South London Bus Route - Route 24

© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

Route 24: Hampstead Heath - Pimlico 
Operated by: Metroline
Garage: HT (Holloway)
PVR: 27
Length: 11km/7 miles
Bus Type: New Bus for London


Timetable : http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/024.pdf

In January, just a few months since Metroline regained Route 24 from London General after six long years. It was regained by Metroline using B9TL's and Metroline had made it's first order for the Volvo B5LH chassis both of which is based on the Gemini 2 bodywork. It was officially confirmed by TFL that Route 24 was the first route to convert to Borismaster operation.

Like many would say, this would be a pointless conversion as Route 24 was recently fully converted to Gemini 2/B9TL's with a few Gemini 2/B5LH's. However these Gemini 2's are now used on Route 245 (converted to DD operation) and other routes like Route 83. The B5LH Chassis of the Gemini 2 bodywork was sent to Route 52. This released 5 Gemini 2/B9TL's to be used elsewhere in the company.

On Saturday 21st June 2013, it was eventually converted to Borismaster operation. I covered it the very next day with a passenger assistance (not conductor) who told me that the next route to convert was Route 11 which  everyone is aware of now.

I had both passenger assistance telling me that for health and safety reasons, he has to stop people from hopping on or off while the bus is moving expect when it's at bus stops or traffic is at a standstill.  Yes, that's useless but if they got injured by attempt to make a claim, the cameras on the Borismaster would show evidence that the passenger assistance by trying to stop them whilst not invading their personal space.

What I think of the Borismaster is, that it was introduced to make us have a 21st Century Routemaster that's fully accessible but I feel under political terms it was a bus built to battle against Ken Livingstone's Bendy Buses. I've personally missed those bendy buses but the only problem with them was length and it required passenger assistance to ensure people have touched in whilst boarding the bus. Sadly, there was too much fare evasion and there's a repeat when those Borismaster's are in OPO (One Person Operation).

At approximately 6.30am and 8pm the rear platform door will remain open with a 'passenger assistant ' (PA) present to provide assistance, but not actually take fares as usual. You must present an Oyster or bank card to board; after 8pm the rear door will be manually controlled by the driver of the bus. 

Like I always say TFL and Boris Johnson never learns or they make excuses. Boris under my opinion is rude when it's Mayor's Question Time or a question he is not interested to answer.

Below are the specs' for the Borismaster:

Length: 11.3m
 Height: 4.4m
 Width: 2.5m
 Turning circle: 21m
 Capacity: 87 (40 seated on upper deck, 22 seated and 25 standing on lower deck)
 Unladen weight: 12 tonnes
 Engine: 4.5 litre diesel 
Maximum speed: 50 mph 

These new Borismaster's cost £354,500 each and have an expected lifespan of 14 years. These are the first batches of LT's to make up the 600 New Bus For London to be introduced by 2016. 

Fleetlist:

LT9/LTZ1009

LT10/LTZ1010

LT11/LTZ1011

LT12/LTZ1012

LT13/LTZ1013

LT14/LTZ1014

LT15/LTZ1015

LT16/LTZ1016

LT17/LTZ1017

LT18/LTZ1018

LT19/LTZ1019

LT20/LTZ1020

LT21/LTZ1021

LT22/LTZ1022

LT23/LTZ1023

LT24/LTZ1024

LT25/LTZ1025

LT26/LTZ1026

LT27/LTZ1027

LT28/LTZ1028

LT29/LTZ1029

LT30/LTZ1030

LT31/LTZ1031

LT32/LTZ1032

LT33/LTZ1033

LT34/LTZ1034

LT35/LTZ1035

LT36/LTZ1036

LT37/LTZ1037

LT38/LTZ1038

LT39/LTZ1039

LT40/LTZ1040

Here's a happy passenger assistance (PA) on the bus I've boarded ...

© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

Thank you for reading this post and for visiting our blog.
Remember to stay safe.