The many colours of Bracknell.

 

Alighting at Reading railway station for the first time in 20 years, it was amazing to see how the area inside the station had been transformed. However, it was a shame that the same could not be said for the immediate area outside the station. I remember James Freeman, when MD of Reading Buses, saying that a lack of consultation resulted in the loss of the bus station immediately outside Reading railway station, in favour of a vehicle free grand piazza. Today, what welcomes you in place of a grand piazza is a great chasm, as Reading mines for either hidden minerals or Dante’s Inferno. However, that matters very little as it is a quick dash into the surrounding side streets in search of bus service X4 to Bracknell. 

                                                                                                                        

A pride of lions. Below YX73 PHK and above KX59 GNV (ex Portsmouth University) showing the contrasting ‘Lion’ livery. Both are departing on service 4 to Reading. As hoped for, the day got off to a roaring start: the bus that arrived was one of the new Alexander Dennis E40D MMC ‘s in the revised ‘Lion’ livery. We settled into smart leather seats (top deck front of course): checked out the contactless phone charging pad, peered through the full-length sun roof and admired the ambient lighting and set off at a sedate pace (X for express?) to a cacophony of squeaks and rattles along the very straight A329. A visit to Wokingham Railway Station before pulling into the town centre for a short layover and then onto the epitome of 1960’s pre-cast concrete, Bracknell. On route enjoyed a tour around one of the industrial parks and the derelict dry ski slope, although the alpine chalet hotel at the summit remains open. Around the ring road, passing the railway station and the site where the First depot once stood, we arrive at the all too familiar bus station. The one constant on the Bracknell bus scene is the bus station. Whilst numerous operators have come and gone, Thames Valley, Beeline, First, and Courtney to name a few, the bus station has changed little. The greasy spoon café is as rough and cheap as ever; the toilets are indescribable with the mural no longer a diversion; the former information shop now a focal point for staff to loiter, and the remaining retail outlet long closed. However, the one major redeeming feature is the buses. Today, the majority are under Reading Buses management and trade as Thames Valley, with White Bus coming in on a couple of irregular services. Reading has invested heavily in new buses in an assortment of liveries, whilst still retaining a few of the former Courtney fleet. Visiting on a dull Monday in February, passenger loading looked light on the town services but slightly better on services out-of-town. One negative observation was that the buses could do with a good clean as the exterior on many buses showed signs of several days’ road dirt. With so much redevelopment in the centre of Bracknell, it is encouraging that the bus station survives especially as it is conveniently adjacent to both the shopping precinct and railway station. The level of bus provision also belies Bracknell’s status as a new town built around a road network designed for the car.     Former Courtney YY67 HDO about to depart on half-hourly service 194 to Camberley. The service extends four time a day to Farnborough.  Above: Reading Buses FL73 WND departing on service 703 for Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 via Slough and Windsor. The 18 daily departures have an erratic headway from Bracknell but become a 30-minute headway when combined with short workings from Slough. Below: how things were when First operated the route. Above: Two AD E20D’s in a rather drab Thames Valley livery. Front YX68 ULZ and behind YX65 RKK, both ex Courtney although RKK was originally an Alexander Dennis demonstrator. Below: YX73 PGZ arrives into the bus station on service 171, an every 30 minute circular around the town via Hanworth. The livery displays a variation of the bird motif used originally by Courtney.     Two variations on a colour theme: Above: SN69 ZMZ laying over and below YX22 OJG about to depart on service 194 to Camberley.   Two ex-Courtney buses still in service with Thames Valley. Above: KX64 AEJ returning to the bus station on service 150, a 27 minute circular via Binfield. Below: YX67 UYP about to depart on service 156, a 25 minute circular around the town.          In the past.     Left, First Bus, right two examples of Courtneys operation. Left, Beeline operating the 192. Centre the mural in the bus station toilet and a Mercedes laying over.  Omnibus World

A foggy afternoon followed by a wet morning in Thame – December 2023.

Thame is a market town in Oxfordshire sitting along the A418, about 13 miles east of Oxford and 10 miles southwest of Aylesbury with a population of 11,561. The CPM Group and Travelodge have their HQs in the town, and it also regularly features in Midsummer Murders TV series. For a town of its size there is a disproportionately high number of bus routes, some with high frequencies. In late 2023 new rural services were introduced by Oxfordshire County Council utilising government funding. 

Bus services December 2023

40 Thame - Chinnor - Stokenchurch - High Wycombe. Hourly, operated by Red Rose Travel;

110 Aylesbury Bus Station – Worminghall, The Avenue. 4 outward and 5 inbound journeys operated by Redline Buses;

111 Oakley – Aylesbury. 3 outward and 4 return journeys, operated by Z & S Transport;

112 Waddesdon – Aylesbury. 1 trip Wednesday & Friday operated by Z & S Transport;

113 Oakley - Princes Risborough. Tuesday & Thursday, 1 full and 2 partial trips operated by Z & S Transport;

120 Aylesbury Bus Station - Oxford Westgate via Stone, Haddenham, Thame, Thornhill (Park & Ride), Headington. 1 trip Monday to Friday school days only, operated by Redline Buses;

121 Thame-Thame every 30 minutes (30-minute round trip).

126 Watlington - Chalgrove – Thame. Tuesday & Thursday, 1 trip, operated by Red Rose Travel;

127 Watlington - Tetsworth – Thame. Tuesday & Thursday, 1 trip operated by Red Rose Travel; 

280 Aylesbury – Oxford, every 15 mins operated by Arriva;

321 Princes Risborough - Longwick – Thame. 1 trip school days only, operated by Red Rose Travel;

X7 Aylesbury – Oxford. Every 30 mins operated by Arriva;

X8 Aylesbury – Oxford. Peak hours only, operated by Arriva;

X20 Aylesbury Bus Station - Westgate, Oxford via Stone, Thame. Every 30 mins, operated by Redline Buses.

The 121 service is a circular route of two variants that goes hourly around Thame creating a 30-minute frequency in the town centre. Until the end of April 2023, Redline Buses had operated the route. However, in May 2023 it was announced by Thame Town Council that Z & S Transport would take over the service. On both days of the visit MK63 WZV operated the service. The Alexander Dennis E20D B29F started life with South Wales Transport in Neath, followed by a short time on loan to White Bus before joining Aylesbury based Z & S Transport.

  

In January 2024 the Arriva 280 became the X8, which had previously been for peak journeys only supplementing the 280 to Oxford. The X8 is now used for half hourly journeys between Thame and Oxford making for a 15-minute frequency along with the half hourly X7 on that section of the route contested by Redline Buses with their half hourly X20. BD12 DHV (left) and BD12 DHG are a pair of Mercedes Benz 0530’s B41F on the 280.

  

The competition on the Oxford route X20 from Redline utilizes a mixture of buses from tatty presentation older stock to anonymous almost new vehicles. Below left and centre BV73 MTF, below right, BV73 MTK - both Volvo B8RLE with MCV B38F bodies.

The two on the bottom row are: left YX12 DKA an Alexander Dennis E20D B29D new to Centrewest and later spending time with Metroline, on the right, YX63 LJE, another E20D this time with B33F body new to Nottingham. For a journey taking 1 hour and 11 minutes, neither bus types seem a particularly comfortable option.  

  

Red Rose Travel gained the contract to operate the 126 and 127 on Tuesdays and Thursdays only in late 2023 having won the Oxfordshire tender. These are new routes into Thame from villages that previously only had services towards Oxford. At rest in Thame whilst the driver headed off for breakfast is MX58 KYR, Optare Solo M710SE B21F, previously with Redline.

The infrequent 110 operated by Redline, on this occasion using SN53 LWR (left) originally a Transbus Dart SLF demonstrator having spent some time with Eddie Brown but much of its life with Redline. On the right, for the afternoon school journey, LK06 FLB an Alexander Dennis Trident H41/26D new to Metroline.

Below, operating hourly Red Rose route 40 is Y23 RRT (YX11 HPL) another AD E20D B29D originally with Abellio, later with Manchester Community Transport who converted it to single door. Later moving to CT Plus Yorkshire and then Powell’s (HTC Group - CT Plus) in Sheffield.

Finally, late afternoon produced several school services, including (left) Redline RL08 (Chinnor to Lord Williams Upper School) using PN52 XBP a Volvo B7Tl with East Lancs Vyking H47/33F body, new to Richardson, Midhurst. Whilst on the right operating Redline 762 (Dorton to Lord Williams Upper School) is LF52 UPO an Volvo B7TL with Wright H41/22D body new to Arriva North London.

In conclusion, if you fancy visiting a pleasant market town with plenty of bus activity, Thame is the place you should be heading for.

Omnibus World

Romania 2023

In early October 2023, the opportunity arose to take a road trip through central Romania from Bucharest in the south, north through Transylvania, Moldavia and Bukovina. Public transport information on major cities/towns is readily available on line for pre-planning and use a similar online format including comprehensive timetables, route maps and ticketing arrangements. However, the smaller towns have little information and timetables are focused towards the local populations. Transport interchanges and bus stations are easily found using Google maps and street scene.

What was totally unexpected was the modern fleets of buses/trolleybus/trams. In Bucharest, Sibiu and Brasov, major investment in recent years, and still ongoing investment, has seen large fleets of non-fossil fuel vehicles delivered. A great deal of the funding required comes from central government and the EU.

Despite traffic being a major problem throughout the country, cities suffer congestion throughout the day and traffic heading out of town at weekends cause miles of queues, local public transport is popular with heavy loads observed throughout the day and evening.

Romania is a country well worth a visit: beyond the public transport there is wonderful history, architecture and scenery. Not forgetting the food, wine and beer.          

SC Tursib SA, Sibiu. SB 03TSB, fleet number 804, TEMSA LD 12 SB, new in 2022. Sitting between journeys in front of the overhead recharging point at Sibiu station - note the bicycle rack being towed. SC Tursib SA have a modern depot six kilometres from the city centre, close to the airport on Strada Munchen 1, in the Vest Industrial Zone. The company currently operate 148 vehicles. 119 new buses have been purchased in the last three years.

SC Tursib SA, Sibiu. SB 46SBT, fleet number 223, Anadolu Isuzu Citiport 12. Built in 2017, entered service in 2020. Approaching the Zidul Cetatii stop (the old walls) on a route 5 outward journey, the high frequency route has a 10-minute morning peak and 15-minute daytime headway.

SC Tursib SA, Sibiu. SB25SBT, fleet number 309, Menarinibus Citymood 18 II. Built in 2018, entered service 2020. SC Tursib SA operate 17 of these vehicles, although on a Sunday this was the only one that appeared to be operating. The only other articulated bus seen on that day was one of the recently delivered CNG powered Mercedes Benz. Photographed departing Zidul Cetatii with a standing load.

SC Tursib SA, Sibiu. SB 12SBT, fleet number 906, Solaris Urbino IV 12 electric, new in 2022. Photographed at the recharging point outside the central railway station, having just released the roof mounted pantograph. The bus was about to depart on service 5 between Valea Aurie and Gara with a 10-minute peak headway reducing to 15 minutes in the off peak.

SC Tursib SA, Sibiu. SB 70TSB, fleet number 129, Mercedes-Benz Conecto III NGT., new in 2021. Entered service May 2022. Photographed on Bulevardul Victoriei returning to the city centre.

SC Tursib SA, Sibiu. SB 74SBT, fleet number 902, Karsan Jest electric new in 2021. Operating a loop through the historic centre of Sibiu, the minibuses can carry 21 passengers, 10 of them seated. Two recharging points are located opposite the railway station entrance on Piaţa Gării (Train Station’s Square). The charging points look similar to those used for recharging cars and the buses park nose into the pavement, this facility allows for greater utilization throughout the day without the need to return to the depot.  

STB SA, Bucharest. B 03826, fleet number 5321, Astra Irisbus Citelis 12T, built 2007. Route 69 operates from Valea Argeșului Metro station via the university to Baicului. During the late evening this route still has seven buses per hour. Bucharest will receive 100 new Solaris trolleybuses in 2024.

STB SA, Bucharest. B 635STB, fleet number 6635, Otokar Kent C12, new in 2019. Operating route 368 Valea Oltului  to Piata Romana, the peak vehicle requirements being between 06.00-07.00 hours and 19.00 to 21.00 hours. Photographed passing the Parcul Ateneului Park and Garden. STB SA has 320 Otokar Kents in service.

STB SA, Bucharest. B 703PMB, fleet number 7003, Mercedes-Benz Citaro C2 hybrid, new 2020. Route 205 operates north from the old town to Straulesti. Photographed passing the National Museum of Art. The Bucharest Transport Company (STB, Societatea De Transport Bucuresti) was formed on the 13th of September, 2018 after a reorganisation of the financial structure of its predecessor RATB.

RATBV SA, Brasov. Left: BV 18FIP, fleet number 820, Menarinibus Citymood 18I, new in 2019. Right: BV 01514, fleet number 2025, Solaris Trollino IV 18 Škoda, new in 2020, currently 26 are in operation. Photographed in the Castel Bus Station, a large interchange with eight stands.

RATBV SA, Brasov.  BV 22TOC, Karsan e-ATA 18, new 2022. There are currently 12 in operation. Photographed negotiating the roundabout at Nicolar Titulescu Park on route 5 towards Roman.

RATBV SA, Brasov.  BV 19WEL, fleet number 2132, SOR EBN 8, new 2021. There are currently 10 in service.  These buses are 8m in length, seating 16, fitted with Winston Battery / Lithium-ion with a capacity of 172 kWh. Departing Castel Bus Station on route 50, heading south west to the hills and beauty spot of Solomon's Stones Spring.

RATBV SA, Brasov. BV 01483, fleet number 2003, Solaris Trollino IV 18 Škoda, new 2020. One of 26 in service. Departing Castel Bus Station on trolleybus route 6 towards Saturn, a large bus station south east of the city. Shortly after departing the city centre the trolleybus reverts to overhead power.

RATBV SA, Brasov. BV 20FYS, fleet number 2179, Mercedes-Benz Citaro C2 hybrid, new 2021. Photographed on stand in Castel Bus Station, about to depart on route 28 to IAR Ghimbav, an industrial estate and airfield north of the city centre served only at peak times. The service normally terminates at Fundaturii a couple of kilometres short of the airfield.

SC Transport Local SA, Târgu Mureş. MS 82TGM fleet number 109, BMC Procity 12, new 2021. Currently 20 in service.

SC Transport Local SA, Târgu Mureş. MS 83TLM, fleet number 83, Mercedes-Benz O405G, new in 1997. Arrived into the fleet in 2020 from SC Siletina Impex SRL where it was registered MS 41 TLS having been in their fleet since 2016. Delivered new to RBS Regionalcenter Lauda, Stuttgart, Germany as S-RS 738 in October 1997. Sold in July 2012 to Franz Scharnagel, Ansbach, Germany and registered AN-VA 612.

SC Transport Local SA, Târgu Mureş. MS 19 TGM, fleet number 201, Solaris Urbino IV 12 Electric, new in 2022. The city has 32 in service. Route 20 is a convoluted cross city service with a 15-minute headway between 05.00 and 22.15 hrs. The city of Târgu Mureş has a population of 116,000 located in the Transylvania region of central Romania.

SC Apă Termic Transport SA, Sighișoara. MS 38 ATT Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro, built 2004, arrived in Sighișoara 2020. New to Verkehrsbetriebe Brandenburg an der Havel GmbH as BRB-VK 134. SC Apă Termic Transport SA currently operate 18 vehicles of which 14 are second hand. Despite the number displayed in the windscreen this bus appears to be on route 1. The town has two routes numbered 1 and 2 which both do variations throughout the day. Route 1 has eighteen variations and route 2 twenty variations plus a more regular route listed as ‘Baragan Bus Schedule’.

BMC Romania has its import centre in the north of Bucharest at Ciorogarla, importing two models, the Procity and Neocity.  100 new BMC electric buses will start running in Bucharest by the end of 2023. The first batch of 51 buses arrived in the port of Constanta in October 2023 with the rest scheduled to be delivered in November. The buses are 12 meters long and have a range of at least 200 km between charges, and are produced in partnership with the Chinese company ZTE Smart Auto. Future production of the buses could start in Ciorogârla.

Gura Humorului, Romania. SV 22PGH, Karsan Atak electric, new in 2022. This is one of four acquired by the town. Photographed on route 2 heading towards Voroneț. Gura Humorului is a small town of approximately 17,000 inhabitants located in the north of Romania some 60 kms south of the Ukraine border.

SC Troleibuzul SA, Piatra Neamț. On the left, NT 48TPN, Irisbus Crossway LE 10.8M, new in 2012 to Arriva Lelystad as 85-BBB-4. Purchased by SC Troleibuzul in 2022. On the right, an Isuzu Novociti from 2018. Much of the town centre is undergoing major road works with most bus services being on divert. Piatra Neamț is the capital city of Neamț County, in Western Moldavia the north eastern area of Romania.

SC Transmixt SA, Bistrița. On the right, B 158TMX, Güleryüz Ecoline 12, new in 2016. On the left, BN 09 TMX, Irisbus Crossway 12.8M, new in October 2023. The buses converge on the roundabout at Calea Moldovei and Strada Nasaudului.

SC Transmixt SA, Bistrița. BN 04TMX, Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro, new in 2003. Arrived into the fleet February 2018. New to Havelbus Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH, Potsdam, Germany as P-AV 340. Later became PM-RB 340 at Regiobus, Potsdam Mittelmark GmbH before joining SC Transmixt SA. 

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