UK Bus News

The Streetdeck vs The Gemini 3 - Which is better? Background on the Gemini 3 : Back in late 2013 the Gemini 3 was born, initially on a Volvo B5TL chassis, there was only 4 ever in London, all of which were demonstrators and were the following: V6 BF63HFE (Demonstrator for Go Ahead) VGD1 BF63HDE (Demonstrator for Arriva) VW1469 BF63HDG (Demonstrator for Metroline) V6 (2) BJ14KTL (Second Demonstrator for Go Ahead) Of these VGD1 & VW1469 remained in London after they finished their spells with Arriva and Metroline and headed off to Go Ahead by summer 2015 where they were renumbered WVL509 & 510. The B5TLs were quickly followed with the B5LH hybrid equivalent, which saw no more B5TLs ordered as London was heading towards a more hybrid based fleet at the time. The first set of B5LHs to arrive was Stagecoach's 13001-13032 for Plumstead (PD) depot for their flagship route 53, this was quickly followed by Metrolines VWH2001-2023 for Perivale [East] garage, where they were destined ...

Abellio London Recently withdrawn E400s 9505/9507-9511 have been sold to Go Coach. This month saw further E400s withdrawn, these being 9448-9453, with 9450 then being sold to The Green Bus. Other buses decommissioned are 8118-8121 & 8138-8141, which are returning off lease with 8118-8121 already sold to Vision Bus of Bolton. On the 27th July Abellio saw themselves become victorious in the latest set of tenders, seeing them win route 111 from RATP Group, this will run from Fulwell (TF) depot with 30 brand new electric DDs from 30th April 2022. Transfers: 2456 WS > QB 2482 BC > QB 8201-8204 GW > BC 8809 WL > TF 9421 WS > QB 9504 BC > QB 9506 BC > QB Go Ahead London The 3rd of July saw the second 2 of the trio of routes transfer from RATP Group to Go Ahead, these being routes 413 & S1. The 413 gained the former route 80 allocation of SEs, which had gained WHVs ousted from the 200 which began its conversion to new Optare Electrics. The S1 on the other hand is u...