Notting Hill Carnival Buses Part 2 26/08/13

The second part of the Notting Hill Carnival Buses posts include diversions, extras, curtailments and a nice sprint...

Tower Transit VN37943 on Route 28, Kensington High Street
28 got extra buses and was curtailed at the north at Notting Hill Gate


Metroline VW1398 on Route 52, Kensington High Street
Route 52 ran in two sections: Victoria to Notting Hill Gate and Victoria to Willesden via Marble Arch


Metroline VW1396 on Route 52, Kensington High Street


Metroline VWH1411 on Route 52, Kensington High Street


London United SLE43 (49), ADH31 (27), London United
Route 27 was diverted and affected by the Carnival


Tower Transit DML44325 on Route 70, Kensington High Street
Route 70 was diverted/affected by Carnival as well


Tower Transit DN33787 on Route 28, Kensington


Tower Transit VN37994 on Route 28, Kensington High Street


Abellio London 9410 on Route 452, Kensington High Street
Route 452 was cut at Notting Hill Gate and diverted.


Tower Transit DN33780 on Route 28, Kensington High Street


Tower Transit DNH39127 on Route 23, Paddington
Route 23 had been directly affected by the Carnival


Metroline VPL602 on Route 390, St Pancras
Route 390 had extra buses to cope with loadings

Then, I went to White City*. Things can only go well...


Metroline West DE1627 on Route 228*, White City*
The 228 was suspended between Maida Hill and White City*



Tower Transit DML44323 on Route 70, White City*
Route 70 was diverted via White City due to Carnival


Tower Transit DN33777 on Route 295, White City*
Route 295 was suspended between North Kensington and Ladbroke Grove. It was also diverted too, as shown here...


Metroline West DE1627 on Route 228*, White City*


Metroline TE1310 on Route 316, White City*
Route 316 was diverted around the carnival and converted to double deck.


Tower Transit WN35004 on Route 328, White City*
Route 328 had extras and was diverted via White City around Carnival


Tower Transit DML44318 on Route 70, White City*


Tower Transit DML44325 on Route 70, White City*


Tower Transit VN37960 on Route 295, White City*


Tower Transit VNW32420 (328), London United ADE64 (220), White City*


Tower Transit VNW32408 on Route 31, White City*
Route 31 was diverted around the carnival


Tower Transit VN37954 on Route 295, White City*


Metroline West DE1909 (95), Tower Transit VNW32381 (31), White City*


Metroline TEH1227 on Route 316, White City*


Metroline TE1091 on Route 316, White City*


Tower Transit DNH39116 on Route 295, White City*


Tower Transit VN37956 on Route 295, White City Station*


Metroline TEH1453 on Route 316, White City Station*

I then was forced to sprint to the station in order to get home.

Finally, though:

Notting Hill Carnival Stations poster with a spelling mistake. Check it out...

Random Picture of the Month 9 (August)

Well, I promised the Sovereign VHs, and I have not failed to deliver.
And, although I may post this in September, I did start it in the last minute (31/08/2013, 23:59) of August so it does still count.

Like the July post, this picture is a blind change, and a variation which is stead never to happen (although I jolly hope it does).

London Sovereign VH17 at Aldwych.
Thanks to the kind driver for changing the blinds.
Seen blinded for route 114 to Field End Road.

And there it is!

As I'm sure you're all aware, the 114 is indeed my local route. Between May 20th and August 12th, YT11LSD became a regular part of service (although I can confirm this has now left), and since the arrival of the VHs the allocation has become somewhat irregular with more SPs, VLPs and 55-reg SLEs on the route.

Now whether the above will actually happen (although I can almost guarantee the curtailment won't) or not is somewhat uncertain. BT do have a tendency to mix the buses around on a day-to-day basis but because this is a hybrid it may be a different scenario.

More about the bus, it comes with the new Veolia Transdev merger styling, with the "name of one and the colours of the other" - hence the Transdev name remains albeit with a Veolia style interior and exterior branding. It is remarkable that London United have kept more of the 'Transdev traits', such as the yellow branding and turquoise interior, rather than London Sovereign which is actually still technically Transdev.

But, I must say, these are positive steps for Sovereign. Some of the displaced SLEs have already gone for refurbishment, and the others will soon follow suit. These will replace most of the older Volvo B7TLs creating a nearly full Scania allocation for the non-hybrid routes. In 2015, the 114 will be tendered and upon the contract being retained (or not, but I hope Sovereign do retain it) it is imagined that a large new batch of buses will be ordered for both the 114 and 292, similar spec to the VHs.

The new logo should also be applied to the 11-reg DEs at SO and BT, which have been without logos for 2 years. Whether the legals and other branding changes too, we'll just have to see.


Thanks for reading this post, and if you haven't gone on these buses I seriously recommend you do!
Oh, and, typical WLTM style, they do have that 'rubber smell'...

LJN 2013

Notting Hill Carnival Shuttle Routes 26/08/13

Notting Hill Carnival is probably the largest, loudest and most exciting street party in Europe (which I may never go to, even though I'd want to). But I covered buses alongside, affected by the carnival. And yes, it did mean I went to White City (in part 2). This can only end well...

Firstly - the shuttles:

2X/436X, if you haven't gathered ;)
2X was operated by VLAs and Ts (which I almost got, if it weren't for some cars, a whole central reservation made of rocks etc etc)
436X is made of spare MECs ex-507/521


London General MEC15 on Route 436X, Kensington High Street


Arriva London South VLA2 on Route 2X, Kensington High Street


London General MEC33 on Route 436X, Kensington High Street


London General MEC18 on Route 436X, Kensington High Street


Arriva London South VLA10 on Route 2X, Kensington High Street


Arriva London South VLA9 on Route 2X, Hyde Park Corner


London General MEC27 on Route 436X, Hyde Park Corner

Now, 36 extras and 36X:


Go-Ahead London E266 on Route 36X, Arriva HV53 on Route 73, Hyde Park Corner


Go-Ahead London WVL129 on Route 36 Extra, Park Lane

And the final special Carnival route:


205X - Aldgate to Harrow Road (using E40H), the only shuttle I went on!:


Stagecoach 12132 on Route 205X, Marylebone

205X to Aldgate iBus


Stagecoach 12148 on Route 205X, St Pancras

205X to Harrow Road, Elgin Avenue iBus


Stagecoach 12128 on Route 205X, Marylebone


Stagecoach 12134 on Route 205X, Marylebone

Then the diversions and extras, covered in Kensington High Street and, yes, White City* in the next post...