West London's Transit

I've mentioned in my previous post a 2019 round up is due, so to make the post readable yet compact, I've transferred one of the long paragraphs into here. Beforehand, hope you're enjoying your holidays for Christmas and the New Year, with that, hope you enjoy the short read and stay safe.

2001 (YX19ORG), Acton Vale

6 April 2019.

207 changeover day. Let's clear things first. Southall Great Western (GW) isn't ready, meaning 207/N207 operate out of Hayes (WS). Another, the allocation received was 9524-9543 (off C2), 2001-5 (new) but supposed to be 2515-22/32/33. Instead it got 2401. Plus 2515-22/32/33. Route 415 went back to LTs. Interim measure for 415 to use ex-188 SN61s just offloaded by C2 until 3/159 receive their central cuts, who can say? Last time those ex-188 SN61s made an appearance for 427's takeover too, but at least 207 only gets one.

Now the secret plan of Abellio to reign over West has come in full swing. The endangering loss of one of the biggest routes London has from a Metroline monopoly to an upstart in the area increasing in size at an astounding rate.

Ranging from Westfield Shepherd's Bush via West's equivalent of Romford Road, Acton, Ealing then the hospital, to in the middle of nowhere on a dual carriageway. That's Hayes-by-Pass.

     Originally having a PVR 35 under Greenford (G), the route was not only slashed from White City to Shepherd's Bush (someone forgot to consult) shaving 6 minutes round trip time, but in peak frequency too! The incumbent's timetable had 5-6 mins peak hours, 6-7 Monday-Saturday and 8-9 Sundays/evenings with extra buses from Twyford School to Hayes-by-Pass, which were also taken off. Seems a good start to the less reputable side of Abellio. 

VW1282 (LK12ANF) in front of VW1827 (BK10MFF), Acton Vale

In compensation they source 2401 as the 29th bus for not cutting the Two Oh to Shepherd's Bush Station. N207's last bus was the famous TE1745, which lost it's roof only to have part of it repainted, Abellio's first bus under their contract being their first ever smart hybrid, 2001 (YX19ORG). First Abellio 207 being 427's 2571 with the last under Metroline being VW1273, VW1564 from Uxbridge (UX) also made an appearance.

VW1569 (LK55AAZ), Uxbridge Road/Bloemfontein Road

On the less sad side of the spectrum, the 607 replaced the 207 at Greenford (G), but here's the catch. An extra stop has been added on line of route by the former changeover of 207, close to Greenford (G) depot, where Ealing Hospital is only a few dozen seconds walk off.

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A few months have passed since then. 27 July most routes shunted into Southall Great Western (GW)

It's safe to say you're best not taking 607 if you're expecting the express experience. At the time buses were going as slow as 207s would and frequently stop at 207 stops but with time this has mended, I'd say the slow atmosphere hasn't completely died off but still.

As for the 207 it's reliability could be, interesting at times. No doubt a detriment of it's PVR slash but Abellio do try, even if the schedule is rather undesirable with 5 minutes of stand time either end.

Likewise it is safe to say Metroline did a good job on 207 before their loss of it, with half it's allocation rather infamous on the 427 in their heyday, a sight of relief when Abellio won it the 2 years prior, when 207 was still rolling with it's much-loved Scania OmniCitys, a by-product of ADL and Volvo/Wright being full with orders for 12, 436, 453 all converting from 'bendies' to double deckers.

A rushed post but I'll make up for it with the short clip below;

During 207's past, it did receive 6 Volvo B10LA Wright Fusion bendies of two-door and dot-matrix spec as a trial supplementing Hayes-by-Pass and Acton , duplicating the normal services of Uxbridge-Acton and Shepherd's Bush-Hayes-by-Pass. The routeing did fail in Uxbridge, which meant the Uxbridge-Acton section had to remain double deck, and renumbered to 427 it was. Those 6 B10BLAs went to their home in Scotland.

Bizarre of TfL to add a site upon the tendering of 207, as a bendy route in North Acton. Planning permissions fell and the route was based in Hayes (HZ).

Hope you never thought I'd forget 427 was getting cut, hmm?

West London Transit, was planned in 2002 but consultation postponed in 2007. It would've revived the old tram 7 as in the video above, which started in about 1905. Much to say, West London's populace was 50-50 on wanting the tram, as a result of poor planning and letting the opposition take wind with "No Trams", the plan turned to dust.

As usual, thanks for reading and until the next post, stay safe!