04/09/2018

Tempo-rary Quality

*NEW OPERATOR* RATP Epsom Quality Line: OT30210 | YJ11EHS || 293: Morden - Epsom Hospital
OT30210 seen at Lower Morden on the first day of RATP service enroute to Epsom.
(© Alisha Juszczyk)

After an absence of nearly 10 years, Quality Line has returned to running Route 293. However the formerly independent Quality Line operation is now part of the RATP Group, and integrated into the RATP London operations. As before, the route is run from their sole base in Epsom, with the award including one hybrid Enviro 400 for the school journey.

Quality Line ADH45006 on Route 293, Morden
ADH45006 approaching the end of the school journey at Morden.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

The hybrid Enviro 400 comes from Route 94, made free after the 94 was reduced in frequency. This will be the oddball in the Epsom fleet at the moment, being the sole hybrid bus there. At time of writing, the bus was one of the few that were transferred to Stamford Brook for the 27, then moved in August 2018 to Epsom in preparation for the 293. As this is the only double decker with 293 blinds, this bus has been the rigid allocation for the school journeys.

Quality Line OT30234 on Route 293, Morden Station
OT30234 shows its London United pedigree with its logos, at the end of the route at Morden.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

Currrently, the 293 is borrowing Optare Tempos from Route H37, with Scania Omnicities replacing the Citaros on the 203, allowing the H37 to have Enviro 200s, Citaros and the remaining Optare Tempos. All these buses have had their legals changed, and their logos are mostly changed.

Quality Line OT30212 on Route 293, Merton Civic Centre
OT30212 starts a journey to Epsom General Hospital at Morden.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

New 11.3m Enviro 200MMCs are currently delayed for the route, and will be introduced once prepared for service. They will replace these Optare Tempos. This delay is part of a larger delay of Alexander-Dennis buses for RATP's new gains (including 288, 303, H18, H19).

Hopefully, Quality Line will run a quality service on their 293, even if their buses may not be to the highest quality.

Post by Aubrey Morandarte
Photos by Alisha Juszczyk and Aubrey Morandarte

All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2018
Please do not reproduce any images without permission

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.