Prototype Enviro 200

Pre Note by Au: This was in draft when James left the blog. This has meant that this is still left. So, instead of wasting a subject, the WLTM Transport Blog as a team have completed this post. I've done a few edits to this rusty post, because, well, why not?

Now, James?:
The Enviro 200 Dart is a well known bus around the UK and especially London, where many of the main operators in London have at least a batch of them for a route. We're all familiar of the shape, the size and the layout of the E200.

An Enviro 200 of Abellio London at West Middlesex Hospital. These have gone a redesign since the launch to comply with ECWTA regulations. (James Panaligan)

It, however, had a prototype. The initial design differs from the original, mainly for the front styling but mainly because of the doors. Unlike the Dart chassis, where the door is located on the centre of the bus, inbetween the wheels, the prototype Enviro 200 "Easy Flow" bus had a door at the very rear, behind the rear wheel, creating a fully low floor bus. This was done by mounting the engine to the side making enough space for a rear door. This was a very strange layout. It never caught on with operators and the period of time it was conceived was when TransBus became Alexander Dennis and this had an impact on the sales of the bus that none were ordered.

The Demonstrator, SN54 GRU, at the Cobham Bus Rally, 2007 (Arriva436, photo under creative commons. Yes, it is on Wikipedia...)

It found service on Route 33, 214 before going to Stagecoach, Safeguard amongst other operators on the course of the very eventful life it has had so far:

London United trialled the bus for a bit on Route 33 back in 2005-2006 (Unisouth, photo under creative commons. Yes, it is on Wikipedia...)

So, where is it now? Including the London demonstrator, three were built. These were originally built for London, where the rear door would provide easy access to the pavement and it would benefit from a dual door bus like this. Two other examples, GX56 BKY and GX56 BKZ were operated by Far East Buses and was, for a while, left in a yard to rust.
It was then bought by it's present home at Buses Excetera. It currently operates on any route with Buses Excetera, to be honest. It is however "allocated" to the 516. SN54 GRU is now at Buses Excetera too, with the rest. It's an interesting sight to see what could've been the E200 we all know today, with a strange rear door at the very back...

Here are some pictures of the Enviro 200 demonstrators at the Cobham Spring Gathering by Lewis:

Buses Excetera S12ETC (formerly GX56 BKZ) on route 462 (Lewis)

Buses Excetera S13ETC (formerly GX56 BKY) displaying route 25 (Lewis)

The interior view of the bus shows the unusual layout adopted by Transbus in this prototype (Lewis)

The cab of the Enviro 200 (Lewis)

Here is S40ETC (SN54GRU) on Rail Replacement by Josh:

 
Buses Excetera S40 (S40ETC, formerly SN54 GRU), Surbiton, 17/11/13 (Josh)

And now, Buses Excetera have the demonstrator of the current, "newer" E20D:

Buses Excetera YX63 GYG on Rail Replacement, 17/11/13 (Josh)

What next for the now successful Enviro 200 design?...

(text by James and Aubrey, photos by James, Arriva436, Unisouth, Joshua Perrett, Lewis Nagle)

Bracknell Bus War & Green Line New Buses 23/11/13

(Au) Firstly, the First Beeline Green Line new Volvo B9TLs that replace a B7TL and coaches on the 701/702. They offer leather, high backed seats, a table on the upper deck, and Wi-Fi!

 
First Beeline 37998 on Route 702, Bracknell Bus Station


Lower Deck interior


Upper Deck interior


And there's a power supply!


First Beeline 37998 on Route 702, Bracknell

And they are very comfortable, so as long as you don't need to see the front of the bus! The wi-fi is always a bonus. Why don't we put them on the London buses??

In the background at Bracknell, the Bracknell Bus War continues! Three operators battling for supremacy of Bracknell. Long standing First Beeline is under attack by Courtney, whilst Thames Travel decide to surrender to the other two battlers by January 2014! (for a proper overview, see below the pictures)

The operators:
First Beeline: 151, 151A, 155, 171/172, 190, 191, 194, X94

 

First Beeline 64018 on Route 171, Bracknell


First Beeline 64013 on Route 172, Bracknell


First Beeline 64013 on Route 172, Bracknell


First Beeline 33141 on Route 190, Bracknell


First Beeline 64017 on Route 171, Bracknell


First Beeline ES64001 on Route X94, Bracknell. A Beeline Citaro is behind, and finally behind all that is a Courtney SoloSR.


First 64012 on Route 172, Bracknell


First Beeline ES64001 on Route X94, Bracknell


First Beeline 33181 on Route 194, Bracknell


First Beeline 64018 on Route 171, Bracknell


First 65602 on Route 191, Bracknell


First Beeline 65624 on Route 194, Bracknell


First Beeline TN33147 on Route 190, Bracknell


First Beeline 64602 (Route 191), Thames Travel 503 (Route 108), Bracknell


First Beeline 64005 on Route 155, Bracknell

Thames Travel: 53, 108, 152, 153, 154, 156, 162.

 
Thames Travel 507 on Route 162, Bracknell


Thames Travel 709 on Route 153, Bracknell


Thames Travel 401 on Route 53, Bracknell


Thames Travel 503 on Route 108, Bracknell


Thames Travel 714 on Route 156, Bracknell

 
Thames Travel 718 on Route 162 and later 151A, Bracknell (Route 151A has since passed to First Beeline)


Thames Travel 503 on Route 108, Bracknell


Thames Travel 709 (Route 153), 714 (Route 154), Bracknell

Courtney Buses: 171/172, 194

Courtney YJ62FYH on Route 194, Bracknell


Courtney YJ62FME on Route 171, Bracknell


Courtney YJ62FMD on Route 172, Bracknell

Or here's a more "proper" view of things. First Beeline is the established operator (since the post-privatisation Bee Line) . Courtney decides to expand within Bracknell. They get the tendered 171/172 evening/Sunday and 194 Sunday services. However, Courtney decide to compete with First Beeline with the 155A, 171/172, 194, mainly after they lost the 171/172 evening services to First Beeline (who are running it under tender per de jure, yet de facto commercially). So First decide to make the X94 to get a more direct version of it's own 194 (which is competing with Courtney on the same route. The usual "timetable just ahead of the competitor" then applied until First Beeline conceded and did even spacing between it and Courtney. Then Courtney withdraw the competing 155A, thus leaving just the 155 (First Beeline) to Harmanswater. Courtney however still operate the now lime/green Optare Solo (SR) on Route 171/172 and 194. The spare white bus may also be used.

Thames Travel decide to leave Bracknell, leaving a host of routes to fight for between First Beeline and Courtney. First Beeline will get the 53, 108 and 153. Courtney will get the 152, 154, 156, 162. First Beeline have already claimed the 151/151A already (as of time of writing). This will be quite competitive...

Temporary Route 533 12/11/13, 13/11/13

(Au) Hammersmith Bridge Approach southbound closes. This leaves a gap in services across Hammersmith Bridge, affecting the 33, 72, 209, 283 and 419. The solution - split the 72 into East Acton-Hammersmith Butterwick and Castelnau, Lonsdale Road-Roehampton, run the 283 only between East Acton and Hammersmith Butterwick. The rest would terminate short of Hammersmith at Castelnau, Lonsdale Road. But the replacement? Well, that's where 533 comes in.

London United send DPSs that will run on the K50 eventually, but mainly from 265 and K routes up to Hammersmith to run the evening-night-early morning 533 between Hammersmith, Castelnau and Hammersmith via Chiswick Bridge running from 2100 to 0600hrs.

London United DPS659 runs the first journey of the second night, whilst a temporary timetable adorns a temporary stop at the 33 stand.

...or rather the second one, as DPS721 decides to take first go.


The final blind display, noting closely at the destination boards for Route 533...

 
533 to both Castelnau and Hammersmith Bus Station


London United DPS659 on Route 533, Hammersmith Butterwick Bus Station, doing the second journey.


London United DPS650 on Route 533, Hammersmith Butterwick Bus Station, doing the third journey.

I eventually went home, but I'd cover it the next day. After doing the sixth form open evening on the 12th, I thought it'd be wise to go to a Central London lecture on the 13th. So I did, and got to Hammersmith just in time for the first 533. Again!


London United DPS648 on Route 533, Hammersmith Butterwick Bus Station


London United DPS588 on Route 533, Hammersmith (first journey)


London United DPS648 on Route 533, Hammersmith (second journey)

I got on this to get home, eventually!

Some of the affected routes:


London United DE46 on Route 72, Hammersmith (the last over Hammersmith Bridge for the day, 12/11/13)


London United OV66 on Route 283, Hammersmith 13/11/13


London United DE115 on Route 33, Hammersmith 13/11/13


London United OV55 on Route 283, Hammersmith 13/11/13