Random Picture of the Month 9 (August)

Well, I promised the Sovereign VHs, and I have not failed to deliver.
And, although I may post this in September, I did start it in the last minute (31/08/2013, 23:59) of August so it does still count.

Like the July post, this picture is a blind change, and a variation which is stead never to happen (although I jolly hope it does).

London Sovereign VH17 at Aldwych.
Thanks to the kind driver for changing the blinds.
Seen blinded for route 114 to Field End Road.

And there it is!

As I'm sure you're all aware, the 114 is indeed my local route. Between May 20th and August 12th, YT11LSD became a regular part of service (although I can confirm this has now left), and since the arrival of the VHs the allocation has become somewhat irregular with more SPs, VLPs and 55-reg SLEs on the route.

Now whether the above will actually happen (although I can almost guarantee the curtailment won't) or not is somewhat uncertain. BT do have a tendency to mix the buses around on a day-to-day basis but because this is a hybrid it may be a different scenario.

More about the bus, it comes with the new Veolia Transdev merger styling, with the "name of one and the colours of the other" - hence the Transdev name remains albeit with a Veolia style interior and exterior branding. It is remarkable that London United have kept more of the 'Transdev traits', such as the yellow branding and turquoise interior, rather than London Sovereign which is actually still technically Transdev.

But, I must say, these are positive steps for Sovereign. Some of the displaced SLEs have already gone for refurbishment, and the others will soon follow suit. These will replace most of the older Volvo B7TLs creating a nearly full Scania allocation for the non-hybrid routes. In 2015, the 114 will be tendered and upon the contract being retained (or not, but I hope Sovereign do retain it) it is imagined that a large new batch of buses will be ordered for both the 114 and 292, similar spec to the VHs.

The new logo should also be applied to the 11-reg DEs at SO and BT, which have been without logos for 2 years. Whether the legals and other branding changes too, we'll just have to see.


Thanks for reading this post, and if you haven't gone on these buses I seriously recommend you do!
Oh, and, typical WLTM style, they do have that 'rubber smell'...

LJN 2013