2013 ~ The South London Bus Blog

Thursday, 19 December 2013

BYD Electric Buses - Now In Service

1:53 pm 3 comments

@LBC 97.3

Today these two new BYD electric buses are being introduce into service by GAL on Route 507 and 521.
We hope that the trail that is to last 2 years will be successful and if so it will be role out across London.

Matthew Pencharz, Senior Environment and Energy Advisor to the Mayor of London, said: “Electric buses could help deliver the cleaner and greener bus fleet we need to cut carbon emissions and improve air quality.

Now SLBB predicts the following routes that should use electric buses from BYD if the trail is successful.

129: Greenwich Cutty Sark - North Greenwich
42: Denmark Hill, Sunray Avenue - Liverpool Street
RV1: Covent Garden - Tower Gateway
507: Waterloo - Victoria (Fully)
521: London Bridge - Waterloo (Fully)
X26: Heathrow Central - West Croydon

If you have any more ideas of which route(s), feel free to comment below.

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

Not really a post but it's something, for now.

8:10 pm No comments

Hello Bus Enthusiasts,

You may know already I sprained my Anterior Cruciate Ligaments in my left knee playing football, right now I will be unable to walk without crutches until the new year. At least, that's if I don't aggravate it and play the beautiful game I love,which then I could rupture it and that would put me out of action until the 49 passes to Abellio. lol. Anyway, I'm sorry that some posts have been cancelled or suspended and I'm sure EastLondoner, Yebz & LB67 will do a good job in keeping you up to date with London Bus News if I am not here.

Yeah, if you don't know your slow but the successor of OMSI is to be released on the 12th December and I have planned a map for that route called West Central East. More information to come soon.

Well this is my first post since the announcement of Tranche 449 :D, we all know what happened to Tranche 449 but I'm not going to say no more until the London Bus Route 49 post.

I will also release a series within a series of the London Bus Route based on all the routes that come into Battersea bar the night routes. They will be out between Christmas Eve and the New Years.

Posts Cancelled or Suspended.

1. The London Operator Game will be updated. When new owner is announced.
2. London Bus Route 170 will be out. SUSPENDED
3. VA64. SUSPENDED
4. FG49 plays European Bus Simulator. CANCELLED
5. Christmas Observations - South-West - CANCELLED
6. Christmas Observations - South-West - CANCELLED

What will come instead

1. I play London & South Map. 12-18 December 2013
2. West Central East page will open. 1 December 2013 (More to come)
3. New owner of The London Operator Game announced. 8 December 2013

London Bus Route: Battersea series plan

Christmas Eve
VA64 - A dedicated post to the bus I grew up with and some of its sisters
37, 39 & a repost of the 44.

Christmas Day
49, 319, 344, 345 & 170

Boxing Day

77 & 156

The days following
219, 295 & 452

New Years Day
87 & 137

January
19, 35, C3, G1 & P5

#Fernando

Thank you for reading this post and for visiting our blog.

Remember to stay safe.

UK Bus Awards - 2013 Results (London)

7:26 pm No comments

It's another year with great success in the transport industry as I report the official UK Bus Awards relevant for ... London!

Well Done !!!

Engineer of the Year - Sponsored by Bus & Coach Buyer magazine

Runner-up: Martin Dixon, Abellio London & Surrey (New)

Top National Bus Depot - Sponsored by Personal Group

Winner: Crawley, Metrobus (Retained)

Top City Operator - Sponsored by BAE systems

Highly Commended:Abellio London (New)

Top Shire Operator - Sponsored by Ticketer

Highly Commended:Metrobus (Down -1)

Environmental Award - Sponsored by Bus & Coach Professional Magazine

Highly Commended:NOx abatement programe, Transport for London (New)

The Bus & Community Award - Sponsored by Euro Bus Expo 2014

Highly Commended:Bus Driver Cycle Awareness, Stagecoach London (New)

London Bus Garage of the Year, sponsored by Transport for London

Winner:West Ham , Stagecoach London (New)
Runner-up: New Cross, Go Ahead London (New)
Highly Commended:
- Barking, Stagecoach East London (Retained)
- Cricklewood, Metroline (Down -2)
- Hounslow, London United (New)
- Orpington, Metrobus (Retained)

Luke Rees-Pulley Charitable Trust Award for Top London Bus Driver, sponsored by Transport for London

Winner: Steve Riches, Go-Ahead London
Joint runner-up: Jason Bond, Abellio London
Joint runner-up: Lesley Peacock, Metroline
Highly Commended:

John Anderson, Quality Line, Epsom
Pat Connolly, Go-Ahead London
Ian Holmes, London United
Thomas McDonnell, Arriva London
Andrew Samuel, Go-Ahead London

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

I'm still alive!

12:48 pm No comments

Hey bus enthusiasts! Yeah it has been a long time since I last released a post but don't worry because there will be a lot of things coming from me in the next few weeks. Reason for my lack of posts is that my Dad moved to Milton Keynes temporarily, I've been re-designing the London Operator Game so it's easier to use (more on that in the near future) and I've been busy with a lot of school related work.

So what will happen by this time next month:

1. The London Operator Game will be updated. Expected 18/11/13
2. London Bus Route 170 will be out. Expected 22/11/13
3. VA64. Expected 1/12/13
4. FG49 plays European Bus Simulator. TBA
5. Christmas Observations - South-West - Part 1. Expected 14/12/13
6. Christmas Observations - South-West - Part 2. Expected 15/12/13

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

Welcome to SLBB (Yebz)

12:53 pm No comments

Hello all, you may know me from AOLBB chat. I’m a former bus driver who might return back to the driving scene. I'll be here for the foreseeable future bringing you the latest news from the London bus scene in North East London monthly.

Thank you for reading this post and for visiting our blog,

Remember to stay safe.

Picture of the Month - September 2013 (Late)

3:07 pm No comments

Firstly, I'm really sorry that this post is somehow due very late due to it being lost in the posts.

Still have anyone ever imagined 42 going to Stagecoach or Stagecoach buying Mandela Way?

Well here we have a 42 on a Citaro allocated at MW (Mandela Way) and if Stagecoach owned MW (Mandela Way) + RA (Waterloo) what will they do with other buses there?

1 - ALX400 (Spares)

453 - Existing Enviro's

42 - New Citaro's

507/521 - Existing Citaro's Kept

Thank you for reading this post and for visiting our blog.

Remember to stay safe.

Stagecoach London - Another Casualty, Another ADL Bus ...

10:13 am No comments

Reports have just flooded in that Stagecoach London's flagship Route 15 has one of it's hybrid involved in a casualty with another bus in Canon Street. The bus severely damaged 12137 / LX61DFP will be sent back to Stagecoach and I'm hoping that ADL can repair this like a similar casualty with 19000 (Sprite of London).

Behind 12137 is Go Ahead London (London General)'s MEC43 / BT09GOJ which is believe to be also damaged in this horrifying incident.

According to London Vehicle Finder (LVF) it shows that MEC43 / BT09GOJ and 12137 / LX61DFP has been out of service since 07:50. 2 hours and 21 mins (10.11) has shown that an investigation is underway in which what happened to these two London Buses.

It's confirmed that six people has been injured in this morning's incident and there is no further update expect that the driver of 12137 attempt to reverse before heading MEC43 behind.

Thank You for reading this post and for visiting our blog.

Remember to stay safe.

TFL Tender Results - October 2013

4:16 pm 1 comment

Route

Current Operator

New Operator

Current PVR

Award PVR

QSI Standard

Contract Ref.

Vehicle type

Contract Start Date

TRANCHE 433

228

Metroline West

1.20 mins EWT

QC 43301

Existing single deck

18th January 2014

TRANCHE 439

283

London United

1.20 mins EWT

QC 43901

Existing single deck

1st March 2014

TRANCHE 443

7/N7

Metroline

1.10 mins EWT

QC 44301

New double deck

21st June 2014

272

London United

86% on time

QC 44302

Existing single deck

24th May 2014

440

London United

86% on time

QC 44303

Existing single deck

24th May 2014

TRANCHE 444

Metroline West

Abellio West London

0.70 mins EWT

QC 44402

New double deck

31st May 2014

Metroline West

London United

1.10 mins EWT

QC 44403

Double deck

31st May 2014

E10

Metroline West

TGM (Arriva)

86% on time

QC 44404

New single deck

31st May 2014

All routes are awarded as specified, incorporating the frequency reduction on
route 7/N7 and the removal of peak frequency widening on route 228. Route E3 is awarded on the basis of retaining the current frequency. Route E10 is awarded on the basis of retaining the current route structure.

Routes 228, 272, 283, 440 and E10 are awarded on the basis of using diesel buses. Route 7/N7 and E1 are awarded on the basis of using hybrid buses. The vehicle type for E3 will be Scania Omnicities from Route 10/148.

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

The Big Crash WHY4, LT62 & 9401.

7:31 pm 5 comments

On Sunday the 22nd of September around one o'clock, 3 buses and 3 cars were involved in a serious crash which left Chelsea Bridge Road closed for nearly 8 hours; fortunately nobody was killed with only 3 taken to hospital. The buses involved were Abellio London's first Enviro 400 - 9401 working route 452, Go-Ahead London's WHY4 working route 360 and finally Go-Ahead London's Borismaster/NB4L - LT62. LT62 was actually working away from the normal route altough it was in service.

The 58 year old driver was among the three seriously injured with 12 others treated for minor injuries. 10 ambulances attended this horrfic scene, while the London Fire Brigade had to cut at least one person from the wreckage.

As of now LT62 has been kept in police evidence along with WHY4 but for 9401 it has been towed to the Hants & Dorset Bus & Coach Refurbishment Centre.

Pictures below ...

Thank you for reading this post and for visiting our blog.

Remember to stay safe.

19/N19 Extension Plan

12:00 pm 1 comment

Here is how I personally think route 19/N19 should be run between:

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=z_quS1TI4iWk.kCeKTJk6CaCY&authuser=0&hl=en

Thank You for reading this post and for visiting our blog.

Remember to stay safe.

Route 11 - NB4L Route Learning

6:30 am 1 comment

As all Londoners know ... Route 11 is to be converted to NB4L operation from 21st September 2013. For some people, they will too agree this is another horrid date to note down. Currently, 18 days before the conversion begins; the drivers are still testing the LT's out and familiarizing the route before the big, horrible day comes. ;(

The only things people are looking out for LT41 - LT60 is that will they actually have air cooling fans that actually work like those on the prototypes LT1 - LT8. Will the PA's be nicer than those with Arriva and Metroline? Same Thing ...

Thank you for reading this post and for visiting our blog.

Remember to stay safe.

London Bus Plans (South-West)

9:30 am No comments

19: Extended from Battersea Bridge, South Side to Clapham Junction via Battersea Park Road and Falcon Road.

PVR increased to 28

N19: Extended from Clapham Junction to Clapham Park via Wandsworth Common, Tooting Bec and Streatham.

PVR increased to 14

155: PVR increased to 20

39: Converted to Double Deck operation

PVR decreased to 10

485: PVR increased to 7

T2: New Route between Tooting Bec and Putney Bridge via Tooting Broadway, Tooting Station, Mitcham, Colliers Wood, South Wimbledon, Wimbledon Chase, Raynes Park, Durham Road, Woodhayes Road, Cannizaro Road and Putney Heath.

Allocations

19: 6 New Gemini 3's ordered

N19: Partial allocation transferred to Northumberland Park

155: 4 WVL's transferred from Putney Garage

39: 15 Gemini 3's ordered

4 LDP's withdrawn

485: 4 LDP's from the 39 used

T2: 9 LDP's from the 39 used

Plans

19: Extended from Battersea Bridge to Clapham Junction to allow direct travel from Clapham Junction to Finsbury Park with at least changes as possible.

N19: To cover the non-existing link between Battersea and Streatham at night.

155: To make the route more reliable and reduce daytime overcrowding

39: The route is capable of taking DD's proven by the 639 & Wimbledon Tennis Shuttles and the bus is often overcrowded during the days

485: The bus is hardly used but I deem it quite useful and I think if more buses were allocated to the route then more people would use it.

T2: Because there is no existing link between Tooting and Putney and the T2 would provide that also linking Tooting with Raynes Park along a route where not much buses venture into.

Thank you for reading this post and for visiting our blog.

Remember to stay safe.

TFL Tender Results - August 2013

1:23 pm 3 comments

Route

Current Operator

New Operator

Current PVR

Award PVR

QSI Standard

Contract Ref.

Vehicle type

Contract Start Date

TRANCHE 440:

262

Stagecoach East London

0.80 mins EWT

QC 44001

New & existing double deck

29th March 2014

372

Stagecoach East London

86% on time

QC 44002

New double deck

29th March 2014

396

Stagecoach East London

86% on time

QC 44003

Existing single deck

29th March 2014

473

Stagecoach East London

0.80 mins EWT

QC 44004

Existing double deck

29th March 2014

TRANCHE 441

Metrobus

Stagecoach Selkent

1.00 mins EWT

QC 44101

New double deck

3rd May 2014

Metrobus

Stagecoach Selkent

13(a)

13(b)

1.00 mins EWT

QC 44102

New double deck

26th April 2014

T31

Arriva London South

0.60 mins EWT

QC 44103

Existing single deck

10th May 2014

Routes 54, 75, 262, 372 and 396 are awarded as specified, including the frequency increase on route 54 and the double deck conversion of route 372. Route 473 is awarded on the basis of the current route structure. Route T31 is awarded on the basis of using the current allocation of 55 capacity vehicles.

All new vehicles in the above awards will be hybrids, the existing vehicles will be diesels.

A total of 23 existing vehicles will be used on routes 262 and 473. These are currently allocated to route 96.

(a) Fleet PVR: 14th bus used in PM peak crosslinked from route 54.

(b) Fleet PVR: 14th bus used in PM peak crosslinked from route 269.

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Remember to stay safe.

Picture of the Month - August 2013

9:13 pm No comments

Stagecoach London 19810, the replacement for broken down Stagecoach London 19818 is a Enviro 400 as the code starts with "19". Thus, this being the 810th Enviro 400 Stagecoach London has in it's fleet. It was originally ordered for the retained Route 53 which runs from Whitehall, Hourse Guards to Plumstead Station (Near Plumstead, Bus Garage).

Route 53, used to be operated with Dennis Trident 2/ALX400 which is one of my favourite buses of all time. Sadly these buses are gradually leaving the Stagecoach London fleet being replaced by E40D/E40H's or something else. Route 122, is one of those routes that will have it's allocation of Dennis Trident 2/ALX400 replaced by new buses (E40D/E40H's).

Route 53, is one of my favourite Stagecoach London routes which I use all the time. I personally think Stagecoach London is one of the best bus operators I've seen and everyone knows they care about they're buses. They only have quality buses built by ADL (Alexander Dennis Limited) but they have a few exceptions allowing Citaro's and Omnicities in their fleet mainly. The drivers on Route 53 are determined to deliver an outstanding service and some are strict but they do their job well ;) .

Route 453 was introduced on 15th March 2003, which was the weekend when Congestion Charge began. The creation of Route 453 covers the lost section of Oxford Circus to Marylebone. A very useful route when Bakerloo Line is out due to engineering works. The route was also operated by Stagecoach London at PD (Plumstead) but it was too far and the contract was lost to Go Ahead London (London General) on 16th April 2008, which is the current operator for 453.

Thank you for reading this post and for visiting our blog.

Remember to stay safe.

Crystal Palace Observations 23/08/13

5:29 pm No comments

3: Crystal Palace - Oxford Circus

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South London Bus Route - Route 44

4:22 pm No comments

© All Rights Reserved by Dave M

Route 44: Tooting Station - Victoria
Operated by: London General (GAL)
Garage: AL
PVR: 17
Length: 11km/7 miles
Bus Type: Plaxton President/Volvo B7TL and Enviro 400

Timetable: http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/044full.pdf

Route 44 began on the 1st of October 1950 using RT's which were then replaced with RTL's with its RT's moving to Thornton Heath to help replace the trams. Route 44 initially ran between Mitcham, Three Kings and London Bridge which it did for 2 years before being moved to Mitcham, Cricketers. By 1958, the 44's Sunday service was extended from Mitcham to Wallington and from 1963 it was extended on Sundays from London Bridge to Poplar. In 1964 the Sunday service between Mitcham and Wallington was withdrawn being replaced by 115A, a year later it's RTL allocation was withdrawn and replaced with RT's.

It was then reduced again with its Sunday service between Mitcham and Poplar reduced to Mitcham and Aldgate, nothing had changed with the route apart from it gaining an OPO allocation and then in 1988 it was extended from Mitcham to Sutton which was once again withdrawn within 3 years in both ends, so it ran between Vauxhall and Tooting Station with the 344 replacing it from Vauxhall.

The route has stayed the same with only 1 change from 1991 occuring when it Merton Garage purchased nearly 80 Plaxton Presidents to be shared among all of their DD routes with the 44 taking 17 of them. The next change in the 44's 56 year life was a re-routing between Battersea Park Station and Vauxhall which saw it no longer serve Vauxhall but instead terminate at Victoria via Chelsea Bridge.

On the 12th of November 2012, Stockwell Garage lost route 24 to Metroline leaving 25 57reg Enviro 400's with no actual allocated route to work on, so as the 44, 77 & 270 all had been retained by Go-Ahead London on the 1st of June 2013 for a further 5 years they were allocated the 25 Enviro 400's and some of them entered service as early as March. By July 2013 all 25 of the Enviro 400's were refurbished and fitted with smartblinds and given a 100% red repaint. But 1 of the Enviro 400's (E69) moving to Camberwell which it has since returned back to Merton.

As of now the 44 doesn't have an official allocation with all of Merton's double deckers spread evenly but the buses that mostly make up the 44 are the 54reg PVL's from route 36 and the 57reg Enviro 400's from route 24.

Fleetlist

PVL's

PVL390 LX54 HAA

PVL391 LX54 HAE

PVL392 LX54 HAO

PVL393 LX54 HAU

PVL394 LX54 HBA

PVL395 LX54 HBB

PVL396 LX54 GZG

PVL397 LX54 GZH
PVL398 LX54 GZK

PVL399 LX54 GZL

PVL400 LX54 GZM

PVL401 LX54 GZN

PVL402 LX54 GZO

E's

E69 LX57 CJU

E70 LX57 CJV

E71 LX57 CJY

E72 LX57 CJZ

E73 LX57 CKA

E74 LX57 CKC

E75 LX57 CKD

E76 LX57 CKE

E77 LX57 CKF

Note: These are not its exact fleetlist but part of the 54 buses shared between the DD routes at Merton

Now here are a few photos of the 44 in all of its forms. Enjoy :)

PVL400 seen in Tooting

Thank you for reading this post and for visiting our blog.

Remember to stay safe.

Thursday, 19 December 2013

Friday, 29 November 2013

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

London Bus Garage of the Year, sponsored by Transport for London

Luke Rees-Pulley Charitable Trust Award for Top London Bus Driver, sponsored by Transport for London

Saturday, 16 November 2013

Friday, 1 November 2013

Thursday, 31 October 2013

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Saturday, 7 September 2013

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Friday, 30 August 2013

Thursday, 29 August 2013

Wednesday, 28 August 2013

Saturday, 24 August 2013

Friday, 23 August 2013

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