The title - ran out of ideas, and the E1 was the best run of the three E-Line routes that changed operator on the conversion day, all blog members covered this.
The E1, according to Abellio and TfL, go to an obsolete pub in Greenford called the Red Lion:
Abellio London 2444 on Route E1, Ealing Haven Green (Aubrey)
Abellio London 2445 on Route E1, Ealing Haven Green (Aubrey)
Abellio London West 2445 on Route E1, Greenford Broadway (Aubrey)
These buses displaying the obsolete old display. Abellio London use hybrid E40Hs on this route, the first hybrids in Hayes Garage and the start of many hybrid contracts by Abellio for routes not near Central London, which include the C3 (where the buses go everywhere but the C3), 109/N109 and 407, for example.
Abellio London West 2446 on Route E1, Greenford Broadway (Aubrey)
Abellio London West 2445 on Route E1, Greenford Broadway (Lewis)
Abellio London West 2449 on Route E1, Greenford Broadway (Lewis)
The route ran a better service than the other two routes that moved operator, but overall, operations have settled down, Tridents have made odd appearances already and the service is notably nearly better than Metroline West. Route E3 is a much better service under London United, and Route E10 is coping well under Arriva - Tellings Golden-Miller.
"The West. Made in China." A quote from Model UN at UCL. Many things are made in China. But not buses for TfL work. Until now. Transport for London and BYD Auto have decided to get an electric bus on the streets of London, even though there have been British designs available for some time. Is this to encourage further trade between China and Britain? Possibly. Is it politically motivated? Maybe. Whatever it is, the long-awaited electric buses made their debut on the 20th December 2013, and even though the post is now over two months late, it still deserves a shout! Especially with the small flaws, such as an annoying door sound, hanging hammers, translation errors and the blinds not working!
London General EB1 on Route 507, Victoria (Au)
The blinds hard to control as it came in blank, before finally getting 507 Millbank. Typical Mobitec. Better than nothing!
London General EB1 on Route 507, Victoria (Au)
The rear, showing clearly the odd shaped leaves around the body. And the blinds too big for the space that was left for them.
Wow... Really? Nah, I can't hear you! The bus is actually quite quiet, at times, but the need to shout that out is a bit childish.
The compulsory logo that comes with this.
The batteries blocking the frontal view, with non-working iBus.
There are many safety features that come with this bus, such as:
Translation fails - the notice says:
SAFETY HAMMER
Emergency percussion this point
Replenish the hammer (after use).
Should say:
SAFETY HAMMER
Break glass at this point.
Replace hammer after use.
It also tells to hit the window at the centre, when the corners are generally weaker (in train windows, at least).
Hanging hammers
It had been like that since this morning, and it was ironically posing a hazard.
And many more translation errors. Look at the bus for more information - especially the roof hatch at the back.
London General EB1 on Route 507, Waterloo (Au)
The bus then went out of service for lunch, when I met up with Josh and Tom (eventually) at Waterloo, whilst waiting.
London General EB2 (507), MEC14 (521), Waterloo Depot (Au)
London General EB1 on Route 507 and Abellio 9416 on Route 211, Waterloo (Au)
It had suddenly turned out that a large group of enthusiasts wanted to get in the act for its evening shift, and sooner or later, the whole rear of the bus was full of enthusiasts who turned out to see (and hear) the new Chinese technology in London.
London General EB1 on Route 507, Victoria (Au)
Interior of London General EB1 on Route 507, showing the standing area, and the poles being indented, something that isn't normally on newer buses these days.
Whilst JP was on the bus, he got no photos of it, until it went onto the 521, which will be on another post.
BU13ZVE (MBK1/XMS1) is one of the first Euro VI engined buses in the UK. It is projected to have a 3-5% fuel saving compared to a Euro V Citaro, and it has won the Bus of the Year Award 2013.
Quality line was the first to receive the demonstrator, and it was intended to be used on the X26 and 465, although it only went out on the X26.
Firstly, Josh got it in Epsom Garage:
Quality Line MBK1 at Epsom Garage, 03/08/13 (Josh)
Then Tom got it on the X26:
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Wallington 09/08/13 (Tom)
Then Au and Josh got the last working of MBK1 on X26:
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Au)
X26 to Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Au)
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Josh)
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Josh)
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Josh)
Quality Line MBK1 on Route X26, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Josh)
Time we see the back of MBK1, as it moves away from Quality Line...
Then, it moved to London Central at Camberwell Garage, and it appeared on Route 355 every time it went out, on the same working with the same driver, even though it was also intended for the P5.
Au got it a day before it left:
London Central MBK1 on Route 355, Balham 26/09/13 (Au)
The interior and legals of MBK1, 26/09/13 (Au)
London Central MBK1 on Route 355, Mitcham 26/09/13 (Au)
Afterwards, it moved to Abellio London West for use on the 235. And yes, Abellio have not stuck rigidly to the allocation, also putting it on the 290, 490, R70 and K3. It also underwent a code change half way on its first run on the 235, changing to XMS1. Firstly, Josh and Au got it on the 235 on the first Saturday it went on it:
Abellio XMS1 on Route 235, Brentford County Court 12/10/13 (Au)
Abellio XMS1 on Route 235, Brentford County Court 12/10/13 (Au)
Abellio XMS1 on Route 235, Brentford County Court 12/10/13 (Au)
Abellio XMS1 on Route 235 and an unidentified Metroline West DE on Route 195, Brentford County Court 12/10/13 (Au)
Abellio XMS1 on Route 235, Hounslow Heath 12/10/13 (Au)
The following Monday, Au got the bus on the 490:
Abellio XMS1 on Route 490, Richmond Station 14/10/13 (Au)
Interior of XMS1 14/10/13 (Au)
Abellio XMS1 on Route 490, Richmond Pools on the Park 14/10/13 (Au)
After a hiatus, it appeared at Enfield Garage for use on the 313, which has a few fast stretches, of which I experienced none of due to peak traffic! Despite the non-existent Piccadilly Line strike, Au decided to go and get it:
Arriva London MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 04/12/13 (Au)
Arriva London MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 04/12/13 (Au)
313 to Chingford Station iBus
313 to both ends of the route!
Arriva London MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 04/12/13 (Au)
Arriva London MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 04/12/13 (Au)
Arriva London MBK1 on Route 313, Chingford Station 04/12/13 (Au)
Note how, though, at no point did Lewis get it, although this wasn't for lack of trying... it was mainly due to BU13 ZVE being temperamental, and being in this status every time people tried to chase this bus:
Quality Line MBK1 Not in Service, Heathrow Central, 28/08/13 (Au)
It has not (been) in service so far this year, and it doesn't seem like it'll come back. Then again, MBK1 has surprised many, and it could spring one up again soon...
Due to the roadworks near Reedham Station, Route 455 doesn't serve Old Lodge Lane. So Route 599 runs. However, Tesco doesn't seem to suffice, so a Plaxton Primo from Buses Excetera has come down from Dorking to operate a free Tesco bus from Old Lodge Lane and Purley Tesco. I just wonder whether anyone would ask how much is the fare on this bus....
Firstly, Tom had covered the Tesco Free Bus previously:
J222 ETC at Tesco Purley (TB)
Moquette on J222 (TB)
Cab of J222 (TB)
Low shot! (TB)
Rear (TB)
Tissue Paper (TB)
On 24/08/13, out of the corner of Josh's eye, whilst we were on a 466, we saw this, so we took many photos and got on:
Tesco Free Bus Timetable (Au)
Note, all the photos from now are of Buses Excetera J222 on Route Tesco Free Bus, unless stated:
at Purley Tesco (JPT)
The short length of J222 (JPT)
An attempted low-ish shot (Au)
An even lower shot (JPT)
Mind the car!
This might be taking it too far... (JPT)
We rode the bus to Old Lodge Lane, where it turned around at some residential roads:
at Purley, near Old Lodge Lane, at terminus (Au)
Another low shot. Yes, there is no traffic here in contrast (Au)
And a nearside shot, finally! (Au)
We then went to Old Lodge Lane to get a shot of the 599. We had the same driver as before, so after allowing him to get out of the cab, we took a few shots:
Abellio London 8028 on Route 599, Kenley (Au)
Note the C1 destination blinds, and temporary slip boards for the 599
Abellio London 8028 on Route 599, Kenley (JPT)
Side blind display (JPT)
Not exactly Rail Replacement, but Bus Replacement, rather!
