Whippet Coaches WG120 (MX23 LSC) and WG119 (MX23 LRZ) at Eddington, Cambridge - 18 Oct 2023 (P1160898)

Wednesday 18 October 2023 (1125) – The ‘Universal’ bus service in Cambridge, provided by the University of Cambridge and operated by Whippet Coaches, had originally commenced in July 2016. In September 2023 it was re-launched with the delivery to Whippet Coaches of nine Mellor Sigma 12 electric buses.

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 nine buses carry fleet numbers WG112-120 with registrations MX23 LCU/V/W; MX23 LRO/U/V/Y/Z/LSC although cherished registrations were soon applied to WG112 (UN14 BUS) and WG113 (UN14 CAM).

Two examples are seen at Eddington. WG120 (MX23 LSC) had arrived 24 minutes late on the 1016 U2 departure from the Biomedical Campus (due 1056, actual arrival 1120). It was now loading as the 1117 U2 service to the Biomedical Campus which then left about 10 minutes late.

Meanwhile WG119 (MX23 LRZ) had arrived on time at 1125 with the 1045 service U2 from the Biomedical Campus. It would work the 1147 service U2 to the Biomedical Campus.

The combined U1/U2 services give a 15 minute service frequency and between these two U2 departures there had been the 1134 service U1 (which had originated at Girton Corner at 1127) worked by WG111 (BT66 MVL), a Wright Eclipse 3 bodied Volvo B8RLE new in December 2016, one of the original buses for the Universal service.

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.