News

Society news

This page gives up-to-date major news items to supplement our monthly newsletter, •The London Bus• (TLB). Items noted here will be incorporated in the next issue of TLB in greater detail. News updates will usually be weekly, by Sunday evening, but if major stories arise we will attempt to announce them sooner. Reports more than a month old and already reported in TLB are deleted. Reports for the TLB Editors and communications to Society Officers can be sent by e-mail to "lotsed@tesco.net". TLB covers the operations and vehicles of around 120 companies working local bus services in Greater London and the Home Counties in the region roughly bounded by the old London Transport country-bus operating area. Each issue is typically 40 pages containing references to around 300 routes and 1000 vehicles, together with the business and political news, the publicity output of the companies, forthcoming exhibitions and rallies, and much more. To get the full picture, why not join now? Go to the Membership Page for details.

Forthcoming Conway Hall meetings

Meetings are held monthly (except January, July & August) and usually commence at 19:30. Doors open 18:00 with sales stands available from 18:30. Meetings usually finish by 22:00. There is no charge.

The next meeting is on Monday 20th May: The speaker has changed. Alan Osborne will present 'Trolleybuses from around the World'. Nick Agnew will appear later in the year.

Conway Hall is located at Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL.
Nearest Underground station: Holborn (Central and Piccadilly Lines)
Buses: 1, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 59, 68, 91, 98, 168, 171, 188, 242, 243 & 521 stop nearby.

The London Bus (TLB)

TLB584 was posted on Tuesday 14th May. The closing date for reports for TLB 586 is Friday 7 June and it is due for posting on Tuesday 18 June.

New sales items from LOTS

Mike Harris' 2013 editions of the comprehensive 'all routes' London bus maps. The Greater London Bus Map No.34 27th April 2013 (£2.00) in aid of charity 'Hope for Tomorrow', plus the Greater London Night Bus Map 27th April 2013 (£4.00).

London Bus Magazine No 163, Spring 2013 (£5.00) Principal articles are: 'LT's satellite flat fare buses', a review of the routes begun in 1968/69/70 and their subsequent histories; 'Airport Services', showing many of the airline and airport buses at Heathrow.

Please support the Society if you can.

Orders can be sent to LOTS Postal Sales at Unit N305 Westminster Business Square, 1-45 Durham Street, Vauxhall, London SE11 5JH.

Vacancies

Latest news

Sunday 19 May

1) At just a few days' notice, the 'Roadrunner group' surrendered four routes in east Hertfordshire which had been mostly commercial with some Herts CC support. Herts CC had to tender for full council contracts from Saturday 18th May and they passed to Uno (324), Centrebus(341), Galleon Travel (351) and Arriva the Shires (C1). In the east Herts area Roadrunner now only run the C2, C3 and the Sunday 311 and C4. However, RR's C3 has been deregistered after 29th June and Galleon Travel is due to run its own version of the C3 from 17th June - albeit with a reduced frequency and a route diversion to Hammond Street. More Roadrunner changes are due from 29th June.

2) In London, a few more Metroline TEHs at Cricklewood, Arriva HVs at Wood Green and Arriva ENs at Lea Valley on route 318 have now entered service. New batches into service are Merton's new Es and First's latest WSH(62996).

3) All nine of Arriva the Shires E400s for Aylesbury route 280 are now away for refurbishment to Sapphire standard, resulting in an almost complete allocation of DLAs for the time being.

These events are provided as a service to readers, LOTS has no involvement nor responsibility for any event noted below.

Sunday 19th May: Open Day at the large vehicle collection at Great Yeldham in north Essex (on Hunnable Industrial Estate). Open 10am-4pm. admission £2.50, free local bus rides, also a free bus link from and to Braintree Station connecting with trains from London and Witham.

Latest Update: 19 May 2013

Society news

Forthcoming Conway Hall meetings

The London Bus (TLB)

New sales items from LOTS

Vacancies

Latest news

Forthcoming events



	Latest Update: 19 May 2013 Society news This page gives up-to-date major news items to supplement our monthly newsletter, •The London Bus• (TLB). Items noted here will be incorporated in the next issue of TLB in greater detail. News updates will usually be weekly, by Sunday evening, but if major stories arise we will attempt to announce them sooner. Reports more than a month old and already reported in TLB are deleted. Reports for the TLB Editors and communications to Society Officers can be sent by e-mail to "lotsed@tesco.net". TLB covers the operations and vehicles of around 120 companies working local bus services in Greater London and the Home Counties in the region roughly bounded by the old London Transport country-bus operating area. Each issue is typically 40 pages containing references to around 300 routes and 1000 vehicles, together with the business and political news, the publicity output of the companies, forthcoming exhibitions and rallies, and much more. To get the full picture, why not join now? Go to the Membership Page for details. Forthcoming Conway Hall meetings Meetings are held monthly (except January, July & August) and usually commence at 19:30. Doors open 18:00 with sales stands available from 18:30. Meetings usually finish by 22:00. There is no charge. The next meeting is on Monday 20th May: The speaker has changed. Alan Osborne will present 'Trolleybuses from around the World'. Nick Agnew will appear later in the year. Further meetings on 24 June (AGM), Bus rides on 22 July then meetings resume on 23 September, 21 October and 18 November. Our last event of 2013 will be the Autumn Transport Spectacular on Saturday 30th November at the RAF Museum at Colindale, London NW9. Open 1000-1530, entry via the Halton Gallery with a modest admission fee, more details nearer the time. Stand bookings by e-mail to southmet@hotmail.com or write to our office address at LOTS, Unit N305 Westminster Business Square, 1-45 Durham Street, Vauxhall, London SE11 5JH, clearly marking your envelope 'ATS Organiser'. Conway Hall is located at Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Nearest Underground station: Holborn (Central and Piccadilly Lines) Buses: 1, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 59, 68, 91, 98, 168, 171, 188, 242, 243 & 521 stop nearby. The London Bus (TLB) TLB584 was posted on Tuesday 14th May. The closing date for reports for TLB 586 is Friday 7 June and it is due for posting on Tuesday 18 June. New sales items from LOTS The LOTS London Bus & Tram Fleetbook 2013 (£6.50) correct to 9 April when the First London sale was announced. Mike Harris' 2013 editions of the comprehensive 'all routes' London bus maps. The Greater London Bus Map No.34 27th April 2013 (£2.00) in aid of charity 'Hope for Tomorrow', plus the Greater London Night Bus Map 27th April 2013 (£4.00). London Buses in 2012, the Review of last year (£10.00) London Bus Magazine No 163, Spring 2013 (£5.00) Principal articles are: 'LT's satellite flat fare buses', a review of the routes begun in 1968/69/70 and their subsequent histories; 'Airport Services', showing many of the airline and airport buses at Heathrow. Please support the Society if you can. Orders can be sent to LOTS Postal Sales at Unit N305 Westminster Business Square, 1-45 Durham Street, Vauxhall, London SE11 5JH. See the Sales Page for full list of sales items. Vacancies none Non-members may wish to look at a sample issue of TLB. Hopefully this will whet your appetite for joining LOTS! Latest news Sunday 19 May 1) At just a few days' notice, the 'Roadrunner group' surrendered four routes in east Hertfordshire which had been mostly commercial with some Herts CC support. Herts CC had to tender for full council contracts from Saturday 18th May and they passed to Uno (324), Centrebus(341), Galleon Travel (351) and Arriva the Shires (C1). In the east Herts area Roadrunner now only run the C2, C3 and the Sunday 311 and C4. However, RR's C3 has been deregistered after 29th June and Galleon Travel is due to run its own version of the C3 from 17th June - albeit with a reduced frequency and a route diversion to Hammond Street. More Roadrunner changes are due from 29th June. 2) In London, a few more Metroline TEHs at Cricklewood, Arriva HVs at Wood Green and Arriva ENs at Lea Valley on route 318 have now entered service. New batches into service are Merton's new Es and First's latest WSH(62996). 3) All nine of Arriva the Shires E400s for Aylesbury route 280 are now away for refurbishment to Sapphire standard, resulting in an almost complete allocation of DLAs for the time being. Tuesday 14 May London Buses intends to enter into the following contracts: Tranche 434 96 re-awarded to Stagecoach Selkent with new double deck, PVR 21, start date 25 January 2014. 428 re-awarded to Arriva Kent Thameside with existing single deck, PVR 8, start date 25 January 2014 B15 re-awarded to Arriva Kent Thameside with existing single deck, PVR 6, start date 25 January 2014. Tranche 435 122 re-awarded to Stagecoach Selkent with new double deck, PVR 16, start date 8 February 2014 472/N472 re-awarded to Stagecoach Selkent with new double deck, PVR 20, start date 25 January 2014 486 re-awarded to London Central with existing double deck, PVR 16, start date 22 February 2014 601 re-awarded to Stagecoach Selkent with existing double deck, PVR 4. Start date 25 January 2014 602 re-awarded to Stagecoach Selkent with existing double deck, PVR 2, start date 25 January 2014 Tranche 436 317 re-awarded to Arriva London North with existing double deck, PVR 5, start date 29 March 2014 393 re-awarded to Arriva London North with 2 new and 14 existing fleet single deck, PVR 13. Start date 22 March 2014 Tranche 437 200 re-awarded to London General with 2 new double deck and 16 existing single deck, PVR 16. Start date 22 February 2014 The 472 award includes the existing night service and the 122 includes an additional AM school journey. All awards are on the basis of conventional diesel engined vehicles with the exception of 96, 122 and 472/N472 where vehicle types will be confirmed at a later date. The six existing vehicles to be used on route B15 plusone to be used on route 428 are 2008 built 55 capacity vehicles currently allocated to route 256. Existing double decks on route 317 will be used for the first two years, replaced by newer vehicles from the end of 2015. Sunday 12 May 1) The much delayed entry into service at Cricklewood of Metroline's batch of TEHs (1449-1467) has finally begun. Recent new deliveries to London General include examples of both 10.4m and 10.9m versions of the StreetLites, the five E40Ds (E 276-280) and most of the eighteen E40Hs (EH 21-38), all of which are due to go into service on or by 1st June. Forthcoming events These events are provided as a service to readers, LOTS has no involvement nor responsibility for any event noted below. Sunday 19th May: Open Day at the large vehicle collection at Great Yeldham in north Essex (on Hunnable Industrial Estate). Open 10am-4pm. admission £2.50, free local bus rides, also a free bus link from and to Braintree Station connecting with trains from London and Witham. Sunday 19th May: Country Bus Rallies' Running Day from Sevenoaks Bus Station. Bank Holiday Monday 27th May: Bus Rally at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton Road Station, and featuring a special Routemaster Gathering. Sunday 2nd June: Running Day at Clacton Saturday 8th June: Metroline Potters Bar Garage Open Day and Running Day. Sunday 9th June: 'Country Bus Rallies' Running Day from Hertford Bus Station. Sunday 9 June: Festival of Transport, Stockwood Park, Luton, open 10:00-16:00 Sunday 16 June: HCVS Ridgeway Run from Henley to Quainton Road. Sunday 30 June: 'A Sixties Summer', a buses and music event at London Bus Museum, Brooklands. Sunday 30 June: Reading Buses open day at Great Knollys Street depot. Sunday 7 July: NLTS North Weald Bus Rally, open 10:00-17:00, admission £10 (accompanied children free) which includes bus 396 from Epping Station. The first 396 from Epping at 10:10 then every 10 minutes to 10:50 then every 20 minutes. Transport Bazaar and up to 200 buses planned. Sunday 14th July: A&D-MBS Running Day at Uxbridge from Chippendale Waye. Sunday 14 July: Peterborough Bus Rally at Sacrewell Farm (off A47 west of the City). Note changed date. Sunday 14 July: Bus & Coach Show at Newbury Showground (jct M4/A34) open 10:30-17:00. Sunday 14 July: 'Country Bus Rallies' Running Day from Eastbourne Rail station. Saturday 20 July: Running Day on London route 76 (Tottenham - Waterloo) to commemorate the Centenary of both Tottenham Garage and route 76. The garage will NOT be open to the public although a 'community event' will be on the nearby Green. Sunday 21st July: The grand Bus Rally and Running Day at Alton, Anstey Park. Sunday 28th July: Worthing seafront (western end) Bus Rally. Saturday 3 August: RM operation between Warminster and Imber. Sunday 4 August: Gosport (Stokes Bay) Bus rally. Saturday 10th August: Metroline Holloway (HT) Garage Open Day, plus some local bus rides. Sunday 11th August: Herne Bay Bus Ralley at William Street car park. Sunday 18th August: A&D-MBS Running Day from Hemel Hempstead Bus Station. Saturday 7 September: NLETE bus display at Chingford, Royal Forest Hotel with free bus rides. Saturday 21st September: To commemorate the Company's 30th Anniversary there will be open days at all three of Metrobus garages at Crawley, Croydon and Orpington. Sunday 22nd September: Showbus will be at Long Marston (6 miles SW of Stratford-upon-Avon. Saturday 28 September: Mid Sussex Transport Fair, Clair Hall, Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath. Open 1000-1530. Admission £1.50. Saturday 5th October: Metroline Willesden (AC) Garage Open Day, plus some local bus rides. Saturday 5 October: NLETE Transport Fair, bus display and free local bus rides at Theydon Bois Village Hall, bazaar open 1100-1530. Admission £3 (accompanied children free) Sunday 6th October: A&D-MBS Running Day from Amersham Station. Sunday 20th October: 'Transportfest 2013' at London Bus Museum, Brooklands, Weybridge. Sunday 9 November: NLETE Transport Fair at Barnet, Christ Church Hall, St Albans Road. Open 1100-1530 admission £2 (accompanied children free). Saturday 30 November: LOTS Autumn Transport Spectacular at the RAF Museum, Colindale, London NW9.