The Bailiwick of CT Plus. Channel Island #1 - Guernsey (24/06/15)

HCT Group in London are known for their less than professional operation out of a Portacabin in an Arriva depot, however they run the Channel Islands only bus services. Liberty Bus in Jersey, and buses.gg in Guernsey. buses.gg (Yes, all lower case) run a fleet of around 40 buses, comprising of 8.9m Caetano Nimbuses and East Lancs Mylennuim Darts across 19 routes. Many routes interlink with each other, but all bus routes (Except for Parish Link P1) eventually terminate at St. Peters Port, the Heart of Guernsey. 

In my opinion, the best way to see the island is by bus. Fares are £1 per person per trip, or at £4.50 for a day ticket, they are fantastic value. I personally recommend the 91/92 (Guernsey Vayeux) routes. They circle the Island in a Clockwise (91) and Anti-Clockwise (92) fashion along the coast.

The buses used in their operations are about the same standard as most other vehicles in the UK. The vehicles on the island have to be small due to the islands continuously narrow roads throughout. Although most of the routes are crying out for a capacity increase, there simply is not the means to accommodate it. Though it may be fairly obvious, buses are often filled, with standing passengers throughout, so make sure you arrive early to the bus stop to ensure your place. After all. You don't want to wait an hour in the middle of nowhere!

 Click here to see more photos, as Blogger is being a pain and will refuse to work properly.

I will be returning to Guernsey, and will be visiting Jersey in the near future, so watch out for more of these posts! -JP

The 498 gets an Upgrade.

This weekend, it was the turn of the 498 and the 499 routes to leave Blue Triangle, and Arriva Thameside respectively, to join Stagecoach London's ever growing empire. With the Enviro 400 MMCs (the first diesel batch for London) being commissioned for the 498 as we speak, some 55 reg tridents have covered for them.

Stagecoach London 18476 on the 498 in Romford at Queens Hospital (© Josh)

18476 seen on Brentwood High Street (© Josh)

At current, the MMCs are not expected to enter service for at least a week, to allow the fleet to be commissioned, and for drivers to familiarise themselves with the layout and be type trained on these new vehicles.
Since the Stagecoach takeover, the 498 has run much better. The layover time has increased, allowing for any A12 delays to occur. The running time has also increased to also allow for traffic and stopping along the A12.

18470 at a fairly rainy Romford Station (© Aubrey)

The controlling of the route has also greatly improved, and the PVR has been increased from 5 buses, to 6.


18480 is the third bus on the second day of the 498 at Stagecoach (© Jacek)

The Sunday service still runs every 30 minutes, and with a PVR of 3.

The 498 began on Boxing Day in 2005. It was initially run by Arriva Southend with Dennis Pointer Darts for the first few months,then when DLAs became avaliable, they were used on the route. All this whilst the Wright Cadets ordered for the route were being built and delivered. It ran half hourly on Monday-Saturday daytime journeys, and hourly in evenings and on Sundays. It was introduced to replace the 351, and the 551, and the average scheduled journey time from Romford to Brentwood was around 25 mins, nearly half of what it is today.

Blue Triangle PVN8 on Route 498, Romford Station (© Aubrey)

It passed to First London in June 2008, with initially new Enviro 200s (see Picture Archive Post). Soon, it was converted to double deck with Enviro 400s. 

On the 22nd June 2013, Go-Ahead London (Blue Triangle) bought out DM and 498 moved to BE. With it, the term "allocation" flew away. Any double decker at BE could be found on the 498, except possibly the East London Transit buses. Indeed, the first day brought ex-First London Volvo B7TLs from NP to the 498.

But the assortment of buses is now gone, and Tridents have taken their place albeit temporarily until the Enviro 400MMCs arrive.


However, the 499 is another story. Which shall be continued in another post.

Night Buses at Dawn 7 - 20/06/15

Yes, it's that time of the year again. No, it wasn't the longest day technically, but I didn't want to do it on a Sunday due to the lack of facilities on a Sunday morning! Not all photos from NBAD7 made it to this post, so more photos can be seen here.

But this time, it's a fairly long one, with a start at Central London at 0158! So really, it's not NBAD, but half NBAN and NBAD. Night Buses at, erm.. Night!

London United SP187 on Route N9, Trafalgar Square (CC Aubrey)

The start is the typical N9, coincidentally with the driver that I know!


Tower Transit DN33790 on Route N551, Trafalgar Square (© Aubrey)

No change, as the 541 still somehow runs, hence there is no night service to Keir Hardie Estate still!


London United TLA20 on Route N97, Trafalgar Square (CC Aubrey)

Route N97 is to be reduced in frequency when the night tube comes into fruition from September 2015.


Abellio London 2499 on Route N109 & Metroline VP540 on Route 6N, Trafalgar Square (© Aubrey)

Two notable changes that will/has happen/ed is the hybridisation of Routes 6N and N109. N109 gained hybrids in the form of Enviro 400 MMCs late last year, whilst 6N will gain Volvo B5LH/Wright Gemini 3s really soon.


Arriva London DW453 on Route N41, Trafalgar Square (CC Aubrey)


London General WVL438 on Route N44, Charing Cross (© Aubrey)

The former 12 WVLs now also ply the Stockwell night routes as part of their "any double decker goes" apparent policy.


London General WVL468 on Route N87 and London Sovereign VH18 on Route N13, Charing Cross (© Aubrey)

The white blinds also mean matching Gemini IIs can cruise along The Strand on these two routes.



London General EH32 on Route N44 & Stagecoach London 19765 on Route N15, Charing Cross Station (© Aubrey)

Turn around and I see two yellow on black blinded Enviro 400s...The N15 is still a very busy route. As always.


London General WVL107 on Route N11, Charing Cross (© Aubrey)

Route N11 still runs, but this is the first time I've gotten a photo of it in Central London during an NBAD.


Metroline TE1438 on Route N91, Charing Cross (CC Aubrey)

Route N91 is one of the night bus routes that will be reduced when night tube arrives, as it parallels the northern lot of the Piccadilly line.


London United SP46 on Route N9, Charing Cross Station (© Aubrey)

N9 is the western replacement for the Piccadilly line, even though it only serves are Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Hammersmith, Hounslow East/Central (nearly), Hounslow West, Heathrow T123 and Heathrow T5. N97 serves the inner London part of the Piccadilly line only. It is to be reduced too to about every 15 minutes, albeit with the whole service going to Heathrow Terminal 5 (except, I assume, last journeys as it is based in AV).


Abellio London 9457 on Route N343, Trafalgar Square (CC Aubrey)

A first for me, I've gotten the N343! One of two Abellio London night routes that finish fairly early, runs every 30 minutes and last journeys are before 5am.


Arriva London T89 on Route N133, London Bridge (© Aubrey)

A return for me to London Bridge brings out Route N133, which will soon be extended to Morden under night tube.


Abellio London 9436 on Route N35, London Bridge (© Aubrey)

Route N35 is a very busy night route that runs between Tottenham Court Road and Clapham Junction, serving Shoreditch. Yet it finishes very early (last journeys are at before 4am to Tottenham Court Road and before 4:30am towards Clapham Junction). It is the first time I've seen (and used) the N35 during an NBAD.


Abellio London 9049 on Route N381, London Bridge (© Aubrey)

Route N381 is another route I haven't covered, and is the other route that finishes fairly early (last journeys before 5am), and runs a fairly consistent timetable being every 30 minutes. It will be rerouted into Canada Water bus station for night tube.


Stagecoach London 10198 on Route N47, London Bridge (© Aubrey)

In September, this may not be N47. The route is being rerouted to serve Pepys Estate, thus being renumbered N199. This route will subsequently be the longest bus route in London.


London General WVL441 on Route N155, Charing Cross (© Aubrey)

Route N155 will be reduced under the night tube bus reforms, and will run every 15 minutes. This bus is one of the Sutton workings on Route N155.


London Central E45 on Route N89, Charing Cross (© Aubrey)

Route N89 is gaining more Enviro 400s on its route. Previously, I have seen N89 being predominately WVL, but Es are starting to prop up more as the allocation. This is the longest night bus route in London, until N199 appears.


Metroline TE841 on Route N98, Oxford Street (CC Aubrey)

Route N98, along with its counterpart 98, has been rerouted to Russell Square to replace the 7/N7. However Route N207 still runs to Holborn.


Stagecoach London LT383 on Route N55, Oxford Circus (© Aubrey)

What happens when you have a long shutter speed!
Route N55 has been converted to LT operation, since the last NBAD.


Arriva London LT488 on Route N73, Oxford Street (CC Aubrey)

So has N73, albeit it is still ongoing. The route will be reduced under night tube to every 15 minutes.


Arriva London DW231 on Route 159N, Oxford Street (CC Aubrey)

Route 159/(N) was awarded to Abellio London earlier , and will transfer to them on 5th December 2015 with LTs. So the sight of Arriva on 159 is disappearing soon.


Arriva London T101 on Route N137, Oxford Street (CC Aubrey)

Although the day 137 is LT, the night counterpart isn't.


Metroline TE838 on Route N5, Euston (CC Aubrey)

Route N5 is another reduced route due to night tube, being the Northern line replacement for the Edgware branch. It will run every 15 minutes.


Metroline TE1444 on Route N20, Euston Station (CC Aubrey)

Route N20 would be reduced further, with a decrease to every 30 minutes.


Arriva London HV65 on Route N253, Centrepoint (© Aubrey)

I went back to Centrepoint to mop up a few night routes I hadn't ever covered.


Metroline West SN1947 & SN1919 on Route N207, Centrepoint (CC Aubrey)

Route N207 isn't one, but will be reduced under Night Tube. It will run every 10 minutes, with an increase to every 20 minutes for the outer Uxbridge-Hayes By-Pass section.


London General VWL18 on Route N1, Centrepoint (© Aubrey)

However Route N1 is. It will be slightly rerouted in Deptford due to the N199, and will be reduced to every 30 minutes on weekends.


London General WHV10 on Route N19, Centrepoint
Route N19 is another one - although it was caught on my first NBAD, this is my first proper photo of an N19.


Arriva London LT218 on Route N38, Centrepoint (CC Aubrey)

There are N38 shorts, and then there is this, which isn't a short. This is a curtailed N38 (as the shorts run Piccadilly Circus-Walthamstow Central). Then again it is a garage turn. Under night tube, it will be reduced to every 7-8 minutes (Piccadilly-Walthamstow) and every 15 minutes (the rest of the route to Victoria).


Stagecoach London LT245 & LT392 on Route N8, Centrepoint (CC Aubrey)

Another route affected by night tube is the eastern replacement for the Central line, the N8. It will be reduced to every 10 minutes Oxford Circus-Stratford, and every 20 minutes to Hainault.


Metroline VW1245 on Route N16, Victoria (CC Aubrey)

Route N16 has gained VWs through the 640/140. HD have some duties on the N16, and usually they can be done by VPs, but now VWs can be used as well.


London General WVL188 on Route N22, Piccadilly Circus (© Aubrey)

First time I've caught the N22 on an NBAD.


Abellio London 2475 on Route N3, Trafalgar Square (© Aubrey)

Another new thing is through the C3 (i.e. the 211) and 49, Euro 6 hybrid Enviro 400s now also run the N3.


London Central E55 on Route N89, Charing Cross (CC Aubrey)

Still, London Central logos and the skirt live on, somehow!


London General WVL11 (LG02 KHJ) on Route N44 & WVL96 (LF52 ZNJ) on Route N87 at Charing Cross (© Aubrey)


Metroline VW1257 (LK12 AEB) overshoots Aldwych and ends up at Charing Cross. It is seen on Route N91. (CC Aubrey)


London Sovereign VH12 on Route N13, Charing Cross (CC Aubrey)

N13 may have not existed if it weren't for the consultation to not be followed up, as it was supposed to be withdrawn as well as the 13 under TfL's Finchley Road plan.


Stagecoach London 19765 on Route 15 (ex-N15 duty), Charing Cross (© Aubrey)

Even with the conversion of the 15 to LTs, some early morning ex-N15 duties still run as conventional buses.

The NBAD typically finished with an N9 trip home. It is a long post, but I took more photos, and they can be seen on my Flickr album for Night Buses.

Seventy-Free, Again? (inc NBAD 7)

Arriva London LT356 on Route 73, Hyde Park Corner (© Aubrey)

Yet another ex-bendy bus route converts to the Borismaster. This time, it's the turn of another busy Arriva route, with 73. It's the usual ironic free boarding stuff anyway. So over the course of two months, Aubrey decided to get a few shots of the 73, and during NBAD 7, a few shots of the N73 too.


Arriva London LT353 on Route 73, Victoria Station (CC Aubrey)

Borismasters are becoming so common, they appear in other bus events that don't even relate to London at all! For example, the Wilts & Dorset event and the Reading Buses Open Day (which were on the same day, grrrr). Are TfL really that desperate?


Arriva London LT488 on Route N73, Oxford Street (CC Aubrey)

This also means Walthamstow gets even more nightly Borismasters. Which aren't toasty at 4am!


Arriva London LT493 on Route N73, Euston Station (CC Aubrey)

What they are still is kinda slow when not on the 9, which led me to miss the N205 (grrr!)

The 73 batch is very fragmented, with LTs 352-356, 464-477, 488-500 being the usual convertible LTs, with the final batch of LTs 517-542 having the new rear door arrangement making the LT's original concept to be ironically obsolete! The LT - designed to be two-crewed with OPO at off-peak/night times is now a fully OPO bus with free boarding. Sounds like the articulated buses, but buses which are harder to manoeuvre, ironically! At least they are hybrid(!)