Friday 28 March 2014

Oakwood Update

Classic Bus Dart 143 on completion of its repaint at a temporary facility in the former Cumfybus depot at Poulton (David Umpleby)

Oakwood Travel has introduce a new livery for its core Catch 22 service featuring orange and green inspired by Cardiff Bus. Dart 143 has been the first bus repainted, followed by 163. Both have been out of use since September. Sister 162 has returned to use after a complete rewire having suffered major problems with reliability since purchase. Fleet disposals have seen Olympian 915 return to its owner and RM1568 sold. Defective Metrorider 502 has been scrapped and VR 360 sold for preservation. Former London United Volvo B7TL VA103 has arrived for evaluation.

Red Rocket resumes at Easter with departures from Blackpool at 0900, 1030, 1500 and 1830 with all but the 1500 serving the Trafford Centre. The four return journeys from Manchester are at 1030, 1500, 1630 and 2000 all via the Trafford Centre. The 1030 from Manchester will extend to Pleasure Beach and the 1830 start there.

Seafront 12 resumes on 18 April with a 20 minute daytime service between Pleasure Beach and Cabin.

Oakwood are undertaking work on several LTT buses with Routemaster 521, Ribble VR 1997, Ribble RE 366, Blackpool Swift 570, Atlantean 334 and City Pacer 575. 

Oakwood Fleet List March 2014
NoRegChassisBodyLiveryOrigins
69F69SYEMCW MetrobusMCWPleasure Beach advertChina Motor Bus ML81 11/88
143T143AUADennis DartAlexanderNew Catch 22Armchair, Hounslow 5/99
145T145AUADennis DartAlexanderRedArmchair, Hounslow 5/99
162V162MVXDennis DartPlaxtonRedStagecoach East London 12/99
163V163MVXDennis DartPlaxtonNew Catch 22Stagecoach East London 12/99
269P269PSXVolvo OlympianAlexanderPleasure Beach advertLothian Buses 269
325N325NHGVolvo OlympianAlexanderGazette advertDublin Bus RA272
326F326UJNMCW MetrobusMCWPleasure Beach advertChina Motor Bus ML77 10/88
512X512UATDennis DartPlaxtonRed/GreyLondon United DP512 11/2000
533X533UATDennis DartPlaxtonRed/GreyLondon United DP513 11/2000
601W601CWXVolvo B6BLEWrightHarrogateHarrogate & District 6/2000
611W611CWXVolvo B6BLEWrightHarrogateHarrogate & District 6/2000
652Y652NLODennis DartPlaxtonRedMetroline, London DLD182 6/2001
701XAU701YLeyland OlympianECWPleasure Beach advertTrent 3/83
898R898XVMVolvo B10MAlexanderRedStagecoach Manchester
MAL41BD52LNUMercedes CitaroMercedesRedGo Ahead London
MAL49BD52LNFMercedes CitaroMercedesRedGo Ahead London
MAL53BL52ODKMercedes CitaroMercedesRedGo Ahead London
RML887202UXJAEC RoutemasterPark RoyalRedLondon Transport (Cummins Engine)