Showbus Rally - 29 Sep 2019

Wednesday 6 November 2019 (1151) – Whippet Coaches WG107 (BT66 MVH), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in December 2016, seen at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge prior to working the 1148 service U (Universal) to Eddington (due here 1148). Service U replaced the Uni4 service is sponsored by the University of Cambridge with assistance from North West Cambridge Development travelling via various academic sites and residential areas skirting the edge of the city centre area and also serving the railway station. Between Addenbrooke’s (where there are also more related academic locations) and the Railway Station it runs on the southern portion of the Busway. When the Busway opened Whippet (along with Stagecoach East) was an initial operator on the longer northern Cambridge to St. Ives Busway but the company pulled out of that operation in early 2019. Service U saw their return to Busway operation albeit on a different section. The prominent hospital chimneys dominate the background, these structures cannot be missed when making an approach from the south on the A1307 over Gog Magog.

Wednesday 6 November 2019 (1150) – Busway vehicles at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. When the Busway first opened both Whippet and Stagecoach East operated on the longer northern section of the Busway between Cambridge and St. Ives but Whippet pulled out of that operation in early 2019. They retain a presence on the shorter southern section with service U (Universal). Left: Stagecoach East 21228 (AE09 GYY), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in April 2009, was operating the 1036 service A from St. Ives (Marley Road) to Royston (due 1246). This service uses normal roads in St. Ives before joining the much longer northern section of Busway to the northern edge of Cambridge. It then uses normal roads through the city centre to the Railway Station where it joins the southern section to reach the Trumpington Park and Ride site from where it takes to normal roads to reach the Hertfordshire town. Right: Whippet Coaches WG107 (BT66 MVH), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in December 2016, about to return to Eddington on service U. Between Addenbrooke’s (where there are also more related academic locations) and the Railway Station it runs on the southern portion of the Busway continuing along normal roads to Eddington..

Wednesday 6 November 2019 (1149) – Whippet Coaches WG107 (BT66 MVH), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in December 2016, seen at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge having worked the 1111 trip of service U (Universal) from Eddington (due here 1148). It was about return there. Service U replaced the Uni4 service is sponsored by the University of Cambridge with assistance from North West Cambridge Development travelling via various academic sites and residential areas skirting the edge of the city centre area and also serving the railway station. Between Addenbrooke’s Hospital (where there are also more related academic locations) and the railway station it runs on the southern portion of the Busway. When the Busway opened Whippet (along with Stagecoach East) was an initial operator on the longer northern Cambridge to St. Ives Busway but the company pulled out of that operation in early 2019. Service U saw their return to Busway operation albeit on a different section. Standing behind is Stagecoach East 21228 (AE09 GYY), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in April 2009, which was operating the 1036 service A from St. Ives (Marley Road) to Royston (due 1246). When reaching the end of the Busway at the Trumpington Park and Ride site the service continues on normal roads to the Hertfordshire town.

Wednesday 6 November 2019 (1138) – Whippet Coaches WG107 (BT66 MVH), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in December 2016, seen in Station Place, Cambridge alongside the Railway Station. Despite the destination display it was heading towards Addenbrooke’s Hospital on the 1111 departure of service U (Universal) from Eddington. This service which replaced the Uni4 service is sponsored by the University of Cambridge with assistance from North West Cambridge Development. From Eddington it travels via various academic sites and residential areas on the western side Cambridge then skirts the edge of the city centre before reaching the railway station. Between the railway station and the Addenbrooke’s Hospital site (where there are more related academic locations) via the southern Busway. Whippet along with Stagecoach East were the initial operators on the longer northern Cambridge to St. Ives Busway but the company pulled out of that operation in early 2019. Service U saw their return to Busway operation albeit on a different section.

Wednesday 6 November 2019 (1139) – On board Whippet Coaches WG107 (BT66 MVH), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in December 2016, in Station Place, Cambridge when working the 1111 departure of service U (Universal) from Eddington to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground Red Rose Travel of Aylesbury E14 RRT, an East Lancs Esteem bodied Scania N94UB. I believe it was new to Metrobus in February 2006 as their 620 registered YM55 SXP.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground Red Rose Travel of Aylesbury E14 RRT, an East Lancs Esteem bodied Scania N94UB. I believe it was new to Metrobus in February 2006 as their 620 registered YM55 SXP.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground Red Rose Travel of Aylesbury E12 RRT, an East Lancs Esteem bodied Scania N94UB. I believe it was new to Metrobus in March 2006 as their 617 registered YN06 JXW.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground Wanderbus SJ18 UTE, a Mellor Orion bodied Fiat Ducato new in 2018. Wanderbus is a volunteer run community bus service with a selection of services based around Meppershall and Shefford in south Bedfordshire. The destination display is for service W4 which runs of the first Thursday of each month from the Shefford area to Welwyn Garden City.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground First Essex 41521 (LK03 UEY), a Caetano Nimbus bodied Transbus Dart that had been new to First Capital (fleet number DHL521) in August 2003. White lettering on white background for part of the legal name and address is rather short sighted.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground First Essex 41521 (LK03 UEY), a Caetano Nimbus bodied Transbus Dart that had been new to First Capital (fleet number DHL521) in August 2003.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Rotala Group buses at Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground Left is Preston Bus 40030 (BU52 UWE), a Scania CN230UD OmniCity that had been new to Rotala owned Wessex Connect (Flights Hallmark, Patchway, Bristol) in September 2011 registered YT61 FEX. Became BU52 UWE to represent ‘Bus to the University of the West of England’. Right is Diamond Bus 20167 (SK19 FCG), a Wright StreetLite DF new in March 2019.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground Left to right: HCT Group owned Manchester Community Transport YX19 ONP, an Alexander Dennis Enviro200D new in April 2019. Rotala Group owned Diamond Bus 20167 (SK19 FCG), a Wright StreetLite DF new in March 2019. Rotala owned Preston Bus 40030 (BU52 UWE), a Scania CN230UD OmniCity that had been new to Rotala owned Wessex Connect (Flights Hallmark, Patchway, Bristol) in September 2011 registered YT61 FEX. Became BU52 UWE to represent ‘Bus to the University of the West of England’.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 –Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground Rotala owned Preston Bus 40030 (BU52 UWE), a Scania CN230UD OmniCity that had been new to Rotala owned Wessex Connect (Flights Hallmark, Patchway, Bristol) in September 2011 registered YT61 FEX. Became BU52 UWE to represent ‘Bus to the University of the West of England’.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground Peugeot Boxer minibus HX19 DRZ lettered for the ‘Harpenden Hopper’ dial-a-ride service which is operated by Harpenden Connect, a registered charity, and sponsored by Harpenden Town Council.

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground Left to right: Midland Classic 2 (KW14 MCL), an Alexander Dennis Enviro200D new in July 2014 Carousel Buses 873 (AE61 EWO), an MCV Evolution bodied Mercedes-Benz OC 500LE new in January 2012 Arriva the Shires 3654 (LK14 FTD), a Wright StreetLite DF new in July 2014 Arriva the Shires 2323 (LM64 JNO), a Wright StreetLite WF new in February 2015 Arriva the Shires 4714 (FE51 YWM), an East Lancs Myllenium Lowlander bodied DAF DB250 new in October 2001 to Arriva Fox County Arriva the Shires 5425 (W425 XKX), an Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident new I July 2000

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground The Leyland Comet was primarily a truck chassis but there were a limited number of the type bodied as coaches like MHY 765 which carries Duple bodywork. It was new to Pearce Coaches of Kingswood, Bristol in April 1950. A front view of this coach t Showbus 2016 may be seen at: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/43128906

Sunday 29 Sept 2019 – Showbus, Hertfordshire County Showground Flittabus Community Transport of Flitwick, Bedfordshire LM66 ZXD, a Mellor Strata bodied Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.