Ping-Pong Tendering

Route 322 is generally considered to be a route that switches operator quite a tad. It was initially a localisation of Route 2 (i.e. the replacement of Route 2 (current Route 2 is 2A/2B renumbered) with an extension to Crystal Palace. Initially operated by South London (later Cowie and then Arriva London), it became the second ever route to go to Connex London in 2000. In 2005 it moved to London General, then in 2010 it went to Abellio London (the successor of Connex/Travel London).

Then in 02/032015:

London General SE237 on Route 322 Clapham Common Old Town (© Aubrey)

With this driver, I (Aubrey) had to help the driver set the blind due to the newer Mobitec system again not being fully learnt.


London General SE237 on Route 322, Stockwell Green (CC Aubrey)

Euro 6 Enviro 200s (with the predictable ZF gearbox) now ply the route, roaring through the streets of South London.
A short ride to Stockwell Green (and back) confirmed the obvious - there was the "all rev but no go" flaw with the semi-automatic gearbox.


London General SE240 on Route 322, Clapham Common Old Town (CC Aubrey)

Oh, and new bus smell people - the smell on these is not as strong as some buses before this.


London General SE245 on Route 322, Clapham Common Old Town (CC Aubrey)

On the second day, Jacek went on one as well:


London General SE237 on Route 322, Crystal Palace (© Jacek)

It was deemed to be nice and cool inside, with good seats, very shiny exterior that gave my (Jacek) camera some trouble, then the predictable over-revving stuff happened. It was also jerky and slow.

There were a few curtailments (to most of the curtailment points), partly due to it being the first day, but also being due to drivers trying to get used to Atlantic Road, where there is 'sometimes double parking' there, which makes things tighter.
That driver also told me about the again predictable flaw where the bus rolls back when the handbrake is released.

Some of these buses are also on a route that swapped operator (and buses) with the 322 in 2010. Route G1 is a local route noted to serve St George's Hospital (Tooting) and running between Streatham and Battersea. It has been at Plough Lane Garage since 2010 with London General. Prior to that, it was with Connex, Limebourne (subcontracted from Arriva) and Arriva London (who could not get enough drivers thus subcontracted the route in the first place).


London General SE248 on Route G1, Tooting Broadway (© Aubrey)

The buses for the 322 and G1 are the same batch, thus the buses should be very similar.


London General SE247 on Route G1, Tooting Broadway (CC Aubrey)

Route G1 was well known for initially having banditry when it turned to London General in 2010, where the new blinds were manual yet the blind boxes were for a powerblind, so the buses had the typical A4 sheet saying "G1" in bold until the correct blinds arrived.


London General SE257 on Route G1, Tooting Broadway (© Aubrey)

So, 5 more years until either of these routes could go to Abellio (or the successor to them) or just stay at GAL (or even a contract extension!). Or even end up at other operators.

And to explain the title - the 322 has gone Connex-GAL-Abellio-GAL. Thus it is like a game of "ping-pong" between Connex/Travel London/Abellio and Go-Ahead. And it helps remind me of US-Chinese rapprochement, somehow.