Letters to Dartford Garage

Yes, I'm talking about the fleet codes of the new Arriva Southern Counties buses for the 229, and the existing ones for the 469. Arriva Southern Counties (London), until recently, had all-number codes.

Arriva Southern Counties T315 on Route 229, Queen Mary's Hospital (© Aubrey)

Route 229 changed over from London Central at Bexleyheath to Arriva Southern Counties at Dartford on the 23rd January 2016.


Arriva Southern Counties T305 on Route 229, Abbey Wood (© Aubrey)

Ordered is a load of possibly some of the last new Enviro 400s that are not MMC, especially in London as new MMCs have been in service since the start of 2015.


Arriva Southern Counties T317 on Route 229, Abbey Wood (© Aubrey)

Yep, this bus paraded presumably with a powerblind failure. Then again, the destination is visible, so it could be worse.


Arriva Southern Counties T302 on Route 229, Bexleyheath (© Aubrey)

It had been under London Central since Bexleybus (subsidiary of Selkent) was removed by London Regional Transport back in January 1991 when they lost the tender (and Bexleyheath Garage) to London Central. Then for 25 years, it was with London Central until it moved to Dartford with Arriva Kent Thameside (Southern Counties).


Arriva Southern Counties T308 on Route 229, Thamesmead (© Aubrey)

Don't worry, it's a blind scroll.
The route started as the first new double decker route with a 2xx number back in 1951, running a short way within Sidcup. At it's furthest extent, it ran Woolwich-Farnborough. It gained its current route in 1994 when it was extended from Erith to Thamesmead. Apart from instances where the Sunday service was single deck, the route has been double deck for the whole of its existence.


Arriva Southern Counties T307 on Route 229, Queen Mary's Hospital (© Aubrey)

The other route to move to Arriva Southern Counties is the newer 469, transferring also on the same day.


Arriva Southern Counties ENL9 on Route 469, Abbey Wood (© Aubrey)

Initially, Route 469 is to use the Enviro 200s from the withdrawal of Route T31.


Arriva Southern Counties 4002 on Route 469, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (© Aubrey)

However, normal fleet Enviro 200s that are coded the ASC way are also on the 469 as well, intermixed with the ex-T31 buses.


Arriva Southern Counties ENL10 on Route 469 & Stagecoach London 34382 on Route 291, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (© Aubrey)

It had been under ELBG/Stagecoach London (Plumstead) since January 2009, when it moved from London Central's Bexleyheath Garage. It had been at Bexleyheath Garage from inception in 1988 as a Bexleyheath-Queen Elizabeth Hospital service. In 2009, it had been withdrawn to run only to Erith as it was replaced by the 99 extended via the 469.


Arriva Southern Counties 4069 on Route 469, Abbey Wood (© Aubrey)

Most of the buses on the 469 are older than the Stagecoach buses they replaced. However, this bus is younger than the old Stagecoach contract, one of few that are that can go on the 469.


Arriva Southern Counties 3999 on Route 469, Abbey Wood (© Aubrey)

Other than a few hiccups here and there, the bus routes were generally run to an acceptable level, with bunching on the 229 fairly visible. Assumed that since the first day, things are starting to settle down to a usual service.