Why not check out: Arriva VLAs/VLWs. East Thames Buses VWL1-44 & VP1-20. London United/Sovereign B7TLs.
___________________________________________________________________________________
TA1-30 aka 9701-30:
These were the first double deckers ordered by Connex for their first win and their first new garage, Beddington Cross (BC). Both the newly ordered buses and new home were for their route 3/N3. Now you'd think that amount of buses would be unnecessary as 3 has a PVR of 22 as of now, but had a PVR of 25 back then. True story. This batch was the first batch (exlcuding London United's TA1) to include an original horsepower of 260. Meaning they were quite the monstrous beasts in comparison to other Tridents which an average of 225hp or so.
Once route 60 transferred to Arriva London in 2006, these V-KGW were spare inside Beddington Cross (BC), however, went on to route 381 as extras during the closure of East London Line, as well as servicing the ELC line (from New Cross Gate to Rotherhithe calling at all stations including New Cross). The remainders in BC were replaced by the surplus 9739-55 left by route 60 sometime someyear.
See below for further information regarding each individual bus.
TA31-38 aka 9731-38:
Another Trident batch with a Euro2 engine, but this time, front staircase unlike TA1-30. These were ordered for route 196, running between Brixton and Norwood Junction at the time, hence needing such a low amount of buses. When route 196 was reclaimed by Go-Ahead, these buses transferred to route C3 to double deck the service leaving it's tiny Solos to dismiss elsewhere. Then, these buses were withdrawn from London service once route 211 gained new diesel/hybrid buses in the form of E40D/E40H Enviro400s. Thus C3 was reallocated with the latter 52reg left by route 211.
See below for further information regarding each individual bus.
TA39-72 aka 9739-72:
The first Euro3 batch of Tridents ordered by Connex, TA39-55, intended for route 60 of which they won from yet again Beddington Cross (BC). These were built during the start of the 51reg era, whereas 9756-72 were built during the end of the 51reg era! Lucky they didn't come out as 02reg. The second half, 9756-72, were intended for route 157 of which was stolen from London General.
Both batches stayed intact even when route 60 was lost to Arriva, it's batch reallocated to route 3/N3. Some were refurbished in 2007 with the Travel London moquette and the latter batch whilst with Abellio power, on contract renewals. These were also refurbished with 260hp engines from their original 225hp.
Then the time came in February 2012 where route 3 was retained with the contractually first full hybrid allocation (first general hybrid conversion goes to 15 with only a 3 month gap, E40Hs intended for 147/241?), which meant 9739-55 had to leave, matters became worse when route 188 ousted it's Volvos after receiving 2401-13 (also for BC, 152/157? as part of funding). 9763-72 were transferred to Hayes (WS) to re-double deck route 350, with the other 51reg Tridents either staying Beddington Cross (BC) (well, a minority of them did), however most transferred to Walworth (WL). Some also did go to Battersea (QB) at some point.
PVR increases these days due to roadworks meant Battersea (QB) needed extra buses and took in some 51reg from Walworth (WL). Many transfers happened ever since routes 3/157 dropped their Trident allocations.
9758 was scrapped, often producing funny but weird grinding noises upon acceleration. My favourite simply because it's unique in that aspect.
And of these lot: 9743/45-51/55/60/62 are all withdrawn with below specified whereabouts for each individual bus. Of both batches; 9739, 9744, 9756/7/9 remain in service.
Southdown PSV of Copthorne gained 9740-42/47/50-4/61/63/64/66-72. Of which some if not all for sale at a price of £9,950.
TA73-111 aka 9773-9811:
Routes 156 and 344's order of Tridents after leaving the single decker Darts behind. These Tridents were replaced by 09reg Trident Enviro400s. Presumably these were leased and left on time.
Most reappeared during the Olympics in 2012 as buses serving the shuttle services in and around the areas where the Olympics took place.
None are in TfL service.
TA112-29 aka 9812-29:
Another gain for Connex, and another double decking, route 211 in this case which was nipped from London General in November 2002 which was using short LDPs. The route must've been suffering, given it was blessed with such a high upgrade, but almost comparable to route C3's. In 2012, most of these Tridents replaced the elder Y-reg originally bought for 196 which made the allocation for C3 back in 2006, with other LG52-reg from this batch heading off to Walworth (WL) for route 381. 9829 was given smartblind treatment and allocated to route 172 along with the former Armchair KN52-plate Tridents.
Out of this batch: 9818, 19, 20, 24 and 25 have been withdrawn from London service. No known whereabouts of these Tridents as of May 2016
9821 however is at Hayes (WS) covering a temporary PVR increase on route E1 I believe.
9813/22-9 are at Walworth (WL) for routes 172/381
9830-43 (DT2-5/11/7/8/15/16/18-22):
The former Metroline Tridents which were originally bought by Armchair for route 237 (Hounslow Heath Hussar - Shepherd's Bush [now White City]). Of course as in the title, only some of this batch of over 20 are being utilised on route 172 as of now. Abellio won route 172 off London Central in 2011, bidded using both existing Trident ALX400s and Trident Enviro400s (sharing with 35/40).
Thus Abellio leased some of the former Armchair batch of Tridents which are known for their horribility (if that's a word). As of now, 9831 and 9838 are withdrawn. More Tridents in the Abellio fleet in general to be withdrawn and replaced by more compatible buses (with the Low Emission Zone).
______________________________________________________________________________
Withdrawn Tridents
Following disperse of the V-KGW's, the following are now at:
(Probably quite outdated, edit 7/4/21)
Following disperse of the V-KGW's, the following are now at:
(Probably quite outdated, edit 7/4/21)
TA1 V301 KGW: with Southern Transit for their route 3, Horsham to Shoreham. The route was only numbered 3 as a nod to the history of the V-KGW Tridents Lovely people in the company treasuring such facts. Also coded TA1! And should I say more, given it's original Connex interior.
TA2/6 V302/306 KGW: Coded 92/93 respectively, with Midland Classic in Burton on Trent
TA3 V303 KGW: An advertisement bus, seen sporting Avon and Gillette ads
TA4 V304 KGW: An open topper with Arriva Medway for tourist services
TA5 V305 KGW: Transferred to Abellio's Bus2 operation
TA7 V307 KGW: With Travel de Courcey as 818, registration plate changed to MJI 6328, given an all over advert for Zoe's Place Hospice. Acquired by Gateshead Central Taxis.
TA8 V308 KGW: Unknown, probably scrapped
TA9 V309 KGW, SFZ 696: Seaford & District got a hold of these buses, converted to open-top, coded TA9. For sale on Ebay for £6.5K. For sale again on Ensign 4/2020.
TA10 V310 KGW: Seaford & District got a hold of these buses, coded TA10. Scrapped
TA11 V311 KGW: Seaford & District got a hold of these buses, coded TA11.
TA12 V312 KGW: In store at Abellio. Acquired by Green Bus, Hockley. Scrapped.
TA11 V311 KGW: Seaford & District got a hold of these buses, coded TA11.
TA13 V313 KGW: With The Green Bus, Hockley, coded 122.
TA14 V314 KGW: Also with Travel De Courcey, but as 816.
TA15 V315 KGW: Also with Travel De Courcey, but as 817.
TA16 V316 KGW: With The Green Bus, Hockley, coded 116.
TA15 V315 KGW: Also with Travel De Courcey, but as 817.
TA16 V316 KGW: With The Green Bus, Hockley, coded 116.
TA18 V318KGW: Transferred to Abellio's Bus2 operation. Under preservation.
TA19 V319KGW: With The Green Bus, Hockley. < unknown, Scrapped?>
TA20 V320 KGW: In store at Abellio's QB. <unknown, Scrapped?>
TA21 V321 KGW: Non existent. TA21 code used for DAF DB250 T135AUA. The registration used for a van by Southern Transit.
TA22 V322 KGW: Centaur Travel's bus for the shuttle service from Docklands Campus to Stratford
TA23 V323 KGW: Reregistered to V15 TGB, and is with Green Bus, Hockley as 115.
TA24 V324 KGW: Reregistered to V21 TGB, and is with Green Bus, Hockley as 121.
TA25 V325 KGW: Spent life with Abellio Surrey then bought by Travel de Courcey and coded 815
TA27 V327 KGW: Mothered by one of Go-Ahead London's partners, Go-Coach.
TA28 V328 KGW: Coded 820, with Travel de Courcey.
TA29 V329 KGW: Transferred to Abellio's Bus2 operation
TA30 V330 KGW: Went to Uno as TA275. Scrapped.
TA29 V329 KGW: Transferred to Abellio's Bus2 operation
TA31 Y131 HWB: With the Green Bus, Hockley, as 114.
TA32 Y32 HWB: With the Green Bus, Hockley, as 109. Sold to Southern Transit.
TA33 Y133 HWB: With Abellio's Bus2 operation.
TA34 Y134 HWB: With Abellio's Bus2 operation.
TA35 Y235 HWF: With Abellio's Bus2 operation.
TA36 Y36 HWB: With Abellio's Bus2 operation.
TA37 Y37 HWB: With Abellio's Bus2 operation. Stored in Ensign's Purfleet depot.
TA38 Y38 HWB: With the Green Bus, Hockley, as 110. Sold to Southern Transit.
TA39 YN51 KUU: Involved in accident with Arriva's T282 in Croydon, withdrawn. Seat padding of it's refurb transferred to 9813.
TA40 YN51 KUV Loaned to Selwyns Travel Group for Merseyrail works, returned to London, location now unknown
TA42 YN51KUX: Loaned to Selwyns Travel Group for Merseyrail works, returned to London, location now unknown
TA40 YN51 KUV Loaned to Selwyns Travel Group for Merseyrail works, returned to London, location now unknown
TA42 YN51KUX: Loaned to Selwyns Travel Group for Merseyrail works, returned to London, location now unknown
TA43 YN51 KUY: Loaned to Selwyns Travel Group for Merseyrail works, transferred to Green Bus as 117. Sold off.
TA46 YN51 KVC: With Peoplebus as 803
TA48 YN51 KVE: Loaned to Selwyns Travel Group for Merseyrail works, transferred to Green Bus as 118. Sold off.
TA53 YN51 KVK: Converted to shop/greenhouse farmbus in Elephant & Castle. Stored in Bedford.
TA56 YN51 KVO: Sold to Ensignbus. Scrapped
TA60 YN51 KVT: Loaned to Selwyns Travel Group for Merseyrail works, transferred to Green Bus as 120. Sold off.
TA63 YN51 KVW: Untaxed since 2016. Scrapped?
TA70 YN51 KWE: With The Big Red Party Bus, Stratford-upon-Avon.
TA72 YN51 KWG: Bought by Meritule, reregistered V19CTL
TA73 KU02 YBH: With Mullany Coaches
TA74 KU02 YBJ: Converted to single door with J.R. Dents Coaches
TA75 KU02 YBK: Went to Bullocks Coaches, transferred to Selwyns Travel plus conversion to single door. Acquired by Three Star Coaches.
TA76 KU02 YBL: Went to Selwyn Travel and converted to single door. On sale on Ebay in 03/19 with 23 bids. Acquired by Three Star Coaches.
TA77 KU02 YBM: Worked during the Olympics, serviced for OFJ Connections on Kingston University services, now with Flights Halmark. Rotala Prestonbus as 40014.
TA78 KU02 YBN: Worked during the Olympics. Location unknown
TA79 KU02 YBO: Now with Travel Express Coaches
TA80 KU02 YBP: Now with Phoenix Coaches of Blyth as 923, converted to single door. Acquired by Townlynx.
TA82 KU02 YBS: With Buses Excetera
TA83 KV02 URX: Returned to Dawson Rentals. With Phoenix Coaches of Blyth as 925, converted to single door.
TA84 KV02 URY: With Phoenix Coaches of Blyth as 922, converted to single door.
TA85 KV02 URZ: With CTS (www.coachtravel.me) of Huddersfield, later reregistered ODZ4910
TA86 KV02 USB: Converted to single door. With Newport Buses as 429.
TA87 KV02 USC: With Bristol Television & Film Services as a dining bus
TA88 KV02 USD: Returned to Dawson Rentals, now with CTS of Huddersfield, later reregistered LUI9981.
TA89 KV02 USE: With Bristol Television & Film Services as a dining bus
TA89 KV02 USE: With Bristol Television & Film Services as a dining bus
TA90 KV02 USF: Returned to Dawson Rentals, now with Powells Bus & Coach converted to single door and reregistered to AD02 POW
TA91 KV02 USG: Returned to Dawson Rentals, converted to single door, reregistered to AK02 POW, with Powells Bus & Coach
TA92 KV02 USH: With WebberBus. Bought by Newport Bus as 431.
TA93 KV02 USJ: With Travel Express Coaches and converted to single door.
TA94 KV02 USL: Went to Webberbus, became an Advert bus sporting Rimmel London, now with Westminster Bridge Student Accommodation. With The Bus Business.
TA95 KV02 USM: Went to Geldards plus conversion to single door. Went to Tyrers.
TA96 KV02 USN: With Geldards and converted to single door. Bought by Newport Buses as 426.
TA97 KV02 USO: With Geldards and converted to single door. Acquired by JH Coachs, Tyne & Wear.
TA97 KV02 USO: With Geldards and converted to single door. Acquired by JH Coachs, Tyne & Wear.
TA98 KV02 USP: Went to Geldards, now with Powells Bus & Coach, converted to single door. Acquired by Grosvenor Coaches, Solihull.
TA99 KV02 USS: Went to Selwyns Travel and converted to single door
TA100 KV02 UST: Went to Premiere converted to single door in 2011, transferred to Geldards, now converted to a partial open topper with London City Tours
TA101 KV02 USU: With Phoenix Coaches of Blyth as 924.
TA102 KV02 USW: With Geldards and converted to single door. Acquired by JH Coachs, Tyne & Wear.
TA101 KV02 USU: With Phoenix Coaches of Blyth as 924.
TA102 KV02 USW: With Geldards and converted to single door. Acquired by JH Coachs, Tyne & Wear.
TA103 KV02 URL: Went to Thurmaston Bus coded D9 and converted to single door, later acquired by Geldards. Bought by Newport Bus as 428.
TA104 KV02 URM: Went to Thurmaston Bus converted to single door, then acquired by Yorkshire Tiger coded 102. Bought by Newport Bus as 440.
TA105 KV02 URN: Went to Thurmaston Bus coded D10 and converted to single door, later acquired by Geldards. Acquired by JH Coachs, Tyne & Wear.
TA106 KV02 URO: Went to Thurmaston Bus coded D11 and converted to single door, later acquired by Geldards. With Grosvenor Coaches, Solihull.
TA105 KV02 URN: Went to Thurmaston Bus coded D10 and converted to single door, later acquired by Geldards. Acquired by JH Coachs, Tyne & Wear.
TA106 KV02 URO: Went to Thurmaston Bus coded D11 and converted to single door, later acquired by Geldards. With Grosvenor Coaches, Solihull.
TA107 KV02 URR: Went to Powells Bus & Coach reregistered as AC02 POW, perhaps single doored
TA108 KV02 URP: Went to Powells Bus & Coach reregistered as AB02 POW, single doored, coded 73
TA109 KV02 URS: Went to Thurmaston Bus coded D8, now with Geldards. Bought by Newport Bus as 427.
TA110 KV02 URT: With Geldards and converted to single door. As late as 2017 left for City Tour London and converted to open-top.
TA110 KV02 URT: With Geldards and converted to single door. As late as 2017 left for City Tour London and converted to open-top.
TA111 KV02 URU: Went to KJB of Lincoln, now at Geldards. Acquired by JH Coachs, Tyne & Wear.
TA112 LG52 HWN: Withdrawn. Scrapped
TA113 LG52XZB: Became promotional vehicle of sorts. Mobile bar bus with The VIP Bus.
TA113 LG52XZB: Became promotional vehicle of sorts. Mobile bar bus with The VIP Bus.
TA114 LB52URZ: An art classroom in a school in Sidcup.
TA119 LG52 XYO: Bought by Travel de Courcey coded 826 and converted to single door.
TA125 LG52 XZR: Bought by Weardale Motor Services and converted to single door.
DT1 KN52 NCD:
DT2 (9830) KN52 NCE:
DT3 (9831) KN52 NDC: Got burnt horribly on route 343, burning two other cars. Scrapped.
DT4 (9832) KN52 NDD:
DT5 (9833) KN52 NDE:
DT6 KN52 NDF:
DT11 (9834) KN52 NDO:
DT7 (9835) KN52 NDG
DT8 (9836) KN52 NDJ:
DT14 KN52 NDX: Acquired by Network Colchester.
DT15 (9837 KN52 NDY:
DT16 (9838) KN52 NDZ: Got burnt horribly. Scrapped.
DT18 (9839) KN52 NEJ:
DT19 (9840) KN52 NEO:
DT20 (9841) KN52 NEU:
DT21 (9842) KN52 NEY:
DT22 (9843) KN52 NFA:
Everything typed in this page is as of 9 May 2016.
Sources: London Buses by Adam, The Bus Forum (TBF) and Flickr.
UPDATED: 07/10/2021 23:10
Sources: London Buses by Adam, The Bus Forum (TBF) and Flickr.
UPDATED: 07/10/2021 23:10
V312KGW was in store with Abellio then transferred to Greenbus Hockley, now scrapped.
ReplyDeleteV319KGW stored with the Green Bus Company, probably scrapped.
V320KGW was last seen at Battersea Garage 2012, also a chance it was scrapped
V321KGW registration code was also used for a van at Southern Transit.
YN51KWE purchased by The Big Red Party Bus, Stratford upon Avon.
YN51KWG reregistered to V19CTL, purchased by Meritrule Ltd.
KU02YBN used for Olympic services, maybe scrapped.
KN52NDC Burned on Route 343, written off, two other cars were on fire as well.
Thank you for the updates!
Delete