WLTM Transport Blog: May 2018

26/05/2018

Micro Delays

Stagecoach London 18489 on Route 474, North Woolwich

18489 tackles the new stretch of route in North Woolwich
(© Aubrey)

On 5th May 2018, Route 474 had its first change of operator through an awarded contract (instead of novation within a group). Prior to 2018, Blue Triangle/Docklands Buses were the only operators to have run the 474. Ordered for the route was Alexander-Dennis Enviro 400H buses. These buses are smart hybrids, which have a battery to help with acceleration, but are just otherwise a diesel bus. However, as they are late, Alexander-Dennis Tridents transferred from Bromley (TB) and existing buses from West Ham were used on the 474.

Stagecoach London 19866 on Route 474, North Woolwich

19866 at the Woolwich Ferry
(© Aubrey)

As the route is run from West Ham, the changeovers are at Canning Town. As there is work ongoing to the 474 stand at Barking Road/Hermit Road, the route is terminating at Canning Town Bus Station.

Stagecoach London 18487 on Route 474, North Woolwich

18487 on Store Road, North Woolwich
(© Aubrey)

In order to reduce the delays caused by queues for the Woolwich Ferry, the route has been diverted towards Manor Park via Store Road and Pier Road, between the stops of St John's Church and North Woolwich Ferry. This was a very minor change to the route which was consulted as part of the Crossrail/Elizabeth Line East London bus route changes, which include rerouting the 474 via Kier Hardie Estate and Custom House in order to serve the Custom House Crossrail/Elizabeth Line station.

Stagecoach London 18493 on Route 474, Manor Park

18493 on stand at Manor Park Station
(© Aubrey)

A ride on the 474 itself proved to be slower than before, due to reliability measures on the route. The route still has some bunching, but is otherwise okay. All buses on the route have full blinds, and at least look presentable. The new blinds for the 474 are yellow on black inserts for the Tridents, and full new blinds for the Enviro 400s. Both 11reg and 12reg buses are used on the route.

Stagecoach London 19745 on Route 474, North Woolwich

19745 approaches North Woolwich
(© Aubrey)

Post by Aubrey and Jacek Herominski
Photos by Aubrey
All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2018

22/05/2018

Picture Archive Post 71

Docklands Buses SO2 on Route 474, London City Airport, 20/04/2013
© Aubrey

Route 474 started as a route replacing the 69 between Silvertown and North Woolwich, as well as provide new links towards across Silvertown. Starting on 1st May 1999, the route was operated initially by Blue Triangle using Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne buses from Rainham Ferry Lane (FL/BE). From 17th December 2005, the route was diverted to London City Airport to replace Route 69 between Canning Town and London City Airport. Also, an extension to Manor Park Station supplemented Route 101 between Cyprus and Manor Park, as well as replace the 101 to North Woolwich (which was diverted to Gallions Reach). This required additional buses, so some Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniCity buses were ordered (as seen).
Go-Ahead Group took over the then independent Blue Triangle on 29th June 2007, and soon, a multitude of different cascaded buses started to appear on the 474, replacing the Tridents. This included buses from London General/Central and Metrobus. 3rd November 2007 saw a night service introduced to the route, and the route transferring to Docklands Buses in Silvertown (SI).
During 2011, the route was allocated a Volvo B9TL/MCV DD103, but eventually, the allocation from 2011 tended to be the Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2. When River Road (RR) opened on 30th April 2016, the route moved back to Blue Triangle at River Road.

As of 5th May 2018, the route is now with Stagecoach London at West Ham (WH), using existing Enviro 400s and Tridents temporarily, until new hybrid double deckers replace them.

SO2 started out as a Blue Triangle bus, for the 474 extension in late 2005. Once the bus had moved with the 474 to Docklands Buses (SI), the bus was also used on the 425 and 541. It led an uneventful life on the Docklands Buses routes until 17th February 2016, when the bus was withdrawn. It was later sold to Midland Classic for use on their routes in Burton-upon-Trent, where it is today as their 56.

As some of you have may noticed, we have not been very active over the past two months. This is mainly because we have very busy lives, especially as I'm doing my final year project at university. We have been unavailable to cover and do posts, so we thoroughly apologise. Things will be getting back to normal as soon as possible.
Thank you all.

Post by Aubrey
All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2018

21/05/2018

Crossrail[ing] it to the West side

The May 2018 timetable change saw the second unfurling of the TfL Rail network, prior to the full unveiling of the Crossrail Elizabeth Line service (and brand) in 2019.

On Sunday 20th May, the former GWR Heathrow Connect services between Paddington and Heathrow T4 transferred over to TfL. This service has retained the existing class 360s for the time being on the T4 services due to current incompatibilities between the BAA Heathrow signalling and the new Class 345s. Going forward, these services will also be run by the new Class 345s to T4, (and then T5 from 2019).

TfL 360203 at Paddington
© Tommy Cooling

The former Heathrow Connect 360s showing their temporary TfL Rail branding from day one; better than some TOCs ...
© Tommy Cooling

New TfL Rail line diagrams graced the 360s from day one
© Tommy Cooling

TfL Rail 360203 stands at Heathrow T4
© Tommy Cooling
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/40442407050/in/photostream/

Monday 21st May saw the introduction of the Class 345s into passenger service on the Great Western side, running between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington, as the Hayes short workings are not timetabled to operate on Sundays. These workings used to be operated by 8-car GWR Class 387 Electrostars.