Route 222 was last operated from Uxbridge Garage under First Centrewest back on 16th September 2000. Once this was lost in tender to London United, it stayed with London United for 17 years, before returning to what was Centrewest on 16th September 2017.
Bringing a second former Hounslow route into the Metroline realm with yet again, more hybrid Volvo B5LH/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3s after the 120 moved to Perivale earlier in the year, the 222 was, for most of its recent history, based in Uxbridge garage.
An all London United affair last year, now the 120 and 222 have left Hounslow for pastures new-ish. Metroline West VWH2170 on Route 222 and Metroline VWH2277 on Route 120 are the non-native buses at London United's Hounslow Garage where London United SP40072 is based, on Route H98.
(© Aubrey)
Other than the first night, where there was an operational hiccup and there were unexplained gaps in service, the 222 since then ran a fairly normal day service on the first day.
On the first day, VWH2168 on Route 222 sits alongside London United's TA40250 on Route H32
(© Aubrey)
The current buses on the 222 are the 114's batch of buses, as the 222 requires the buses on the route to be hybrid. As the buses for the 114 for are blinded, these are temporarily on the 222.
VWH2181 picks up passengers at Harlington Corner, where it wouldn't look out of place as 140 has had similar buses for the past year now. A Hounslow based SP loads on the 111 behind.
(© Aubrey)
19 brand new Wrightbus Gemini 3 B5LHs were ordered for the route, VWH2345-2363. However, the Wrightbus delivery schedule had gone awry, such that on the first day of the 222 contract, only four out of 19 had been delivered, and none of which had passed their pre-service checks. In the weeks leading up to the new contract, numerous plans had been put forward as ideas of what to do should the situation of having no new vehicles arise. This was made even trickier by Wrightbus' continual guarantee to have all 19 vehicles with Metroline by early September. The plan that was put into place was to utilise the large number of Willesden-bound hybrids sat in store at Hayes on the 114, and use the 114s vehicles which had been reblinded for the 222, on the 222. Thus the 222 contract of Euro VI was satisfied from day one using buses that had the correct displays.
As the buses for the 222 are late, new buses intended for Willesden Garage routes have temporary displays for Route 114. VWH2323 shows the situation at Ruislip Station.
(© Aubrey)
The 114 then had the rest. This included up to 17 newer VWHs but as these were Willesden-bound, they already had Willesden blinds fitted. Therefore 114 slipboards had to be drawn up (with examples displayed above)! In addition, five TEs due to arrive at Uxbridge as part of the U4 contract, which will replace the VPs, were also hastily moved from Potters Bar to Uxbridge to provide additional cover. These were to provide the safety float between the 114 and 222 as they had blinds for both routes.
A slightly confused driver puts up Hounslow West Station on VWH2185, when actually enroute to Hounslow Bus Station.
(CC Aubrey)
Although the buses are pre-existing to Metroline West, the some of the drivers are new to Metroline West, as some drivers transferred from London United.
However, except for the normal first day hiccups and bunching, the service has since started to settle down. The frequency decrease for the route has led to buses getting much busier, but the first day may have been an exaggeration due to the extent of bus bunching that happened.
VWH2183 runs home at Uxbridge after another run on the 222
(© Aubrey)
The first new buses for the 222 has now entered service. This will allow Willesden buses to enter their intended services, and the 114 to regain some of its own buses back, with full blinds again. Although the contract is stated for hybrids, other blinded buses have entered service on the route, including a Volvo B7TL (VW) and an Enviro 400 (TE). Luckily, no buses with no blinds for the route have entered service on the 222, so far.
Post and photos by Aubrey Morandarte and Tommy Cooling.
 |
| VWH2170 arrives at Hounslow Bus Station at the end of its 222 trip from Uxbridge on the first morning with Metroline © Tommy Cooling |
An all London United affair last year, now the 120 and 222 have left Hounslow for pastures new-ish. Metroline West VWH2170 on Route 222 and Metroline VWH2277 on Route 120 are the non-native buses at London United's Hounslow Garage where London United SP40072 is based, on Route H98.
(© Aubrey)
Other than the first night, where there was an operational hiccup and there were unexplained gaps in service, the 222 since then ran a fairly normal day service on the first day.
On the first day, VWH2168 on Route 222 sits alongside London United's TA40250 on Route H32
(© Aubrey)
The current buses on the 222 are the 114's batch of buses, as the 222 requires the buses on the route to be hybrid. As the buses for the 114 for are blinded, these are temporarily on the 222.
VWH2181 picks up passengers at Harlington Corner, where it wouldn't look out of place as 140 has had similar buses for the past year now. A Hounslow based SP loads on the 111 behind.
(© Aubrey)
19 brand new Wrightbus Gemini 3 B5LHs were ordered for the route, VWH2345-2363. However, the Wrightbus delivery schedule had gone awry, such that on the first day of the 222 contract, only four out of 19 had been delivered, and none of which had passed their pre-service checks. In the weeks leading up to the new contract, numerous plans had been put forward as ideas of what to do should the situation of having no new vehicles arise. This was made even trickier by Wrightbus' continual guarantee to have all 19 vehicles with Metroline by early September. The plan that was put into place was to utilise the large number of Willesden-bound hybrids sat in store at Hayes on the 114, and use the 114s vehicles which had been reblinded for the 222, on the 222. Thus the 222 contract of Euro VI was satisfied from day one using buses that had the correct displays.
As the buses for the 222 are late, new buses intended for Willesden Garage routes have temporary displays for Route 114. VWH2323 shows the situation at Ruislip Station.
(© Aubrey)
The 114 then had the rest. This included up to 17 newer VWHs but as these were Willesden-bound, they already had Willesden blinds fitted. Therefore 114 slipboards had to be drawn up (with examples displayed above)! In addition, five TEs due to arrive at Uxbridge as part of the U4 contract, which will replace the VPs, were also hastily moved from Potters Bar to Uxbridge to provide additional cover. These were to provide the safety float between the 114 and 222 as they had blinds for both routes.
A slightly confused driver puts up Hounslow West Station on VWH2185, when actually enroute to Hounslow Bus Station.
(CC Aubrey)
Although the buses are pre-existing to Metroline West, the some of the drivers are new to Metroline West, as some drivers transferred from London United.
However, except for the normal first day hiccups and bunching, the service has since started to settle down. The frequency decrease for the route has led to buses getting much busier, but the first day may have been an exaggeration due to the extent of bus bunching that happened.
VWH2183 runs home at Uxbridge after another run on the 222
(© Aubrey)
The first new buses for the 222 has now entered service. This will allow Willesden buses to enter their intended services, and the 114 to regain some of its own buses back, with full blinds again. Although the contract is stated for hybrids, other blinded buses have entered service on the route, including a Volvo B7TL (VW) and an Enviro 400 (TE). Luckily, no buses with no blinds for the route have entered service on the 222, so far.
Post and photos by Aubrey Morandarte and Tommy Cooling.
