On 29th June 2019, Route 211 transferred from Abellio London to London United. Existing LTs were transferred over to Stamford Brook (V) to facilitate the changeover.
LT664 on the first day of London United operation, passing through Fulham Broadway enroute to Waterloo.
© Aubrey Morandarte
This is the second contract mandated operator change this route has had in its 26 year history, having started out as a midibus route operated by London General replacing the western section of Route 11, and the entirety of Red Arrow 511. The route had been with Abellio and its predecessors (Travel London, Limebourne, Connex, Travel London (again)) since 1998.
A view back in 2013, with a 52 reg Trident which was ordered in 2002 for the double decker conversion of the route.
© Aubrey Morandarte
The latter view of Route 211 was one of the common Wrightbus New Routemaster LT type, with LT632 from the 159 batch seen at Chelsea.
© Aubrey Morandarte
Having been converted to LT operation in 2016 as a mid contract changeover, the route had newer buses for its contract. However, it was not the said 211 LTs that swapped over to Abellio, but rather some even newer LTs moving over.
Taken back in 2016, when this bus was new for Route 68, LT666 is seen on Waterloo Bridge. Little known then would be that the bus would experience 3 operator changes in 3 years.
© Aubrey Morandarte
LTs from the fairly recently transferred Route 68 moved to Battersea (QB) in anticipation for the changeover to London United. As these were initially new for Go-Ahead London Central, these were deemed to be the transferred assets for the route. LT664-686 were ordered for the 68, with LT664-681 transferring to Battersea for their final days with Abellio prior to the transfer to London United.
LT670 on its final day with Abellio, nearing its curtailed terminus of Fulham Broadway
© Aubrey Morandarte
On the last day prior to the operator change, buses were stripped of their Abellio identifiers and driven to Stamford Brook. Whilst at the garage, the buses had logos, garage codes and new blinds installed, amongst the many formalities involved in receiving a bus from another operator.
LT678 seen at Victoria on the first day of London United operation.
© Aubrey Morandarte
All buses were smartly presented for their first day, complete with garage codes, full running number cards. Drivers did have route pilots available just in case they were not familiar with the route. These were observed on some buses throughout the day.
LT666 just 3 years later from the above photo of it on Route 68 with Go-Ahead, it is seen at Hammersmith operated by London United on Route 211. LT673, another bus transferred, is shown on the controversially shortened Route 27.
© Aubrey Morandarte
Stamford Brook used to vaguely keep the LT batches (with frequent daily strays) to their allocated route, although the withdrawal of the 10, subsequent allocation of Route 27 and Route 211 transferring all meaning that this has been thrown out of the window at times. The 211 LTs were reblinded upon arrival at Stamford Brook, meaning that from day one of gaining the 211, the 68 batch of LTs were found on the 9 and 27.
On the flip side, native London United LTs can also be found on the 211, as seen by LT160 just a few minutes later from the photograph taken above overtaking LT666 to start its journey at Hammersmith Bus Station.
© Aubrey Morandarte
The first day of operation by London United was scarred by yet another demonstration at Parliament Square, with a gap stretching from Chelsea to Waterloo eastbound being seen by midday itself. Although the route is difficult to handle, the team at London United already have experience running through said area with Route 148, as well as Stamford Brook having operated big routes like the 9, 10 and 27.
LT667 queuing in traffic approaching Fulham Broadway.
© Aubrey Morandarte
Post and photographs by Aubrey Morandarte
All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019
LT664 on the first day of London United operation, passing through Fulham Broadway enroute to Waterloo.
© Aubrey Morandarte
This is the second contract mandated operator change this route has had in its 26 year history, having started out as a midibus route operated by London General replacing the western section of Route 11, and the entirety of Red Arrow 511. The route had been with Abellio and its predecessors (Travel London, Limebourne, Connex, Travel London (again)) since 1998.
A view back in 2013, with a 52 reg Trident which was ordered in 2002 for the double decker conversion of the route.
© Aubrey Morandarte
The latter view of Route 211 was one of the common Wrightbus New Routemaster LT type, with LT632 from the 159 batch seen at Chelsea.
© Aubrey Morandarte
Having been converted to LT operation in 2016 as a mid contract changeover, the route had newer buses for its contract. However, it was not the said 211 LTs that swapped over to Abellio, but rather some even newer LTs moving over.
Taken back in 2016, when this bus was new for Route 68, LT666 is seen on Waterloo Bridge. Little known then would be that the bus would experience 3 operator changes in 3 years.
© Aubrey Morandarte
LTs from the fairly recently transferred Route 68 moved to Battersea (QB) in anticipation for the changeover to London United. As these were initially new for Go-Ahead London Central, these were deemed to be the transferred assets for the route. LT664-686 were ordered for the 68, with LT664-681 transferring to Battersea for their final days with Abellio prior to the transfer to London United.
LT670 on its final day with Abellio, nearing its curtailed terminus of Fulham Broadway
© Aubrey Morandarte
On the last day prior to the operator change, buses were stripped of their Abellio identifiers and driven to Stamford Brook. Whilst at the garage, the buses had logos, garage codes and new blinds installed, amongst the many formalities involved in receiving a bus from another operator.
LT678 seen at Victoria on the first day of London United operation.
© Aubrey Morandarte
All buses were smartly presented for their first day, complete with garage codes, full running number cards. Drivers did have route pilots available just in case they were not familiar with the route. These were observed on some buses throughout the day.
LT666 just 3 years later from the above photo of it on Route 68 with Go-Ahead, it is seen at Hammersmith operated by London United on Route 211. LT673, another bus transferred, is shown on the controversially shortened Route 27.
© Aubrey Morandarte
Stamford Brook used to vaguely keep the LT batches (with frequent daily strays) to their allocated route, although the withdrawal of the 10, subsequent allocation of Route 27 and Route 211 transferring all meaning that this has been thrown out of the window at times. The 211 LTs were reblinded upon arrival at Stamford Brook, meaning that from day one of gaining the 211, the 68 batch of LTs were found on the 9 and 27.
On the flip side, native London United LTs can also be found on the 211, as seen by LT160 just a few minutes later from the photograph taken above overtaking LT666 to start its journey at Hammersmith Bus Station.
© Aubrey Morandarte
The first day of operation by London United was scarred by yet another demonstration at Parliament Square, with a gap stretching from Chelsea to Waterloo eastbound being seen by midday itself. Although the route is difficult to handle, the team at London United already have experience running through said area with Route 148, as well as Stamford Brook having operated big routes like the 9, 10 and 27.
LT667 queuing in traffic approaching Fulham Broadway.
© Aubrey Morandarte
Post and photographs by Aubrey Morandarte
All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2019
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