Sunday 18 January 2015

Saturday Sightseeing

This is my first observations post. so it may be a little off.

First, I'll start with the ultra rare working on one of the most unreliable bus routes in London: the 322.

Here's the ultra rare working of 322:
8204 (YY64GVU) on the large and spacious Hail & Ride section of the route
These beasts are obviously a rare working; they're 64reg, they've been on it twice so far and on the same day (17th, where 8204 (pictured) and 8205 did a race on 322), they sound like Euro6 Enviro400 hybrids from the exterior, but overrevving Volvo B5LHs from the interior. This is also the third Enviro200 on the route, first being 8109 and second being 8521 which appeared in June 2014 with 8497 in May.

Next we have the 3 which was just cut temporarily to Regent Street Conduit Street due to roadworks in the Central London area. The route will come back to Oxford Circus soon.

Shift QB301 as bus 2470 (SN64OEU) to Regent Street, notice the Piccadilly Circus blinds. Read below for information.
Of course, the route would end at Regent Street, but would start at Piccadilly Circus. I guess if the buses had Regent Street in them for the C2, Regent Street would be used, like how 53/N2 do, end at Whitehall but start at Trafalgar Square, am I wrong?

Thursday 1 January 2015

New Years Special - Sayonara, 2014

As you and I all know, it's now New Years Eve (31/12/14), first of all, I would like to mention a happy new year, and all that goes well. Enjoy 2015!

As for this post, I want to summarise as much I can about what changed since the start if 2014.

I'll summarise what has changed throughout the year.

January 2014:
Routes 228, 428, 601. 602, 603 and B15 retained with existing buses (with 228s and B15s being refurbished and 428 having one extra from 256's old Arriva allocation).

@Au Morandarte

New school route 662 introduced between Surbiton Station and Holy Cross School via Tolworth and New Malden. Awarded to London United using existing Volvo B7TL 10.6m East Lancs Mylennium buses from 57(/131 now). Operated from Tolworth (TV).
Routes 96, 319 and 472 receiving new buses. 96/472 with Enviro400Hybrids for their contract and 319 received the last Volvo B5LH 10.4m Wright Gemini 2 vehicles London will see.

@Au Morandarte
Route 308 rerouted to serve Stratford City via Temple Mills Lane instead of via Leyton Station and Leyton Road.

February:
Route 122 retained with new Enviro400Hybrid buses
Route 148 converted to New Routemaster operation.
Routes 200 and 486 retained with existing buses to be refurbished.

March:
Route 159 withdrawn between Paddington Basin and Marble Arch with no replacement. PVR set to 34.
Routes 283, 393, 396 retained with existing buses (393 gaining two extra buses for the contract)
Routes 262/473 retained with existing Enviro400 diesel and Scania OmniCity from Plumstead (PD)
Route 317 retained with new buses from 2015.
Route 372 retained with existing Enviro400 diesels transferred from 53 (delayed)

April:
Route 10 converted to New Routemaster operation
@Au Morandarte

Route 75 awarded to Stagecoach Selkent with new Volvo B5LH Wright Gemini 3 Alexander Dennis Enviro400Hybrid buses from Catford (TL) plus one journey from route 208 [Bromley (TB)].
New School Route 689 introduced between The Glade and Croydon via Shirley and Addiscombe relieving the 367. Awarded to Arriva London from Thornton Heath (TH).