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April 2006

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| Site Last Updated: 01-05-06 |

29-04-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 911 had been returned from loan to Newbury by 26th. Thanks to James Cusworth for this. 234 is to transfer to the training fleet from 15th May, but will still be used on Goldline duties over the weekend. 235 will deputise when 234 is not available, whilst a Newbury MetroRider is also to transfer to the training fleet from around the same date for use on route familiarisation duties. A total of six Solars have now arrived. Thanks to Mac Head for this.
  • Reading Transport Former Vehicle Fleet List: Missing details of former Dennis Lolines 76-83 and renumbering of Lolines 35/37-46 added
  • Horseman Coaches: New photos of R204 STF, FJ03 ZTV, RX06 WVB and RX06 WVN added. Thanks to Bob Stanger for these.
  • Horseman Coaches Fleet List: Berkhofs T10 DMB, T20 DMB, Plaxton Excaliburs M659 SBL, N660/61/62 VJB and Toyotas N669/70/72/73 VJB are to be sold following the delivery of the new vehicles. The Berkhofs and Plaxtons have been chosen because they do not have air conditioning whilst other members of the fleet do. The seating capacity of M659 SBL is corrected to C53F and N662 VJB to C49Ft, these two previously being shown the wrong way around. Thanks to Bob Stanger for this.
  • Stewarts of Mortimer: New photo of BU51 AYB added. Thanks to John Wheeler for this. New company logo also added.
  • Stewarts of Mortimer Fleet List: ONV 653Y was towed away for scrap on 25th, meanwhile BU51 AYB was repainted into the current silver livery over the Easter school holidays by Horseman Commercial. It now awaits vinyls. Thanks to John Wheeler for this.

28-04-06:

27-04-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 465 has returned from repaint and now awaits vinyls. Three of the second eight OmniDekkas have now arrived, along with 1021 and one of the light blue Solars.
  • Reading Transport MegaRears: 926 has a new MegaRear for The Wedding Centre. Thanks to James Cusworth for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: Nuneaton 40147 has been withdrawn with 40150 reinstated in its place. Thanks to Keith Wood for this. Oxford 20007 is also confirmed as having now transferred to Witney and 32625/6 as withdrawn.

26-04-06:

  • First Berkshire Fleet List: 43919 was actually delivered today and not earlier in the week as previously reported. Thanks to Ian Mihell for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: 20809 and withdrawn 20816 have transferred from Rugby to Nuneaton. Withdrawn 20813 has been returned to service at Rugby. 31327 has transferred from Rugby to Leamington to allow 40143 to be withdrawn. Thanks to Tim Moss for this. 42386 has now transferred from Witney to Oxford as planned, with 20008 confirmed as having gone in the other direction. 20542 is confirmed still in service at Witney at the present time although transfer of 20542/3 to Oxford is still immanent.

25-04-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 912 went on loan to Newbury on 22nd to join 911 covering for 942 on Vodafone work. The loan may only last until 27th. Upto 3 Solars and 5 OmniDekkas are expected to be delivered this week and the rest over next week or two. The Olympians should be released to Ensign in the second week of May (82 going to Shamrock Buses), then 5 Newbury Deltas the week after and the balance by the end of the month. Thanks to Brain Coney for this.
  • Courtney Coaches Fleet List: Former Y811 KDP has passed to Roadliner, Poole. Thanks to Graham White for this - a photo is available on his website.
  • Stewarts of Mortimer Fleet List: Y14 HMC has now been permanently reacquired from Plaxton to replace ONV 653Y. Thanks to Derek Bradfield for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: 18502 has route 157 branding, leaving 18505 unbranded

24-04-06:

  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: Changes to school services see B10Ms 20813/6 withdrawn with 20417 expected to join them. 20813/6 had route 86 branding, the newer B10Ms will now appear in their place along with 32001 which has been transferred from Nuneaton to Rugby to allow Rugby 41505 to also be withdrawn. Alexander bodied Leyland Olympians 14205/7 have arrived in Rugby from Northampton for new Northamptonshire County Council school services. Thanks to Terry Wightman and Tim Moss for this.

23-04-06:

  • First Berkshire Fleet List: 43920/21 arrived on 18th. Thanks to Mat Wooll for this. 43919 has also now been delivered. Thanks to Ian Mihell for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: Nuneaton 34625/7-8 received Primeline 48 branding this weekend as planned, this replaces 56/57 branding on 34628/9. 34626 remains unbranded. 18502 arrived on 20th and 18504 on 21st. Thanks to Tim Moss for this.

22-04-06:

  • News Page: Preview of the next new Solars with photos of 1024. Thanks to David Allen for this.

21-04-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 1021-30 are to be registered YN06 NXP/R-Z, with the first two expected to arrive next week. 201 has been sold today to Nationwide Minibus Travel, Burton-on-Trent. 911's loan to Newbury is to cover for 972 on Vodafone work. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
  • Reading Transport Optare Spectras: 2001 was actually delivered on 22nd and 2000/2 on 23rd. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
  • First Berkshire Fleet List: The three new Pegasus Darts expected soon are to be numbered 43919-21. 34279 has lost its ColourBus livery for John Nike Bracknell Bears in favour of First corporate livery. Thanks to Brain Coney for this.
  • Aldermaston Coaches: Company telephone number added. Thanks to Chris Arlott for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: Accident damaged 20226 has been repaired and is ready to return to service. Thanks to Tim Moss for this. 16520/1 have lost their MegaRears for Westbury Homes in the last few days.

19-04-06:

18-04-06:

  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: 18503/5 are confirmed as having arrived, with 18503 exhibited in Nuneaton bus station today. Contrary to the previous reports registrations are slightly different to expected with 18503/5 being KX06 LYV/Y. The registration for 18502 is unclear. 18198 also remains on loan at Nuneaton and has not yet returned to Oxford. Meanwhile Witney 18137 lost its 'Now Low Floor' branding quite some time ago.

17-04-06:

15-04-06:

  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: 18198 returned to Oxford from loan to Nuneaton yesterday. Two of Nuneaton's own examples are to arrive on 17th, with one scheduled to be used for a press launch on 18th. Thanks to Tim Moss for this. The four are expected to be registered KX06 LYV/X/Y/Z.

14-04-06:

  • Horseman Coaches Fleet List: The new Volvos have been registered RX06 WVA-E and the Toyotas RX06 WVL-M. Thanks to Derek Bradfield for this.

12-04-06:

08-04-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 911 has been on loan to Newbury for Vodafone work since about 6th. 2000-2 are reported as having left the fleet on 6th. 107 and 925 have received a new MegaRear for Check-a-trade, 107's being in place of its rear for the Oracle and 925's in place of its rear for Basildon Park. 926 has lost its rear for LDV Maxus in favour of fleet livery, whilst one of the rears on a second Newbury Solo may also have changed. (928 and 929 still have their MegaRears for the Oracle). Thanks to Brian Coney for the items on the Newbury side.
  • Reading Transport MegaRears: New photos of rears on 476 and 925 added
  • Reading Transport Vehicle Types: numbers updated to 192 vehicles (127 Reading, 36 Newbury, 29 Goldline) plus 18 on order
  • Reading Optare Spectras: Text about 2000-2 added
  • Stewarts of Mortimer Fleet List: ONV 653Y is to be sold for scrap, however it is not yet known whether Y14 HMC will become a permanent replacement or not. Thanks to John Wheeler for this.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: The new Tridents for Nuneaton are to be numbered 18502-5, with two due to be delivered on 12th or 13th. Three will be branded for route 157, and the spare used on route 48 from 23rd April. Oxford 18198 is on loan to Nuneaton for a few days from today for type training. Thanks to Tim Moss for this.

07-04-06:

  • Stewarts of Mortimer Fleet List: Y14 HMC is only actually back with the fleet on loan from Plaxton to cover for ONV 653Y which has suffered what may be a terminal breakdown. Thanks to Derek Bradfield for this.

05-04-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 465 is about to be repainted into Reading Football Club colours to celebrate the teams promotion to the Premier League. Thanks to Mac Head for this. 823 is confirmed as entering service on 4th. Thanks to Derek Bradfield for this. The remaining light pink 821/2/4/5/6 were all definitely in service today. Thanks to James Cusworth for this.
  • Courtney Coaches Fleet List: A new East Lancs bodied double decker registered RX06 WRU has been delivered. Thanks to Derek Bradfield for this. No further details about this vehicle or its intended role are known at present.
  • Stewarts of Mortimer: Contact details updated. Thanks to John Wheeler for this.
  • Stewarts of Mortimer Fleet List: Y14 HMC is reported as still being with the company. Thanks to John Wheeler for this. The vehicle was previously thought to have passed to Plaxton, Anston in January.
  • Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire Fleet List: 34471 was debranded today and 34472 was mostly debranded earlier in the week. 34470 was only partially debranded on 19th but has been completed this week. All three remain in service on a mixture of duties for the time being. 18394-9 were branded for route 27 on 26th March as planned. Three Optare Solos have been ordered for recently won tenders in Oxford due to commence on 4th June. The first two should arrive for roughly this time, whilst the third is to be a Slimline variant which won't be built until later in the year. Another vehicle (or a third standard Solo) may used on loan until it arrives. Leamington trainer 29617 remains with the company awaiting disposal. Following a change in Managing Director at Warwickshire 90018 left the fleet in March and 90036 joined it this week.

04-04-06:

  • News Page: New Vehicles in Action with photos of Reading 820, 820, 819, Weavaway RX06 WPT and First Berkshire 34274/5. Thanks to Katie Turner, Mark Lyons and Matt Wooll respectively for the last three photos.
  • Reading Transport Fleet List: 824 arrived on 1st registered YN06 JWP which was originally intended to be 828 but has been swapped. Thanks to Brain Coney for this. Several of the new OmniDekkas entered service today, including 819 and 820.
  • First Berkshire Fleet List: Bracknell 34274 was swapped for Slough 42415 on the evening on 30th March and 34275 for 42416 on the evening of 31st in preparation for service changes in Slough from 1st April. 34274/5 are for use on route 74 and 42415/6 for route 194. Thanks to Mat Wooll for this.
  • Weavaway Travel Fleet List: The third Wright Eclipse has arrived and is registered RX06 WPT. Thanks to Mark Lyons for this.

03-04-06:

02-04-06:

  • Reading Scania OmniDekkas: The new OmniDekkas have Hanover colour-LED destination displays fitted, with the front route number being displayed in the relevant colour and the rest of the displays in standard orange
  • Oxford Bus Company Fleet List: Seating capacity on 898/9 corrected to B39F. Thanks to Ralph Adams for this.

01-04-06:

  • Reading Transport Fleet List: Newbury Buses have been successful in bidding to retain the Vodafone contract, and to this extent have ordered seven new Scania CN230UB OmniCity single deckers for delivery in October. They will be numbered 6-12 to follow on from the five due for the Reading Thames Valley Park contract in July. 822 arrived on 25th March (not 26th), 819 on 28th March (making 823 fourth on 29th March not third), 825 on 30th and 821/6 on 31st. The batch is to be registered YN06 JWC-G/J/L/M/O/P/U-Z. 515 had been on loan to Newbury to cover for 509 which has been off the road at Reading for nearly 4 months, but has now returned to service in Newbury. The swap date is thought to have been 27th March. 517 spent most of 28th March on loan to Newbury, but returned the same day. Thanks to Brian Coney for this.
  • Reading Scania OmniDekkas: Delivery dates for 819-23/5-6 added

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