My Picture Archive Post 22

London United SP116 (148), Metroline West TE1580 (607), White City, 22/06/13

Route 148 has since been changed to LT operation, but not changed to crewed operation. The route started out in 2002 when the Congestion Charge started as a bus service across Central London, one of the very few available today since the privatisation of London Buses. Previously, there were routes like 2 and 6 running across London. 12 once even ran from Harlesden to South Croydon (albeit in two sections). 148 runs from Camberwell Green to White City, after being extended there in 2008. It initially had Trident/ALX400 before intended Volvo B7TL/ALX400 arrived. They moved to Hounslow, being replaced by SPs. Newer SPs arrived for the 148 in 2010, and was finally converted to LT operation in 2014. The bus will have moved to Stamford Brook for the 10 covering the refurbishment of those buses for the E3. They will eventually have a life on the 281 from Fulwell.

Route 607 - their buses are finally being refurbished, after a long time looking very worn out! These buses were initially on the 23, before moving westwards to Uxbridge for the 607, which has never gotten new buses since the Volvo Olympians pre-2005. The route was too extended to White City in 2008 for Westfield London. The Uxbridge Road corridor has always been very busy and many plans have come and gone to relieve it. Prominent ones include the West London Tram, bendy buses and trolleybuses. Most never went past the planning stage and the Uxbridge Road corridor gets ever busier nowadays, and more crowded as more people use it. Since this photo was taken, the bus has had Metroline logos and fleet numbers replacing the First ones, and will get the same treatment as fellow TE1582:


Metroline West TE1582 on Route 607, Acton, 05/04/14