London Bus News Roundup - October 2021

Abellio London

This months tender results have seen Abellio gain their first ever school route in the form of the 671, it will use an existing hybrid double deck from Fulwell (TF) depot.

Meanwhile the orders for routes 322 & 433 have been announced, the 322 will be getting 8.7m Optare Metrocitys and the 433 will be getting Caetano e.Citys 

Transfers:

2459 WS > QB

LT700 WL > QB

LT786 WL > TF


Arriva London

This months tender results has seen route 264 lost, adding to the growing collection of lost routes. It will pass to Go Ahead: Metrobus Croydon (C) depot in the second half of next year. On the other hand this set of tenders has seen Thornton Heath (TH) route 198 retained with existing hybrids, with a +1 PVR increase.

In other news the 10 Volvo B9TLs bought from Tower Transit in 2018 are now being withdrawn and returned off lease, this is as a result of the 349s conversion to LT releasing DWs to AR, in turn releasing the 63 reg DWs over to EC.

Meanwhile the 160s Ts are in the process of moving to Norwood (N), to release the leased T84-97, of which has seen T288/293/295/299 move so far, and T84 & 93 have been withdrawn as a result 

Transfers:

LT1/3-6/192-193/195-198 CT > E

DW247 DT > DX

DW406-410/414-416 E > AR

DW487-488 WN > E

DW540-541/579-586 AR > EC

HV146/148 BN > AE

HV269 AR > AD

T288/293/295/299 DT > N

T278 AD > TC


Go Ahead London

This months tender results have seen route 264 won from Arriva London South with brand new electric EVs from Croydon (C) depot. This round also saw route 119 retained with new EVs as well as 3 existing hybrids.

Meanwhile it has been noted that 16 of the 63s MHVs will be moving to Go North West when the 63 is lost in November, leaving a further 16, of which its been confirmed 3 will stay at Peckham (PM).

Transfers:

E246/256 Q > PM

EH164-165 Q > NX

LT48-49 SW > Q

MHV19/71 PM > Q

MHV86-90 AF > NX

OM1 C > FW(u)

SE175 MB > C

SOE26-27 RR > AL

WHV2-5 NX > DS

WHV80 AL > C

WVL280-281 NX > BX


Metroline

This months tender results has seen routes 245 & A10 retained, both with existing vehicles. The 245 will use existing VWHs topped up by the spare hydrogens off the 7, whereas the A10 has seen a PVR decrease of 1 and will use existing SDs, unclear from where. The second set of tenders this month unfortunately saw the 226 & 295 lost to RATP Group.

This month has also seen route 17 convert to part LT operation, with its allocation now being part LT/Part BDE. In turn the 91 is seemingly de-converting due to ongoing driver complaints about a specific tight turn, it does however still retain a small LT allocation for now, but on most days never has more than 5 anymore, if it does fully deconvert it'll be the second route to do so, following the 88.

So far at EW, the 204s allocation has only had a few buses reblinded for other EW routes, these being TE1097/1102/1104/1307/1314, however all but TE1423/VW1274 now carry EW codes.


Transfers :

DE870 PB(u) > WJ

DE870 WJ > W

VWH2233-2234 HT > W

VWH2235-2237/2243 HD > PB


RATP Group

This months tender results have seen routes 116, 662 & 665 retained with existing vehicles, route 671 however has been lost to Abellio. The second set of tenders saw routes 226 & 295 won.

Transfers:

DE20022 C > FW(u)


Tower Transit

The first of the 13s MVs are now being refurbished, MV38237 doing the honours of being first.


Refurbs of the month:

36570/36616/36619

DW318/335/487-488

SDE20279

SEe20

T71-72

VWH2006/2011/2035


Notable Rare Workings of the Month:

8123 - Route P13

8189 - Route 367

8324 - Route 315

8569 - Route U5

DNH39113 - Route 452

HT17 - Route 249

SE92 & SE119 - Route 322

SE173 - Route 434

SP40166 - Route 411

TE1104 - Route 113

VMH2447 - Route 204


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