November 2009
Service Update
Plenty of news this month with improved and revised services.
Services 301 and 302 between Aylesbury and Hemel Hempstead are being improved from Monday 23rd November and will become Premier Line 301. This is the third ‘Premier’ service operated, alongside Premier Line 323 which operates between Aylesbury and High Wycombe and Premier Express X15 to Milton Keynes. All journeys will operate via Northchurch through to Berkhamsted High Street, with the diversion to Berkhamsted Station known as service 302 being withdrawn. Alternative journeys from Berkhamsted to the station are offered by service 353. Premier Line 301 has the full ‘Premier’ treatment, with dedicated drivers, the interior of the vehicles are swept at the end of each return trip and each bus has a full interior and exterior clean each day. ‘Premier 10’ tickets are available offering 10 single journeys for the equivalent price of 8, along with weekly and monthly season tickets. To operate the service, four new Scania Omnicity buses will be used. They are fitted with leather faced seating, two-way radios, security cameras and passenger information systems. They will also feature the new Red Rover logo, the first buses to carry it. A new timetable is available by clicking here
Also, starting on 23rd November, our Chesham and Amersham town services are being rebranded as Red Rover ‘Shuttle’ and country services Red Rover 'Chilternlink'. Both straplines are being launched to differentiate these services from competitors, with more local and meaningful sounding names. The Optare Solos used on the Shuttle services will be receiving a brand new livery as part of the rebranding - pictures will be available shortly. On the same date, most Chesham and Amersham services are being revised in order to more closely match passenger usage and expectations. Details as follows:-
Service 336
The 1710 journey from Chesham to Rickmansworth on Mondays to Fridays and the 1800 return journey to Chesham are both withdrawn.
Service 348
On Saturdays, he following journeys are wothdrawn: The 1424 and 1524 from Chesham to Chartridge; The 1406 and 1506 from Chesham to Poles Hill; The 1445 from Chesham to Great Hivings; The 1433 and 1533 from Chartridge to Chesham; The 1414 and 1514 from Poles Hill to Chesham; The1455 from Great Hivings to Chesham.
Services 349/394
On Saturdays, the 1437 journey from Chesham Moor will operate only as far as Chesham Nashleigh Arms (it will not continue to Bellingdon and Tring). As a consequence, the return journey from Tring at 1525 will also no longer operate on Saturdays.
Service 353
Timings on this service are being completely revised. Buses will generally depart Slough 9 minutes earlier than at present, with journeys operating 9 minutes earlier throughout. The 1754 journey from Slough on Saturday is withdrawn. Buses will also no longer operate to/from Springfield Road in Berkhamsted, with all buses terminating/starting from Berkhamsted Station. Departures from Berkhamsted Station will generally be 5 minutes earlier than at present, with the service then operating 5 minutes earlier throughout. The final bus from Berkhamsted on Saturdays will be at 1620 (roughly an hour earlier than at present), with this journey terminating at Chesham Broadway.
Service 373/375
Service 375 will no longer operate via Annes Corner in Chesham Bois, operating direct via Chesham Road instead. An alternative service is offered by service 353. On Saturdays, the 1558 journey from Leyhill will operate only as far as Chesham Broadway; the 1708 departure from Leyhill and the 1632 departure from Amersham are both withdrawn on Saturdays.
Please click here for details of the revised services.
Fleet News
As mentioned above, the four Scania Omnicity buses previously on order will be used on the new Premier Line 301. Carrying specific Line 301 branding, they have registrations OJ59 SCA-D (283-6) and are the CN270UB version with the more powerful 270hp Euro IV engine. They are fitted with leather faced seating, two-way radios, security cameras and passenger information systems. As a consequence of the changes, Leyland National 2’s PEX 614-6W (200-2) will be placed in to storage, along with the only Wright Renown in the fleet, N106 GVS (206).
Additionally, a new and completely updated fleet list is also now online in a revised format - click here to view or download a copy
June 2009
Service Update
Red Rover is please to announce the introduction of new Premier Express X15 between Aylesbury and
As a result of re-tendering, Red Rover no longer operates the
May 2009
Fleet News
Pictures of the recently acquired Alexander Dennis Dominator (601) and ELC Spryte Dart (238) can now be seen on the photos page. As a result of 601 entering service, East Lancs Dominator 600 (FBF 127T) is now for sale.
April 2009
Fleet News
The two new Cummins powered Dennis Enviro 200 Darts arrived at the end of February. They have taken registrations OV58 ABA/B and have been allocated fleet numbers 220/1. They are being employed on Aylesbury town services and you can see a picture of one of them by clicking on the photos page.
The photographs page has now been fully updated with lots of new pictures of our vehicles - please take a look.
The order for three Dennis Enviro 400's, due for delivery at the end of March, has been moved back to June 2009 and will coincide with service changes due at that time. A second-hand addition is that of an Alexander bodied Dominator, NKU 149X, originally with SYPTE. It is now being repainted and will take fleet number 601 when it enters service. As a result, older Dominator 600 (FBF 127T) will be withdrawn and sold. Also sold is PC04 RRC the remaining Red Rover coach. A further acquisition is that of an ELC Spryte bodied Dart SLF from Stagecoach. V512 EFR is currently in the paint shop and will enter service with fleet number 238.
The Fleet list has been fully updated and can be seen by clicking on the Fleetlist page.
February 2009
Service Update
Red Rover is pleased to announce that it is to commence operation of route 353 between Berkhamsted and Slough from 2nd March 2009. It will continue to operate every hour on Mondays to Saturdays, with some additional school journeys to Dr Challoners and also The Amersham School, both in Amersham. As a consequence, service 354 will be withdrawn after operation on 28th February. In addition, there will be some minor timetable changes to service 336, including the withdrawl of the last return journey to Little Chalfont. Timetables for the services are now available on the Chesham and Amersham services page, along with a summary of all services between Chesham and Amersham. The only crew-operated route, Line 8 is being converted to one-person operation on 2nd March 2009. This will mean that all Aylesbury town services will be operated by modern, low floor easy access buses.
Fleet News
After the closure of the Red Rover private hire business, both coaches have been placed in store pending their sale. With the new route above it is expected that, yet again, Leyland National 2's 200-2 (PEX 614-6W) will have yet another stay of execution. The new Enviro 200's had not been delivered by 01/02/09, but are now expected to go to Aylesbury for town services. As a consequence of the conversion of Line 8, Routemaster 406 (SMK 758F) will be withdrawn and offered for sale after service on 28th February.
Further pictures of the 'real' Red Rover buses have been added to the Photographs page, with the permission of D. Harrison. If any one else has pictures of Red Rover buses or coaches and would like them included on the site, please email us using the Contact us page........not forgetting to include your own email address, otherwise you won't get a reply! Additional links to LR Travel and North Midland Buses have been added to the Links page.
December 2008
Service Update
Following a review of Red Rover's operations, and in view of the current economic climate, it has been decided to close the Private Hire operation at the end of December 2008. It has been a difficult decision, but Red Rover has decided to focus on it's core business of registered bus and coach services. Any bookings already taken and scheduled to operate before the end of the year will, of course, be honoured. Deposits will be returned to those who have booked coach or bus hire in 2009. The two coaches currently being used will be offered for sale early in 2009.
Christmas and New Year Services
A normal service will operate until approximately 2030 on Christmas Eve when most services will finish. There are no services on Christmas Day or Boxing Day (except for Express Service X1 which will operate). A normal Saturday service will operate on 27th December and thereafter until end of services on New Year's Eve. A Sunday service will operate on New Year's day on most services, except Lines 1, 4 and 8 which will see a half-hourly service until 1800, with an hourly service thereafter. Normal service resumes on 2nd January.
Red Rover would like to wish all it's customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Fleet News
As a result of the closure of the Private Hire business, coach PR04 RRC (Neoplan Skyliner) will be offered for sale in January 2009. Red Rover has now announced new vehicle orders for 2009. Extensive investment in our fleet continues with orders for nine new vehicles, roughly 15% of the current fleet. An additional four Scania Omnicity single deck buses are on order as a result of the succesful operation of three similar buses on Line 4, due for delivery in the middle of 2009. Two Dennis Dart Cummins ISBe powered Enviro 200 single deck buses (due in early February 2009) and three Dennis Cummins ISBe4 powered Enviro 400 double deck buses (due by end of March 2009) make up the balance of new vehicle orders. The Enviro 200's and 400's will have Alexander bodies.
September 2008
Service Update
The first Red Rover ‘Premier’ service is due to finally commence on 29th September. Services 323 and 324 will become ‘Premier Line 323’ with a frequency enhancement to every 20 minutes and all buses operating via Butlers Cross. The service will be operated by our flagship Wright Eclipse Gemini double deck buses which have leather faced seating, two-way radios, security cameras and passenger information systems. As part of the Premier customer experience, the service will be operated by a dedicated team of drivers, the interior of the vehicles will be swept at the end of each return trip and each bus will have a full interior and exterior clean each day. ‘Premier 10’ tickets will be available offering 10 single journeys for the equivalent price of 8, along with weekly and monthly season tickets. A limited service will continue to be provided between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury via Little Kimble on service 321, reflecting customer usage along this section. Revised timetables for both these services are available on the Aylesbury Services and High Wycombe Services pages.
Fleet News
The forthcoming Wright Urban Volvo single deck buses (due in October) were due to replace the Leyland National 2’s (200-2).However, with the enhancements to service 323 (which requires an extra 2 vehicles), they may well stay in the fleet until the new year. The two additional Dennis Dart MPD’s from dealer have arrived and been repainted. They are numbered 243/4, are registered NX53 TNY and VE52 HEC respectively and are allocated to Chesham for service 387.
July 2008
Service Update
Red Rover is pleased to announce that from 21st July 2008, it will take over the operation of Tring local service 387. There will be a number of changes to the service, including enhancements to the section between Tring and Beech Park (in conjunction with some retiming of existing Red Rover services 349 and 394 between these two points). This will offer residents of Wiggington up to 7 buses each day in to Tring. An hourly service between New Mill and Tring town centre will be maintained, as will the commuter services to Tring Station. A new page has been added to our website for all Tring local services where timetables are already available.
Fleet News
In conjunction with the above tender win, a further two used Plaxton Pointer MPD Dennis Darts are being purchased and should be available prior to the new services starting. These, and service 387, will be operated from our Chesham depot and registration details etc will be available soon.
June 2008
Fleet News
Red Rover is pleased to announce a further order for new buses, to be delivered later this year. Due to their popularity with customers, a further three Volvo B7RLE with Wright Urban Eclipse single-deck bodies will enter service during September and October. They will be to a high specification (including leather seating) and are to replace non-low floored vehicles. More details will be available closer to the delivery date. A revised fleet list is now available on the fleet list page
May 2008Service Update
The Premier branding of some of the routes has been delayed for around 8 weeks or so and will not start until late July at the earliest. There are no other service changes to report, although announcements of some tenders for routes in Hertfordshire are due shortly (Red Rover has bid on a number of them).
A fare revision will take place on 24th May 2008 on all services, as a result of increased fuel costs. Fares on local services will increase by an average of 4%. Fares on express coach services will increase by around 5%.
Fleet News
The Fleet Photographs page has now been fully revised and includes many new pictures of our fleet - please take a look. The first two of three Scania Omnicitys finally entered service on Line 4 in early May, having been delivered at the end of February (hence the 57 registration plates). Some warranty issues prevented the buses entering service earlier. A picture of one of the buses is on the new Fleet Photographs page. The third bus is due in early June.
April 2008
Service Update
All our timetables have now been revised to make them easier to read for our passengers - we hope you appreciate the changes. In addition, timetables are now included for Service X15 which operates between Aylesbury and
Fleet News
The three Wright Solar Fusion buses (250-2) have been withdrawn and sold, with 252 going to Provincial and 250/1 to other operators. Entry of the two Omnicitys in to service has been delayed (for warranty reasons). A third is due during June. These will enter service on Line 4 as soon as possible as replacements for the bendy buses.
March 2008
Service Update
Red Rover are pleased to advise customers that all vehicles used on Lines 1, 4, 9 and routes 260/1, 280, 316, 323/4, 336, 348/349/394, 354, 359, 365, 366, 373/5 and 398 are now scheduled to be operated by low floor, easy access buses. Most other services are operated by some low floor buses. This demonstrates the commitment we have to making it as easy as possible for all customers to use our services and it has only been possible through gradual renewal of our fleet. To further enhance some of our busiest and most popular services, Red Rover will be launching the 'Premier' brand across routes 280 and 323/4 during June 2008. Our Premier routes will offer the highest level of service - modern, low floor high specification vehicles (most with leather-faced seating), on-board passenger information systems and dedicated drivers. Both routes offer regular departures every 30 minutes to
We are also revising the format of our timetables to make it easier for customers to understand them - these will be on line during early April. At the same time, a number of services will have very minor timing changes (just to help with time-keeping).
Fleet News
After consultation with Bucks County Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council and local residents, it has reluctantly been decided to replace the bendy buses on Line 4 with conventional single deck vehicles. The re-routing of the service in March has proved extremely popular, but parked cars have caused delays, particularly early in the morning and during the evening. There appears to be no long term solution to the problem, so the Wright Solar Fusion Scania L94's (250-2) have been withdrawn and replaced temporarily with other low-floor buses until the new Wright Scania Omnicity buses are available for service. As there are no other suitable services on which the arctics can be used they are being sold. The County Council are providing additional funding for another Omnicity which should be delivered during May. Additional buses withdrawn include the final step-entrance Dart, 232 (M71 CYJ) sold to an operator in
February 2008
Further new links have been added to the Links page. You're on the website, but have you read the book? Published in January, Robert Cook has written an excellent book entitled Red Rover Bus Company, which gives a pictorial history of the operation and charactors behind Red Rover, from the begining to the end in 1987. There is also a link to the new and updated website for Padbus, based in Witney, Oxfordshire.
Service Update
Very little to report on after all the activity in January. The revised Aylesbury town service network is settling down well and we are already see an increase in passenger numbers, particularly on Line 1. In addition, since Red Rover took over operation of route 280 between Aylesbury and
Fleet News
A further Wright Urban/Volvo B7RLE arrived this week and is registered OY57 OBG (266), thus completing the order for these seven new vehicles. A further Wright Urban/Volvo B7RLE was ordered in late January for delivery during April. Also ordered in January are two new Scania single deck vehicles, these being Omnicity buses with Euro 4 transverse engines. These are also due for delivery during late April. Aside of the Bristol RE's still in service that were refurbished two years ago, it is anticpated that many of the remaining 'step' entrance vehicles in front line service will be replaced during this year. These will include the remaining Pointer Darts (232/3) and also the Leyland National 2's (200-2). However, the assortment of step entrance double deck buses used on school services will continue for the foreseeable future.
January 2008
Two new links have been added to the Links page, both sites showing lots of photographs, timetables and literature of the old Red Rover operation prior to 1987.
Service Update
Timetables for the revised Aylesbury town service network commencing on 21st January are now available on the Aylesbury's town services page, or by clicking on the links below:-
Line 1 Bedgrove - Stoke Mandeville Hospital via Town Centre, Walton Court and Hawkeslade Farm
Line 4 Coppice - Fairford Leys via Elmhurst, Town Centre and Hartwell Park
Line 8 Town Centre - Quarrendon via Broadfields and Haydon Hill
Line 9 Southcourt - Haydon Hill via Church Square, Town Centre, Meadowcroft and Quarrendon
All these services will replace the existing RR1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 routes which will finish operation on Saturday 19th January, and RR7 which will end on Sunday 20th. We believe our regular passengers will benefit from the new routes and frequencies and hope that new customers can also be attracted to our services.
Also revised from the same date are routes 355 and 357 from Aylesbury to Halton Camp. Infrequent route 356 will no longer operate from the same date and there will no longer be a Sunday service on this route. Revised timetables are on the Aylesbury country services page, or by clicking on the links below:-
Service 355 Aylesbury - Halton Camp via Chiltern Park, Weston Turville and Wendover
Service 357 Aylesbury - Halton Camp via Turnfurlong, Weston Turville and Wendover
Fleet News
The newly aquired Optare Solos entered service shortly before Christmas. Registrations are 270-2 (Y21/3/4 VWL). Pictures of these buses are on the Photographs page.They have displaced the Dart MPD's, which have returned to Aylesbury prior to the new town network commencing. Vehicles withdrawn include two of the Heritage Fleet - 906 (366 KOV) and 907 (YOX 65K), both Daimler Fleetlines/Park Royal. Both have been out of use for some time and have been sold for continued preservation. Also taken out of service is 231 (M70 CYJ), the second step-entrance Dart to be withdrawn. This will become a driver training vehicle in due course. Revised vehicle allocations and an updated Fleet List are now available on the Fleet List page.
December
Service Update
Red Rover has been successful in securing the northern end of a revised route 353 (Berkhamsted - Slough). The present operator will operate an hourly Chesham - Slough service commercially, with timings similar to those now. From 15th January 2008, Red Rover will operate an hourly Chesham - Berkhamsted service (as 354) under contract to Bucks County Council, with a single return school journey to Amersham. The Red Rover service will connect with the 353 in both directions at Chesham Broadway, although through tickets will not be available at present. A timetable is available now by clicking on the link below, or by visiting the Chesham & Amersham Services page.
Service 354 Amersham & Chesham - Berkhamsted via Ashley Green
From the same date, Red Rover will no longer operate routes 363 and 364 between Aylesbury and Marsworth/Cheddington via Tring which were operated under contract to Bucks County Council. Red Rover was not successful in bidding for a new contract for this service
Fleet News
With the revised Aylesbury network and Bucks County Council contract gains/losses, there will be a change in vehicle allocations during January - more details will be available then. In the meantime, a single used vehicle in the shape of Alexander Royale - bodied Olympian (N125 YRW) has arrived for Express Service X4. It has received full sign-writing for the route and retains it's airport-style seating layout downstairs (ie most of the seating is given up for luggage space) and has coach-style seating upstairs. It has entered service just in time for pre-Christmas trips to Birmingham.
November 2007
Service Update
The planned service changes are now out for consultation. Some major service changes are being considered for the Aylesbury town services, which can be summarised as follows:-
RR1 Bedgrove - Stoke Mandeville Hospital via Tring Road, Town Centre, Prebendall Farm and Southcourt. This service would be enhanced to run every 15 minutes during the day, with most buses operating via Narbeth Drive (replacing RR2) instead of Tring Road. Additionally, the route would operate via Oxford Road, Church Square, Walton Court and Hawkeslade Farm (replacing the current routing of RR9). Parts of the current route via Prebendall Farm and Church Square would be provided by a revised RR9 (Line 9), with new links to parts of Southcourt. An evening and Sunday service between Town Centre and Stoke Mandeville Hospital would also be provided, at a 30 minute frequency. RR1 would be renamed Line 1.
RR2 Bedgrove - Town Centre via Narbeth Drive. This route would be withdrawn, being replaced by revised RR1.
RR3 Bedgrove - Town Centre via Turnfurlong. This route would be withdrawn. An hourly service would continue to be provided along Turnfurlong Lane to the town centre by a re-routing of Red Rover service 357.
RR4 Coppice and Broadfields. The route would be curtailed to operate as far as Fairford Leys only, but diverted in to the new village centre at Hampden Square. There would also be an evening service between the Town Centre and Fairford Leys only, operating half-hourly. RR4 would be renamed Line 4.
RR7 Stoke Mandeville - Haydon Hill via Town Centre (evenings and Sundays). This route would be withdrawn, with alternative evening and Sunday services offered by Line 1 (to Stoke Mandeville) and Line 8 (to Haydon Hill).
RR8 Town Centre and Haydon Hill via Quarrendon. Timetable and route would be modified in line with changes to RR9, but the 30-minute frequency would not be changed. During the day, buses would serve Tesco's at Broadfields both to and from Haydon Hill. However, the route would operate via Bicester Road and John Kennedy, not Weedon Road and Meadowcroft (this section being part of new Line 9). There would be an evening and Sunday service, replacing RR7, at a 30 minute frequency. RR8 would be renamed Line 8 and would continue to be operated by Routemaster buses during the day.
RR9 Stoke Mandeville Hospital - Haydon Hill via Walton Court, Church Square, Town Centre and Broadfields. The section of route between Stoke Mandeville and Town Centre would be withdrawn, being replaced by revised Line 1. A new service to Southcourt would be provided and buses would operate via Chestnut Cresent, Church Square and Lavric Road to Briskman Way on a 30 minute frequency. This would replace parts of RR1 and also provide new facilities to roads not currently served by bus on Southcourt. In addition, on the section of route to Haydon Hill, most buses would serve Weedon Road, Meadowcroft and Quarrendon replacing RR8. RR9 would be renamed Line 9.
357/356/357 Aylesbury - Halton Camp. To part compensate for the withdrawl of RR3, service 357 would be re-routed along Turnfurlong Lane during the day to it's junction with Bedgrove, thus providing an hourly service along this road to the town centre. The Sunday service on this route is being poorly used and would be withdrawn. 356 journeys will renumbered 355, although the route and timings would not change.
Subject to completed consultations, it is not anticipated that the revised services would start until the new year, probably January. However, Red Rover believes that these revisions will offer a much higher level of service than at present, more closely matching customer needs and expectations.
In addition, Red Rover are bidding on a couple more Bucks County Council tendered services (both in the Chesham area) and we should have news on these in December, with services starting in January 2008.
A service that will be starting during November is Express Service X4, re-establishing a link between High Wycombe and Birmingham lost many years ago. It will operate daily via Aylesbury, Bicester, Banbury, Warwick and Birmingham Airport providing useful links for shopping, flights etc. There will be two return journeys per day (one on Sunday). The service starts on Saturday 17th November, giving users plenty of time to get to the Bull Ring shopping centre in Birmingham, one of the best shopping centres in the UK, in time for Christmas shopping! A timetable is now available on the express coach services page.
Fleet News
Pictures of the new Volvo/Wright Urban's for Line 280 are now on the photographs page. As part of the proposed changes above, there will be some additional vehicles required. Therefore, 3 used Optare Solos are being purchased from dealer stock for the tendered services operating from Chesham, with the Dennis Dart MPD's coming back to Aylesbury for the re-cast town services.
September 2007
It's now a year since Red Rover launched the new website and, to date, we have had over 841 visitors to the site, giving over 2580 hits in total - many thanks for all your support! Remember, if you would like a link to your own website, please let us know by using the form on the contact us page
Service Update
The timetable for Line 280 is now available by clicking here . Additional timetable changes mentioned last month have been postponed to allow time for further consultation with Bucks County Council and other interested groups. The changes will not now occur until October at the earliest.
Fleet News
The new Wright Urban Eclipse Volvo single deckers for Line 280 were all delivered by Friday 7th September. They are registered OY57 CBA-F inclusive. All wear a special livery for this new service, and pictures will be available on the website shortly. Fleet numbers will be 260-5. The sole double deck Wright Gemini Volvo is due by the end of September and will be registered OY57 BUS, taking fleet number 665. Withdrawls to note are of both East Lancs Lolynes, 645/6 (V423 DRC, AD03 DCT) which have followed other recent departures to Pilgrim Travel.
August 2007
Service Update
Red Rover are pleased to announce that from Sunday 16th September we will commence operation of route 280, from Aylesbury to Oxford. The present operator, Oxford Bus Company, has decided to concentrate fully on operations in and around the city of Oxford, meaning that the 280 service did not fit in with their long term plans. Red Rover will continue to operate Line 280, is it will be known, at 30 minute intervals during the day and will also introduce new single deck buses to further enhance the service for passengers. A new timetable will be available early in September.
From 17th September there will also be some timetable changes to other routes, with details being available later this month.
Fleet News
The forthcoming order for the Wright Urban Eclipse Volvo B7RLE buses is for Line 280, with the buses being delivered early in September. The order from Wrightbus is now for 6 Eclipse buses, which will all have a special livery for the new service. In addition, the buses will have enhanced features for passengers including air conditioning and TV screens (which will show adverts and news stories).
July 2007
We have now put some pictures on the website of some real Red Rover buses on the website. Most of the photographs were taken just after the business was bought by Luton and District in 1987 and shows a variety of Fleetlines and Nationals in the well known, and immaculate, livery.
Fleet News
A number of vehicles have been withdrawn and sold towards the end of June. Both Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400's 650/1 (W429/30 XKX) have gone to an operator in Lincolnshire; Plaxton Volvo coach JAZ 6687 to one in the East Midlands; Dennis Dart/Plaxton Pointer 230 (M69 CYJ) and Wright Access Scania 205 (M571 KPA) are now with Pilgrim Travel, Bedfordshire. A revised Fleet list is now available on the fleet list page.
June 2007
Service Update
The new Berryfields Park and Ride service is due to start on 19th June. This will operate every 10 minutes between Berryfields, Weedon Hill and Aylesbury Town Centre during Monday - Friday peak hours, every 15 minutes during the day and on Saturdays, with a 20 minute headway during the evening. It will be operated by 3 brand new Dennis Trident double deck buses in a special livery - pictures are on the photographs page. There will be a small ceremony at 1000am on the 19th involving the Mayor of Aylesbury and other dignitaries from Aylesbury Vale and Buckinghamshire County Councils, although the service actually starts much earlier.
Fleet News
The Dennis Trident are registered OM07 ADK/L/M and have been allocated fleet numbers 652-4. They have Plaxton President bodywork. Coach JAZ 6687 has been offered for sale. A new fleetlist, including depot allocations, is now available on the fleetlist page
May 2007
Service Update
Suprising news is that Red Rover have won the Buckinghamshire County Council contract to operate service 366 between Aylesbury and Buckingham, from Jeffs Coaches (Helmdon, Buckingham), now part of the Bowen Group. The normal day time frequency is hourly, requiring 2 buses, with some additional school journeys in to both Buckingham and Aylesbury. The contract calls for single deck, modern, low floor easy access buses and so the two recently acquired Mercedes Benz Citaros (260/1) will be used on this service. The new service starts on 29th May.
There are some minor revisions to some Aylesbury country services, commencing on the same date. These revisions are as follows:-
Service 363 The first journey from Aylesbury on Mondays - Fridays is withdrawn due to poor usage.
Service 364 The first journey from Ivinghoe on Mondays - Fridays is withdrawn due to poor usage.
Service 365 Some off peak journeys have been withdrawn due to poor usage, leaving roughly a two-hourly service during the day which should better match demand.
In addition, also commencing 29th May, some early and late journeys on Service 373 between Leyhill and Chesham Rose Drive or Chesham Moor are either been withdrawn (on Saturdays) or curtailed.
The new Berryfields Park and Ride service is due to commence in June and a timetable will be available nearer the start date of 19th June. A peak frequency of every 10 minutes will be operated, reduced to every 15 minutes during the day Mondays to Fridays and all day Saturdays. At present, there will be no Sunday service.
Fleet News
As expected, Leyland Olympian/Alexander 642 (A204 OKJ) has been withdrawn from service and will be sold at auction shortly. Red Rover now has no dual-doored vehicles, except the new articulated buses for use on RR4. Leyland Fleetline 503 (KON 371P) has finally been repainted into the current livery, leaving Routemaster 406 as the only vehicle left in the old livery. The three Dennis Tridents for the new Berryfields Park and Ride service are due during May, prior to the start date in June.
It is now confirmed that Red Rover have ordered 5 new Volvo B7RLE buses with Wright Eclipse Urban single deck 45 seat bodies (total capacity of 77) and a single Volvo B9TL bus with Wright Eclipse Gemini B9TL double deck body. This is by far the biggest ever single investment by Red Rover in their local bus operations and shows continual commitment by Red Rover in Wrightbus. All the vehicles are due by September 2007, although it is not clear yet as to whether they are for new services or replacements for existing buses.
April 2007
Service Update
Fleet News
The withdrawal of Routemasters from RR9 on 17th March went off very well, with additional journeys being made during the afternoon by heritage Routemaster 405 (ALD 975B), in addition to 403 and 404 (ALM 95B, CUV 212C). Both 403 and 404 have been sold – 403 for preservation and 404 for use as a promotional vehicle.
Secondhand additions include the first 2 Mercedes Benz Citaros in the fleet, BT55 HTY which is numbered 260 and 261 (LT52 WXB). 261 is being prepared for service, 260 is already in use. A much older purchase is an Alexander PS-bodied Volvo B10M, BAZ 2145 with dual purpose seating, numbered 215.
The entire fleet of Optare Deltas based at our Chesham depot have been withdrawn and replaced with low-floor Dennis Dart SLFs. The Darts have come from a Scottish operator and have registrations N204/7/9/10 NNJ. Their appearance may seem a little shabby (they were never repainted by their previous owner), but all are in excellent mechanical condition. They will be repainted in to Red Rover livery as soon as time allows. A couple of the Wright Access Scania's have also been reallocated to Chesham from Aylesbury. The Deltas were 220-225 (G785PWL, H806 GRE, M810 RCP, G502/3/4 XBL) and all were taken out of service by the end of March. Also withdrawn is a Dennis Trident/Plaxton President 652 (LN51 KYT) which leaves Leyland Olympian/Alexander 642 (A204 OKJ) as the only dual door bus left in the fleet. It is anticipated that this will also be withdrawn shortly. Finally, from the coach fleet, IIL 2159 a DAF Bova Futura has also been withdrawn and sold.
February 2007
Service Update
There are some service revisions from 12th February to the following routes:-
Service RR4 New articulated buses will be introduced to the service, which will have it's frequency increased to every 20 minutes during the day. In addition, a new evening service will operate hourly until around 9pm.
Service RR7 The evening service on Mondays - Saturdays will no longer serve Elmhurst, being replaced by Service RR4 above. The Sunday service is not affected.
Service RR10 This route will be renumbered 321. The last return journey to Reading on Saturdays will be withdrawn due to poor usage.
Fleet News
The three new Wright Solar Fusion Scania L94 articulated buses for service RR4 were delivered in the first week of February, and entered service on 12th February when changes to the service were made (see below). These are the first articulated buses in the Red Rover fleet. Registration numbers are OV56 LAA/LAB/LAC and they have been given fleet numbers 250-252
A decision was taken during Febraury that Routemaster operation would end on RR9, the final day being 17th March. This will enable RR8 to continue as a Routemaster crew-operated route, with crews transferring from RR9. Consequently, Routemasters 403 and 404 (ALM 95B, CUV 212C) will both be withdrawn with both already having new owners after service on the 17th. Routemaster 406 (SMK 758F) will be kept for RR8, with Heritage liveried 405 (ALD 975B) acting as a reserve vehicle.
January 2007
Service Update
A passenger questionaire is also taking place about the future vehicle type to be used on RR9 between Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Haydon Hill. It is currently crew operated by Routemasters (see picture in Photographs), but Red Rover is finding it increasingly difficult to employ and retain crews for this service in a competitive employment marketplace. Passengers are being asked for their views, but we are considering replacing the Routemasters with low floor single deck buses, with a similar overall capacity. Passenger numbers have grown steadily on RR9, and the Routemaster is believed to be part of success of the route. However, if the route is to remain a success, it must be reliable and this is the major concern that we have at present. A decision will be taken during February.
Fleet News
The three new Wright Solar Fusion Scania L94 articulated buses for RR4 are due for delivery at the end of January and will enter service on 12th February. These buses are the first articulated vehicles in the Red Rover fleet and represent a massive investment in public transport in Aylesbury in a partnership with Bucks County Council. They have seating for 59, but have a total capacity of 147 which makes them ideal for the predicated growth in passengers travelling from Fairford Leys and also
October 2006
Service Update
As reported previously, Red Rover has been considering the use of articulated vehicles on town service RR4 (Coppice and Fairford Leys) and it has been decided to purchase 3 brand new Wright Solar Fusion articulated buses to fully upgrade this service. The County Council are also financially supporting an initiative to promote the revised service through radio and leaflet advertising when it re-launches in early 2007. The Solar Fusions have been chosen after positive responses to the similar Wright-bodied Geminis from both drivers and passengers.
Some timetable changes will affect the following Chesham based routes from 14th October 2006
Service 348 Minor timetable revisions.
Service 349/394 Two return journeys to Tring from Chesham have been withdrawn due to poor usage.
Service 359 Minor timetable revisions.
In addition, route 52 has been taken over commercially from Arriva and is now Red Rover service 316. It operates between Chesham (
An additional tendered service is also now operated from Chesham to Bovingdon via Flaunden and Latimer, reinstating a link that was lost 7 years ago. There are two round trips each weekday morning and it will operate as route 349a.
Fleet News
A further brand new Volvo B7TL Wright Gemini arrived on 1st September and entered service the following day. It is RR56 BUS, with fleet number 663. A further Gemini has arrived in the shape of BJ03 EWL (664) and this is currently awaiting repaint in to fleet livery. This shows the commitment to our services and also the investment in our staff and passenger expectations. This brings to 5 the number of Wright Geminis now in service with Red Rover.
September 2006
A full fleet list has now been added to the web site. This includes all our buses and coaches and will be updated every 2-3 months. The next update will also show which depot the vehicle is allocated to - either Aylesbury (AY) or our new depot in Chesham (CH).
We also now have a list of all of our local bus routes, except special school services. Approximate freqencies are given for all our services in Aylesbury, Chesham, High Wycombe and also Hemel Hemsptead. Details of our express and coach services will be listed as soon as possible.