THE FASTEST ROUTEMASTERS
Nearly half the BEA Heathrow fleet survives after 50 years
GOING FOR GOLD
How Stagecoach rolled out its premium brand across the larger communities in Devon
AROUND THE NUMBER 8
Birmingham’s Inner Circle has been around for 90 years and is home today to Scania OmniLinks
WHY MAIDSTONE BOUGHT BEDFORDS
The logic behind a radical move by the late Alan Price
IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS
We take a close look at some recent urban bus interiors
US TROLLEYBUSES
Roger Davies has sampled all five surviving systems
GOLDEN YEAR FOR MBF
The Model Bus Federation celebrates its first 50 years … with a reader competition
REGULARS
COMMENT
Music to the ears
NEWS
Stagecoach set for Norfolk retreat; Rotala buys Central Buses; Stephensons of Easingwold quits bus routes at short notice; new livery for Network Warrington route relaunch; Thames Valley up and running; Mendip Mule plans to return; Crich launches appeal for Barnsley Leyland; another bus minister for England; new start Snap adds Bristol-London route; blueprint puts bus at heart of urban planning; Lancashire starts more new routes
INSIDE TRACK
Speedy answers required to accelerate services
GLOBAL NEWS
National Express in coaching tie-up with Ouibus; driverless Volvo trials set for Singapore; Van Hool to establish US transit bus plant; Daimler takes Setra away from New Flyer; double artic Solaris trolley
LOOK IN ON LONDON
Last Scania OmniCity single-decks set to go; latest digital destinations meet capital standards; GLA questions TfL’s forecasts; Van Hool fuel-cells and Optare MetroDecker electric into service
MILLAR’S TALES
Permanent post for Royal Mail minibus; a London bus that goes to York and Oxford; why Askit is no longer advertised on dozens of Scottish buses
PICTUREVIEW
Bound for Brecon — a TrawsCymru MetroCity
IDENTITY PARADE
Hants & Dorset revived and updated with dignity
YOU WRITE
The Manchester mayor’s plans for a bus revolution; stylish Stagecoach Elites fall short of practical perfection; Hinckleybus liveries and timetables; that Enviro400 isn’t the 10,000th; full loads in Swansea; ex-M&D VR was one of the lowest ones built
PRESERVATION UPDATE
New team and new name for Kirkby Stephen Easter running days; Oxford Bus Museum offers Iveco electric to a good home; new site for Plymouth group; Olympian and Mini Pointer Dart enter preservation
FLEET NEWS ENGLAND & WALES
Compiled by John G. Lidstone
FLEET NEWS SCOTLAND
Compiled by Sandy Macdonald
FLEET NEWS IRELAND
Compiled by Paul Savage and Ian Molloy
REVIEWS
Books on Aberdare, north-east Scotland, Stagecoach and Belfast; a DVD follows ST922 round Brighton, Hove and district; EFE’s Aldenham Titan model twin set recalls a 1983 open day