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Latest Update: 11 January 2021
|
Route |
Current
Operator |
New Operator |
PVR |
Vehicles |
313 |
Arriva London
North |
Arriva London
North |
8 |
Existing New
Routemaster |
606 |
Metroline |
Sullivan Buses |
2 |
Existing diesel
double deck |
645* |
Arriva London
South |
Arriva London
South |
2 |
Existing diesel
double deck |
* Currently numbered 405D.
The vehicles detailed above will
meet Euro VI emissions standards.
The above contracts will commence on
the following dates:
24th July 2021: Route 606.
30th October 2021: Route 645.
6th November 2021: Route 313
1)
Rapid transfers from storage into service at Stagecoach
Rainham have resulted in 24 (as at today) BYD/ADL
E400EVs available for service on route 174; the majority
are those that had been earmarked initially for Barking
route 173 – that has to wait for now.
2)
Garage news now and RATP London is to close Epsom Garage
‘by July’ and, in the meantime, routes 413/463/S1
are being transferred to London General and routes
293/404/467/470/S3 moved to Tolworth Garage.
Centrebus is to close Stevenage Garage by
April, some routes being surrendered but most
transferred to Luton Garage. Go-Ahead has
started to prepare a second garage at Silvertown and
plans to make it “all electric”. It is very close
to the present garage which remains in use as now.
1)
A modest re-think seems to be taking place over whether
all the schoolday extras are still needed, both in
London and the Counties.
2)
The electric BYD/ ADL E400EVs are being phased into
service on Stagecoach route 174 (Dagenham- Romford-
Harold Hill), the first appearing on 30th December.
3) Lots of changes on Country routes, with minor service reductions by Centrebus in Herts and at Ensignbus from 4th January and at First Berkshire from 9th. General timetable revisions also from Universitybus from 4th . Also on that date Centrebus 390 (Stevenage & Hertford) passes to Richmond’s and Stevenage local route 178 is abandoned, marking the end of many years of direct competition in the town.
1)
The big swap within Arriva turned out to be more
complicated. In one exercise, 5 x E400s from Kent went
to Leicester and 5 x Volvo B9TL/ Geminis came the
other way. In the second exercise another 16 x
E400s went from Kent to Yorkshire (Dewsbury), 16 x B9TL/
East Lancs from Yorkshire to Leicester and 16 x B7TL/
Geminis from Leicester to Kent. There is an
additional handful of single-deck swaps (to be
determined).
2)
The first (of 20) StreetDeck FCEVs for Metroline (WHD
2710) was delivered to Perivale last week. It
awaits completion of the hydrogen fuel cell
instillation. Also, still no Stagecoach BYD/E400EVs have
yet gone into service but watch LVF as some may do so
before the end of this year!
1)
At Arriva’s Country operations, a grand vehicle swap
began on 16th December, intended to eventually equip
Leicester with Class-VI double-deckers. That city
will soon be setting up a CAZ (clean air zone). It
affects about 20 older Enviro400s going from Arriva in
Kent to Arriva in Yorkshire. Yorkshire then sends
newer E400s to Arriva Midlands at Leicester and
08/58-reg Volvo B9TLs go from Leicester to Kent.
2)
In the past week no more MetroDeckers had come to Tower
Transit and Stagecoach’s E400EVs have still not yet
entered service. It is believed that the first
StreetDeck FCEV may be arriving at Metroline soon.
3) At Stagecoach all five of the hired provincial Solos at Bromley have been stood down from service and are now in use as ‘drivers meal relief’ buses at termini.
1)
Saturday 12th saw London United route 391 replaced by an
extension of route 110 to Hammersmith, together with the
transfer of some DLEs from V to AV Garage to allow for
that. V Garage (Stamford Brook) also lost route 306 to
Metroline (with VWHs from Brentford Garage) and several
of LU’s VHs are due to be reallocated elsewhere. Also at
RATP the solitary and unpopular StreetDeck WH 45252 was
last used about 3 weeks ago and is being returned to
Wrightbus about now.
2)
Still none of the Stagecoach BYD DD/ADL E400EVs have yet
entered service while charging infrastructure is
completed ; meanwhile training continues from West Ham
Garage. Over at Metroline PV (Perivale) they
still await the “imminent” arrival of the first couple
of hydrogen fuel cell StreetDecks. However, the
ten Optare MetroDeckers at Tower Transit are now
providing the full allocation on route C3.
The electric MetroCity (MC 1) that had been hoped
to operate on route 444 has been returned to Optare
without being used here.
For earlier news read LOTS TLB
(LSS) = LOTS Sales Stand booked to attend
These are publicised as a service to the readership;
LOTS has neither any involvement nor responsibility
for any event noted. Many events have admission fees,
I have included them where they have advised, you
should check with organisers or websites before
attending if costs worry you. We usually confine this
listing to events with an expected London bus interest
or within easy reach of London. Full national event
lists can be found in the April issue each year of
‘Buses’ magazine and at http://www.classicbuses.co.uk/events.html
Our website is regularly updated with other
events.
All
events are subject to any Covid-19 restrictions at the
time but the London Bus Museum Brooklands has booked
Sundays 11 April, 27 June and 24 October for its three
main events and the South East Bus Festival has booked
Detling for Saturday 10 April.
On Sunday 18th April 'LT RLHs 50 years later' spectator event planned in east
London. A 40th anniversary open day at Ash Grove
Garage is planned for Saturday 24 April.
Our website is regularly updated with other events.