Go-Ahead, CT Plus

On 23rd March 2019, Route 20 was gained from Go-Ahead London by CT Plus from Walthamstow Avenue (AW). It had been with London General for just under 6 years, and under the Go-Ahead Group for a full 5 year + 2 year extension.

Go-Ahead won the route from Arriva in 2012, with the change covered by this blog. Initially, it was with the Blue Triangle subsidiary before moving on the 22nd June 2013 to London General at NP (Northumberland Park). WVL462 approaches Walthamstow Central on the first day of London General operation back in 2013.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)


The latter part of the days of operation were with older buses than the allocated ones, including E55 which started out at Bexleyheath with London Central, and WVL189 which started out at Putney replacing Routemasters on Routes 14 and 22.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

On 23rd March, the route changed hands, this time to the growing Walthamstow Avenue operation at CT Plus. It is the second route gained from Go-Ahead London, having gained D6 earlier in 2018.


2539 navigating the new layout at Whipps Cross on the first day of CT Plus operation.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

New Enviro 400H (E40H) City buses were ordered for the route, in continuation with the previous buses ordered for Routes 26 and 388. It seems to be the standard CT Plus double decker body, as there are similar bodies on Scania gas chassis in Bristol for their operation on the Metrobus "BRT" there.


2547 with a faulty destination display at the Debden stand.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

These new buses have longer wheelchair bays (as noted in the recent Central London consultation notes repeatedly), and are the first double deckers operated from their Walthamstow Avenue base. Having been delivered very soon prior to the contract start, some rumoured that the first day would be littered with loaned buses from the previous operator (even though the allocated buses were due to be put at Bexleyheath for the 486 the very next day).


However, the only buses on loan from other operators were from Stagecoach London. 10113 is seen at Whipps Cross on a short journey to Leyton, Bakers Arms. It will terminate at Leyton Green, ironically in front of the garage it was loaned from.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

Stagecoach London have loaned out two Enviro 400s to cover the two buses intended from the 388, but was not received because of the PVR cut being delayed. The 388 will be shortened (then extended again) under the Central London bus cuts, with the southern terminal revised to Liverpool Street, then London Bridge by the end of 2019, which would free the buses for both the 20, and the 26 frequency increase.


The other bus loaned from Leyton Garage is 10114, seen on a journey towards Debden.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

However, as CT Plus is a small operation in comparison to other operators in the area, especially with the very few decker routes, yet their high utilisation rate meant that until ULEZ operation began in April 2019, 26 and 388 were prone to single decker operations. Walthamstow Avenue only has the 20 as a double decker route, meaning that if multiple buses are out of service, this can lead to single decker operation.


A week after CT Plus started operation on Route 20, a bus from the W19 is seen on the route. As the single deckers do not have Route 20 blinds, paper displays are forced to suffice.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

CT Plus is notably the sole TfL bus operator in Debden, having gained 397 in late 2017, and 167 being withdrawn from the area due to Essex County Council subsidy cuts. The operator is gaining in small, but sustainable chunks, which can only be positive for competition in TfL tendering.

Post by Aubrey Morandarte

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