ARRIVA THE SHIRES 3895, FOLLOWED BY 3903 AND STAGECOACH 37072 ON MIDSUMMER BOULEVARD
Milton Keynes is a large new town in Buckinghamshire that was built to ease housing congestion in London in the 1960s, incorporating a number of existing towns and villages. It's the largest settlement in the county.
The bus services between the major parts of Milton Keynes were operated by United Counties, part of the National Bus Company, until the mid-1980s using a mixture of single-deck and double-deck vehicles. In 1986, in preparation for privatisation, United Counties was split into four different companies, one of which was Milton Keynes Citybus, which took over the Milton Keynes depot. It was privatised in a management buy-out in August 1987.
By February 2006 the depot and its operations had been sold to Arriva The Shires, who continue to be the main operator of bus services in Milton Keynes.
| Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Variety |  Most buses used in Milton Keynes are ADL Enviros, VDL / Wright Pulsar 2s and Wright StreetLite DFs. There are also a smaller amount of Optare Solos and wheel-forward StreetLites. |
| Operator Variety | Arriva The Shires operate most of the local bus services in Milton Keynes. Stagecoach (both East and Midlands divisions), Red Rose Travel, Z&S Transport and Uno also operate in the area, as well as some other smaller operators. |
| Quantity of Buses |  Milton Keynes has quite a few town services running at frequencies ranging between 15 and 30 minutes, as well as many country and longer-distance services. |
| Photograph Opportunities |  It can be difficult to take photos of buses in Milton Keynes in most parts as the pedestrian paths are separate to the roads, however it is possible at the two main bus terminus points as shown below. |
Warwickshire Travel's F10 WTC, a Dennis Trident / Alexander ALX400, makes its way through the bus station after dropping off on a rail replacement service
Arriva The Shires' 3339, a Wright StreetLite DF, leaves Milton Keynes Central operating an Arriva staff service
Arriva The Shires' Wright StreetLite DF 3303 calling in at the bus station, about to leave on an 8 service to Oxley Park
Uno's 303, a Mercedes-Benz Citaro sits at its stand in the bus station, waiting to operate a CX service to Cranfield University
Stagecoach's 10872, an ADL Enviro 400 MMC in the new long-distance livery, approaches the bus station, calling in on an X5 towards Bedford
Arriva The Shires' 2312, a Wright StreetLite WF, operating a 7 service towards Wolverton
Stagecoach East's 10881, an ADL Enviro 400 MMC, waiting time at The Point before continuing its X5 service to Oxford
Red Rose Travel's E19 RRT, an ADL Enviro 200 MMC formerly registered as GW65 GSW, passing through The Point heading for Aylesbury on a 100 service
Z & S Transport's MX62 GYC, an ADL Enviro 200, alights passengers after arriving into Milton Keynes on a 50 service
Arriva The Shires' 2448, an Optare Solo, passing through The Point
Click the button on the right for more information
All text and images (unless otherwise stated): © 2025 BSUK Transport Media - do not copy or use without prior permission
