London OmniBus: Major Reshuffle

A major fleet reshuffle over the course of the Christmas period has resulted in a number of changes, most of which have reverted to their original state but others have not.


Over Christmas, London OmniBus operated the seasonal K50 Park & Ride service in and out of Kington Town Centre. This was operated with spare buses from Byfleet garage (including the four buses displaced from route U9) along with Meridians drafted in from route 49. To cover for the Meridians, the new Greenline Geminis operated on route 49. These new buses were a great success on route 49 and we are now considering withdrawing all of our old VLE-type buses (921-928) and replacing them with brand new hybrid double deckers.

When route K50 finished, the Meridians returned to route 49 and the Geminis transferred back to Harrow Weald and Hayes West in preparation for the commencement of Greenline route 718. The Enviro400s which had been sent off for refurbishment (601-613) returned at the end of January, allowing the loaned buses from L1/Group to return and route 718 commenced on Saturday February 7th, with the 18's timetable adjusted accordingly.


Route 718 has since been a huge success, and runs as follows:

718

Up to every 10 minutes between Victoria Coach Station and Harrow Bus Station, serving:

• Victoria Coach Station
• Hyde Park Corner
• Marble Arch
• Baker Street Station
• Marylebone Station Approach
• Paddington Station (alight for St Mary's Hospital)
• Harrow Road, Prince of Wales / Elgin Avenue
• Kensal Green Station
• Harlesden, Jubilee Clock
• Craven Park
• Stonebridge Park Station
• Wembley, Triangle
• Wembley Central Station
• Sudbury, Swan
• Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road
• Harrow Bus Station

Up to every 30 minutes between Harrow Bus Station and Watford Town Centre, serving:

• Harrow Bus Station
• Bushey Station / Bushey Arches
• Watford High Street Station
• Beechen Grove (southbound only)
• Watford High Street

Depot runs start from and continue to Harrow Weald, Wealdstone Inn.

Oyster cards are not currently accepted, please pay the driver when boarding or purchase a season ticket or smartcard online.

718 Fleet List

601 - LT63NKA - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

602 - LT63NKB - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

603 - LT63NKC - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

604 - LT63NKD - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

605 - LT63NKE - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

606 - LT63NKF - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

607 - LT63NKG - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

608 - LT63NKH - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

609 - LT63NKJ - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

610 - LT63NKK - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

611 - LT63NKL - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

612 - LT63NKM - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

613 - LT63NKN - Alexander Dennis Enviro450H (refurbished)

966 - BN64COL - Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini 3

967 - BN64COM - Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini 3

968 - BN64CON - Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini 3

969 - BN64COR - Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini 3

970 - BN64COS - Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini 3

971 - BN64COU - Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini 3

972 - BN64COV - Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini 3

973 - BN64COY - Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini 3

974 - BN64COZ - Volvo B5LH / Wright Gemini 3

LC1001 - 1CLT - Wright New Bus for London

OTHER NEWS:

London OmniBus has won the contract for route N5 (Edgware Station - Trafalgar Square) commencing November 13th 2015 with existing hybrid buses from Harrow Weald garage.

In the ongoing reshuffle, there are a number of spare buses which for the time being are being stored at Byfleet, but will soon be sold. The bus types in service at Byfleet include the four ex-U9 buses (311-314), the three ex-45 buses (881-883) and the MAN MCVs (402-408), along with the 218 allocation (107-110) and National Express buses (113, 115-117). The current plan is to sell most of the MAN MCVs.

Until next time.

LONDON OMNIBUS

Novel Concept Tenders February 2015 (from Bracknell Forest Council)

All tenders start in July 2015
53/153: (Binfield-Warfield/Wexham Park Hospital) 
Retained by L1/Beeline (Heathrow Buses) with existing buses

108: (Bracknell-Jennetts Park) 
Retained by L1/Beeline (Heathrow Buses) with existing buses

152: (Bracknell-Winkfield)
Awarded to L1/Beeline (Heathrow Buses) (formerly Courtney via Thames Travel) with new buses

154: (Bracknell-Bulbrook)
Retained by Courtney Buses with existing buses

156: (Bracknell-The Parks)
Retained by Courtney Buses with existing buses

162: (Bracknell-Ascot)
Awarded to L1/Beeline (Heathrow Buses) (formerly Courtney via Thames Travel) with new buses

L1/Group are to introduce new E27H/Wright Nebula on Routes 152 and 162.

WLTM Tenders January 2015 (from TfL)

Tranche 290A:
447: Awarded to New Citybus (formerly Heathrow Buses temporary contract) with new hybrid buses, contract start 6th November 2015 (B5LH/President)

Tranche 295:
168: Awarded to London Central (formerly Arriva London) with new LT-class buses, contract start 20th June 2015

Tranche 297:
32: Awarded to Uno (formerly Metroline) with new hybrid buses, contract start 6th November 2015 (Optare Metrodecker)
70: Retained by Heathrow Buses with new hybrid double deckers, contract start 6th November 2015. Extended to Chiswick Business Park. (E45H/President)
143: Awarded to London Sovereign (formerly Metroline) with new hybrid buses, contract start 31st October 2015 (E27H/E200MMC)
297: Retained by London United with existing buses, contract start 5th December 2015.

Tranche 298:
405D: Awarded to New Citybus (formerly Arriva London) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 31st October 2015 (E42H/E400)
632: Awarded to Tower Transit (formerly Metroline) with new hybrid buses, contract start 6th November 2015 (E45H/E400MMC)
143D/643: Awarded to Heathrow Buses (formerly Metroline) with new hybrid buses, contract start 31st October 2015 (E45H/President)
647: Awarded to Romford Buses (formerly Arriva London) with new hybrid buses, contract start 31st October 2015 (E45H/President)
675: Awarded to Romford Buses (formerly CT Plus) with new hybrid bus, contract start 31st October 2015 (E45H/President)
692-699: Awarded to Sullivan Buses (formerly Arriva London North) with existing buses, contract start 21st November 2015

Tranche 299:
91/N91: Awarded to Arriva London (formerly Metroline) with existing buses, contract start 13th November 2015 (DB300/Gemini 2 ex-221)
221: Awarded to londonforest (formerly Arriva London) with new hybrid buses, contract start 6th November 2015 (Optare Metrodecker & E45H/President)

Tranche 300:
17: Awarded to New Citybus (formerly Metroline) with new hybrid buses, contract start 6th November 2015 (E45H/President)

Tranche 301:
198: Awarded to New Citybus (formerly Arriva London) with new hybrid buses, contract start 6th November 2015 (B5LH/President)
367: Awarded to New Citybus (formerly Metrobus) with new hybrid buses, contract start 31st October 2015 (E27H/Nebula)

Tranche 302:
N5: Awarded to London OmniBus (formerly Metroline) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 13th November 2015
N20: Awarded to Heathrow Buses (formerly Metroline) with new hybrid buses, contract start 6th November 2015 (E45H/President)

Other News:

New hybrid buses for London are on the 456, L1/Group's TP2000 and EW1, testing the newest hybrid technology available is being used on the TfL test route. In addition to those operator owned buses, a Wright Streetdeck and Optare Metrodecker hybrid is on the route (only the ADL products and the Optare Metrodecker have firm orders for TfL service).

Route 471 will go to full L1/Romford Buses operation when the 1 is taken up by New Citybus due to the 471's buses being needed for the 1. The 471 is therefore to end the sub-contracting when the 1 is taken up, until all the new buses arrive for New Citybus to take over.

70 will be extended, subject to consultation via 209 to Acton Town Station, then via Bollo Lane and link road to Chiswick Business Park.

NBfL Conversion Timetable (all LTs):
24 - 22nd June 2013 (LT9-36)
9 - 22nd June 2013 (LT37-49, 51-70, LT99)
11 - 21st September 2013 (LT70-98)
15 - 2nd November 2013 (LT100-111, 166-180)
392 - 2nd November 2013 (LT1, LT50, LT111-165)
390 - 30th November 2013 (LT181-204)
38 (and N38) - 7th December 2013 (LT2-8, LT205-260)
16 - 1st February 2014 (LT261-282, 284-286)
7 - 15th February 2014 (LT283, 287-315)
148 - 15th February 2014 (LT316-343)
311 - 5th April 2014 (LT344-371 - this includes a 392 increase)
49 - 7th June 2014 (LT372-396)
22 - 21st June 2014 (LT397-423)
10 - 1st November 2014 (LT424-452)
8 (and N8) - 1st November 2014 (LT453-485)
74 - 1st November 2014 (LT486-516 - this includes a 392 increase)
98 - 1st November 2014 (LT517-550)
159 - 13th December 2014 (LT551-589)
453 - 20th December 2014 (LT590-628)
C2 - 10th January 2015 (LT629-652)
137 - 21st March 2015 (LT653-687)
168 - 20th June 2015 (LT688-711) (final batch so far)