Most heads of state and prime minsters we had in a long time.
The year of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee.
The year of the opening of the Elizabeth Line.
The year of her passing, rest in peace.
Through storm, through heatwave, through war in Europe, we've left from 2021, via 2022 to 2023.
Postscript: Initially typing the above I was bored to type more but less said the better.
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Whereby a name is stated and no © is present, the photo is Some Rights Reserved and may be used in accordance to the license.
January
First 'rare' on LVF was EH235 on 108D.
First tenders on 8th March.
1st: Manchester routes 17/18 receive the single-doored MHVs numbered 3051-3070 released from 63 's loss late last year.
Multiple routes up for frequency cuts, including 15 72 73 259 390 453 C1 and W7. When the cuts happen, is another story for later in the year.
Allegedly T186 fire damaged or in an accident turned out to actually be T184, taken away from Barking (DX) on 29 December. Meanwhile more of Norwood (N)'s LJ59-reg are withdrawn in store at Barking (DX), T91 T97 T110 T111 T113 and ENL18 from 325.
RATP's 235 electrics are LB71-reg.
2nd: RATP Dev Transit vehicles identity crisis on London Vehicle Finder with multiple vehicles shown as withdrawn or as '0'.
3rd: Metroline now have a Rail Replacement fleet consisting of TEs 1576-1581.
4th: Leases for the planned electrification of Orpington Bus Station for route 358's trial are underway as the land is owned by Network Rail and The Arch Company, with preparation to be complete by Spring/Summer.
Canteen gossips say 32 might return to Cricklewood (W) to allow for chargers installation at Edgware (EW). This did not happen.
In other news, the 645 commences after being delayed. The 633 gets extended from Beddington Church to Pollards Hill.
5th: A RATP Evoseti has the RATP moquette received upon refurbishment as 13's now-VMHs continue refurbishment from Tower Transit.
6th: Rumours said the 259 and N279 converted to LTs to release DWs off-lease in a similar fashion to T84-97 being sent off lease last year released by 160's Ts... turns to be true as LT564 becomes the first New Routemaster on route 259. LT568 became the first Borismaster on N279 on the 8th, promptly converting a few nights later.
Meanwhile, the 198 converts to HAs from route 133's cuts last year.
Wandsworth (JE) closes to TfL operations, and allegedly meant to be sold off.
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| Olivier N RATP 235. Correct bus. Runs to time. |
Writing this paragraph in December and the 33 converted partly using 235's intended BEs which have all been delivered long ago but could not be used at Hounslow Heath (WK) due to difficulties installing chargers. In addition, service of 235 has been noticeably worse, though the same can be argued for any RATP route the past few years, with 148 becoming London's worst high frequency route.
Last bus: DEL2258 at 00:42
First bus: DLE30243 and 30260 at 05:25
Five of 235's DELs are to transfer to Uxbridge (UX) following the loss of 235 for route A10 whilst the rest stay for routes 190/533. Perivale East (PV) receive the routes from Perivale West (PA) as PA prepares for closure, this allegedly includes 31 90 and 297 whilst as mentioned before route 120 moved to Lampton (SG) with it's VWHs whilst VWs also swapped over weirdly. Though it's not until February route 297 truly moves with 31 further rumoured to move to Willesden Junction (WJ) in March/April.
Meanwhile at Arriva, HV229 and HV230 have transferred to Wood Green (WN) sparking things to come for 221...
10th: Due to staff shortages routes 18 70 111 H32 and H37 ran on school holiday timetables whilst routes 28 211 and C1 ran on Saturday timetables throughout the week. Allegedly 300 drivers short. Route 65 joined in the holiday schedule team.
Meanwhile Metroline's OS68 returned to service but in Hertfordshire on route 242 at Potters Bar (PB).
11th: OEM2750 the Metrocity entered service on PB1.
A list of routes throughout England have been mentioned for axes/cuts as funding from the "Bus Back Better" comes to a close in March, with the measly £3 billion being not enough to satiate the £8 million required and much of it used in the recovery during the pandemic.
12th: Rumours say routes 5 and 101 will convert to LTs, though it's only route 5 which has ever seen the type to date due to crosslinks with N15.
13th: An LED BE enters service at Shepherd's Bush (S) on route C1, BE37056 joined later by BE37047 supposedly for refurb cover of the older BEs but in fact for warranty work.
London Bus Museum has acquired SP1 after a while under preservation.
Delivery of the 198 ADL Enviro500s to BVG in GErmany has begun with 5 manufactured a week in Scarborough, Yorkshire. Dual staircase and three doors with a capacity of 112 passengers.
14th: Type training of HAs at Thornton Heath (TH) continue with HA48 which stayed there unlike HA20 which returned to Brixton (BN).
15th: Route 72 along with route 15 and other routes receives frequency cuts whilst route 533 also receives a cut in frequency reverting to low frequency at every 15.
Meanwhile for Abellio, they get a new Managing Director.
Something only noticed towards the end of March with a new TLB publication was that a part allocation of N15 has moved from Silvertown (DS) back to River Road (RR), as service at the former proved troublesome.
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| Glaring 733; VH38112 BU16UXB |
17th: Temporary route 733 commences from Lea Interchange (LI) and standing at South Lambeth Place near Vauxhall. The Northern Line is shut on the Bank branch with the closure of Bank station southbound platform, with reopening after 13 May which is when route 733 is relieved of.
In other news, the 100 routes withdrawal threat comes down to lack of funding for the New Routemaster refurbishment plan of which a lot of early models were due to receive overhauls at Wright to increase reliability. Article by Routeone.
Walworth (WL) put out more electrics on route 63 using the chargers already installed for the Caetanos as well as a few pantographs. Some Citys received the "I'm an electric bus" branding. A few MMCs returned to Battersea (QB), 2534-2536.
18th: Sadiq Khan announced a daily driving charge of up to £2.
Flights in America are suspended even more, from the likes of Air India and Emirates due to the ongoing 5G technicalities.
Meanwhile Crossrail has been delayed from March to May.
19th: 119 and 264 confirmed to receive BYD E400 Cities.
The final decision on the 1/168/188 and 21/143/263/271 consultations to be released in March. Meanwhile, route 94 to receive it's cut the following week.
Arriva's T295 performed route 249 off iBus apparently.
20th: Rumours sparked of a withdrawal of Metroline route 84 due to LSP permits withdrawn in March allegedly though Covid supported government grants withdrawn in March is true. Those words have turned out to have weight to them as Metroline later announced such in early February intending to withdraw the 84 in April. Other operators willing to take parts of the route but not it's entirety, mostly the Potters Bar to New Barnet section not being wanted. It was confirmed in early February that the 84 has been deregistered by Metroline, Arriva also making cuts in the Watford area.
Abellio's 1521 spotted type training in Croydon.
21st: A Tottenham bus priority consultation was launched with a Stagecoach bus (12423) pictured outside Bow (BW) which somehow relates to the consultation?
Go-Ahead tweets about the EPs for route 132.
22nd: Worldwide Freedom Rally hits Central London with route 29 curtailed to Warren Street whilst HS2 works disruption reaches route 18 which also curtailed to Warren Street.
23rd: LOTS reported Westbourne Park (X) buses to receive RATP logos in the week following, special RATP Dev Transit logos on the sides to go with the standardised plain "RATP London" logos on the front and back.
Hounslow Brentford consultation of extra cycle lanes at the expense of bus lanes props up.
25th: Ee18 crashed into a building in Highams Park.
26th: WHV14 and WHV15 withdrawn to Ballymount, Ireland, both been last in service in December 2021. WHV1-8 to be cannabalised for spare parts to keep the rest of the ageing WHVs alive.
In positive news for Crossrail Canary Wharf has handed over from Crossrail to TfL making Bond Street the final station to not be complete although can be used for evacuation purposes even if it's closed from service.
28th: BCEs enter service on route 183 which allowed select SPs to transfer to Fulwell (FW), whilst in other RATP news ADH45078 becomes of the first with the new logo.
29th: After much deliberation the 28 returned on this day, a month after the RATP Dev Transit London tenure has happened, whilst Wandsworth (JE) closes it's doors to it's short TfL operation much shorter than the 337 tenure of 2004-2011.
Meanwhile after several months of delays a pledge for Harrow (SO)'s electrics to all enter service by the end of this month from last year has been upheld to some degree... by that I mean 183 seeing electrics in the summer, so not all bad for timing all things considered.
Due to A40 works routes 6 7 16 23 27 46 49 52 70 92 95 98 112 205 220 226 245 260 272 283 295 297 316 receive special Saturday and Sunday timetables for this weekend as if the routes haven't had ongoing special timetables to begin with.
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| DaniThePancake VWH2052 LK64EHW, Finchley |
Route 125 changed over from Metroline to RATP, again new electric vehicles were late but some were delivered. Alas it started with some ex-TT VHs joined with ex-116/423 VHs released from temporary conversion to SPs to allow for X140 to use the VHs. Interestingly some late duties are from Parr Road (CP) using hybrids from 698/X140. Allegedly only three drivers TUPE'd over from Potters Bar (PB) whom themselves are 60 drivers short. Changeovers mostly at Colindale with some live changeovers at Whetstone apparently to be removed in favour of all changeovers performed at Colindale in future. Rumours of 125's VWHs transferring to Brentford (AH) have surfaced in the meantime.
The first three days saw great service for a fresh changeover, though as day 4 hit, the service seemingly worsened. It never recovered for the better one could argue.
Last 125: VWH2235 at 01:18
First 125: VH45082 at 05:42
In another part of Britain, Cardiff says adios to bendy buses with the withdrawal of their articulated single deckers.
30th: Routes N20 and N91's Potters Bar (PB) allocations move to Holloway (HT) thus making both night routes fully HT.
February
1st: 2567 turns into flames, combusting whilst on N207 in the late morning at Lancaster Gate. The previous two weeks ago saw EH27 turn aflame on N15 too.
Route training for route 322 started with an E200MMC running around the route.
2nd: Wood Green (WN) rumoured to close for redevelopment into houses with provision for electric buses under the flats, Stamford Hill (SF) which is currently mothballed to reopen. This is just confirmed to be nothing but rumours. In the meantime in reality, refurbishment of 29's HVs have begun with HV91-93 all done.
3rd: 62-reg VWs transferred to Cricklewood (W) for route 210 as some TEHs were withdrawn.
Potential strike threat for Arriva London South and at Grays (GY) over driver pay.
4th: It's been said 25 contracts involving 90 new buses (248, 93, 151, 154, 163 and 384) were awarded but were paused until the funding agreement revision changed, on the 4th.
Route 7 reverts to hybrid again temporarily due to a shortage of hydrogen delivery again. This has also happened at Aberdeen and their hydrogen StreetDecks. Turned out to actually be panel issues on the "Hydroliner" StreetDecks.
TfL's funding deal extended for two weeks.
5th: LT20 refurbished with a new moquette more akin to Routemasters of old has entered service, it gained ISA in addition to it's new makeup. A week later LT15 would join the refurbished club.
In the meantime more tube strikes mentioned involving more than just the drivers.
Blackwall Tunnel closure grinds East and South East London to a halt.
6th: Go-Ahead acquired a demo Electroliner, EL1.
Enviro400s E255-259 decommissioned and transferred to the commercial fleet in favour of keeping MHV25-29, the rest of the 2012 E400s stay for route 37.
Potters Bar (PB) rumoured to close in future.
8th: Lewisham Council gave the go ahead for housing developments at the also-planned Surrey Canal Road station where works of the station should start in late 2024.
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| HA27 LK66GZV More common on 50 as less HAs were in Brixton (BN) |
9th: HA20 and HA21 enter service on 198 at Thornton Heath (TH) as the first hybrids at that depot in service. Whilst at Croydon (TC) HV53 has been received and HV50 already done 627 the day before and HV53 does it's allocated route 466.
10th: Consultation on withdrawal of N145.
11th: Sullivan confirmed to take over the 84 but only between St Albans and Potters Bar.
12th: The last SP to perform 183 has been SP99, after promises of no more SPs on the route from this day, it has probably been held well... not, as SP87 survived on 183 on Valentines Day.
Down in South London sees Tramlink closed until the 21st between East Croydon and West Croydon due to track works at Reeves Corner with rail replacement TR1 operating between Waddon Marsh and East Croydon.
Other rail closures include the TfL Rail, Overground (North London Line).
13th: Allegedly RATP to receive the 10.3m BYD E400EV demonstrator later in the year.
14th: Valentines Day surprises for you in the form of bus fare rising to £1.65 up from £1.55 with other fares also rising but 4.8% (between 10p and 30p on tube) instead of the bus increase of 6%. The fares increase come into effect in March.
Another surprise in the form of N69 being fully hybrid and a couple of EHs on day 69. This is the result of flooding at Silvertown (DS) which meant hybrids had to step in whilst the electrics have their battery seals properly redone.
15th: Potters Bar (PB) acquire a Yutong from Newport Bus, without seats but a bud for trial nonetheless.
Meanwhile routes 1/68/168/188 used Lambeth Bridge due to closures of Waterloo and Westminster Bridges, other routes also affected.
In other news, Vivarail has a contract to supply a single ex-D-stock Class 230 train on battery power for the Greenford branch on the Great Western Railway.
16th: A revelation that 226 has passed the test for 10.9m BYDs.
In train news, Streatham Hill train depot fitted with 526 solar panels to generate extra electricity.
17th: Thames Clipper gains Gravesend Pier which was sold by Gravesham Borough Council, this allowed for a "preview" service from Gravesend and Tilbury to London Bridge calling at North Greenwich.
Meanwhile, route 174 faces a similar fate to 69 in that it's electrics have been mostly stepped down from service in this storm.
18th: Storm Eunice hits hard. Code Black which seemed to be ignored by the general public.
In bus terms, electric BEs from 235 do 33 whilst Hounslow Heath (WK) has works done whilst diesel 8328 does P5. Crystal Palace Bus Station closed due to safety concerns seeing multiple bus routes turned short whilst the few remain serving Crystal Palace in some capacity, these being 202, 322 and 410.
Multiple road blocks due to fallen trees, with EH315 crashing on route 320.
20th: Storm Franklin strikes.
21st: DE58 does H14 in a recovering of single deckers on double deck routes from Harrow (SO).
22nd: Russian troops enter Ukraine after months of troop build up, the start of an attempted quick war turned into a harsh, brutal, drawn out war terrorising Ukraine's sovereignty.
In bus news, SEe156-167 for W15 are ready for registration, into LB71-reg. These have LEDs which is a first for Go-Ahead as well as high-back seating, essentially a 323-style for Go-Ahead.
24th: Full scale invasion into Ukraine from Russia.
Tube strikes for 1 and 3 March planned by RMT due to staff shortages.
Go-Ahead posted their financial results, with a £40.7m loss mostly in Europe but profits in the UK.
25th: TfL funding extended to 24th June with a £200m bailout which includes conditions (as always) this time for TfL to look further into driverless trains as well as review the tube/bus/Overground networks in April to see if services should be maintained or reduced. Other conditions are included but the other of note is Hammersmith Bridge opening to motorists and Crossrail 2 route to be safeguarded.
In Liverpool news, it follows Manchester in aiming to follow the London model of bus franchising.
26th: Train enthusiasts rejoice as Southern withdraw Class 455s in the new timetables for next month with reduced services allowing newer Class 377s to replace the moving corpses.
Meanwhile yesterday Metroline had LT101-110 stood down apparently, stored at Hayes (HZ).
27th: Emirates Air Line fails to find a sponsor, with it being unscathed after the storms but the Millenium Dome was damaged.
March
1st: Fare increases to come, as said, buses from £1.55 to £1.65 and tube also fares increase by 10p to 30p (dependant on zone and if single fare or not).
Tube strikes in addition to closures of Great Northern (between Finsbury Park and Moorgate) and Chiltern (between Amersham and Marylebone), this is due to exits of stations (Highbury & Islington, Old Street, Moorgate and South Ruislip) along the lines (as well as signalling for Chiltern) being controlled by London Underground which is obviously an issue if they are having a strike but you are fine.
Extra buses on the 9, 20, 25, 29 and 205 whilst routes such as 88 had diesels E101/2 drafted in, whilst on the 4th saw LK08 TEs on 168 as extras.
2nd: The Government confirmed extension of bus funding country-wide in England with £150 million which will last a further six months.
Meanwhile, Tube strike extras see more buses, as E200MMCs on the 8 and Abellio's rail E400s on 159.
In positive news, more LTs being refurbished sees 111 partially revert to SPs released from electrification of Fulwell (FW).
4th: Speaking of 111 the Wright Electroliner demo for Go-Ahead is at Fulwell (FW) complete with Abellio logos, despite having a Go-Ahead interior. Allegedly after having been at Arriva's Tottenham (AR).
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| DML44172 YX11AFN, Hackney |
5th: Tower Transit loses one of the busiest single decker routes and certainly the most frequent non-Red Arrow single decker route, the W15 from Hackney Town Hall to Higham Hill Cogan Avenue it harbours a massive PVR of 21. This is a continuation of the staggering blows seen the last few years with the loss of even bigger routes such as 425 and most importantly the once-busiest bus route of all, route 25.
In tandem with the W15 change, the 444 changes to 12m BYDs alongside some 10.8m LJ67-reg versions released from 360 whom converted to 12m last year, this allows 444's LF20s to go on W15.
N20's temporary extension to Barnet Hospital has been made permanent from this date as an all-stops instead of express.
Meanwhile engineering works on the DLR and Central Lines mean the 161/474 and N8 receive extras respectively.
Last W15: DML44178 at 01:33
First W15: SEe165 at 04:50
Routes 308, 415 and W16 were retained on this date, the 415 with extra early evening journeys.
Shortly after the end of February but alas, The old Thorpes depot of Perivale (PA) closes! The lease wasn't renewed which meant the transfer of routes took place as the depot no longer serves buses. Explains 120 transfer last month amidst minor confusion. Route 297 moved to PV. 31 moves to Willesden Junction (WJ) today whilst 90 moved to Brentford (AH) and N31 to Perivale West (PV).
7th: Whitechapel High Street on fire as towers on Aldgate turn ablaze.
8th: First tenders of 2022!
It sees Arriva win 248 with LTs, allegedly from 349 with 349 going electric but tender for 349 not released. The 142/642 lost to Metroline, whilst all routes except 186/190 have PVR cuts. Meanwhile, 664 and 684 swap from Stagecoach to Go-Ahead and vice-versa respectively. The 635 swaps back from RATP to Metroline.
In total, routes 92, 155, 159, 339, 383, 621, 638.
9th: The long assumed successful merger of Stagecoach and National Express has been called off seemingly, with an asset manager buying Stagecoach instead.
10th: TfL reinvigorates interest in redeveloping Edgware with talks of TfL buying Broadwalk shopping centre.
11th: TfL launched a Bus Action plan document, which entails comprehensive look into Meridian Water (supposedly cementing rumours of 34/444 being rerouted) and an express bus route down Old Kent Road.
In fire news, EH133 joins the Fire Damage list having caught on fire at Canning Town whilst on route 115.
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| diamond geezer |
12th: The 667 moves from Go-Ahead to Stagecoach whom have it operated as 1 bus from Barking (BK) and 2 from West Ham (WH) allowing current crosslinks from routes 62 (to 677) and 86 (to 678) to remain. Likewise in vice-versa fashion the 677 moves from Stagecoach at Barking (BK) to Go-Ahead at River Road (RR).
Stagecoach loses a route to Sullivan? Yes, remember the small route with a PVR of 1, with a weird frequency of every 70... It used to be called the 249 but unfortunately that number is already been in use by the time TfL adopted the short route in the far North East of London. Obviously it is none other than the 549. It only took until 21 March for a double decker to show up on the 549 as Sullivans operated a Central Line rail replacement which follows 549 closely, using double deckers. Not mentioned explicitly but route 549's frequency dropped to every 90.
The further reduction for 549's (from every 60 two contracts ago) reduction was due to it's terrible reliability. Easily the worst performing route in London. It had tight enough times which wouldn't help for reliability but no option unless costs went up by adding another bus to the schedule. The easier option was chosen, reduce frequency.
Last 667: EH24 at 15:53
First 667: 11040 at 07:20
First 677: WHV2 at 07:15
Last 677: 10311 at 16:50
Last 549: 36349, finishing 20:16
First 549: AE27, starting 06:30
14th: Route 497's withdrawal was reversed in favour of option 1 which is to extend it in-service to Dagnam Park Square in Harold Hill, but it's hourly Sunday service sees withdrawal. This happens on 4 June.
By this point Whitechapel has gained Bengali signange, following Southall gaining Punjabi signage earlier.
16th: Go-Ahead Nordic is a thing, as Go-Ahead group acquired Flexbuss Sverige AB in Sweden.
18th: Comic Relief Red Nose Bus Day! Sees route 189 with a Routemaster RM1005 running from Marble Arch to Brent Cross for a few rounders for charity. RM5 on the 137, RM357 on the 65 (Kew Gardens to Kingston), RML880 on the 281 and RML903 on route 43 (Islington Angel - Muswell Hill) but only on the 19th.
EA5 reregistered 185CLT, a registration once belonging to T85. HV382 has been reregistered a few days earlier into WLT982, HV393 joining in by taking T93's registration of 593CLT.
19th: U5 is retained with brand new BYD Enviro400 EVs, or it's supposed to have been. Instead in the Abellio world 8845/8860 have been bought back from lease and entered service at Fulwell (TF) the day prior.
Otherwise in East London, word of route 101 receiving 135's EHVs have come about, with the B9TLs being withdrawn from London (in addition to 132's released B9TLs) and sent to Brighton to replace the ageing but loved bendy buses ex-453. The B9TLs do indeed make their move, however the 101 merely took 5's B9TLs to do so, with the EHVs earmarked for 91 from 2023.
VDE2751 is the number for the Volvo BZL, whilst an Enviro400 has been converted to hydrogen.
21st: A 24-hour strike today, though called off after a new pay offer, and a 48-hour strike over the 28th/29th for Arriva London South was what surmised earlier in the year as 'pathetic pay' riddles the operation, with 94% strike action vote at 67% turnout of votes.
Meanwhile, the corresponding routes 168/271 changes sees 168 withdrawn in September 2023 whilst the 271 withdrawn earlier in 2023. The 143's reroute cancelled (and no renumbering of schoolday 143D into 620) in place of extending 234 from Highgate Wood to Archway.
Manchester franchising sees a step forward as the legal challenge brought forward by Stagecoach and Rotala regarding the new model was dismissed by the high courts, making Manchester the first regulated bus network outside London and Northern Ireland. With a maximum bus fare of £2 per single journey (currently as high as £4). In mid July West Yorkshire also pledged a maximum fare of £2 for adults (£1 for children), Liverpool City Region also joining in the fare game. September the ancitipated fare change start.
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| Sheep"R"Us Older prototype similar to our 2024 stock |
The mayor visits East Yorkshire for the mock-up of the New Tube for London; for the Piccadilly Line where half of the 94 trains will be built to be ready for 2025.
22nd: Hounslow West sees an Enviro400 turn aflame again, this time it's ADH45031.
The Government puts another £3 million (total of £7 million) to funding the repair of Hammersmith Bridge.
23rd: A gas leak unfortunately hospitalised a lot of people at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park.
Electroliner demonstrator spotted at Croydon (C).
24th: We learn HSBC funded Fulwell (FW)'s new electric buses.
Also in ADL news, 10 electric Enviro500EVs announced to be built for Hong Kong.
HV179 among the first ex-Stagecoach Arriva B5LH refurbs done.
25th: Tenders! See 91 move to Go-Ahead (with existing hybrids) as well as N97, with the only other award being 470 to Go-Ahead, all other routes retained, mostly with existing or to-be-confirmed.
Allegedly RATP not allowed to bid for new work due to staffing crisis.
26th: The 393 sees a reroute on a small scale, seeing it use Princes of Wales Road and Kentish Town Road directly towards Clapton instead of using Castlehaven Road and Castle Road. Something similar happened in 2020 with route 336 on the pretence of Covid.
A heritage operation of 101! Some journeys ran to Lambourne End, a relatively frequent service over the main 101 route with a shorter Cyprus-Manor Park section being even more frequent at every 3. Exquisited vehicles such as a Guy Arab, Daimler Fleetlines, AEC Regent IIIs, Routemasters and more!
28th: The previously consulted minor reroute on Hatch Lane for routes 212/357/657 towards Walthamstow happened, a silent change.
Arriva London South 48 hour strike at all garages except Brixton (BN). This is due to the previously discussed pay increase being rejected. Strike extras operated on routes 109 196 and 407, covering the inner A23 corridor, 468 and the southern A23 respectively. NRMs operated on X68 on this date, these being LT273, LT861 and one other all with paper in the windscreen. LT610/630 operated on route 196. MHV24 on route 432.
30th: LT543 causes confusion by logging into route 328 whilst for whatever reason present at Golders Green, whilst another rare working sees Son-of-Routemaster VHR45204 on single deck route 303.
In other news, IKEA plans to close it's Northumberland Park branch. This follows after planned opening of a warehouse in Dartford and new high street outlet in Hammersmith and in Oxford Street.
31st: Weird tangent but this was the start date of the solar-bus-trailer in Munich, Germany. Article link.
April
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| HV135 LT63UJR, near Norwood Bus garage |
2nd: The first 7-year hybrid contract begins. It is route 432 who returns to it's home base of Norwood (N), instead of B7TL/ALX400s or DB250/ALX400s welcoming it's return like 249 in 2017 (VLA19/39) it is welcomed by ex-319 B5LH/Gemini 2s which were once parked at Norwood (N) due to overflow of space at Brixton (BN) which harked back to the era of 19 with the closure of Battersea (BA), the legacy carried on under route 59 until the swap of 133/137.
Meanwhile in East London the 678 changes over again, but not to Arriva, as Stagecoach already have it. The pass-the-parcel game has been broken as Tower Transit intrudes with their first school route.
Over in West London Dawley Road (DH) opens in Abellio's quest for permanent garage space, with routes 350 482 U7 and U9 moving in on this date, the 278 and U5 in May.
Last 432: WVL437 at 01:08
First 432: HV141 at 04:20
Last 678: 11033 at 16:15
First 678: MV38248 at 07:55
Routes 13, 617 and 629 were retained on this date.
Today also saw Sullivan's newly acquired E35-37 (ex-414 Enviro400s from Abellio) for also newly acquired route 84 which will also use existing E58-59 from their Hertfordshire operations.
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| EDDIE 2010 Fastrack |
3rd: Fasttrack AZ sees it's operation transfer from Go-Coach to Arriva Kent Thameside, with Fasttrack A/B having reduced from every 10 to 12, those routes also stopping at Amazon LCY3. As a result, the freshly-refurbished ex-Abellio Enviro400s would be sold again.
Today also sees Gatwick Express return, a change brought forward from May due to increased travel patterns and reopening of the airport's south terminal.
In other news, Abellio's newest batch of BYD Enviro400EVs for route U5 have the same Future Bus specification as route 63's batch mostly delivered in late 2021.
Talk of route 5 part-converting to New Routemasters has re-emerged, with LT417/420 transferring from Camberwell (Q) into service the next day. Later on some 101 WVLs have stopped service. The start of 5's conversion would be from the 14th onwards.
5th: Fires break out in Southall and in Hounslow.
8th: An eco-mob closes down Tower Bridge which, as all protests do, went badly.
9th: Neasden depot having an issue with a wheel lathe incorrectly profiling wheels translated to further service cuts on an already-sparse Metropolitan Line from Monday 11th onwards, the line regains fasts for the Amersham/Chesham branches between Harrow and Moor Park only, with Watford trains stopping all stops between Harrow and Moor Park.
12th: Another Boris Johnson controversy, turned out he did lie about the parties, who knew(!) Rishi Sunak popularity fell off another cliff.
14th: As part of experimental junction works, route 360 was diverted so it directly goes from Grosvenor Road to Chelsea Bridge Road without double running via Bull Ring Gate, this is a 2-year long experiment due to cycle superhighway CS8 having a segregated lane which made changes to this junction, which caused local outcry.
New Routemaster refurbishments confirmed to have a target of 200 to be due by March 2023, whereby 22 have already been done. Speaking of which, route 5's conversion has started.
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| 4222 KX12GZG, Orpington |
16th: Arriva route 477 gets cut from Bluewater to Dartford along with other Kent County Council bus cuts, some including withdrawals.
Meanwhile, RATP send two buses for refurbishment for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
20th: Hertfordshire County Council revisits the Watford Metropolitan link in their own ways since funding for Transport for London's Metropolitan Line extension was revoked. Article by Ianvisits.
21st: New Abellio 3430 delivered to Hayes (DH) for the electrification of route U5.
Meanwhile, Northern Line undergoes test runs on the improved Bank branch.
22nd: Tenders! This time sees H32 and H91 convert to NRMs... lost to Abellio and Metroline respectively! RATP having another set of losses after the rumour of tender ban is interesting to see bite them back, the community would say at least. Elsewhere B13 lost to Go-Ahead, 353/359 retained with electrics and 47 retained with a TBC PVR.
24th: Caribel Coaches sold their operations to Rotala who incorporated it into Diamond Buses, this was announced mid-February.
25th: Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has bought Twitter... this is after having a 9% stake in it.
In bus news, the 358's electrification trial delayed to 2023.
26th: Sydney Place street works finished for route 49 which will allow the long-awaited conversion to BCEs to start.
27th: Refurbished LT19 set alight at Hammersmith.
29th: Electroliner demonstrator EL1 enters service on route 119 and broke down.
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| Aubrey SP176 YT10XBZ, Hampton |
Route 111 unexpectedly converted partially to Scanias again albeit not it's original ones towards the end, and completely converted towards the last hours. Abellio of course taking over with LTs as mentioned.
The chargers weren't readied until November at the earliest, in spite of the Electroliners being delivered around September onwards. On top of that, only a 1:2 ratio of chargers and buses installed, so only half the fleet could be charged at one time. Compared to a 1:1 with 322's, or with 433 having one or two less chargers than the 10 Caetanos it would need.
It was known the route had some troubles with service reliability at Fulwell (FW) though minor at scale compared to complete chaos on the H91. Under Abellio however, things have taken a plunge for the worse. Driver shortages decimated not only the 111, but the entire Abellio London West division. The extent of this? They dropped quite far in TfL's operator league table. With sourcing drivers becoming harder and harder, even retaining drivers being hard, it is unfortunate this important trunk route had taken not itself to unreliability, but many other services that were previously run well to join in the realm of unreliability.
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| 8213 YX16OBA You can tell I specifically chose a diesel still on the route and specifically a turn you'll always see on the route I regret to this day not capturing the three-bus congo I witnessed |
My nemesis route 322 also joins Abellio but from Go-Ahead, continuing the pass-the-parcel game of Go-Ahead and Abellio's predecessors/successors ever since Arriva lost the route in 2000. This time the route gains the first 8.7m length Optare Metrocity EVs delayed with charging ports only installed a week before changeover and one sighted upon delivery on the 20th, a first for 322 to gain a first since it was alleged it and route G1 could gain the first Enviro200 MMCs for London in 2015 but that was a rumour.
Three of ex-P13 YX66s were rumoured to return for this occasion though false. On the plus side GoCoach had 8345 refurbished for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a nice repaint.
LOTS reported Abellio to use Go-Ahead's SE235-244 but that turned out to be incorrect too.
A few 9m MMC drafted in from Beddington Cross (BC), this being 8210-8214 from 367's allocation. This would be the prequel of routes S4 and 367 converting back to dual door using spare 8321-8329 with single spare 8127 brought back from West London with 8142 found to be a usable spare from Hayes (GW).
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| 8037 BU05HFX, West Norwood My first bus photo |
The Optare MetroCity EVs have a bulged front due to TfL specifications requiring the windscreen wipers covered up, which happened with 200's Metrodeckers last year, though for the single deck variants the 322 is the first to taste the ugly of the beast. As buses to ride on, they have loud motors. Seemingly no sound deadening so as to not need fake alien sounds seen in BYDs from 100's batch onwards, in order to alert passerbys of the bus' existence, for those who are blind or less abled, general safety precautions.
A bonus from me personally is the existence of a stop bell right at the first pole of the bus, which is weird for people who never had the unfortunate reality of constantly being on a single door bus route which is heavily used, in the times you end up crushed at the front. At times on an Enviro200 you'd beg to the driver where you'd want to stop on the Hail & Ride section. I've been there too many times. Now with these Metrocitys, I have the British right to remain silent as God intended.
A downside for these little buses is their inability to keep to 322's schedule... you'd think the schedule is purposed for electric buses. Wrong.
Then, the 322 reverts from an every 12-13 frequency to a standard every 12 frequency, with reduced reliability in the form of shortened journey times (a reduction of up to 5 minutes). Given Stockwell (SW) struggled on the route after it's long-term Brixton diversion finished, I have no hope at all, though I write this sentence two weeks from changeover.
Reduced reliability all right. I am absolutely disgusted to the amount of bunching I have experienced on the route. The worst in my waking life and I know 322 has been even worse before 2005 when it was the least reliable bus route in London. For that I was too young and also out of the country by the time I could remember, which is better for me but painful for my parents who made it a house rule to avoid waiting for 322 like the plague in my childhood.
For those that have asked me if I would like Stockwell (SW) back on the route, I would repeat this in different intonations with self-loathing. I feel like a right d***head for complaining about SW with how s*** QB have been.
Would you see how surprised I am with the reduced run times on a route that needed MORE?
Baring in mind the entire route is 20mph yet the schedule assumes buses need to go 30mph!
Last 111: SP201 Heathrow-bound 01:19, SP204 Kingston-bound 01:18
First 111: LT984 at 00:45
Last 322: SE235 at 00:44 at Clapham
First 322: 8204 at 05:30, the first ZF E200 and an anagram of last bus 8024
Routes 204, 350 and U10 were retained on this date with the 204 having brand new electrics not materialise yet, not well until August as electrification at Edgware (EW) was slowly materialising itself.
Frequency reduction on route 3 with a minor PVR decrease on route C10.
With 111's loss marked N105's return from Hounslow (AV) to Hounslow Heath (HH).
BCE47070 reregistered ER70LXX for the Queen's Jubilee, of course losing the registration sometime after for obvious reasons to come later.
23rd: Stagecoach starts London City Tours.
26th: RMT Union ballots 40,000 Network Rail workers for a strike starting from this date with ballots closing on 24 May. This is due to Network Rail cutting 2,500 jobs to reduce spending by £2 billion. By 25 May the 71% turnout showed 89% vote in favour of a strike. Not good horizon ahead.
Thames Clipper serves a new pier at Barking Riverside, delivering a service frequency of up to every 20 minutes.
May
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| Hugh Llewelyn 455 844, Clapham Junction |
3rd: Route H91 almost converts to New Routemasters after receiving some a few days prior, after it's tender announcement whereby RATP lost it to Metroline with New Routemasters.
4th: The first Class 455s headed to the scrapheap have begun, with 455838 and 455839 headed to Newport.
Meanwhile, routes 200 and 281 see a single decker each, SOE11 and BE37074 respectively.
5th: It's come to light the 407/443 change happens December (postponed to 455's contract end supposedly), the S1 reroute on the 14th May whilst the 439/S2 and other changes happen in March 2024. An entire year plus away.
Electrification extension programme for Westbourne Park (X).
Wright tweet about the Electroliners due for Abellio.
The contract for iBus set to expire in May 2022, was extended again to May 2025 with options to extend to May 2027. This is following an extension since 2015.
6th: Election results! Conservatives lose Westminster! Many other councils also lost to Labour! In total, hundred plus lost by the Tories.
For buses, tender result for 307, lost by Metroline, won by Arriva with new electrics.
7th: SEe52 crashed into a building on route 413 in Sutton.
8th: Arriva donated 3 buses to Ukraine, delivering them to Poland whereby a local team would deliver them across Hungary to Ukraine. These were from Arriva North West.
9th: Weirdly following from above, Tottenham (AR)'s HV334 was stolen and taken for a 3 mile joyride before crashing. The same person previously stole a pizza delivery moped and dumped it in the bus garage.
10th: Word of Tower Transit wanting to sell their London operations sprung up, giving joy to those who dislike the service provided and giving fuel to the endless flames of "X company will sell."
Meanwhile, Arriva's LT176 is seen training along 248's routeing.
11th: More Arriva London South strikes planned with again pay-related issues, with another on the 16th planned which did not happen. This time, Brixton (BN) are also striking.
Once again routes 109, 196 and 407 receive extras but this time all of them in the form of diesel E400s 9523-9526.
Meanwhile, Bromley Bus Preservation Group welcomes PVL390.
Route 383's temporary extension to Finchley Memorial Hospital now has a consultation on making it permanent.
13th: Route 733 stops as the Northern Line's Bank branch opens the following week, VH38130 being the final bus at 01:03.
For the Platinum Jubilee, Abellio gives smart hybrid Enviro400 2022 the livery, whereby routes 6, 52, 98, 29, 319, 148, 65, 281,371, 205, 106, 212, 230, 357 and 270 have the special buses.
In short, garages only receive one vehicle with the livery, the garages being:
Beddington Cross (BC), Bow (BW), Brixton (BN), Fulwell (FW), Northumberland Park (NP), Shepherd's Bush (S), Willesden (AC) and Wood Green (WN)
14th: After silence due to Crossrail's constant delays, this day was revealed towards the end of March as the ultimate change for routes 129/180/469/472/B11, this won't include already existing route 301 since it happened long ago but alas the new tube line hits full swing, and with it the newly changed routes.
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| ©Alex Peak 14168 LG71DRZ, Millennium Leisure Park |
The 180 (previously Lewisham-Belvedere Industrial Area) controversially reroutes to form a North Greenwich - Erith Quarry route, leaving 177 to be alone on the western end.
The 129 extends from Greenwich to Lewisham in order to replace 180, with peak frequency reduced to every 13 from 12.
The 472 rerouted direct from Plumstead along Western Way, then Crossway, (not serving Bentham Road) to Abbey Wood, with a frequency decrease.
The 469 rerouted after Abbey Wood via New Road and Woolwich Road instead of 229's Abbey Road.
The B11 cut from Thamesmead to Thamesmead East.
East London changes happen the following week on the 21st.
All in all questionable changes regarding the 180
Somehow as a byproduct of changes the S1 reroutes in Belmont and St Helier happened. It sees it more direct along Middleton Road, Green Wrythe Lane and Bishopsford Road. Whilst in Belmont it avoids Belmont Station in order to better serve Royal Marsden Hospital. A key point in the consultation is that longer buses can be used in the process.
BCE47086 becomes the first electric on route 49.
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| ©Zubin M Transport Photography EA1 LG71DJK, Liverpool Street |
15th: Platinum Jubilee! The Queen's 70th anniversary to the throne, as the longest reigning monarch.
Buses HV91 12334 LT70 BCE47070 EA1 Ee31 2022 VWH2112 VWH2370 definitely have the purple livery with apparently VMH2570 Sullivan E70, Sullivan DS54 and more don the purple livery but not in reality though just rumours. Regardless, a radically different version to the Golden Jubilee 2 decades prior.
The Northern Line opened from 1600 only between Moorgate and Morden, silently.
16th: Northern Line Bank branch opens, no need for the temporary 733.
Routes 696/697 transferred to Hounslow (AV) from Hounslow Heath (WK).
17th: Announced is route 339 getting 12 Metrocities of 9.4m length, the first of the type.
18th: Stagecoach 14138 crashes in Gidea Park on route 174, sending 5 people to hospital.
19th: Bird-in-Bush Road bus stop (routes 63/363/N63) gains the long-dead countdown screen on the bus stop flag, see TikTok.
Alstom advised South West Railway to shut down all Class 701 trains with all power supplies isolated due to risk of serious injury/death when adjacent to traction converter cases, a story known the following week.
20th: ULEZ London-wide to start 29 August 2023.
Arriva signed a contract to sell of their Portugese TST operation to an Israeli-owned company Dan Public Transportation.
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| ©EastLondoner VH38113, Canary Wharf |
21st: 135 becomes Australian! Tower Transit's budget win of the young route sees it transfer from Go-Ahead's Silvertown (SI) to Tower Transit's Lea Interchange (LI), from one batch of B5LHs (Enviro400 MMC) to another batch of B5LHs (Gemini 3).
Budget wind indeed, if you look at the tender search for 135 for Go-Ahead's price and Tower Transit's price (accounting for inflation), it's cheaper than Go-Ahead's 2015 win!
One thing of note is the blinds meet the new iBus changes it's received towards the start of the year, as well as including "Isle of Dogs Cubitt Town" for one of it's curtailments. Alas, Provost Street is now enshrined in 135 despite not being relevant before 2021 on this now 14-year old route.
Usually I would strikethrough irrelevant words but as of Stagecoach buying Tower Transit, the route changed operator again. Now this time whoever it changes to 7 years down the line, it's only going back to an operator who once operated it.
Crossrail changes part #2, focusing on East London:
The 241 cut to Prince Regent
The 104 diverted at Lonsdale Road to Beckton instead of Manor Park, frequency changed (from every 6 AM peak westbound & every 7-8 PM peak eastbound with base every 10 >> to standardised every 8)
New route 304 between Manor Park and Custom House
The 474 diverted via Kier Hardie Estate
The 300 diverted via Freemasons Road instead of Stansfield Road
The 330 extended from Canning Town via Silvertown to Connaught Bridge
The 376 increased from every 15 to every 12
Routes 101/262 in their independent consultation have their cuts on this date too.
101 cut from Gallions Reach to Beckton
262 cut from East Beckton Sainsbury's to Gallions Reach
Once again quite the changes, especially the lackluster of Royal Wharf shenanigans regarding 241 and needless 474 reroute away from Silvertown replaced by a 330 doing less. Though in the end, accompanied by good changes. Especially some changes deferred to the 21st May instead (such as the 104/304) since Crossrail itself will open on the 24th.
Last 135: EHV6 at 01:31
First 135: VH38128 and VH38131 at 04:15
First 304: E276 at 04:30
Route 433 was retained on this date.
Jubilee Line night service also restarted on this date albeit reduced service due to issues with RMT.
Piccadilly Line night service doesn't start but routes N9 and N97 temporarily increased to every 20 until then. Other timetable changes of note are 23's frequency decrease (from every 8 to every 12, losing -8 PVR).
22nd: A hot summer's day sees Potters Bar (PB) bus garage burn into flames, this started from one of the Metrodeckers turning alight which then destroyed nearby parked Enviro400s. An alleged asbesto release, with an unfounded 5 OMEs burned though in reality it was certainly 2 VWs (VW1200/1838) and 2 TEs (TE1083/1426) being destroyed, and two OMEs (OME2670) with OME2660 causing the fire due to human error, this damaged 10 chargers.
As a result, 231/317 buses used Sullivan's South Mimms (SM) to park up. Holloway (HT) took on N134. Edgware (EW) taking on the 384.
23rd: Following the fire at Potters Bar (PB), routes 23 C3 and 200 were running no service or limited service using diesels (200) and hybrids (C3, initially off iBus). First York also stopped using their Metrodecker EVs in service.
The sole Metrocity at Potters Bar (PB) replaced by Solo OS68. Whilst route 134 has at least one B5LH pulled from every garage in the Metroline empire. Progressively stored ex-427 B9TLs were put back into service replacing the burnt diesels. Route 91 reverted to using at least two LTs to give 134 any spare hybrid.
Turned out the C3 was indeed running a service albeit off iBus, using spare VHs from electrified 65.
Meanwhile, Abellio throw out MMC 2549 on 159 and a single deck 8893 on route U5.
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| Matt Brown |
24th: Interesting choice for it to be on a Tuesday but, London's newest railway, the Elizabeth Line, opened on Tuesday 24 May 2022. Not in 2018. Not 6 March 2022 as an aspiration date, but this date. Truly, a wonderful day for railwayheads and normies alike. The reasoning for Tuesday was due to workdays effectively being between Tuesday-Thursday, so for most people to experience it would need to be in that short timeframe as opposed to the usually more prominent weekend traffic observed post-pandemic. That and Monday being the ceremonial launch date, for the press.
The news for this date was announced a day before the elections, an unspoken taboo of breaking purdah.
It started off with a bang, almost literally, a fire alarm pulled at Paddington which suspended the service between Paddington and Tottenham Court Road in the morning for a short while. In only five days it was revealed to have hit 1 million passengers, showing it's potential once it opens completely and with time that this new metro line could truly achieve great patronage.
The best part is 94 didn't get cut back to Portman Square as intended, though it got a frequency cut instead, so people still lost.
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| ©KL Transport |
Bus routes receive wraps to celebrate the fact they link with the Elizabeth Line, the 180 with one (14170), whereas the following have 2 each; 278; 301; 304; 474.
2006/2007, HV39/HV147, WVL454/484, 11031/11053.
25th: As of the day before, Metrodeckers Me1-17 moved to Silvertown (DS) for storage, whilst a couple of spare EHVs moved the other way to Merton (AL) to bolster 200.
A new Routemaster service application ended up in LSP and was accepted, thus a service from Waterloo to Green Park service is to become a reality in the not-so-distant future.
26th: Petts Wood station next to become step-free, costing £11 million.
Meanwhile, a post surfaces of central routes 4 11 12 14 16 24 31 and 74 to all be withdrawn in the near future sparked some talk in the enthusiast-space... as apparently the much loved-to-be-withdrawn 414 to replace both 14/74. Then more talks emerged of D7 C3 78 242 and 45 being axed.
So: 4, 11, 12, 14, 16, 24, 31, 45, 72, 74, 78, 242, 349, 521, C3, D7.
Switch Mobility have allowed vehicles to return to service following a finishing of investigations, apparently TfL had their own embargo which is false as a Metrodecker returned in service on the 23.
27th: Ride London event! Closures in London until the 29th for the cycling days. Does it see X26 once again diverted along the M25 skipping Kingston and Teddington? Seems instead it's East London having arterial roads A13 closed up which no doubt caused massive traffic backlogs. The route serving a motorway was the 20 using the M11 to it's last stop of Debden before circling via Traps Hill to serve Debden Estate.
Another news for the day: Stagecoach acquire Lea Interchange (LI) from Kelsian Group (owner of Tower Transit) for a total of £20M with half upfront to be paid and the other half annually over the decade.
In Texas, America, was a shooting whereby 19 children and 2 adults died, rest in peace to all of them.
28th: Borismaster LT174 revealed to have been completely burnt aflame, thus written off, an unrepairable red brick.
Route 177 was retained on this date.
Me5 returned to service on the 200.
29th: Chaos in East London sees some bus routes suspended with some effectively suspended, the 262 turned to Beckton when Gallions Reach is open, the 108 surprisingly held together despite crossing the river.
30th: U5's electrics enter service!
31st: What was a heatily anticipated major Central London bus consultation was delayed due to hurdles that arose.
SEe61 crashed into railings Chingford Station on route 444.
WVL468-480 start moving to Brighton, renumbered 201-216.
June
1st: After the 31st's central London rumours, it was confirmed officially that routes 4, 11, 12, 14, 16, 24, 31, 45, 72, 74, 78, 242, 349, 521, C3, D7 will be withdrawn by the end of 2023.
2nd: Bank Holiday Thursday, with the Queen Jubilee weekend.
Meanwhile in Paris, RATP have to pull out of their city by 2025! Some bus routes replaced by tram lines and extensions in the metro network.
3rd: Another Bank Holiday but bus services are Saturday service due to it being a Friday, anticipating Friday night crowds and those attending the Queen's Jubilee.
4th: Route 217 was retained on this date.
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| Already happened of course. |
Route 497's in-service extension in Harold Hill from Gooshays Drive to Dagnam Park Avenue has happened.
Arriva announced a Zero Emission Institute, with the goal being zero emission in their entire European fleet of multiple countries to... zero emission buses utilising electric technology and other technologies producing no emission.
A bomb scare happened at Trafalgar Square. Several Stagecoach LTs mostly from Bow (BW) and two from Leyton (T) went into reserve.
6th: Works to have electrics in service at Bexleyheath (BX) started now, announced in early April and due to be complete early July. This is due to works needed to be undertaken by Bexley Council to install temporary traffic lights in order to install cables underneath the road. Since early April the already-late EPs were in storage, but instead of ADL Guildford which has since closed, Camberwell (Q) depot.
Another walk out of the RMT. Yes another 24-hour tube strike, on the Queen's Platinum Bank Holiday.
Jubilee Line serviced only between Stanmore and Finchley Road.
Northern Line serviced between East Finchley-High Barnet/Mill Hill East & Golders Green-Edgware.
Central Line serviced White City to Ealing Broadway/West Ruislip & Liverpool Street to Epping/Hainault
No service on the following lines: Bakerloo, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Piccadilly, Victoria and Waterloo & City lines.
Stations closed include: Charing Cross, Highbury & Islington, Kingsbury, Whitechapel and more.
As time went on some service returned to some of the lines, notably the District (Hammersmith-Whitechapel), Jubilee (Stratford-Canning Town), Northern (Morden-Kennington, some stations still closed). Bank Station reopened too.
For buses:
Abellio 2421 was an extra on route 211, 9524 on 159. Arriva had HV239/240 and LT972/983 on route 29 (Wood Green-Finsbury Park).
Finally a no confidence vote triggered as 54 MPs sent in letters to the 1922 committee, with the vote to happen at 6pm. A vote Boris survived but 41% of Tories have clear disdain for him. A funny interview ensued, where it was obvious he would call a snap election, even if he intended to deny it. He'd leave power before he could have any more use.
7th: Martijn Gilbert leaves Go North East, becoming the MD of Lumo and First Hull Trains.
Tube strike extras: 29 (HV243 LT732/827/981) plus many more on other services.
8th: Switch Mobility unveiled a new electric model for mainland Europe to be built in Spain, called the e1. It's a 12m model, seating 28 and total capacity of 93.
VWH2060 the first of many VWHs to become the new 92 allocation, comprising of ex-295 VWHs once that route is gone, with the remaining 3 VWHs going to Lampton (SG) for the newly-won 635.
A horrible bus crash in East Dulwich whereby LT45 on route 176 crashed into a parked dump truck, dragging it along the road. 2 people were sent to hospital as a result.
9th: Aslef confirmed Greater Anglia, Hull Trains and Croydon Tramlink to join the upcoming rail strikes.
11th: Stockwell (SW) open day.
Elizabeth Line not running, Hammersmith & City not running, District not running between Tower Hill and West Ham.
12th: Heritage operation of route 81 with some journeys running to Windsor happened on this date.
13rd: Sadiq Khan warns a 10% fare rise from 2023 due to bailout.
It was said Kelsian were part of a Go-Ahead takeover offer, but oh well, the Aussies are will be out of the British capital again. Imagine Thameslink under Tower Transit, possible alternate reality. Go-Ahead Group however does accept a £650m takeover bid from Kinetic/Globovia.
Croydon Trams tracking on London Vehicle Finder again.
Wrightbus won an order of 120 Electroliners (options to up to 800) for National Transport Authority of Ireland.
14th: Heathrow Terminal 4 reopened, meaning the Elizabeth Line trains terminating at Terminals 2/3 have extended to Terminal 4. Piccadilly Line also started serving the station once again.
TfL goes ahead with the withdrawal of N145 following consultation results published.
17th: Commemorating 90 years of Victoria Coach Station and 50 years of National Express is a Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust 2022 Royal Blue run departing at 10:30 heading via Uxbridge to Oxford with a stop at High Wycombe, continuing until finishing at Birmingham Digbeth Coach Station. London-Birmingham was day 1, with the following day being Birmingham-Salisbury, final day being Salisbury-Portsmouth-Henley on Thames.
Meanwhile, Arriva's HV4 burned alight on Brixton Hill near the tramshed on a hot summer day servicing the 333.
The last time a VHP (B5LHC/SRM) would see service, as they were withdrawn due to repair costs of the extra battery packs, converting to a normal B5LH was more cost than sensible (£100K per bus).
18th: Route 197 moved from Croydon (C) to Peckham (PM) to make space for upcoming 264.
21st: The first of nationwide rail RMT strikes with the others being on Thursday 23rd and Saturday 25th. London Underground RMT also joined in the fun on this hectic day only.
Brixton town centre has stop changes for southbound routes with 2/3/196/415/432/N2/N3 finally serving it again ever since Covid started.
Many bus routes that had tube strike extras of course did, 29 being longer (Wood Green to Mornington Crescent) with two Tottenham (AR) and Clapton (CT) buses.
2 had LTs on from Brixton (BN).
20 had single deck 1235
188 had New Cross (NX)'s EH180/279.
11/88 had New Cross (NX)'s LTs 849/855/872
15 had Northumberland Park (NP)'s LT886
159 had MMCs 2526/2558/2575
109 had MMC 2529 and diesels 9502/9521
Plus many more
22nd: Van Hool unveiled a lineup of A-series battery-electric buses and trolleybuses (with hydrogen fuel cell versions coming later) which are modular, allowing for UK versions to be possible. Lengths of 12m 13m 18m articulated and 24m double-articulated.
Arriva HV23 stripped, gearbox removed.
23rd: The second rail strike.
LOTS reported 110 new electric buses ordered.
Meanwhile, the government (and Grant Shapps) and mayor go back and forth in letters, whilst TfL's funding deal extended to 13 July (a day after the massive bus review consultation ends).
24th: Conservatives lose Tiverton & Honiton (blue for 100+ years total) and Wakefield (previously Labour), the former to Lib Dems in Britain's largest overturned by-election history and latter back to Labour. The first double by-election loss since 1991.
Barnes bus changes consultation whereby 209 freq halved to every 30, 378 halved to every 15 and rerouted via Rocks Lane instead of Mill Hill Road. The 533 reduced to every 17 and reverts from non-stop to all-stops.
25th: Routes 70 and 245 was retained on this date.
The final rail strike.
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| lees bus pics First to Tower Transit to gone |
Two days after their ninth anniversary, Tower Transit have sold their last operation in London to Stagecoach, whom gain Lea Interchange (LI), a garage they acknowledge has a lot to work on due to it's tender losses and more. The operation became "Lea Interchange Bus Company" legally, a rename of the prepared subsidiary name prior to Tower Transit's transfer of operation to Stagecoach.
28th: Tramlink strikes on this day through to 29th. This follows the nationwide National Rail strikes that happened the week before. The dispute is again over a pay settlement.
Extras ran on bus routes 64, 289, 466
29th: New Routemasters were cleared on route 205 on this date, with at least three entering service on the route, which was tested several years ago but nothing came of it until, this date. This is due to some of 25/425's MMCs being sent to Silverstone for the annual event as shuttles that Stagecoach service.
July
1st: Londoner Buses unveil a Routemaster service from Waterloo to Green Park.
Hackney Central station's new entrance (off Graham Road) opened on this date.
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| 1007 YJ22AXR, Tulse Hill Station |
2nd: Northern Line night tube returns to service.
Pride Event closes many roads in central London meaning many curtailments.
Brand new E400EVs BDE2754/55 for the 204 spotted on motorways, they have pantographs on the roof.
Metrocity 1002 becomes the first in service on 322, after many months of sitting still and issues with Metrodeckers at Potters Bar (PB) some weeks back.
4th: Volvo comes up with the S-charge variant of the B5L, in 9.9m (double deck) and 12.8m (single deck), whereby it's akin to a B5LH that can charge for short electric-only range, think of the virtual electric E400MMCs 69 had (VE1-3). Or if the VHPs at Peckham (PM) weren't a waste of money.
5th: BCE47119 enters an accident.
Number 10 went into meltdown, a chaotic story that doesn't deserve a sentence that I could write (wouldn't want the post to be too long now do you?)
6th: Following yesterday's Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak resignations, 42 more MPs resign with Gove sacked by Johnson personally.
8th: A cryptic message whereby in the morning something would appear at Bexleyheath (BX) revealed the first electric in service on 132, EP1 with EP3 also joining.
Also in electric news, BDE2753 delivered to Metroline's CELF facility.
9th: Stagecoach's fleetnumbers appear on the inherited Tower Transit fleet, the B5LHs joining the current 13xxx lineup, the E200s joining the current 37xxx lineup, with the StreetLites adopting the 39xxx and StreetDecks adopting the prestigious 18xxx lineup. The B9TLs use 16xxx which was previously used by Volvo Olympians in London (with other types outside London using that designation).
The order for 358's electrics has only been placed now (after it's contract started in December 2019), for 20 Irizar IE-trams.
10th: Bromley Bus Preservation Group add ex-Metroline DP274 to their repertoire.
Abellio's 3001 (Wright Electroliner) seen on tow on delivery, after having an official photoshoot on Twitter.
Allegedly the 297 is to receive electric vehicles, rumours say.
11th: Announced today is a flat fare of £2 for all buses outside London until March 2023 amidst the fuel crisis that reinvigorated despair in the UK. It would be later revealed Diamond and Sullivan Buses opted out, as it would be unsustainable for them.
Meanwhile, ADE40440 was involved in an accident.
13th: TfL's funding deal extended to 28 July.
New Flixbus overnight coach service from Stratford via North Greenwich to Paris launched today, at a price of £27.99.
14th: A rare working that received little attention but surprise, LT368 on 215.
All 11 Metrocities delivered to Battersea (QB) with the Electroliner 3001 also delivered to Abellio, but unregistered.
15th: An unexploded World War 2 bomb was found on River Road, causing service disruptions to the EL3 in the short term,
16th: The final day for Greater Anglia's Class 317s.
18th: Heatwave day yet Barking Riverside Overground station opened! The final new TfL project of 2022 has happened, seeing an extension of GOBLIN to the station albeit in a J curve meaning it can't cross the river to Thamesmead without a lot of difficulty and money. Regardless, a fine addition to East London Transit EL1/EL2/EL3.
Many other rail networks slimmed down due to the heat (38 degrees Centigrade), slowed down to 60mph (25mph for some tube lines). Luton Airport's tarmac somehow melted.
Meanwhile, today Wood Green (WN) was confirmed for rebuild into an all-electric garage, with works only anticipated after 2024.
19th: Further continuing from the previous day, a heatwave with similar temperatures, whereby people were advised not to travel.
The first CAF trains for the DLR undergo testing at Corella test track in Spain.
20th: VWH2352 had an accident whilst on route 114.
21st: Central Line was intended to be closed due to staff sickness, but the cancellation was reversed shortly after.
Rare double decker working Ee31 on route 444.
22nd: The day before saw BYD demonstrator LF69UXJ at Merton (AL) whilst Abellio's Electroliner 3001 was at home office Walworth (WL).
Confusing many is H28's move to Southall (GW) which appeared to have happened on the 16th instead.
23rd: TfL went ahead with cutting the R7 on the "Maypole loop" whereby some stops are unserved, citing for reliability issues (which is apparent at the opposite end near Chislehurst), Chelsfield punished for TfL's decision to extend R7 in the Orpington scheme a few years ago.
In other news, Fulwell (FW) open day happened, operating a special free 667 service between Twickenham Albany and Hampton Court.
24th: Victoria Coach Station running day
The founder of Wrightbus, Sir William Wright passed away at the age of 94.
25th: ex-Tower Transit started losing their old company logos at Lea Interchange (LI), after gaining Stagecoach fleetnumbers a few weeks prior.
26th: Go-Ahead share photos of the Irizar i2e on their twitter.
It was discovered Lost Jungle World's car park is home to 6 vehicles from Edgware (BT) due to lack of space in the garage.
27th: Another nationwide rail strike called by RMT announced two weeks earlier, on the 13th.
Meanwhile, throwing uproar among enthusiasts is Abellio rolling Intelligent Speed Assist on a number of their routes, being (BC - 109 130 464, WL - 196, TF - 267 490 H26 R68 R70, GW - 195 E10 E11), from the 28th.
28th: The TfL deal extended to 3 August.
29th: Piccadilly Line Night Tube opens, a little later than the intended 23rd.
Metroline's to-be-announced 142 and 187/487 allocation announced to be brand new electrics.
Alexander Dennis Limited shows off it's new logo.
Yellow Buses of Bournemouth went into administration.
From this point on, no more double deckers allowed on route 152, a ban from TfL themselves.
30th: Abellio gains it's first ever school route in the form of 671.
Last bus: VH45175 at 15:56
First bus: 2050 at ....
Also, another rail strike, but ASLEF instead of RMT.
Strike extras happened on certain bus routes, the 295 using Abellio LTs as one example.
Routes 613, 662 and 665 was retained on this date.
August
1st: Annual Reparation event, causing many diversions across London.
2nd: Stagecoach's Leyton (T) being wired up has started traction.
3rd: Rotala bought Midland Classic, whilst Yellow Coaches was bought by National Express and Morebus revise some services to plug some losses of Yellow Buses. Italics to differentiate bus and coach.
4th: Yellow Buses ceased operation today. The following day sees some services in modified form taken over by Go-Ahead's Morebus.
Following on from the above troubles, HCT plan on leaving Yorkshire and as does Powells. Stagecoach took on some of the routes in Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, EMC1 which was thought to have died as a parts donor, was revived completely. Otherwise, the other EMCs being refurbished with Dartford (DT) codes caused a stir in the enthusiast space.
5th: Votes begun for an Arriva London North strike action, votes closing on 26th, if successful strikes would occur in September.
Perivale (PA) which closed bus operations is used as storage for Optare's repairs on the OMEs from Potters Bar (PB) and Westbourne Park (X) as well as Me's from Merton (AL), one of each three companies at a time. As well as those, 204's new BDEs are in store at the depot.
6th: Bromley Bus Preservation Group adds Trident 18499 to their repertoire.
7th: Joining 18499 is ex-Arriva DLA620 and DW95 into preservation.
8th: EHVs return to Merton (AL), involving the Metrodeckers but not due to unreliability as rumours sparked, however due to the retrofits being done, performed at Metroline's Perivale (PA) as stated earlier.
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| Julian Walker From a £1 bus route to no more |
16th: The last of the Class 455s, 455804 and 455819 have left Stewarts Lane to be scrapped at Newport Docks.
17th: Hybrid Optare Versa HOV1 which was at Optare's Grays facility since 2017 has now been taken apart at Go Coach.
19th: RATP's London United striked today, announced on the 5th.
Unite strikes involving the Underground, Tramlink, as well as other TfL operations. Tube strike extras on routes like 159 and other core routes played as usual.
In other news, Metroline's Electroliner demo that was spotted months back, dons fleetnumber WDE2769. Nice.
The Government's Bus Recovery Grant which was to expire in October was confirmed to be extended to March 2023 with a further £130 million provided for the cause.
22nd: Word got out RATP plan to move 13 to Edgware (BT), harking back to the old 13's day at the garage I suppose.
23rd: Dutch Railways sold Abellio's UK bus operation to the management team, called Transport UK Group Limited.
Meanwhile, apparently Stagecoach buying HCT has been official.
24th: ADL announced the in-house electric built small single deck, but also a double deck! The new range complimenting the BYD-ADL products.
Still in electric bus news, the 307's will be late meaning that diesel DWs will step in the interim until Spring.
Yutong announced a new shorter electric, E9 which is 8.94m long and 2.42m wide with a capacity of 62 people, with the CG renders showing two sets of doors.
25th: Arriva's T322 ends up deroofed in Dartford.
NBfL LT43 becomes the first of the type to receive camera mirrors, which is mandated on all new buses for a while now.
26th: The 812 is withdrawn sadly after complications with HCT Group's finances, the next day sees what is alleged to be Stagecoach manager takeover.
Bristol operations also gone, with HCT's Channel Island operations taken over by Tower Transit!
Arriva acquired LT88-93 for future use for 248.
The new deal by the government for TfL says it will run to April 2024 (shorter than the 3 years TfL asked for) and gives the Department for Transport more control, as their word is that TfL is mismanaged.
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| DW106 LJ05BJZ, Croydon |
27th: Arriva lose the 264 after several decades of retaining it, albeit mostly from now-nonexistent Beddington Farm (CN) or Thornton Heath (TH) but alas ever since the closure of the former Croydon (TC) have had it and narrowly lost it upon retention but now it is let go, it now sees brand new electric vehicles from the depot that geographically is central to the route, obviously Abellio is a next door neighbour too. Go-Ahead have been the victor today, and a glorious win for them it is amongst their other winnings this year. The BYDs, Ee's (with LEDs, leather headrest high-back Civic V3 seats and silver poles instead of yellow) instead of EPs, haven't arrived on time (until December) so E40Hs freed from 36's PVR reduction (EH225-231 and more) moved to Croydon (C) to start the 264.
As a result of this loss, word sprung up of route 50 moving from Brixton (BN) to replace the 264 at Croydon (TC). Whilst at Go-Ahead, the 197 moved from Croydon (C) to Peckham (PM) to make space for incoming newcomer 264 a while back in June.
The 684 moved from Go-Ahead to Stagecoach in a never-ending loop of Bromley (TB) and Orpington (MB) swapping routes.
In East London, Stagecoach officially took over HCT Group, and all buses' legals became "East London Bus and Coach Company" which isn't reminiscent of ELBG.
Uxbridge Station has a stop arrangement changed for TfL's Vision Zero Improve Road Safety. Stops K and M taken out of use as a result of the trial.
Thandi Buses in West Midlands join the ceasing operations grave.
Last 264: HT26 at 01:35
First 264: EH233 at 00:40
Last 684: EH315 and E208 at 15:50
First 684: 11065
Routes 116, 119, 198 and A10 were retained on this date.
28th: Notting Hill Carnival day one, with another London United 24-hour strike.
As for the carnival, only Y295 and Y316 ran for normal reroutings, whereas 36X was the only carnival express in lieu of 2X and 36X two years ago.
29th: Following a bus stop being broken the day before, Abellio provided extra buses on 7 as well as 27.
30th: TfL accepts the 19-month funding deal from the government.
A few Metroline routes announced with extensions from the 2024/25 programme.
31st: One of the largest electric orders in Britain, First with 193 electics; 20 StreetDeck Electroliners and 167 (11.6m) + 6 (10.9m) Kite Electroliners for Leeds; Leicester; Norwich; Portsmouth; York.
September
1st: Tenders! Massive tender release!
The much-loved much-airy cable car received a new sponsor, IFS Cloud.
2nd: Go-Ahead's electrics for Croydon (C) registered LG72-reg.
The last day of Bristol Community Transport, formally owned by HCT Group.
3rd: Route 638 retained on this date.
4th: The development papers idea of W12/W19 termini swap in Walthamstow not going ahead due to Waltham Forest having some disagreements with the idea.
5th: New Prime Minister was announced today, Liz Truss won over Rishi Sunak.
Metroline's WHD2727 has a day displaying "92 Chloe Kelly" celebrating England's Euro 2022 win. Wembley Stadium Station bus stop had a new announcement "Wembley Stadium - Home of the Lioness" as well.
6th: Tower Bridge turned out to have overweight buses and lorries using it, as the bridge had a 18 tonne limit but not enforced by TfL. In short, the tri-axle tourist buses are an issue, seems the council has pointed it out.
Grant Shapps resigned as Transport Secretary! Yay! New person is Anne-Marie Trevelyan... yay?
7th: Over the last night, it was announced First Scotland East sold off to McGills! Breaking news indeed.
Network Rail spend £5 million to make another station fully accessible, Streatham. Expected completion Autumn 2023.
8th: The suspension of BBC until 6pm with all reporters wearing black, Commons suspended, and Buckingham Palace shooing off people had a bad omen... Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral after reigning for 70 years, overseeing 15 prime ministers. Rest in peace.
Route H14 temporarily moved from Harrow (SO) to Parr Road (CP) as works take place at Harrow.
9th: Abellio MMC 2022 lost it's Platinum Jubilee wrap, with VWH2112 off road. The start of the removal of the jubilee wrappers as the monarch passed away.
10th: Metroline's Electroliner demo to head to Potters Bar (PB).
11th: Rumours say 37 to receive more hybrids, from 264's temporary EH allocation released by 36. Of course, once 264's due electrics arrive.
12th: The start of more strikes, tramlink strike as well as other operators. Cancelled out of respect for Queen's passing.
The first UK order of the Volvo BZL double decker announced, 30 for Stagecoach Cambridgeshire for the Park & Ride, part funded as per ZEBRA agreement.
13th: Fulwell (FW) sees an all-white Right-Hand-Drive Enviro500 (most similar to BVG's Enviro500s), for testing purposes.
ex-Tower Transit now Stagecoach 13121 becomes of the first with the Stagecoach logo at Lea Interchange (LI).
14th: Extra night buses were added on some routes as an influx of people visit the Queen's lying-in-state in Central London. N29A (6 buses), N15 between TSQ and Barking, N109 (4? buses), N9 between TSQ and Chiswick Roundabout.
Southeastern ran 24-hour trains at a 2 hourly frequency (St Pancras - Ashford and Victoria - Gillingham).
VMH45331 had a run-in with a BMW, colliding with a parked Range Rover whilst on 452.
15th: More rail strikes by ASLEF, affecting the Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, London Overground and Southeastern in London as well as a lot more in the country. Cancelled out of respect for Queen's passing.
HCT Group's Liberty Bus and Guernsey Bus acquired by Tower Transit.
16th: MCL6 had a crash inside Hounslow (AV).
17th: The 83 moved to the long-awaited new outstation in Alperton on Athlon Road (TfL coded as PV, internally coded ON). The 90 moved from Brentford (AH) back to Perivale East (PV). This is all ahead of time to make space for H91 at Brentford (AH). What caused a minor stir in the enthusiast-sphere is Brentford (AH) moving to a different site adjacent to it's former one, apparently slightly smaller but either way, a move that went with less glamour than other operators.
As that happens, word comes out that neither 414/452 would adopt the extra MetroDeckers once C3 is withdrawn, with assumptions turning to the 28.
19th: Queen Elizabeth II funeral day, a Bank Holiday Monday, though normal Monday service for buses allowing for better transport of the higher passenger flows.
Tube trains ran an extra hour to allow for more time for visitors.
Bromley Bus Preservation Group gains ex-Stagecoach Trident 17143 and Dart 34358 as well as London's last DB250 DW145.
20th: Also joining Bromley Bus Preservation Group is ex-RATP Scania SP40001, formerly at London Bus Museum.
Word got out that Hounslow Heath (WK)'s late electrification was down to a generator not being installed, due to not having permission from the land owner who rejected that. Usually you would seek permissions before you place bids (for the 235 in this case), though it seems RATP have gone beyond the I care region.
HS2 Ltd was granted an extensive injunction along the length of high-speed line (London to Crew) to tackle unlawful protests. Essentially making disrupting work there a case handled by the court, not just protestors but "persons unknown".
21st: A whole bunch of OMEs start doing the 28, seemingly confirming rumours of the type's new route once a C3 dies.
LT1000 at Nuneaton garage.
22nd: Andy Byford retires as commissioner, returning to America.
DDE20294 combusted into flames after an accident involving a car.
Yutong announced a new electric double decker of 10.9m length, sharing a similar drivetrain to the E10 and E12. It already exists in a longer tri-axle form in Singapore.
David Cutts appointed the new MD of Go-Ahead London.
23rd: Following H91's driver shortage issues causing partial lack of service, it moved back to Hounslow Heath (HH recoded into WK), this was stated a month earlier.
Stagecoach code the ex-HCT buses, 2600 as 10206, 1220+ as 37720+ and 2501+ as 12501+ and Solos in the 477xx range.
Arriva's orders for 307 and 377 announced. The 307 with Electroliners and 377 with Metrocitys, witha common CCS2 charging port.
Ee56 and LT369 crashed in Walthamstow Bus station.
Meanwhile, RATP drives accepted a pay offer, so no future strikes happening
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| Julian Walker 15022 by Romford Station |
24th: The 248 changes over from Stagecoach to Arriva, something that was seen by some as not happening, seen by others as possible. What almost no one conceived of, was it receiving existing New Routemasters! LT88-93 from Abellio's 27 along with spares within Arriva's own fleet. This change marked the end for East London's Scania OmniCitys, a type liked by some and disliked by some. Undoubtedly the seats rock-hard, we can all agree.
Interesting last hurrah from Rainham (RM) is an electric doing the honours of the final 248 courtesy of an enthusiast driver, as opposed to 248 ending on it's daily long-allocated Scania OmniCitys.
Last bus: 14132 at 01:05 at Cranham
First bus: LT140 at 04:30
First stray: DW235 on 27/9/22
The 241's extension into Royal Wharf confirmed on this date, after a limbo of unknown date for months on end especially after Elizabeth Line's birth into existence.
26th: More of a 24 hour rail strike
In yesterday news, up to 5000 low paid contractors (cleaners, security, etc) who work for TfL get free travel!
28th: Southeastern's timetable changes saw a fury of people in South East London due to service reductions for some users (Sidcup, Woolwich) into Charing Cross and in general, a bad change for users. In addition, the company will rid First Class, not that it will help matters of losing a service you've been using for many many years with little hitch.
29th: The end of HCT Group, it ceased trading and operation.
More transfers incoming, the 216 back to Fulwell (FW) and 411 back to Tolworth (TV). Both routes at time of writing, based at Hounslow Heath (WK).
30th: A fire in Silvertown Tunnel site begun investigation the day earlier.
Announced in late July, Victoria Station started it's £30 million upgrade which sees it increase it's ticket barriers from 86 to 111, with works expected to finish in late 2023.
October
1st: Heritage operation of route 37 between Hounslow and Peckham happened on this date, with RTs.
Former Go-Ahead SEN38 (former RATP SDE13) has been preserved.
Rail strikes.
2nd: London Marathon, closing roads in Greenwich and, largely Central, South East as well as East London.
The official target date for electric buses in London becomes 2034 (from 2037).
3rd: Works started at Crystal Palace Bus station for 358's electrification.
Electroliner LY71GJE seen at Brixton (BN), used alongside EAs for tests on 29 38 279 W3 as well as over other South routes.
The Big Lemon take over the Bristol Community Transport operation left by HCT Group.
At some point 477 has been withdrawn, together with nearly 40 other services in Kent, both commercial and subsidised bus routes. The 477 could've been another martyr but GoCoach stepped into to save the service in the same way Sullivans saved 84, by sacrificing the London section (in this case, Orpington to Swanley) and focusing on Swanley to Dartford which allows most of 477's alone areas to still be serviced, albeit hourly compared to every 40. After some campaigning, Arriva reversed their decision to withdraw the route, keeping it as-is between Orpington and Dartford (every 60).
4th: Arriva London North strike, a continuous strike with no end, effecting 46 bus routes (excluding Grays [GY] and Dartford [DT]). Harking similarities to London Forest's strikes which (in addition to tender losses to Capital Citybus) led to their demise, Leyton bus garage continuing to survive spiritually and Ash Grove reclaimed. The continuous Arriva London North strike planned for 4th October was called off, after a new pay offer (11% rise) was made on the 26th September.
5th: Rail strikes, affecting the Overground and more.
Unofficial strike carried out by Palmers Green (AD), one of the garages in the intended strike with a majority against the pay deal.
Abellio's 2486 ends up in a fire whilst on the 156.
7th: Go-Ahead offered 10.5% to drivers, with Unite accepting.
8th: Rail strikes that were postponed in respect for the Queen, happening on this date.
MyLondon made an article regarding 148 being the least reliable service in London, which (as a high frequency service) it is, only matched by low-frequency 549.
11th: Strike ballots started for Metroline workers over pitiful pay offer.
13rd: A new connection between the Northern Line and DLR opened at Bank.
E204 was involved in an accident whilst on 37.
15th: The 226 passes over from Metroline to RATP with brand new electrics, surprised to many as BEs since 10.8m E200s were hard to navigate on the route. Rumours said the 226 would be delayed to coincide with 142, which was revealed to be true as 226 pushed to January start.
For route reshuffles, an unexpected move touted in July was the 226 moving into Park Royal (RP), the 295 to Shepherd's Bush (S). I lie, those make sense. The 70 would move out to Stamford Brook (V)! That's the unexpected move, considering Westbourne Park (X) had 70 before and is barren for space.
Both 226/295 from Westbourne Park (X), which makes some sense but also not bizarre. Moving out for driver balance is 218 to Stamford Brook (V) and 228 to Park Royal (RP). The H91 returning from Stamford Brook (V) to it's home of Hounslow Heath (WK).
Meanwhile, the 533 which is still a temporary route (after 3.3 years) had it's tender not long ago announced, won by Go-Ahead using spare 209 MMCs from 209/378's cut.
The tourist Routemaster service finally started, on this date, costing £5 all-day with buses coming every 20 minutes between 9am and 6pm. Londoner Buses being the operator, with 3 Routemasters.
Electroliner EL1 ended it's trial at Croydon (C).
Last 533: DEL2260 at 01:24
First 533: SE297 at 04:50
Routes 149 and 621 retained on this date.
16th: Yesterday HCT's buses received the aforementioned Stagecoach fleetnumber change mentioned near the end of September.
BCEs appear at Parr Road (CP), as more electrics do 125 and 183.
ADL will show off the Enviro400FCEV (full-cell electric vehicle) at the Birmingham NEC in the first days of November.
Dartford's Queen Elizabeth II bridge closed due to protestors, for more than just this day, continuing onto the next.
18th: LT11 was reported converted to an electric bus.
Go-Ahead London drivers in South London get a 10.5% pay rise agreed.
19th: The 317 confirmed to convert to electrics from 134's cut the next week, with 317 already allocated two OMEs, this will increase to it's full allocation (from 134's cut from Tottenham Court Road to Warren Street).
20th: Liz Truss resigned as leader of the Conservative Party and by extension, Prime Minister. Whilst anyone could predict it, she officially became the Prime Minister with the shortest term.
21st: Word of an upcoming consultation involving routes 108 129 and brand new express X239 come to play on 16 November.
Electroliners announced for 142/642.
22nd: The 220 is retained (with a small peak frequency reduction), with the tenders last year dictating 226 and 295 lost to RATP. Surprisingly the 220 is a 5 year contract with diesels, with 220/295 being due in January 2022 and 226 in December but released early nonetheless. Word of Park Royal (RP) being closed has come up, and Wandsworth (JE) taking up 295. Though in reality the opposite, with Shepherd's Bush (S) taking 295.
Routes 353 359 383 384 retained on this date.
South Yorkshire Supertram announced to become publicly owned in 2024, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority taking over from Stagecoach.
24th: Bond Street Elizabeth Line station opened.
26th: Another vandalism case of buses (following B14, 203) now it's the 64 on Homestead Way, T157 being one of the buses with it's windows damaged.
27th: The 125 actually converts to electrics, after 10 months.
Metrocity 8.7m demo seen at Enfield (E), fitting in for training as 377 receives them next year.
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| Fernando Garcia 49 At Westbourne Park (X), 7 years before |
29th: 295 passes over from Metroline to RATP. Revealed in early spring that the electrics would be receiving the same specification as 63's 'future bus trial' electrics, the RATP operation tastes it's first glorified route on another changeover, though not one which sees a flagship transfer over.
The 218 and 228 transfers go well, with none of them taking their StreetLites, instead opting for E200s released from 72 which received a partial electric conversion, indirectly from 235's spare unused BEs.
Last bus: VWH2123 at 00:51
First bus: Night buses weren't loaded on iBus except OME46027 (02:35). First day bus VH45141 at 05:15
Route 339 retained by Tower Transit (contract novated to Stagecoach) on this date.
30th: Word came out 204 has issues with BDEs, despite being route tested quite a long time ago. The BDEs by this point are all in storage, having been delivered. TfL passed the test though recommended minor road layout changes at Montrose Avenue and Roe Green for safe 10.9m vehicle operation.
November
1st: As part of the Birmingham NEC event, many vehicles are shown.
The unveiling of ADL's Enviro100EV, a 8.5m long 2.35m wide single deck with a total capacity of 45.
A new all-ADL Enviro400EV with a drivetrain similar to Wright's Electroliner.
The electric converted Borismaster LT11 was there. Many more too.
2nd: Stagecoach's drivers in East London accept 10% pay rise.
Meanwhile, X26's review to start ahead of it's contract. Last contract, the same happened with potential increase in frequency (to every 20) and a night service, both didn't happen. Repeat of last time, perhaps.
3rd: Tube strike again along with Network Rail who will also strike on this date, as well as on the 5th and 7th. Moved to 9th/10th No strikes.
Heavy rains the previous night meant flooding occurred, causing disruption in morning rush hour on many parts of North and some of West London. Signal failures on the tube also due to floods.
Abellio's 2447 refurbished with LEDs retrofitted, the company retrofitting almost all manual-blind buses with smartblinds some odd years ago.
5th: 349 moves out of Enfield (E) to Edmonton (EC) to make space for 307, both for electrification and actual bus space.
Only c2c and Greater Anglia operating a normal service out of the train companies intended to strike (but obviously cancelled), causing minor disruptions in the train networks of our country.
6th: The core of the Elizabeth Line (and Bond Street station, already open) opened on this date, or at least intended to though due to strikes it was pretended as if disruption would happen though the strike was cancelled.
Seems they've gone through with this set date unlike the multitude of other dates in the past few years which is another plus.
Meanwhile word comes out that District Line's Ealing Broadway branch to transfer to the Piccadilly Line, as there's less vehicles on the sub-surface network to deliver the Olympia shuttle service along with a million other problems on the Underground network (even multiple signalling systems not working nicely with each other, yet on other lines) as well as the future New Tube for London programme for the Piccadilly soon.
8th: New article reveals a further length of the ADL E100EV at 7.9m. An all-ADL Enviro200EV also in the works, with all of the BYD versions of the Enviro lineup continuing to exist as an option even with all-ADL electrics in the catalogue coming forward.
9th: RMT strike intended on 3rd happened on this date.
Word of Network Rail seeing feasibility of restoring the Hall Farm curve allowing trains from Stratford to Chingford. Due to platform limitations at Stratford, existing LO trains will be extended (2tph) from Stratford backwards then to Chingford. Allowing 4tph of capacity freed at Liverpool Street.
10th: RMT strike involving the Tube and Overground. Bus extras on the 25 27 86 159 205 and more.
Stagecoach announced 200 E400MMC (worth £50m in all) smart-hybrids for their fleets replacing older Tridents; in Oxford, Manchester, Yorkshire, Preston, Northampton, Mansfield, Portsmouth, Chichester, Winchester, Torquay, Folkestone and Newcastle.
VH45152 and BE37043 involved in an accident outside Hounslow Heath (WK).
11th: Children in Need charity, RML880 was on 281.
Stagecoach 12372 got involved in an accident with a tree.
12th: Route 92 retained on this date.
Children in Need charity, sees RML903 on 43 along with an Ensign RML on 25.
Stagecoach 12401 in an accident.
13rd: ex-HCT 12515 gains a Stagecoach logo
14th: Infrastructure work at Fulwell (FW) begun for the 111's Electroliners.
HGVC to train 27 new engineers at Arriva London to category D (bus license) over 14 weeks. HGVC were contracted by Stagecoach West for drivers in June, so a quick way to get workforce covered.
LT43 lost camera mirrors though it seems LT135 may have gained the exact same pair!
15th: Arriva's T322 would enter service using the roof of withdrawn T10.
16th: Silvertown Tunnel bus consultation involving 108/129/X239 came out.
The Sun reported on a similar tech to the Northwood Station bus stop and Future bus trial for 63 (e.g Peckham Hill Street bus stops), in short: countdown integrated with bus stop flags.
Arriva's ENN64 suffered a front end fire in an accident on 192.
17th: Surprise order for Metroline' long-awaited single deck order, 24 10.2s; 14 10.8s; 9 9.6s. For the 187/487 251 and 384 respectively. Not ADL nor Optare... it's the Volvo BZL.
The 307's upcoming Electroliner StreetDecks are coded ES.
18th: Metroline's WDE2769 to be used on 263.
19th: For the upcoming 91 transfer to Go-Ahead, the 76 partially moves to Stockwell (SW), possibly relating to staffing as well.
Rumour mills say 13 not going to Edgware (BT) but 226 starting it's career at Edgware (BT), seems to just be rumours.
Lots of vandalism happened at Wood Green (WN) bus garage, with many smashed windows, due to an angry passenger losing a wallet who was told the bus went back out on N29, thus took out his rage on the parked buses.
20th: Hendon (AE) bus garage open day celebrating closure of 35 years ago, with routes 13 32 140 183 and N95 having some portions of route covered as part of the open day.
A special extra service on 32 between Cricklewood and Edgware courtesy of Bromley Bus Preservation Group with their large collection of low-floor buses preserved.
22nd: What could've been the first of Abellio strikes (also on 25/26, then December 1-3, 9/10 and 16/17) where 98% voted Yes for strikes, wanting a £20 hourly rate which would be in line with agency pay.
Limited services (full route) on the following routes: 111 196 207 278 285 381 427 464 490 E5 H20 H25 H28
Part route on 3 (Kennington-Crystal Palace), 130 (Thornton Heath-Addington Village), 156 (Wimbledon-Clapham Junction) and 345 (South Kensington-Brixton)
Barnes Bridge railway closed meaning no SWR trains serving Barnes Bridge or Chiswick stations until the following Monday.
23rd: The Central London bus consultation results have been published, with only routes 16 507 521 N16 being withdrawn and changes to 3 6 23 26 59 77 211 C10 going ahead, the 332 renumbered 16 and N16 rerouted to Oxford Circus and renumbered N32.
As a result of 507/521 being withdrawn, the 108 confirmed to convert using the released SEe's.
24th: Sources said U5's E400EVs will move to Walworth (WL) converting 68 to electrics, with U5 warming up the Electroliners meant for 111 whilst infrastructure works finish at Twickenham (TF), once they do, 111 gets it's Electroliners, U5 returns with it's E400EVs and 68 goes back to LTs with 415 having it's LTs loaned on 111 - back to 415.
25th: Another Abellio strike, see the 22nd entry for details that are the same
Different details: 63 (Honor Oak-Elephant), 111 (Kingston-Cranford), 196 (Brixton-Norwood Junction), the 415 and P13 were running limited services.
ULEZ announced to become London-wide from 29 August 2023. As a result, 1 million km of extra bus coverage being added in the boroughs of (Havering, Barnet, Ealing, Harrow, Haringey and Redbridge)
changes form of Brent Cross improvements, the Sutton improvements (S2 etc) then Southall, Silvertown (129/X239). What's new is Whipps Cross having more to Wanstead, Harrow & Wealdstone having unknown improvements with a new bus route in Haringey Heartlands involving Wood Green.
26th: This strike day by ASLEF was announced on the same day there was already a Tube+Overground strike on the 10th. Anyways, this was a London Overground strike and other rail companies (Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway (GWR), Greater Anglia, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), London Overground, Northern Trains. Southeastern. Transpennine Express and West Midlands Trains.) A lot of mayhem. Central Line had a staff shortage meaning resources pulled onto the District and H&C lines.
The 491 was rerouted. Using more of Bull Lane and Sterling Way. It previously was less direct by using Bull Lane (south), Bridport Road and Gloucester Road to line of route.
28th: DLR strikes announced, 17-day strike, to start off the New Year
29th: We already knew of the order, but Wright announces 39 Electroliners for Metroline, to be used on routes 142 and 297.
First to leave Southampton from 19 February, with Bluestar taking some operations.
December
1st: Metroline strikes from 1st to 3rd, 8th/9th and 15th/16th happening. A 10% pay rise was rejected along with the top two tiers of drivers being closed off, so when senior drivers retire/leave, no drivers replace those senior spots - translating to a pay cut. Strikes all called off.
Abellio strike, details different are 464 running limited service (instead of 130) with no 415 service.
Arriva's ENR6 had fire damage.
2nd:
Arriva mentioned with sadness withdrawing their Heritage Fleet of Routemasters in Norwood (N) with the final normal length Routemaster RM2217 doing a charity run on 137 starting at Norwood Crown Point at 10am then a few rounders on 137 as normal to then finish at Crown Point at 1810. RM2217 has spent 36 years of it's 57 years at either Brixton (BN) or Norwood (N).
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| Clive A Brown RM2217, the final Routemaster on 159 |
Arriva mentioned with sadness withdrawing their Heritage Fleet of Routemasters in Norwood (N) with the final normal length Routemaster RM2217 doing a charity run on 137 starting at Norwood Crown Point at 10am then a few rounders on 137 as normal to then finish at Crown Point at 1810. RM2217 has spent 36 years of it's 57 years at either Brixton (BN) or Norwood (N).
Second strike day of Abellio with no 207s but more 427s.
3rd: Routes 80 93 151 154 163 164 297 retained on this date.
The 470 was lost on this date back to Go-Ahead after a few decades. The loss saw 411 return from Hounslow Heath (WK) to Tolworth (TV) to replace the slightly small hole left by 470.
One of the starting SEs had paper on the windows, showing a great start. As a result of the delay of 439/S2 tenders, the intended cut from Epsom to Sutton didn't happen, meaning that neither has the small reroute in Sutton Common that forces 470 to use smaller buses. So for no reason, the 470 was degraded in vehicle size in retrospect. Going from 50-capacity 9.7m buses to 45-capacity 9m buses, with no change of route demanding it (yet).
Last bus: DDE20291 and DE20119 at 21:15
First bus: SE239 at 06:16
4th: TfL need to reduce spending by £600m a year, an article by BBC reveals.
5th: Electroliner EL1 enters service at Camberwell (Q) on the 40, no doubt for evaluating what type to order for 40's electric specification on tender starting in 2023.
6th: TfL unveiled Christmas wraps on five buses from five different deopts, which will be kept until February, buses started service the day before; Metroline (6 52 98, 139); Go-Ahead (14 22 74, 188); Arriva (243).
7th: Chiltern's parliamentary train from West Ealing to West Ruislip ended on this date, replaced by Rail Replacement buses, similar to how District Line's Olympia shuttle was trains but became buses, circumstances differing in the tube's case, though in the end, both rail replacement buses.
The reason is preparation for battery-electric trains on the Greenford line, allowing for closure whilst the trial happens and so on so forth.
All-party-parliamentary group of British zero emission buses, including; Switch Metrocity; ADL Enviro400EV; ADL Enviro400 FCEV; Wright StreetDeck Electroliner/Hydroliner.
9th: Abellio London strike again, ending on the 10th. Differences this time being no 195 service, with 3s running further than Kennington to Lambeth Palace. Reduced 45 service.
Registrations for 226 and 295's electrics have been revealed, LG72 for the BEs and LD72 for the BCEs.
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| Martin Addison Home sweet home, VLW106 |
All to say for 307, is that it's home sweet home. Not as much as 34 which embarrassingly performed better out of Metroline's garage in Hertfordshire than the Arriva depot on line of route.
Last 307: VW1407 at 02:00
First 307: DW509 at 04:54
Routes 155 and 159 retained on this date.
11th: Chaos in the UK as snow falls, with disruptions left right and centre across the roads, airport and rail infrastructure in many places. Some bus routes cutback, some withdrawn.
Metroline TE1428 crashed in Enfield on W8.
13th: A two-day rail strike again by RMT.
Electrics at Croydon (C) for 119/264 entered service on 264, with some not having displays (banditise, to say a familiar word), with overall half the amount of buses on 264 not appearing on iBus.
14th: Due to power scarcity, only 20 of 70 chargers could be used at Fulwell (FW) before issues for Network Rail at Fulwell Station develop into power outage. Thus 65 and 281 partly reverted to VHs with reduced service. The 71 and 85 also on reduced service. The 371 became suspended.
Elsewhere at Perivale (PV), the 7 converts back to VWHs with a sole diesel VW also working the route.
16th: Another two-day rail strike by RMT, also the last of Abellio's strikes in 2022.
17th: The start of a week closure on the Watford DC line and suspension of Bakerloo north of Queens Park, finishing on 23rd. The wooden sleepers (circa 1950) being replaced, power supply upgraded, drainage improved between Harlesden and Kenton, a derelict substation removed.
London Northeastern Railway making a stop at Wembley Central to aid existing traffic whilst Rail Replacement buses also operate feeding into other tube lines and Bakerloo itself at Queen's Park.
Bromley Bus Preservation Group gains Enviro400 19000.
18th: Annual mini-running day on 227 (Penge-Bromley) and old 94 (Lewisham-Petts Wood) as well as ex-Green Line 725.
19th: Word comes out 218 will return to Westbourne Park (X) as indecisiveness of 226's location spurs. Some DDEs enter service at Stamford Brook (V).
20th: ASLEF renew whether to strike, with a 94% vote in favour with 85% turnout. So strikes coming (multiple Train Operating Companies) on 5 January, a day sandwiched with RMT strikes.
22nd: Go-Ahead enters Australia on a joint venture with UGL, forming U-Go Mobility in Sydney's southern regions, by Transport for New South Wales.
23rd: The restart of the Watford DC line.
Transport for Greater Manchester tenders released, notable changes seeing Rotala gain more money from losing a depot to TfGM and gaining a smaller franchise of routes and depot, whilst Go-Ahead make gains in Bolton from Stagecoach. A successful franchising round it seems.
24th: Happy Christmas Eve! Strikes! More RMT strike, until the 27th. In addition, UK Border Force at Heathrow and Gatwick airports also striked over the holiday.
25th: Christmas Day!
Brighton & Hove ran bus services on key routes for essential workers and general connections for people to reach families.
Bow (BW) stored some buses in Lea Interchange (LI).
One of 295's new buses spotted parked in Edgware (BT), as RATP use the bus station to park more buses.
26th: In King's Cross, ST812 got rear-ended by a 476, WVN1, which had it's front smashed a bit.
28th: BCE47113 ends up in an accident on Kenton Road whilst on 183.
Meanwhile, some of 295's brand new BCEs enter service at Fulwell (FW) on 281, BCEs 47162/163.
30th: EHV6 involved in an accident in Mornington Crescent whilst on a diverted 88.
Brent Cross West station has had it's date set for December though opening has since pushed ot early 2023.
Before the end of the post I will leave you with three things
- ULEZ diesel workings
Text at bottom
- PVR changes 2022
Spreadsheet.
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| PVR changes 2022 |
- iBus changes
Spreadsheet
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| iBus changes |
All in all, a very very lengthy post because I have been very very lazy so any bit of news was plopped in. You would think I look back and scavenge back on events but these year-roundups are effectively diaries. Updated constantly. Perhaps something I can't do in the long run or forever but I have been doing for years now.
I won't hold for a 2023 roundup to this quality, but I have done this year without assuming I would back in 2021.
Though, I hope you enjoyed this 2022 roundup.
Until the next post, or until next year, stay safe, happy holidays, a happy new year, and enjoy yourselves!
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New Year 2022
16/1/22 E76 on N15 from 01:17 to 01:53
20/1/22 E71 on N15 from 00:30 to 01:11
6/2/22 E254 on 363 from 21:15 to
1/3/22 Tube strike E101 and E102 extra on 88
34/22 VW1306 on route 4 from 15:49 to 18:04
3/5/22 ADE40406 on route N18 from 23:48 to 05:30
11/5/22 9523, 9524 and 9526 on route 196 Arriva strike extras from 6 AM to 7 PM
WVL381 on route 155 from 08:30 to 18:48
18/6/22 WVL484 (sporting the Elizabeth line wrap) on N15 from 01:16 to 01:59
19/6/22 VW1303 on 91 from 18:50 to 22:23
22/6/22 9539 on N207 from 01:15 to 01:45
17/7/22 VW1304 on 91 from 18:00 to 19:45
23/7/22 E193 on N15 from 01:30 to 02:04, from Canning Town to Romford Market
28/7/22 19744 on 53 from 04:28 to 06:46
30/7/22 19799 on 53 from 12:10 to 16:08
6/9/22 19869 on 55 from 04:30 to 09:01
19/10/22 WVL492 on N15 from 00:30 to 01:07 substituted at Canning Town
25/10/22 10115 on 26 from 06:45 to 09:02
28/10/22 10115 on N550 from 03:00 to 06:12
19856 on 56 from 04:30 to 08:47
29/10/22 VW1394 on 139 from 06:00 to 10:17
05/11/22 10117 on 55 from 17:50 to 20:59 substituted at Walthamstow having seemingly turned at Hoxton beforehand
11/11/22 T292 on 2 from 23:15 to 01:13, finishing as the last bus at Norwood Bus Garage.
20/11/22 9519 on 344 from 12:20 to 12:55, appearing to be a log-in or substituted at Vauxhall from Clapham Junction
14/12/22 VW1373 on 7 from 07:40 to 00:21 on 15/12/22, due to WHDs not being serviceable as the route converted mostly to VWHs.
18/12/22 VW1277 on 7 from 19:05 to 00:31 on 19/12/22
23/12/22 10116 on 53 from 23:00 to 00:53 on 24/12/22
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To a happy 2023
Stay safe!
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