Busway trip - 9 Sep 2025

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0906) – Cambridgeshire Guided Busway The first of five buses I travelled on today was Stagecoach East 21233 (AE12 CJU), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new in July 2012, working the 0806 service A from Trumpington Park & Ride to St. Ives Park & Ride. Seen here at Histon & Impington where I boarded for Longstanton. This service travels across Cambridge city centre where there are few bus priorities, the buses share the roads with all other normal traffic which at peak times can be quite dreadful. With a service frequency of every 10 minutes it is hard to tell which timing a particular bus is operating. This trip was due here at 0859. I had arrived to catch the 0909 bus but since this one came along first I got away earlier than planned!

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0914) – Cambridgeshire Guided Busway The first of five buses I travelled on today was Stagecoach East 21233 (AE12 CJU), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new in July 2012, working the 0806 service A from Trumpington Park & Ride to St. Ives Park & Ride. Seen here after setting down at Longstanton.

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0930) – Cambridgeshire Guided Busway The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) is embarking on a franchising model for the region’s bus services. Bus services are branded ‘Tiger’ and have ‘T’ prefixed service numbers. Whippet Coaches Limited is the operator of service T1, a service that operates from Cambridge to Huntingdon travelling from Drummer Street bus station to join the Busway at Milton Road. It leaves the Busway at the Swavesey crossing taking to normal roads through the villages of Swavesey and Fenstanton. Two MCV eVoSeti tri-axle Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers were added to the fleet specifically for the service in June 2025. These carry fleet numbers WG457/458 and registrations BU25 ZFF and BU25 ZFE (in that order). The former was seen at Longstanton when working the 0905 service from Cambridge. I took a ride to Huntingdon (then back to Swavesey) on this trip.

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0933) – Stagecoach East 21301 (BF65 WKO) is dwarfed by the BT Communications Mast located alongside the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway between Longstanton and Swavesey. The bus is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B8RLE that was new in December 2015 that was operating the 0856 service A from St. Ives (Marley Road) to Trumpington Park & Ride (about 8 minutes late). Note the white double decker in the far distance. This was Whippet Coaches WG458 (BU25 ZFE) working the 0909 service T1 from Huntingdon to Cambridge. This photograph was taken from the upper deck of sister vehicle WG457 (BU25 ZFF) working the 0905 service T1 from Cambridge to Huntingdon. The two MCV eVoSeti tri-axle Volvo B8Ls were added to the fleet specifically for service T1 in June 2025. (Unusually, the registrations applied to these two vehicles are in the ‘wrong order’ with registration BU25 ZFF applied to WG457 and BU25 ZFE applied to WG458).

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0933) – Stagecoach East 21301 (BF65 WKO) is dwarfed by the BT Communications Mast located alongside the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway between Longstanton and Swavesey. The bus is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B8RLE that was new in December 2015 that was operating the 0856 service A from St. Ives (Marley Road) to Trumpington Park & Ride (about 8 minutes late). Note the white double decker in the far distance. This was Whippet Coaches WG458 (BU25 ZFE) working the 0909 service T1 from Huntingdon to Cambridge. This photograph was taken from the upper deck of sister vehicle WG457 (BU25 ZFF) working the 0905 service T1 from Cambridge to Huntingdon. The two MCV eVoSeti tri-axle Volvo B8Ls were added to the fleet specifically for service T1 in June 2025. (Unusually, the registrations applied to these two vehicles are in the ‘wrong order’ with registration BU25 ZFF applied to WG457 and BU25 ZFE applied to WG458).

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0934) – A split second to late with this shot! Whippet Coaches Limited is the operator of The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) franchised Tiger service T1 which operates between Cambridge and Huntingdon. Two MCV eVoSeti bodied Volvo B8L tri-axle double deckers were added to the fleet specifically for the service in June 2025 which carry fleet numbers WG457/458 and registrations BU25 ZFF and BU25 ZFE (in that order). I was travelling on WG457 (working the 0905 service T1 from Cambridge to Huntingdon) as it met WG458 (working the 0909 service T1 from Huntingdon to Cambridge). This was between Longstanton and Swavesey.

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0934) – There are a number of uncontrolled crossings for pedestrians, equestrians and vehicles on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway such as this one near Swavesey. Various additional safety measures have been introduced following unrelated pedestrian accidents in the past and a substantial fine imposed on Cambridgeshire County Council by the Health and Safety authorities. These include speed restrictions and road surface material to assist the braking of a moving bus. The approaching bus is Stagecoach East 21230 (AE09 GZA), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new April 2009. I was travelling on Whippet Coaches WG457 (BU25 ZFF) working the 0905 service T1 from Cambridge to Huntingdon.

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0934) – Cambridgeshire Guided Busway Stagecoach East 21230 (AE09 GZA), a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new April 2009, working the 0926 service A from St. Ives Park & Ride to Trumpington Park & Ride. I was travelling on Whippet Coaches WG457 (BU25 ZFF) working the 0905 service T1 from Cambridge to Huntingdon.

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (approx. 0937) – On board 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. Travelling from Drummer Street bus station the service uses the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway from Milton Road to Swavesey then takes to normal roads through the villages of Swavesey and Fenstanton. The other bus is WG458 (BU25 ZFE) – note the registration numbers are in reverse order!

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0941) – 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.

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0941) – 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 near Buckingway Business Park (near Cambridge Services on the A14) two Stagecoach East vehicles could be seen across the roundabout which were 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. 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.

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0941) – 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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (approx. 0944) – 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. Our bus kept pace with WD455 and Stagecoach East 21228 (AE09 GYY) that can be seen in the distance running empty towards Huntingdon. That is a Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE new in April 2009. Since the opening of the new section of the A14 dual carriageway west of Cambridge Services local traffic uses what was previously the old A14 roadway now numbered A1307 – now much, much quieter than it once was!

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (approx. 0950) – Traffic heading westbound towards Huntingdon out of the village of Fenstanton uses this single carriageway one-way road which runs alongside the former A14 (now A1307) dual carriageway (which is behind the trees on the left). Traffic heading westbound for Fenstanton uses the dual carriageway. Huntingdon Road was once the main truck road through here (at the time numbered A604) before the construction of the dual carriageway circa 1970s. Over the years the tree growth has encroached onto the road surface once used by eastbound traffic to the right of what appears to be the once centre line of the road. Even older, in Roman times this was the route of Via Devana which linked Colchester and Chester. 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.

Tuesday 9 September 2025 (0957) – Huntingdon Bus Station seen from the upper deck of Whippet Coaches WG457 (BU25 ZFF) as it travelled along the A1307 (once the A14 until a new alignment was created west of Cambridge Services). The bus was 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. There were four double deckers in the bus station: A Stagecoach East (Ocean green) Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400XLB bodied tri-axle Volvo B8L new in December 2019 for services on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway. A Whippet Coaches (blue) Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo. Dew’s Coaches (white) LX11 BBK, an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400D that had been new to Stagecoach Selkent (19742) in March 2011. Acquired in August 2025. Dew’s Coaches YN08 MKO, a Scania CN270UD OmniCity new to Reading Buses (1102) in May 2008.