Refurbostars for Southeastern 16/5/15

A POST FROM ME. MEGA RARE!

In railway news, Southeastern's first 375, 375301 recently went to Derby for a complete overhaul. I say recently, it was around 5 weeks ago.

Direct Rail Services 57306 hauls the dead Electrostar through South Acton towards Ramsgate EMUD

Since then, the unit has had a new livery, new interior and seats, redesigned layout with a colour scheme matching that of the Class 395 Javelin units running on HS1 that they now resemble in livery. They have also had a traction overhaul too.



After running for around 14-5 years, this refurbishment was required. These units are beginning to get tired as they feel the years and the miles, and I personally think the overhaul folks at Derby have done a nice job.

And no doubt those grumpy SE commuters will still be complaining about something.

-JP

The Minor Metroline Change.

The Enviro 400 MMC. In service with Oxford, Reading, Stagecoach Manchester, Abellio London, National Express West Midlands, Stagecoach Tayside (B5LH). And Metroline.

The bodybuilders. Optare, Alexander and Wright © Josh
Metroline SEL808, TEH2074, VWH1050 at Perivale CELF

Firstly, Josh got some photos of the E400MMC at Perivale CELF. They stood in Perivale or Cricklewood for at least a month before going into service, and gathered dust or be affected by bird faeces.

Lower deck interior (© Josh)

Upper deck interior (© Josh)

Then on the first weekend, I (Aubrey) decided to go out and try these Enviro 400 MMCs, and I found them good. Noting this is in Metroline terms, so these were unimpressive compared to the others out there.

Metroline TEH2082 on Route 332, Paddington (Bishop's Bridge Road) (CC Aubrey)

A ride on them proved to be a good learning point. They were not as worn out as the Oxford ones (obviously), but in the first week of service, they did not feel as "new" as the Reading or Abellio ones, possibly due to them basking in the birds of Perivale CELF. Which at least allowed me to see how they'd be after a while. And this bus was curtailed.

Metroline TEH2080 on Route 332, Carlton Vale/Maida Vale (CC Aubrey)

Took TEH2082 to Maida Vale to take that poor photo. One for "Your Crap Bus Photos" Facebook group then! Somehow the only photo I have of an Enviro 400 MMC towards Paddington.

Metroline TEH2076 on Route 332, Paddington (CC Aubrey)

Another curtailed bus, this time on the second week (a Friday). It just seems to be lucky that all the E400MMCs were in a row on that day. And I always seem to see them curtailed to Cricklewood... I wonder why(!)

Metroline TEH2074 on Route 332, Paddington (© Aubrey)

This is probably the best shot I've taken of Metroline's lot. The Metroline ones, well, I have to be honest, are probably some of the best Metroline buses out there, with decent seats, good interior and well conditioned.They are, somehow, probably the worst Enviro 400 MMCs out of the lot in service in the South East of England, yet still that's high praise as they are not too bad anyway. It's harsh, the way I've put it, but at the same time, I'm brutally honest to my opinion. Reading produced good buses, and the Abellio ones are pretty good for a London bus. In some time, they may get better than the Oxford ones as the Oxford ones wear down even more.

The next batch is the 10th April 2015 (hopefully), with Reading Buses (again) having the green Enviro 400 MMCs for Emerald routes 5/6/6a. That will be good.

Ping-Pong Tendering

Route 322 is generally considered to be a route that switches operator quite a tad. It was initially a localisation of Route 2 (i.e. the replacement of Route 2 (current Route 2 is 2A/2B renumbered) with an extension to Crystal Palace. Initially operated by South London (later Cowie and then Arriva London), it became the second ever route to go to Connex London in 2000. In 2005 it moved to London General, then in 2010 it went to Abellio London (the successor of Connex/Travel London).

Then in 02/032015:

London General SE237 on Route 322 Clapham Common Old Town (© Aubrey)

With this driver, I (Aubrey) had to help the driver set the blind due to the newer Mobitec system again not being fully learnt.


London General SE237 on Route 322, Stockwell Green (CC Aubrey)

Euro 6 Enviro 200s (with the predictable ZF gearbox) now ply the route, roaring through the streets of South London.
A short ride to Stockwell Green (and back) confirmed the obvious - there was the "all rev but no go" flaw with the semi-automatic gearbox.


London General SE240 on Route 322, Clapham Common Old Town (CC Aubrey)

Oh, and new bus smell people - the smell on these is not as strong as some buses before this.


London General SE245 on Route 322, Clapham Common Old Town (CC Aubrey)

On the second day, Jacek went on one as well:


London General SE237 on Route 322, Crystal Palace (© Jacek)

It was deemed to be nice and cool inside, with good seats, very shiny exterior that gave my (Jacek) camera some trouble, then the predictable over-revving stuff happened. It was also jerky and slow.

There were a few curtailments (to most of the curtailment points), partly due to it being the first day, but also being due to drivers trying to get used to Atlantic Road, where there is 'sometimes double parking' there, which makes things tighter.
That driver also told me about the again predictable flaw where the bus rolls back when the handbrake is released.

Some of these buses are also on a route that swapped operator (and buses) with the 322 in 2010. Route G1 is a local route noted to serve St George's Hospital (Tooting) and running between Streatham and Battersea. It has been at Plough Lane Garage since 2010 with London General. Prior to that, it was with Connex, Limebourne (subcontracted from Arriva) and Arriva London (who could not get enough drivers thus subcontracted the route in the first place).


London General SE248 on Route G1, Tooting Broadway (© Aubrey)

The buses for the 322 and G1 are the same batch, thus the buses should be very similar.


London General SE247 on Route G1, Tooting Broadway (CC Aubrey)

Route G1 was well known for initially having banditry when it turned to London General in 2010, where the new blinds were manual yet the blind boxes were for a powerblind, so the buses had the typical A4 sheet saying "G1" in bold until the correct blinds arrived.


London General SE257 on Route G1, Tooting Broadway (© Aubrey)

So, 5 more years until either of these routes could go to Abellio (or the successor to them) or just stay at GAL (or even a contract extension!). Or even end up at other operators.

And to explain the title - the 322 has gone Connex-GAL-Abellio-GAL. Thus it is like a game of "ping-pong" between Connex/Travel London/Abellio and Go-Ahead. And it helps remind me of US-Chinese rapprochement, somehow.