Arriva The Shires 3032 (BD12 DHK) in Berkhamsted - 13 Apr 2024 (P1170804)

Saturday 13 April 2024 (1348) – Arriva The Shires 3032 (BD12 DHK), a Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 that was new to the TGM Group in July 2012, seen in High Street, Berkhamsted when working the 1300 service X5 from Aylesbury to Hemel Hempstead. (In a list dated November 2023 this bus was allocated to Aylesbury garage).

The tracker on the Bus Times website showed this bus had previously worked the 1145 service from Hemel Hempstead departing on time but arrived Aylesbury 10 minutes late at 1300. Departure from Aylesbury was at 1309, 9 minutes late but was now on time and would be so at Hemel Hempstead.

The service operates every 30 minutes but the driver of the earlier trip didn’t have as clear a run. He worked the 1115 service from Hemel Hempstead departing on time but arrived Aylesbury 22 minutes late at 1242. He then departed from Aylesbury at 1249 some 19 minutes late and was now running 23 minutes behind time. His arrival at Hemel Hempstead was 1405, 25 minutes down.

The ancient market town of Berkhamsted stands close to the Chiltern Hills. The long straight High Street is on an alignment dating from pre-Roman times. William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Berkhamsted following which a fort and then castle were established. The now ruined castle was a favoured residence of royalty but after its abandonment in 1485 the town fell into decline. In more modern times there was expansion following the construction of the Grand Union Canal and the coming of the main line railway both of which still link London with the Midlands.