Know Your Routes: Bring The Newbies On To 52: Part 1

A Brief Summary:

52's contract was retained by Metroline on the 8th of December 2012. On this same day, the route became a fully 24-hour route meaning withdrawal of night equivalent, N52.

This month (January 2013), New Gemini 2's were ordered on a Volvo B9TL chassis and a bunch of hybrid equivalents were ordered too on a B5LH chassis.

What's going on?

December 8th called for a new contract with Metroline and TfL. Metroline successfully retained the route and ordered brand-new state of the art Wright Gemini 2's on a Volvo B9TL/Volvo B5LH chassis. The buses weren't suppose to be delivered until January 2013 so it meant the worn out Volvo B7TL/Plaxton Presidents were still in use when the contract started.

Right now, the current buses used on it are old, dented, loud, aging  and rough. The buses are to then be sold to other companies such as Ensignbus or be stored at former North Wembley Bus Garage.

The current buses used on route 52 (Willesden, Bus Garage - Victoria)

VPL168- Y168 NLK

VPL169 - Y169 NLK

VPL170 - Y196 NLK

VPL171 - Y171 NLK

VPL172 - Y172 NLK

VPL173 - Y173 NLK

VPL174 - Y174 NLK

VPL175 - Y195 NLK

VPL176 - Y176 NLK

VPL177 - Y177 NLK

VPL178 - Y178 NLK

VPL179 - Y179 NLK

VPL180 - Y197 NLK

VPL181 - Y181 NLK

VPL182 - Y182 NLK

VPL183 - Y183 NLK

VPL184 - Y184 NLK

VPL185 - Y185 NLK

VPL186 - Y186 NLK

VPL187 - Y187 NLK

VPL188 - Y188 NLK

VPL189 - Y189 NLK

VPL190 - Y198 NLK

VPL191 - Y191 NLK

VPL192 - Y192 NLK

VPL193 - Y193 NLK

VPL194 - Y194 NLK

VPL195 - Y144 NLK

VPL196 - Y146 NLK

VPL197 - Y147 NLK

VPL198 - Y148 NLK

VPL199 - Y199 NLK 

VPL208 - Y208 NLK - Transferred from Harrow Weald (HD)

Hope you enjoyed this post, look out for Part 2 which will come out tommorow!