tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57357591809707755752024-03-14T18:01:21.509+00:00WLTM Transport BlogAn experienced and knowledgeable team bring you information on the transport news in a wide coverage of areas in the South East of England.
Please seek permission before reproducing photos marked with a Copyright (©).Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.comBlogger521125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-77720262777911851442020-03-19T00:01:00.000+00:002020-03-19T00:02:24.206+00:00Acton Very GreenIt's been a while, hasn't it?<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/49469708046/in/dateposted/" title="NEW: London United BCE47003 on Route 94, Acton Green"><img alt="NEW: London United BCE47003 on Route 94, Acton Green" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49469708046_1eb013f085.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
BCE47003 on a very wet first day of electric bus service on Route 94.<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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On 31st January 2020, the 94 received its brand new electric double deckers, intending to be the third fully electric double decker bus route (albeit the 134 has not fully converted yet) in London. 29 of these BYD-ADL Enviro 400EVs were ordered by London United RATP as part of the new 94 contract. This makes the route the third electric route at Shepherd's Bush Garage, after the 70 and C1.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/49503126637/in/dateposted/" title="London United BDE47003 on Route 94, Piccadilly Circus"><img alt="London United BDE47003 on Route 94, Piccadilly Circus" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49503126637_541f95e427.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
BCE47003 at Charles II Street awaiting departure for Acton Green<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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These ADL Enviro 400EVs were initially introduced as two buses within the mix of the conventional hybrid buses, but due to an imminent Piccadilly line closure where extra buses were required on Routes 9 and 391, the route was very quickly converted to electric. 13th-14th February marked to be sudden full conversion, with the 94 turning electric both day and night.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/49536949507/in/dateposted-public/" title="Oxford Circus Stack"><img alt="Oxford Circus Stack" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49536949507_bdd337dcaa.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Due to roadworks on Regent Street, 94 was curtailed to Oxford Circus, but still ran with the full schedule towards Piccadilly, hence a stack of 5 BCEs on stand in Oxford Circus.<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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This makes the 94 the only electric bus route on Oxford Street, after the trial BYD double deckers on Route 98 moved to Uno ahead of their school route acquisitions. A tad ironic considering that the only no local emission route on said street is the one that TfL mooted to cut to reduce the pollution and amount of buses on Oxford Street.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/49626881227/in/dateposted-public/" title="London United BCE47015 on Route 94, Oxford Street"><img alt="London United BCE47015 on Route 94, Oxford Street" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49626881227_53f7ce541f.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
BCE47015 passing Selfridges enroute to Oxford Circus.<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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Obviously, the introduction of these buses meant a bunch of ADHs and VHs have shuffled round. Some of the ADHs have moved to the Quality Line subsidiary for Routes 406 and 418, replacing 2007 Enviro 400s.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/49568219956/in/dateposted-public/" title="London United VH45124 on Route 306, Hammersmith"><img alt="London United VH45124 on Route 306, Hammersmith" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49568219956_4af8ffbd75.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
VH45124 was the odd old style Gemini 3 at Shepherd's Bush, moving to Stamford Brook for the 306 and E3. It is seen approaching Hammersmith Grove on the 306.<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/49619100451/in/dateposted/" title="London United VH45124 on Route E3, Turnham Green Station"><img alt="London United VH45124 on Route E3, Turnham Green Station" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49619100451_58ef55f391.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The same bus is also seen on the E3 at Turnham Green Station, this time not too far from its old haunting grounds of the 94, and prior the H91 when it was at Hounslow Heath.<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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The ride inside the 94 BCEs seems smooth enough, with a very quick acceleration. This is certainly aided by the electric drive providing a lot of torque immediately.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/49531147592/in/photostream/" title="Lower Deck interior of London United BCE47007 on Route 94"><img alt="Lower Deck interior of London United BCE47007 on Route 94" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49531147592_2d4ae21aa1.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
As with all electric buses in London, the USB chargers come as standard, as well as the cramped rear interior layout on these BYD/Enviro 400EVs. BCE47007 is the example shown here.<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/49531146852/in/photostream/" title="Upper Deck interior of London United BCE47003 on Route 94"><img alt="Upper Deck interior of London United BCE47003 on Route 94" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49531146852_9e8f23693f.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
BCE47003 shows the upper deck layout, complete with very visible air vents on the upper deck and the USB chargers on every seatback.<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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It is good seeing electric buses in our cities, with London certainly ramping up their efforts. However, of course, there are the heavy environmental impacts in creating the batteries in the first place. One must be mindful of this, as production in itself produces a lot of pollution.<br />
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The Chinese company BYD certainly has a massive foothold in the UK with their buses, having been there first. They do dominate the electric market, with only Abellio, Arriva and London United having non-BYD electric buses.<br />
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We are slowly returning back to blogging, after a 6 month hiatus.<br />
New posts will be alerted on my personal Twitter, @L1Group<br />
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Post by Aubrey<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2020</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-81233022804967580272019-11-13T20:52:00.003+00:002019-11-13T20:52:46.437+00:00Streetlites Are Good?Honestly, this was a title I was not expecting to type when it was announced that the 232 was going to be allocated Streetlites upon Go-Ahead taking the contract up on 3rd August 2019. Yes, this post is delayed by 3 months, but at least it's here.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48466287392/in/dateposted/" title="London General WS143 on Route 232, Brent Cross"><img alt="London General WS143 on Route 232, Brent Cross" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48466287392_88c2d64837.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WS143 entering new territory for Go-Ahead at Brent Cross<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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Route 232 has been with Metroline and its predecessors (London Northern, MTL London) since August 1994, based in Potters Bar (PB), Cricklewood (W), North Wembley (NW) and Perivale West (PV). It has been with no other operator, apart from certain school journeys operated by Leaside Travel/Arriva London for a time in the late 1990s and early 2000s.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48444537857/" title="Last Metroline 232"><img alt="Last Metroline 232" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48444537857_59398a460a.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The last few years of Metroline operation was with an allocation of Enviro 200s, like this example performing the last Metroline operated journey.<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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When the tender was announced that Go-Ahead London General were to win the 232, with Wrightbus Streetlites as the order, many enthusiasts were surprised, as well as skeptical about the performance of the buses on the route, especially as the route transverses the A406 North Circular Road. This road is fast, with multiple 50mph + sections. Dual carriageway. Nearly urban motorway standard roads, even.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48716958408" title="London General WS131 on Route 232, Colney Hatch"><img alt="London General WS131 on Route 232, Colney Hatch" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48716958408_d6c1e0a52d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WS131 enroute to St Raphael's Estate, at Colney Hatch on the North Circular Road.<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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Surprisingly, these buses perform very well on the fast sections of the A406. The acceleration and performance of these buses are positive, and it can climb the hillier section in the western end of the route near Neasden pretty well. Considering that the reputation of the Streetlite is quite negative, to have one overtake cars between Colney Hatch Lane and Temple Fortune is a nice surprise.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48494286697" title="London General WS133 on Route 232, Turnpike Lane Station"><img alt="London General WS133 on Route 232, Turnpike Lane Station" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48494286697_7c828b424d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WS133 approaching the final stop at Turnpike Lane Station<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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This is the first time that the route has been completely run from the eastern end, as the Metroline operations have been from the western end of the route, with changeovers at Brent Cross frequently used. It is run from Northumberland Park (NP), which is about 15-20 minutes dead run from the eastern end of the route at Turnpike Lane. Incorporated into the new timetable is the frequency increase to every 12 minutes for this popular route, from an every 15 minute service. Thus, there has been an increase of PVR, and thus more buses required for the route. WS131-148 are allocated (near-solidly) on the route, with a PVR of 16.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48707637917/" title="London General WS135 on Route 232, Brent Cross"><img alt="London General WS135 on Route 232, Brent Cross" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48707637917_330a1aa249.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WS135 departs Brent Cross enroute to St Raphael's.<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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Inside, it is to the newest TfL specifications, which includes USB chargers behind seats, which work fairly well when new. Thus, one can be charging their phone whilst being whisked along fairly quickly (when traffic allows) across North London. Thus one can catch up on the latest <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2l5ggE6oJKWU3AGsDmgcw-wmT5ifD0Fx">Aus and Mini Podcast</a> on the bus, or message their good friends. Or even annoy them by telling them how good the buses are, yet how far behind TfL are compared to the rest of the commercial networks even just outside of London. However, even in this era of heavy cost-cutting, London is finally catching up a little, albeit inexpensively.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/49061473962/in/dateposted/" title="London General WS141 on Route 232, Brent Cross"><img alt="London General WS141 on Route 232, Brent Cross" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49061473962_d688821324.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WS141 curtailed to Neasden Shopping Centre<br />
© Aubrey<br />
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Hopefully, Go-Ahead London General will be able to maintain these buses to a level where the performance on the route can be maintained. Thus they will be able to run the route well. During the hiatus of this blog, the route has lost one of its allocated buses, thus WS66 was transferred from the 39 to run on the 232 as the sole non-USB charger equipped bus on the route.<br />
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This batch of Streetlites is the first that I've been impressed by, which is quite concerning as Wrightbus has been building the Streetlite since 2010. Performance of these buses on rides that I've experienced has been pretty good. Soon after the buses were delivered, Wrightbus did enter administration, and is now currently under the ownership of the Bamford family, whose holdings include JCB.<br />
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Post by Aubrey<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b><br />
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RIP Cameron.W</div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-50733510122632535622019-09-12T11:20:00.001+01:002019-09-12T11:20:12.030+01:00Universal Serial (Metro)Bus<div style="text-align: center;">
On 31st August 2019, Metrobus gained the 197 off Arriva London South, using new ADL E40H/Enviro 400MMC buses. <br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48655308757/in/dateposted/" title="Metrobus EH335 on Route 197, Penge West"><img alt="Metrobus EH335 on Route 197, Penge West" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48655308757_2f52e7966f.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
EH335 running downhill at Penge West, curtailed to East Croydon<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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These buses are based at Croydon (C), being the second type of hybrid double deckers to be allocated to this garage, after the Volvo B5LH/Wright Gemini 3 for the 119 and 202.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48649770132/in/dateposted/" title="Arriva London DW113 on Route 197, Peckham"><img alt="Arriva London DW113 on Route 197, Peckham" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48649770132_eca39e5fed.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DW113 on the last day of Arriva operation on Route 197<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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This operator change has allowed further older buses to be removed from Arriva London's portfolio, with these DAF DB250LFs with Wright Gemini 1 bodies being the prior main allocation on the route. Having been operated by South London (now Arriva) between 1989 and 2019, this change ends 30 years of the latest spell of operation at South Croydon (TC) depot. Prior to 1989, the route was one of the first bus routes to be tendered, when it went to London Country (later LC South West) in 1986.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48654810188/in/photostream/" title="Metrobus EH333 on Route 197, Norwood Junction"><img alt="Metrobus EH333 on Route 197, Norwood Junction" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48654810188_84eebb1a97.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
EH333 about to serve Norwood Junction Station<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Although these are one of many Go-Ahead hybrid buses, these are the first hybrid buses in London to have USB charging ports. As part of a newer Transport for London specification, new buses are receiving USB charging ports, which work.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48655158166/in/photostream/" title="Metrobus EH335 on Route 197, Croydon Fairfield Halls"><img alt="Metrobus EH335 on Route 197, Croydon Fairfield Halls" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48655158166_48b061bdf4.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
EH335 starting its journey to Peckham at Fairfield Halls<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Are TfL improving services? Partially in some areas, but cutting in so many others. At least in this case, the route will experience some sort of passenger experience improvement, even though in so many places outside London, this has been a normal feature for many bus routes. Not all, but certainly from the bigger companies and premium services.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48655165651/in/photostream/" title="Metrobus EH336 on Route 197, Norwood Junction"><img alt="Metrobus EH336 on Route 197, Norwood Junction" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48655165651_02a29cba1a.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
EH336 at Norwood Junction, towards Croydon<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The route is usually operated by its allocation, but there have been strays of 119/202 B5LHs on the route already. The first day had some irregular gaps, as per usual of a first day of a new operator on a route. Since then, the operator should be able to improve to run a normal service.<br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-91707596603453115572019-08-26T00:09:00.000+01:002019-08-26T00:10:54.050+01:00MetroBromley RoadFrom 27th July 2019, Metrobus operate all of the main day components of the Bromley Road corridor (208 and 320), with the 208 now passing into the hands of Go-Ahead London from Orpington (MB). New ADL E40H/Enviro 400MMC buses were ordered, and delivered for the route.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48390498086" title="Metrobus EH313 on Route 208, Petts Wood"><img alt="Metrobus EH313 on Route 208, Petts Wood" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48390498086_da207e9563.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
EH313 passing Petts Wood Morrisons<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Between 1997 and 2019, the 208 has had an uninterrupted association with Bromley (TB), and along with Catford (TL), the route had been only operated by these two garages throughout the route's history. It was spawned from the 94 in 1982, and since then has linked Orpington with Lewisham via Bromley and Petts Wood.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/8575837894/" title="Stagecoach London 10143 on Route 208, Lewisham Station"><img alt="Stagecoach London 10143 on Route 208, Lewisham Station" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/8086/8575837894_9b465de3c4.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
10143 showing the old allocation from when it was fairly new in 2013.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Thus throughout its history, the route had been under Selkent and later Stagecoach London control post-privatisation. It was one of the last routes to have a split service, with a through service running through between Lewisham and Orpington only running full time from 2010 as the 320 was extended from Bromley to Catford to relieve the 208. Thus for the route to move to Metrobus would reunite the route with the other main day route on the Bromley Road corridor.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48390637797/" title="Metrobus EH321 on Route 208, Orpington Pond"><img alt="Metrobus EH321 on Route 208, Orpington Pond" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48390637797_aab5d070f6.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
EH321 running a short service to Downham<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The Enviro 400Hs are with capacitors, and are one of the last newer buses to be specified without USB charging points. A fleet of 17 EHs (EH311-327) were ordered for the route, as per usual hybrid double decker orders for Go-Ahead London. The buses have strayed onto other routes, including the 320 already, but the 208 usually keeps its allocated buses so far.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48620275242/in/dateposted/" title="London Central E245 on Route 51, Orpington Pond"><img alt="London Central E245 on Route 51, Orpington Pond" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48620275242_c5163d687e.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
A Bexleyheath allocated E245 allocated for the 89 on the 51<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The gain of Route 208 has moved the 51 to Bexleyheath (BX) in order to make room for the 208. This has led to strays of GAL buses which could feasibly have ran on the 51 prior to the route being lost by London Central in 2008 to Stagecoach, e.g. 56 reg Es. It has also led to strays of the ex-Abellio and ex-Tower Transit Enviro 400s allocated for the 51 on other Bexleyheath routes.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48403343422/in/dateposted/" title="Metrobus EH312 on Route 208, Bromley Court Hotel"><img alt="Metrobus EH312 on Route 208, Bromley Court Hotel" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48403343422_257f0a2ca8.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
EH312 descending the hill at Bromley Court Hotel<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The EHs do enter hillier parts of London, including Bromley Hill. The performance of these buses on hills can be fairly good due to the torque of the electric part of the hybrid system. Otherwise, they are the usual, run of the mill, Enviro 400MMC bodied E40H buses as per seen with other places in London with GAL.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48620311587/in/dateposted/" title="London Central WVL416 on Route 51, Metrobus EH321 on Route 208, Orpington Perry Hall Road"><img alt="London Central WVL416 on Route 51, Metrobus EH321 on Route 208, Orpington Perry Hall Road" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48620311587_edfa8d0935.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Recent gains by Go-Ahead from Stagecoach: WVL416 on the 51 passing EH321 on the 208<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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This is one of quite a few recent gains from Stagecoach that include the 51, 227 and R5/R10, showing strong performances by the former Metrobus division of the Go-Ahead London in recent tenders. The base at Green Street Green is not far off from Orpington, which has been a Metrobus stronghold for many years, only strengthening with this gain from Stagecoach.<br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-58392877850180526842019-08-22T19:04:00.002+01:002019-08-22T19:04:49.342+01:00Downgrade Max<div style="text-align: center;">
On the 22nd of June (yep, we're on time as ever!) Go-Ahead London took the 227 from Stagecoach, running it from Orpington using new Wright Streetlites. It is the second time that the WLTM Transport Blog has covered the 227, with a prior post back in 2012 for the Citaros. There's a lot to write about these vehicles - but we'll leave that for later.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/randombusesgirl/48106848691" title="*NEW* Go-Ahead London Metrobus: WS121 | SK19FBJ || 227: Crystal Palace - Bromley North"><img alt="*NEW* Go-Ahead London Metrobus: WS121 | SK19FBJ || 227: Crystal Palace - Bromley North" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48106848691_74617e37bc.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WS121 departing Crystal Palace<br />
© Alisha Juszczyk<br />
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The takeover itself went much more smoothly than I (and I think most people) expected. Sure, the first day got off to the usual rocky start, with curtailments (Penge was a popular one) and all but it honestly wasn't that bad. Especially if you compare it to the last day under Stagecoach.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/20893865733/" title="Two Generations of Citaro"><img alt="Two Generations of Citaro" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5647/20893865733_3e43c437b4.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Both the 227 and 358 had Citaros of different generations, as seen here in Crystal Palace<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Oh, the last day was an experience. It was going fine until the afternoon, then things started to go a bit pear-shaped. It wasn't even their fault - between temporary traffic lights in Penge, a bus breaking down (with me on it), then the journey behind it not running because a driver got assaulted, the 227 briefly had no westbound service over the entire route. Fortunately, this happened off-peak, so loads weren't that bad on the next bus that actually ran.<br />
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Regular passengers were taking notice of the change - I overheard a few people chatting with the drivers about it. And, of course, the enthusiasts... Lots of them made the trip to Bromley for the last bus - I think most of the load on that journey was comprised of enthusiasts!<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/21437606852/" title="Stagecoach London 23103 on Route 227, Beckenham"><img alt="Stagecoach London 23103 on Route 227, Beckenham" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/731/21437606852_906b7806e0.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
23103 at Beckenham back in 2015<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Coming back to GAL - one of the more minor (and amusing) hitches that happened in the first weeks was the iBus messing up. Someone must have typed something wrong, as the screens were proudly displaying "227 to Crystal Parade" on all of them. It's close... Crystal <b>Palace</b> Parade is where it terminates, after all. The actual announcement refused to acknowledge that the bus goes anywhere at all, as it just said "227 to..."<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48308199937/" title="Metrobus WS123 on Route 227, Shortlands Rail Station"><img alt="Metrobus WS123 on Route 227, Shortlands Rail Station" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48308199937_548fda1242.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WS123 passing under the reason why the route has single deckers at Shortlands<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Now that it's been a bit more than a month, it's possible to compare how the route itself operates. It was pretty bad during the first week, but GAL seem to have gotten used to it pretty quickly. The 227's always been a difficult route to operate, as despite being so short it's very busy and prone to traffic. Large bunchings of buses are the norm, with either operator. There's slightly more of them happening under GAL, but then they have their work cut out as the new buses can't carry as many people as the old ones.<br />
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It's not just been Streetlites on the route either - Mercedes Citaro K demonstrator MBK1 has been on the route, as have several of Orpington's 13 plate long E200s. The irony, when your Citaro replacement is... a Citaro. One that's been on the 227 before, when Stagecoach had it:<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gloriouswater/26005528366/" title="Demonstrator - Stagecoach Selkent 80030, BU13ZVE in Bromley on route 227 to Crystal Palace"><img alt="Demonstrator - Stagecoach Selkent 80030, BU13ZVE in Bromley on route 227 to Crystal Palace" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/1507/26005528366_be0690f314.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The 2016 version of MBK1 (80030 under Stagecoach) on Route 227<br />
© Jacek Herominski<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/randombusesgirl/48119081431/in/dateposted/" title="Go-Ahead London: MBK1 | BU13ZVE || 227: Bromley North - Crystal Palace"><img alt="Go-Ahead London: MBK1 | BU13ZVE || 227: Bromley North - Crystal Palace" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48119081431_99bbed9833.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The 2019 version of MBK1 on Route 227 under Metrobus<br />
© Alisha Juszczyk<br />
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The WSs have started to stray as well, making a few brief appearances on route 358. They don't seem to stay on it for very long, though.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/randombusesgirl/48528510342/in/dateposted/" title="Go-Ahead London Metrobus: WS118 | SK19FBO || 358: Orpington Station - Crystal Palace"><img alt="Go-Ahead London Metrobus: WS118 | SK19FBO || 358: Orpington Station - Crystal Palace" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48528510342_1e0401ccd3.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Stray WS118 lumbering on the 358<br />
© Alisha Juszczyk<br />
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The 227's buses seem to be the last new single deckers in London without USB charging ports. From the 232's contract onwards, all new buses will have them fitted.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48600913641/in/photostream/" title="Metrobus WS118 on Route 227, Bromley Town Centre"><img alt="Metrobus WS118 on Route 227, Bromley Town Centre" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48600913641_9a1ef05bf5.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WS118 heading out of Bromley Town Centre<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Speaking of which, we have to compare the old and new types on the 227. Normally this would be done in a paragraph or two, but we're going really in depth here:<br />
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Space - The WSs aren't exactly spacious. I feel cramped at the back and I'm not particularly tall at 5'5". More importantly, they can't carry nearly as many people, despite only being half a metre shorter. The Citaros were allowed to squeeze over 100 people on, with ample legroom, cavernous standing areas and a double-sized wheelchair/buggy space. This worked very well - sometimes you even actually got 100 real human beings on!<br />
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The Streetlites can carry about 70 people. The wheelchair space is half the size, and has seats intruding into it. This is a problem - the 227 gets lots of parents with prams on it. I've personally seen 4 at once on the same bus. On a Citaro this is fine - on the WSs you can't get two in without blocking the aisle. It honestly feels like they've just taken a bus, stretched it, and crammed as many seats as possible into it.<br />
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That capacity reduction is a problem, too. Okay, it's not that bad off-peak, but the 227 gets very busy in the peaks. The WSs are crammed full where the Citaros had just a bit more space left. MBK1, despite being a full metre shorter than a WS, and already being very busy, was still able to fit people on at Shortlands thanks to its interior layout - people who had been left behind by the WS in front.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48308057261" title="Full Sized Differences"><img alt="Full Sized Differences" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48308057261_e0181f6a0c.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The clear size difference between the Citaro and the Streetlite Max is clearly shown. The Citaro on the 358 is the full sized bus, whilst the Streetlite on the 227 is the stretched midibus, which clearly shows.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Reliability - we don't know yet, it's too early. Streetlites don't have a reputation for being the most reliable of buses. Personally, I've already heard the 227's ones making unhealthy noises - stuff like cooling fans, vibrations and such. Plus, MB have had to put other buses on the route in the first week of service. But all that could be down to a multitude of things, and doesn't say anything about the reliability of the WSs. None of MB's ones have spent weeks off the road yet... which, admittedly, is more than can be said for the similar ones on the 286 at MG. At any rate it's too early to tell, they've not been in service long enough.<br />
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This is the Achilles heel of the old Citaros - they weren't always available. As previously mentioned, one broke down on me on the last day. Some of them (like 23103) spent months at a time off the road, being covered for by E200s. It was rare for the 227 to go through an entire day without an E200 appearing on it. When they worked, they worked great, but after 7 years the Citaros weren't always working.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48601046682/in/dateposted/" title="Metrobus WS120 on Route 227, Shortlands"><img alt="Metrobus WS120 on Route 227, Shortlands" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48601046682_8a2c547748.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WS120 passing under the bridge at Shortlands<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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That turning circle - The 11.5m long Streetlites can't go round corners as fast as the 12m long Citaros could. I don't mean like an F1 racer, going round corners at 100mph. I mean, crawling around the corner at 3mph trying not to hit street furniture. Their turning circle is terrible - the most recent one I rode hit the kerb twice (with a massive jolt) in Beckenham despite swinging round the corner as wide as possible... and at a snail's pace.<br />
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In fact, the turning circle is so bad that they have trouble navigating the stand at Bromley North! The Citaros could steer round it in one go. So could the old Super Darts... despite them effectively being stretched from a smaller bus like a WS. But the WSs have to do things differently. They have to do a three point turn... or plod round it at 1mph.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EamkLT4V4rg" width="560"></iframe><br />
A comparison between buses turning at the Bromley North turnaround.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Performance - Despite the Streetlite's reputation, the new WSs don't feel too slow on a normal, flat, 30mph road. They get up to speed fine... sort of. As long as you don't want to go faster than 25mph they're okay. It might be time for a video or two:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bSo2Czg4Xx8" width="560"></iframe><br />
First journey on the first day, on WS124<br />
© Jacek Herominski<br />
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There's a problem though - the 227 has hills. Steep hills. Whether the bus is nearly empty or fully loaded doesn't seem to make much difference in how it climbs hills - badly. The nearly empty WS124 on the first trip (linked above) was losing speed up Crystal Palace Park Road. And as for what they're like fully loaded, here's a clip of WS121 going up the hill into Bromley:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Th0tUbMpxPI" width="560"></iframe><br />
© Jacek Herominski<br />
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Honestly, it starts off quite well. It puts power down, and gains speed. Unfortunately, that is short lived, as it seems to lose all the speed it has very quickly. The Voith gearbox won't downshift, so before you know it, the bus is almost stationary before it decides to shift into first gear and set off again.<br />
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The Citaros, on the other hand, have the exact opposite reputation of what the Streetlites have. After a brief lag on pull away, they go flying into the distance - regardless of what sort of incline the bus happens to be on at the time. Which means that enthusiasts (such as me) liked them. The average passenger won't be bothered about all that, but for those enthusiasts who have suffered through all the videos of Streetlites, here's a bit of relief for you:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CXwRzwvKoLM" width="560"></iframe><br />
© Jacek Herominski<br />
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Smoothness - oh dear. This is another department where the Streetlite doesn't have a good reputation, and the 227's ones live up to that. They're not great on acceleration, as the gearbox is seemingly incapable of delivering smooth shifts regardless of driving style. Drive like a granny, drive like Lewis Hamilton, or anything in between, they will not deliver a smooth ride.<br />
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These WSs also have a habit of having massive panic attacks, where the gearbox will clunk, change down, and rev the hell out of the engine, at low speeds and seemingly at random. This is not a very smooth experience, although it is extremely entertaining!<br />
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The ride and suspension aren't too bad for a Streetlite. It's not nearly as bad as one I once rode in Essex, which launched me out of my seat as the bus went over a bump in the road at 40mph. The WSs aren't very comfortable over large bumps, but they're tolerable on a normal road.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48600563942/in/dateposted/" title="Metrobus WS122 on Route 227, Bromley"><img alt="Metrobus WS122 on Route 227, Bromley" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48600563942_3c7d19cd09.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WS122 lumbering up the hill from Shortlands to Bromley<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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And then the brakes. We've saved the worst for last - the brakes are actually dreadful. Under a full load, going down a hill, it takes ages to stop the bus, and it spends the entire time shuddering and jerking, much to the dissatisfaction of my spine. To pull into a bus stop takes about 15 seconds of slowly, carefully bleeding off speed so that the bus doesn't just decide to break your neck. You'd have to ride one to see what I mean - but trust me, the brakes on the WSs are the only thing about them that I'd say I actively hate.<br />
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In contrast with all that, the Citaros. Yes, they give you a big kick up the backside when the power comes in. But apart from that, they were fine - the ride, braking, cornering, all that was perfectly smooth. Which is important when dealing with a route that has so many standing passengers.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47992517752/" title="Stagecoach London 23103 on Route 227, Bromley North"><img alt="Stagecoach London 23103 on Route 227, Bromley North" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47992517752_7a14b3599e.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The old, preferred allocation of Citaros on the 227<br />
(Also, compare 23103 from the prior photograph of it in 2015 earlier in the post!)<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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But my conclusion? Yeah, you guessed it, I'd take the Citaro over the Streetlite any day - it was never going to be any other way. The Streetlite will take people from A to B like any other bus (well, assuming they can get on it), it just won't do a very good job of it. So, if you'll excuse me, I need to get from Bromley to Crystal Palace - I'll get on a 358. Bye now.<br />
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Oh, and 232 users - stay calm. Your post about your (better) Streetlites is coming soon. <br />
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Post written by Jacek Herominski<br />
Photos and videos by Jacek Herominski, Aubrey Morandarte, Alisha Juszczyk<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Glorious Waterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17343588067512322869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-44062619948647301002019-08-15T00:22:00.000+01:002019-08-15T00:22:51.449+01:00New Route, New Road(s)It's pretty rare that we get to introduce a new route to the fold, but here is Route 301. Introduced on 13th July 2019, it links Bexleyheath more directly to the Elizabeth Line at Abbey Wood, and said project isn't open yet. Yet another bus related Elizabeth Line/Crossrail change introduced prior to the actual introduction of the rail line.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48308187527/in/dateposted/" title="Arriva London DW482 on Route 301, Bexleyheath"><img alt="Arriva London DW482 on Route 301, Bexleyheath" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48308187527_384ca07bee.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DW482 on the convoluted stand working at Bexleyheath<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Operated by Arriva London from Dartford (DT) using used VDL DB300/Wright Gemini 2s from Wood Green, after the hybrid conversion of some routes there. These buses join a plethora of similar buses from various batches at Dartford, with many of the routes being won by Dartford with these buses displaced from inner London routes.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48308070611/in/dateposted/" title="Arriva London DW455 on Route 301, Bexleyheath"><img alt="Arriva London DW455 on Route 301, Bexleyheath" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48308070611_b88e88c479.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DW455 having done the stand turnaround is about to start a journey to Woolwich<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The route uses the formerly emergency stand at Bexleyheath Shopping Centre that is usually designed for about one bus, so squeezing two buses can be tight. Due to the 301 bus stand also being directly opposite the rest of the bus stands, the bus has to travel to the next roundabout enroute to starting its journey.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48298048256/in/photostream/" title="Arriva London DW486 on Route 301, Abbey Wood New Road"><img alt="Arriva London DW486 on Route 301, Abbey Wood New Road" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48298048256_c4781cb3d3.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DW486 climbing up the hill at New Road<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The route goes through a number of new roads, which are all not fitted with bus stops. Therefore, a lot of the route between Abbey Wood and Woolwich is hail and ride. However, another new road was not implemented, in favour of New Road with an existing bus route. Some TfL documents and the original consultation had the 301 going up Knee Hill, but due to local authority reasons not modifying the top of Knee Hill to be suitable for buses, the 301 ended up going via the existing B11 route. Said same consultation will also route 469 through New Road, giving an increased service to a road which might not even need more than the singular bus route in the first place!<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48298048691/in/photostream/" title="Arriva London DW442 on Route 301, New Road"><img alt="Arriva London DW442 on Route 301, New Road" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48298048691_4cda124599.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DW442 meanwhile is descending towards Abbey Wood and Thamesmead<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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One immediate benefit for the 301 is that it manages to clear the crowds that used to take an hour to clear at Bexleyheath post-school hours in about 20-30 minutes, as there is a significant increase of bus routes on the corridor that follows the 401 out of Bexleyheath. It also should boost capacity between Woolwich and Thamesmead immediately, as the current routes tend to get fairly busy. Currently, the 301 and 472 follow each other up Nathan Road, but after all the Crossrail changes are implemented, the 472 will go via Western Way, leaving the industrial area to the 301 solely.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48298041691/in/photostream/" title="Arriva London DW478 on Route 301, Abbey Wood"><img alt="Arriva London DW478 on Route 301, Abbey Wood" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48298041691_8e9e4f975e.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DW478 approaching Abbey Wood Station<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/JiM3VJF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/JiM3VJF.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the posters for the route at Bexleyheath</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The service was poorly publicised by Transport for London, with posters being made and put up by an enterprising citizen wanting to inform a whole local area with A4 posters. A better effort than what TfL ever made for the route. It is slightly stupid to introduce a new route, without any notable prior publicity.<br />
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It showed, with light loadings being experienced. This has led to buses being slightly faster, and including how Dartford control their routes, it led to multiple stops for regulating the service. However, coming out of the termini, if there has not been a parallel service for a while (401/472), the bus does fill up at times. <br />
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They can be found here: <a href="https://twitter.com/LDNBusUpdates">https://twitter.com/LDNBusUpdates</a><br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2ehXNOHoY_M" width="560"></iframe><br />
A video of DW442 climbing up New Road hill<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The performance of the buses on these routes can vary, depending on when Dartford have managed to derestrict the buses, as well as fixing the faults from their previous service in other parts of London, so the buses can be used at full strength for the hillier parts of South East London. DB300s are good buses, but they have been fairly restricted in the more inner parts of London.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48539053647/in/dateposted/" title="Arriva London DW532 on Route 301, Bexleyheath"><img alt="Arriva London DW532 on Route 301, Bexleyheath" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48539053647_698969aa98.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
A nearly empty DW532 leaving Bexleyheath heading towards Woolwich<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Initial signs show that the bus route is not living to its full potential, but once the Elizabeth Line changes occur, the route will live to its full potential. The changes would mean there would be less parallel to the 472 and the B11. The main increase of patronage will be when the Elizabeth Line opens. If the damned thing actually opens somewhere in my lifetime!<br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<b>© All right reserved WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-27357111558664973302019-08-06T15:27:00.000+01:002019-08-06T15:27:08.119+01:00Metroline Further West<div style="text-align: center;">
On 27th July 2019, Route 81 moved down Kingsley Road from London United to Metroline at their new base on Spring Grove Road in Lampton. Used Volvo B9TLs were passed onto the route.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48390505521/in/dateposted/" title="Metroline VW1386 on Route 81, Colnbrook"><img alt="Metroline VW1386 on Route 81, Colnbrook" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48390505521_729eaa7aac.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
VW1386 running through Colnbrook Village on the first day of Metroline service on Route 81<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Yet another Metroline win on the western front from RATP. It increases the Metroline presence in Hounslow to an extent that it has most of the routes on the Bath Road corridor<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48396951532/in/dateposted/" title="Westbus/Metroline Lampton Garage (SG) (Spring Grove Road)"><img alt="Westbus/Metroline Lampton Garage (SG) (Spring Grove Road)" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48396951532_ba5368ee01.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
A view from Spring Grove Road of the new Metroline base in Lampton<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The buses are based in the old Westbus depot as the Westbus moved to Hayes Garage, allowing the 81 to be based in Lampton. However, Metroline are not the only tenant in the site, with a light industrial site squeezed within the site as well.<br />
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Operation with London United started with Westlink winning the route in 1995 from Hounslow Heath. London United bought Westlink, and moved the route to Hounslow (AV) completely in 2000. Prior to tendering in 1985 as the first LT route to be tendered to a private operator (London Bus Lines), it was based in Hounslow as well.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48403349242/in/dateposted/" title="London United ADE40421/ADE21 on Route 81, Longford"><img alt="London United ADE40421/ADE21 on Route 81, Longford" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48403349242_db3fcca725.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
ADE21 passing through the village of Longford, which will be demolished when Heathrow Airport gains its third runway.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The route is now based out of the former Westbus depot at Lampton (SG). Existing Volvo B9TLs displaced from Harrow Weald and spares from Brentford were drafted for the route.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48390652567/in/dateposted/" title="Metroline VW1833 on Route 81, Hounslow"><img alt="Metroline VW1833 on Route 81, Hounslow" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48390652567_a6aa998403.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
One of the various buses, VW1833, is a former First bus that was allocated to the 427. It ended up at Alperton and Brentford, before moving over to Lampton for the 81.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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81 is unique in that it sticks out into Berkshire (technically Slough Borough Council) as the only TfL route to go there. Thanks to the cuts caused by First Berkshire scaling down their operations in Berkshire, the 81 is the most frequent and the main route out of Slough. First (9) and Reading Buses (703) both operate parallel stopping services down the Bath Road, although they do not get nearly as much custom as the 81.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48396957592/in/photostream/" title="One in, one out"><img alt="One in, one out" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48396957592_db375d191d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
VW1255 heads out for another journey to Hounslow, whilst VW1382 waits to use the stop at Slough Bus Station.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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VW1255 was a Holloway bus to start, but ended up at Brentford for the E8 extension, prior to a temporary move to Lampton for the 81. It is now (as of August 2019) back at Brentford. VW1382 meanwhile started at Holloway too, but went via Perivale to Lampton. However, apart from said VW1833, the allocation has settled to the 62 reg buses mostly ex-Harrow Weald.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48416114546/in/photostream/" title="Metroline VW1385 on Route 81, Heathrow North"><img alt="Metroline VW1385 on Route 81, Heathrow North" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48416114546_e44011d831.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
VW1385 passes Mondial Way on the Bath Road, north of Heathrow Airport.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Driver changes are handled similar to when it was under London United, with buses running to the garage. However, as the garage has now changed, buses go along the short bit of Kingsley Road and Spring Grove Road to the garage, where changeovers occur on the forecourt.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48396949292/in/photostream/" title="Metroline VW1255, Hounslow Kingsley Road"><img alt="Metroline VW1255, Hounslow Kingsley Road" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48396949292_f1b4fc3de0.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
VW1255 heads out of service on Kingsley Road enroute to Lampton for a driver change.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48403207646/in/dateposted/" title="Metroline VW1379 on Route 81, Hounslow Treaty Centre"><img alt="Metroline VW1379 on Route 81, Hounslow Treaty Centre" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48403207646_dab58789e6.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The arrival of Metroline on the route has led to a more descriptive qualifier for the Slough destination, stating it will terminate at the bus station. VW1379 exhibits this display heading out of Hounslow.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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As these buses are approximately the same age as the ADEs that were on the route under RATP, the route will receive newer buses upon the next contract. Meanwhile, these diesel buses will continue to ply the route until either the end of the contract, or when the route is affected heavily by the Heathrow Airport third runway construction, which may begin during this contract.<br />
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Post and photographs by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
<b><br />
All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-32574872776699244322019-07-12T00:00:00.002+01:002019-07-12T00:00:57.942+01:00Strike Three for StagecoachOn 30th March 2019, Stagecoach lost a large amount of work, with the 262, 396 and 473 all going to different operators, all using used buses, with the ULEZ playing its part in allocating buses. Yes, it's a tad tardy, but oh well.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47441683891" title="Stagecoach London 25113 on Route 396, Ilford"><img alt="Stagecoach London 25113 on Route 396, Ilford" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7912/47441683891_61d01f132a.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Route 396 is a short shuttle between Ilford and King George Hospital, serving Little Heath, thus it can get fairly busy at times. It also was one of the few areas in London where Optare Versas still operated.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Route 396 had been operated by Stagecoach London at Barking (BK) since 2002, when they won it from First Capital, and thus has lasted 17 years with the operator (three contracts, one with extension). The second contract led to the 396 gaining Versas, and as the 2009 Versas aged for two contracts, Stagecoach would either have to find newer existing buses, or order new buses for the route in order to bid for the route.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47394012002/in/photolist-2dYKqoT-2ehDLLE-2fd3GzY-2fhg2M6-RvhHCZ-Ac2TLe-pUnWjr-p3BWQD-oS6bRo" title="Stagecoach London 10326 on Route 396, King George Hospital"><img alt="Stagecoach London 10326 on Route 396, King George Hospital" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7868/47394012002_9ab711148f.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
On occasion, the 396 saw double deckers, an example being 10326 as seen at King George Hospital.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Go-Ahead Blue Triangle instead had existing buses of their own, being existing Enviro 200s from the loss of Route D6 to CT Plus. The route was allocated to River Road (RR) as part of the operator change.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46789764214/" title="Blue Triangle SE115 on Route 396, King George Hospital"><img alt="Blue Triangle SE115 on Route 396, King George Hospital" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7897/46789764214_4f588c7fab.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
SE115 standing at King George Hospital<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The route itself can get very busy, with an Enviro 200 just about fitting the crowd from Newbury Park Underground towards Little Heath. These buses are only 3 years younger than the replaced Optare Versas, and are likely to be used for this contract only.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46587169415/" title="Blue Triangle E207 on Route 396, King George Hospital"><img alt="Blue Triangle E207 on Route 396, King George Hospital" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7838/46587169415_dd4bd3ff2f.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The double decker presence on the 396 shown by E207<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Akin to the previous operator, Go-Ahead also occasionally use double deckers on the route, but otherwise the age profiles aren't too dissimilar from the previous vehicles (by 3 years, thus within one contract cycle).<br />
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Two more losses by Stagecoach were the 262 and 473, both to Tower Transit.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/33565590478" title="Stagecoach London 18211 on Route 262, Gallions Reach"><img alt="Stagecoach London 18211 on Route 262, Gallions Reach" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7889/33565590478_d476b31e83.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
262 was one of the final stays for the Stagecoach Trident, with 18211 seen on the latter days of Stagecoach operation.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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262 has been with East London (later Stagecoach) since privatisation, whilst 473 has been with Stagecoach since the first contract change in 1996. Although they were juggled over the past few years, with the garage situation in East London changing due to events like the Olympics demolishing the garages causing a chain reaction that did end up with Upton Park (U) closing, moving both said routes to the very large West Ham (WH) garage in September 2011.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/33335354308/" title="Stagecoach London 15090 on Route 473, Stratford Bus Station"><img alt="Stagecoach London 15090 on Route 473, Stratford Bus Station" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7877/33335354308_06cc55ff34.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
473 had been the mainstay of these Scania Omnicity double deckers from West Ham (WH)<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Both routes join up with Tower Transit at Lea Interchange (LI/HO). Although these contracts did end up having new buses ordered for the routes, they did not end up on the route. Instead, existing buses from a singular other route have been nabbed for these routes.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40536493543/" title="Tower Transit VN36118 on Route 262, Stratford"><img alt="Tower Transit VN36118 on Route 262, Stratford" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7829/40536493543_af11c52bc0.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
VN36118 shows the temporary assignment of buses for Route 262<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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VNs from the 25/N25 have been taken, and their well worn bodies are now turning out for East and West London's suburban routes. The 25's buses have been spread to as far as the 262, 452, 473 and D8. All allocated from one formerly very well patronised bus route.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/32567257927" title="Tower Transit VN36134 on Route 473, Stratford"><img alt="Tower Transit VN36134 on Route 473, Stratford" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7840/32567257927_39b5a2c15f.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
473 is also subject to the use of Volvo B9TLs from the 25, with VN36134 entering Stratford<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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These buses, fairly recently refurbished and converted to Euro VI under the 25 contract, have since been forced to move from the route they were allocated to because of the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), which covers the Central London congestion charging zone. As Routes 25/N25 do penetrate the zone, they are required to have Euro VI hybrid buses. Transport for London, however, has not said the proportion of the propulsion which has to be electric, so hybrid Streetdecks with flywheels and regenerative braking are now the use for Route 25.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47456757392/" title="Tower Transit WH31105 on Route 25, Stratford"><img alt="Tower Transit WH31105 on Route 25, Stratford" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7846/47456757392_cf8679fc59.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The reductions on Route 25 have allowed a large amount of buses cascade for use on other routes. The ULEZ allowed the last few B9TLs move away. This bus enters Stratford Bus Station towards City Thameslink, a situation only created by both the Stratford two way system and the TfL budget spending priorities.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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These, admittedly under-powered buses now ply the truncated, reduced use 25/N25 from City Thameslink (Oxford Circus at night) to Ilford. As part of Crossrail changes, the 25 would have been truncated to City Thameslink, as there would be enlarged capacity towards Ilford on Crossrail. However, due to the delays, most of the cuts caused by Crossrail...still went ahead due to the TfL funding crisis caused by multiple factors, not including the cut from central government under Boris, and the cut of fares caused by cheap votes for Sadiq Khan. These funding cuts show. The cut to the 25 is an implied TfL forced transport mode shift towards the tube. Which is already overcrowded in the central area, especially for the Central Line. But that's another post for another time.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/32646253497/" title="Tower Transit WH31122 on Route N25, Oxford Circus"><img alt="Tower Transit WH31122 on Route N25, Oxford Circus" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7801/32646253497_ed4d577c5f.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
WH31122 on the N25, a route born by the Central London bus cuts, caused by a need for saving a large amount of money.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Overall, these are good gains for the company Tower Transit, and Go-Ahead. However, Tower Transit only have these existing buses on the 262/473 as a stop-gap, and some are expecting the buses to return to their contracted routes from when the 25/N25 gets re-tendered at some point in the future. <br />
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Post and photographs by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-68095942880844878802019-07-02T23:23:00.000+01:002019-07-02T23:23:00.330+01:00Cascade United<div style="text-align: center;">
On 29th June 2019, Route 211 transferred from Abellio London to London United. Existing LTs were transferred over to Stamford Brook (V) to facilitate the changeover.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48155501811/" title="London United LT664 on Route 211, Fulham Broadway"><img alt="London United LT664 on Route 211, Fulham Broadway" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48155501811_9304042244.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT664 on the first day of London United operation, passing through Fulham Broadway enroute to Waterloo.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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This is the second contract mandated operator change this route has had in its 26 year history, having started out as a midibus route operated by London General replacing the western section of Route 11, and the entirety of Red Arrow 511. The route had been with Abellio and its predecessors (Travel London, Limebourne, Connex, Travel London (again)) since 1998.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/10804667343/" title="Abellio London 9817 on Route 211, Waterloo Station"><img alt="Abellio London 9817 on Route 211, Waterloo Station" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5477/10804667343_137a77b389.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
A view back in 2013, with a 52 reg Trident which was ordered in 2002 for the double decker conversion of the route.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/27504690175/" title="Abellio London LT632 on Route 211, Chelsea"><img alt="Abellio London LT632 on Route 211, Chelsea" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7388/27504690175_ed7c151092.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The latter view of Route 211 was one of the common Wrightbus New Routemaster LT type, with LT632 from the 159 batch seen at Chelsea.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Having been converted to LT operation in 2016 as a mid contract changeover, the route had newer buses for its contract. However, it was not the said 211 LTs that swapped over to Abellio, but rather some even newer LTs moving over.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/24879362240/" title="The Devil's Borismaster"><img alt="The Devil's Borismaster" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/1546/24879362240_8ff173545b.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Taken back in 2016, when this bus was new for Route 68, LT666 is seen on Waterloo Bridge. Little known then would be that the bus would experience 3 operator changes in 3 years.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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LTs from the fairly recently transferred Route 68 moved to Battersea (QB) in anticipation for the changeover to London United. As these were initially new for Go-Ahead London Central, these were deemed to be the transferred assets for the route. LT664-686 were ordered for the 68, with LT664-681 transferring to Battersea for their final days with Abellio prior to the transfer to London United.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48155504941/" title="Abellio London LT670 on Route 211, Fulham Broadway"><img alt="Abellio London LT670 on Route 211, Fulham Broadway" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48155504941_4e224fb1b5.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT670 on its final day with Abellio, nearing its curtailed terminus of Fulham Broadway<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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On the last day prior to the operator change, buses were stripped of their Abellio identifiers and driven to Stamford Brook. Whilst at the garage, the buses had logos, garage codes and new blinds installed, amongst the many formalities involved in receiving a bus from another operator.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48155503196/in/photostream/" title="London United LT678 on Route 211, Victoria"><img alt="London United LT678 on Route 211, Victoria" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48155503196_029df0a99c.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT678 seen at Victoria on the first day of London United operation.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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All buses were smartly presented for their first day, complete with garage codes, full running number cards. Drivers did have route pilots available just in case they were not familiar with the route. These were observed on some buses throughout the day.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48181893772/in/photostream/" title="London United LT666 on Route 211, LT673 on Route 27, Hammersmith"><img alt="London United LT666 on Route 211, LT673 on Route 27, Hammersmith" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48181893772_94431d0d53.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT666 just 3 years later from the above photo of it on Route 68 with Go-Ahead, it is seen at Hammersmith operated by London United on Route 211. LT673, another bus transferred, is shown on the controversially shortened Route 27.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Stamford Brook used to vaguely keep the LT batches (with frequent daily strays) to their allocated route, although the withdrawal of the 10, subsequent allocation of Route 27 and Route 211 transferring all meaning that this has been thrown out of the window at times. The 211 LTs were reblinded upon arrival at Stamford Brook, meaning that from day one of gaining the 211, the 68 batch of LTs were found on the 9 and 27.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48181900617/in/dateposted/" title="London United LT666 and LT160 on Route 211, Hammersmith"><img alt="London United LT666 and LT160 on Route 211, Hammersmith" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48181900617_2b2cf05be2.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
On the flip side, native London United LTs can also be found on the 211, as seen by LT160 just a few minutes later from the photograph taken above overtaking LT666 to start its journey at Hammersmith Bus Station.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The first day of operation by London United was scarred by yet another demonstration at Parliament Square, with a gap stretching from Chelsea to Waterloo eastbound being seen by midday itself. Although the route is difficult to handle, the team at London United already have experience running through said area with Route 148, as well as Stamford Brook having operated big routes like the 9, 10 and 27.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/48158630217/" title="London United LT667 on Route 211, Fulham Mitre"><img alt="London United LT667 on Route 211, Fulham Mitre" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48158630217_13a3dc459b.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT667 queuing in traffic approaching Fulham Broadway.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
<br />
Post and photographs by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-80285187857222053072019-06-03T08:51:00.003+01:002019-06-03T08:51:30.704+01:00Go-Sutton, GoThis will be a post that is not in the usual format, as it will be done completely in the first person experience. This reflects the personal experience of the blogger, and is not representative of the rest of the blog team's views:<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47967802362/in/dateposted/" title="Go-Ahead London MB5 on Go-Sutton, Sutton Station"><img alt="Go-Ahead London MB5 on Go-Sutton, Sutton Station" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47967802362_3b4e1ae9e6.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
MB5 stands at Sutton Station awaiting a request.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte</div>
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Transport for London, Go-Ahead London and ViaVan partnered to launch the first demand-responsive transit system within London. Go Sutton, launched on 28th May 2019 with Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibuses akin to the one shown above, based in Sutton Garage. I will take one though the process of booking one journey with Go Sutton.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Registering:</span></b><br />
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Downloading the application is not as easy, with the Go Sutton app not being within the first few results when searched on Google Play. Of course, one can use the link on the Go Sutton website, but I persisted with the search, and it came up as the 7th option. Eventually, as the application becomes popular, it'll rise in the search results.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/Fsgms1r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/Fsgms1r.jpg" title="" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View when first opening GoSutton App</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A log in/sign up screen is shown once opening the application for the first time. It is easy enough for most people to input an email account, password and a profile picture. Then, one has to input their payment details.<br />
<br />
<b>There are a few ways to pay:</b><br />
<br />
Payment through the application on a debit/credit card, details are entered as part of the profile registration. I used this method.<br />
<br />
Entering the Freedom Pass Oyster Card number, allowing free rides using said Freedom Pass.<br />
<br />
Email GoSutton if one has a ENTCS (English National Concessionary Travel Scheme) pass to activate free rides.<br />
<br />
Calling the support number as seen on <a href="https://gosutton.co.uk/">https://gosutton.co.uk/</a><br />
<br />
Texting their mobile number as seen on <a href="https://gosutton.co.uk/">https://gosutton.co.uk/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Booking a ride:</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/hvSEKYw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/hvSEKYw.jpg" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an example drop-off point.<br />
Beddington Corner (Goat Road).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/3LQcJSh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/3LQcJSh.jpg" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an example pickup point.<br />
The Crescent, Belmont.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Once the method of payment is sorted, one is taken to the map and asked to pin a pickup point.</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This example journey will begin within Belmont, just south of the rail station. This is the southern extremity of the Go Sutton area.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To test the scope of the service, I took a journey to the northern extremity of the Go Sutton area, at Beddington Corner. This is 7 minutes away from Mitcham Junction Tram/Rail Station, but due to arbitrary borough boundaries, the journey will end at the edge of the Go Sutton area.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Choosing the pickup and drop off places from a map is very easy to deal with, and can either be placed on the map close to the GPS location, or searched in the search bar. Once these places are entered (within the network area), the application will automatically find any drivers nearby that are able to make the journey, and will give at least one option within 10 minutes away from your pickup point.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/S1k0V8r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/S1k0V8r.jpg" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It seems that this vehicle has<br />
come from another residential<br />
area, thus it could be moving<br />
from a drop-off in another area<br />
in Banstead.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/DJGAF4r.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/DJGAF4r.png" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have blurred out my card details<br />
for obvious reasons.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Usually the pickup point will be within a few minutes walk, usually at the nearest junction or open space from the requested pickup point. As shown here for me, the pickup is at the junction between two roads (The Crescent and Queens Road).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Once all details have been confirmed, the rider is asked to book the ride, as seen to the left. The cost for the ride is £3.50, which for some journeys, seems reasonable considering that multiple changes between rail and bus may be required to link between two places, which can make some journeys cheaper via Go Sutton. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The vehicle that I will be using is tracked, and it is shown that BN17JFX will be my vehicle for the ride to Beddington Corner. I saw it moving closer to me as the map updated in real time, and a notification popped up when the vehicle was two minutes away or less.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ride:</b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47967816663/in/dateposted/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Go-Ahead London MB6 on Go-Sutton, Banstead"><img alt="Go-Ahead London MB6 on Go-Sutton, Banstead" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47967816663_201244e1b7.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MB6 arriving at the pickup point to take me to my destination.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Promptly, the bus arrived. The driver asked whom my name was, just to confirm I was the passenger required, before hopping on. I took a seat at the rear of the bus.<br />
<br />
<b>The amenities included were:</b><br />
Free wi-fi provided by Icomera.<br />
USB charging sockets at every seat.<br />
Leather seating.<br />
Seat belts (mandatory by law).<br />
<br />
MB6/<span style="text-align: left;">BN17JFX</span> itself is formerly a Evobus demonstrator, which has seen notable use in Cumbria with Stagecoach prior to use in the Go Sutton trial. All but two buses are demonstrators on loan to Go Sutton.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47967801547/in/photostream/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Interior of Go-Ahead London MB6"><img alt="Interior of Go-Ahead London MB6" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47967801547_5a74e36264.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior of MB6 during my ride to Beddington Corner.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The friendly driver was to follow the directions shown by the tablet at the front of the bus, just by the driver's side where a ticket machine would normally be. It is a basic satellite navigation system which may change routing dynamically in order to respond to demand for people to travel to similar places e.g. Sutton Town Centre, St Helier Hospital.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
However, problems struck the directions, as the satellite navigation directed us to go out of the operating area, and out of London. It told us to take the second exit of a roundabout with the main road out of Belmont, instead of the first. However, the driver managed to turn us around at the next intersection to get us back on track. She apologised for the error numerous times, with a clear level of sincerity, and I appreciated that she apologised. It did not affect the journey too badly, and it was understandable as teething problems.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/kvHILhD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/kvHILhD.jpg" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The welcome message to the wifi.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The ride itself was fairly uneventful, ignoring the initial mishap. I had to try the in-built amenities. The USB charger started to charge my phone well, managing to add 5% of charge with a poor wire. A decent wire would be able to charge a phone slightly more with the approximately 28 minute journey (well, 20 minutes without the diversion).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The wi-fi has a limit mandated by Icomera with a 50MB limit. This allows for basic internet, including sending messages. Sending images are limited due to bandwidth. It had no problem running applications including Spotify, and sending messages to Discord. It cannot load a video well in YouTube.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyway, closer to the end of the journey, a text was sent automatically from Go Sutton, telling me that my drop off was coming up, and to check for all of my belongings. I felt this was a nice touch, especially as one could be consumed by being on their phone during the short ride.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47972398128/in/photostream/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Rear of Go-Ahead London MB6, Beddington Corner"><img alt="Rear of Go-Ahead London MB6, Beddington Corner" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47972398128_dc0c1e4a9e.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MB6 dropping me off at Beddington Corner.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The drop-off was slightly off my original drop-off pin, as the driver was slightly unsure where I should be dropped off, but it was very close, and at a safe grass verge at the green around Beddington Corner. <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Verdict:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Honestly, the experience with Go Sutton was pretty good. Yes, there were some teething problems, but overall, the experience seemed to be overwhelmingly positive. The ride of the Mercedes Sprinter City was as good as a van derived bus could be. It wasn't the greatest, but it was expected. Driver was well presented, and provided great service. I expect the teething problems to be ironed out over time, but the experience is good considering the relative unknown quantity of demand responsive transit in London.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Once the service gets more custom, it is expected that journey times will increase as buses will divert slightly in order to hook more people up with fellow people heading in a similar direction. Worst case scenario would be where the £3.50 could make it not worth the extra fare from the fare of the bus/train. It is not intended for the service to be a cheap taxi, but it fulfilled that role for me on the day of the ride. It does provide an alternative that rides between a taxi/minicab and public transport, where it is priced between the two, but also has the convenience level which is between the two. It will take time to whether the service becomes either a glorified Dial a Ride, or an actual alternative to low demand, low frequency bus routes in hard to serve residential areas, and supplementing the existing network.<br />
<br />
As the whole thing is a trial, along with the Ealing DRT later on this year, it will not be integrated with the TfL ticketing systems. Hopefully this will be addressed after the 12 month trial, if TfL decide to continue with this experiment. It certainly seems that Go Sutton is used though.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Comparison:</span></b><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47967795087/in/photostream/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Quality Line OM20236 on Route S1, Mitcham Junction"><img alt="Quality Line OM20236 on Route S1, Mitcham Junction" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47967795087_bd95cb0239.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OM20236 with a broken display on Route S1 enroute to Banstead, at Mitcham Junction.<br />© Aubrey Morandarte</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To compare, the alternative was the direct bus S1 between Beddington Corner and Belmont Station. I took the S1 between those points and the journey was less than impressive, even ignoring the fact that it was a bus route, and had to go through Sutton Town Centre. The Go Sutton ride took me via Carshalton, avoiding the traffic around Sutton.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The journey took nearly 50 minutes, and the bus was certainly busy. Especially around the Sutton area, the bus was notably crowded with 3 buggies taking the wheelchair area notably. The bus comfort was not great, with idling vibrations being a key downside to the bus ride. It is £1.50 though, and good value considering what is on offer in terms of bus fares in other parts of the country, even though the fares do not reflect the actual costs at times. Go Sutton is quicker, albeit more expensive, hence there is the trade off to think when planning a journey. Also, as the Go Sutton service is restricted to within the London Borough of Sutton, Mitcham Junction Station is not included in the area even though it is only 7 minutes walk from Beddington Corner.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Later on this year, there will be a trial of DRT in Ealing with the partners being MOIA and RATP, and it will be interesting to see the differences and similarities between the two DRT operations.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Post by Aubrey Morandarte</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Screenshots are from the Go Sutton application</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-43595201897216178052019-05-22T13:28:00.001+01:002019-05-22T13:28:05.557+01:00Great West AbellioOn 6th April 2019, Routes 207 and N207 transferred from Metroline West to Abellio London West, giving Abellio a very large stronghold in West London. Both routes will eventually be based in the upcoming permanent Southall Bus Garage in the Great Western Industrial Park, but in the meantime, are based in the former Wings Buses base at Hayes.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47540274612" title="Abellio London 2005 on Route 207, White City Bus Station"><img alt="Abellio London 2005 on Route 207, White City Bus Station" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7853/47540274612_7d94b7abc6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
2005, one of the few new buses ordered for the 207, starts the journey on the first day to Hayes By-Pass. Most of the allocation is compromised of existing classic and MMC Enviro 400s made spare by a reduction on Route 415, as well as the complete withdrawal of Route C2.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
<br />
The gain of the 207/N207 offsets the loss of Route C2 to the Central London bus cuts, and along the 211 loss, offsets the 24 and 27 tender gains. The relatively small base of Hayes that Abellio has means that they had to shuffle a few routes to accommodate the 207/N207. Routes 195 and U5 moved to Fulwell (TF). Routes U7 and part of H28 moved to the temporary Southall (AB).</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOI1vSjKvlRzsVzlbRx118-GKec5aHnZ2haexNfV077OQloohOqJ5sfkRlX1u9R3qZiTH1vY06qOSiZmP1Kc9PELAVxxJpwNKLWHxPFN7qa-h2TUsCMAOkyLC1H6M6F6PMWdIbqCfBNQ4/s1600/020e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOI1vSjKvlRzsVzlbRx118-GKec5aHnZ2haexNfV077OQloohOqJ5sfkRlX1u9R3qZiTH1vY06qOSiZmP1Kc9PELAVxxJpwNKLWHxPFN7qa-h2TUsCMAOkyLC1H6M6F6PMWdIbqCfBNQ4/s640/020e2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Abellio 9534 beside Westfield White City on Route 207 towards Hayes By-Pass.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> Abellio's 9534 was a Battersea (QB) C2 bus, transferred after the withdrawal of the route.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Other buses which were not affected by the C2 withdrawal also made their way to Hayes from their eastern counterparts, with some Enviro 400H MMCs from the 415, as LTs replaced part of the allocation for the route. Also, other non-C2 buses were also transferred to the route from QB, albeit temporarily.<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46862171784" title="Abellio London 2467 on Route 207, Ealing Broadway"><img alt="Abellio London 2467 on Route 207, Ealing Broadway" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7899/46862171784_b3d0f43443_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
2467 from the batch intended for the 49 was transferred over to Southall for a few days from the initial contract change. This bus is now back at QB for the 49.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWHB-u7MzfPVJYy8yie37gzToRwWvzsKgqwFDwE61C72p1JNtTfQV_rJhHQgHnFXdMAfNYZK8NtZdFUfql3lkqzgvsYPUqZcItOkYk1Feylhtiu-2K6uvPVUNV0aSVccHS6xy2x6ZLBY/s1600/014e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWHB-u7MzfPVJYy8yie37gzToRwWvzsKgqwFDwE61C72p1JNtTfQV_rJhHQgHnFXdMAfNYZK8NtZdFUfql3lkqzgvsYPUqZcItOkYk1Feylhtiu-2K6uvPVUNV0aSVccHS6xy2x6ZLBY/s640/014e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Abellio 2532 in Ealing Common on Route 207 towards White City.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">This is one of three different E400 MMC batches that can appear on the route, this batch having transferred from the 415.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yvYJIBMp7UXI5jQ0mo23ep5ucF2hUY-ZpfRVH05Y5GhkqNe4VBe0Q0Nsv3_eQAb3cZUAety33gCxH4ZUJVmWdnV4pHeGrTs1naD8wL6-XZAJZ4mc9rThYvt0hgvNc9p7qc3VQ9HlxOM/s1600/015e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yvYJIBMp7UXI5jQ0mo23ep5ucF2hUY-ZpfRVH05Y5GhkqNe4VBe0Q0Nsv3_eQAb3cZUAety33gCxH4ZUJVmWdnV4pHeGrTs1naD8wL6-XZAJZ4mc9rThYvt0hgvNc9p7qc3VQ9HlxOM/s640/015e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">Abellio's MMC batches from 2015, 2017 and 2019 all appear in this one view, and any of these vehicles can be allocated to the routes. Note how the rear of the body type has changed between the 2015 model and the latest 2019 version.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Although the 207 now shares the 427 allocation, it is infrequent for the 427 branded buses to stray onto the 207/N207, although this has happened in the past as the N207 mainly draws its allocation from the 427 due to the Central London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and that the 427 is the allocated hybrid route out of WS.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Two classic E400s pass close to Ealing Common Station.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/32666398867/in/photostream/" title="Abellio London 2004 on Route N207, Oxford Street"><img alt="Abellio London 2004 on Route N207, Oxford Street" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7836/32666398867_9f28e85a2f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
2004 heads along Oxford Street close to the end of its journey to Holborn.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The N207 was also converted from diesel operation under Metroline West to full Euro VI hybrid operation under Abellio to comply with the Central London ULEZ. It was one convenient sweep to help one of the last few diesel night routes within Central London to convert to hybrid. Other routes that were also still diesel were converted to hybrid through re-allocation of garage.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/32666381547/in/photostream/" title="Abellio London 2401 on Route N207, Tottenham Court Road"><img alt="Abellio London 2401 on Route N207, Tottenham Court Road" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7802/32666381547_87535c2509_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
2401 is an outlier to the rest of the decker fleet transferred for the 207, as it was not refurbished at all since introduction on the 188. It was transferred from WL to QB at some point, and since went to AB (Southall) for the E1 for a week prior to the 207 gain. It is seen on the N207, starting a journey to Uxbridge.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte <br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47535770412/in/photostream/" title="Abellio London 2532 on Route N207, Oxford Circus"><img alt="Abellio London 2532 on Route N207, Oxford Circus" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7862/47535770412_4b210f1d94_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
2532 on Oxford Street on the first night of Abellio on the N207<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The N207 is the first Abellio London West night service, with the closest prior being the early morning airport journeys on the 350 and 490. As with usual with current TfL policy, the night route has had an element of reduction, with the last few journeys being cut back or withdrawn. The route retains its half and half approach to the western termini, with Hayes By-Pass alternating with Uxbridge between buses.<br />
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Unlike the rest of the Uxbridge Road corridor, the 607 retained its operator and new Volvo B5LH/MCV EvoSeti buses were ordered for the route, although due to circumstances regarding electric buses and the Central London ULEZ, not all of the new buses are currently on the route.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Metroline VW1820 beside Westfield White City on Route 607 towards Uxbridge.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">A number of these former 427 then 207 VWs continue to ply their trade along the Uxbridge Road, now on the 607. Their time is limited like the route. The remainder of the 607s new VMH allocation can be found on the 43 and 134 because of the Central London ULEZ. They will all be united at Greenford on the route once Metroline's electric buses arrive during summer 2019.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">The blinds in these former Hayes 427 VWs have not been altered since the introduction of these vehicles by First London in 2010, at a time before the 207 and 607 routes were extended to serve the Westfield White City bus station. When these VWs were reused on the 207 after Metroline lost the 427 in 2017, a dayglo "White City" was added for the 207. These vehicles have been reused again on the Uxbridge Road for the 607 this time, and a clever bit of coding was to also reuse the 207s dayglo White City as a temporary measure until the remained of the 607s VMHs are released.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">When the blinds were order for these former First London Hayes VNs for the 427, a conjoined Hayes-Greenford set was designed to give the engineers flexibility if they wished to swap buses. The 607 was not at either garage at the time and was never planned to be moved to either so its inclusion on this [still original First London] blind was a chance encounter as the blind order was hurried and the base for the blinds was taken from an older version from First's Acton Tram depot blinds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Metroline VMH2591 showcases the 607s official allocation in Ealing Common, sporting an appropriate yet traditional blue "limited stop" bus blind to distinguish the route from the slower 207 and 427 counterparts. This is still the only TfL route which has blue on white blinds.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;">Up to 13 VWs at Greenford can still be found on the 607; VW1818 is one of those seen nearby to Ealing Common Station.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></div>
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This significant tender has notably shifted a lot of work to Abellio London West. The sector started out as Tellings Golden-Miller, with not a large amount changing under Travel London duress. Abellio has managed to grow this sector from a relatively medium-scale operation to a large scale operation including trunk routes which were the stronghold of Metroline West. With the new garage in Southall (GW) replacing both WS and AB, this is clearly a time of growth for the company. Adding the gains of Routes 24, 27, 267, E10 and E11 to the repertoire, as well as the retention of most of their work shows a period of growth for this operator.<br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte and Tommy Cooling<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-28475739264480493292019-04-24T22:26:00.003+01:002019-04-24T22:41:47.817+01:00Riding La Viva LocaIn April 2017, the last D78 ran in service on the District line. After two years, D78 Stock have been revived by Vivarail into a viable alternative to new rolling stock, especially for lower-utilisation routes like the Marston Vale line, and on 23rd April 2019, the resulting DEMU Class 230 entered passenger service with London Northwestern Railway (West Midlands Trains).<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/33811649508/in/dateposted/" title="London Northwestern Railway 230004, Bedford"><img alt="London Northwestern Railway 230004, Bedford" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/33811649508_0aa24d18ec.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
230004 on the second day of service at Bedford.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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These "upcycled" trains have, instead of a pickup shoe to pick up electricity, there is a diesel motor which drives an electric source, which is used to power the motors which are pre-existing from the D78 Stock. The bodyshell, chassis, some parts of the seating, motors and bogies are all pre-existing from the D78, whilst the interior and other major things have been added or changed.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/34133823046/in/album-72157668255907646/" title="Last D78 Stock Train."><img alt="Last D78 Stock Train." height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/2825/34133823046_6c93e3372e.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Spot the difference? Merely two years ago, the last D78 ran in passenger service on the Underground.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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There had been some testing mishaps back in 2016, when it was mooted that they would be tested on the Coventry-Nuneaton line under former West Midlands franchise operator, London Midland (Govia). However, unfazed by the setbacks in 2016, the incoming new franchise operator, West Midlands Trains (Abellio-JR East-Mitsui) took three of the Vivarail units for the Bedford - Bletchley line. As the Vivarail prototype is 230001, and the battery EMU is 230002, these took the TOPS numbers of 230003-5.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QEjz-rQS9fY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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This video shows a ride between Bow Brickhill and Woburn Sands. Clearly audible are the diesel engine undertones with the distinct pre-existing D Stock motors. The ride on the trains are the same as with the D Stock, as the bogies are the same as the ones fitted to the D78s since the late 1990s/early 2000s (fitted by Adtranz). Seating is fairly comfortable considering the type of seats chosen, although the opinion may be in part due to the author's frequency of using trains with the same type of seating. The door closing can be clearly heard, and closes with greater force than when under LU ownership.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46773109205/in/photostream/" title="London Northwestern Railway 230004, Bletchley"><img alt="London Northwestern Railway 230004, Bletchley" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46773109205_585de2aff6.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
230004 turns around at Bletchley for a trip to Bedford Midland<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The front of the train has been slightly modified to meet modern crash worthiness standards. New LED lights replace the under-body lighting seen on the D Stock. The emergency door at the front has been plated up, and a fully modernised cab has been installed. <br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46773121415/in/photostream/" title="Interior of LNR 230004, Bedford"><img alt="Interior of LNR 230004, Bedford" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46773121415_1e51b29fd0.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Interior of one coach of 230004, Bedford<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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One coach has been refurbished extensively, with the centre doors being boarded up. The seats between the boarded up centre doors are of the "ironing board" high backed seats, with the longitudinal being refreshed seats from the 2005-2008 refurbishment with London Underground. All seats have new moquette, and padding. Handrails have been repainted, the LED displays have been replaced internally (but the housing has not been replaced). <br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46773114665/in/photostream/" title="Interior of LNR 230004, Bletchley"><img alt="Interior of LNR 230004, Bletchley" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46773114665_a1dbcae26a.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Interior of the other coach of 230004, Bletchley<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The second coach has the corridor-side part with the existing layout. The centre part has a similar layout until the second boarded up door, where a new accessible toilet has been installed. Yes, for the first time, one can legally go to the toilet on a D Stock.<br />
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<a href="https://imgur.com/4IEokyi"><img height="333" src="https://i.imgur.com/4IEokyi.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Toilet and wheelchair space within train.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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An extended wheelchair area is located next to the toilet, which is all near to the front set of doors, where four original seats are retained between the door and the cab. A mixed layout of seats overall, with a clean look. As a personal opinion, the refurbishment seems to be very neat, to the extent that some can think it was a completely new train.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40722751183/in/photostream/" title="Table seating on ex-door in Class 230"><img alt="Table seating on ex-door in Class 230" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40722751183_f84331ca07.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Table seating next to a boarded up door, note the shorter windows.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The trains are fitted with plug socket and USB charging points underneath the transverse seating, with USB chargers between seats embedded at the bottom of the arm rests next to the longitudinal seating.<br />
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<a href="https://imgur.com/ukMBzQ8"><img height="333" src="https://i.imgur.com/ukMBzQ8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Detail of the longitudinal seating, original from the mid-2000s LU refurbishment.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<a href="https://i.imgur.com/I2NbNaq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="400" src="https://i.imgur.com/I2NbNaq.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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One thing also changed from the original D Stock is the installation of a inter-car corridor, operated by pressing a button which unlocks the first door, with the second door opening using a handle from the corridor. This introduction of the corridor has made walking between carriages safer. Also seen on the photograph on the left is the exhaust from the underfloor diesel engine.<br />
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© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<a href="https://i.imgur.com/I5W956t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="211" src="https://i.imgur.com/I5W956t.jpg" width="318" /></a><a href="https://i.imgur.com/dBGFogm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="211" src="https://i.imgur.com/dBGFogm.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
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There are posters detailing both the train's history as well as notable connections and notable information of each place on the line.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<a href="https://imgur.com/IJ0Yb4c"><img height="333" src="https://i.imgur.com/IJ0Yb4c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
A line diagram using the former advertising panels. Further detailing of each panel can be seen:<br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/aBSLTId.jpg">Bletchley-Bow Brickhill</a><br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/6L1ysQm.jpg">Woburn Sands-Ridgemount</a><br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/c21rPou.jpg">Lidlington-Stewartby</a><br />
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/KUx5FRR.jpg">Kempston Hardwick-Bedford Midland</a><br />
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<a href="https://imgur.com/8U1crh7"><img height="333" src="https://i.imgur.com/8U1crh7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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The Marston Vale trains have special branding, with a whiter version of the LNR livery. This photo also shows the side external displays for the destination, as well as the treatment for the former doors.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47690571561/in/dateposted/" title="London Northwestern Railway 230004, Bedford"><img alt="London Northwestern Railway 230004, Bedford" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47690571561_d7f981f081.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
230004 leaving Bedford for the Marston Vale line.<br />
© Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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Overall, these trains are a fair, refreshing low cost upgrade to the Class 150/153s that are usually on the route. Although the trains themselves are <i>OLDER</i> than the Sprinters that they replace, they are notably more efficient due to the electric motor driving the wheels, rather than the diesel transmission. This leads to an mpg which is lower than Pacer trains.<br />
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Vivarail have done an excellent job with the interior refurbishment, and the quietness of the engine does mean that the loudest sound is usually the motor noises, or the train announcements. The interior is more airy than their predecessors, with brighter lighting thanks to the LED interior lighting.<br />
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The main issue would possibly be the toilet sinks having too powerful water pressure at the taps, but otherwise are very good units. These are set to be the only DEMUs from Vivarail so far ordered, as the 230s for Transport for Wales will be diesel-electric hybrid trains.<br />
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Post, photos and video by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
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Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-80841023654535218272019-04-19T10:02:00.001+01:002019-04-19T10:02:42.919+01:00Go-Ahead, CT PlusOn 23rd March 2019, Route 20 was gained from Go-Ahead London by CT Plus from Walthamstow Avenue (AW). It had been with London General for just under 6 years, and under the Go-Ahead Group for a full 5 year + 2 year extension.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/9117372241/in/photolist-S1NQAX-eTEV88" title="Blue Triangle WVL462 on Route 20, Walthamstow Central"><img alt="Blue Triangle WVL462 on Route 20, Walthamstow Central" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5494/9117372241_f64355d5c6.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Go-Ahead won the route from Arriva in 2012, with the <a href="http://wltmauc.blogspot.com/2012/03/routes-20-and-462-240312.html">change covered by this blog</a>. Initially, it was with the Blue Triangle subsidiary before moving on the 22nd June 2013 to London General at NP (Northumberland Park). WVL462 approaches Walthamstow Central on the first day of London General operation back in 2013.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/33565588428" title="London General E55 & WVL189 on Route 20, Debden"><img alt="London General E55 & WVL189 on Route 20, Debden" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7844/33565588428_bd63d70dbe.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The latter part of the days of operation were with older buses than the allocated ones, including E55 which started out at Bexleyheath with London Central, and WVL189 which started out at Putney replacing Routemasters on Routes 14 and 22.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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On 23rd March, the route changed hands, this time to the growing Walthamstow Avenue operation at CT Plus. It is the second route gained from Go-Ahead London, having gained D6 earlier in 2018.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40489469473/in/dateposted/" title="CT Plus 2539 on Route 20, Whipps Cross"><img alt="CT Plus 2539 on Route 20, Whipps Cross" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7818/40489469473_0203b4704b.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
2539 navigating the new layout at Whipps Cross on the first day of CT Plus operation.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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New Enviro 400H (E40H) City buses were ordered for the route, in continuation with the previous buses ordered for Routes 26 and 388. It seems to be the standard CT Plus double decker body, as there are similar bodies on Scania gas chassis in Bristol for their operation on the Metrobus "BRT" there.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46609166535/in/photostream/" title="CT Plus 2547 on Route 20, Debden"><img alt="CT Plus 2547 on Route 20, Debden" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7903/46609166535_b8a507926d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
2547 with a faulty destination display at the Debden stand.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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These new buses have longer wheelchair bays (as noted in the recent Central London consultation notes repeatedly), and are the first double deckers operated from their Walthamstow Avenue base. Having been delivered very soon prior to the contract start, some rumoured that the first day would be littered with loaned buses from the previous operator (even though the allocated buses were due to be put at Bexleyheath for the 486 the very next day).<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40484606663/in/photostream/" title="Loaned: CT Plus 10113 on Route 20, Whipps Cross"><img alt="Loaned: CT Plus 10113 on Route 20, Whipps Cross" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7876/40484606663_35084efcec.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
However, the only buses on loan from other operators were from Stagecoach London. 10113 is seen at Whipps Cross on a short journey to Leyton, Bakers Arms. It will terminate at Leyton Green, ironically in front of the garage it was loaned from.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Stagecoach London have loaned out two Enviro 400s to cover the two buses intended from the 388, but was not received because of the PVR cut being delayed. The 388 will be shortened (then extended again) under the Central London bus cuts, with the southern terminal revised to Liverpool Street, then London Bridge by the end of 2019, which would free the buses for both the 20, and the 26 frequency increase.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/33574432048/in/photostream/" title="Loaned: CT Plus 10114 on Route 20, Whipps Cross"><img alt="Loaned: CT Plus 10114 on Route 20, Whipps Cross" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7801/33574432048_b5d9bcfb3e.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The other bus loaned from Leyton Garage is 10114, seen on a journey towards Debden.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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However, as CT Plus is a small operation in comparison to other operators in the area, especially with the very few decker routes, yet their high utilisation rate meant that until ULEZ operation began in April 2019, 26 and 388 were prone to single decker operations. Walthamstow Avenue only has the 20 as a double decker route, meaning that if multiple buses are out of service, this can lead to single decker operation.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46785736324/in/photostream/" title="CT Plus 1229 on Route 20, Debden"><img alt="CT Plus 1229 on Route 20, Debden" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7838/46785736324_8521eb5584.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
A week after CT Plus started operation on Route 20, a bus from the W19 is seen on the route. As the single deckers do not have Route 20 blinds, paper displays are forced to suffice.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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CT Plus is notably the sole TfL bus operator in Debden, having gained 397 in late 2017, and 167 being withdrawn from the area due to Essex County Council subsidy cuts. The operator is gaining in small, but sustainable chunks, which can only be positive for competition in TfL tendering.<br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-19353152084961324362019-04-03T16:23:00.000+01:002019-04-03T16:23:16.635+01:00Moving ParliamentThese services feel like a side-note in the vast essay that is the UK rail network, but all the same their importance is on equal or greater terms, and historically even more so. They are rarely seen, usually connecting unusual stations, often running at inconvenient times and likely to be carrying no more than one man and his dog, on a good day; this of course is reference to the "Parliament" or "ghost" trains. The Parliament service is a long-standing principle of running, sometimes as little as one train a week, and in only one direction, over sections of the railway network that would otherwise be closed.<br />
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The Parliament trains have proved a useful tactic to employ when the costs of a formal procedure for closing a specific portion of line become too unwieldy. They can also run for other means such as refreshing driver route knowledge along diversionary routes, the latter is the focus for this post.<br />
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Chiltern Railways have operated a late morning Parliament service between South Ruislip and Paddington via the New North Main Line (NNML). The NNML was built by the Great Western Railway (GWR) and opened between 1903 and 1905 running as a spur off the 'traditional' Great Western Main Line at Old Oak Common, running north through Greenford, before joining the Great Central Railway's (GCR) main line at South Ruislip. The NNML continued to High Wycombe and beyond towards the Midlands and North West as a GWR & GCR joint railway [1]. Normal services ceased in 1963 and today the one passenger train that uses the line only reaches High Wycombe. This is an extension in reality as the "Parliament" service used to terminate from Paddington at West Ruislip until 2017. The line is also used by freight workings, and prior to High Speed 2 (HS2) construction, was partly used as a method to turn GWR High Speed Train sets around from Old Oak Common.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Sign of the times; b</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">oth services on the indicator boards here, now start at West Ealing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Chiltern Railways 165 006 at Paddington.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGr0aWy5E2b3OYk1_hVZ9StwHHm7UGDZjrPfkxMPVb1Ig0mutCXBa1Nw0sJb5s47gTBzgCmXE5Nfawcw9k-qRjomUq3_TVgxViU27plx1dHOYxGvlmy5pQTt1bjA6nAmgLQKNV70VWSaI/s1600/052e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGr0aWy5E2b3OYk1_hVZ9StwHHm7UGDZjrPfkxMPVb1Ig0mutCXBa1Nw0sJb5s47gTBzgCmXE5Nfawcw9k-qRjomUq3_TVgxViU27plx1dHOYxGvlmy5pQTt1bjA6nAmgLQKNV70VWSaI/s640/052e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Circle Line 21313 passes Chiltern Railways 165 006 at Paddington.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaQxofzN5tyn-psdGVqXCne_ogyHAcA99ItyXLtkNqBL8UrImHJncxRYlUCZL93B_liuelQ8KGf8HKoM9y1XJ9flEFc3CIGQc0BwT1F_hKNZWbiFHxjspsIQ0BYldSbJAzeDyALLkYgE/s1600/074e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaQxofzN5tyn-psdGVqXCne_ogyHAcA99ItyXLtkNqBL8UrImHJncxRYlUCZL93B_liuelQ8KGf8HKoM9y1XJ9flEFc3CIGQc0BwT1F_hKNZWbiFHxjspsIQ0BYldSbJAzeDyALLkYgE/s640/074e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Chiltern Railways 165 006 passes Royal Oak with Paddington in the distance.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODRI1T8jdzTPpRCJI3M8-NAvjp2rQ1O_y_EQ3vaqZ3mb-NU0awiHlKyde8xWZIYGynqN-wOfJGfPWuZjxRwXEVhiU7qeZSEzRqGdRZLI3voNsTUDZrIvV5MUQmltEHRetkDyv_yh6-Qw/s1600/085e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODRI1T8jdzTPpRCJI3M8-NAvjp2rQ1O_y_EQ3vaqZ3mb-NU0awiHlKyde8xWZIYGynqN-wOfJGfPWuZjxRwXEVhiU7qeZSEzRqGdRZLI3voNsTUDZrIvV5MUQmltEHRetkDyv_yh6-Qw/s640/085e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Chiltern Railways 165 006 passes then-First Great Western (now GWR) 165 127 at Royal Oak.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dwHG8U7uOm6on7YYRG1nYFFXFh_M9RwjKfhPlkX-VA_3h-jQ-dmrsigDX0svA-7dt8boyEWUFZkU6oYcYxwIFoul4t0THzO7cs8y_EfZVvLL8myZvv39je-1yXuy6CDsrZEIsL1lrLY/s1600/096e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dwHG8U7uOm6on7YYRG1nYFFXFh_M9RwjKfhPlkX-VA_3h-jQ-dmrsigDX0svA-7dt8boyEWUFZkU6oYcYxwIFoul4t0THzO7cs8y_EfZVvLL8myZvv39je-1yXuy6CDsrZEIsL1lrLY/s640/096e.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">A 3x2 Chiltern Railways 165 DMU set passes North Acton heading towards Paddington.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Chiltern Railways 165 005, with Wembley Stadium in the background, passes through Perivale heading to Paddington.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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Construction for the new High Speed 2 rail link, linking London to the Midlands and beyond [sound familiar?] is churning through the new development site at Old Oak Common, ready to become a massive interchange between from HS2 to GWR services, Crossrail and London Overground. The NNML traverses two of the HS2 tunnel boring sites, and after 115 years since opening, the line is now severed. A decision is yet to be made regarding whether the track will be reinstated to run a more substantive HS2 Old Oak Common connecting Chiltern service, however such a service has been muted to increase Chiltern Railways' presence and to take the strain from their Marylebone terminus.<br />
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This is not the end for the "Parliament" service however. From the December 2018 timetable change, the Chiltern Railways service from South Ruislip now runs to West Ealing leaving at the slightly later time of 11.02, diverting off the NNML at Greenford. The return journey, now at 11.47, still runs to High Wycombe. It waits to be seen as to whether this ghost service will ever return to Paddington, although given the congested nature of the "local lines" through Ealing Broadway and Acton, and with Crossrail around the corner, it does look unlikely.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Chiltern Railways 165 020 arrives at West Ealing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Chiltern Railways 165 020 is joined by GWR 165 124 at West Ealing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">A busy scene with three different TOCs in view (Chiltern 165020; GWR 165124; Tfl Rail 345012)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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[1] - Joe Brown; London Railway Atlas (2012)<br />
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Post by Tommy Cooling<br />
Some of these images and more can be found on my Flickr page:</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/</a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please do not reproduce any of my images without permission</span></strong></div>
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TC378http://www.blogger.com/profile/00413569686077174641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-19534758302266302332019-04-02T23:43:00.001+01:002019-04-02T23:51:03.263+01:00RIP Buses ExceteraThe sudden demise of Buses Excetera on 11 March 2019 meant that there were stranded school children at schools, and people were stranded across Surrey. School routes 43, 45, 617, 618, 619, 668 and regular routes 28 and 479 stopped running with immediate effect after the morning peak on the Monday. This has led to a series of emergency contracts having to be agreed, and other operators just stepping in to operate the former school routes. Routes 28 and 479 took longer to find operators, with them being found later on in the week. <br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/9587030117/" title="Buses Excetera S29 (516), Edward Thomas & Son M462 VCW on loan to Sunray Travel (479), Epsom Clock Tower"><img alt="Buses Excetera S29 (516), Edward Thomas & Son M462 VCW on loan to Sunray Travel (479), Epsom Clock Tower" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3676/9587030117_ee0d09f613.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Buses Excetera in their "prime", running Surrey County Council routes, including Route 516 (now 21 under Metrobus), with Edward Thomas & Sons running Route 479 on behalf of Sunray Travel, prior to the Buses Excetera takeover of the route. This was taken in 2013.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Buses Excetera started out as Croydon Coaches, before expanding into bus work with Surrey County Council tendered bus work and ended up one of the bus companies that picked up the pieces from the Countryliner demise.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/16763294586/" title="Buses Excetera KX03 HZE on Route 479, Guildford Friary"><img alt="Buses Excetera KX03 HZE on Route 479, Guildford Friary" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7634/16763294586_9310cbb024.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Two operators in 2015 were still running, but by 2019 were completely gone. Buses Excetera running the 479, with Abellio Surrey in the background on Route 515.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Unfortunately, events have not been rosy for Buses Excetera, with their fairly recent losses in Surrey County Council tendering meaning they were left with a small stub of a network. Financial issues also loomed over the company during the latter stages of its life. September 2017 saw their Guildford town services move to Compass Travel. September 2018 saw a large amount of losses, with the 32 and 479 Sunday service moving to Stagecoach South. 318 and 866 moved to Metrobus, and 73 moved to Falcon Buses. This left BETC with the remaining school routes, and routes 28 & 479, all commercial.<br />
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These events all cumulated to the administration of Buses Excetera (Coaches Excetera is unaffected as it is a separate, independent arm) on the 11th March 2019. Surrey has turned into a very cut throat business, with multiple companies over the lifetime of this blog having succumbed to financial difficulties operating in Surrey.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46514446205/in/dateposted/" title="Cardinal Buses TA324 on Route 617, Epsom Clock Tower"><img alt="Cardinal Buses TA324 on Route 617, Epsom Clock Tower" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7850/46514446205_99688b7fda.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Cardinal Buses TA324 on Route 617 at Epsom Clock Tower<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The first routes to be given replacements were the school routes. As these were one bus operations, these routes found new homes pretty easily.<br />
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Routes 43, 45 were taken over by Safeguard Coaches, who currently operate town routes within Guildford. These routes serve Godalming College (43) and Rodborough School (45).<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46706502024/in/photostream/" title="Cardinal Buses TA950 on Route 619, Epsom Clock Tower"><img alt="Cardinal Buses TA950 on Route 619, Epsom Clock Tower" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7857/46706502024_646d2b15d0.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Cardinal Buses TA950 on Route 619, another affected route<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Routes 617 and 619 were taken over by Cardinal Buses. They have previously been involved with the rescue of a very different operator in Surrey, having taken Route 557 from Abellio back in 2017, in addition to their current school work. Their scope of Tridents have expanded, to ex-Stagecoach London Tridents in addition to their ex-London United ones in fleet livery.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/33553623568/in/dateposted/" title="London General E8 on Route 668, Epsom Clock Tower"><img alt="London General E8 on Route 668, Epsom Clock Tower" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7840/33553623568_b837a8c322.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Route 668 was taken over by Go-Ahead London, with their commercial fleet taking over. They have a plethora of buses withdrawn from their TfL subsidiary, including E6 which was from TfL Route 196 prior to transfer to the commercial fleet. Route 618 was also taken over by GAL.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The commercial all-day routes however were not immediately replaced. Route 28 (Woking-Knaphill-Pirbright Fox-Guildford), the smaller operation of the two remaining all-day operations found an operator in Falcon Buses on Wednesday 13th March.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47410826081/in/photostream/" title="Falcon Woking Duo"><img alt="Falcon Woking Duo" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7812/47410826081_59821589eb.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
KV03ZFG on Route 73 next to SK68LZL on Route 28<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Falcon Buses have increased their presence in Woking with their new route, having gained 73 already from BETC in tendering, as well as Route 456 (Monday-Saturday). Two slightly used Enviro 200MMCs from dealer stock were acquired for the service, both in differing lengths.<br />
SK68LZL was formerly used by Ford in their Chariot service, having also seen use in Rail Replacement services. It is a short, 8.9m bus.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47410824531/in/photostream/" title="Falcon Buses YW68OVT on Route 28, Guildford Friary Bus Station"><img alt="Falcon Buses YW68OVT on Route 28, Guildford Friary Bus Station" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7867/47410824531_0d7c3752c8.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
YW68OVT about to start service on the 28 at Guildford, on the first day of service.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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YW68OVT saw prior use with Newbury & District, and is the longer one of the two buses at 10.8m.<br />
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Most of the route is covered on Sundays by Arriva Route 91 projections from Knaphill to Guildford, and is ironically more frequent than the weekday/Saturday Route 28. However, as it was the smaller operation, it was very quickly taken on as a commercial venture by Falcon Buses. As they were not directly taking over from BETC, they are currently "reviewing" the service in the coming weeks before making any timetable changes.<br />
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The main route of the bunch, 479 (Epsom-Leatherhead-Bookham-Guildford) did not see a new operator until Saturday 16th March when Arriva Southern Counties opted to step in with existing buses.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40463859233/in/photostream/" title="Arriva Southern Counties 4204 on Route 479, Epsom"><img alt="Arriva Southern Counties 4204 on Route 479, Epsom" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7905/40463859233_4e7c4f640e.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
4204 leaving Epsom on the 479 on a schoolday only short journey to Howard of Effingham School<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Route 479 has been operated by Arriva, albeit prior to Countryliner operation. The route has since gone through several operators: Countryliner, Sunray Travel and BETC between its two periods of operation by Arriva Southern Counties. All the operator changes were due to financial issues, with the company dissolving in the process. Ironically, when Countryliner went under, Quality Line also ran a free service on the 479 for a week in October 2012 alongside Sunray Travel before the Traffic Commissioner gave the licence for Route 479 to Sunray Travel. Eventually, Sunray Travel encountered problems of their own in 2013, with Edward Thomas & Sons running buses on Route 479 on behalf of Sunray before BETC took over the route.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/11741040773/" title="Buses Excetera J60 (J60 ETC) on Route 479, Epsom Clock Tower"><img alt="Buses Excetera J60 (J60 ETC) on Route 479, Epsom Clock Tower" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7367/11741040773_d6562aa01d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
J60ETC when BETC ran the route in 2014. Ironically, this bus is ex-Countryliner as AE06VPY.<br />
(CC Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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BETC expanded the route to run every 30 minutes between Bookham and Epsom with these shorts initially numbered as Route 489, before being merged with Route 479. This remained the state until demise on March 2019.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40463857803/in/dateposted/" title="Arriva Southern Counties 4091 on Route 479, Epsom Clock Tower"><img alt="Arriva Southern Counties 4091 on Route 479, Epsom Clock Tower" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7800/40463857803_9a25fa5327.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
4091 on the schoolday journey towards Chipstead Valley, seen at Epsom Clock Tower<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Arriva have taken over the route, with some support from Surrey County Council, and some Streetlites have transferred over from Northfleet to supplement the existing fleet in running Route 479. It is run under the existing timetable.<br />
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However, the week where the 479 had no bus meant that passengers between Leatherhead and Guildford had the option of the rail service, using very limited Route 478 or going via Cobham on Routes 408 and 715.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46495654635/in/photostream/" title="Reptons SL62REP on Route 478, Guildford Town Centre"><img alt="Reptons SL62REP on Route 478, Guildford Town Centre" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7916/46495654635_d3a8979fde.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Reptons SL62REP on the only direct route between Leatherhead and Guildford during the week the 479 was not running.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Now, as the routes have found new homes, hopefully these homes are more stable than their prior one in BETC. In order to take these routes under such very short notice is an achievement for each of Arriva, Safeguard, Go-Ahead London, Falcon Buses and Cardinal Buses.<br />
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<i>RIP Buses Excetera</i><br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-39511014812996755712019-03-29T14:18:00.004+00:002019-03-31T20:42:22.548+01:00GOBLIN update<b>Background</b><br>
The Gospel Oak to Barking line is part of the London Overground network which runs between, yes you guessed it, Gospel Oak and Barking. More commonly however, this line is referred to as the GOBLIN, and even has their own Users Group; The Gospel Oak to Barking Rail User Group (BGORUG). The line passed from Silverlink Metro to London Overground in 2007, originally using the former operator's 2 car Class 150-1 units. The line was unique being the only LO line that was not electrified either via third rail DC current or overhead AC wires. New rolling stock arrived in 2010, 2-car class 172-0 Turbostar DMUs. <br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s_q5QLVKwCfb9SDcSfm_p3Ph5goRepveujsGA5gCgWU90CG22pItUKE_ajy793tasWyOb9CsXllLVBXM98GKTttZc1e6V2Tk0sIE9wYloOX1hFIVS60FBtt6N_yNkzZZKZCSw5zfct0/s1600/080e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s_q5QLVKwCfb9SDcSfm_p3Ph5goRepveujsGA5gCgWU90CG22pItUKE_ajy793tasWyOb9CsXllLVBXM98GKTttZc1e6V2Tk0sIE9wYloOX1hFIVS60FBtt6N_yNkzZZKZCSw5zfct0/s640/080e2.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">172001 at Leyton Midland Road, prior to electrification of the line<br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k1IQqE-cFTklIQkzXs60IgximZ-2gCVr4v_Xm39Wy4niV8NffZb_GVPIjIY9J3OWRD0TB22fXY_5V0Dk7ZiYsLdLR4YmP8Y0os3hTmZqRncgBvn2IPl7a_KG8Esjw0SZKE36njiGGzs/s1600/096e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k1IQqE-cFTklIQkzXs60IgximZ-2gCVr4v_Xm39Wy4niV8NffZb_GVPIjIY9J3OWRD0TB22fXY_5V0Dk7ZiYsLdLR4YmP8Y0os3hTmZqRncgBvn2IPl7a_KG8Esjw0SZKE36njiGGzs/s640/096e2.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">172003 at Leytonstone High Road, on the last day before the line closed for electrification works in June 2016<br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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Within a short time frame, the London Overground success story was beginning to act as a downfall, with passenger loads rapidly increasing to beyond levels sustainable by the line's 2-car units. Plans were afoot by 2013 to increase the capacity on the line to 3-car or 4-car diesel trains, however these plans were superseded by Government plans to electrify the line throughout with brand new 4-car electric trains (class 710s). Electrification work began in 2016, and was due to be completed by 2017, however complications during these works saw the project overrun by a year, and costs escalate. Full line electrification was achieved by 2018, a year behind schedule, the brand new class 710 units, ordered in 2015, were also delayed. The units were due into service in 2017, however this was pushed by to 2018 by which time the delayed electrification project would be complete. Despite this the trains were not delivered until November/December 2018, nearly 18 months later than first planned.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB29z4FGLJmt5QzNC7iQXtRzLLQrEbG8HqVtHYsBLvcAH9zuW3xETU6y-XLUx3-AVq6iPt35zhp5o2o2Qc4OxB9FIoMyLzd30YzzszaRWOXDj0NxBPec3CoEHQKl8pTWPAjUtYs5Q7ZGk/s1600/DSC_2191e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB29z4FGLJmt5QzNC7iQXtRzLLQrEbG8HqVtHYsBLvcAH9zuW3xETU6y-XLUx3-AVq6iPt35zhp5o2o2Qc4OxB9FIoMyLzd30YzzszaRWOXDj0NxBPec3CoEHQKl8pTWPAjUtYs5Q7ZGk/s640/DSC_2191e2.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">172007 under the wires at Upper Holloway<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/46269365944/in/album-72157650255683791/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/46269365944/in/album-72157650255683791/</a><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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The complications began when the existing class 172 units were earmarked for West Midlands Trains for their May 2019 timetable change, following the end of lease with TfL in May 2018 [on the basis that the 710s would be in service]. With no immediate chance of ANY class 710s being accepted by London Overground, drivers trained, and units passed fit for service before the class 172 lease expired, TfL took out a further sub lease on the units, from West Midlands Trains (WMT), keeping them until mid-March 2019. However, as these units required refurbishment and extensive internal modifications to retro-fit toilets, for use with West Midlands Trains, some of the line's eight units, would need to be 'handed back' to the leasing company prior to this date. The first unit went early on leaving the line, which requires six trains for a full service, with only only one spare. This also saw the morning extra service, which required the seventh unit, removed from the timetable, on the basis that only six trains could be used at any one time.<br>
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January saw no progress in the readying or the likelihood of acceptable by London Overground of the 710 units. It was at this point when the second 172 returned to WMT, leaving the line with no spare units. Inevitably, with little to no significant upkeep taking place on the remaining units, the prevalence of train faults and cancelled services increased. With the late January/early February cut-off approaching for half of the remaining six 172 units to go back to WMT, an emergency stop-gap measure was needed to prevent the line losing any further services. This solution was to use three shortened class 378s, taken from the fleet's refurbishment process and one other spare unit. Three class 378s (which had been lengthened from 3-cars to 4-cars, then 4-cars to 5-cars) were shortened from 5-cars to 4-cars, the same length as the new class 710s on the GOBLIN. This meant they would easily be able to operate using the existing class 710 platform stopping markers. The first of the three units, 378232 entered service in late January, followed by two further units in February to replace a 172 that went off lease at the same time. The other two shortened 378 units are 378206 and 378209.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokJtpdyiPiYB9gncG-oetozdv53_F84VXwog7_dMurs5C1Gy24beMeRQ_Mqg07CJRcNjxrxEO-t_PAArxZoUeXEyXRDuvTImXBvvF1XAydmxsr_mzdmSdt5H7Sw3E_ASFieUS6BPe9Zw/s1600/DSC_2219e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokJtpdyiPiYB9gncG-oetozdv53_F84VXwog7_dMurs5C1Gy24beMeRQ_Mqg07CJRcNjxrxEO-t_PAArxZoUeXEyXRDuvTImXBvvF1XAydmxsr_mzdmSdt5H7Sw3E_ASFieUS6BPe9Zw/s640/DSC_2219e2.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">378232 was the first electric passenger train in service on the GOBLIN<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/46269365784/in/album-72157650255683791/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/46269365784/in/album-72157650255683791/</a><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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During late winter, class 710 units made late night trips over the GOBLIN to increase their fault free test running. By late February and into March, passengers were greeted to their first glimpses of 710s running on the GOBLIN in daylight hours, as train testing was vamped up.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VnwpqcJdMSJE-zWIDa9MAvEq0ix8-lbBiqlDt29HKqDfupxm_lHhoTpPx1BYKLPlRe98AaozSIzdUjlnlSwYZ6qnKhG-aC_GlQqHCF9oOVW0SSLIdgN2P1YZx7hRcCTyvFd1r2ytT0s/s1600/710269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VnwpqcJdMSJE-zWIDa9MAvEq0ix8-lbBiqlDt29HKqDfupxm_lHhoTpPx1BYKLPlRe98AaozSIzdUjlnlSwYZ6qnKhG-aC_GlQqHCF9oOVW0SSLIdgN2P1YZx7hRcCTyvFd1r2ytT0s/s640/710269.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">710269 at Brondesbury on a testing and training run<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/32491255047/in/album-72157650255683791/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/32491255047/in/album-72157650255683791/</a><br>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<b>Where are we now?</b><br>
As things currently stand services on the GOBLIN have been reduced by 50% with one electric 378 every 30 minutes following the end of the sub-lease of the final three 172 units from WMT. On most days there are up to two electric 710 units testing on the line. These generally fall into the other paths that would have been operated by passenger services; a situation that would be very frustrating for a passenger facing a long wait for the next train. Overall train capacity on the line, as TfL seem to proudly claim, has not changed, with six 2-car 172s have been replaced by three 4-car 378s, still offering 8-cars per hour. The only difference being the intervals between have increased 100% from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes.<br>
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There is still no indication yet as to when the GOBLIN saga will finally be over, however most will feel and are hoping, that the end is in sight.<br>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Post by Tommy Cooling</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some of these images and more can be found on my Flickr page:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please do not reproduce any of my images without permission</span></strong></div>
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TC378http://www.blogger.com/profile/00413569686077174641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-41551662702135149062019-03-24T12:00:00.001+00:002019-03-24T12:00:20.340+00:00Chiswick CutsFrom 9th March 2019, the highly opposed changes to routes 27 and 440 occurred. This involved the withdrawal of the 27 between Hammersmith Town Hall and Chiswick Business Park, the 440 rerouted to cover the 27, whilst leaving Chiswick Park Station and part of Bollo Lane unserved and terminating at Turnham Green.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40476884043/in/dateposted/" title="London United DE20080 on Route 440, Chiswick Park Station"><img alt="London United DE20080 on Route 440, Chiswick Park Station" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7923/40476884043_f419194598.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DE20080 passing Chiswick Park Station on the last day of this 440 routing.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Route 440 has been rerouted between Bollo Lane Level Crossings and Turnham Green, running via Chiswick Business Park, Chiswick High Road, Oxford Road North, Wellesley Road to terminate at Turnham Green Church. This involves running the route in reverse along Wellesley Road/Oxford Road North, and leaves two notable places unserved by buses. Chiswick Park Station is one of the places that are affected, with the sole bus route running in front of it being rerouted away from it. Chiswick High Road buses from Turnham Green, and the 94 from Acton Green are however 5 minutes away.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40337730503/in/dateposted/" title="London United DLE30328 on Route 440, Chiswick Power Road"><img alt="London United DLE30328 on Route 440, Chiswick Power Road" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7914/40337730503_aaa4261559.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DLE30238 in the last week of 440 serving Power Road.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The other part of the route being left unserved by buses is the barely utilised Power Road stand just off Chiswick Roundabout. Notably, Power Road is where W. Chump and Sons, producers of The Grand Tour are based. It is surrounded by smaller offices and a Citroen dealership.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46629490304/in/photostream/" title="London United DLE30318 on Route 440, Chiswick Business Park"><img alt="London United DLE30318 on Route 440, Chiswick Business Park" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7841/46629490304_154f1d1c19.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DLE30318 exits Chiswick Business Park on the new routing<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The new routing means that the 440 serves Gunnersbury Station, finally giving Chiswick Business Park a link to Gunnersbury Station that does not involve significant walking. The route towards Turnham Green does not serve Gunnersbury Station as the bus stop is in front of the turn from Chiswick Business Park. However some drivers unofficially stop outside the station, at the forward end of the bus stop on Chiswick High Road.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46437606845/in/photostream/" title="London United DLE30322 on Route 440, Turnham Green Church"><img alt="London United DLE30322 on Route 440, Turnham Green Church" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7915/46437606845_4c246651cb.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DLE303022 stands at Turnham Green<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The stand at Turnham Green is not new to the route, having stood there between 2007 and 2010 when the route was withdrawn from Stamford Brook Garage, but prior to the reroute of the H91 via Chiswick High Road (and 440 extension to Power Road).<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/8461376579" title="NCP Challenger ADL27 on Route 440, Turnham Green, 27/05/08"><img alt="NCP Challenger ADL27 on Route 440, Turnham Green, 27/05/08" height="333" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8461376579_f8dc1e77e6.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
ADL27 from NCP days at Turnham Green in 2008<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The changes to the 440 are to mask a PVR decrease and shortening of Route 27 to Hammersmith (including night service). The withdrawn section of Route 440 is replaced by walking, including a new bridge from Chiswick Business Park to Chiswick Park LU Station.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/31052720387" title="London United ADH45028 on Route 27, Chiswick Business Park"><img alt="London United ADH45028 on Route 27, Chiswick Business Park" height="333" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4883/31052720387_b3f6d57d99.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
ADH45028 passing under the bridge which partly replaces the 27 and 440<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The new bridge links the business park with Chiswick Park Station, giving relief to Gunnersbury Station. This section of the 27 is rarely used, as most people get on the 27 at Turnham Green Church onwards. The section of the route is not heavily used, but used well enough and relieves the 267 and H91 trunk routes going into Hammersmith along Chiswick High Road.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/47240590122/" title="London United LT71 on Route 27, Gunnersbury Station"><img alt="London United LT71 on Route 27, Gunnersbury Station" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7897/47240590122_170940c9d5.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
An empty LT71 at Gunnersbury Station<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The one notable omission since the start of the 27 extension, which has doomed it to be empty is that it touches, but misses Gunnersbury Station due to a lack of bus stop. Plans for a bus stop within the southern end of the Business Park to serve the station fell through, thus the 27 missed a major traffic destination as the Gunnersbury Station bus stops are at the wrong side of the Business Park entrance for the 27 to serve.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46527545125" title="London United LT155, LT167, LT170 on Route 27, Chiswick Business Park"><img alt="London United LT155, LT167, LT170 on Route 27, Chiswick Business Park" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7806/46527545125_ea14621635.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
A trio of LTs on the last day of the 27 to Chiswick Business Park, from the bridge to Chiswick Park Station<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The 27 gained LTs from the 10, a notable route loss as it was withdrawn and replaced by the 23...which is barely used in comparison to the 9 between Hyde Park and Hammersmith. However, the amount of LTs from the 10 did not correlate with the PVR of the 27, thus the 27 had odd Enviro 400Hs still when the route was converted to LT.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46076824781/" title="London United LT167 on Route 27, Chiswick High Road"><img alt="London United LT167 on Route 27, Chiswick High Road" height="333" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4813/46076824781_ce57215698.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT167 on Chiswick High Road, no longer served by the route<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The consultation for the route cut had a massive 72% disapproval rate, with most notable responses including the cut of links between Chiswick and Kensington/Notting Hill Gate (still served by the 94) and some even noting that the cut was to reduce the traffic effect when CS9 is built through Chiswick High Road. It is deemed that approximately 1200 people will be required to change between buses at Hammersmith Bus Station.<br />
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Local people were very notable in their opposition, even <a href="http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=info&page=27bus004.htm">resorting to anonymous posters</a> against the cut back whilst the consultation was running. Unfortunately, the large level of local opposition did not result in the cut being cancelled, and it went ahead on 9th March 2019.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46613516944/in/photostream/" title="London United LT161 on Route 27, Hammersmith Glenthorne House"><img alt="London United LT161 on Route 27, Hammersmith Glenthorne House" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7847/46613516944_fa4ea5410c.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT161 at the new stand at Glenthorne House<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The 27 now runs from Hammersmith Town Hall via Studland Street and Glenthorne Road to terminate at Glenthorne House. According to the TfL consultation, the rerouting "create[s] a short new local link from King Street to Glenthorne Road and Hammersmith Grove" which is usually dealt with by walking, and is seldom used so far. The only reason why the route terminates at the old 267 and H91 stand at Hammersmith is because the planned 266 stand at Beadon Road is now occupied by urban roadside gardens, and Hammersmith Bus Station has a lack of stand space, officially.<br />
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Talking of which, the information at stands in Hammersmith Bus Station for the 27 change have been abysmally wrong, as such that whiteboards by the local staff have had to be used to portray information. This is the same TfL that had 10 tiles at Hammersmith well into 2019, even though the route was withdrawn in 2018.</div>
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<a href="https://i.imgur.com/Cu1iB2r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/Cu1iB2r.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Transport for London are responsible for bus stop information. A week before the change was to happen, the tiles at Hammersmith Bus Station were changed. This stop is for the 27 towards Hammersmith Grove. Clearly the information is completely incorrect, as both the 27 and the new N27 are shown as heading towards Chalk Farm at this stop.<br />
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<a href="https://i.imgur.com/GagTfbm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://i.imgur.com/GagTfbm.jpg" width="320" /></a>Midway through the week, on one side, the 27 line of destinations were covered, and, for some reason, the destination of "Kensington High Street" on the 23 at the eastbound stop was covered. However, the N27 tile is still uncovered, even though the N27 does not serve this stop. The N27 terminates where the 9/23 terminates, and starts where they start, unofficially. However, iBus differs, and states it terminates at Stop B, to provide the connection with the N9/N11 at the same stop. </div>
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<a href="https://i.imgur.com/EDlfQvo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/EDlfQvo.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://i.imgur.com/okLXfG4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/okLXfG4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Above are the whiteboard notices in each direction for the 27. To show how poor the information and publicity there is for the 27 cut, as well as how popular the 27 was from Hammersmith to Chiswick, it required large notices at Hammersmith. Some passengers at the Chiswick end were unaware, as the notices for the cut were only A4 sized small, thus not very easy to notice.</div>
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Spider maps in Hammersmith Bus Station for the 27 have the Chiswick Business Park element removed by marker pen.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46727866524/in/dateposted/" title="London United LT86 on Route 27, Hammersmith King Street"><img alt="London United LT86 on Route 27, Hammersmith King Street" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7831/46727866524_478ca3ef5a.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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LT86 on King Street post-curtailment</div>
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(© Aubrey Morandarte)</div>
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The section west of the bus station until Hammersmith Town Hall is still used to an extent as it serves bus stops that were useful for patrons on the 27. Overall, the execution of this truncation is poor, and even to the extent where 27 tiles were removed on the two stops on Hammersmith Grove towards the terminus.</div>
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At night, the route is truncated even further, to Hammersmith Bus Station. As the 9 does not use their stands in the bus station as it runs as N9 to Heathrow, the new N27 uses those stands. Thus, the route runs only to Hammersmith, and thus Chiswick Business Park loses its night service, and the frequency of night buses on Chiswick High Road decreases to the sole 3 buses per hour by the N9.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40371653563/in/photostream/" title="London United LT72 on Route N27, Hammersmith"><img alt="London United LT72 on Route N27, Hammersmith" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7877/40371653563_8be0dde1fd.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT72 starting its journey on the first night towards Chalk Farm<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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This is one of the first instances where the night route is shorter than the corresponding day route, as the N27 terminates at the bus station.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/33461009378/in/photostream/" title="London United LT152 on Route N27, Hammersmith"><img alt="London United LT152 on Route N27, Hammersmith" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7832/33461009378_5508a0ae9d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT152 terminating at Hammersmith<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Under the most audacious of circumstances, London has a new night route born out of an old 24 hour route. Although Transport for London think this is a more effective deployment of resources, the tangible links broken and the effect of the cuts are irreversible. As Transport for London are undergoing a funding crisis, with many corners cut and larger projects being over budget, these small cuts all add up in their account books.<br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
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Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-46131174282537120042019-03-04T21:45:00.001+00:002019-03-04T21:45:36.822+00:00Arriva, Serving StratfordOn 2nd March 2019, the first of a few Stagecoach London losses early in 2019 centred around Stratford was the 158. Awarded to Arriva London with existing buses, the route is now based at Edmonton (EC).<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40301578883/in/dateposted/" title="Arriva London VLW909 on Route 158, Stratford"><img alt="Arriva London VLW909 on Route 158, Stratford" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7848/40301578883_2f69ee12cf.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
VLW909 on the first morning of Arriva operation on Route 158 at Stratford Bus Station.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The route uses the existing buses from Route 123, with hybrid B5LHs replacing the DB300s and B9TLs usually on the 123. The B9TLs are from First London (via Tower Transit), which did once operate the 158 (and the 123) prior to their tenders in 2005.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/32324323317/in/dateposted/" title="Arriva London DW493 on Route 158, Stratford"><img alt="Arriva London DW493 on Route 158, Stratford" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7898/32324323317_7954a6dd88.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DW493 close to the end of the journey, enroute to the second bus stop for Stratford Bus Station.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The Stratford two-way scheme has led to the 158 running directly to the bus station than via the Stratford Gyrotary. There is a new bus stop outside the Stratford Centre, opposite the station which buses stop at before entering the bus station. Thus the last stop for the 158 is very seldom used now, as it is quicker to walk to the station from the prior stop.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/32324321207/in/photostream/" title="Arriva London DW498 on Route 158, Stratford"><img alt="Arriva London DW498 on Route 158, Stratford" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7880/32324321207_69584f2386.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
DW498 at the start of a journey to Chingford Mount.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Based at Edmonton, the weekend night service is currently run using hybrid B5LHs off the 123. The route had a weekend night service introduced in August 2016 as part of the Central Line night tube.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46351698715/in/photostream/" title="Arriva & Stagecoach"><img alt="Arriva & Stagecoach" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7809/46351698715_651a018fd2.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
A token photo here: a Trident from the previous regime displaying 158, whilst the new order is shown by VLW905.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The route is the first Arriva full-time bus route to serve Stratford. Although Route 473 was initially operated by Grey-Green, it was under Cowie leadership, prior to the Arriva branding in 1998. Route 678 has been operated by Arriva London in the past.<br />
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The introduction of Arriva into the mix at Stratford further increases the operator diversity. A former Stagecoach stronghold ever weakens with the losses of Route 262 and 473 later on in the year.<br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019<br />
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Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-69316871439828053822019-02-26T21:50:00.004+00:002019-02-26T21:51:21.618+00:001938 Stock Heritage Outing in Central London<div style="text-align: center;">
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Prior to London Underground's new automatic signalling upgrade project being completed and switch on, the London Transport Museum's heritage Art Deco 1938 tube stock set made what could be a farewell heritage tour around the Central London section of the sub surface lines on the existing signalling.</div>
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The heritage 1938 stock is formed of two driving motor cars (DMs) 10012 [A-end] and 11012 [D-end], with one non-driving motor car (NDM) 12048, and one intermediate trailer car (T) 012256, the set comprised is formed as DMa-T-NDM-T-DMd 10012-012256-12048-11012.<br />
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The tour comprised two trips, the first from Ealing Broadway to Moorgate via and entire clockwise lap of the Circle line. The second trip comprised a run up the Metropolitan line from Moorgate to Amersham, and then back to Ealing Common via Harrow-on-the-Hill and Rayners Lane.<br />
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This post serves as a pictorial journey of this London Underground heritage outing. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGU1Xz5M2S70SDbFaNPdrubCvy5Tbl3C134_86DbB7AMG388KnExCYsEn-A_gMfpXJ23ns-yfKHw4KhD3c3UTxc3-6F1ttNgsJHs2HrzK9GOL438rdzsJVUBgoaEDg6ZVBa2IW9EA9jU/s1600/018e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGU1Xz5M2S70SDbFaNPdrubCvy5Tbl3C134_86DbB7AMG388KnExCYsEn-A_gMfpXJ23ns-yfKHw4KhD3c3UTxc3-6F1ttNgsJHs2HrzK9GOL438rdzsJVUBgoaEDg6ZVBa2IW9EA9jU/s640/018e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1938 stock set leaves South Ealing running towards Ealing Broadway to entrain for the tour.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/47148298432/in/dateposted/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/47148298432/in/dateposted/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7XAjXitQ9Aas4oJ5vrt8mSTomHNSizigX0nEjt_9Nb517mUwt-J14hKJDWnPjqJoS_Cq93pvyyj0GYdo2BEOfnoSYVPw21GhPJDCkXnbZGtfMOGmMHrzSlNE5CmlUXOJnwPB_DKMFu4/s1600/027e2_filtered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7XAjXitQ9Aas4oJ5vrt8mSTomHNSizigX0nEjt_9Nb517mUwt-J14hKJDWnPjqJoS_Cq93pvyyj0GYdo2BEOfnoSYVPw21GhPJDCkXnbZGtfMOGmMHrzSlNE5CmlUXOJnwPB_DKMFu4/s640/027e2_filtered.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1938 stock set passes through Baker Street on its lap of the Circle line.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/32266063337/in/photostream/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/32266063337/in/photostream/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_-pNwNAX5Ra1N0T65SPjlGjHBoxtNrGPFs8bnNV6tA6rjWLHxanVeTog7mZQoQljWB3NwPc6DIBy2U0yWf4UJaIzq6rqqC-6eOORKYKxT46MvmYhFfgS8dbKTSXNHxwJFi6TeqwgK4c/s1600/048e2_filtered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_-pNwNAX5Ra1N0T65SPjlGjHBoxtNrGPFs8bnNV6tA6rjWLHxanVeTog7mZQoQljWB3NwPc6DIBy2U0yWf4UJaIzq6rqqC-6eOORKYKxT46MvmYhFfgS8dbKTSXNHxwJFi6TeqwgK4c/s640/048e2_filtered.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1938 stock set at Gloucester Road.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/46484991544/in/photostream/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/46484991544/in/photostream/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HkCryg_BEb6MosjOXILea1nDUWuKDpRQrhQMphXif-FaBUCvQcVPHxbVPF7irO8c4fdhjf7Sx5rZ2GBxu3IBfb8ItpoN2fzP_XibDjIUJP0QjnuerNQccioMshL8lPDCBLLq3MW7i2g/s1600/060e2_filtered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HkCryg_BEb6MosjOXILea1nDUWuKDpRQrhQMphXif-FaBUCvQcVPHxbVPF7irO8c4fdhjf7Sx5rZ2GBxu3IBfb8ItpoN2fzP_XibDjIUJP0QjnuerNQccioMshL8lPDCBLLq3MW7i2g/s640/060e2_filtered.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The 1938 stock set resting between trips at Moorgate.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/46484991814/in/photostream/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/46484991814/in/photostream/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00TxjmzLkJRBN4j2RMChUlUXIWgD2qjRyg1tRVjRmVJRi7hf3XObvLt-xWharXHK5Z1m-PDl0lpGD6mC4AU8jh6ZQFw7bR-PEG3RTEtnK5JfHf_BOAjS2sHc_xHmP83L4ostkFFZ6oqY/s1600/102e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00TxjmzLkJRBN4j2RMChUlUXIWgD2qjRyg1tRVjRmVJRi7hf3XObvLt-xWharXHK5Z1m-PDl0lpGD6mC4AU8jh6ZQFw7bR-PEG3RTEtnK5JfHf_BOAjS2sHc_xHmP83L4ostkFFZ6oqY/s640/102e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1938 stock set viewed from Mapesbury Bridge in Kilburn, heading up to Amersham.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/47148299742/in/photostream/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/47148299742/in/photostream/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97mm7zDForz1a153FRXZG7b8Nt5Nz_r7uuiDavOjQTl1HkkkRSgyMfMcvXNY1lBcNXaC-EHY-FYY3FQAjcCmlyLkBNu2IQou7dImLjees4V4xq7x5FrDTIwYoK7TV5rSoS_cOfVISn_0/s1600/110e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97mm7zDForz1a153FRXZG7b8Nt5Nz_r7uuiDavOjQTl1HkkkRSgyMfMcvXNY1lBcNXaC-EHY-FYY3FQAjcCmlyLkBNu2IQou7dImLjees4V4xq7x5FrDTIwYoK7TV5rSoS_cOfVISn_0/s640/110e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1938 stock set leaves Harrow-on-the-Hill on its penultimate journey to Rayners Lane.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/47148298902/in/photostream/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/47148298902/in/photostream/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<strong>STOP PRESS:</strong> The LTM Friends have announced a further heritage outing for the 1938 stock on Sunday 15th March on the District line to Upminster, with tickets due to go on sale very soon.</div>
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Post by Tommy Cooling<br />
Some of these images and more can be found on my Flickr page:</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/</a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please do not reproduce any of my images without permission</span></strong></div>
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TC378http://www.blogger.com/profile/00413569686077174641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-50355411446943786972019-02-07T19:04:00.000+00:002019-02-07T19:04:41.537+00:00Reduced, Flying Borismasters<div style="text-align: center;">
In the early hours of the 26th January 2019, the LT class of buses have been made the allocation of yet another route. One of the longest night bus routes in London, the N9, has been moved from its allocation at Hounslow (AV) to its new home at Stamford Brook (V).<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/randombusesgirl/46824542902/" title="First LT from Heathrow || RATP London United: LT159 | LTZ1159 || N9: Heathrow Terminal 5 - Aldwych"><img alt="First LT from Heathrow || RATP London United: LT159 | LTZ1159 || N9: Heathrow Terminal 5 - Aldwych" height="333" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4829/46824542902_17d84ce716.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT159 starts its journey at Heathrow Terminal 5, on the first LT operated journey from Heathrow.<br />
(© Alisha Juszczyk)<br />
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This scheduling change fixes a oddity which has existed since 2012, and definitely prior to the LT conversion of Route 9. The night and day versions of the route did not have a schedule which had crosslinks as per normal protocol with other routes.<br />
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Prior to the conversion of Route 9 to OPO, the evening service was run by Hounslow (AV), and even in the 2007 schedule, there were some early morning/late evening journeys run by Hounslow. However, those journeys were turned into N9 journeys, as the buses ran not in service to Hounslow along the same route in any case.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46249107834/in/photostream/" title="London United LT87 on Route N9, Hammersmith"><img alt="London United LT87 on Route N9, Hammersmith" height="333" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4873/46249107834_e7261e405b.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT87 midway through an eastbound journey towards Aldwych.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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However, since the loss of various routes at Hounslow, as well as the recent night tube introduction causing a decrease in PVR for the N9, it has become more lucrative to run the N9 from Stamford Brook (V), along with the 9. This would allow the night/day transitions to be easier, as well as saving money by not running the late evening and early morning journeys.<br />
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It also removes the oddity of a night bus finishing at 0815hrs on weekend mornings, and 0730hrs on weekday mornings. However, this does mean that buses do run dead to Heathrow Terminal 5 and Hounslow to start work, as early westbound journeys at 0025 and 0045 run from Hounslow every night still. The eastbound service now starts with the 2355 departure from Heathrow Terminal 5, rather than the notably early starts from Hounslow that the route used to have (2223 on Sunday nights, for example).<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/46249110144/in/pool-routen9/" title="London United LT168 on Route N9, Hammersmith"><img alt="London United LT168 on Route N9, Hammersmith" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7865/46249110144_8baa2755e1.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT168 on the now earlier last journey from Aldwych towards Heathrow Terminal 5.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The earlier finish of the service means that the last bus leaves Aldwych a full 90 minutes earlier (and 1 hour 45 minutes earlier than the latest journey pre-Night Tube timetable reduction) on weekend nights. This does mean no more post-0700 finishes for the route. On weekday nights, the final westbound journey is ten minutes earlier than in the previous timetable, and cuts out the later Hounslow short journeys. The last eastbound journey on weekends is now at 0455, rather than 0525. The route has also been retimed for reliability, thus buses being late should be less of an issue.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/40054248123/in/pool-routen9/" title="London United LT74 on Route N9, Turnham Green"><img alt="London United LT74 on Route N9, Turnham Green" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7807/40054248123_9550c35c3b.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
LT74 speeds through Turnham Green in the early hours of the morning.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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The section of the route shown in the photograph above is currently shared with another LT route from Stamford Brook, the 27(N). However, the 27 has been mooted a retreat to Hammersmith Grove by TfL, reducing this area's night services by 30%. Overall, the changes to the N9 should save London United and TfL a few pounds, and a few miles.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/29432550775/" title="N9 to Hounslow West"><img alt="N9 to Hounslow West" height="333" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/29432550775_68b2825ca5.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
The reduction of the N9 also means the oddity of catching a night bus at 8am since 2005 is no longer possible. SP188 is seen on a last weekend westbound N9 journey back in 2016. The last journey to Heathrow would still be en-route to Terminal 5.<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
Photos by Aubrey Morandarte and Alisha Juszczyk<br />
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All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-79242732060058637012019-01-20T00:01:00.000+00:002019-01-20T00:01:02.375+00:00Picture Archive Post 79<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/36198752415/" title="RARE: Enviro 400 on Route N9"><img alt="RARE: Enviro 400 on Route N9" height="333" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4305/36198752415_5d3ed67533.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
London United ADE40401 on Route N9, Turnham Green Church, 27/07/2017<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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ADE40401 started out as ADE1 with London United, ordered for the 81/120/222 contracts as London United's first deckers under RATP ownership. These buses, based at Hounslow (AV) ended up being one of only two batches of diesel Enviro 400 ordered by London United. These buses rarely strayed outside the daytime routes, and the 222 night service when it was introduced. Until 2017, when the ADEs started to run on the N9 for the latter part of that year only. During this time, the 120 and 222 was earmarked to move to Metroline, and allocations seemed to have relaxed. This bus then moved to Edgware (BT) for Route 258, when that route was gained on 30th September 2017. This bus is currently still at London Sovereign for the 142/258.<br />
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Route N9 was introduced in 1992, running between Trafalgar Square and Kingston, via Ham or Teddington, replacing the southern end of the N92 and the full route of the N65. Originally, Stamford Brook (V) operated the route, but moved to Hounslow (AV) in 1994. In 1997, the route was extended to Aldwych in order to correspond with the day 9. It also saw the withdrawal of the Ham services, with a night service returning to Ham with the introduction of the N65 in 2002. September 2001 saw the N9 be rerouted at Hammersmith to run to Heathrow Airport Central, replacing the N97 which had ran to Heathrow since 1978. This led to the blinds of the then-new Volvo B7TLs allocated to the route to have all except one via point (Hammersmith) blanked out on the blind. Thus the blinds had less information than the subsequent blind sets the buses received.<br />
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The opening of Heathrow Terminal 5 saw the route extended there in 2008. With the extension, the route had journeys on Sunday mornings finishing at Heathrow Terminal 5 at 0815hrs, which excluding the temporary N5/N20 Northern Line replacement services, were the latest finishing journeys of all night routes in London. By 2012, the Volvo B7TLs had been replaced by Scania OmniCity double deckers (SP) from Route 111, which was the solid allocation on the N9 until 2017, and continues to be the allocation until the 25th January 2019. <br />
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From the 26th January 2019, the route will return to Stamford Brook (V), losing the bulk of early journeys and late journeys and the N9 no longer will have journeys past 0700 on any day. LT class buses from the 9 allocation will also be used on the route. The route will finally start interworking with the day 9, as the losses of routes 120, 222 at Hounslow (AV), H32/H37 gaining a weekend night service as well as the frequency decrease of the N9 means that Hounslow has enough room to store their buses overnight, hence the N9 can move to Stamford Brook (V).<br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-88174528617129962152019-01-07T13:37:00.000+00:002019-01-07T13:37:25.115+00:00The RATP Monopoly [almost]The first day of September 2018 (01-Sept) saw RATP-Dev London Sovereign begin a new chapter in North West London, with the tender wins of routes 288, 303, H12, H18 & H19 as well as contract retentions of routes H14 & H17, all on the same day. The Arriva loss of the Garston routes, including the 305 almost closed their chapter in the area, except for the 340, now run out of Palmers Green.<br />
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This loss by Arriva also saw the closure of their Garston garage in North Watford, along with the withdrawal of their last remaining fleet of DWL cadets, PDL pointer darts, and he last VLW[95]. Some of the last VLAs have since seen further use with Arriva over the east side of London. A move that some of the Garston ENLs have taken as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i95Sd9xoYtGaOar4yAFv7g19cz-55U4KyoS74F187AOTu3N6tLhboMGQkBx0i6ICqGyMCbngHHaFkCQBFbZOJQWadq6KXWDmYAt1anm1TZ1R8lsD-LCG_sqTT1mqlzIU1JGiX-sl7bw/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i95Sd9xoYtGaOar4yAFv7g19cz-55U4KyoS74F187AOTu3N6tLhboMGQkBx0i6ICqGyMCbngHHaFkCQBFbZOJQWadq6KXWDmYAt1anm1TZ1R8lsD-LCG_sqTT1mqlzIU1JGiX-sl7bw/s640/052.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriva London's Garston garage (GR) in its last days as a London bus garage.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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Metroline's loss of the H12 from Harrow Weald saw its last remaining examples of the once vast Volvo President fleet withdrawn, all bar VP614 for now. The loss also triggered a minor route reshuffling within the Metroline ranks that saw the 186 take the H12s place at Harrow Weald, followed by the 32 moving out of Cricklewood to take the space left at Edgware by the 186.<br />
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Due to the TfL Colindale bus consultation, routes 303 & 305 would be combined, and renumbered 303. Route 303 used to run as Edgware to Colindale Superstores, with the 305 running from Edgware to Kingsbury Circle. <br />
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<h2>
The Edgware Changes</h2>
<strong>The old Arriva order</strong><br />
The 288 under Arriva was predominantly allocated with the 'DWL' Cadet class, with the 303 and 305 running with the 'ENL' E200 and 'PDL' Dennis Dart classes. All three routes saw instances of double decker allocations including the DLA, VLA, DW and SW types used.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">288 DWL92 at Queensbury Station.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">303 VLA171 in Edgware.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglTFgnDKUeoEQg-AOz4JLjMKV3khnQ4fNfzTlmtYKM0ttAA0LCSbIbN2mvNuNkV8mKPqyUN86jRjQhssPXabXolQSi056b-VUhAdbaUR4NP_oOzPad4UbSuE3sNo43xpQmqtA6wboG2k/s1600/305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglTFgnDKUeoEQg-AOz4JLjMKV3khnQ4fNfzTlmtYKM0ttAA0LCSbIbN2mvNuNkV8mKPqyUN86jRjQhssPXabXolQSi056b-VUhAdbaUR4NP_oOzPad4UbSuE3sNo43xpQmqtA6wboG2k/s640/305.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">305 PDL152 at Burnt Oak Station.<br />
This bus was the last 305 to operate.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>The new Sovereign era</strong></div>
As a temporary measure to cover for the late arrival of a complete allocation of DLEs, the spare former NCP Challenger E200s were scrambled to run over the 288 and 303 to begin with, before moving back to the London United side at Atlas Road. They were then used on the 224 to cover for the late arrival of the 224s DLEs, then on the 440 ousting the non-standard Optare Versas (OVs). The 288 and 303 now run with a full compliment of DLEs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRpAdEJa7Jji4PtsGeeKxz3O1elAX5p7euREGm7jwQ0J_9ZP41twXXMcnCN9T9QJi2etyujglg7d0J83qA2n44eADj4ftVQXE2X3jKX4BARlPLOQ0Lgg-zwrDYutoP7qpd57IMVZAA8o/s1600/161e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRpAdEJa7Jji4PtsGeeKxz3O1elAX5p7euREGm7jwQ0J_9ZP41twXXMcnCN9T9QJi2etyujglg7d0J83qA2n44eADj4ftVQXE2X3jKX4BARlPLOQ0Lgg-zwrDYutoP7qpd57IMVZAA8o/s640/161e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">288 DE20071 at Edgware Bus Station.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ7e5osPOcciUzASpp0gEFMLyvnBLreJcjOQR6nw96hEbksigAk5PftQxlMjSQbmqVpIKG_0le-UEqpldufcZuDmmoM5eZnEwmiP8veNPruHEnNfoTHyiVyyhllKDmTGSNaxaJEP-ZBU/s1600/175e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZ7e5osPOcciUzASpp0gEFMLyvnBLreJcjOQR6nw96hEbksigAk5PftQxlMjSQbmqVpIKG_0le-UEqpldufcZuDmmoM5eZnEwmiP8veNPruHEnNfoTHyiVyyhllKDmTGSNaxaJEP-ZBU/s640/175e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">288 DLE30251 at Edgware Bus Station.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/43498329615/in/album-72157657904899750/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/43498329615/in/album-72157657904899750/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73R5zUrixb-1axN_dZ2WbP6D8uliJPx_hkNJydd2iYrC6b_k5FFtpmwDMWC8KWtTnhmUiEg3hhl_iUI1SHqqaYwzFtEAH61iNo1uWqCpTXH6PKqlj1g9Me8yleFYS5JcXRGiQbVyjjIg/s1600/173e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73R5zUrixb-1axN_dZ2WbP6D8uliJPx_hkNJydd2iYrC6b_k5FFtpmwDMWC8KWtTnhmUiEg3hhl_iUI1SHqqaYwzFtEAH61iNo1uWqCpTXH6PKqlj1g9Me8yleFYS5JcXRGiQbVyjjIg/s640/173e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">303 DE20058 at Edgware Bus Station.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN6eh6XSbZCLPsZtm5KogeaqudMKK1GDV_l7R2suSHCEkTK9eSrpL3IaBsJ2fVm4eGLk7um29g2dXSiiSLg3UIsZmGD2MuR8XchMvATjbrts-Ok7JhPxTYaL8EMcpdsnS70n_Dz2SwEU/s1600/121e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN6eh6XSbZCLPsZtm5KogeaqudMKK1GDV_l7R2suSHCEkTK9eSrpL3IaBsJ2fVm4eGLk7um29g2dXSiiSLg3UIsZmGD2MuR8XchMvATjbrts-Ok7JhPxTYaL8EMcpdsnS70n_Dz2SwEU/s640/121e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">303 DLE30242 at Edgware Bus Station.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
<h2>
The Harrow Changes</h2>
<strong>The old order</strong><br />
The H12 was the last remaining outpost in London for the once popular Plaxton President fleet. The H14 was a home for the standard Sovereign DEs. In the past year there had been a double deck working introduced for peak loading concerns. The H17 was also a standard DE allocation. The H18 and H19 under Arriva were both predominantly allocated with the DWL Cadet and ENL E200 classes, but in practice, saw appearances of the entire Arriva Garston fleet, including a couple of rare appearances from the Hampstead Suburb Optare Solos!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwjcvAqyDQ7vh_HZ8hKC4e4Px5Kcf-jDFDtbWcX-fYTwr8MLDhqWZD_gMHdpmYLn_DRGxwrGeUlNzjL5wo5zrLkdEJRsZW-QZx57IGY38H7cGp-yON_cireASMdJAz5YCeNCvOpcsIg4/s1600/H12+VP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwjcvAqyDQ7vh_HZ8hKC4e4Px5Kcf-jDFDtbWcX-fYTwr8MLDhqWZD_gMHdpmYLn_DRGxwrGeUlNzjL5wo5zrLkdEJRsZW-QZx57IGY38H7cGp-yON_cireASMdJAz5YCeNCvOpcsIg4/s640/H12+VP.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H12 VP622 in South Harrow.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0FHfBFPS3nA4Lyv-vAplTUCLQ20U_AL-eO1-YDh30oHu9fRLP8xBCom_LOi8WZjPkfxJ1x4nNAUoREqVv3LSCzsHHOuHF-G81YUP4BIDoN9Hc5BnMKLQGzwcIEf6Zpxoh3JimEBM7vU/s1600/H14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0FHfBFPS3nA4Lyv-vAplTUCLQ20U_AL-eO1-YDh30oHu9fRLP8xBCom_LOi8WZjPkfxJ1x4nNAUoREqVv3LSCzsHHOuHF-G81YUP4BIDoN9Hc5BnMKLQGzwcIEf6Zpxoh3JimEBM7vU/s640/H14.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H14 DE[201]85 at Harrow Bus Station.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEnm2ilKxAoHUDgLmYvJpV7wzUMxIlXsAH1hUiTiyHodENY35HEEFZK13I6fOgJNmjbnmqTD524hIC-q5oA8_ZgcMLxtrkT_NhFBh0zQG5z5cOz6wSWxhslfb62Sk_jHH_fV3HYwbW6U/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEnm2ilKxAoHUDgLmYvJpV7wzUMxIlXsAH1hUiTiyHodENY35HEEFZK13I6fOgJNmjbnmqTD524hIC-q5oA8_ZgcMLxtrkT_NhFBh0zQG5z5cOz6wSWxhslfb62Sk_jHH_fV3HYwbW6U/s640/038.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H17 DE[200]50 in Harrow.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUkfyjZcVc9ogxL6w1SZIKTiBDsGHn7bgFmIu3PO4QXxM8y1MOEnJmhI-7izhlt1Gj5dyFU7iahFUgfnTc1bvSmqx9kvIaLvpXcoLc6bLYv0Ww3dXQPdqsji7HWfDdUqf_xbFdti8PhQ/s1600/H18+SW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUkfyjZcVc9ogxL6w1SZIKTiBDsGHn7bgFmIu3PO4QXxM8y1MOEnJmhI-7izhlt1Gj5dyFU7iahFUgfnTc1bvSmqx9kvIaLvpXcoLc6bLYv0Ww3dXQPdqsji7HWfDdUqf_xbFdti8PhQ/s640/H18+SW.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H18 SW10 at Harrow Bus Station.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/27927701848/in/album-72157658321359351/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/27927701848/in/album-72157658321359351/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnps2v1qrMvcCkqEyBnMCONRfl6t6UUgwrTfr53Wq92csu_MBx6g8T9KFyAmj6lOlX26lQD9qI5NZwqHdJGhAQ-i_9hlulatQMs_u9tyol8zihILHwqDD9VMA7Tu84OOlqMf1rXhyMJc/s1600/H19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnps2v1qrMvcCkqEyBnMCONRfl6t6UUgwrTfr53Wq92csu_MBx6g8T9KFyAmj6lOlX26lQD9qI5NZwqHdJGhAQ-i_9hlulatQMs_u9tyol8zihILHwqDD9VMA7Tu84OOlqMf1rXhyMJc/s640/H19.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H19 DWL92 in Harrow.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<strong>And bringing in the new</strong><br />
A number of Sovereign's new DLEs were late to be delivered, and all of their new ADHs were also delayed. However, the new VHs ordered for the 79 were delivered early and thus were pushed out into service on the H12, until the ADHs arrived later in Autumn. The H14 utilised a few spare SPs along with other 183 VHs and VHRs based at Harrow, prior to their ADH fleet arriving. The H17, H18 and H19 utilised existing E200 DEs before their DLEs were delivered.<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw5JlhT4qTHhfK6p9C1AjA0BTxIGC-ghTDOGSdj6UVgfHon3D14hu7cBGN-9OekRD2MaNDFnhekUmmAn3Ae_Y3nfUckEUBOF3jHamdCHKvXEi__-9Im2CFpmVhoQAGjUmimx3_aggef4/s1600/091e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw5JlhT4qTHhfK6p9C1AjA0BTxIGC-ghTDOGSdj6UVgfHon3D14hu7cBGN-9OekRD2MaNDFnhekUmmAn3Ae_Y3nfUckEUBOF3jHamdCHKvXEi__-9Im2CFpmVhoQAGjUmimx3_aggef4/s640/091e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H12 VH45299 on Long Elms in Headstone Lane.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkfUKIgniX4_-BIGnrVvJW6srxijs3gejvRvkDEEkrYTS8kcHp1SYH0MLUlcbFI3FO2OiYL-Qw1FWrBbB524GwFvRpydKlcVRlpgDUDb5jVid06qxpsS9oN1p3dQQMdjJPpaCRcqbz30/s1600/103e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkfUKIgniX4_-BIGnrVvJW6srxijs3gejvRvkDEEkrYTS8kcHp1SYH0MLUlcbFI3FO2OiYL-Qw1FWrBbB524GwFvRpydKlcVRlpgDUDb5jVid06qxpsS9oN1p3dQQMdjJPpaCRcqbz30/s640/103e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H12 VH45147 in Harrow Weald.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/43498329595/in/album-72157657904899750/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/43498329595/in/album-72157657904899750/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eDflfLuAvnXf_ljE-_0WrabtQPKtsRcSAgCHEz0uJx0xUYdhI0kgBvYH5dz96zcF9A1gt5HZgGs8dz_bcXatTS_oz-hlUpQ4hpzhxelTq1jcsm0bOs7QaYyzQqbMMuZie0RmDV3MvAs/s1600/005e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eDflfLuAvnXf_ljE-_0WrabtQPKtsRcSAgCHEz0uJx0xUYdhI0kgBvYH5dz96zcF9A1gt5HZgGs8dz_bcXatTS_oz-hlUpQ4hpzhxelTq1jcsm0bOs7QaYyzQqbMMuZie0RmDV3MvAs/s640/005e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H12 ADH45288 in South Harrow.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfDaXdyZdy-uw9iF5t6hXuxqk8op1qvoULMFrGDiqaw96yPF5be1_ua_WzSKPmKDlrSGFNH-P6-wnhJ2mhN7yaRaQBO6RKCDwPDC3O4_d-S_aV7J6HlEtD9Ml-kkQ4b2AXlV7e3i7uH4/s1600/070e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfDaXdyZdy-uw9iF5t6hXuxqk8op1qvoULMFrGDiqaw96yPF5be1_ua_WzSKPmKDlrSGFNH-P6-wnhJ2mhN7yaRaQBO6RKCDwPDC3O4_d-S_aV7J6HlEtD9Ml-kkQ4b2AXlV7e3i7uH4/s640/070e2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H14 SP40075 in Harrow Town Centre.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdF9SLIm-4KNPFrCObleGVg2uSkh5BDtZ-62Ln3fScZ9Q7h6Gw-3bxbPcTQ9LtXxjZ4n4rrIDxUM5AUUuw7rzygAvrPueUc3Qrg1eRjLVP_oJ6cUZnWnr8Rr8EV8LXAp4sr0OK4SLbJc/s1600/096e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdF9SLIm-4KNPFrCObleGVg2uSkh5BDtZ-62Ln3fScZ9Q7h6Gw-3bxbPcTQ9LtXxjZ4n4rrIDxUM5AUUuw7rzygAvrPueUc3Qrg1eRjLVP_oJ6cUZnWnr8Rr8EV8LXAp4sr0OK4SLbJc/s640/096e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H14 SP40076 on Long Elms in Headstone Lane.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6M13txk-NIQwF1OHF6vsAnuWD0SUQXzTut3XE36gIpWp_DbT7oooj7ZdQynN_tEPqtKmry-0vDQNpKfTvyWCL8kNmzsFmWfIUJBLM_Hp6NNpqsAePVEF0mn0sV20iCYAf33ZTBrJVLg/s1600/015e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6M13txk-NIQwF1OHF6vsAnuWD0SUQXzTut3XE36gIpWp_DbT7oooj7ZdQynN_tEPqtKmry-0vDQNpKfTvyWCL8kNmzsFmWfIUJBLM_Hp6NNpqsAePVEF0mn0sV20iCYAf33ZTBrJVLg/s640/015e.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H14 ADH45293 at Harrow Bus Station.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucjd8-hpIQo1k-YiIq5zj8aIpszRYbVSAK3xs3vIv9l2moD_db5aT7QsFu821nBC5ZaspsrXahaoSy_P0cnY6RgHXVgnjQt0Web8cJk7AYJGkqF8VihL5-LnZZQMnJgLGTTH5-SyLHY0/s1600/009e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucjd8-hpIQo1k-YiIq5zj8aIpszRYbVSAK3xs3vIv9l2moD_db5aT7QsFu821nBC5ZaspsrXahaoSy_P0cnY6RgHXVgnjQt0Web8cJk7AYJGkqF8VihL5-LnZZQMnJgLGTTH5-SyLHY0/s640/009e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H17 DLE30274 and H18 DLE30277 in Harrow.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/45387742125/in/album-72157657904899750/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/45387742125/in/album-72157657904899750/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWNc8APCc0ASQsCuJVxwINRGXkljE25ovB0GN8W9PBItx8XONwKBgC3RsOj2S2MPsgbahZVRm9CqY2uoXLk_P8Q2BPC3tRBnfg3UpukBAC5zWjWPThsdgMudMzasvQu26rdh_pH1ooe8/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWNc8APCc0ASQsCuJVxwINRGXkljE25ovB0GN8W9PBItx8XONwKBgC3RsOj2S2MPsgbahZVRm9CqY2uoXLk_P8Q2BPC3tRBnfg3UpukBAC5zWjWPThsdgMudMzasvQu26rdh_pH1ooe8/s640/088.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H18 or H19?<br />
H18 DLE30255 on Long Elms in Headstone Lane.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/30552290168/in/album-72157657904899750/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/30552290168/in/album-72157657904899750/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsBin7TJyzSVoH9tBNiPt0FFLlzaRuwmOvV812AA63mEtOKYzQXbmEAxf366wwud99-OwHISfeSrmhDYz3Rqi9KO_ws5DC4UDK3ys6bpJlvZP7wALypvxG9jFp1ADD0pnkCitJxYz6vg/s1600/053e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsBin7TJyzSVoH9tBNiPt0FFLlzaRuwmOvV812AA63mEtOKYzQXbmEAxf366wwud99-OwHISfeSrmhDYz3Rqi9KO_ws5DC4UDK3ys6bpJlvZP7wALypvxG9jFp1ADD0pnkCitJxYz6vg/s640/053e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H19 DE20178 in Harrow Town Centre.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSquisd2MYTPe_GuFO5b_GUZ5rQKOT_bGyr68eICNzDRJ4gEEutxgzl5FlaSGMac7LIjEgTSrVCrxZKDOoKnICw6CZQU2M3QCl59AACby1EH5oO1uJpTX-hIEzhCtxGei1Z0HQlwkYoU/s1600/8031e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSquisd2MYTPe_GuFO5b_GUZ5rQKOT_bGyr68eICNzDRJ4gEEutxgzl5FlaSGMac7LIjEgTSrVCrxZKDOoKnICw6CZQU2M3QCl59AACby1EH5oO1uJpTX-hIEzhCtxGei1Z0HQlwkYoU/s640/8031e2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H19 DLE30254 in Harrow.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/42719675580/in/album-72157657904899750/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/42719675580/in/album-72157657904899750/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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London Sovereign had further gains later on in 2018 with the tender wins of routes 223 and 224 from Metroline from October 13th, and the 79, also from Metroline, from December 8th. The later win for LS however was coupled with the loss of the 292, which headed in the opposite direction to Metroline.<br />
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<br />
<h2>
The Wembley Changes</h2>
<strong>Old order</strong><br />
The 223 and 224 used a general batch of E200 DEs from Alperton that were also shared with the 487. These were stood down and returned off lease when the routes moved on Saturday 13-October.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsptX51C5nDIGGB5JlgaIfG_cgKsUqFoCgmd2P0cOQOyVg0OJFCYI3RJNHCZ6F7kU4zYVh5SKB55l_BhZCZqH3nsu4EUVCjfzoOOwyKkrUuU1ComRtnO8WfKVSMjv7SyG_2zAJDiFRiA/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsptX51C5nDIGGB5JlgaIfG_cgKsUqFoCgmd2P0cOQOyVg0OJFCYI3RJNHCZ6F7kU4zYVh5SKB55l_BhZCZqH3nsu4EUVCjfzoOOwyKkrUuU1ComRtnO8WfKVSMjv7SyG_2zAJDiFRiA/s640/063.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metroline 223 DE1962 in Harrow.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HFD5mo0POJ5H08WyqJz3pNFAfhuJe_SMFDbuHKtTLCYG_4JJ-6Cp1P3P1qC3Yh8afd1IPldkaUmQv15MYbQWrgQVVFkWDhapLmSu0OOh962UVQzuZUlqu6C9trWJuip07Wl6WB3zRMQ/s1600/017e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HFD5mo0POJ5H08WyqJz3pNFAfhuJe_SMFDbuHKtTLCYG_4JJ-6Cp1P3P1qC3Yh8afd1IPldkaUmQv15MYbQWrgQVVFkWDhapLmSu0OOh962UVQzuZUlqu6C9trWJuip07Wl6WB3zRMQ/s640/017e.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metroline 224 DE1969, caught changing blinds.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<strong>New order</strong><br />
The 223 and 224 are now also operating with a fleet of DLEs, based at London United's Atlas Road (RP) garage site.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUiHMpSNZmP0jMtpOA_ahy3O7SPNClqOXUNt9zrrrDXdlxaFsUZ5X8DBugBwX7MG-fbBKBCBXzeVHyyVqBga36Dju8q-dvUpAUBsTyDCMDxCYrKGgCJw98V6o-ORsWQf2dFM6hp5nGO8/s1600/042e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUiHMpSNZmP0jMtpOA_ahy3O7SPNClqOXUNt9zrrrDXdlxaFsUZ5X8DBugBwX7MG-fbBKBCBXzeVHyyVqBga36Dju8q-dvUpAUBsTyDCMDxCYrKGgCJw98V6o-ORsWQf2dFM6hp5nGO8/s640/042e.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">223 DLE30292 on Preston Road.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Q9GzcupI-ewVLIvJiI1CI0kyctI4OUsFoQXvIy7ShpN2lDygJkbV2wIux42amU4S7BwbAMt8IShzjeU22Y-FK5XFU-Ot7rmiCHg2o04v9CMugpIDN0AJbdCQgTsVyQVeGecjHsMiPXg/s1600/048e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Q9GzcupI-ewVLIvJiI1CI0kyctI4OUsFoQXvIy7ShpN2lDygJkbV2wIux42amU4S7BwbAMt8IShzjeU22Y-FK5XFU-Ot7rmiCHg2o04v9CMugpIDN0AJbdCQgTsVyQVeGecjHsMiPXg/s640/048e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">223 DLE30296 on Carlton Avenue East in Preston.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/45414055895/in/album-72157665247070991/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/45414055895/in/album-72157665247070991/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNHdbjr6G4h4_MKMFDex7Xt8dbEyNL_6xdhmAxkzJUw71_oKIHOFFKoIbKqYn2JueDjs5BcRITN6IOwzeKWbCrLZNr_ne9bVmb2EtK4HNFBL11IpIbctAE_MeFAMf3Y3SFz9h6zLvaC0/s1600/007e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNHdbjr6G4h4_MKMFDex7Xt8dbEyNL_6xdhmAxkzJUw71_oKIHOFFKoIbKqYn2JueDjs5BcRITN6IOwzeKWbCrLZNr_ne9bVmb2EtK4HNFBL11IpIbctAE_MeFAMf3Y3SFz9h6zLvaC0/s640/007e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">224 DLE30312 in Alperton.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<h2>
Further Edgware Changes</h2>
The final set of changes for the year involved the 79 and 292 swapping operators between Metroline and Sovereign at Edgware on Saturday 08-December.<br />
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Under Metroline the 79 was operated with Volvo B7 VWs, with frequent appearances of the VWH class used on the 7. The VHs ordered for the 79 were diverted onto the H91 during late Autumn to upgrade the route to Euro VI standards for the Chiswick Low Emission Bus Zone (LEBZ). The H91s SP allocation headed in reverse to Sovereign and are now in use on the 79. <br />
<br />
The 292 ran with the last surviving examples of Scania OmniDekkas (SLEs) in London. These were progressively phased out during the route's last month as the SPs moved in in preparation for the 79. Some of the VWs which operated on the 79 moved into Edgware on the last day of the 79, to begin in service on the 292 the following day. The VWs 1200-1209 form the allocation however TEs, TEHs and VMHs have all featured during December already.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiALK7r1vEfQaq8Xb0BBvTrsqJ4L_t6OFqriZI_hJI3emfTQJ2UiAQzMsSPizuqGo2K8Uu9ESJ7BN5ljwFl62yEAYGYtrPyMOB42B7fCcf67i5zSz3uYO2q3_I-XwlJhuL-q_q9vUXFM/s1600/040e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiALK7r1vEfQaq8Xb0BBvTrsqJ4L_t6OFqriZI_hJI3emfTQJ2UiAQzMsSPizuqGo2K8Uu9ESJ7BN5ljwFl62yEAYGYtrPyMOB42B7fCcf67i5zSz3uYO2q3_I-XwlJhuL-q_q9vUXFM/s640/040e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metroline VWH2011 on the 79 in Edgware. The 79s predominant allocation was B9TL VWs.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnGMhwWupdOCD2h0oj8V1_5Qu3znYSuPaGd1ZSNvP5RSxfdy5J1Cff0EObVjvUOojqYM1ubf1_pWRWxUrvlXrVIQTAKTHPdSWBFy-HKLDt-Vjv4SW39oBAYJYE934uxi23wPuDd4h95g/s1600/166e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnGMhwWupdOCD2h0oj8V1_5Qu3znYSuPaGd1ZSNvP5RSxfdy5J1Cff0EObVjvUOojqYM1ubf1_pWRWxUrvlXrVIQTAKTHPdSWBFy-HKLDt-Vjv4SW39oBAYJYE934uxi23wPuDd4h95g/s640/166e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">RATP SLE40635 at Edgware Station.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglM0uA4ASWB8mLxuxmvIN_mGwO-UVE6IRcLydgmPRJjY7OP4ifQXSxfwR8hErf5V-aQ7TL_9bLTgBRet6wTie42SUZuxBp6nDBvEhHbd0OOCfMgUTJiQeMVqxbJLtRsVcGx0A72Tgado/s1600/037e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglM0uA4ASWB8mLxuxmvIN_mGwO-UVE6IRcLydgmPRJjY7OP4ifQXSxfwR8hErf5V-aQ7TL_9bLTgBRet6wTie42SUZuxBp6nDBvEhHbd0OOCfMgUTJiQeMVqxbJLtRsVcGx0A72Tgado/s640/037e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">79 SP40203 on Preston Road.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/32454707548/in/album-72157657904899750/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/32454707548/in/album-72157657904899750/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubpfj4ERSwpk2G0w1X2nIyfGjogQ4-fZct8igmn0sR9-wtCGx_vgTiSxGbWucQIEoErjrakjDkjGMwLj0i3XGMZ3yhmPFif74_AdIuQvSOxnrEL9PoeW8ZL-IFkwOBZiFJaAiT3QL4_o/s1600/DSC_1304e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubpfj4ERSwpk2G0w1X2nIyfGjogQ4-fZct8igmn0sR9-wtCGx_vgTiSxGbWucQIEoErjrakjDkjGMwLj0i3XGMZ3yhmPFif74_AdIuQvSOxnrEL9PoeW8ZL-IFkwOBZiFJaAiT3QL4_o/s640/DSC_1304e2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">292 VW1205 at Colindale Superstores.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/39681915183/in/dateposted-public/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/39681915183/in/dateposted-public/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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Post by Tommy Cooling<br />
Some of these images and more can be found on my Flickr page:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please do not reproduce any of my images without permission</span></strong></div>
</div>
TC378http://www.blogger.com/profile/00413569686077174641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-66525654615911265772018-12-31T21:34:00.004+00:002018-12-31T21:36:57.466+00:00Picture Archive Post 78 & Happy New Year!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/8289144938/in/datetaken/" title="First London WM47400 on Route 228, White City"><img alt="First London WM47400 on Route 228, White City" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8083/8289144938_5196702757.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
First London WM47400 on Route 228, White City, 01/12/12<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
<br />
Route 228 is one of the newest bus routes in London, starting in January 2009 with Enviro 200s from Willesden Junction (WJ). Operated by First Centrewest until June 2013, it moved to Metroline West thereafter. It was introduced to increase connectivity with the new Westfield Shopping Centre. It is the only bus service which travels through the shopping complex, and serves the Old Oak Common rail depots, providing a then new link between East Acton and Willesden Junction. This area soon will be developed as part of the Old Oak Common regeneration scheme.<br />
From 19th January 2019, this scene will be the allocation, as new Streetlites will be the allocation for Route 228, as Tower Transit will take over operation from Westbourne Park (X).<br />
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DRZ6181 started out as a First London demonstrator of the then new Wrightbus Streetlite. It originally ran on Route 187, 226, 228 from Willesden Junction (WJ). Delivered in December 2011, it was initially supposed to be delivered to Lea Interchange to run on the 236. It ran in London service for just less than two years, returning back to the lessors in February 2013, just before the transfer of WJ to Metroline in June 2013.<br />
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The bus then resurfaced in March 2015, as a spare bus for Route 444 ironically at Lea Interchange (LI/HO). However, as First left London in 2013, it was operated by Tower Transit, as seen below. It lasted in service until February 2018, where it has been replaced as a spare bus. Ironically, it has spent some service time on Route 236, the original route the bus was intended for!<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wltmauc/16124043454/in/photolist-dCu313-qyPWnd" title="Tower Transit WV44700 on Route 444, Turnpike Lane Station"><img alt="Tower Transit WV44700 on Route 444, Turnpike Lane Station" height="333" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8611/16124043454_f918a85d05.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
Tower Transit WV44700 on Route 444, Turnpike Lane Station, 07/03/2015<br />
(© Aubrey Morandarte)<br />
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2018 has been a fairly decent year, covering London mainly this year. Unfortunately, the author is currently medically unable to cover transport changes until March 2019, but the time will be spent finishing posts which were incomplete in 2018. Thank you all, and we shall return stronger in 2019!<br />
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Happy New Year from the WLTMTB team!<br />
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Post by Aubrey Morandarte<br />
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<b>All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2018-2019</b></div>
Aubrey Morandartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581506100638108217noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-34038395893285157552018-12-16T21:15:00.000+00:002018-12-16T21:16:56.957+00:00Another 25 cut, but Tower are equalTower Transit's 25 route has been dealt a second substantial cut during the second half of 2018. In September the Ilford to Mile End short workings were withdrawn albeit alongside a revamped 425 between Clapton and Ilford, with vehicles following suit. The peak vehicle requirement (PVR) on the 25 dropped from 59 to 40.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmD0bpPPYQwgHakg4W6VeLcBAoj_CibETHSb2JC58hYNRcD8olFW6kxb4rKmR5dR4lT5wHNToVgOJWiny2mijooPcN8wjBfMv_qhh5n6nQq353n8yiedgE-ppLwlS8apPYDxwxyLl9TE/s1600/119e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmD0bpPPYQwgHakg4W6VeLcBAoj_CibETHSb2JC58hYNRcD8olFW6kxb4rKmR5dR4lT5wHNToVgOJWiny2mijooPcN8wjBfMv_qhh5n6nQq353n8yiedgE-ppLwlS8apPYDxwxyLl9TE/s640/119e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">VN37953 on diversion passed St. Paul's highlights the 25s previous terminal point of Oxford Circus.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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From December, the 25 was withdrawn from running between Oxford Circus, Holles Street and Holborn Circus/City Thameslink Station. The night part of the route however still continues to Oxford Circus, and has been renumbered as an N25. This change of the route has seen the PVR drop further from 40 to 32. The PVR saving of 27 has been absorbed by Tower Transit with the revamp of the 425 and the tender win of the 452.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNO6cASpm4tBntxcJY2QGqAjhXxZahvsiU8WVudQek_z8WGDSGpIHHYWGmP3macsdQYyMwJEVp-EeVdb-2ufHbp4-rEKBoTHEs1dOtuRHaOUAXLRli0gxpZt7nJ49iOTohKW388j1Y2Y/s1600/032e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNO6cASpm4tBntxcJY2QGqAjhXxZahvsiU8WVudQek_z8WGDSGpIHHYWGmP3macsdQYyMwJEVp-EeVdb-2ufHbp4-rEKBoTHEs1dOtuRHaOUAXLRli0gxpZt7nJ49iOTohKW388j1Y2Y/s640/032e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">DN33652 shows the new terminus for the 25, as it passes through Bank.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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On the same date as the 25s cutback, the West London division of Tower Transit were having a more successful time with the taking over of route 452 between Kensal Rise and Vauxhall from Abellio London, using vehicles made spare from the 25s recent cuts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ML794XEtuiH2SWaqlIHWGjVIGc9jW6U3RKUjR36GppzQLS64QMO9UhBa80Xpk3_AiR9Cz-tK1DV4V90X4K4YHNJARkch8FWIutioQzZDRPcjDXgx4A4oHHAii-rbHnKH1jLOOspIlew/s1600/256e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ML794XEtuiH2SWaqlIHWGjVIGc9jW6U3RKUjR36GppzQLS64QMO9UhBa80Xpk3_AiR9Cz-tK1DV4V90X4K4YHNJARkch8FWIutioQzZDRPcjDXgx4A4oHHAii-rbHnKH1jLOOspIlew/s640/256e.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Abellio London E400 9426 on the 452 at Notting Hill Gate showing the 452s old home of Wandsworth Road.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGhw1nigzVElz-I_olLVatJkU-pbup2dDkXnA0ZRngIgLbgsroo6HUBuCqwvQtaG2jLDKNtPlW-jCdsWGU6jGiM2pjEzml0ly2KUZBET6RXsVCe87DqvkQwQJtnRDkxM9rs9YqwCI_jM/s1600/029e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGhw1nigzVElz-I_olLVatJkU-pbup2dDkXnA0ZRngIgLbgsroo6HUBuCqwvQtaG2jLDKNtPlW-jCdsWGU6jGiM2pjEzml0ly2KUZBET6RXsVCe87DqvkQwQJtnRDkxM9rs9YqwCI_jM/s640/029e.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Tower Transit VN36124 on the 452 at Kensal Rise.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclVzmLR3aBvI9GTHsIgWdf01_mThPKKZ7vQPrAnzOYzbUqAmJd9GTY1C1uYygL-qhnljOwtZWO9Xd9weop2BdHTYeZ0likGEaEQ2xswY8gpeESTvaj5Z5XnfHx7CKvw8CsGwsLaTlT3A/s1600/034e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclVzmLR3aBvI9GTHsIgWdf01_mThPKKZ7vQPrAnzOYzbUqAmJd9GTY1C1uYygL-qhnljOwtZWO9Xd9weop2BdHTYeZ0likGEaEQ2xswY8gpeESTvaj5Z5XnfHx7CKvw8CsGwsLaTlT3A/s640/034e.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Tower Transit VN36106 on the 452 at Kensal Rise.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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Post by Tommy Cooling<br />
Some of these images and more can be found on my Flickr page:</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/</a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please do not reproduce any of my images without permission</span></strong></div>
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TC378http://www.blogger.com/profile/00413569686077174641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5735759180970775575.post-91094603240929578962018-12-15T14:06:00.000+00:002018-12-15T16:16:02.185+00:00Central London route changes Part FourOn Saturday 24th November, RATP-dev London United's Route 10 became the first Central London bus route to be cut in its entirety in conjunction with the Oxford Street and Central London bus consultations by TfL. With the aim of removing "excess" bus routes [capacity] off London's flagship shopping street, it was decided that Routes 10 and 23 would be merged at Marble Arch to form a new route running between Westbourne Park and Hammersmith. The former sections of each route, the 23 from Marble Arch to Aldwych and the 10 from Marble Arch to King's Cross, would be withdrawn and no longer served. Marble Arch to Aldwych is still be achievable on one bus by using Route 6, or with a short walk to use Route 139. Marble Arch to King's Cross would still be achievable on Route 390.<br />
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These route changes leaves the British Museum unserved by London's famous red buses, and plenty of ordinary punters out in the cold at Marble Arch when their bus from Westbourne Park or Hammersmith fails to find Oxford Street. This was in fact the second recent iteration of Route 23, having only been withdrawn between Liverpool Street and Aldwych in late 2017.<br />
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The final London United Route 10 was LT166 in the early hours of November 24th, followed by DN33784 on the first new Tower Transit 23.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-ijUihJV87-qMpRw7KrPvsOJSDkcxEVZETqDyR8ERehGkSxkYpA_NlFEDBY0F9nSHdsSNNoHKVWC8IXoOg2clcuzar-a4Op5M1Hfa4qAJiqau9L4uorBJW1JPGrYdl3OudKEwakJ_Ds/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-ijUihJV87-qMpRw7KrPvsOJSDkcxEVZETqDyR8ERehGkSxkYpA_NlFEDBY0F9nSHdsSNNoHKVWC8IXoOg2clcuzar-a4Op5M1Hfa4qAJiqau9L4uorBJW1JPGrYdl3OudKEwakJ_Ds/s640/062.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TT DN33777 on the 23 to Liverpool Street at Ludgate Circus in June 2017, prior to being cut back to Aldwych.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ2RYD-7I9nghjn2zQGcFLVi8CDQ3fJqfZ-N5Tf6x506kXwukqrNEeyvjD8wqxCzndKF0Sn68bps5mYubCjbYfNoZlgtY3wpLaJxttpyCKbXDI95B1My6U0krGEnChjlfRVN_0ENUYDY/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ2RYD-7I9nghjn2zQGcFLVi8CDQ3fJqfZ-N5Tf6x506kXwukqrNEeyvjD8wqxCzndKF0Sn68bps5mYubCjbYfNoZlgtY3wpLaJxttpyCKbXDI95B1My6U0krGEnChjlfRVN_0ENUYDY/s640/013.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TT VNW32416 on the 23 to Aldwych on Oxford Street in October 2017, after being cut back from Liverpool Street.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSd9DmdXnBg-O6wn8Fh0QxQTJXrNmCFfYKnDM9Y8Dwip93wOW3jUVnV0q8Y6U8dRutAKez67nKes9F_nXkrka6aIWFEenm0BFJCYDuMKx89JiyagX8c30sNJOB_d49xSPKDBAeStJBMc/s1600/105e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSd9DmdXnBg-O6wn8Fh0QxQTJXrNmCFfYKnDM9Y8Dwip93wOW3jUVnV0q8Y6U8dRutAKez67nKes9F_nXkrka6aIWFEenm0BFJCYDuMKx89JiyagX8c30sNJOB_d49xSPKDBAeStJBMc/s640/105e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TT DNH39126 on the 23 passes RATP London United LT83 on the 10 along Oxford Street, a scene no longer possible.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/30821636057/in/album-72157664460961351/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/30821636057/in/album-72157664460961351/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKF0ymv4POuB_mz-qLVTVsT8N7gDv0EOEXHN23BIow1kIUPNFb-L1bQjbUoKtMVoyDLKzvYU489G7ot2yIffL3uteQcQeUj8w6NVNTy_pG6to815JF5e_nxCVb2trBxSTzq7a5tr2dlQ/s1600/126e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKF0ymv4POuB_mz-qLVTVsT8N7gDv0EOEXHN23BIow1kIUPNFb-L1bQjbUoKtMVoyDLKzvYU489G7ot2yIffL3uteQcQeUj8w6NVNTy_pG6to815JF5e_nxCVb2trBxSTzq7a5tr2dlQ/s640/126e.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RATP London United LT85 under the Oxford Street lights, in the last few days on Route 10.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pUYSouy8mZQEIFbMq_-FhLUFUZmEkRtII98I_WJqrCvkkMKcBXg5xf8dlzNJNZzhUnDcfR2JGWJXDNkX5o8yAVV2Bej5eQ1czTrUM5xO4ku0Qa0_OW-XWqifqSgBiGQn4PWFeiot3tA/s1600/021e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pUYSouy8mZQEIFbMq_-FhLUFUZmEkRtII98I_WJqrCvkkMKcBXg5xf8dlzNJNZzhUnDcfR2JGWJXDNkX5o8yAVV2Bej5eQ1czTrUM5xO4ku0Qa0_OW-XWqifqSgBiGQn4PWFeiot3tA/s640/021e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RATP London United LT80 passes the British Museum, now no longer served by a red London bus.<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT99ITSDyu_oY3N3-rH5W60sSfdEbT3fBWNfLsBZ03G12Gz2gGVHFfKI6EIvyFBHTEE_LHJyFRJaaf_Qaed15T3sjsRig587WnJiayA1ED2xYaJlnOI2yIpiT4LV6k7IG_ouEQqX9_V3M/s1600/031e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT99ITSDyu_oY3N3-rH5W60sSfdEbT3fBWNfLsBZ03G12Gz2gGVHFfKI6EIvyFBHTEE_LHJyFRJaaf_Qaed15T3sjsRig587WnJiayA1ED2xYaJlnOI2yIpiT4LV6k7IG_ouEQqX9_V3M/s640/031e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RATP London United LT163 with Russell Square in the background, on Bedford Place no longer served by a TfL bus route.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/45755943451/in/album-72157665247070991/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/45755943451/in/album-72157665247070991/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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The new route, which now runs from Westbourne Park to Hammersmith kept the 23 route number, and stayed with the 23s operator, Tower Transit, at Westbourne Park (X), as well as keeping its previous E40H DNH allocation. London United's Route 10 was withdrawn in its entirety, and its allocation swapped to Route 27 causing further fleet reshuffles inside London United.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClTk6rhT6b0PuLgSfv3tENb3Vlsv-P91XCs6l5pOz14MQ-aQSz-eOuoG4JdT4Dvk8ZlqXr82fhUBfeg5i1woA_Y730qtYPa9txWQXlibrXwiAX_ot1LyhnP53Vo1Di7pJMjRJePQCFU4/s1600/013e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgClTk6rhT6b0PuLgSfv3tENb3Vlsv-P91XCs6l5pOz14MQ-aQSz-eOuoG4JdT4Dvk8ZlqXr82fhUBfeg5i1woA_Y730qtYPa9txWQXlibrXwiAX_ot1LyhnP53Vo1Di7pJMjRJePQCFU4/s640/013e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">TT DNH39118 on the 23 at Paddington, heading for its new home at Hammersmith.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfymzJQEv4eBha7kDt0G7MO6AjolBzf3_S1L_BSV5EmAJNUueqR_QKH3FdPqG9oSL-0XHFkfbYBGArlg0tjUzlZ46n7wjH-f5B82HZNrdm9-CM6JPoaAKHD_Y6LpAEvSiWh02UtYwJ_g/s1600/257e.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfymzJQEv4eBha7kDt0G7MO6AjolBzf3_S1L_BSV5EmAJNUueqR_QKH3FdPqG9oSL-0XHFkfbYBGArlg0tjUzlZ46n7wjH-f5B82HZNrdm9-CM6JPoaAKHD_Y6LpAEvSiWh02UtYwJ_g/s640/257e.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The previous 27 allocation.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">RATP ADH[450]36 on the 27 at Notting Hill Gate.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXyM-OiSFoA5VWAZ6d6Sy6yBbFiVrsn_YACCnX-oXG8ai7YdpeRa2_MHi2KIl48WedvhT7IAqIfqMeNPR9kw6I6fK8kbCayUx3f1GdhDOZ58UOhyPIFmQUUlieQRVTLP6pnHrbixRy-k/s1600/020e2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXyM-OiSFoA5VWAZ6d6Sy6yBbFiVrsn_YACCnX-oXG8ai7YdpeRa2_MHi2KIl48WedvhT7IAqIfqMeNPR9kw6I6fK8kbCayUx3f1GdhDOZ58UOhyPIFmQUUlieQRVTLP6pnHrbixRy-k/s640/020e2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The new 27 allocation using the former Route 10 LTs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">RATP LT81 on the 27 opposite St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">© Tommy Cooling</span></td></tr>
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Post by Tommy Cooling<br />
Some of these images and more can be found on my Flickr page:</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/</a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please do not reproduce any of my images without permission</span></strong></div>
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TC378http://www.blogger.com/profile/00413569686077174641noreply@blogger.com0