Definitely not the same title as YouTube's one. Which was trash, going off by last year's one. Don't need to see it to know it's bad. Like Tower Transit in general.
December postscript edit: It wasn't even a rewind at all.
December postscript edit: It wasn't even a rewind at all.
Last year I had a quote, this time you can hear me out on this.
New year. Same stuff.
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January.
12th. Metroline lose the supposed school route 603 from Muswell Hill to Swiss Cottage, to a very far away base on the edge of London at best. Sullivan Buses. They bought ex-Abellio Enviro400s for the route way ahead of contracted time. Sullivan Buses at current hold 10 school routes and now 603 and have done well on winning these school only bus routes. Whilst winning mostly school routes has the disadvantage of having buses lying around in the depot doing nothing, the advantage is that they're free for any work such as rail replacement, directly or indirectly by throwing deckers on 298 for routes with low bridges. This unfortunate loss from Metroline places Sullivan Buses ever so closer to Central London. Good job to Sullivan.
The first few rare workings consisted of HV120 on W3, and VMH2443 on 107, these workings becoming standard to the end of the year.
The first few rare workings consisted of HV120 on W3, and VMH2443 on 107, these workings becoming standard to the end of the year.
 |
| DE1646 (YX58FRD), somewhere in East Acton |
19th. Aforementioned Australians 'ave claimed the Maida Hill to Central Middlesex Hospital 228 with mostly new StreetLite DFs and a few from 236 which received a frequency cut earlier last year. It was almost the year before it received a heavy cut in frequency from every 12 to every 20 mins Monday-Friday daytime, with Sunday and evening services going to half hourly from literally double that at quarter hourly. Not only is it a one year anniversary of 228 being victimised by TfL, but it's decade anniversary of it's very birth. A new route introduced on the 17th January 2009. Started with a PVR of 11, contract renewal in 2014 saw this increase to 13. Then in February 2018 fall down to 9. The allocation seems to have gone down from [6 new, 3 existing] to [4 new WV46221-24, 5 existing WV46215-220] with 444 meant to gain two of RV1's hydrogen buses. Doubts were going around assuming Tower Transit may have difficulties sourcing the buses in time but 444 has only on the 19th seen it's first hydrogen in service, WSH62994. Meanwhile DE1662 performed the last Metroline 228 and Tower Transit started their term with WV46221.
Retains: Routes 96, 428, 472, 601/602, B15 on 26th.
The 428 converting to double deckers, rerouted to Crayford and receiving a frequency decrease. But that didn't happen as intended, thus not on-time.
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February.
2nd. Contract retain but a significant change in comparison to normal. The 43 converts from whatever it's allocation of assorted diesels were (VPLs, TEs, on-contract VWs) to fully electric BYD Enviro400EVs. A specific and new design! The 134 is also retained on this date but that route receives Optare Metrodecker EVs of it's own by August.
Problem, the route didn't receive it's BDEs just like 134. Read below for more.
Problem, the route didn't receive it's BDEs just like 134. Read below for more.
Retains: Routes 3, 122 on the 9th. Route 486 on the 23rd.
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March.
 |
| 18267 (LX05BVZ), Stratford |
The second day of March offers us 158 lost from East's hands and transferring to North's Arriva. This route has luckily escaped the wrath of other operators but not now. I remember reading somewhere West Ham (WH) isn't exactly cheap to operate and we all know in this climate you need to be more of a cheapskate to win. I shop at Poundland, Poundworld (R.I.P.) and Sam's 99p store daily so I know. Terrible jokes aside, this introduced a healthy fresh new face into Chingford and into Stratford. Stratford did have 678 but that's a school route, now back to Stagecoach. Back to 158, the previous operator had the route with Trident/ALX400s and Enviro400s with a PVR of 18 (+ 2 buses crosslinked to 86). The new operator provides 158 with VDL DB300s (DW467/90-500) indirectly released from the loss of 403 (whom lost DW318-325 to 123) and PVR reduction of 468 (6, HV380-5 allocated to 41) and VLW901-10, the B9TLs ex-266 bought for 123's future.
On this day the 123 and 275 were retained.
Abellio's 2001/2, the new E40D smart hybrids have been the first YX19s to enter service on London's roads on 22/3/19 just before 207's changeover. First strays on 427/U5 at 14:50/14:10 respectively.
Abellio's 2001/2, the new E40D smart hybrids have been the first YX19s to enter service on London's roads on 22/3/19 just before 207's changeover. First strays on 427/U5 at 14:50/14:10 respectively.
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| Julian Walker 2541 YX19ORS, Woodford High Road |
One pet peeve seen here is the use of the series hybrid E40H on a route that goes out of London that also doesn't, or rather, in need of greening the areas it serves besides Walthamstow.
Though, the change should've gone diddly well but it didn't. Barely any of the new E40Hs were ready and 388's frequency cut was postponed, which was required for 20's buses. What did CT Plus resort to? The tactic of the 26/69 whereby existing buses from the previous operator borrowed until your own arrives. This case, Go-Ahead were supposedly loaning some buses but Stagecoach lent their Leyton (T) 10113/14. In the end the 9 E40Hs (2539-2547) arrived as expected but without 388's cut, 20's allocation of 11 buses for a PVR of 9 wasn't complete before 20 takeover.
The last Go-Ahead bus on 20 was WVL448 at 00:45.
The first CT Plus bus on 20 was 2545 at 05:20.
Though, the change should've gone diddly well but it didn't. Barely any of the new E40Hs were ready and 388's frequency cut was postponed, which was required for 20's buses. What did CT Plus resort to? The tactic of the 26/69 whereby existing buses from the previous operator borrowed until your own arrives. This case, Go-Ahead were supposedly loaning some buses but Stagecoach lent their Leyton (T) 10113/14. In the end the 9 E40Hs (2539-2547) arrived as expected but without 388's cut, 20's allocation of 11 buses for a PVR of 9 wasn't complete before 20 takeover.
The last Go-Ahead bus on 20 was WVL448 at 00:45.
The first CT Plus bus on 20 was 2545 at 05:20.
 |
| Aubrey Morandarte On the next episode Dragon Ball Z! Just me? No? Okay... DEM1339 LK62DBZ, Chalk Farm Morrisons |
Last bus to perform under Arriva was ENS13 at 1am.
First bus to perform under Metroline as a Metroline bus was DEM1346 at 5:39.
 |
| 9421 (LJ07OPG), Anerley on it's way from stand to first stop at Birkbeck. In all this, I covered the Tramlink replacement of the 23/24 weekend, Birkbeck to East Croydon which happened quite a few times since the initial closure from a building which affected the tracks, resulting in emergency rail replacement, now this one is for track replacements. |
 |
| Loss of two types. One to the other route. The other to... Scotland |
15079 last 262 (01:54), VN36121 first 262 (04:28). 15113 last 473 (01:36), VN36151 first 473 (04:15)
Single decker 396 also changed on this date from Stagecoach's Barking (BK) to, also Barking but River Road (RR) of Go-Ahead. Covered by London Connected in unforgotten detail.
36291/5 were lasts at 00:19/00:17. SE118 first at 05:00.
There was also an open day at Barking (BK/RR) commemorating the last RTs 40 years ago.
The 317 changed from Enfield (E) of Arriva back to Metroline from Potters Bar (PB) with LK62/LK13 TEs off 134. The award came out an entire year early. At the time the tender did mention new buses but... Metroline. It happened with 117 and again with 317. Naturally, at the time with B5LH EvoSeti's on order, we thought 317 could gain some buses as PB have the Gemini 3 counterparts, it's Metroline so no. No? Not Wright, the 134 gets them, until it's MetroDecker EVs come. DW415 last (01:17), TE1422 first (05:05)
Last but not least, the 88 was extended to Parliament Hill Fields, full details here. N155 transferred from Sutton (A) to Stockwell (SW) ahead of Ultra Low Emission Zone.
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April.
6th: I've done a full rundown here, saves me space. Route 415 went back to LTs.
In other news, 259 fully operated in Edmonton (EC) with the one bus at Tottenham (AR) now running from Edmonton (EC). The 279 lost it's evening short workings Ponders End to Waltham Cross, the 321's night service transferred to Bexleyheath (BX) with N89 swapping to New Cross (NX) in time for ULEZ on Monday 8 April. Likewise the N279 transferred from Enfield (E) to Edmonton (EC), 259 being the route it steals from. The N1 surprisingly partially transferred out of Morden Wharf (MG) to not New Cross (NX) as last time, but to Peckham (PM).
27th: The long anticipated wait for 75's buses to enter service, but I've hopefully covered it already.
Retains: 75, 240 on 27th, 689 on the 20th.
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May
4th: The 65 receives 10 VHs ordered against 406 and 681 with GPS technology limiting speed to the speed limit as per the area, say if the road's limit is 20mph, the bus will only do that. They didn't roll out on the route as anticipated, RATP usually dumping a route with half or most of the new allocation in one go, the 19-reg VHs had problems time-keeping with 65's schedule, another route that later received the 20mph speed limits.
The 54 is retained.
Like last time, I only note interesting retains. The 440 this time is featured in. It's already been rerouted in the Chiswick area away from Power Road to Turnham Green via Chiswick Business Park, but not quite exactly the same use as 27 was... still, the first day proved to be poor with barriers not working and buses effectively doing non stop past the places. Now the 440 upon renewal on the 25th seesan extension to Wembley from Stonebridge Park via the 18, finally linking Chiswick and Acton with Wembley directly. See December. On the plus side, 440 received it's DMEs 30361-72. Route 272 with DMEs 30373-81.
As in West, the E11 goes from RATP to Abellio. London Buses On The Go covered both E10/E11 in locally great detail. From classic Enviro200 to new Enviro200 MMC. From ageing to younger. From Park Royal (RP) to Southall (AB).
The last RATP bus on E11 was SDE20203.
First Abellio bus being 8239.
Part of it's batch said to have LEDs like the Metroline Solos and Stagecoach E40Ds but didn't turn out to be the case.
Retains: 124/136, 272 (with new) on 25th.
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June
1st: The E10 changes over, likewise with E11. Likewise with E11, above entry sums up.
First buses were 8234/40 at just after 5:20, respectively Ealing-bound and Northolt-bound.
Last bus was 3433, now known as SDE20286.
15th: Central London changes. With RV1s withdrawal the last bus was BH63101. The 45s rerouted to Elephant. 341s via Clerkenwell to Waterloo Road (instead of County Hall). WHV134 becoming of the first to Russell Square as the 14.
22nd: The 227 change. I've gone all out here.
29th: The 211 goes over to RATP's Stamford Brook (V) from Abellio's Queenstown Battersea (QB) taking it's LTs with it. Whilst it was anticipated that Abellio may not retain it, we didn't expect RATP to place an immediate bargain after the loss of 10 through withdrawal. Though that only bit them back further as Abellio went revenge mode and snapped the much larger 27 out of their hands. What goes round comes round they say. Still, Abellio haven't done bad on the route though the former version of it may not have lived to it. Going from Dennis Darts under Go-Ahead to Trident ALX400s on next contract to Travel London and fast forward 17 years has made it still intact in Battersea (QB).
LT673 barely beat LT666 by 2 mins at Waterloo and Hammersmith respectively as last buses under Abellio.
Likewise LT route 8/N8 have been retained on this date.
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July
13th. The 301 was birthed into existence, I've taken the liberty to create it's own sub-post.
27th. The 81 and 208 change hands. One from RATP to Metroline. The other from Stagecoach to Go-Ahead. Both routes have stuff in common. They both go near the London border (81 passes it), both routes allocated Enviro400s before the loss, transfer to a company with B9TLs in their depot, both partially supported by a night route (fully in 208's case). But here's the underlying factor.
81 is West, 208 is South East. Here's the divide with only two changes the month and only two routes, on the same day.
One is based at an established depot. The other at a revived Lampton (SG) depot, from Westbus. We all thought Brentford (AH) were gonna have a shot at 81, technically they now do.
The last 81 was SP40175.
The last 208 towards Lewisham was 10187 with 10149 being the last Orpington bus at up to 5 mins late and finished 2 mins late, narrowly ahead of a smart hybrid N199.
The first Metroline 81 was VW1400 at 4:34 (which broke down later), some VWs coming from Perivale (PV), swaps from Harrow Weald (HD) which received native ex-207 stock, and one ex-First 427 VW1833, with Brentford (AH)'s VW1055.
Go-Ahead's first 208 was EH312 ~4am but it broke down within minutes of service in Orpington, making EH324 the first to complete a service on the second trip towards Lewisham half an hour after EH312. Since I've noted the second 208, the second 81 was VW1382. Fair's fair.
Retains: 375, 681 on the 6th. 286 on the 13th.
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August
3rd. Go-Ahead make a valiant entry into Brent Cross, not with 102. But with 232... Alas from Turnpike Lane to the famous estate St. Raphael's just off Stonebridge Park and Brent Park becomes the first non-electric route to receive new buses specified with USB ports. Only electric buses and the refurbished LX59's on X26 had such a luxury but is now mandatory on all new buses.
Nevertheless, Metroline's last night ended with a Brent Park turn and with DE1132 at St. Raphael 00:49, with DE1021 at Turnpike 00:39
Go-Ahead started off their tenure with WSs 140 and 143 having only done up to 2 hours in the early morning, other buses skipping Arnos Grove. The first bus at 05:45 was WS136.
In other news, Metroline had to take on a new route (technically) within 2 weeks of losing it to Go-Ahead. It's the split of 209, or to be precise, the renumbering of 209's temporary excursion to Putney Bridge as the 378. The 209 was sent back to Castlenau after over 600+ people's complaints. The every 6 209 became every 8 with the 378 becoming every 12. Putney Common enjoyed it's unholy overbussing whilst it lasted. DEs 1601 and 1615 were the first 378s at 05:45.
17th. Go-Ahead start with SEe98 at midnight on the night 214, SE298 on 378 at 04:54, SE296 on 209 at 05:08. There was a point 214 was fully SEe towards Moorgate and fully DE towards Highgate. Nonetheless the last days of 214's operation was typical with turns like Parliament Hill Fields. The 378 was only on paper, whilst the 209's overbussing finally came to an end...?
Last DEs were;
DE1608 on 209 01:06;
DE953 on 378 01:08;
DE1155 on 214 00:55.
The 214 becomes the first 24-hour route fully operated with electric buses, given it's limitations to ULEZ's rules.
23rd Emergency closure of Tramlink in Sandilands with only Tram 4 operating, between East Croydon and Wimbledon at a reduced service. The 289 provided extras from West Croydon to Elmers End with 3 ENLs from South Croydon (TC) and 466 with extras between East Croydon to Addington Village with 3 buses, both routes' extras at a frequency of every 20 minutes. This practice ended on the 2nd September.
31st. 197 passed over to Go-Ahead from Arriva whom left their mark known. T64 seemingly abandoned at Peckham Bus Station overnight and a DB300 lost in Norwood Junction though in fairness it was on diversion. Croydon (TC) left off with DW266 at 01:25 4 mins late shortly after DW501 at 01:23 5 mins late.
Croydon (C) picked up with EH330 at 04:43 which had to be substituted off as it's Intelligent Speed Assistance had an issue, but it came back later in the day. Service on the day as per usual first day syndromes, had bunches and gaps, though later in the day turns such as Addiscombe and Peckham Rye were forked, particularly the latter in large numbers.
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September
2nd. This and the previous week saw routes 60, 127, 130, 158, 296, 314, 432 and school routes 633/698 get varying increases.
On the other hand, routes 159, 253/254, 259, 414, 466 get decreases. 159's freed LTs to 415. 253 freed LTs to 67. 259 freed some HVs for 158's increase. 466's PVR loss of 1 sourced 60's increase of 1. The biggest increase singlehandedly was 158 with it's PVR going from 20 to 25 and it's neat Arriva allocation becoming messier; DW489; HVs 202/203/219/226-228 on top of DW490-500 and VLW901-10. Second biggest increase was 127 going from x12 to x10 and PVR rising from 14 to 17.
7th. 100's retained. Buses didn't arrive as they're late, like the 64-reg.
However, the H13 changed hands from London Sovereign's Harrow (SO) to Metroline's Uxbridge (UX). From one set of 10.2m 59-reg existing Enviro200s to another set of 10.2m 11-reg Enviro200s ousted from Central London's single deck routes changing to electric buses.
However, H13 did have one Euro 6 allocated to it bought new for it's previous contract, Sovereign's sole Allison-gearbox 10.8m Enviro200 DLE26.
Likewise 395 swapped hands but from Metroline's Perivale (PA) to London Sovereign's Harrow (SO), with existing Enviro200s though it was meant to be new, but it seems the larger newer vehicles wouldn't fit the route. Both routes have similar PVRs, 5 (395) and 6 (H13), so the swap had little hassle.
The last Metroline bus to grace 395 was DE997 at 00:43 whilst H13's last buses from either direction at 00:24 and 00:25 respectively was DE20052 and DE20188.
The first RATP bus to grace 395 was DE20190 at 05:36. H13 has a consistency of sharing first and last buses so they were DE1154/1155.
The changeover of H13 went into the shadows but the 395 echoed ever since as the service was appalling to say the least, not helped by 5 minute layovers at either ends with a tight timetable. Not even adding Greenford delays to the mix which effects other routes.
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October
5th.301's title of newest London route lasted for only 2 months as 497 takes the title originally meant to be birthed on the 24th August but delayed due to infrastructure to 5 October. From Harold Wood to Harold Hill via previously unserved roads via Gallows Corner, two new 37540/37541 with the SmartVision setup (exterior cameras in placement of wingside mirrors).
12th. The legend of the Volvo B7TL officially ends with the last full allocation being 128. Arriva led the last Euro 2 single deckers on 255 and last double deckers on 415. North of the river finally received some praise for the last Euro 3 allocation (PVL284 and VPs exist after all) on the Claybury Broadway to Romford 24-hour route. Some of it's buses did get branded purple and some were brought from south of the river but most of 128's B7TLs were Barking (DX)'s own batch new for 20 I can only assume. Irregardless, the 128 turns a new leaf under Stagecoach who'd take care of it as their new route from Romford North Street (NS) with existing E40Ds from the loss of 208 in South.
NS's running numbers 431+. DX's being 21+
The 128 being 24-hour meant the last N128 was on Thursday night, VLA141. The last day 128 on Friday night was T190.
The last third-incarnate 48 to grace London's streets was LT354 just after LT330 at London Bridge, the former apparently turned short at Clapton Pond.
Fun fact: The 1st 48 (tram & bus) was the only route connecting Loughborough with Herne Hill until relinquished to 42 until cut to Camberwell with no replacement in 1966.
The first orange-blue N128 was coincidentally 10128 at 00:21, intentional? First daytime 128 was 10131 at 05:15.
26th: HV40's the first bus from North Greenwich and HV42's the first bus from Kidbrooke at 0500 sharp on new route 335 Kidbrooke via Blackheath to North Greenwich.
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November
9th. I remember this day as when Trump got elected to be president in 2015. In this year it was the day Britain beat America in YouTube boxing, KSI being the victor and Logan Paul being a meme (Let's go Champ Shannon 'the cannon' Briggs became more of a meme) but alas.
The only routes worth going for were 34 and 192 whom changed from Metroline and Go-Ahead respectively, to Arriva. Operationally from Palmers Green (AD) with some buses based at Edmonton (EC) for 34. Enfield (E) taking up operation of 192, with ENN55 prematurely entering service on 377 before the change.
WS63 dully the last 192 at 01:32 though SEN38 couldn't take the title of two but it remains last GAL 193.
Last Metroline 34 was TE889 at 01:45, followed by VMH2548 at 01:28 and VWH2059 at 01:26. I count this as I'm leaning interest in original allocation.
ENN56 the first Arriva 192. The last of the old ENs loaned to GAL was EN1.
HV256 the first Arriva 34 in the night and HV268 the first day 34.
HV260 joined the fun as the first B5LH G3 on 340..
As for the LT routes, LTemergencynumber was the last RATP 267 and LT78 as the last 27.
LT611 the first Abellio 24. I'll give credit to posters on TBF as I'm not wrapping my head to check the history of LT vehicles. First strays however go to LT638 on N27 forming one of the first 27s. LT629 the first day 24 stray but N24 was operated fully by 159's LTs, likewise with N27.
23rd: There was a running day for route 140 (London Airport - Harrow Weald / Mill Hill) to commemorate the long-standing direct link from Airport to Harrow that would be cut the week later.
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December
7th. The big day involving Crossrail. Four new routes:
218: Hammersmith - Acton - Noel Road - North Acton
278: Ruislip - Ickenham - Hayes & Harlington - Heathrow Central
306: Fulham Sand's End - Hammersmith - Acton Vale
X140: Heathrow Central - Hayes & Harlington - Harrow
Along with shortening of:
140: Heathrow Central - Hayes & Harlington - Harrow - Harrow Weald
266: Hammersmith - Acton Vale - Acton - North Acton - Harlesden - Willesden - Cricklewood - Brent Cross
Which as a result, creates N140 and N266 to cover the previously overnight sections of the full uncut route
The only contract change was 266 which folded it's Metroline tenure with TEH1457, technically the 391 is a contract change as it includes the new 306 in it's contract for a short time until retender. Alas, a very big day, I covered 266 in niche detail here.
First buses mania:
218: WV46101
266: ADE40422 to Acton
278: 2006
306: VH45162 & VH45185
X140: VWH2239
N140: VWH2189 & VWH2195
N266: VH45313
440 to Wembley: DME30366 going off of LVF/timetable
And finally...
----------------------------------------------------------------
Last tender results of the year, on the 18th December:
246: Awarded to Stagecoach with existing diesel single decks.
312: Retained by Arriva with new and existing electrics single decks.
352: Retained by Go-Ahead London with existing single decks.
354: Awarded to Go-Ahead London with existing single decks.
358: Retained by Go-Ahead London with new electrics single decks.
No PVR change on any of the routes.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The 497 finallycame to existence. Bus stops weren't implemented/changed nearer the second date for 497, and no other signs of development for the route. It finally came.
Last rare working of 2019 was the BYD demonstrator YX69NXL (reregistered to LF69UXJ) on 26.
Still, I hope you enjoyed the read and having a great time at home or wherever you may be, it was an interesting year with declining interest and more cuts to buses. In any case, I'm enjoying myself after tiring myself from keeping track of all this simultaneously with life, and I hope you enjoy your holiday too! Stay safe, and a happy new year ;).
Last but not least, the 88 was extended to Parliament Hill Fields, full details here. N155 transferred from Sutton (A) to Stockwell (SW) ahead of Ultra Low Emission Zone.
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April.
 |
| VW1282 (LK12ANF) in front of VW1827 (BK10MFF), Acton Vale |
In other news, 259 fully operated in Edmonton (EC) with the one bus at Tottenham (AR) now running from Edmonton (EC). The 279 lost it's evening short workings Ponders End to Waltham Cross, the 321's night service transferred to Bexleyheath (BX) with N89 swapping to New Cross (NX) in time for ULEZ on Monday 8 April. Likewise the N279 transferred from Enfield (E) to Edmonton (EC), 259 being the route it steals from. The N1 surprisingly partially transferred out of Morden Wharf (MG) to not New Cross (NX) as last time, but to Peckham (PM).
27th: The long anticipated wait for 75's buses to enter service, but I've hopefully covered it already.
Retains: 75, 240 on 27th, 689 on the 20th.
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May
 |
| VH45312 (LF19FWB), Kingston |
The 54 is retained.
Like last time, I only note interesting retains. The 440 this time is featured in. It's already been rerouted in the Chiswick area away from Power Road to Turnham Green via Chiswick Business Park, but not quite exactly the same use as 27 was... still, the first day proved to be poor with barriers not working and buses effectively doing non stop past the places. Now the 440 upon renewal on the 25th sees
As in West, the E11 goes from RATP to Abellio. London Buses On The Go covered both E10/E11 in locally great detail. From classic Enviro200 to new Enviro200 MMC. From ageing to younger. From Park Royal (RP) to Southall (AB).
The last RATP bus on E11 was SDE20203.
First Abellio bus being 8239.
Part of it's batch said to have LEDs like the Metroline Solos and Stagecoach E40Ds but didn't turn out to be the case.
Retains: 124/136, 272 (with new) on 25th.
______________________________________________________________________________
June
1st: The E10 changes over, likewise with E11. Likewise with E11, above entry sums up.
First buses were 8234/40 at just after 5:20, respectively Ealing-bound and Northolt-bound.
Last bus was 3433, now known as SDE20286.
 |
| Rest in Peace. BH63102 LJ67HTG, Tower Bridge Road |
22nd: The 227 change. I've gone all out here.
29th: The 211 goes over to RATP's Stamford Brook (V) from Abellio's Queenstown Battersea (QB) taking it's LTs with it. Whilst it was anticipated that Abellio may not retain it, we didn't expect RATP to place an immediate bargain after the loss of 10 through withdrawal. Though that only bit them back further as Abellio went revenge mode and snapped the much larger 27 out of their hands. What goes round comes round they say. Still, Abellio haven't done bad on the route though the former version of it may not have lived to it. Going from Dennis Darts under Go-Ahead to Trident ALX400s on next contract to Travel London and fast forward 17 years has made it still intact in Battersea (QB).
LT673 barely beat LT666 by 2 mins at Waterloo and Hammersmith respectively as last buses under Abellio.
Likewise LT route 8/N8 have been retained on this date.
 |
| Now on the 51 it relives lost time when it was allocated the 02reg batch. 25/06/2019: PVL284's first appearance of 51 since the re-takeover of Go-Ahead. |
July
13th. The 301 was birthed into existence, I've taken the liberty to create it's own sub-post.
 |
| 10146 LX12DGU, Lewisham Shopping Centre |
27th. The 81 and 208 change hands. One from RATP to Metroline. The other from Stagecoach to Go-Ahead. Both routes have stuff in common. They both go near the London border (81 passes it), both routes allocated Enviro400s before the loss, transfer to a company with B9TLs in their depot, both partially supported by a night route (fully in 208's case). But here's the underlying factor.
81 is West, 208 is South East. Here's the divide with only two changes the month and only two routes, on the same day.
One is based at an established depot. The other at a revived Lampton (SG) depot, from Westbus. We all thought Brentford (AH) were gonna have a shot at 81, technically they now do.
The last 81 was SP40175.
The last 208 towards Lewisham was 10187 with 10149 being the last Orpington bus at up to 5 mins late and finished 2 mins late, narrowly ahead of a smart hybrid N199.
The first Metroline 81 was VW1400 at 4:34 (which broke down later), some VWs coming from Perivale (PV), swaps from Harrow Weald (HD) which received native ex-207 stock, and one ex-First 427 VW1833, with Brentford (AH)'s VW1055.
Go-Ahead's first 208 was EH312 ~4am but it broke down within minutes of service in Orpington, making EH324 the first to complete a service on the second trip towards Lewisham half an hour after EH312. Since I've noted the second 208, the second 81 was VW1382. Fair's fair.
Retains: 375, 681 on the 6th. 286 on the 13th.
______________________________________________________________________________
August
 |
| End of an Era DE1150 (LK10BZT), Brent Cross |
Nevertheless, Metroline's last night ended with a Brent Park turn and with DE1132 at St. Raphael 00:49, with DE1021 at Turnpike 00:39
Go-Ahead started off their tenure with WSs 140 and 143 having only done up to 2 hours in the early morning, other buses skipping Arnos Grove. The first bus at 05:45 was WS136.
In other news, Metroline had to take on a new route (technically) within 2 weeks of losing it to Go-Ahead. It's the split of 209, or to be precise, the renumbering of 209's temporary excursion to Putney Bridge as the 378. The 209 was sent back to Castlenau after over 600+ people's complaints. The every 6 209 became every 8 with the 378 becoming every 12. Putney Common enjoyed it's unholy overbussing whilst it lasted. DEs 1601 and 1615 were the first 378s at 05:45.
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| Julian Walker SEe81 (LA19KBX), Parliament Hill Fields |
Last DEs were;
DE1608 on 209 01:06;
DE953 on 378 01:08;
DE1155 on 214 00:55.
The 214 becomes the first 24-hour route fully operated with electric buses, given it's limitations to ULEZ's rules.
23rd Emergency closure of Tramlink in Sandilands with only Tram 4 operating, between East Croydon and Wimbledon at a reduced service. The 289 provided extras from West Croydon to Elmers End with 3 ENLs from South Croydon (TC) and 466 with extras between East Croydon to Addington Village with 3 buses, both routes' extras at a frequency of every 20 minutes. This practice ended on the 2nd September.
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| EH342 YW19VVP, South Norwood |
Croydon (C) picked up with EH330 at 04:43 which had to be substituted off as it's Intelligent Speed Assistance had an issue, but it came back later in the day. Service on the day as per usual first day syndromes, had bunches and gaps, though later in the day turns such as Addiscombe and Peckham Rye were forked, particularly the latter in large numbers.
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September
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| Chasing it's shadow, it's time coming near... WVL239 LX06DZY, Hackbridge. |
On the other hand, routes 159, 253/254, 259, 414, 466 get decreases. 159's freed LTs to 415. 253 freed LTs to 67. 259 freed some HVs for 158's increase. 466's PVR loss of 1 sourced 60's increase of 1. The biggest increase singlehandedly was 158 with it's PVR going from 20 to 25 and it's neat Arriva allocation becoming messier; DW489; HVs 202/203/219/226-228 on top of DW490-500 and VLW901-10. Second biggest increase was 127 going from x12 to x10 and PVR rising from 14 to 17.
7th. 100's retained. Buses didn't arrive as they're late, like the 64-reg.
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| Lees Bus Pics DE1600 (YX58DUJ), Harrow St. George's Centre |
However, H13 did have one Euro 6 allocated to it bought new for it's previous contract, Sovereign's sole Allison-gearbox 10.8m Enviro200 DLE26.
Likewise 395 swapped hands but from Metroline's Perivale (PA) to London Sovereign's Harrow (SO), with existing Enviro200s though it was meant to be new, but it seems the larger newer vehicles wouldn't fit the route. Both routes have similar PVRs, 5 (395) and 6 (H13), so the swap had little hassle.
The last Metroline bus to grace 395 was DE997 at 00:43 whilst H13's last buses from either direction at 00:24 and 00:25 respectively was DE20052 and DE20188.
The first RATP bus to grace 395 was DE20190 at 05:36. H13 has a consistency of sharing first and last buses so they were DE1154/1155.
The changeover of H13 went into the shadows but the 395 echoed ever since as the service was appalling to say the least, not helped by 5 minute layovers at either ends with a tight timetable. Not even adding Greenford delays to the mix which effects other routes.
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October
5th.
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| VLA130 (LJ05GME), Claybury Broadway |
NS's running numbers 431+. DX's being 21+
The 128 being 24-hour meant the last N128 was on Thursday night, VLA141. The last day 128 on Friday night was T190.
The last third-incarnate 48 to grace London's streets was LT354 just after LT330 at London Bridge, the former apparently turned short at Clapton Pond.
Fun fact: The 1st 48 (tram & bus) was the only route connecting Loughborough with Herne Hill until relinquished to 42 until cut to Camberwell with no replacement in 1966.
The first orange-blue N128 was coincidentally 10128 at 00:21, intentional? First daytime 128 was 10131 at 05:15.
26th: HV40's the first bus from North Greenwich and HV42's the first bus from Kidbrooke at 0500 sharp on new route 335 Kidbrooke via Blackheath to North Greenwich.
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November
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| LT996 LTZ2196, King's Mall Shopping Centre, Hammersmith |
The only routes worth going for were 34 and 192 whom changed from Metroline and Go-Ahead respectively, to Arriva. Operationally from Palmers Green (AD) with some buses based at Edmonton (EC) for 34. Enfield (E) taking up operation of 192, with ENN55 prematurely entering service on 377 before the change.
WS63 dully the last 192 at 01:32 though SEN38 couldn't take the title of two but it remains last GAL 193.
Last Metroline 34 was TE889 at 01:45, followed by VMH2548 at 01:28 and VWH2059 at 01:26. I count this as I'm leaning interest in original allocation.
ENN56 the first Arriva 192. The last of the old ENs loaned to GAL was EN1.
HV256 the first Arriva 34 in the night and HV268 the first day 34.
HV260 joined the fun as the first B5LH G3 on 340..
As for the LT routes, LTemergencynumber was the last RATP 267 and LT78 as the last 27.
LT611 the first Abellio 24. I'll give credit to posters on TBF as I'm not wrapping my head to check the history of LT vehicles. First strays however go to LT638 on N27 forming one of the first 27s. LT629 the first day 24 stray but N24 was operated fully by 159's LTs, likewise with N27.
23rd: There was a running day for route 140 (London Airport - Harrow Weald / Mill Hill) to commemorate the long-standing direct link from Airport to Harrow that would be cut the week later.
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December
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| DML44184 (YX11AEZ), Acton Old Town Hall |
218: Hammersmith - Acton - Noel Road - North Acton
278: Ruislip - Ickenham - Hayes & Harlington - Heathrow Central
306: Fulham Sand's End - Hammersmith - Acton Vale
X140: Heathrow Central - Hayes & Harlington - Harrow
Along with shortening of:
140: Heathrow Central - Hayes & Harlington - Harrow - Harrow Weald
266: Hammersmith - Acton Vale - Acton - North Acton - Harlesden - Willesden - Cricklewood - Brent Cross
Which as a result, creates N140 and N266 to cover the previously overnight sections of the full uncut route
The only contract change was 266 which folded it's Metroline tenure with TEH1457, technically the 391 is a contract change as it includes the new 306 in it's contract for a short time until retender. Alas, a very big day, I covered 266 in niche detail here.
First buses mania:
218: WV46101
266: ADE40422 to Acton
278: 2006
306: VH45162 & VH45185
X140: VWH2239
N140: VWH2189 & VWH2195
N266: VH45313
440 to Wembley: DME30366 going off of LVF/timetable
And finally...
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| A future odd working... |
Last tender results of the year, on the 18th December:
246: Awarded to Stagecoach with existing diesel single decks.
312: Retained by Arriva with new and existing electrics single decks.
352: Retained by Go-Ahead London with existing single decks.
354: Awarded to Go-Ahead London with existing single decks.
358: Retained by Go-Ahead London with new electrics single decks.
No PVR change on any of the routes.
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The 497 finally
Last rare working of 2019 was the BYD demonstrator YX69NXL (reregistered to LF69UXJ) on 26.
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| New third oldest Dart after 8020 and 8024, following LDP206's withdrawal 8037 (BU05HFX), New Malden |
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