Route 67 Observations

Today Arriva won the 67 off First (latterly Go Ahead as they purchased NP) but was with Stagecoach from 2001 til 2006 using Trident/ALX400 and good old Volvo Olympians. However in 2006 the route was lost to First using Tridents from route 258. The next lot of activity was in 2012 when Go Ahead bought NP and rebranded the buses with new fleetnumbers and logos. They decided to convert it to B7TL/President however this was alongside B9TL/Gemini and Trident2/Enviro. On the 19th July 2012 Arriva announced they had won Route 67 at the expense of Go Ahead. They was late announcing what garage and buses were to be used but it was confirmed in February 2013 that VDL DB300/Gemini would be used, some from route 29. Today we found that the allocation was split between Stamford Hill and Tottenham. Today the allocation was HV's and DW's, it was supposed to get new ones, but none were available today. I hope you enjoy reading this post.

Route 106 Observations

AACY0/aYL_hiWjFKU/s320/096.JPG" /> Today Arriva London won route 106 at the expense of Stagecoach's West Ham garage. The route until around 2001 was single deck, one of the most stupid things TFL did, converting them to single deck then making them double deck again! However in 2011 it received some Trident/ALX400's however these did not survive contract renewal and were replaced by Polish built Scania N230UD/Omnicites which were late. The next main activity was in August 2012 when a healthy baby boy was delivered with help from the bus driver. She really could have given him the middle name of Scania as in 2009 someone on CT Plus operated Islington/Hackney back street route 394 gave their child the middle name 'Dennis', who manufactured the bus in which the baby was born on. On 19th July 2012, just before the event above happened, the tenders were announced. It was heard that the route 106 would pass to Arriva, with new buses. However, Arriva were late announcing which garage and buses would be used however by February 2013 there was no such problem as Arriva confirmed 16 VDL DB300/Gemini 2 double deckers from Ash Grove depot near Hackney Central. Today the service seemed well run, apart from the long problem of the drivers not wearing the full Arriva uniform which was also apparent on Route 67, another route Arriva took over today. Post on that coming soon. I hope you enjoyed reading this post.

The Spirit of London - rebuilt!

Back in 2005 when the bombs happened, which involved Waterden Road machine 17758 getting destroyed, Stagecoach needed a replacement. They then sent an order to Alexander Dennis for a Enviro 400, the first bus of it's type. This bus originally came with LED destination displays, but was later changed to manual scroll blinds. In 2011, when Stagecoach brought back ELBG off the Australians, Stagecoach took the chance to refurbish this with new moqqette, handrails and more. Then in October 2012, two 14 year old girls committed arson on the bus following an argument. Stagecoach then decided to spend £50000 restoring it to a nice standard. Today it made it's debut with new features including white blinds. Lets hope it has a nice future at Leyton (T) on Route 55. I hope you enjoyed reading this post.

The London Bus Museum Spring Gathering

Today marked the 40th London Bus Museum Spring Gathering at the London Bus Museum at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey. There was many preserved routemasters and old buses as well as new buses from all over England, many from London. I have also included some pictures of non-London buses for you lot to look at. I also saw one of the brand new Volvo 7900H's for First Berkshire, have to say very nice they are too! Nice and comfy. I also saw and spoke to Dean Sullivan, a well respected individual in the bus industry running the great company Sullivan Buses which runs TFL routes 298, 628 , 653, 688 and from August 2013, the 626. I also saw the Spirit of London which was set alight in October 2012. More info will come in a dedicated Spirit of London post. I hope you enjoyed reading this post.

First is now Last

Hot off the press, First announced that it would be selling it's London division to Metroline, an established London operator and Transit Systems Group, an Australian company that currently runs buses in the Sydney area. This sale is still subject to approval. First London currently has 9 garages which are as follow, Atlas Road, North Acton (AS), purchased by Transit Systems Group Route's 28 and N28, 31 and N31, 266, and 328. The garage has a variety of buses, mainly Volvo's. The type of buses at Atlas Road are as follow, VDL DB300/Gemini 2 diesel for Route 328 VDL DB300/Gemini 2 hybrid for Route 328. Volvo B7TL/Gemini 1 diesel for Route's 28 and N28, 31 and N31 and 328. Volvo B9TL/Gemini 2 diesel for Route 266. Alperton (ON), purchased by Metroline Funnily enough Metroline will regain Route 245 which they lost to First in 2008. Route's 83, 223, 224, 245 and 487. Dart 4/E200 diesel for Route's 245 and 487. E20D/E200 diesel for Route's 223 and 224. B9TL/Gemini 2 diesel for Route 83. Greenford (G), purchased by Metroline Route's 92, 95, 282, E1, E3, E5, E7, E9 and E10. Funnily enough Metroline will regain Route 95 which they lost to First in 2006. Dart 4/E200 diesel for Route's 95, E5, E7, E9 and E10. Trident/Plaxton President diesel for Route 282. Trident/E400 diesel for Route's E1 and E3. E40D/E400 diesel for Route 92. Hayes (HS), purchased by Metroline Route's 195, 207 and N207 and 427. Dart 4/E200 diesel for Route 195. N230UD/Omnicity diesel for Route 207 and N207. B9TL/Gemini 2 diesel for Route 427. Lea Interchange, Leyton (LI), purchased by Transit Systems Group This garage is also home to the only Hydrogen buses in London. Route's 25, 26 and N26, 30, 58, 236, 308, 339, 686, RV1, W14 and W15. Dart 4/E200 diesel for Route's 339, RV1 and W15. E20D/E200 diesel for Route's 236, 308 and W14. Trident/E400 diesel for Route's 26 and N26 and 30. VDL SB200 Wright Pulsar hydrogen for Route RV1. B9TL/Gemini 2 for Route's 25, 58 and 686. Uxbridge (UX), purchased by Metroline Route's 331, 607, A10, U1, U2, U3, U4, U5 and U10. Dart 4/E200 diesel for Route's 331, A10, U1, U5 and U10. Trident/E400 diesel for Route 607. Dart/Caetano Nimbus diesel for Route's U2 and U3. Trident/Plaxton President diesel for Route's U3 and U4. Westbourne Park (X), purchased by Transit Systems Group Route's 9H, 23, 70 and 295. AEC/Routemaster diesel for Route 9H. E20D/E200 diesel for Route 70. E40D/E400 diesel for Route 23. E40H/E400 hybrid for Route 23. B9TL/Gemini 2 diesel for Route 295. Willesden Junction (WJ), purchased by Metroline This garage also is home to the Streetlite demonstrator, although it is unknown whether this will transfer to Metroline. Route's 18 and N18, 187, 206, 226 and 228. Funnily enough Metroline will regain Route 206 which they lost to First in 2012. Dart 4/E200 diesel for Route's 187, 226 and 228. E20D/E200 diesel for Route 206. B9TL/Gemini 2 diesel for Route 18. So it is sad to see an operator go but on the other side we get a new one Transit Systems Group. Dagenham (DM) for some reason has not been sold so First will still continue to be in London. Transit Systems Group will brand the operation Tower Transit. I hope you enjoy reading this post.

New DW's for Arriva London North

Not too long ago Routes 121, 141 and 329 got new contracts specifying brand new buses. Arriva then placed an order for around 50 VDL DB300 DWs, which was later increased to 88 to help kill off the DLAs and DLPs. These DWs have been late arriving but some have arrived at WN for the 141 and 144. The E40D on 144 is to be displaced to Palmers Green garage (AD) for the 329 in order to cut costs on maintenence and not introduce another chassis. These new DW's I think are very nice buses ! Have not taken a ride on one but they look stunning although they would look better with gold advert frames. I hope you enjoy reading this post.

Odd's on the 463 + Chaos!

Today I checked on LVF as usual and looked up Route 463 and it said that SD43 was operating the route, which is an odd working. I therefore decided to go and capture it at Beddington Asda, the closest place on the route to where I live. So I walked there and waited for it to return from Pollards Hill, which took an hour due to the fact that the roads where full of traffic, Asda car park was rammed and it was taking up to 45 minutes to get through. I eventually got on it to Wallington where it had to be curtailed to due to the drivers working hours running out; it eventually arrived at Wallington Station 1 hour and 20 minutes late. I have also included some pictures of the traffic, mainly caused by roadworks on Beddington Lane. Buses were also running straight along Beddington Lane instead of running via Coomber Way, Beddington Farm Road, Marlowe Way and Asda; in a hope to cut the time spent late. I am quite surprised it fitted round some parts of the route in which 8.9 metre buses can only fit. NOTE: The blinds displayed Coulsdon rather than Coulsdon South due to the fact they do not carry blinds for Cousldon South. The future of these buses is currently unknown from January 2014 because the S1 contract which these are for is due to expire after a 5 year term and 2 year extension and could recive new buses whcih would probaly be OPL's (9.6 metre lenghted Optare Solo SR's). Hopefully there will be more odd's on the route due to the fact that Quality Line today confirmed via it's website that Optare will be supplying with a new Solo SR for the Route 404 contract which has been retained for a further 5 years. I hope you enjoy reading this post.