So the 196..

It's now a month since the 196 changed hands, so let's get on with it.

2618 (SN18KLL), Knights Hill, Upper Norwood

Shockingly awarded to Abellio London, later confirmed to be operated out of Walworth (WL). This win was on a scale much lower than 159 but as bizarre. The then current operator has a base directly on route, but unlike 159, the succeeding operator's base is closer to it's route.

The 31st March 2018.

The day the 68, 468, X68 were all separated from one another. 

Loss of 68/N68 to neighbouring garage Abellio from Walworth (WL) with existing LTs.

Loss of 468 to a garage mid-point of Arriva; Norwood (N), with new HV380-412.

Retention of X68' with EH215-224 and 188's transfer from Morden Wharf (MG) to Camberwell (Q) to balance work lost by 68/468/N68 loss.

68 (West Norwood - Elephant & Castle - Euston):

Last allocated New Routemasters (LTs) towards the end of the contract. Normal buses such as Enviro400H EHs and B5LH EvoSeti MHVs appeared, especially en masse the night before the changeover.

LT673 LTZ1673, Ernest Avenue, West Norwood

68-group

The irreversible past.
The explosion of art.
"Art is an explosion."

I'll no doubt make my 31 March post long winded and as informative as possible, so as to save time for both myself and yourself, I'll have this post as the starter pack.

The 68 group, consisting of 68, 168, 468, X68, N68.
Disclaimer: May contain 196.
                    Doesn't contain 168, it was exiled.

I will focus as much as I can on the 68 side of things, making references to 196 here and there as it's a family member too. However, I have an old post that focuses more on 196.

South Croydon Red Deer* - West Norwood - Elephant & Castle - Waterloo - Euston - Chalk Farm.

* South End

142 changes hands

Now, if you've known me for long or read my blog posts, you'd know it's focused on South London. What you're now probably thinking...what made me travel all the way to North West London like Edgware? The 142 changeover? Yes and No.

Yes - because I was conveniently there and thus cannot resist.
No - business. I'm the CEO of a shop*.

Photobombed ADE40428 and PDL117 (not displaying Kingsbury Circle) side by side
Edgware Bus Station

The 360 SEe's a great future

SEe63 (LJ67DKF) at the start of the route on Newington Causeway, Elephant & Castle

Maybe, though I'm the type of guy that prefers diesels mostly over anything. SEe's are one exception, which I would have over say... a centre-staircase DAF DB250 as they're uselessly underpowered in my opinion, bit harsh but the truth can't be denied, they were slow.

On the other hand, this batch of BYD Enviro200EV's, SEe52-65, they provide more than just speed.

Just like the humongous batch (SEe1-51) before it, they both have overhead batteries, similar chassis make and the same body to go with.

However...

What you don't see in SEe1-51
Interior facing rear

What you have in SEe1-51
Interior facing rear

Get it?

If you don't then no worries as I'm here to explain. The Red Arrow routes, well, what's left of the series (507/521) are routes which spawn a swarm of workers from the hubs that are London Bridge, Victoria and Waterloo. Thus they require as much capacity as possible, however these routes are not only short but the worker's may only need a few stops. Thus makes double deckers inconvenient. These routes did have articulated single deckers though, of course.....every route was ripped off them.

The main focus isn't SEe1-65 as a whole, more just the 360 and it's new batch of all-electric BYD D9UR Enviro200 MMCs.

The answer to the difference in photos reflects on the difference between SEe1-51 and SEe52-65.
There's only standing room and few seats on the former batch for majority of the bus due to, as I mentioned, cram in as many workers as possible.
However the 360 isn't for that purpose so needs more seats than standing room, as it's your regular commuter service.

SEe57 (LJ67DJU) at Vauxhall Bus Station

These are of 10.8m length, 3.38m height and 2.47m width. They contain 31 seats with the ability to hold 49 standing people, though I feel the space doesn't match that number, in my opinion anyways.
Whereas the Red Arrow's equivalents only have 21 seats and can have up to 70 standees.

Interior facing front

 I'd prefer to stop with these comparisons but I can't refrain from doing so. Why? Just like SEe1-51, SEe52-65 also contain USB ports. So get chargers if you intend on doing them, as I forgot, even then my phone was at 64% anyway so no big deal.

The last row of seats, the left one.

So, how are they in terms of ride?
I can reply with "possibly better than the Red Arrow's batch". For a number of reasons.
- 507/521 are short routes and are worker routes so less convenient, especially in peak hour runs
- Surplus seats on 360's lots, 10 more seats but still
- More "refined" than the previous batch

Allow me to elaborate on what I mean. If you've boarded a Red Arrow one then you'll know that they get to speed fast enough, am I wrong? However these can reach the same speeds faster, not only that but they don't feel speed limited to 20mph unlike the Red Arrow's batch. The sound of it, to my ear at least, is that it's slightly rougher than the previous batch which is more high-pitch.

All in all, wonderful set of electric buses both batches are, but I'd prefer the Wright StreetAir do get some shine of it's own, having only two demonstrators, one with Go-Ahead as trialled on the 360.

WHY3 (LX55EAE) departing from the stands for 156/452, to start service

Where would I put these in comparison to the Wright Electrocity hybrid, WHY1-13?
Whilst those hybrids were certainly unique and the only batch to survive, they're outmatched by the superior SEe52-65 in my opinion. Not only are the WHYs shorter (at 10.2m), or carry less, but don't manage the same feat an SEe would. Which is the sudden burst of speed which makes you think the bus would jerk if it had gears.

Rear of WHY13 (LX11DVH), in Vauxhall Bus Station, towards Elephant

The 360 went from being a diesel route which started in February 2003 as Congestion Charge new bus route, to being a hybrid testing-ground to the third route to have All-Electric buses as it's full allocation, covering it's Peak Vehicle Requirement and spares. Whilst the 360 does have a history it's mainly route changes in South Kensington and the introduction of hybrids, more hybrids (full allocation), now full allocation of electrics.

Hope you enjoyed this relatively short post and, stay safe!

Note: Usage of any photos on this blog isn't permitted where no name is present (meaning it's mine, ©Unorm), or an All Rights Reserved symbol © is present. If you desire to use a photo, you must contact the original author. In my case, you should contact my Flickr.

45, 176, 188

It was nonetheless expected the 176 would be lost, it was questionable if Go-Ahead would gain the 188 off of Abellio at Walworth (WL), though they existed it wasn't highly expected I'd say, at least from me, that they'd gain the 45. Out of these three Arriva have been booted out of Camberwell area until March when they reappear with the 468. 197's existence making up for the lack of Arriva in Dulwich.

Europe Expedition

Technically take two in my career, or in my life up to roughly 6 six times, mostly Norway and Italy.

I needed another change of atmosphere so back to the colder temperature, though slightly different, I even ventured to across the border to Göteborg (Sweden's second most populated city with less than half that of Stockholm), visiting my uncle there. I was reunited with articulated single deckers, this time not Mercedes Benz's Citaro Gs or MAN's Lion City Gs....a type I didn't get a chance to analyse...the Solaris Urbino 18.

Keolis 2738 (WTE 248) at it's stop in Angered centrum though with engine off, which automatically turns off LEDs.
Serving 76 to Rannebergen, prior to departure.

Wandering, part 2

Continuing from my previous Wandering, part 1 post, I started off the next day...

28th September:
Unlike the previous day which I had most stuff planned out prior and practically on the spot, covering many things in a day as humanly possible without getting drenched into evening rush hour.
Thus, I decided to only focus on one route.