23/08/2015

Hats Off to Uno!

Route 383, a small residential route to the north side of London has had a big milestone. A university now runs the bus route. More specifically, the arm-length company of the University of Hertfordshire, Uno Buses.

TfL 383, by the University of Hertfordshire
Uno 602 on Route 383, High Barnet Station (© Aubrey)

University Bus, based near the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield (hence title) is the second largest bus company operating in Hertfordshire, only behind Arriva the Shires who, of course, are the current heir to most of what was formerly London Country and indeed, London Transport Country division.

Bloody UNO, coming over here, taking our routes!
Uno 602 on Route 383, Woodside Park (© Josh)

Bus 602 seemed to be pretty well photographed for some odd reason. Anyhow, it is one of the last pre-MMC Enviro 200 batches for any operator, being delivered parallel to the ones in Birmingham for the 37 there.

Over the Kerb
Uno 604 on Route 383, Woodside Park (© Lewis)

The entry of a new bus operator from outer London shows ambition from Uno's side, and the fact that logos are getting smaller in London! The Uno logo is tiny compared to where it is placed.

Uno 601 on Route 383, Barnet Spires
Uno 601 on Route 383, Barnet The Spires (© Aubrey)

Overall, Uno have done a decent job. The buses are presentable (as it is most of the time with Uno anyway). The bus drivers are the highest paid drivers in the company as the TfL driver rate is higher than the highest rate at Uno not doing TfL work. The drivers have University of Hertfordshire staff cards (obviously). The service is getting better, and the pink? Well, the pink is in the folders some of the drivers carry. And yes, unlike the buses, this post is kinda late.

2 comments:

  1. They may be the last old shape E200s for a London operator but they certainly won't be the last non-MMCs being built or delivered anywhere as most provincial bus operators are still favouring the Euro 5 E200 (which are old shape vehicles) as long as they can - I know Centrebus are due at least 6 in Sept/Oct and a number of other operators are still taking these vehicles as well.

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    1. It turns out they're not the last old-shape for London too - the coming batch for Metroline at Uxbridge are the old shape. As with the E400, it will probably be another year or so before all new vehicles are the MMC style.

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