Carousel Buses
Encyclopedia
Carousel Buses is an independent bus company based in High Wycombe
, Buckinghamshire
, England
which operates a network of local and inter-urban bus services.
Route A40, which links High Wycombe with Heathrow Airport, began operation in August 2003, initially using second-hand Leyland Olympian
double-deckers. By April 2004 these had been replaced by new low-floor Mercedes-Benz Citaro single-deck buses, in a dedicated silver and red livery. The route, which runs in partnership with Buckinghamshire County Council
and airport owner BAA, was formally introduced in January 2004.
The company launched a new commercial route in June 2004, replacing withdrawn journeys on the Arriva Shires & Essex
between High Wycombe and Lane End
, although some residents criticised the morning peak service provided.
In March 2008 Carousel introduced routes 35 and 36, branded as Purple Route, to replace a withdrawn Arriva Shires & Essex service to Flackwell Heath
. This followed a petition by residents to have the service reinstated, and was run under contract to the county council. The 35 was temporarily withdrawn in January 2010 because of road conditions, but was later restored. Seven months later the company withdrew the majority of its service to Winchmore Hill
, leaving the village with just one bus a day.
In August 2009 route 336, which had previously run between Watford
and Amersham
, was extended to High Wycombe in a move which reinstated a through link not present for the previous thirty years. The network of routes linking Chesham and Amersham, numbered 373, 374 and 375, were rationalised into two routes, the 71 and 73, running hourly between the two locations.
The company expanded in September 2009 when two new route were introduced. Route 740 supplemented the A40 between High Wycombe and Uxbridge
, increasing the overall frequency to every 30 minutes. A totally new route, A30, linked Chesham
to Heathrow.
A further change saw the existing route to Lane End replaced by new circular routes 2A and 2C in April 2010.
In September 2010, Carousel Buses introduced four new MAN 14.240 buses with Enviro200 bodywork onto route 4, becoming the first operator in Buckinghamshire to operate 60-plate vehicles.
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
which operates a network of local and inter-urban bus services.
History
Carousel Buses was formed in 2000. It initially expanded by winning county council contracts.Route A40, which links High Wycombe with Heathrow Airport, began operation in August 2003, initially using second-hand Leyland Olympian
Leyland Olympian
The Leyland Olympian was a double-decker bus built by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production before the demise of Leyland Bus.-Construction:...
double-deckers. By April 2004 these had been replaced by new low-floor Mercedes-Benz Citaro single-deck buses, in a dedicated silver and red livery. The route, which runs in partnership with Buckinghamshire County Council
Buckinghamshire County Council
Buckinghamshire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Buckinghamshire, in England, the United Kingdom. Its area of control does not include Milton Keynes, which is a unitary authority...
and airport owner BAA, was formally introduced in January 2004.
The company launched a new commercial route in June 2004, replacing withdrawn journeys on the Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex is a division of Arriva, with operations in Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London. It is one of many private operators of London Buses. Until 2002 its operations included Colchester...
between High Wycombe and Lane End
Lane End, Buckinghamshire
Lane End is a village and civil parish within Wycombe district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is just south of the M40 from High Wycombe, about two miles west of Booker. The village is twinned with Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron in France....
, although some residents criticised the morning peak service provided.
In March 2008 Carousel introduced routes 35 and 36, branded as Purple Route, to replace a withdrawn Arriva Shires & Essex service to Flackwell Heath
Flackwell Heath
Flackwell Heath is a village in the civil parish of Chepping Wycombe on the outskirts of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire England. It is at an elevation of about 150m as it sits on the top of one of the Chiltern Hills. It has a population of around 6000.-History:...
. This followed a petition by residents to have the service reinstated, and was run under contract to the county council. The 35 was temporarily withdrawn in January 2010 because of road conditions, but was later restored. Seven months later the company withdrew the majority of its service to Winchmore Hill
Winchmore Hill
Winchmore Hill is a district in the Borough of Enfield, North London, in the N21 postal district.- Location :With the Winchmore Hill conservation area as a focal point, Winchmore Hill is a ward of Enfield borough, bounded on the east by Green Lanes , Barrowell Green, Firs Lane and Fords Grove, and...
, leaving the village with just one bus a day.
In August 2009 route 336, which had previously run between Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
and Amersham
Amersham
Amersham is a market town and civil parish within Chiltern district in Buckinghamshire, England, 27 miles north west of London, in the Chiltern Hills. It is part of the London commuter belt....
, was extended to High Wycombe in a move which reinstated a through link not present for the previous thirty years. The network of routes linking Chesham and Amersham, numbered 373, 374 and 375, were rationalised into two routes, the 71 and 73, running hourly between the two locations.
The company expanded in September 2009 when two new route were introduced. Route 740 supplemented the A40 between High Wycombe and Uxbridge
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
, increasing the overall frequency to every 30 minutes. A totally new route, A30, linked Chesham
Chesham
Chesham is a market town in the Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire, England. It is located 11 miles south-east of the county town of Aylesbury. Chesham is also a civil parish designated a town council within Chiltern district. It is situated in the Chess Valley and surrounded by farmland, as well as...
to Heathrow.
A further change saw the existing route to Lane End replaced by new circular routes 2A and 2C in April 2010.
In September 2010, Carousel Buses introduced four new MAN 14.240 buses with Enviro200 bodywork onto route 4, becoming the first operator in Buckinghamshire to operate 60-plate vehicles.
Routes
Carousel Buses operate the following scheduled services:- A30: CheshamCheshamChesham is a market town in the Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire, England. It is located 11 miles south-east of the county town of Aylesbury. Chesham is also a civil parish designated a town council within Chiltern district. It is situated in the Chess Valley and surrounded by farmland, as well as...
- AmershamAmershamAmersham is a market town and civil parish within Chiltern district in Buckinghamshire, England, 27 miles north west of London, in the Chiltern Hills. It is part of the London commuter belt....
- Gerrards CrossGerrards CrossGerrards Cross is a village in Buckinghamshire, England. It is in the south of the county, near the border with Greater London, south of Chalfont St Peter. Gerrards Cross is also a civil parish within South Bucks district, which was known as the Beaconsfield district from 1974 to 1980...
- UxbridgeUxbridgeUxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
- Heathrow Airport - A40/740: High WycombeHigh WycombeHigh Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
- BeaconsfieldBeaconsfieldBeaconsfield is a market town and civil parish operating as a town council within the South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies northwest of Charing Cross in Central London, and south-east of the county town of Aylesbury...
- Gerrards Cross - Uxbridge - Heathrow Airport - 1: High Wycombe - Wooburn GreenWooburn GreenWooburn Green is a village in the parish of Wooburn and Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, England.-Location:Wooburn Green is a village situated four miles south east of the town of High Wycombe. It neighbours Beaconsfield, Loudwater, Flackwell Heath, and Bourne End...
- Bourne EndBourne End, BuckinghamshireBourne End is a village predominantly in the parish of Wooburn and Bourne End, but also in the parish of Little Marlow, in Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated close to the border with Berkshire, near where the River Wye meets the River Thames... - 2A: High Wycombe - StokenchurchStokenchurchStokenchurch is a village and civil parish within Wycombe district in Buckinghamshire England. It is in the Chiltern Hills, about south of Chinnor in Oxfordshire and west of High Wycombe. The village is a popular place to live, due to its rural location and ease of access to London and Birmingham...
- Lane EndLane End, BuckinghamshireLane End is a village and civil parish within Wycombe district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is just south of the M40 from High Wycombe, about two miles west of Booker. The village is twinned with Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron in France....
- High Wycombe - 2C: High Wycombe - Lane End - Stokenchurch - High Wycombe
- 3 and 5: School services to Sir William Ramsay SchoolSir William Ramsay SchoolSir William Ramsay School is a co-educational secondary school in Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire. It is takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 18 with a total of approximately 1,000 pupils attending. The school shares a common catchment area with the nearby Holmer Green Senior School...
- 4: High Wycombe - Holmer GreenHolmer GreenHistorically, Holmer Green was a small hamlet in the parish of Little Missenden, in Buckinghamshire, England. Today it is considered a village in its own right even though it looks to the casual observer like a far corner of High Wycombe...
- Amersham - Chesham - Ley HillLey HillFor the area in Birmingham, England see Ley Hill, BirminghamLey Hill is a Chiltern village on the Bucks/Herts border near the town of Chesham in the south-east England. It is part of the civil parish of Latimer, and comes under Chiltern District Council in the County of Buckinghamshire. Ley Hill... - 27: Wycombe General HospitalWycombe General HospitalWycombe General Hospital is located in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. It is one of three hospitals in the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, the other two being Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Amersham Hospital....
- High Wycombe - Robinson Road - 35: High Wycombe - Loudwater - Flackwell HeathFlackwell HeathFlackwell Heath is a village in the civil parish of Chepping Wycombe on the outskirts of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire England. It is at an elevation of about 150m as it sits on the top of one of the Chiltern Hills. It has a population of around 6000.-History:...
- 36: High Wycombe - Flackwell Heath - Bourne End
- 71: Chesham - Amersham - Little ChalfontLittle ChalfontLittle Chalfont is a village and civil parish in Chiltern district in south east Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated in a small group of villages called The Chalfonts which also consists of Chalfont St Giles and Chalfont St Peter...
- 73: Chesham - Amersham - Penn Street
- 336: High Wycombe - Beaconsfield - Amersham - RickmansworthRickmansworthRickmansworth is a town in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England, 4¼ miles west of Watford.The town has a population of around 15,000 people and lies on the Grand Union Canal and the River Colne, at the northern end of the Colne Valley regional park.Rickmansworth is a small town in...
- WatfordWatfordWatford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...