GREATER LONDON AREA Route Developments
COUNTRY AREAS Route Developments
RAIL REPLACEMENT SERVICES
Rail Replacements (info via Managing Editor or lotsed@tesco.net)
South Eastern: On 22/23 Sept the lines were closed through London Bridge to Charing Cross, buses covering into London Bridge from New Cross Gate, using London Central/ General PVLs and MALs.
First Great Western / South West Trains / Southern: Portsmouth to Chichester/ Petersfield / Fareham between 24-28Oct: At least 18 operators' vehicles noted, including coaches from Countryliner and Edward Thomas, a Scania d/d from Metrobus and five NVs and four PVLs from London General/Central Commercial services fleet.
South West Trains: 28Oct Clapham Junction & Kingston / Surbiton / Chessington South / Epsom (via Wimbledon), five bus services operated. A- CJ & Surbiton non-stop; B- CJ & Surbiton stopping; C- CJ & Surbiton via Kingston; D- CJ & Chessington South all stations and E- CJ & Epsom all stations. Noted variously on 28 Oct included Arriva TOT (three Olympians, two VLAs), ATBus(three Ms and Lance LV203), Transdev (Tridents), other double-decks from Sunray and Wiltax plus coaches from Edward Thomas and Epsom Coaches. On 24/25Nov Barnes & Twickenham and Barnes & Kew Bridge. Noted were Arriva TOT (Ls), Alder Valley (Spectra L705FRD), ATBus(LV203 and M1272), Sunray(Volvo d/d), Wiltax(ONs) and L.United(VAs).
A landslip at Worcester Park on 10Dec caused suspension or diversion of trains through that section of line for several days. Emergency bus replacements ran between Epsom and Malden Manor (to move passengers to the Chessington line), and also further down the line between Leatherhead and Effingham Junction, and were worked variously EnsignBus, Atbus, Wiltax and Reading Buses.
On 16Dec Wandsworth to Wimbledon (i.e. moving passengers to alternative lines) by Blue Triangle, using 3 Scanias, 6 Tridents and NV s 116 and 117.
First Capital Connect: 28Oct Streatham & Sutton (via Wimbledon) Travel London Darts. From 1900 on 22Dec to end of 24Dec FCC and NX(ex GNER) trains covered with several services, WG City & Hitchin, Knebworth & Stevenage, Watton & Stevenage, Hatfield or Stevenage & Peterborough. Watton was covered by Trustline Darts. Other operators supplying assorted double-decks included Herberts, Meridian Line, Trustline, Burton’s Haverhill, Dews of Somersham, Z&S of Aylesbury and South Mimms Travel plus coaches from Marshalls, Motts, P&M and Richmond’s. On 29/30/31Dec various operators connected Luton Parkway to ‘working lines’ at Hitchin, St Albans or Hatfield. On the same dates, other services ran between Blackfriars & Hendon, West Hampstead & Kentish Town, plus Hendon (FCC) to Hendon Central (Northern line). On 26Dec FCC trains were covered by buses between Luton Airport and King’s Cross calling at St Albans, run by Ensignbus double-deckers and assorted coaches, some of them NatEx.One Railway: Liverpool Street Station was closed from 23Dec to 02Jan inclusive while a bridge was demolished at Shoreditch, as well as doing other routine work at Shenfield on 23-26Dec. Trains from north London terminated at Tottenham Hale, Seven Sisters or Hackney Downs and passengers were sent to buses or Underground. Local trains operated only between Stratford and Gidea Park, and a separate shuttle from Gidea Park to Brentwood. This was modified from 27Dec when some trains were able to get through Shenfield. However, there was a signal failure at Shenfield on 27th and overhead line damage near Chelmsford on 28th, both causing more ad-hoc disruption. There was an over-run at Liverpool Street onto the first ‘real’ weekday 2nd January.
To start with, buses ran from Ingatestone to Brentwood or Billericay, others from Billericay to Laindon (for C2C trains), whilst main-line trains were covered from Ingatestone to Newbury Park (for the Central line) and some coaches ran from Colchester to Liverpool Street. Coaches from around 30 operators were observed on the latter service. Billericay to Ingatestone was with a Clintona minibus and to Laindon by Ensignbus. Ingatestone saw masses of double-deckers from far and wide, for example over the 23/24Dec weekend:- Olympians from First Essex, Chambers, Imperial, Godward, Sullivan, Fourways, Wiltax, Talisman, Beestons; Metrobuses from Supreme, Ensignbus, Hardy Miles, Atbus and Bear Buses. Ensignbus also provided ex-Reading Spectras, Travelmasters from Kent some Volvo Citybuses, Network Colchester Tridents and Scanias, NIBS Wickford with Tridents and Dominators, plus at least one Titan from London Bus Co.
Central: On 12th September, there was a technical problem on two trains, causing staff to withdraw the whole fleet from service to ask for checks. Ensign Bus organised fifty buses early in the morning of 13th to cover Epping- Woodford and Woodford- Stratford, but the trains began to run normally and the buses were stood down by 06:30 without being used. Otherwise, 15Sept North Acton & Willesden Junction or Shepherd's Bush by Metroline. 15/16Dec North Acton & Northolt with First, Sullivan and Metroline double-decks; and North Acton, nonstop to Northolt then to West Ruislip with Darts from Sullivan..
Northern: 22/23Sept East Finchley & High Barnet with numerous d/ds from First London, Blue Triangle and London Central/General. The Mill Hill East branch covered by Travel London Darts and Tridents. 14/15Oct: Service A East Finchley & High Barnet and Service B: East Finchley & Mill Hill East (calling at Finchley Central and West Finchley): Noted on A: Blue Triangle Tridents, London Central WVLs, and on B: Travel London five Darts and two Tridents. On 03/04Nov Metroline assisted on Service A. 17/18Nov Edgware & Golders Green by Sullivan, Metroline and Arriva the Shires. 24Nov Brent Cross & Hendon Central by First. 01Dec High Barnet & East Finchley by Blue Triangle and Metroline.
After Police closed off Woodside Park Station, following a murder there, the Northern line was suspended between High Barnet and Finchley Central for most of Thursday 8th November. An emergency bus service was by Sullivan, Stephenson's of Essex, Excel and Ensign Bus with barely a low-floor bus around.
Piccadilly: 10/11 Nov Rayners Lane & Acton Town by First, Metroline and Blue Triangle - the latter, as is now usual, using Camberwell-based buses.
District Hammersmith & Richmond and Piccadilly Hammersmith & Acton Town on 24/25Nov. Noted variously were Metroline, First, Go-Ahead (Blue Triangle) and Hackney CT, as well as Sullivan who fielded Ms, Ts and Routemasters. District Parsons Green & Wimbledon on 15/16 Dec by Blue Triangle, Arriva LN, Ensignbus and Metroline.
Overground: 17Nov Acton Central & Richmond by First and Metroline. 23/24, 27-31Dec and 01Jan Stratford & Hackney Wick using First Tridents.
Bakerloo: Queen's Park & Wembley Central 30Sept, 01,07/08,14/15Oct by Blue Triangle and Metroline. Willesden Junction & Queen’s Park 09Dec by Metroline.
Silverlink: Harrow & Wealdstone & Watford Junction 21Oct by First and Metroline.
Jubilee: Wembley Park & Stanmore on 22/23, 29/30Sept, 06/07Oct, 27Oct, 03/04, 10/11 and 18 and 24/25 Nov, 8/9, 22/23 Dec and 06Jan by Metroline, assisted on some dates, e.g. by Arriva London (22Sept), Arriva the Shires (30Sept) and Blue Triangle (07Oct). North Greenwich & Stratford on 20Oct and 16Dec by First and Metroline.
Metropolitan: Continuing work north of Northwood continues to be covered mainly by Arriva the Shires and Metroline, and sometimes with First and Sullivan joining in. On 01/02Dec Northwood & Wembley Park (Metroline), plus Rayners Lane & Wembley Park (First and Metroline).
H&C/Circle: Industrial action on 26/27 Sept due to alleged safety fears on the 'C stock' resulted in a limited bus service between Paddington and Ladbroke Grove on 27th. Ensignbus sent eleven buses, aided by Blue Triangle(2), Excel(3), Metrobus(1), Travelmasters(4) - and barely a low-floor bus among them, for example Excel's ex-Brighton Scania G725 RYJ.
Victoria: Walthamstow & Finsbury Park 29Sept, 06Oct, 04Nov, 18Nov by Arriva London and Metroline. Over the Christmas period until 6th January, trains did not call at Victoria itself and a limited bus service ran between Victoria and Pimlico by Blue Triangle and London Central.
DLR: Canning Town or Heron Quays & Beckton or North Woolwich 13/14 Oct, controlled by Fraser Eagle, but featuring East London and (unusually) Arriva the Shires, who provided Tridents from Aylesbury and DAF double-decks from Garston.
Adverts and Member's Appeals
These are included as a service to members from the advertisers. LOTS is not involved in any of them and readers must deal direct with advertisers.
An advice: I received an enquiry at the Harrow LOTS sale from a gent regarding route 146 and I have sorted out an answer. Unfortunately I do not know his name other than the e-mail address *********@waitrose.com which gets bounced back to me. If he cares to contact me on david.******@btopenworld.com I would be pleased to send my answer.
The Classic London Bus Society, 2nd Feb is its first trip: TLB520 carried details of this organisation and its first trip is due on Saturday 2nd February. Running from Central London, it will be a visit to the Ensign Bus Company and Museum, followed by a run out on an RT over part of old route 87. Further details of the Society and its trips can be found at <http://www.tclbs.org> or by writing to The Classic London Bus Society, Cedar Croft, Ainger Road, London NW3 3AU. Note that this event must be booked in advance through the Society, there is NO admittance on the day.
A special opportunity from East London: We are advised that ELBG are intending to arrange a special visit to Stratford (SD) Garage on Saturday 16th February, one week before it closes. This will be a last opportunity to view the Waterden Road area before it disappears under the Olympic Park development. Subject to the usual disclaimers, RML 2760 and 18500 will run from Mile End Station direct (i.e. no en route pick-ups) via Stratford and the 158/308 routeing to SD Garage at 1000,1100,1200,1300, returning at 1100,1200,1300,1400. Additional journeys may operate on the day if available.
A prosperous and healthy 2008 to all our members from
LOTS – serving London bus enthusiasts since 1964
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Closing date for TLB522 is Friday 1st February. Reports to the Editors by post, answerphone or e-mail (lotsed@tesco.net). See page 1 for names and addresses.
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