Electric Enviros for London United

The first set of buses for the newest wave of delayed electric conversions arrived today (01/10/2018) on Route 70. The BYD K9/ADL Enviro 200EV is the type of bus, meaning that London United is the first operator to co-currently have two types of production electric buses allocated to their routes. A partial allocation of production Optare Metrocity electric buses on the H98 are the other type that London United have.

BE37011 at Chiswick Business Park, starting an eastbound journey.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

Intended for Routes 70 and C1, these buses are based at Shepherd's Bush Garage. As these buses contracted to run the 70/C1 were delayed, the cascade of displaced existing buses are affecting routes such as the 72/371/419 and H22 which are still pending their newer buses from the C1 and 70 respectively.

These buses are similar in length to the existing Enviro 200MMCs on the 70, and slightly longer than the Enviro 200s on the C1, thus length of the buses should not be too much of an issue. However, a combination of larger wheels and smaller overhangs (as the bus is a downsized full-size bus, rather than an up-sized midibus) has been a small issue for Route 46, partly explaining why existing buses are still on that route.


A higher point of view of BE37011 shows the driver's air conditioning pod and the large battery pack.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

Iron-phosphate batteries are found on the roof, which are much cleaner to produce than most other batteries power a motor, driving the rear wheels for drive. Although electric buses do not produce emissions at the immediate vicinity of the bus, the electricity ironically is usually from non-renewable sources. The minimal space on the roof that is not taken by the battery pack means the fleet number on the roof is more forward than on other buses.


BE37010 arrives at Chiswick Business Park
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

At a rate of a maximum of 5 per day (according to staff at Shepherd's Bush), these electric buses will slowly displace the year old diesel Enviro 200MMCs that were ordered for the 70 in lieu of these electric buses being delayed. It is unknown for a certain date for the introduction of these buses on Route C1, but expect it to be in the near future.


A sight which may not last for too much longer, as ADH45004 on the soon to be curtailed 27 passes BE37011 on stand.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

Route 27 has the two London United prototype Enviro 400 hybrid buses, introduced into London service on the 482 just about 10 years ago. To think that in 2018, we now have electric buses sufficiently proven to be the allocation on several routes shows how far we have developed technologically. The Anglo-Chinese partnership for the BYD/ADL bus seems to be popular with many British cities (i.e. Liverpool, Nottingham as well as London). The next step for the BYD/ADL partnership is the double decker version, which will be arriving in 2019 for Route 43 with Metroline.

Post by Aubrey Morandarte

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Please do not reproduce any images without permission

New Solo stock arrives

Wednesday 19th September saw Metroline’s new slimline Optare Solo SRs enter service on the Hampstead Garden Suburb routes, H2 & H3. They have also become the company’s first “68” registered vehicles. Originally ordered for the contract which began in June, having been won from Arriva London (at Garston), the delivery date for the new vehicles slipped later and later.

 

In June Metroline had to hire the existing Arriva buses on loan and run a temporary schedule on the 631, the new vehicles on having a lower capacity requires an extra 631 trip to meet the existing.

 

The six Solos, OS2499-2504, are also unique in having LED destination screens as opposed to the standard roller blind system. Being the slimline version, the vehicles are too small to fit the smartblind units in, with LEDs being the only option. They also feature moquette fitted headrests, a luxury on the standard London bus!

Having arrived over the weekend of the 8-9th September, one Solo, OS2500, was readied to be taken to Metroline's Holloway Open Day on Saturday 15th as a special guest showing off the latest addition to the fleet. A suitable LED display was also drawn up for the occasion!

All six are now in service, however on Mondays to Fridays they are restricted to the H2. The Monday to Friday H3 has crosslinked trips in the morning and afternoon with the 631 school route. The new Solos have a slightly reduced capacity than the Arriva model, and such the "new" 631 requires additional trips to maintain the capacity. The "new" schedule is due to begin after the October half term when the last of the loaned Arriva Solos will be stood down, and the H2, H3 & 631 will be 100% converted to the new Solos fleet.

OS2502, OS2500, OS2499 & OS2501 lined up inside Cricklewood Garage, having had their LEDs updated.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/30723173428/in/photostream/
© Tommy Cooling

OS2500 was one of the surprise guests at the Holloway Open Day, and even had an LED screen for it to match!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/43060554290/in/photostream/
© Tommy Cooling

OS2502 & OS2504 at Golders Green on their first day in passenger service, on the H2 & H3.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/44780548041/in/photostream/
© Tommy Cooling

OS2504 in Golders Green on the H3.
An Arriva Solo is still being used on this route due to the crosslinks with the 631, and school loading capacity concerns.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/30927474098/in/photostream/
© Tommy Cooling

OS2501 in Golders Green on the H2.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/44772367092/in/photostream/
© Tommy Cooling

OS2502 in the Garden Suburb on the H2 towards Golders Green.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/44882666781/in/photostream/
© Tommy Cooling

 

OS2504 in the Garden Suburb on the H2 towards Golders Green.
Despite the concentration of housing, the area still retains a very village-like feeling.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/29945826197/in/photostream/
© Tommy Cooling

 

 

Post by Tommy Cooling

Some of these images and more can be found on my Flickr page:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127662272@N07/

Please do not reproduce any of my images without permission

Picture Archive Post 75

London General 8306 on Route 100, St Paul's, 20/09/2014
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

8306 was originally Travel London's DP306, ordered for Route 100 in September 2004 from their then newest base of Walworth (WL). It stayed with the 100, even with the contract moving to London General (Go-Ahead London). As their Enviro 200s were not delivered for the start of the 100 contract, they leased the existing buses from Abellio London. Based at Mandela Way (MW), this arrangement lasted until the new buses entered service. Once this had taken place, it was withdrawn from Abellio London service in May 2015. It is now found in the West Midlands, operating for Thandi.

This bus is seen at a place that it no longer serves, as the 100 was truncated to Barbican, London Wall/Museum of London.
This however, is still longer than the original route, having run only between Liverpool Street and Shadwell upon introduction in June 1989. Under sectorisation, it moved from Clapton (CT) to Bow (BW) in 1990, thus falling under East London (and eventually Stagecoach East London). 1992 saw the route move to Stratford (SD), and 1998 saw new Dennis Dart SLFs for the route. 18th September 1999 saw the route be extended to its longest extent, Elephant & Castle to Shadwell. Travel London, then reentering the London tendering market for the second time, gained the 100 off Stagecoach in September 2004, with the Darts as seen above. New Enviro 200s arrived in 2010 in order to supplement the Darts. After the loss of the 100 to Go-Ahead on September 2014, the allocation temporarily moved to cover the lack of new Enviro 200s. Once those new buses entered service, the ex-Abellio buses returned to their owner. The 100 was truncated to Barbican on 8th April 2017, replaced by the 388 being extended to Elephant & Castle.

Ironically, under the future TfL Central London cuts, the 388 will be truncated to Finsbury Circus, thus the 100 will return to St Paul's. Considering the 100 was cut back in 2017, it seems that planners are messing heavily with financial implications for the 100 contract, as well as the general public. Although, extending the 100 may not require more than 1 extra bus, as it is a very short distance between Barbican and St Paul's.

Post by Aubrey.

All rights reserved © WLTMTB 2018