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December 2014
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Fleet Buzz Identity Comes to an End
31-12-14
Reductions to the number of services financially supported by Hampshire County Council appear to have hastened the demise of Stagecoach South's separate Fleet Buzz identity. The combination of the withdrawal of a number of contracts and a break clause in the lease for the four Optare Versas has led to the remaining operations officially transferring to the Stagecoach brand from 4th January.
In the last few weeks standard Alexander Dennis Pointer 2 bodied Dart SLFs have become regulars on the 72 into Reading, and Dennis Tridents have made occasional appearances on the 82 along with the more regular Volvo Olympians. From 5th January the 72 will serve Farnborough instead of Aldershot, and the timetable appears to interwork with new Farnborough town service 9 requiring 4 buses in total, with 2 further vehicles appearing on the 82 which remains interworked with school and college runs.
34414 in the Market Place on 6th December still wearing 'in the South Downs' fleetnames above the drivers cab.
Silver Service
31-12-14
Following the delivery of the new Enviro 200s for the Loddon Bridge Park & Ride a concerted effort has wisely been made to substitute on generic double deckers on most Saturdays in the run up to Christmas to help cater for the Christmas shopping crowds. Meanwhile Reading's new batch of Enviro 200s and Enviro 400s have both included a vehicle in generic livery for use on other routes, allowing them to appear across the network on routes where that capacity of vehicle is required.
1111 on 6th December with the Christmas market and lights in the background.
654 covering for a Streetlite on route 29 on 3rd November. Generic Streetlite 161 was in use on route 19, indicating the larger size of the vehicle is better suited to the 29. It will also be used to cover the Vodafone fleet as it will potentially be the longest diesel powered single decker in the Reading fleet.
Completing the first batch of E400s is 758, looking very smart on route 15A on 3rd November. 759/60 are also expected in this livery in March.
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