London Buses.

[markcf83]

Some news to report this afternoon.

All six routes have been retained by their current operators and mostly will keep their existing buses. 

Go Ahead London has retained the 219 at Merton however it will take existing electric buses from elsewhere, as yet unknown. They also retained the 230 at Northumberland Park however it's to get new electric buses displacing the current five year old examples. Also held was the 87 and N87 at Stockwell with existing buses.

Stagecoach London retains the 55,56 and N55 which is significant to Leyton given they're a significant amount of the work at that garage. Existing buses are to be used, although the current hybrids on the 56 are now 13 years old so newer examples are likely. 

Finally Arriva London has held the 432 at Norwood with existing buses once again to be used. 

Starting dates for these vary as is the way starting in March of next year and at intervals up to late June.

[markcf83]

Some news which was confirmed yesterday is that routes 18 and N18 have been held by London United. The new contract is due to start in November however the length and what type of buses has yet to be confirmed. However given the majority of the buses used on it are 67 reg Volvos and hybrid I wouldn't be surprised if they stay on for the immediate future. 

Mystic Mark called it-the existing Hybrids are staying on it for the next few years. 

[markcf83]

Some news from London for your Monday afternoon. 

No change in the latest set of results which were announced this morning. 

Starting at Metroline where route 46 is to stay at Holloway using the existing electric buses and also retained is the N20 which will use existing hybrids. This is the night bus for the Barnet branch of the Northern line.

We then move to London United and the N5 which they've held using their allocation of hybrids at Edgware. 

Finally to Stagecoach London and they've held the D8 with new electric buses due;also held are the N550 and N551. The former is to stay at Lea Interchange,the other two Ash Grove where hybrids are to stay on them.

Start dates range from mid June to September of next year. Incidentally the night routes are on three year contracts,the electric routes seven year ones. 

[Stu]

The Irizar ieTram electric buses finally entered service today on the 358 service between Crystal Palace and Orpington.

In the below video, Geoff Marshall and Roger French get to try them out...

[Tony]

The Irizar ieTram electric buses finally entered service today on the 358 service between Crystal Palace and Orpington.

In the below video, Geoff Marshall and Roger French get to try them out...

In various posts about these on Facebook I have never seem so many ill-informed negative, incorrect comments

[markcf83]

In various posts about these on Facebook I have never seem so many ill-informed negative, incorrect comments

The problem I have with them is the panelling on the sides. That part of South East London is notorious for accidents.

[markcf83]

Some news to report this afternoon.

All six routes have been retained by their current operators and mostly will keep their existing buses.

Go Ahead London has retained the 219 at Merton however it will take existing electric buses from elsewhere, as yet unknown. They also retained the 230 at Northumberland Park however it's to get new electric buses displacing the current five year old examples. Also held was the 87 and N87 at Stockwell with existing buses.

Stagecoach London retains the 55,56 and N55 which is significant to Leyton given they're a significant amount of the work at that garage. Existing buses are to be used, although the current hybrids on the 56 are now 13 years old so newer examples are likely.

Finally Arriva London has held the 432 at Norwood with existing buses once again to be used.

Starting dates for these vary as is the way starting in March of next year and at intervals up to late June.

It appears that the electric buses for the 219 are to come from the 153 when Metroline takes the route over in the early stages of next year.

[markcf83]

Some more tender news to report this evening.

All seven days routes and the sole Night bus route have been retained, which would've been good news for both Go Ahead London and Stagecoach London as well.

I will start with the 308,whose latest contract starts in March and was retained by Stagecoach London from Lea Interchange using the current hybrids. The modern replacement for the garage that was on Waterden Road in Stratford-now subsumed under the Olympic Park-also retained the 488, which uses Enviros and passes under the bridge next to Bow Garage that carries the London to Norwich main line. 

They've also held the 61 and 261 at Bromley, and both are to get new electric buses. I mention this as it'll be this time next year before the contracts begin. 

Moving on to Go Ahead London,they held the 44 and N44 using the current hybrids-though given they're the Streetdecks delivered in 2018 and which have proven to be troublesome they might be replaced with older Enviros. Those two routes are run from Stockwell,who also runs the 77 and that was retained too. 

Finally to the People's Republic of Croydon and Metrobus has retained the 403, but this former London Country route is to gain newer hybrid vehicles.

These routes are to begin their next contracts from March of next year to the end of next November. 

[Celestial Toymaker]

The Irizar ieTram electric buses finally entered service today on the 358 service between Crystal Palace and Orpington.

In the below video, Geoff Marshall and Roger French get to try them out...

are these the same revolting looking things that are meant to be the new sprint bus ?