24/02/2014

Citaro K MBK1/XMS1 BU13 ZVE

BU13ZVE (MBK1/XMS1) is one of the first Euro VI engined buses in the UK. It is projected to have a 3-5% fuel saving compared to a Euro V Citaro, and it has won the Bus of the Year Award 2013.
Quality line was the first to receive the demonstrator, and it was intended to be used on the X26 and 465, although it only went out on the X26.

Firstly, Josh got it in Epsom Garage:

Quality Line MBK1 at Epsom Garage, 03/08/13 (Josh)


Then Tom got it on the X26:
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Wallington 09/08/13 (Tom)

Then Au and Josh got the last working of MBK1 on X26:

Evobus Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central Evobus Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central Bus Station
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Au)

X26 to Heathrow Central LED side on MBK1
X26 to Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Au)

BU13 ZVE MBK1 on the X26
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Josh)

BU13 ZVE MBK1 on the X26
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Josh)

BU13 ZVE MBK1 on the X26
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Josh)

BU13 ZVE MBK1 on the X26
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Josh)
Time we see the back of MBK1, as it moves away from Quality Line...

Then, it moved to London Central at Camberwell Garage, and it appeared on Route 355 every time it went out, on the same working with the same driver, even though it was also intended for the P5.
Au got it a day before it left:

Evobus Go-Ahead London Central MBK1 on Route 355, Balham Evobus Go-Ahead London Central MBK1 on Route 355, Balham
London Central MBK1 on Route 355, Balham 26/09/13 (Au)
DSC01655 The temporary legals of Evobus Go-Ahead London Central MBK1
The interior and legals of MBK1, 26/09/13 (Au)

Evobus Go-Ahead London Central MBK1 on Route 355, Mitcham
London Central MBK1 on Route 355, Mitcham 26/09/13 (Au)

Afterwards, it moved to Abellio London West for use on the 235. And yes, Abellio have not stuck rigidly to the allocation, also putting it on the 290, 490, R70 and K3. It also underwent a code change half way on its first run on the 235, changing to XMS1. Firstly, Josh and Au got it on the 235 on the first Saturday it went on it:

Abellio XMS1 (Evobus MBK1) on Route 235, Brentford
Abellio XMS1 on Route 235, Brentford County Court 12/10/13 (Au)


DSC00274 DSC00275
Abellio XMS1 on Route 235, Brentford County Court 12/10/13 (Au)

Abellio XMS1 (Evobus MBK1) on Route 235, Brentford
Abellio XMS1 on Route 235, Brentford County Court 12/10/13 (Au)

Abellio XMS1 (Evobus MBK1) on Route 235, Brentford
Abellio XMS1 on Route 235 and an unidentified Metroline West DE on Route 195, Brentford County Court 12/10/13 (Au)

Abellio (Evobus) XMS1/MBK1 on Route 235, Hounslow Heath
Abellio XMS1 on Route 235, Hounslow Heath 12/10/13 (Au)


The following Monday, Au got the bus on the 490:

Abellio XMS1/Evobus MBK1 BU13 ZVE on Route 490, Richmond Station
Abellio XMS1 on Route 490, Richmond Station 14/10/13 (Au)

Abellio XMS1/Evobus MBK1 BU13 ZVE on Route 490
Interior of XMS1 14/10/13 (Au)

Abellio London (Evobus) XMS1 (MBK1) BU13 ZVE on Route 490, Richmond Pools on the Park
Abellio XMS1 on Route 490, Richmond Pools on the Park 14/10/13 (Au)

After a hiatus, it appeared at Enfield Garage for use on the 313, which has a few fast stretches, of which I experienced none of due to peak traffic! Despite the non-existent Piccadilly Line strike, Au decided to go and get it:

Arriva London (Evobus) MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station
Arriva London MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 04/12/13 (Au)

Arriva London (Evobus) MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station
Arriva London MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 04/12/13 (Au)

313 to Chingford Station iBus 
313 to Chingford Station 313 to Potters Bar Station 313 to both ends of the route! 
  Arriva London (Evobus) MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 
Arriva London MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 04/12/13 (Au)
Arriva London (Evobus) MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station
Arriva London MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 04/12/13 (Au)

Arriva London (Evobus) MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station
Arriva London MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 04/12/13 (Au)

Note how, though, at no point did Lewis get it, although this wasn't for lack of trying... it was mainly due to BU13 ZVE being temperamental, and being in this status every time people tried to chase this bus:

Quality Line MBK1 Not in Service, Heathrow Central
Quality Line MBK1 Not in Service, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Au)

It has not (been) in service so far this year, and it doesn't seem like it'll come back. Then again, MBK1 has surprised many, and it could spring one up again soon...

4 comments:

  1. Well, I tried to get this Citaro K 7 times, and when it was out on the x26 last it was on my birthday, and I was in Wales.

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  2. It looks like led Destination

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  3. Ive seen and been on it

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  4. This vehicle has been seen a couple of times in Morden on the 413 (April 2017) so seems to be back with Quality Line. The dot matrix displays make it very noticeable as they can appear very large.

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