Whippet Coaches electric buses at Eddington, Cambridge - 18 Oct 2023 (P1160913)

Wednesday 18 October 2023 (1134) – 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. Left is WG119 (MX23 LRZ) which 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.

On the right is WG112 (UN14 BUS), initially registered MX23 LCU, was passing through out of service. According to the Bus Times website it had worked the 1001 service from the Biomedical Campus (departing late at 1013) to Girton Corner (due there at 1040 but arrived at 1107). It appeared to then run out of service back to the Biomedical Campus to get back on track and work the 1145 (departing 1150) service U2 to Eddington. The 1058 U1 trip from Girton to the Biomedical Campus did not appear to run.

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.

Access to the road through the area where the bus stops are located is controlled by rising bollards. The Citroën car within the restricted area was being used by the bus drivers for shift changeovers.