Whippet Coaches WG111 (BT66 MVL) at Eddington, Cambridge - 18 Oct 2023 (P1160907)

Wednesday 18 October 2023 (1133) – The ‘Universal’ bus service in Cambridge, provided by the University of Cambridge and operated by Whippet Coaches, had originally commenced in July 2016.

The service links Eddington (a relatively new community on the north-west side of the city which is still growing) with the Biomedical Campus (a large site to the south of the city which houses Addenbrooke’s Hospital and a growing number of medical institutions) travelling via various academic properties on the west side of the city.

The combined U1/U2 services give a 15 minute service frequency. The difference between routes of the two services occurs between the University Rugby Ground on Grange Road and Queens College (Silver Street). Service U1 travels via West Road and Queens Road and service U2 travels via Barton Road and Newnham Road. The latter requiring about three minutes more in the timetable.

The original (eight?) diesel buses used on the service were Wright Eclipse 3 bodied Volvo B8RLEs like WG111 (BT66 MVL) which was new in December 2016. In September 2023 the service was re-launched with the delivery of nine Mellor Sigma 12 electric buses.

Diesel powered WG110 and WG111 were working on the service today along with about six of the new electric buses. WG111 is seen arriving at Eddington when working the 1122 service U1 from Girton Corner to the Biomedical Campus due here at 1128.