Picture Archive Post 71

Docklands Buses SO2 on Route 474, London City Airport, 20/04/2013
© Aubrey

Route 474 started as a route replacing the 69 between Silvertown and North Woolwich, as well as provide new links towards across Silvertown. Starting on 1st May 1999, the route was operated initially by Blue Triangle using Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne buses from Rainham Ferry Lane (FL/BE). From 17th December 2005, the route was diverted to London City Airport to replace Route 69 between Canning Town and London City Airport. Also, an extension to Manor Park Station supplemented Route 101 between Cyprus and Manor Park, as well as replace the 101 to North Woolwich (which was diverted to Gallions Reach). This required additional buses, so some Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniCity buses were ordered (as seen).
Go-Ahead Group took over the then independent Blue Triangle on 29th June 2007, and soon, a multitude of different cascaded buses started to appear on the 474, replacing the Tridents. This included buses from London General/Central and Metrobus. 3rd November 2007 saw a night service introduced to the route, and the route transferring to Docklands Buses in Silvertown (SI).
During 2011, the route was allocated a Volvo B9TL/MCV DD103, but eventually, the allocation from 2011 tended to be the Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2. When River Road (RR) opened on 30th April 2016, the route moved back to Blue Triangle at River Road.

As of 5th May 2018, the route is now with Stagecoach London at West Ham (WH), using existing Enviro 400s and Tridents temporarily, until new hybrid double deckers replace them.

SO2 started out as a Blue Triangle bus, for the 474 extension in late 2005. Once the bus had moved with the 474 to Docklands Buses (SI), the bus was also used on the 425 and 541. It led an uneventful life on the Docklands Buses routes until 17th February 2016, when the bus was withdrawn. It was later sold to Midland Classic for use on their routes in Burton-upon-Trent, where it is today as their 56.

As some of you have may noticed, we have not been very active over the past two months. This is mainly because we have very busy lives, especially as I'm doing my final year project at university. We have been unavailable to cover and do posts, so we thoroughly apologise. Things will be getting back to normal as soon as possible.
Thank you all.

Post by Aubrey
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