Go-Ahead : Oxford/Thames Travel/Carousel

Sunday 29 March 2015 (1119 BST) – Carousel Buses Optare Solo 710 (MX08 MYY) seen in High Wycombe bus station in the pouring rain. Carousel was acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in March 2012. According to 'Bus Lists on the Web' the bus was new to Britannia Parking of Bournemouth in April 2008. There are various photographs on the Internet showing it in the liveries of Damory (2011), Thames Transit (2013) etc suggesting it has been passed around various Go-Ahead Group companies prior to reaching Carousel.

Sunday 29 March 2015 (1119 BST) – High Wycombe based Carousel was acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in March 2012. RX60 DME is a MAN powered Alexander-Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 which dates from before the takeover being new to Carousel in January 2010 as fleet number ENV18. It is now numbered 422 and was seen in High Wycombe bus station between trips on service A40 which runs to/from Heathrow Airport.

Sunday 29 March 2015 (1119 BST) – High Wycombe based Carousel was acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in March 2012. RX60 DME is a MAN powered Alexander-Dennis (ADL) Enviro200 which dates from before the takeover being new to Carousel in January 2010 as fleet number ENV18. It is now numbered 422 and was seen in High Wycombe bus station between trips on service A40 which runs to/from Heathrow Airport.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1527) – Thames Travel, a Go-Ahead owned company, 507 (SN10 CCY) seen loading outside Watlington Library when working the 1525 service T1 to Oxford. It is an ADL Enviro200 new in May 2010.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1527) – Thames Travel, a Go-Ahead owned company, 507 (SN10 CCY) seen loading outside Watlington Library when working the 1525 service T1 to Oxford. It is an ADL Enviro200 new in May 2010.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1528) – Thames Travel, a Go-Ahead owned company, 507 (SN10 CCY) seen departing Watlington Library when working the 1525 service T1 to Oxford. It is an ADL Enviro200 new in May 2010.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1628) – Thames Travel (Go-Ahead owned) 705 (YJ10 MFN), an Optare Solo new in May 2010, seen arriving at Wallingford Market Place on service 136A. It had departed Wallingford at 1605 and operated to Cholsey and back. Cholsey is a village about 2 miles south of Wallingford where crime writer Agatha Christie once lived and where she is buried in the churchyard of St. Mary’s Church.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1630) – Thames Travel (Go-Ahead owned) 705 (YJ10 MFN), an Optare Solo new in May 2010, seen outside Wallingford Town Hall having just arrived on service 136A. It had departed Wallingford at 1605 and operated to Cholsey and back. Cholsey is a village about 2 miles south of Wallingford where crime writer Agatha Christie once lived and where she is buried in the churchyard of St. Mary’s Church. After a change of driver its next assignment was the 1638 service 139 to Henley-on-Thames.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1631) – Thames Travel (Go-Ahead owned) 705 (YJ10 MFN), an Optare Solo new in May 2010, seen outside Wallingford Town Hall having just arrived on service 136A. It had departed Wallingford at 1605 and operated to Cholsey and back. Alongside is a company van which had brought two new drivers from the garage to take over this bus (on the 1638 service 139 to Henley-on-Thames) and another for the 1647 service X39 to Oxford.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1637) – Thames Travel (Go-Ahead owned) 705 (YJ10 MFN), an Optare Solo new in May 2010, seen outside Wallingford Town Hall prior to working the 1638 service 139 to Henley-on-Thames. (It had previously worked the 1605 service 136A from Wallingford to Cholsey and back). Alongside is a company van which had brought two new drivers from the garage, one to take over this bus and another for the 1647 service X39 to Oxford.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1639) – Thames Travel (Go-Ahead owned) 705 (YJ10 MFN), an Optare Solo new in May 2010, seen leaving Wallingford Town Hall on 1638 service 139 to Henley-on-Thames. (It had previously worked the 1605 service 136A from Wallingford to Cholsey and back).

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1644) – Thames Travel 418 (AE59 AWH) is an MAN powered MCV Evolution that was new to Carousel of High Wycombe in January 2010. The Carousel business was subsequently acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in March 2012 and continues to operate as a separate subsidiary. It had worked the 1525 service X2 from Oxford (due Wallingford at 1642) and after a break would then work the 1657 back to the city.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1648) – Thames Travel 418 (AE59 AWH) is an MAN powered MCV Evolution that was new to Carousel of High Wycombe in January 2010. The Carousel business was subsequently acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in March 2012 and continues to operate as a separate subsidiary. . It had worked the 1525 service X2 from Oxford (due Wallingford at 1642) and after a break would then work the 1657 back to the city.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1651) – Thames Travel 418 (AE59 AWH) is an MAN powered MCV Evolution that was new to Carousel of High Wycombe in January 2010. The Carousel business was subsequently acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in March 2012 and continues to operate as a separate subsidiary. . It had worked the 1525 service X2 from Oxford (due Wallingford at 1642) and after a break would then work the 1657 back to the city.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1648) – Thames Travel 861 (BF57 OXF) seen in Wallingford Market Place when operating the 1640 Oxford to Reading service X39. It is Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 new to City of Oxford Motor Services in January 2008 hence the ‘OXF’ letters in the registration. Both Thames Travel and COMS are Go-Ahead Group owned.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1648) – Thames Travel 861 (BF57 OXF) seen in Wallingford Market Place when operating the 1640 Oxford to Reading service X39. It is Mercedes-Benz Citaro O 530 new to City of Oxford Motor Services in January 2008 hence the ‘OXF’ letters in the registration. Both Thames Travel and COMS are Go-Ahead Group owned.

Saturday 28 March 2015 (1649) – Thames Travel van seen in Wallingford Market Place. It was being used by drivers changing their duties.

Tuesday 30 April 2013 (1229) – Oxford Bus Company (The City of Oxford Motor Services Ltd) 302 (HB11 OXF), an Alexander Dennis Trident/Enviro 400 Hybrid new April 2011, seen turning from Queen Street into St. Aldate’s in Oxford city centre. Carfax Tower dominates the background. Park and ride livery is carried by this batch of buses.