Bus News: February 2016

Here we are once again. News, please! A short post this time, as the last post was only two weeks ago. But it's good to stick to schedule nonetheless. Happy Leap Day!

No tenders have been announced since the last post and this post. Stay tuned to the chatbox and tenders page for information.

Abellio London:
- Route C10's Enviro 200 MMC buses are starting to be delivered to Battersea (QB) garage, where the buses will be maintained (as opposed to Walworth).

- Route 367's Enviro 200 MMC buses are also starting to appear at Beddington Cross (BC) garage. Numbered 8208+, the registrations alongside C10's buses are YX16 plated.

- After this order of Enviro 200 MMC buses comes E5 and E7's batch, of two lengths for Hayes (WS) garage. This will commence in early May.

- Enviro 400 MMCs now, and 2400 is still at Beddington Cross (BC) on route 109, as a top up alongside the hybrid models. 2498 is still off road after the fire that occurred whilst it was in service on route 109.

- Routes 3 and N3 have been using LTs a lot more frequently now, with more Enviro 400 hybrid buses being cascaded to Walworth (WL) to be utilised on route 381. Route 211 will also convert in the summer, although there isn't much news on it yet, we will keep you updated.

Arriva London:
- At Garston (GR), more VLWs have been popping up - particularly on route 258. 130 and 131 are the latest VLWs to join the fleet.

- Also at Garston (GR), 6101 has strayed onto routes 288 and 303, 5448 onto the 288 and a VLW on the H18 in the last or so week.

- Route 59's LTs have been spotted on delivery, for it's conversion later this Spring. The 'HVs' allocated to it will go back to route 319, as originally they were ordered for. The conversion will allow older DW class buses to be withdrawn at Brixton (BN) garage.

- VLA131 has been spotted at Barking (DX) garage (Thanks EastLondoner for that) with white blinds containing route 368 on them. The garage doesn't take the route from Go-Ahead until the end of April, so time will tell how long it will take the 168's former supplementary 60-reg T buses (which are at Hants & Dorsets Trim being refurbished) to appear at the garage.

Route 258 at Harrow Bus Station, October 2015.

- Hertfordshire County Council have been threatening to cut funding to routes across Watford in particular, posing potential problems for routes 142 (Brent Cross - Watford Junction) and 258 (South Harrow - Watford Junction). Petitions have been set up, and demonstrations have been in place, but how will the county council act? Will they listen, or will passengers face the consequences?

Route 142 at Edgware Bus Station, June 2015.

- EMC2 has been burnt out, and OE1 has been transferred from Go-Ahead to help cover it.

Go-Ahead London:
- The conversion on route 68 is well under way, with buses being released across the company. Please note LT666 is in this batch.

- An 06-reg WVL working has occurred on route D7 at Silvertown (SI), thought to be a (temporary) top-up on route D7 at Silvertown (SI) garage.

- Route 162's new Enviro 200s are ready for delivery and should be on the road within the upcoming month. These are SN16 Oxx plated vehicles. There are three of them, SE288-290.

Metroline Travel:
- Only one 60-reg TE remains at Cricklewood (W) garage, TE1103. This bus is usually seen on route 32, and is expected to move out soon, making majority of the double deck fleet hybrid buses (with the TAs preventing this being 100%). The rest of the batch are at Holloway (HT) on route 271, or at Potters Bar (PB) on route 307. A few 12-reg TEs have transferred to Holloway (HT), leaving a few bodies at Cricklewood (W).

- Route 91's conversion to Borismaster operation has been delayed until later next month, or in April. This is whilst the Crouch End stand is sorted out. Following this conversion, there should be quite a lot of withdrawals of several vehicles.

- VW1249 (LK12 ABX) and VW1251 (LK12 ACO) have transferred back to Holloway (HT) garage from Alperton (ON).

Metroline West:
- VW1782 (LK59 FCY) and VW1841 (BK10 MFO) have transferred back to Alperton (ON) following a long 2-and-a-half years at Willesden Junction (WJ) depot, strictly being allocated to route 18. They will be back on their 'normal' routes, the 83 and 245.

- DE strays have once become a very regular working again at Alperton (ON) on route 245, and at Greenford (G) on route 282.

- The brand new DELs for route 487 should be arriving soon. These buses are 10.9m long, which means they will be Enviro 200 MMC buses, the first for Metroline and in West London.

Stagecoach London:

- An MMC, 10304 (YY15 OYV) strayed onto route 496 on the 18th February 2016 whilst doing a late evening shift. The bus is allocated to route 498, although 496 is set to get an MMC or few later this year anyways.

- A standard Enviro 400, driven by a familiar face in the enthusiast community, appeared on route 498 on Thursday night for one rounder. This was refurbished 19741.

- Route 62 and 145's MMCs has started to be manufactured. They will start to be delivered soon to Barking (BK) garage. Route 62 will be getting a full allocation of these buses, whilst route 145 will get a part allocation.

- The Optare Versas are being withdrawn. The first 4 in the batch at Barking (BK) garage have been withdrawn and the Enviro 200s from route 469 are all at the garage to (unfortunately) replace the buses.

Tower Transit:
- Route 328's brand new Wright Gemini 3 "Frog-face" is now appearing at Heysham Docks. These will enter service from Atlas Road (AS) garage in March, and will also be the allocation on route N97 as well, as opposed to the DNHs being used off route 23.

Thanks for reading this short post and please, stay safe!