Electric Metroline

On Saturday 20th October 2018, after much delay, the first electric E200 BYD 'BELs' for the 46 were introduced into service at Holloway. The first out was BEL2513, followed by BELs2506, 2508, 2512, 2514, 2515, 2516, 2517, 2520, 2523, 2524, 2525, 2526 & 2527 later that day. Two weeks later, and at time of writing, BELs2507, 2509, 2511, 2519, 2521, 2522 are still awaiting their introduction into service.


There had been many snags that had delayed their introduction. All 23 BELs were delivered on time during the early part of the summer and were put into store at Perivale Garage.

On a route test in June it was discovered that there was a traffic island in the Warwick Avenue area that needed to be re-sited to avoid the new vehicles clipping the pavement curb stones. It was amazing that this wasn't discovered before, however it transpired that there was a parameter here that had not been factored in during the BYD length-simulation phase. Quite what this was I do not know. One does wonder why this wasn't flagged up by TfL when the tender award with said vehicles was announced a whole year prior, similar to the failure to trim the 274s trees for over a year following the same tender award! TfL quoted the usual 'several months' for the work to take place, and duly by early October, said works had been completed.

The other limiting factor was the substation electric charging facilities at Holloway Garage. The charging points originally were to be installed on the outside lower deck, but upon drilling into the ramp down found that this was unsuitable for burying cables in, back to the drawing board with the National Grid! By this time the tender award for the 43 with electric vehicles had been announced, so when work resumed on a new site inside the garage, where the sales stalls were at the open day, the plan had to be further amended to future proof the design to cater for the 43 ADL electrics from summer 2019. Another delay! There was a slow portable charger supplied by BYD to keep buses ticking over, which also provided the charge for the two BELs at the open day. After the charging facilities were installed, work began on the substation at Holloway.

BEL2510 and BEL2516 were used as special extras on the '609' for Holloway open day. 15-Sept
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/29763100767/in/dateposted-public/
© Tommy Cooling

BEL2510s first 'passenger' service on "heritage" route 609 to Muswell Hill. 15-Sept
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/29779699007/in/dateposted-public/
© Tommy Cooling

The charging facilities are now complete, and have been future proofed to cater for the 43 from next summer. Following the completion of the highway infrastructure works at Warwick Avenue, the decision was to introduce a half-allocation of BELs onto the 46. Despite all the vehicles present and ready, the allocation is not 100% yet whilst the substation capacity at Holloway is finished and signed off. The completion of these works are at the mercy of the National Grid and UK Power although, it is hoped that this will be completed before the end of 2018, however we shall have to wait and see.



BEL2506 crosses Holborn Viaduct, in The City, on the 46 towards St. Bartholomew's Hospital, running as HT355. 03-Nov
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/44975602994/in/dateposted-public/
© Tommy Cooling

Post by Tommy Cooling
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/

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