Tube Strike Round 2 Part 2

Tube Strike Day 2, here it goes, again!:

As a result of the Metropolitan line being shut thanks to the strike, Lewis gathered some Sullivan Buses Enviros on the H11:


Sullivan Buses AE5 on Route H11, Harrow (LJN)


Sullivan Buses AE5 on Route H11, Harrow (LJN) (taken on Day 1)

Meanwhile, in Central London, I hit the blues!:


...or rather, Amber. Or is it white?
Ambus (Amber-Lee) Y202 NLK on Route 26 'Gaffer Tape', St Paul's (Au)
Amber-Lee Coaches extras can only go on the 26 because the buses have blinds for the 265 and some gaffer tape ready for the strike. The tape is even done on the outside! It's still a bus though, which is always good!


But we can all learn from the excellent presentation Seaford & District did with some of their buses! Proper displays (in colour too!), and neat bus.
Seaford and District TA10 on Route 26, St Paul's (Au)


..or Ensign with nearly all their extras! Buses with full blinds on the 15.
Ensignbus DM2646 on Route 15, St Paul's (Au)


Ensignbus being the main contributor of extras (Routes 8, 15, 25, 38), including these two buses
Ensignbus RTL453 and RMC1485 on Route 15, St Paul's


Seaford and District TA9 (unrefurbished) on Route 26, St Paul's (Au)


Tower Transit TN33198 on Route 23, St Paul's (Au)
Some routes had extras from within their bus companies.


Boris, that did hit hard! Yes, a full bendy coach!
Ensignbus 401 on Route 25, St Paul's (Au)


Also full was this bus with free wi-fi, kind passengers and music.
Travelmasters EY07 AXJ on Route 25, St Paul's (Au)


Travelmasters EY07 AXJ on Route 25, Aldgate (Au)


As typical with any tube strike, all 25s were full at the western end!
Tower Transit VN36111 on Route 25, Aldgate (Au)


Tower Transit VN36118 on Route 25, Aldgate (Au)
That bus behind in the distance is yet another 25, it had already terminated and turned around to Ilford.


Ensignbus RT3251 on Route 15, Aldgate (Au)


Ensignbus M1 (THX 101S) on Route 15, Aldgate (Au)


Tower Transit VN36156 on Route 25, Aldgate (Au)
Clearly full, the driver rejects more passengers, as per usual on the 25!


Stagecoach 12147 on Route 15, Aldgate (Au)


Ensignbus RT4421, Aldgate (Au)
This bus was earlier on the 38, as the blinds show


Southern Transit TA1 on Route 205, Aldgate (Au)
Southern Transit also helped on the 205 with L1 on the 205.


London Bus Company RML2231 on Route 29, Trafalgar Square (Au)


Arriva London LT208 on Route 38, Green Park (Au)


A dying breed.
Arriva London DW235 on Route 38, Piccadilly (Au)

I did leave Central London earlier than usual, for no reason.


London United LT144 on Route 148, Shepherd's Bush Station (Au)

Tube Strike 2014 Round 2 Part 1 29/04/14

Tube Strike again - this time only RMT staff walked out of work. This led to even more Tube Strike Bus extras, supplied from numerous companies. I made the effort to go to Central London and I did get some interesting things during the misery/blessing (delete as appropriate) of the tube strike. It was practically a London Bus Rally! This post covers the first day of the strike, where I did not get much, mainly due to a later arrival in Central London:

Go-Ahead London DRM2516 (WLT 516) on Route 36, Vauxhall

Traffic at Victoria/Hyde Park Corner was horrendous, leading to curtailments:


Metroline TEH1464 on Route 16, Victoria

It seems that Tube Strikes trigger early NBfL conversions. This is the second early (leading to full) conversion:


Arriva London LT176 on Route 38, Victoria


Arriva London LT208 on Route 38, Green Park

Route 38 full conversion (with part route crewing - up to Islington(?) from Victoria) isn't for another two weeks!


This bus did spring up on me, and I couldn't get a good picture of it.
Ensignbus MRJ 233W (Southend Transport 233) on Route 38, Hyde Park Corner


London United LT86 on Route 9, Hyde Park Corner


London United LT69 on Route 9, Green Park
The worst route on Tube Strike days was the 25, but the 9 could come close to contending with it!


London General WVL501 on Route 14, Piccadilly

Route 29 had extras as it was practically the Piccadilly Line rail replacement:

Arriva Wandsworth DLP20 on Route 29, Trafalgar Square


London Bus Company RML893 on Route 29, Trafalgar Square


Timebus RML2389 on Route 29, Trafalgar Square


Timebus RML2263 on Route 29, Tottenham Court Road/Centrepoint

Another route affected by reliability was 176, many curtailing at Trafalgar Square:

Arriva London T99 on Route 176, Trafalgar Square

Route 205 had extras again from the provinces:

Stagecoach South Downs 18511 on Route 205, Warren Street


Stagecoach 18310 on Route 205, Warren Street

The observations from the second day of the strike are on the next post, as I got more from the next day.

Tube Strike 2014 Round 1 05-06/02/14

Possibly one of the least successful posts I'll do, but I made the effort to go to Central London and I did get some interesting things during the misery/blessing (delete as appropiate) of the tube strike. RMT and TSSA unions go on strike due to job cuts. Bus enthusiasts rejoice as special extras go on the route. I don't, but I still go to see the sight of extra buses. Or rather lack of them...

Firstly, 05/02/14

Metroline TP439 on Route E3, Northfields
Barely any people on it, as the driver refused to let anyone on. Even me.


London United ADH37 on Route 27, Hammersmith
Route 27 was one of the more crowded routes, especially due to it being a relief to the Circle/H&C lines.


Abellio 9417 on Route 211, Hammersmith
Route 211 was one of the routes having extra buses, including a little 8.8m MPD, more suited for routes like the H28!


London United ADH34 on Route 27, Kensington
This bus just changed to turning at Hammersmith from turning at Stamford Brook.


Buses Excetera PVL175 on Route 27, Kensington
A proper Tube Strike Extra. With correct displays.


Buses Excetera PVL211 on Route 27, Kensington
27, thrice.


Metroline VW1398 on Route 52, Hyde Park Corner
It was a nightmare to get anywhere in Central London, especially with crowding like this!


London United LT144 on Route 148, Marble Arch
The future, brought to you by Tube Strikes. LT conversion of 148 being this week. They ended up full, clearly!


Go-Ahead London PVL248 on Route 36, Marble Arch
Conditions for photos were getting worse by the minute..


...or not:
Arriva HV33 on Route 73, Oxford Street


Tower Transit DN33617 on Route 25, St Pauls
A lack of displays. How confusing...


Tower Transit VN36119 on Route 25, St Pauls
At least this had the destination.


Stagecoach 17767 on Route 8, St Pauls
The distant cousin of the 25 also had extras, with paper blinds.


Tower Transit VN36152 on Route 25, St Pauls
Bucking the trend by running not packed to the rafters...


Abellio 9057 on Route 188, Aldwych


London Central WVL236 on Route X68, Aldwych
It was 2030hrs at the point, so I didn't expect this!


Tower Transit TN33187 on Route 23, Aldwych


London United SP135 on Route H91, Hammersmith
H91 had loads of extras. Full and empty ones, especially on the VA H91 extras, which were empty due to it being non-stop between termini. Which made it useless.

Then 06/02/14:

London Central E220 on Route 436, Marble Arch


Stagecoach 12138 on Route 205, Angel


Stagecoach 17767 on Route 205, Angel
A Romford bus on the 205, the usual paper blinds etc


Stagecoach 18514 on Route 205, Angel
This clearly isn't the usual. And has a display, due to flexible LEDs...


London United ADH25 on Route 27, Notting Hill Gate
Clearly, back to the old terminus. And back home.

Nearly two years of the WLTM Transport Blog, going through one rename, two leavers, three current fellow members and four total members. Lovely. Don't expect anything too special for the second year post!

Oh, and I missed the famous RMs, RTs et al on the 25, 29 etc. A lot of Latin abbreviations there!

Round 2 will cover one day, as the Thursday is blocked due to the ruddy school 'Speech Night'. How pointless, expensive and the wrong way to spend time...