London Bus Plans (South-West)

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4 LDP's withdrawn 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.

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TFL Tender Results - August 2013

Route

Current Operator

New Operator

Current PVR

Award PVR

QSI Standard

Contract Ref.

Vehicle type

Contract Start Date

TRANCHE 440:

262

Stagecoach East London

Stagecoach East London

12

12

0.80 mins EWT

QC 44001

New & existing double deck

29th March 2014

372

Stagecoach East London

Stagecoach East London

6

6

86% on time

QC 44002

New double deck

29th March 2014

396

Stagecoach East London

Stagecoach East London

4

4

86% on time

QC 44003

Existing single deck

29th March 2014

473

Stagecoach East London

Stagecoach East London

10

10

0.80 mins EWT

QC 44004

Existing double deck

29th March 2014

TRANCHE 441

54

Metrobus

Stagecoach Selkent

14

16

1.00 mins EWT

QC 44101

New double deck

3rd May 2014

75

Metrobus

Stagecoach Selkent

13(a)

13(b)

1.00 mins EWT

QC 44102

New double deck

26th April 2014

T31

Arriva London South

Arriva London South

9

9

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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Picture of the Month - August 2013

 © All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

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.

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Crystal Palace Observations 23/08/13

122: Crystal Palace - Plumstead, Bus Garage
© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

3: Crystal Palace - Oxford Circus

© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

322: Clapham Common - Crystal Palace
© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

410: Crystal Palace - Wallington
© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

157: Crystal Palace - Modern
© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

202: Blackheath,Royal Standard - Crystal Palace
© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

358: Crystal Palace - Orprington Station
© LondonBuses67

417: Clapham Common - Crystal Palace
© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

227: Bromley North - Crystal Palace
© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

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South London Bus Route - Route 44

  © 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

 © All Rights Reserved by Ledlon89  

E142 seen leaving its terminus of Tooting Station
© All Rights Reserved by Ledlon89  

WVL72 seen at Tooting Station© All Rights Reserved by Ledlon89  

                             

E84 seen on Garratt Lane

© All Rights Reserved by Ledlon89  

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Route 507/521 2 New Electric Buses at Hants and Dorset Trim

© All rights reserved by Matt J Forbes

As you can see above, the is one of the two brand new electric buses built by BYD (Build Your Dreams) in China which will enter service on Route 507/521 in London. It was delivered by a slow boat from China which has arrived in the UK. According to LOTS it's has been reported that one of the electric buses is being prepared for service despite it's expected that it's likely to take an considerable time for it to enter service.

As you can clearly see these buses have LED Blinds,which I suppose it might as well get as the bus is electric. As LED Blinds aren't usually TFL's spec on buses and as of the bus being hybrid, I'll expect the font to be "Johnson'. In my opinion TFL should move on to LED Blinds using the 'Johnson' font because most operators in the UK have moved to LED Blinds. 

What I think of the bus that is the very first Chinese bus to be built for the UK, is that I'm proud to see another new bus type being used in London. I do think the design is outstanding and I can't wait to cover it once it has entered service.

Tell me your views on the new BYD Electric Bus below ... Do you like it or not? - I like it :)

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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

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South London Bus Route - Route 453

© All rights reserved by LondonBusBreh

Route 453: Deptford Bridge - Marylebone

Operated by: London General (GAL)

Garage: MW

PVR: 34

Length:12km/8 miles

Bus Type: Enviro 400 10.2m

Note: A very nice picture that LondonBusBreh gave me permission to use. :)

Timetable: http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/453.pdf

The 453 was formed from Route 53 on 15th March 2003, the weekend that the London Congestion Charge began. It was run by Stagecoach London. The route operates from Deptford to Marylebone, initially with Citaro O530Gs, known as "Bendy buses", although double-deckers had to be used for the first four weeks as Mercedes-Benz could not deliver enough in time. Night bus variant N453 was introduced at the same time, also using articulated buses.

The section between Oxford Street and Marylebone hadn't been served by the route 53 since the 1980s therefore the 453 restores this link, the route also parallels the Bakerloo line between Elephant and Castle and Marylebone so when the Bakerloo line is out of action the route provides a useful alternative.

The 453 originally started from the first busy single stop on the 53, at Deptford, outside Addey and Stanhope School, then follows the 53 via New Cross, New Cross Gate, Old Kent Road, Bricklayers Arms, Elephant & Castle, St. George's Circus, Westminster, to Whitehall, then Regent Street, Oxford Street, Great Portland Street, Regent's Park and to Marylebone. The section north of Oxford Circus was a new service designed to create a new south - west link at Regent's Park Underground station.

The buses were based at Selkent's Plumstead (PD), as were those for the 53, which is a long way off route and results in a lot of empty running. The planned terminus at Deptford's Seager development (by Deptford Bridge DLR station) was delayed for three years. As there was nowhere else suitable to turn the buses round, buses ran empty all the way to and from Lewisham to turn round and stand. Selkent proposed to extend the service to Catford (TL), where the route would have been based, but buses are now able to turn around at Deptford Bridge.

This was the second of the "bendy bus" routes to operate out of Zone one (after the 436; the 507 and 521 were the first bendy buses, operating from 5 June 2002). In common with all bendy routes in London, tickets are not issued by the driver. Evidence suggests that fare evasion rates are quite high despite more intensive ticket checking than normal, sometimes backed up by the Metropolitan Police stopping a whole bus and then checking everyone's tickets. 

A large section of the route of the 453 parallels the Bakerloo line (Marylebone, Oxford Circus, Elephant and Castle etc.) and is very useful at times when the Bakerloo line is suspended due to engineering works.

Operation of route 453 was transferred to London General on 16 February 2008, with a new batch of Citaros, which have the new Euro 4 style front and rear ends.

On 24 September 2011, route 453 was converted to double deck using new Alexander Dennis Enviro400. 

On 19 November 2011, route 453 was retained by Go-Ahead London. 

Fleetlist:

E163/SN61BGF

E164/SN61BGK

E165/SN61BGO

E166/SN61BGU

E167/SN61BGV

E168/SN61BGX

E169/SN61BGY

E170/SN61BGZ

E171/SN61BHA

E172/SN61BHD

E173/SN61BGE

E174/SN61BHE

E175/SN61BHF

E176/SN61BHJ

E177/SN61BHK

E178/SN61BHL

E179/SN61BHO

E180/SN61BHP

E181/SN61BHU

E182/SN61BHV

E183/SN61BHW

E184/SN61BHX

E185/SN61BHY

E186/SN61BHZ

E187/SN61BJE

E188/SN61BJF

E189/SN61BJJ

E190/SN61BJK

E191/SN61BJO

E192/SN61BJU

E193/SN61BJV

E194/SN61BJX

E195/SN61BJY

E196/SN61BJZ

E197/SN61BKA

E198/SN61BKD

E199/SN61BKE

E200/SN61BKF

E201/SN61BKG

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Route 53 - Blind Change

Route 53 - Blind Change 

© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

Note: 19818/LX11BXL was the broken down bus I saw whilst covering Route 24's LT's 

Here is the replacement bus I took home ...

© LondonBuses67

This was 19810/LX11BJZ with a kind driver wearing his rather cool sun glasses :) 

It was almost empty when I boarded with a few passengers but I sat upstairs snapping away on buses with my camera. With some I failed and some I was lucky to have a good snap.

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London Bus Route - Route 1

© All rights reserved by LondonBuses67

Route 1: Canada Water - Tottenham Court Road

Operated by: London General (GAL)

Garage: MW

PVR: 16

Length: 9km/6 miles

Bus Type: Gemini 1/Volvo B7TL 10.6m

Note: Above picture is an odd working which is allocated to 453.

Timetable : http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/001.pdf

Route 1 was one of the first motorbus routes to be introduced in London. It was in operation by November 1908. Despite subsequent route changes, it continues to serve part of its original route, between Aldwych and Elephant & Castle.

Route 1 once ran from Willesden to Lewisham, and more recently part provided a service between Lewisham and Bromley. It has since been curtailed at both ends of the route.

The contract for the service was won in late 1998 by First Capital, a company based in North East London, and it was operated from distant Dagenham depot. Later, the route was re-allocted nearer to Hackney depot.

The Jubilee Line Extension in 1999 saw route 199 withdrawn between Surrey Quays and Elephant & Castle, causing route 1 to become the only route to serve South Bermondsey from East to West. The route suffered severe overcrowding at peak times on this section of the route, requiring extra buses to be drafted in to cover. These vehicles were provided by a various operators, including Blue Triangle. The extra workings were later absorbed by First.

A few years later, East Thames Buses (owned by London Buses) found themself needing to re-locate from its Ash Grove depot to make way for new articulated buses on route 38. A suitable base was found in Southwark, but most of the Ash Grove routes were a long way from Southwark. This caused a swap of routes to occur with various other companies, with East Thames Buses taking over the 1/N1. The changes were introduced from 15 October 2005, with East Thames Buses using a new fleet of Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied-Volvo B7TLs.

On 3 October 2009, East Thames Buses was taken over by Go-Ahead London. Route 1 is now operated by Go-Ahead London, who have a 5-year contract to run the service using the existing buses.

Fleetlist

VWL27/LF52THV

VWL28/LF52THX

VWL29/LF52THZ

VWL30/LF52TJO

VWL31/LF52TJU

VWL32/BX04AZW

VWL33/BX04AZV

VWL34/BX04AZU

VWL35/BX04AZZ

VWL36/BX04BAA

VWL37/BX04BAU

VWL38/BX04BAV

VWL39/BX04BBE

VWL40/BX04BBF

VWL41/BX04BBJ

VWL42/BX04BKL

VWL43/BX04BKK

VWL44/BX04BKJ

WVL271/LX06ECE (Gemini 1)

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