operation, Nicholas Lyell QC, the then MP for Hemel Hempstead, travelled on the service along with 14 other people and after two weeks’ operation, the coaches were full.
Green Line aim is to offers great links to London from across Luton and Hertfordshire providing customers with great value and significant savings against train travel at convenient times
Photos below of the new refurbished coaches
Thanks to arriva the shires for use of photo's and info
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Granta park Abington to take delivery of two brand new volvo'S
Granta park business park and research facility for Bioscience witch is located south of Cambridge near Linton are to replace there two 51 plate Setra's coach shown here with two brand new volvo wright eclipse B7's that are sat at volvo ely at the moment regs of them are not known yet . as for why there have gone across to buses over the coach i dont know. All i know is i hope the rude foul mouth driver isn't driving if your trying to photo them if so be ready for him . any way photos below of the buses sat at volvo ely
info from volvo trucks and buses Ely
Monday, 25 June 2012
Dews of Somersham : fleet up date
Dews take deliver of two more buses and a coach
Dews have taken delivery of two ex east Yorkshire motor services Volvo B10m Alexander citybuses they are F242MBA & G613OTV with G613 gone in to a ''special jubilee livery'' shown here .
There taken delivery of a Volvo B12B/Jonckheere SHV which is has been re registered to 178 DEW that reg was on a setra
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| F242MBA seen in Swaversey |
Thursday, 21 June 2012
New Busway bus sneaky peak
On Friday i took a trip up to volvo Ely to see if the new wright eclipse b7s for stagecoach to use on the busway had arrived. Which they had and was lucky to get access to see them and photo the three what was there at the time and one just arriving after delivery run witch leaves one left to come . i also took a 2 min walk down to stagecoach ely depot to my amazement the three scania E400S were sat there where i tryed to get a photo outside and was told by the depot manager to ''come in and have a look''. well i couldn't say no to a offer like that and went in to photo them buses seen at stagecoach ely were
15812 AE12GCK,15813 AE12CKJ &15814 AE12CKK
seen at volvo ely were
21232-AE12CJO, 21233-AE12CJU, 21234-AE12CJV & 21235-AE12CJX with 21231-AE12CJJ to be delivered
The extra buses are to be used on the Peterborough excitation and Ramsay excitation
The extra buses are to be used on the Peterborough excitation and Ramsay excitation
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| 212232-AE12CJO |
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| 21233-AE12CJU & 21234-AE12CJV |
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| 21235-AE12CJX |
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| 15812 AE12GCK,15813 AE12CKJ &15814 AE12CKK |
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| 15814 AE12CKK |
BIG thanks to volvo ely for letting me in to photo them and the same at stagecoach ely depot
Thursday, 14 June 2012
stagecoach tour bus to Duxford i.w.m
stagecoach Cambridge have resprayed the former stagecoach fens mini pointer dart in to sightseeing livery for a there new hourly tour to Duxford iwm . the service will form a key transport link with Cambridge to the museum after it lost is citi7 bus service . the tour bus costs £16.50 this includes entry to the museum witch is cheaper than just turning up at the iwm by 50P person
the livery is the standard city sightseeing red with Duxford iwm branding as shown below the service stops at the rail stn and silver st from Cambridge city centrer
for timetable click here
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Tour bus three back and ended service
Stagecoach Cambridge have entered there third Alx 400 trident in to there sightseeing service in Cambridge with 17274 X274NNO ex east London buses .this bus has also been re engined to euro 5 . The next bus expected to be back from it been re engine and open top conversion is 17275 X377NNO
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| 17274 X274NNO seen in drummer st |
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Delaine place order
Delaine have placed an order for there third volvo b9 wright gemini 2 . it is due next year and will be 153 AD62DBL
photo below of 152 AD12DBL at there depot
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Peterborough new E400S enter service
stagecoach Peterborough's 4 new e400s (10010-100013 AE12CKA/C/D/F) have entered service on the citi 6 from the city to Hampton this has displaced the tridents to bedford or cambridge with 18424 going to Fenstanton to replace the burnt out shell of 18059
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| 10012 AE12CKD seen on lay-over at queensgate on a sunny evening |
Go Whippet update plus new buses
Go Whippet take on another two B7TL this time via Dawson rentals. the buses in question are LN51AZL & LN51AZW and is are sat at whippet with LN51AZL on pits being tuned there said be going in to the new whippet livery no idea what that is at the moment .
LN51AZW & LN51AZL stated off with sovereign (London) as VLP14 &VLP 8 in dec 2001 and operated mainly on the 114 Ruislip - Victoria Road - Harrow - Queensbury - Mill Hill Broadway & the 183 Pinner - Harrow - Kingsbury - Hendon - Golders Green
Other Whippet news is that leyland oly K713ASC has been resprayed in to a ''new livery'' im unsure if this will be the new standerd livey or not but time will tell photo below of K713ASC in its new livery
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| LN51AZW |
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| LN51AZW |
Other Whippet news is that leyland oly K713ASC has been resprayed in to a ''new livery'' im unsure if this will be the new standerd livey or not but time will tell photo below of K713ASC in its new livery
stagecoach fens new Busway changes and new buses
Stagecoach are upping there Busway service A Trumpington P&R to St Ives .And service B Huntingdon to Cambridge From every 20 mins to every 15. so along the busway that will give them a combined service of every 7-8 mins From the 10th of June also from then the Service B will not sever the top part of Ramsay rd and hills rise in st Ives but the A will serve it instead witch means there will no longer be a stagecoach service from hills rise to Huntingdon
which mean there only be a whippet services connecting people to Huntingdon which is only a good thing giveing more trade to there local opp whippet
For the service changes means more buses eight in fact made up of five Wright b7 eclipse's and three scania enviro 400's
regs and fleet numbers are
Wright eclipse's
21231-AE12CJJ
21232-AE12CJO
21233-AE12CJU
21234-AE12CJV
21235-AE12CJX
SCANIA E400S
15812-AE12CKG
15813 AE12CKJ
15814-AE12CKK
ALL due for week commencing june the 4st
For the service changes means more buses eight in fact made up of five Wright b7 eclipse's and three scania enviro 400's
regs and fleet numbers are
Wright eclipse's
21231-AE12CJJ
21232-AE12CJO
21233-AE12CJU
21234-AE12CJV
21235-AE12CJX
SCANIA E400S
15812-AE12CKG
15813 AE12CKJ
15814-AE12CKK
ALL due for week commencing june the 4st
As shown below a photo from ukbus photos is a photo of a busway wright eclipse at the factory in Ireland
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
New camera
im pleased to say I have up dated to a Fuji fine-pix S100fs ive gone back to Fuji after the cannon 350D.
It is allowing me to take much higher quality photos now as shown below
with 19600-AE10BXN taken in histon (Cambridgeshire) i hope to be showing you many new photos of the new S100 to see my photos please take a look at my flicker here
It is allowing me to take much higher quality photos now as shown below
with 19600-AE10BXN taken in histon (Cambridgeshire) i hope to be showing you many new photos of the new S100 to see my photos please take a look at my flicker here
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
coach show 2012 results
On Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd the Coach displays coach driver of the year took place where coach drivers and company's would battle for many trophies . But the one that all the driver was the coach driver of the year trophie what would go to the driver who git around the course the with the least amount of penalties at the end .
The weather for the day wasn't the best on Saturday but brightend up in the afternoon witch is probally why it had a poor turn out on the Saturday when i was there . this year the show played host to the new bus for london or ''borrismaster'' where theyparked it next to the original Routemaster as shown below .
he ''borrismaster'' was open to have alook around which i did have a look and very plastic to be honest but worth a bash if i saw it in london but at least the seat were comfy that about all i can say is good about it also for some reason there two enviro 200 was entered one from Stevenson of Essex and one from Paul S Winston with probably the most impressive air horn to be fitted to a bus as shown below . there was also an array of vintage coaches as well as brand spanking new plaxton and vdl bova products on the trade stands to see photos of the day click here
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| Richard Grey, Managing Director, Grey's of ELy being awarded the UK Coach Driver of the Year Trophy by Peter Hendy, London Traffic Commissioner |
| Alan Goodwin Trophy (The Highest Placed Coach Operator in all Classes) | 36 | Sharpes of Nottingham |
| The UK Coach Rally Coach Driver of the Year (Sponsored by Wrightsure Insurance) | 40 | Richard Grey Greys of Ely |
| The UK Coach Rally Coach of the Year | 58 | Parrys International Tours |
| The UK Coach Rally Bus Driver of the Year (Sponsored by Wrightsure Insurance) | 1B | Liam Spencer Paul S Winson |
| The UK Coach Rally Bus of the Year | 1B | Paul S Winson |
| Top Team of the Year | 21 | Stanley Travel |
| Peter Bostock Trophy (Highest placed driver in Saturday test) | 26 | Sharpes of Nottingham |
| Mini Coach Driver of the Year | 13 | Ben Harpin Cedar Coaches |
| Midi Coach Driver of the Year | 26 | Kevin Walker York Pullman |
| West Middlesex Coach Operators Association Trophy (Runner-Up to Coach Driver of the Year) | 41 | Tom Williams Dews Coaches |
| Directors Challenge (Sponsored by Gretna Green World Famous Blacksmiths Shop) | Darren Brown Crawley Luxury |
Concours D'elegance Awards
| Top Mini/Midi (Class 1A or 2A) | 7 | |
| Top Standard Coach (Class AA or AAA) | 21 | Paul S Winson |
| Top Touring/Express Luxury Coach (Class B) | 3 | Stanley Travel |
| Top Executive Coach (Class D) | - | Not Awarded |
| Top Coach Aged 5 Years or Older (Class E) | 36 | Sharpes of Nottingham |
| Rita Dalziel Trophy (Top coach 25 years or older) | - | Not Awarded |
| John Fielder Memorial Trophy (Top coach from a small fleet) | 47 | Jay & Kay Coach Tours |
Concours D'elegence Manufacturers Awards
| VDL Berkhof Trophy (Top VDL Berkhof) | - | Not Awarded |
| Salvador Caetano Trophy (Top Caetano) | 19 | The Kings Ferry |
| Neoplan Trophy (Top Neoplan) | - | Not Awarded |
| VDL Jonckheere Trophy (Top Jonckheere) | 28 | Motts Travel |
| Plaxton Trophy (Top Plaxton) | 21 | Stanley Travel |
| Beulas Trophy (Top Beulas) | 35 | Banstead Coaches |
| Kirkby Trophy (Top Coach Supplied by Kirkby) | 5 | Paul S Winson |
| Van Hool Trophy (Top Van Hool) | 58 | Parrys International Tours |
| Moseley Trophy (Top Van Hool Supplied by Moseley) | 58 | Parrys International Tours |
| Bova Trophy (Top Bova Supplied by Moseley) | 47 | Jay & Kay Coach Tours |
| Volvo Trophy (Top Coach Supplied by Volvo Coach Sales) | 41 | Dews Coaches |
| BASE Trophy (Top Marcopolo) | 15 | Mike de Courcey Travel |
| Best Scania | - | Not Awarded |
| Best Irizar Integral | 30 | Stewarts Coaches |
Special Awards
| Terry Porteous Trophy (Top Optare/Autobus) | - | Not Awarded |
| Clarkes Trophy (Best Disabled Access) | - | Not Awarded |
| Boons Award (Best Co-ordinated Décor) | 26 | York Pullman Bus Co |
| Peter Rogers Memorial Trophy | 58 | Parrys International Tours |
| Cymru Trophy (Top Coach from Wales) | 20 | DJ Thomas Coaches |
| Tony Roose Trophy (Top Coach from Scotland) | 38 | Prentice Westwood |
| The Fred Bibby Award (Best Loved Coach ☺) | 21 | Stanley Travel |
| Drivers Quiz (Compiled by CPT) | 21 | Stanley Travel |
| LTCOA Martin Cornell Trophy (Highest placed LTCOA member in all classes) | 3 | Clarkes of London |
| Smartest uniformed driver &/or courier | 3 | Clarkes of London so if you want to go next year well 13th and 14th of april 2013 at the showground see photos of the day click here |
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