WLTM Transport Blog: 2018

31/12/2018

Picture Archive Post 78 & Happy New Year!

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

All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2018-2019

16/12/2018

Another 25 cut, but Tower are equal

Tower Transit's 25 route has been dealt a second substantial cut during the second half of 2018. In September the Ilford to Mile End short workings were withdrawn albeit alongside a revamped 425 between Clapton and Ilford, with vehicles following suit. The peak vehicle requirement (PVR) on the 25 dropped from 59 to 40.

VN37953 on diversion passed St. Paul's highlights the 25s previous terminal point of Oxford Circus.
© Tommy Cooling

From December, the 25 was withdrawn from running between Oxford Circus, Holles Street and Holborn Circus/City Thameslink Station. The night part of the route however still continues to Oxford Circus, and has been renumbered as an N25. This change of the route has seen the PVR drop further from 40 to 32. The PVR saving of 27 has been absorbed by Tower Transit with the revamp of the 425 and the tender win of the 452.

DN33652 shows the new terminus for the 25, as it passes through Bank.
© Tommy Cooling

On the same date as the 25s cutback, the West London division of Tower Transit were having a more successful time with the taking over of route 452 between Kensal Rise and Vauxhall from Abellio London, using vehicles made spare from the 25s recent cuts.

Abellio London E400 9426 on the 452 at Notting Hill Gate showing the 452s old home of Wandsworth Road.
© Tommy Cooling

Tower Transit VN36124 on the 452 at Kensal Rise.
© Tommy Cooling

Tower Transit VN36106 on the 452 at Kensal Rise.
© Tommy Cooling

Post by Tommy Cooling
Some of these images and more can be found on my Flickr page:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/

Please do not reproduce any of my images without permission

15/12/2018

Central London route changes Part Four

On Saturday 24th November, RATP-dev London United's Route 10 became the first Central London bus route to be cut in its entirety in conjunction with the Oxford Street and Central London bus consultations by TfL. With the aim of removing "excess" bus routes [capacity] off London's flagship shopping street, it was decided that Routes 10 and 23 would be merged at Marble Arch to form a new route running between Westbourne Park and Hammersmith. The former sections of each route, the 23 from Marble Arch to Aldwych and the 10 from Marble Arch to King's Cross, would be withdrawn and no longer served. Marble Arch to Aldwych is still be achievable on one bus by using Route 6, or with a short walk to use Route 139. Marble Arch to King's Cross would still be achievable on Route 390.

These route changes leaves the British Museum unserved by London's famous red buses, and plenty of ordinary punters out in the cold at Marble Arch when their bus from Westbourne Park or Hammersmith fails to find Oxford Street. This was in fact the second recent iteration of Route 23, having only been withdrawn between Liverpool Street and Aldwych in late 2017.

The final London United Route 10 was LT166 in the early hours of November 24th, followed by DN33784 on the first new Tower Transit 23.

TT DN33777 on the 23 to Liverpool Street at Ludgate Circus in June 2017, prior to being cut back to Aldwych.
© Tommy Cooling

TT VNW32416 on the 23 to Aldwych on Oxford Street in October 2017, after being cut back from Liverpool Street.
© Tommy Cooling

TT DNH39126 on the 23 passes RATP London United LT83 on the 10 along Oxford Street, a scene no longer possible.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/30821636057/in/album-72157664460961351/
© Tommy Cooling

RATP London United LT85 under the Oxford Street lights, in the last few days on Route 10.

© Tommy Cooling

RATP London United LT80 passes the British Museum, now no longer served by a red London bus.
© Tommy Cooling

RATP London United LT163 with Russell Square in the background, on Bedford Place no longer served by a TfL bus route.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/45755943451/in/album-72157665247070991/
© Tommy Cooling

The new route, which now runs from Westbourne Park to Hammersmith kept the 23 route number, and stayed with the 23s operator, Tower Transit, at Westbourne Park (X), as well as keeping its previous E40H DNH allocation. London United's Route 10 was withdrawn in its entirety, and its allocation swapped to Route 27 causing further fleet reshuffles inside London United.

TT DNH39118 on the 23 at Paddington, heading for its new home at Hammersmith.
© Tommy Cooling

The previous 27 allocation.
RATP ADH[450]36 on the 27 at Notting Hill Gate.
© Tommy Cooling

The new 27 allocation using the former Route 10 LTs.
RATP LT81 on the 27 opposite St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington.
© Tommy Cooling

Post by Tommy Cooling
Some of these images and more can be found on my Flickr page:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/

Please do not reproduce any of my images without permission

28/11/2018

Routemasters make special November appearances

Iconic red London Routemaster buses returned to the streets of London during November marking a string of special events.

On Friday 9th November RML903, owned and maintained by Metroline, undertook a series of trips over Metroline's Route 24 between Hampstead Heath and Pimlico, raising money for the Royal British Legion charity on Poppy Day. This event raised £360 for the charity.

RML903 at Pimlico on the 24.
© Tommy Cooling

RML903 at Hampstead Heath.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/45118867124/in/photostream/
© Tommy Cooling

A similar event took place the following Friday on November 16th for Children in Need, with Metroline's RML903 working special trips over Route 4 between Archway and Waterloo, raising £500 for the Children in Need charity. This occasion was also likely to be the last time RML903 would run to Waterloo on the 4 with its impending cutback to Blackfriars Station, due in 2019 as a result of TfL's Central London bus consultation.

RML903 at Waterloo on the 4, for the last time?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/45857560492/in/photostream/
© Tommy Cooling

A day out with Pudsey on RML903.
© Tommy Cooling

Pudsey even came along to help out!
© Tommy Cooling

Finchley bus garage (FY) closed on November 25th 1993, and on Sunday 25th November 2018, a special event was organised to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the closure of the garage in North Finchley. The site is now a B&Q store, which retains a original wall from the former bus garage. Finchley garage was home to the early "RML" series, also known as "ERs", Extended Routemasters. Nine of the former allocated RMLs were brought together to run trips over the old 104 and 104A routes; Route 104 operating between Moorgate - Archway (via Islington Angel) - North Finchley - Barnet, and Route 104A operating Golders Green - North Finchley - Barnet. In the event, RMLs from Ensign, The London Bus Company and Metroline were used; ER880, ER882, RML893, RML897, RML898, RML899, RML900, RML902 & RML903.

Ensignbus ER882 at North Finchley.
© Tommy Cooling

RML900 in North Finchley.
© Tommy Cooling

RML902 in Whetstone.
© Tommy Cooling

London Bus Company's RML893 in Whetstone.
© Tommy Cooling

Metroline's RML903 in Barnet.
© Tommy Cooling

RML903 in Archway.
© Tommy Cooling

RML903 at Moorgate Finsbury Square.
© Tommy Cooling

Post by Tommy Cooling
Some of these images and more can be found on my Flickr page:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/

Please do not reproduce any of my images without permission

20/11/2018

Picture Archive Post 77

Tower Transit VNW32374 on Route 23, St Paul's, 13/06/2016
© Aubrey Morandarte

Route 23 started as a route to replace the western end of Route 15 as part of the major Central London changes in 1992. Ironically, most of the route was covered by a previous iteration of Route 23 from 1981 to 1985. Running between Westbourne Park (Mon-Sat)/Ladbroke Grove (Sun) and Aldwych (weekends)/Liverpool Street (weekdays), it used Routemasters from Westbourne Park (X) in the Centrewest sector. Sundays were one person operated with MCW Metrobuses. The one person operated part was increased to evenings too in 1993, and converted to low-floor operation in 1999 when the 18 was converted to low-floor with Dennis Trident/Plaxton Presidents. 15th January 2003 saw the route converted to full low-floor operation with Transbus Trident/ALX400s, with the whole route being operated daily. The night service was integrated into the 23 in 2004. 2008 saw new Enviro 400s introduced to the route, although they were soon off in 2012 by newer Enviro 400s and hybrid Enviro 400Hs, as the older buses became part of the allocation of the 607.
22nd June 2013 saw the route transfer to Tower Transit as this part of First Centrewest was sold to Transit Systems.

30th September 2017 saw the route withdrawn between Aldwych and Liverpool Street due to the first stage of Central London cuts. 24th November 2018 will see the route withdrawn further to Marble Arch, instead rerouted to "replace" the western end of Route 10. However, as the western end of the 10 is mostly paralleled by the 9, it has led to the 23 being relegated to a linking route, as the 27 and 295 covers a more direct routing of where the 23 goes. This means it is an awkward C shaped route which only covers shorter links, and being the link to Marble Arch to Kensington & Hammersmith.

VNW32374 was ordered for the 28, 31 and 328 as part of their double decker conversion in 2004, allocated to Westbourne Park (X). It moved to Atlas Road (AS) in 2011 along with the routes due to the temporary shrinking of Westbourne Park for Crossrail works. It returned back to Westbourne Park in May and June 2016 for its final days in London service. The bus was then retired from London service, moving within the Transit Systems group to Whippet in Cambridgeshire.

Post by Aubrey Morandarte

All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2018

Released: 31/12/2018

14/11/2018

Excellence...eventually.

After multiple months of anticipation, the high specification BCI Excellence for Go-Ahead London Central finally entered service on the 6th November 2018. It is a high specification bus, with many interior features which are very new to Transport for London services, even though they are already prolific on some buses outside London.

London Central TA1 on Route 12, Oxford Circus

TA1 standing at Oxford Circus awaiting the next journey to Dulwich
© Aubrey Morandarte

Following various mechanical mishaps it ran into, as well as fitting of some new allegedly high-tech axles, it finally was deemed ready to go out on the road.

Initially tipped to work route X68 from Camberwell [Q] garage, the plans were changed after it transpired it would disrupt certain crosslinks involving school routes which it would not fit around. It was also rumoured it might struggle to get round West Croydon bus station, but that is unconfirmed. Therefore a change was made for it to be used on the route 12 between Oxford Circus and Dulwich Library instead. Normally worked by the notorious BorisBuses, as a somewhat more conventional vehicle with front single-door boarding, it was only a matter of time to witness some custom try to board through the back and be told off by the driver. This route also was one of the articulated bus routes in the 2000s.

Apart from the obvious fact that the bus is a 12.5m long tri-axle vehicle, unusually for TfL conditions they are also equipped with high-back Lazzerini seats, 5V USB ports, phone holders [pictured], LED displays (same as 6 of the micro-hybrid MMCs at WH), proper air conditioning units as opposed to usual air-cooling ones used in London, personal 'Stop' buttons due to a noticeable lack of grab poles on the upper deck, and upstairs available seats counter on the lower deck.

A demonstration of the phone rack equipled at the rear of the high-backed seats - given the lower quality plastic nature, how long till one is broken??
(© Alisha Juszczyk)

In addition to that, it also carries some feature branding on the side, and attracted enough attention that even some non-enthusiast people were spotted taking pictures!

Now time will tell how this bus gets on… Let's hope all precautions were taken so that it does not break down again anytime soon - especially that the track record of previous Vantage hybrids in TfL service was not so good. It would also be interesting if more routes were to trialled, especially ones that do not use LTs. 25 anyone?

London Central TA1 on Route 12, Peckham Rye

The journey sampled was one where it curtailed at Peckham Rye, hence the display. The short notice curtailment does show the speed which a destination can be changed on an electronic LED display as opposed to blinds.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

*NEW* Go-Ahead London: TA1 | LX18DGF || 12: Dulwich Library - Oxford Circus

The display can be difficult to photograph at times, as shown here. TA1 shown stopping in Regent Street, by Oxford Circus at the end of a journey from Dulwich Library.
(© Alisha Juszczyk)

TA1 circles St. George's Circus after dark heading towards Dulwich Library.
The new LED screen has come out well here despite being shot at 1/200.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/44842275175/in/dateposted/
© Tommy Cooling

With the advent of Transport for London's ever decreasing demand for buses, as well as the various cuts to service, this bus could be a catalyst for a higher-quality revival. Other than the electronic screens for iBus displays, USB ports and LED displays, the features shown are very new to London service.

Post by Aubrey Morandarte, Alisha Juszczyk
Photos by Aubrey Morandarte, Alisha Juszczyk and Tommy Cooling

07/11/2018

Euro Bus Expo 2018

The European BusExpo event returned to the NEC in Birmingham this year. The 2018 event continued on from 2016's focus on varying forms of electric and gas powered vehicles. There was, however, a greater visible shift towards the technology side for passenger information, as well as bus safety.

As follows beneath is my pictorial journey around the Bus Expo arena, enjoy!

Wrightbus Hydrogen-fuelled StreetDeck FCEV, with Metroline interior.
A fleet of Hydrogen buses [similar to this] are due for Metroline in the not-too-distant future.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/44930701194/in/photostream/
© Tommy Cooling