Year of the Bus News: November 2014
It's amazing how fast one month can go! I apologise if next month there is no edition - there are no contracts being awarded and there are also not many deliveries in time for next month (December), so they may be pushed forward to the New Year. Apologies in advance as it seems it will be a relatively quiet Christmas this year in the bus scene. Nonetheless, let's end Year of the Bus edition of this series with a bang!
Arriva London:
- Route 137's conversion date has been pushed forward to Saturday 6th December 2014. The LTs have been delivered and are at Norwood (N) garage, Brixton (BN) garage and the outstation on Brixton Hill.
- The loss of route 34 and 192 at the start of the month has led to 192's vehicles being loaned to Go-Ahead. The DLPs on route 34 have all been withdrawn, these being the last of them in London. T3 (3 CLT) was the last Arriva bus on route 34.
- Other than route 137, Arriva have had a quiet month although Wright StreetDeck DW411 (LJ11 AEB) has returned to service, frequently seen on route 349, and occasionally route 279.
Arriva TGM:
- Cadets are making Cameo appearances on route E10. Also to note is that unfortunately the vehicles on route E10, well known and stand out for their yellow bands, are having them removed. 3425 and 3426 have had this treatment because of unreasonable and silly TfL laws, if you ask me.
Abellio London:
- The takeover of route S4 between Roundshaw and St Helier Station (in the last edition I wrote St Helier Hospital by mistake) went smoothly, with all 7 Enviro 200s (8201-7) which are diesels with flywheel systems entering service within a week of takeover. These new vehicles have been highly commended by engineers and enthusiasts alike, along with the new vehicles on route 112 and 124.
- The next takeover will be route 109 between Brixton and Croydon after the new year, also from Beddington Cross (BC).
Go-Ahead London:
- The vehicles loaned for route 192 have been re-numbered TEN1-13. It is confirmed HYBRID StreetLites have been ordered for route 192 and shall arrive over the new year.
- Meanwhile on the street of Wood Green in North London, route W4 has resumed to operating as one route, and no longer operates in two sections (W4N, W4S).
- Route 453 is fully Borismaster, except for LT282 which hasn't seen service. It is confirmed it will be in either an Android or Ugg advert. However, conventional vehicles can still be standing in for the meantime.
- Whilst on the topic of Borismasters and liveries, LT60 on route 11 has received a 'London General' advert in sport of Year of the Bus. Earlier this month we saw several RTs (and a RM) operate on route 11 as part of an event.
- LDP198 (SN51 UAL) is on loan to Blue Triangle whilst route 364's Enviro 200s are refurbished - note that the new contract had started quite some time ago.
- The vehicles from route 453 have transferred to Camberwell (Q) where they will operate route 68, 468 and 185. This will release Volvos to Metrobus which will replace the 2003-built OmniDekkas.
- Route 100's new vehicles are still pending delivery.
- Last night on route 19 saw the presence of Enviro 400 Hybrid prototype EH5 (LX58 DDO) do a few workings. I must say that this has to be one of our workings of this year! Definitely worth mentioning.
Metroline:
- TEH915 was spotted on route 332 last Tuesday.
- In other news, more and more VWHs have been entering service on route 34 at Potters Bar (PB). Slowly, TEs loaned from Holloway (HT) (including TE925-34 which came from W, 926 coming from EW beforehand) have been moving back to HT. TE926 has already returned.
- There has been DSD and DEM workings on route 383 lately, which has been lost to Uno. Although 384 has common workings of these vehicles, 383 tends to remain strictly DES on most days. The reason for this is due to the absence of some DES vehicles, some at Greenford (G) on route E5, others at refurbishment. The DSDs and DEMs will help cover.
RATP Group:
- Not much to report from here, although it's worth noting ADH19 (SN60 BYR) has been spotted on route 27.
- Also worth noting is in the last week a DPS and DE have made an appearance on route K4, between Mansfield Park and Kingston Hospital. The route, usually allocated SDE6-10, saw curtailments to Hook Parade when these workings were in place.
- Quality Line lost route S4 on the 15th November 2014, OPL08 being the last bus in service.
Stagecoach London:
- New vehicles 10198-10205 are entering service at Catford (TL) to cover route 136's extension to Elephant & Castle. This means our beloved Y-NHK vehicles will very soon be withdrawn from London. Get your last rides and photos now!
Tower Transit:
- This ever-expanding company have purchased Whippets Coaches, taking over some TGM services in the Harlow and Stansted area. Meanwhile, the Stagecoach Tridents have entered service at Westbourne Park (X) for God knows why????? Perhaps vehicles will be released from X to AS to cover instead. One of the Tridents has a Lord Mayor's Appeal all-over advert.
- Two DNs are allocated to route 308 until the New Year as there is high demand for the service around the Christmas time for shoppers and visitors to Stratford City and Olympic Park.
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Arriva London:
- Route 137's conversion date has been pushed forward to Saturday 6th December 2014. The LTs have been delivered and are at Norwood (N) garage, Brixton (BN) garage and the outstation on Brixton Hill.
 |
| Goodbye DLPs! |
- Other than route 137, Arriva have had a quiet month although Wright StreetDeck DW411 (LJ11 AEB) has returned to service, frequently seen on route 349, and occasionally route 279.
Arriva TGM:
- Cadets are making Cameo appearances on route E10. Also to note is that unfortunately the vehicles on route E10, well known and stand out for their yellow bands, are having them removed. 3425 and 3426 have had this treatment because of unreasonable and silly TfL laws, if you ask me.
Abellio London:
- The takeover of route S4 between Roundshaw and St Helier Station (in the last edition I wrote St Helier Hospital by mistake) went smoothly, with all 7 Enviro 200s (8201-7) which are diesels with flywheel systems entering service within a week of takeover. These new vehicles have been highly commended by engineers and enthusiasts alike, along with the new vehicles on route 112 and 124.
- The next takeover will be route 109 between Brixton and Croydon after the new year, also from Beddington Cross (BC).
Go-Ahead London:
- The vehicles loaned for route 192 have been re-numbered TEN1-13. It is confirmed HYBRID StreetLites have been ordered for route 192 and shall arrive over the new year.
- Meanwhile on the street of Wood Green in North London, route W4 has resumed to operating as one route, and no longer operates in two sections (W4N, W4S).
- Route 453 is fully Borismaster, except for LT282 which hasn't seen service. It is confirmed it will be in either an Android or Ugg advert. However, conventional vehicles can still be standing in for the meantime.
- Whilst on the topic of Borismasters and liveries, LT60 on route 11 has received a 'London General' advert in sport of Year of the Bus. Earlier this month we saw several RTs (and a RM) operate on route 11 as part of an event.
- LDP198 (SN51 UAL) is on loan to Blue Triangle whilst route 364's Enviro 200s are refurbished - note that the new contract had started quite some time ago.
- The vehicles from route 453 have transferred to Camberwell (Q) where they will operate route 68, 468 and 185. This will release Volvos to Metrobus which will replace the 2003-built OmniDekkas.
- Route 100's new vehicles are still pending delivery.
- Last night on route 19 saw the presence of Enviro 400 Hybrid prototype EH5 (LX58 DDO) do a few workings. I must say that this has to be one of our workings of this year! Definitely worth mentioning.
Metroline:
- TEH915 was spotted on route 332 last Tuesday.
- In other news, more and more VWHs have been entering service on route 34 at Potters Bar (PB). Slowly, TEs loaned from Holloway (HT) (including TE925-34 which came from W, 926 coming from EW beforehand) have been moving back to HT. TE926 has already returned.
- There has been DSD and DEM workings on route 383 lately, which has been lost to Uno. Although 384 has common workings of these vehicles, 383 tends to remain strictly DES on most days. The reason for this is due to the absence of some DES vehicles, some at Greenford (G) on route E5, others at refurbishment. The DSDs and DEMs will help cover.
RATP Group:
- Not much to report from here, although it's worth noting ADH19 (SN60 BYR) has been spotted on route 27.
- Also worth noting is in the last week a DPS and DE have made an appearance on route K4, between Mansfield Park and Kingston Hospital. The route, usually allocated SDE6-10, saw curtailments to Hook Parade when these workings were in place.
- Quality Line lost route S4 on the 15th November 2014, OPL08 being the last bus in service.
Stagecoach London:
- New vehicles 10198-10205 are entering service at Catford (TL) to cover route 136's extension to Elephant & Castle. This means our beloved Y-NHK vehicles will very soon be withdrawn from London. Get your last rides and photos now!
Tower Transit:
- This ever-expanding company have purchased Whippets Coaches, taking over some TGM services in the Harlow and Stansted area. Meanwhile, the Stagecoach Tridents have entered service at Westbourne Park (X) for God knows why????? Perhaps vehicles will be released from X to AS to cover instead. One of the Tridents has a Lord Mayor's Appeal all-over advert.
- Two DNs are allocated to route 308 until the New Year as there is high demand for the service around the Christmas time for shoppers and visitors to Stratford City and Olympic Park.
Thanks for reading this edition! In addition, please fill out this form, and share with friends after. Click here to access the form.
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Post with Jacob
RATP's SDE18 has been withdrawn after exploding on the A41 last month, ethics means that route 324 will be subjected to longer vehicles of route 251, in my opinion, it's quite a shame!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I forgot to write that, and also 9066. It is true, SDE18 has been written off. Right now, 324 is up for tender, and hasn't been given an extension, so I doubt the route will be retained.
DeleteAt the same time, 9066 exploded on the next day, although 9066 has confirmed to be repaired as it will get a refurbishment treatment, like the rest of the batch.
New tenders are out:
ReplyDelete248 has been retained by Stagecoach East London with existing OmniCities to be refurbished.
285 has been retained by RATP Group. The route will be double decked with brand new hybrids, resulting in the DEs being refurbished and re-allocated to route 326 when the route is taken over in July.
498 and 499 awarded to Stagecoach London (from Blue Triangle/ Arriva Southern Counties) with new double deckers/ new single deckers of which will be diesel for both batches. Takeover is on the 27th June 2015.
Has their ever been a Double Decker on the 285?
Delete