2012
| 5 December 2012 Website Changes Gallery page for bus 317 amended to show correct registration number. 22 November 2012 Service Update Please remember that Padbus and Grey Green are purely fictional operations so these routes do not actually operate at all. With effect from 25 November 2012 the Woodstock Rider service will be operated by Padbus. This consists of 3 routes: 7A Woodstock - Bladon 26 Woodstock - Glympton - Wootton - Woodstock (Circular) 27 Woodstock - Shipton-on-Cherwell - Kidlington Sainsbury's Fleet News A new accessible bus for services 7A, 26 and 27 has been acquired. It is 419 (OL62 MAU) Mercedes Benz Sprinter City 45. This is an additional vehicle for the fleet. Website Changes The Fleetlist, Fleet History and Timetable pages have been updated to include the fleet and service changes mentioned above. 3 November 2012 Fleet News New vehicles for services 13 and 14 are 217/8 (OK62 HAS/T) Scania Omnicity H45/31F. Trident/ ALX 400 294 and Trident/East Lancs 299 become operational spares, tri-axle Olympian 279 is withdrawn and similar 285 is delicensed pending a decision on its future. Website Changes The Fleetlist and Fleet History pages have been updated to include the fleet changes mentioned above. 26 October 2012 Service Update Please remember that Padbus and Grey Green are purely fictional operations so these routes do not actually operate at all. With effect from 28 October 2012, services 13, 14, 14A and 15 are being revised. Service 13 will be re-routed to follow the 14 route via Yarnton and will be increased in frequency to run hourly between Oxford and Charlbury with some early morning and evening journeys running from and to Chipping Norton via Chadlington. Connections will be made at Charlbury with revised service 15 to Chipping Norton or Witney. Some late evening journeys will run to Chipping Norton via Charlbury and Enstone as service 13A. Service 14 will continue to run hourly between Oxford and Chipping Norton via Enstone with alternate journeys continuing on to Stratford-upon-Avon. The service 14A varient via Wootton is discontinued. Service 15 is revised to run hourly between Witney and Chipping Norton connecting at Charlbury with service 13 for Woodstock and Oxford. Some journeys will run via Ramsden and will be numbered 15A. Website Changes The Timetable pages have been updated to include the new timetables mentioned above. 13 October 2012 Website Changes Links page updated. 4 October 2012 Fleet News A further Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 is 216 (OK62HAR) for service X9 (Oxford-Carterton). Wright bodied Volvo B9TL 202 becomes an operational spare and tri-axle Olympian 279 is withdrawn. Website Changes The Fleetlist and Fleet History pages have been updated to include the fleet changes mentioned above. 13 September 2012 Service Update Please remember that Padbus and Grey Green are purely fictional operations so these routes do not actually operate at all. With effect from 16 September 2012, services X2, X4 & X6 are being revised. Service X2 (Oxford - Cheltenham) is retimed and re-routed to run direct via the A40 between Burford roundabout and Northleach. The revised timetable provides earlier buses from, and later buses to, Cheltenham. Service X4 (Oxford - Cirencester) is retimed and rerouted between Carterton and Bibury to run via Burford roundabout and Aldsworth. Together with service X2 this will provide an hourly service between Oxford and Burford. Service X4 will now be operated by double deck buses to provide more seats on the popular section between Oxford and Carterton. Service X6 (Oxford - Swindon) is retimed. Service X9 (Oxford - Carterton) is a new route providing a service to Upavon Way in Carterton. Services X2, X4, X6 & X9 combine to provide a service every 30 minutes between Oxford and Carterton. Due to lack of demand, Service 14B (Woodstock - Blenheim Palace) will be withdrawn after 15 September 2012. Customers wishing to visit Blenheim Palace should catch services 7, 13 or 14 to the Hensington Gate entrance. A courtesy bus will operate in the park between the gate and the palace for those with walking difficulties. Fleet News The new double deckers for service X4 are Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s 214/5 (OJ12 HAO/P). Padbus has the contract to provide the courtesey bus service in Blenheim Palace park and will run the service with open top Optare Solo Cabrio 701 (SG55 NCH). This bus was converted to open top in the Padbus workshops and has a retractable canvas roof. A double deck bus (usually 206 or 207) is now outstationed at the Grey Green garage in Winchcombe to operate on service X2 (Oxford - Cheltenham). Optare Solo Classic 412 is now an operational spare and will deputise for Solo Cabrio 701 when necessary although it could now also appear on other routes. Single deckers displaced by the changes to services X2, X4 and X6 (529 Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown, 540 Scania Omnicity & 541 Volvo B9RLE Wright Eclipse Urban) are now spares allowing the withdrawal of 522/3 Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer (the last step entrance single deckers in the fleet). Website Changes The Timetable pages have been updated to include the new timetables for services X2, X4, X6 & X9 as well as a combined timetable for the Oxford - Carterton section of these routes. The Fleetlist and Fleet History pages have been updated to include the fleet changes mentioned above. The Links page has been checked and broken links corrected or deleted. 16 June 2012 Website Changes The News for 2011 has been moved to the News Archive page. 4 January 2012 Fleet News Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere 184 has been converted to C70F in the Padbus workshops and has returned to Grey Green as a dedicated school bus. The Padbus workshops also converted withdrawn Bova Futuras 185 and 189 to C70F school buses prior to them being sold. Website Changes The Fleetlist and Fleet History pages have been updated to include the changes mentioned above. |
2011
1 November 2011
Fleet News
The fleet's 10th Scania Omnidekka is 619 (OH11 LAU). It has entered service on route 15 (Oxford-Woodstock-Charlbury-Witney) displacing tri-axle Olympian 285 to the spares fleet. This latest arrival means that the whole peak vehicle requirement can nominally be met by low floor or wheelchair equipped vehicles. However, a number of step entrance vehicles remain as operational spares.
Tri-axle Volvo B12/T Plaxton Excalibur 188 has moved to Grey Green at Winchcombe where it replaces B10M Plaxton Premier 184 on general coach work.
Website Changes
The Archive Gallery has been completed by the addition of five photographs of low height double deckers. These include a rare Foden.
The Fleetlist and Fleet History pages have been updated to include the changes mentioned above.
The Links page has been updated to include a link to model fleet operator southwestbus.
The picture on the Home page has been changed to Van Hool Acron 198.
28 October 2011
Website Changes
The Archive Gallery has been updated to include 10 pictures of early Padbus single deckers. The Fleet History page now includes links to the picture galleries.
8 October 2011
Website Changes
The Gallery page has been updated to include pictures of the recent new deliveries described in the news items dated 7 August 2011 and 30 September 2011.
30 September 2011
Fleet News
September 1 saw the entry into service of 101 (OG61 CAA) Scania K340EB/Caetano Levante C51FLt. This was followed on 4th September by similar 102 (OG61 CAB). Both these coaches are for MetroShuttle service X10 where they replace Volvo B12M/Plaxton Paragon 190 and Volvo B12M/Van Hool 191 in the main MetroShuttle fleet. 190 and 191 have moved to the MetroShuttle spares fleet displacing Volvo B12T/Plaxton Excalibur 188 and Bova Futura 189 to the reserve fleet.
The latest arrival is 599 (SO10 ULT) Optare Solo Ultra AB57D. This unique vehicle is another special from Padbus Engineering Services Technical Solutions. It is expected to enter service in early October for a six month trial on service 3 (Oxford - Witney via Long Hanborough), hence its temporary, out of sequence fleet number.
7 August 2011
Fleet News
New arrivals are 198 (OE11 CEB) Van Hool T917 Acron C63FL and 199 (OF11 CEC) Scania K340EB/Van Hool T9 Alizee C49FLt. Coach 199 has a widened doorway incorporating a wheelchair lift in a style pioneered by Eldorado Motors.
Following recent new deliveries, various changes have been made to the existing coach fleet. Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere 180 and Volvo B10M/Van Hool T8 Alizee 181 have been withdrawn.
Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere 183 has been upseated to C70F and has been transferred from Padbus to Grey Green as a dedicated school bus. Similar coach 184 has also been transferred to Grey Green but remains C49F. Bova Futura 185 and Volvo B10MA/Plaxton Premiere 186 are currently held in reserve.
Website Changes
The Fleetlist and Fleet History pages have been updated to reflect the fleet changes described above.
1 June 2011
Fleet News
Further arrivals are 197 (OE11 CEA) Volvo B7R / Plaxton Profile C49FL and 554 (SE56 LRT) Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban B43F. Coach 197 is in MetroShuttle livery. Bus 554 was acquired from L.R. Travel and has entered service in its previous owner's colours which are similar to the Padbus livery. It has been allocated to Chipping Norton for service 25 (Chipping Norton - Banbury). Plaxton Premiere 184 and SLF Pointer Dart 530 are now operational spare vehicles.
Website Changes
The Fleetlist, Fleet History and Gallery pages have all been updated to reflect the fleet changes described above.
7 April 2011
Website Changes
The Archive Pictures page has been updated to include pictures of former members of the minibus fleet.
23 April 2011
Fleet News
New arrivals are 212 (OE11 HAM) Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 for services 13, 14 & 15 and 213 (OE11 HAN) Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 for Oxford MetroShuttle service X10. Plaxton Premiere 183 and tri-axle Olympian 286 move to the reserve fleet pending decisions on their futures.
Website Changes
The Fleetlist, Fleet History and Gallery pages have all been updated to reflect the fleet changes described above.
17 April 2011
Website Changes
Links page checked and updated where necessary.
20 March 2011
Website Changes
Pictures of most of the open top double deckers that have operated for Padbus in the past have been added to the Archive Pictures page.
14 March 2011
Website Changes
Pictures of most of the full height double deckers that have operated for Padbus in the past have been added to the Archive Pictures page.
28 February 2011
Website Changes
The gallery of archive pictures has been given a page of its own. It can accessed via the existing Gallery page which now just has pictures of the current fleet. The Archive Gallery now includes past members of the coach fleet.
24 February 2011
Website Changes
The Gallery has been updated to include archive pictures of the service fleet.
23 February 2011
Website Changes
The News for 2010 has been moved to the News Archive page.
The Gallery has been revised to split pictures of the current fleet from the historic archive pictures. No new pictures have been added at this stage.
The Links page has been updated to include new model fleet operator Feline Buses.
2010
26 October 2010 Fleet News Two further vehicles to arrive are pre-used and reregistered Optare Solos 417/8 (OA04 MAS/OB04 MAT) for Padbus. These complete the 2010 vehicle programme which has seen an unprecedented 19 vehicles join the fleet (7 single deckers, 4 highbridge double deckers, 3 lowheight double deckers, 2 minibuses, 1 open topper, 1 coach and a van). Website Changes The Gallery pages have been updated to include pictures of the latest arrivals. 22 October 2010 Website Changes The Links page has been updated to include a link to Castleways of Winchcombe. 19 October 2010 Website Changes The News page has been updated to belatedly include the items dated 15 August 2010, 27 September 2010, 10 October 2010 and 14 October 2010. The Current Fleet and Fleet History pages have been updated to include the changes listed for those dates. The Timetables pages and Grey Green route map have been updated to include the service changes of 15 August 2010 and 10 October 2010. The model fleet operator section of the Links page has been updated to include London & Country Buses. 14 October 2010 Fleet News The increase is service bus work by Grey Green at Winchcombe has highlighted an urgent need for a spare low floor bus. Used Dennis/Plaxton Mini Pointer Dart 553 (SN03 YCL) has, therefore, been acquired at short notice. It has been pressed into service still in dealer stock white but with full Grey Green graphics. It is normally to be found on service 37 (Willersey - Evesham) releasing Dart/Marshall 531 to act as a spare. 10 October 2010 Fleet News Another vehicle for the Grey Green fleet is 551 (OA07 SCC) VDL SB200/Plaxton Centro B45F. This bus, along with M.A.N./MCV 545 and Optare Tempo 546, have been used to launch new services 38/39. Service Update Grey Green's trunk route between Cheltenham, Winchcombe and Broadway has been upgraded and extended to provide a more frequent, regular headway service. The existing irregular headway service 11 has been replaced by three new routes. New route 38 runs 2-hourly between Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon via Winchcombe, Toddington, Toddington Newtown Roundabout, Broadway, Willersey and Chipping Campden. Service 39 runs two hourly between Cheltenham and Broadway via Winchcombe, Winchcombe estates and Toddington Newtown Roundabout with some journeys running as service 39A via Winchcombe, Winchcombe estates, Stanway and Stanton. Together these services provide an hourly headway between Cheltenham, Winchcombe and Broadway. Friday service 12 (Cheltenham - Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick is withdrawn. As a result of these changes, all Grey Green routes are numbered in the range 31-39 thus removing any duplication with Padbus routes. Please remember that Padbus and Grey Green are purely fictional operations so these routes do not actually operate at all. 27 September 2010 Fleet News Yet more new vehicles to record are 617/8 (OD60LAS/T) Scania/Optare Omnidekka H47/28F. These have converted service 29 (Witney - Abingdon) to low floor operation. Displaced Volvo Olympians 283/4 are now operational spares. Veteran lowheight Leyland Olympians 606/8 have been withdrawn but have been retained by the company. Former Park & Ride M.A.N./MCV Evolution 545 has moved to Winchcombe in Grey Green livery. 15 August 2010 Fleet News Further additional vehicles to record are: 21 (OC60 AAW) Renault Trafic van for Grey Green and 211 (OB10HAL) Scania Omnicity H41/32D for Park & Ride service 11. Marshall bodied Dennis Dart 531 has moved from Padbus to Grey Green for the Willersey - Evesham service. In exchange, Optare Delta 521 has moved from Grey Green to Padbus as a driver trainer and has been renumbered 22. The previous driver trainer 18 (J784 BNL) Volvo B10M/Plaxton Paramount has been withdrawn as has former Park & Ride M.A.N./Volgren 288 (T288 UWL). Service Update Grey Green service 17 (Willersey - Broadway - Evesham) has been renumbered 37. 2 August 2010 Website Changes The Gallery, Current Fleet and Fleet History pages have been updated to include the addition of new Scania 196. 29 July 2010 Fleet News In part of a drive to move the Grey Green coach business more upmarket a new Scania K340EB with high specification Irizar PB body has been acquired. In is numbered 196 (OB10 CDZ). 25 July 2010 Fleet News Two more buses have recently entered service. 317 (OA55 OAS) is a Dennis Trident with Alexander PO45/24F body. In a first for the fleet, this bus has a door between the open and covered sections of the top deck allowing the covered part to be heated during winter operation of the Sights of Oxford Circular Tour. This arrival means that the whole open top fleet is wheelchair accessible. 552 (OA55 SCD) is an M.A.N. 17.223 with Designline B51D body imported from New Zealand. It has entered service on route 3 (Oxford-North Leigh-Witney). Tri-axle open top Metrobus 309 has been withdrawn. Marshall bodied Dart 531 is currently spare but is expected to move to Grey Green at Winchcombe. Website Changes The Gallery, Current Fleet and Fleet History pages have been updated to include these fleet changes. 19 July 2010 Website Changes The Gallery, Current Fleet and Fleet History pages have been updated to include the various recent fleet changes. 2 June 2010 Fleet News Further investment in new vehicles has seen the arrival of 4 Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 Darts. 547-9 (OA10 SBY/Z,SCA) are 37 seaters in Park & Ride livery to take over the operation of service 30 (Oxford City Centre - Water Eaton). 550 (OA10 SCB) is a 29 seater for Grey Green to operate village services 31-36 instead of the expected Optare Solo. Other changes have seen Palatine II bodied Olympians 283/4 used to convert service 29 (Witney-Abingdon) to double deck operation to cope with peak school/college loadings. As a result of all the recent changes, Optare Spectra 278, Singapore-style Olympian 292 and step-entrance Darts 518/9 (Plaxton) and 520 (East Lancs) have been withdrawn. Step-entrance Pointer Darts 522/3 and MAN/MCV 545 are currently spare though 545 is expected to move to Grey Green in due course. Service Update As noted above, Padbus has invested in a fleet of new, low floor, easy access buses for Oxford Park & Ride service 30 (Water Eaton). 17 May 2010 Service Update Padbus is pleased to announce that, following the delivery of three new double deck buses, Oxford Park & Ride service 11 (Redbridge - City Centre - Pear Tree) is now fully operated by low floor, easy access buses.  Fleet News The new buses referred to above are 209, 210 (OA10 HAJ, OA10 HAK) Alexander Dennis Enviro 400s and 616 (OA10 LAR) Scania Omnidekka. All these buses have dual door bodywork. Tri-axle Olympians 285, 286 and 292 have been delicensed but may yet see further service. 4 May 2010 Website Changes Links page updated to include link to Southbus. 29 April 2010 Fleet News The first new delivery for 2010 is 208 (OA10 HAH) Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 H47/32F which entered service on routes 13, 14 and 15 on 26 April 2010. As a result, Optare Spectra 278 has moved to the reserve fleet. Website Changes Links page updated to include links to Heyfordian Travel and L.R. Travel 5 February 2010 Website Changes Links page updated with the new URL for RH Buses. 10 January 2010 Service Update Following a thorough review of the weekly village bus services aquired with the Grey Green business a revised network has been introduced as follows: 31 Winchcombe - Evesham (Thursdays) 32 Winchcombe - Moreton in Marsh Market (Tuesdays) 33 Bishop's Cleeve - Tewkesbury (Wednesdays) 34 Dumbleton - Bishop's Cleeve (Mondays & Fridays) 35 Aston Magna - Cheltenham (Saturdays) S36 Dumbleton - Winchcombe School (Schooldays) The following services have been withdrawn: 3 Winchcombe - Chipping Campden 5 Stow-on-the-Wold - Evesham S6 Dumbleton - Winchcombe School 7 Winchcombe - Moreton-in-Marsh Market 10 Winchcombe Circular 14 Wickhamford - Cheltenham Details of the new services may be found on the Timetables page but remember that Padbus and Grey Green are purely fictional operations so these routes do not actually operate at all. Website Changes Links page updated to restore the link to the Oxford Bus Museum. 7 January 2010 Website Changes The News for 2009 has been moved to the News Archive page. Back to Top |
2009
11 October 2009
Fleet News
Further additions to the fleet are 207 (OY06 HAG) Alexander Dennis Trident / Alexander Dennis ALX400 for Padbus services X2,X4,X6 and 546 (OY56SBX) Optare Tempo for Grey Green service 11. Volvo B10M/Van Hool 182 moves to the Padbus reserve fleet. Volvo B10M/Plaxton 180 remains with Grey Green for the time being as an operational spare.
Website Changes
The Fleet History page has been revised to include a little more detail of the early fleet.
4 October 2009
Fleet News
The latest innovative vehicle to enter service with Padbus is a special low entry version of the Plaxton Panther coach on a Volvo B12BLE(T) chassis. This coach, numbered 194 in the Padbus fleet, was delivered during August and has been undergoing proving trials. After being exhibited at a bus show in Stafford on 3 October 2009 it entered revenue earning service on 4 October.
28 September 2009
Corporate Announcement
With effect from 1 October 2009 Padbus will take over the business of Grey Green of Winchcombe. This small coach company operates 9 routes in an area immediately to the west of the existing Padbus operating area and so is a good strategic addition to the business. The business will continue to trade under the Grey Green name and Padbus considers there is scope for some expansion both in terms of bus services and coach operations.
Service Update
The services acquired with Grey Green will continue unchanged for the time being. Most of the services are infrequent with the only daily services being those along Cheltenham-Broadway and Evesham-Broadway corridors. See the Grey Green Routes list for more information.
Fleet News
No vehicle have been acquired from Grey Green so the following Padbus vehicles are being transferred to Winchcombe: 180 Volvo B10M/Plaxton, 181 Volvo B10M/Van Hool, 519 Dennis Dart/Plaxton, 521 Optare Delta and 608 all Leyland Olympian. All these vehicles carry Grey Green fleetnames on their existing Padbus livery. In addition a mid-life coach has been purchased in the form of 195, a Neoplan Cityliner. This is in the new Grey Green livery of pale metallic green with thin green stripes. Vehicles will be numbered in the Padbus national fleetnumbering system.
A fleet change unconnected with the Grey Green takeover is the withdrawal of Scania Lodekka 316.
Website Changes
The website has been updated to include the Grey Green fleet (with pictures) and routes.
11 August 2009
Fleet News
The next vehicle in this year's intake for the OXFORDMetroShuttle fleet has entered service in the form of 193, a 15m tri-axle Volvo B12B(T) with Plaxton Panther C69FL bodywork.
Metsec bodied Trident 281 has moved from the main MetroShuttle fleet to the MetroShuttle spare fleet and Olympian/Alexander 279 has moved from MetroShuttle spare to the reserve fleet.
At the same time, a new Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 numbered 206 has entered service on routes X2,X4,X6 in place of Volvo B10M/Plaxton 180 which moves to the reserve fleet.
9 August 2009
Fleet News
Optare Solo 411 has been refurbished and repainted. All Solos are now in the latest livery.
21 July 2009
Fleet News
In August 2008 Volgren bodied MAN double decker 287 was found to be suffering severe metal fatigue in its upper deck and had to replaced on Park & Ride duties by Trident 295. It has now been rebuilt as an open topper and, renumbered 315, has entered service on the Sights of Oxford Circular Tour.
Open top Metrobus 308 has been withdrawn.
It has been found possible to repair the damage to the chassis of Olympian 608 and it has returned to service as an operational spare.
28 June 2009
Fleet News
Optare Solo 410 has now been refurbished (News 17 May 2009) and repainted into the current green livery. It has re-entered service on route 7 (Witney-Woodstock) releasing 411 for refurbishment.
26 June 2009
Fleet News
The first part of a major investment in new vehicles for the OXFORDMetroShuttle fleet has entered service in the form of 192, a 12.3m Volvo B12B with Plaxton Panther C49FLt bodywork.
Bova Futura 185 has moved from the main MetroShuttle fleet to the MetroShuttle spare fleet and Volvo B10M/Van Hool 181 has moved from MetroShuttle spare to the reserve fleet, losing its MetroShuttle branding in the process.
Leyland Olympian 608 has been found to have a twisted chassis and is off the road whilst a decision is made about its future.
19 June 2009
Website Changes
The Gallery has been completely rebuilt and now contains 60 pictures illustrating most of the fleet. Links have also been provided from the Current Fleet List. The picture captions include brief details of how the models were built.
15 June 2009
Fleet News
The sixth Scania Omnidekka in the Padbus fleet [615 (OX58LAP)] has entered service on route 5 (Oxford - Witney - Carterton). This completes the conversion of service 5 to low floor operation. Leyland Olympian 606 moves to the reserve fleet.
Optare Delta 507 has been found to have severe body damage and is considered withdrawn.
22 May 2009
Fleet News
Following the success of Leyland Victory 312, a further wheelchair accessible open top double decker has been added to the fleet. The new bus, 316, is a heavily rebuilt Bristol FLF Lodekka. As well as the removal of the roof and the installation of the wheelchair lift, the bus has been equipped with a Scania engine and the bonnet assembly from a Scania truck. It has been finished in a simplified version of the open top livery and will act as a back-up for the rest of the open top fleet.
17 May 2009
Fleet News
A further vehicle to enter service is 416 (OX09 MAR), a Euro 5 engined Optare Solo B31F. It has been allocated to service 7 (Woodstock - Witney) to allow earlier Solo 410 to be withdrawn from service pending refurbishment.
11 May 2009
Fleet News
An additional vehicle to report is 543 (OV56 SBU), a Mercedes Citaro G AB53D. This has entered service on route 5 (Oxford-Carterton). It replaces Leyland Olympian 608 which becomes an operational spare.
26 April 2009
Website Changes
Links page updated (new URL for Quicksilver Coaches).
20 April 2009
Website Changes
Registration number of bus 614 corrected in Fleet History
19 January 2009
Website Changes
Links page checked and updated.
6 January 2009
Service Update
The infrequent and irregular network of routes linking Eynsham, Stanton Harcourt, Standlake and Bampton with Witney and Oxford are being replaced by a simplified set of more frequent, regular headway services from 11 January 2009.
Services 22 (Oxford - Witney via Eynsham & Standlake), 23 (Oxford - Eynsham - Standlake circular) and 24 (Oxford - Eynsham - Cassington circular) are being withdrawn and replaced by new hourly service 23 (Oxford - Bampton via Cassington, Eynsham, Stanton Harcourt and Standlake). The section of route between Oxford & Eynsham via Botley continues to be covered by frequent service 5 (Oxford - Witney - Carterton).
Service 8 (Witney - Carterton via Bampton) is being increased in frequency from every 2 hours to hourly and extended within Carterton to serve Broadfields Health Centre and Shilton Park. This bus also now serves the Sainsbury store in Witney. The once a day 8A variant via Standlake is being withdrawn.
Service 29 (Witney - Abingdon) is being retimed to provide a half hourly service between Witney and Ducklington. Consequently service 7 (Ducklington - Witney - Woodstock) is being withdrawn between Ducklington and Witney (Sainsbury's).
Service 21 (Witney - South Leigh - Standlake circular) continues unchanged.
Click for maps showing these services before and after the changes.
Details of all the services "operated" in miniature form by Padbus may be found here, but remember that Padbus is a purely fictional operation so these routes do not actually operate at all.
Back to Top
2008
2 November 2008
Notices warning that Padbus is a purely fictional operation have been added to the timetables section in an attempt to avoid confusing people who are not used to the concept of model bus fleet operation.
8 October 2008
What will probably be the last new vehicle for 2008 has arrived in the form of 545 (OW58 SBW) an M.A.N 14.220 with MCW Evolution B40F bodywork. It has entered service on Water Eaton Park & Ride route 30. Dennis Dart 519 has returned to the reserve fleet.
2 September 2008
Current Fleet allocation details updated following entry into service of Enviro 400 number 205 in place of Optare Delta 507.
9 August 2008
Padbus already operates services to four of Oxford's Park & Ride sites: Peartree, Redbridge, Seacourt and Thornhill. Now, at somewhat short notice, it has taken over operation of the service to the fifth site at Water Eaton. Numbered 30, the new service runs every 15 minutes. Dennis Darts 519, 522 and 523 have moved from the reserve fleet to operate this new route but Padbus plans to obtain some newer low-floor buses in due course.
New vehicles continue to arrive. Scania Omnidekka 614 (OV08 LAO) completes the conversion of service 5 to double deck operation by replacing Optare Delta 521. Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 205 (OV58 HAE) will enter service on 1st September on services X2, X4, X6 and will replace Optare Delta 507. The Deltas will join the reserve fleet.
1 August 2008
As suggested in the News item for 8 July 2008, more additional buses have started arriving. The first to arrive is Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident 204 (OV54 HAD). It has entered service on routes X2, X4 & X6. Plaxton Paramount bodied Volvo B10M 187 has been withdrawn.
8 July 2008
The balance of the initial 2008 new vehicle programme has now entered service. However further deliveries are now expected before the end of the year. This has led to more older vehicles, including the fleet's last Leyland Lynx, being withdrawn.
202 (OT56 HAB) Volvo B9TL/Wrights Eclipse Gemini H43/29F. This new bus is the first double decker for services X2,X4,X6. Replaces 525.
305 (WLT 305) Open top Routemaster. Withdrawn. Replaced as open top spare by 308.
307 (YUD 653V) Open top Bristol VRT. Considered to be beyond economic repair. Withdrawn without replacement.
308 (G276 XFC) Open top Metrobus. Moves from main open top fleet to open top spare.
314 (OT07 OAO) Open top VDL DB250/East Lancs Myllennium Lowlander O47/27F. New bus for service 16. Replaces 308.
523 (P523 CWL) Dennis Dart/Plaxton. Moves from service 3 to reserve fleet.
525 (J525 AJO) Leyland Lynx. Withdrawn. Replaced by 202.
544 (OU56 SBV) Mercedes Citaro B39F. New bus for service 3. Replaces 523.
20 June 2008
More new vehicles have joined the fleet leading to older vehicles being reallocated or withdrawn:
19 (OU08 AAU) Mercedes-Benz Sprinter M11. New bus for crew shuttle work. Replaces 409.
182 (R182 TUD) Volvo B10M/Van Hool. Moves from the MetroShuttle spares fleet to services X2,X4,X6. Replaces 512.
203 (OT08 HAC) Volvo B9TL/Alexander Dennis Enviro 500 DPH53/27D. New bus for the front line MetroShuttle fleet. Replaces 280.
280 (R280 TFC) Volvo Olympian/Alexander. Moves from the front line MetroShuttle fleet to the MetroShuttle spares fleet. Replaces 182.
409 (P409 DUD) Mercedes-Benz 709D/Plaxton Beaver. Withdrawn. Replaced by 19.
512 (H512 RBW) Leyland Lynx. Withdrawn. Replaced by 182.
519 (N519 RUD) Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer. Moves from service 3 to the reserve fleet.
524 (G524 WFC) Leyland Lynx. Withdrawn. Replaced by 528.
528 (V528 CFC) Volvo B10LA/Wright AB56D. Moves from service 12 to Park & Ride spare. Replaces 524.
531 (T531 UWL) Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall. Moves from service 5 to service 3. Replaces 519.
539 (OT56 SBP) Mercedes-Benz Citaro G AB53D. New bus for Park & Ride service 12. Replaces bus 528.
613 (OT08 LAN) Scania Omnidekka H47/28F. New bus for service 5. Replaces 531.
1 June 2008
Further vehicles have entered service.
298 is a rare Volgren bodied Scania in MetroShuttle livery. Its arrival has led to a complicated cascade of vehicles with Olympian 279 moving to the MetroShuttle spares fleet allowing Volvo B10M 180 move from the Metroshuttle spares fleet to services X2, X4, X6 leading to the withdrawal of Leyland Lynx 513.
299 is a Dennis Trident with East Lancs Lolyne body. It has been allocated to services 13,14 and 15 allowing Volvo Citybus to be withdrawn.
542 is a Caetano Slimbus bodied Dart which has replaced Optare StarRider 406 on services
1 & 21.
20 May 2008
The first new vehicle for 2008 has arrived in the form of Cummins engined Optare Solo 415 (OT08 MAP). It is currently unallocated and provides extra cover across the minibus services. Following a reappraisal of minibus requirements, Varios 407 & 408 have been withdrawn.
14 April 2008
Major changes have been made to services on the Oxford - Witney - Carterton corridor.
Service 5 (Oxford - Eynsham - Witney) is increased in frequency from every 30 minutes to every 15 minutes. Alternate journeys are extended beyond Witney to serve Curbridge and Carterton. It had been planned to convert the service to full double deck operation but difficulties in sourcing suitable low-height buses means that two of the eight duties continue to be operated by single deckers.
Service 3 (Oxford - Eynsham - North Leigh - Witney) which had interworked with service 5 now runs separately. Timings have been slightly revised to allow more recovery time in Oxford.
Services X2 (Oxford - Witney - Carterton - Burford - Cheltenham), X4 (Oxford - Witney - Carterton - Circencester) and X6 (Oxford - Witney - Carterton - Swindon) are rerouted between Witney and Carterton to serve Minster Lovell instead of Curbridge. Curbridge is now served by service 5. All three services have revised timings to improve reliablity. This increases the number of buses required from 7 to 8 with vehicles interworking between the routes.
Service 9 (Witney - Minster Lovell - Carterton) is withdrawn having been replaced entirely by the revised X2, X4 and X6.
Service X20 (Oxford - Carterton express) is reduced in frequency from every 30 minutes to hourly.
Full details of the new services may be found on the Timetables page. These are, of course, fictional and exist purely to give some structure to the Padbus model fleet. They should not be taken as offering any indication of bus services that might actually be found on the roads of Oxfordshire.
Following these route changes various changes have been made on the vehicle front. Optare Delta 521, Marshall bodied Dart SLF 531, VDL DB250 609 and Omnidekka 612 have been transferred from the reserve fleet to provide the additional capacity required on service 5. Following the reduced vehicle requirement on service X20 Volvo B10BLE/Wrights 529 has lost its X20 route branding and now provides extra capacity on services X2, X4, and X6. Mercedes Varios 407/8, which had worked service 9, are transferred to the reserve fleet.
In addition Dart MPDs 526/7 have lost their Park & Ride 28 route branding. 527 has moved from reserve to service 8 (Witney - Bampton - Carterton) replacing Dartline bodied Dart 511. The latter is now withdrawn.
The revised vehicle allocations are on the Fleetlist page.
22 February 2008
Gallery reinstated showing a selection of vehicles from the fleet.
9 February 2008
Model fleet operators section of Links page updated to include Red Rover Buses.
31 January 2008
Full timetable details have now been added to the website. These are, of course, fictional and exist purely to give some structure to the Padbus model fleet. They should not be taken as offering any indication of bus services that might actually be found on the roads of Oxfordshire.
22 January 2008
Various technical problems have prevented the Padbus website being updated since October 2005. It has now been rebuilt and updated with the latest fleet changes, although without a Gallery at present. A Fleet History has been included to show how the fleet has evolved since 1989 (the earlier history not having been recorded).
Since the last update, the fleet has changed quite a bit. The following vehicles have been withdrawn: Scammell Tow Truck 18; Coaches 169, 173, 177,179; Double Deckers 271, 272, 275, 602; Open Topper 302; Minibuses 403-5 and Single Decker 514.
There has been considerable investment in new buses with the following having been added:
Coaches 190/1; Double Deckers 293-7, 610-2; Open Toppers 311-3; Minibuses 413/4 and Single Deckers 533-8, 540/1. Details of all these vehicle can be found on the Fleet History page.
On the route front, Service X10 (Burford - Witney - Oxford - London) has been recast to run Oxford - London only at a high frequency 24 hours a day and is now branded as OXFORDMetroShuttle. The internet based Padbus Lite operation has been withdrawn. The Oxford - Burford section of service X10 has been replaced by additional short workings on service X2 (Oxford - Witney - Burford - Cheltenham).
Service 12, the Oxford east-west Park & Ride has been converted to full low-floor operation using Volvo, Scania and Mercedes articulated buses.
Following a review of tendered operations, services 26 (Chipping Norton - Middle Barton - Oxford), 27/27A (Oxford City Centre - John Radcliffe Hospital) and 28 (John Radcliffe Hospital Park & Ride) have been withdrawn.
One new sevice has been started: 29 Witney - Kingston Bagpuize - Abingdon. A number of vehicles are held in reserve pending further service changes.
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