Hounslow Hybrids

Route 120 has been a route that's linked Hounslow and Heston with Southall and Northolt. As it links two major regional town centres of Hounslow and Southall, it is indeed a very busy route. Plagued with traffic problems, the 120 has always been a hard route to run. No matter the operator, gaps in the service and curtailments have been the norm for years simply due to the unpredictable flow of Southall and Northolt traffic. However, for the most part, previous operator London United have done well to run the 120.

Towards the end of United's rein on the route, the 120 saw an ever increasing number of Trident TAs and TLAs appear on the route. TA235 departs Northolt for Hounslow, Bus Station. 21/04/17
© Tommy Cooling

The 120 has been run by London United since privatisation, with new buses ordered for contract renewals in 1993, 2000 and 2012. However, under tendering, this busy route has changed hands to Metroline. 

ADE40418 arrives at Northolt at the end of the route. ADEs and SPs were the main staple diet for the 120 being replaced by the new Volvo Wrightbus hybrids. 10/05/17
© Tommy Cooling

Metroline run the route from Perivale West, with driver changeovers at Northolt Station. As the drivers only have to travel a few stops on the Central Line, changeovers are easy to deal with at this end. However, this is not as easy as the garage terminus changeover point of Hounslow Garage when London United ran the route.

The new kit for the 120, readied into service for the past month on other West Perivale routes in preparation for Metroline's take over of the 120. VWH2270 blinded for the 120 whilst on the 90. 31/05/17
© Tommy Cooling

Metroline's new Volvo B5LH/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3s for the 120 are part of a larger set of buses ordered for various contract renewals, route gains (like the 120), and updating the fleet for the 7. In theory, this would cascade buses to the 4 and 17 for their hybrid conversions. The hybrids will surely reduce costs and diesel fuel burn during the lengthy amount of time they will be stuck in Southall traffic over the course of the contract.

VWH2278 on the first day of Metroline operation of Route 120 in Northolt. 24/06/17
© Tommy Cooling

The first day of the 120 proved to be quite testing. It was very near to Eid, a religious festival. This meant that, along with roadworks, Southall became a hotspot for traffic, rendering the 120 very difficult to say the least. The large gaps were extensive enough to be as far as Southall-Hounslow, due to the sheer volume of traffic the route was facing. 

VWH2280 struggling with a large amount of passengers at Heston. 24/06/17
© Aubrey Morandarte

Subsequent days found the 120 to be fairly testing and overcrowding in peaks still being a very notable issue. Operations are settling well. Diesel B9TLs have already strayed onto the route, but they are very few and far between.

VWH2271 seen loading passengers after a downpour at Hounslow, Treaty Centre. 24/06/17
© Aubrey Morandarte

Overall, the 120 will be fairly interesting, with garage dead runs having to deal with possible A40 traffic if running to Northolt. With the unpredictable nature of Southall traffic, as well as the route being known for being very busy during the daytime, it'll be interesting how Metroline will cope with this difficult route to operate.

Photos and text by: Au & TC