London's Asymmetric Change

Asymmetric is a word to describe the front of the new Enviro 200MMCs for Route 499. But both sets of MMCs have reached Romford (North Street).

Stagecoach London Enviro MMCs (both photos are © Aubrey). The Enviro 400MMC shown on the right and the Enviro 200MMC on the left. Hopefully it appears on the screen properly. One is symmetrical at the front, one isn't.


Stagecoach London 10303 on Route 498, Queen's Hospital (© Aubrey)

The 498 MMCs can be seen as definitely being fast, but rarely being able to exhibit it due to the re-casting of the 498 timetable to slow things down just in case the A12 messes up.


Stagecoach London 10305 on Route 498, Romford Station (© Aubrey)

Otherwise, they are just the same as other E400MMCs. Rattles are not an issue, the ride is smooth (although there are surprising results when compared to the Enviro 200MMC!). The other diesel MMCs I've used as well are the ones at National Express West Midlands, and they are pretty decent, so these are comparable to them.


Stagecoach London 36601 on Route 499, Romford Station (© Lewis)

The praise is needed, and deserved. It is much much better than the Enviro 200 non-MMC (sorry, Uno) in terms of ride quality and smoothness. The Voith gearbox means they are comparable to the NXWM ones for Route 37. When the accelerator is lifted, the engine makes a wonderful fluttering sound, which certainly injects some life into these lovely buses! This does also mean that Lewis and Aubrey both have been on both batches of Enviro 200MMC.


Stagecoach London 36601 on Route 499, Gallows Corner (© Aubrey)

The rear looks like a squashed Enviro 400MMC? Either way the rear is way more symmetrical. Except for the cycles sticker. Interestingly, the rear window is two-piece, which does give an interesting "sky-light" quality to some.


Interior of Stagecoach London 36601 on Route 499, Gallows Corner (CC Aubrey)

The interior is bright, and the iBus screen is just above a CCTV screen, although outside London, the iBus screen would be replaced by a "Bus Stopping" sign and the CCTV screen would show next stop information instead! Interestingly, that is placed in front of the front bulkhead, not integrated into it like the old Enviro 200 (ECWTA).


Stagecoach London 36601 on Route 499, Gallows Corner Tesco (CC Aubrey)

Yep, a phone photo appears here. The Enviro 200MMC is very smooth, smooth enough to sleep on. And to be honest, it was the best sleep I (Aubrey) had in a long time from inside a bus! Overall, the Enviro 200MMC is a good bus. Even in London service.

Yes, there is a massive backlog of posts, they will eventually be uploaded as and when they are written.