Buses on the A1307 near Cambridge Services - 9 Sep 2025 (P1220168)

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (approx. 0942) – I was travelling on Whippet Coaches WG457 (BU25 ZFF), one of the two MCV eVoSeti bodied Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers added to the fleet in June 2025 to operate The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) franchised ‘Tiger’ branded service T1 between Cambridge and Huntingdon. This was the 0905 service T1 from Cambridge to Huntingdon.

As the bus approached the roundabout adjacent to the Whippet garage at Buckingway Business Park (near Cambridge Services on the A14) another Whippet bus appeared that was running empty to Huntingdon. This was WD455 (BG61 SXM), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL that had been new to First Centrewest (VN37979) in February 2012 to operate Transport for London contracted services. It had then been operated by Selwyns Travel, Runcorn before being acquired by Whippet.

At the same time two Stagecoach East vehicles were heading in the same direction also running empty towards Huntingdon. The double decker was 13909 (BU69 XYK), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400XLB bodied Volvo B8L delivered in December 2019 which was followed by single decker 21228 (AE09 GYY), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in April 2009.

The Whippet bus overtook the Stagecoach double decker and then the Stagecoach single decker passed both double deckers and progressively got further ahead. The bus I was on passed the Stagecoach double decker remaining behind the other buses until peeling off to serve Fenstanton.

Since the opening of the new section of the A14 dual carriageway west of Cambridge Services local traffic uses what is now the A1307 along the old A14 alignment and alongside the new roadway which is visible in the background.