First London WM47400 on Route 228, White City, 01/12/12
(© Aubrey Morandarte)
Route 228 is one of the newest bus routes in London, starting in January 2009 with Enviro 200s from Willesden Junction (WJ). Operated by First Centrewest until June 2013, it moved to Metroline West thereafter. It was introduced to increase connectivity with the new Westfield Shopping Centre. It is the only bus service which travels through the shopping complex, and serves the Old Oak Common rail depots, providing a then new link between East Acton and Willesden Junction. This area soon will be developed as part of the Old Oak Common regeneration scheme.
From 19th January 2019, this scene will be the allocation, as new Streetlites will be the allocation for Route 228, as Tower Transit will take over operation from Westbourne Park (X).
DRZ6181 started out as a First London demonstrator of the then new Wrightbus Streetlite. It originally ran on Route 187, 226, 228 from Willesden Junction (WJ). Delivered in December 2011, it was initially supposed to be delivered to Lea Interchange to run on the 236. It ran in London service for just less than two years, returning back to the lessors in February 2013, just before the transfer of WJ to Metroline in June 2013.
The bus then resurfaced in March 2015, as a spare bus for Route 444 ironically at Lea Interchange (LI/HO). However, as First left London in 2013, it was operated by Tower Transit, as seen below. It lasted in service until February 2018, where it has been replaced as a spare bus. Ironically, it has spent some service time on Route 236, the original route the bus was intended for!
Tower Transit WV44700 on Route 444, Turnpike Lane Station, 07/03/2015
(© Aubrey Morandarte)
2018 has been a fairly decent year, covering London mainly this year. Unfortunately, the author is currently medically unable to cover transport changes until March 2019, but the time will be spent finishing posts which were incomplete in 2018. Thank you all, and we shall return stronger in 2019!
Happy New Year from the WLTMTB team!
Post by Aubrey Morandarte
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