London Bus News Roundup - July 2021

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Recently withdrawn E400s 9505/9507-9511 have been sold to Go Coach. This month saw further E400s withdrawn, these being 9448-9453, with 9450 then being sold to The Green Bus.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 using a novated fleet of Optare Metrocitys which are being refurbished to GAL standard. DE20022 is on loan from RATP Group to cover this, and is numbered OM1 for its stay, meanwhile SE93 is now at Croydon (C) as the S1s official spare.

Other Go Ahead movements this month saw routes 15, 115, 649, 650, 651 & N15 move from River Road (RR) to the new Henley Road (DS) garage on the 18th July, this is due to the "mud pit" at the back of River Road (RR) being sold off for development, route 5 has also seen its evening N15 crosslinks move over to Henley Road (DS). Flooding on the 25th July also saw the first workings of conventional vehicles on routes EL1, EL2 & EL3 between the 26th July and 28th July, due to LTs from those routes being damaged by the floods, it is worth noting this is the first time the EL3 has seen a conventional vehicle since taking on the EL3 number. The following conventionals appeared at some point over these 3 days:

EL1 - E64, E99, E135, E191, E276, WHV65, WHV68, WHV69

EL2 - E135, E166, WHV65, WHV68

EL3 - E65, E76, E127, E135, E193, WHV61, WHV67-69

Transfers:

SE93 SW > C

SE272 A > PL


Metroline

More hydrogens have received branding, with WHD2720 being noted with branding. Meanwhile the remaining WHDs are now in service, with up to 10 in service per day by the end of July, however still none out on Sundays. The first working of a WHD on the N7 has happened however, with WHD2718 doing the honours on the 04/07. 

The 5th of July tender results saw route 204 retained with new electric buses, BDE2620 has been sighted running along the 204 so could be an indication of what may be ordered, however it is still not confirmed.

With schools finishing for the holidays towards the end of July, many buses performing V school workings were returned to their homes, this saw the U3 reconvert to single deck for now, using various DEs that were being used as school extras around the fleet.

Towards the end of the month the 328 also begun to receive its intended VWHs, i.e. VWHs from the 7, which was aided by various VWHs that were previous on school extras going on loan to Perivale East (PV) to kickstart the transfers.

Finally, the 27th July tender results saw route U10 retained by Uxbridge (UX) garage, albeit its PVR is dropping from 2 to 1, it will use an existing vehicle.

Transfers :

DE868-869 WJ > AH

DE875-876 UX > AH

DE1012-1014 AH > UX

DE1152/1329 WJ > UX

DE1154-1155 AH > UX

DE1168 W > PB

DE1583/1585/1614 PB > UX

DE1619 PB > W

TE1422 G > UX

TE1573 G > UX

TE1574-1575 UX > W

TE1742 PB > UX

VW1194 AC > PB

VW1197 HD > PB

VW1837 PB > PA

VWH2060-2061 UX > PB

VWH2110 UX > HT

VWH2111/2112/2277 UX > PV

VWH2266/2269 PB > PV

VWH2267-2268 PA > PV

VWH2285-2287/2289-2290/2302-2303 PV > W

VWH2305 PB > HT


RATP Group

The 3rd of July saw the end of the Quality Line/Epsom Buses brand after 121 years with the closure of Epsom (EB) garage and the transfer of remaining routes 413 & S1 to Go Ahead. This also saw the final Optares within the fleet, OM1-13, leave - which were novated to Go Ahead, along with DE20022 which is on loan to go ahead.

The first of 129 BCEs have been delivered, these being BCE47030-47033, these have been used for type training at both Fulwell (FW) and Harrow (SO), these BCEs are registered LE21FRU / FRV / FRX / FRZ.

The 27th July tender results saw RATPs winning spree come to an end with the loss of flagship route 111 from Hounslow (AV), which will go to Abellio's Fulwell (TF) garage from the 30th April 2022. However this tender saw them retain school route 613 with an existing vehicle from the 30th July 2022.

Transfers:

ADE40309-40310 HH > TV

DE20031 EB > FW

DE20032 BT > SO

DE20093 FW > SO

DE20095 TV > SO

DE20120/20124-20125 FW > SO

DE20126-20127 EB > SP

DLE30005/30014 SO > AV

DLE30010/30012-30013/30016 SO > FW

DLE30327 RP > AV

LT69 FW > V

LT70 FW > V

LT147 FW > AV

SP40071-40072 CP > FW

SP40077-40080 CP > SO

VH45127 FW > TV


Stagecoach London

Following the ending of the school extras due to the summer holidays a number of vehicles have been stood down, these include 15024-15035/15047-15048/15073, many of which are earmarked for single door conversion and dispersal into other Stagecoach fleets, Stagecoach East Scotland is allegedly the new home for a large majority. The school extra vehicles loaned in from provincial fleets have also been withdrawn and sent back to their origins.

In other news the 27th July tender results saw route 177 retained by Stagecoach from Plumstead (PD) with existing vehicles, albeit it is receiving a -1 PVR cut.

Transfers:

10198 PD > RM


Tower Transit

After a long anticipated wait the result for route 13 was announced, which saw it retained, however it is due to receive a hefty PVR cut from 31 to 22. Meanwhile the 23 has now fully converted to OE operation, with many of its DNHs going off for refurbishment in preparation for the 414 takeover in November.

Transfers:

MV38201-38202 X > LI


Notable Rare Workings of the Month:

1753 - Route 394

8184 - Route H26

10120 - Route 56

10330 - Route 173

DEL2062 - Route 324

DEL2606 - Route 268

Ee67 - Route 115

HT24 - Route 194

OM1 (DE20022) - Route 355

VN36162 - Route N97

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