The Loaned Fleet (with same numbers):
ex-Metroline VP317-347, 466-472, 474, 476, 477, 479. Code VPN These will be returned when the 409 passes to Croydon Buses in 2014.
ex-GAL WVL124-126, on loan from Southdown PSV. Code WVN. These have been returned to Southdown PSV for sale.
TE1256, the E45H demonstrator with non-standard doors will now move across each of the garages over 25 weeks (three weeks at each garage, 4 at UP), moving to SA on 27th October, before moving to DI from the 20th November, and continuing via WE, LF, UP (for 4 weeks), HO, SD and U before returning to HN for use on Route X91.
In partnership with Philippine Airlines and Philippine Tourism Board, we will start accepting their air tickets on the 7series. In response, we will place Philippine Airlines and "It's More Fun in the Philippines" adverts on some of our non-showbus double deckers and two 7series Citaros.
In another partnership with local football club (of which one of the owners is a supporter of) Brentford FC, adverts for them will appear on many buses from Heathrow Buses, and ten so far have been adorned with overall advertising for the football club for the season.
This is in addition to the existing arrangements with all over adverts on double decker (mainly) buses.
L1/Heathrow Buses
The "Slough Locals" DEs are being refurbished and repainted to a base yellow:
DE391-399, DE494-504. The new Beeline livery will be applied after the 2nd November, when the official launch for Beeline is done.
Some buses will be used on the 409 from November under the temporary contract, mainly VPNs will be used, the same buses used on the 408 earlier this year.
The Volvo B5TL demonstrator is at HN on Route 105 (usually), coded VTN1090 and will move on 4th November to the 456 at SA
For Greenline 701/702, TENs ex-23 are being refurbished at HN, and will be ready by December 2013. Regular TEs will be drafted into HN as spares.
Route 335 will now have a half/half allocation at each HN and SA, as opposed to just the double decker workings. All the MCNs (non-hybrids) will move to HN, leaving the hybrid MCs at SA.
Route 9 (Addlestone-Englefield Green) operated by Jeakins Coaches currently will be transferring to L1/Heathrow Buses from 4th November 2013 using 2 E25Hs from either Beeline or Surrey Local services. The route will be advertised as a "Surrey Local" route, and will run hourly Mon-Sat, every 2hrs every Sunday. Also, it would be extended to Slough from Englefield Green Cherrywood Avenue, thus a 3rd bus may be needed.
Route 305 (Colnbrook-Staines) operated by Bear Buses currently will be transferring to L1/Heathrow Buses from 20th November 2013 using 2 E25H from Beeline services. The route will be advertised as a "Beeline" route, and will run hourly Mon-Sat only, except late evenings. The route will be extended on the same date to Heathrow North Bus Garage.
7series X74 will be extended to Oxford Station from Oxford Carfax from 2nd November 2013. The PVR will increase by 1, this covered by TE peak extras being all day, until new extra buses arrive for the 7series/Surrey Locals. This may be the Enviro 350H (options are being evaluated).
A E350H from First Essex is being evaluated for use on 7series. This bus will run on route 74 as an extra bus, or on the 75 peak extras. In response, a E25H bus will move to First Essex to cover, and evaluation. This will be from the London fleet, displaced from the 456.
RML2584 (JJD584D) and RML2569 (JJD569D) are new acquisitions for the heritage fleet from various owners in order to help supplement the existing fleet of heritage Routemasters, and the hand-over will be at HN Open Day, on the 2nd November 2013.
Southall (SA)
Garage news - the site now has access via a new level crossing towards Southall Station, on the western end, adjacent to the Brentford Branch Line off the GWML. Unless there is a train passing, the level crossing will be in use for buses, allowing an adjacent site to be annexed to Southall Garage. The annex is currently being used to store LTs for the 392 full route conversion, where 45 LTs are planned to be used. Half the allocation will be shared with 311 at DI, half at the 392 solely.
The duty share between Routes 695 and 392 has ended, the working moving solely to the 392 in order to get full day extra workings on this busy route. Route 695 shared duty will now share with Route 483 on Monday-Thursday, and will share with Route 311 on Friday, both at DI. This change happens on the week beginning 21st October 2013.
LTs 112-138 will be based at SA.
Due to bus shortages, the conversion of Route 456 to full allocated double decker with increased frequency will be deferred, thus incurring penalties for us (it is currently allocated single deckers, but using mostly double deckers due to overcrowding). This has also led to Route 195 being pressured to be double decked too.
Both conversions are expected to be done by February.
New E45Hs are being built for the 456 at this time (TE1300-1325), with TE1300 expected in service in November.
OVE1 that was in not in service trials on the 456 has now gone to another operator.
Route N7 has transferred to SA, no buses have moved.
Route 335 will now have a half/half allocation at each HN and SA, as opposed to just the double decker workings. All the MCNs (non-hybrids) will move to HN, leaving the hybrid MCs at SA.
The deliveries for the 83 contract are continuing, with TE1270 (E45H) in service as of posting.
Brentford (DI)
We say farewell to another DI route, Route 267, moving back to its former home with London United Fulwell. The E40Hs will be distributed across the company.
All ex-First "DNH" (TE) buses have L1/Group logos applied and are in a refurbishment at HN at the moment.
All diesel buses from the 23 (except TEN111) have been replaced with TE (E40H/E45H) ex-266.
Route 695 shared duty will now share with Route 483 on Monday-Thursday, and will share with Route 311 on Friday, both at DI. This change happens on the week beginning 21st October 2013. LTs 139-164 will be based at DI, along with existing LTs 1 and 50 (for the earlier trials).
From 2nd November, Route 392 will have half the allocation shared with 311 at DI, half at the 392 solely. This means that Route 311 will be officially converted to NBfL with another batch of NBfLs eventually, after modifications to Kew Riverside Bus Station are made. This is planned to be 31st May 2014.
Wembley (WE)
NBfLs from the trial at DI and for 392 are at WE for driver training for Route 16.
Due to the future loss of the 18 and N18, N18 will move to WE from 2nd November.
Fulwell (LF)
Routes 85 and 213 are now settling nicely at Fulwell Garage with their new E45Hs.
L1/Romford Buses
Upminster (UP)
The first Volvo B5LH/Plaxton President for the East London Transit is at UP for evaluation.
The first Volvo B5LH/Plaxton President for the East London Transit is at UP for evaluation.
The first production E45H, TE1257 is in service in UP, running mainly on the 5 and 248.
Hackney (HO)
E45H has been ordered for 55/N55, Volvo B5LH/Wright Gemini 2 (x5 - the last new Wright Gemini 2s), Volvo B5LH/Wright Gemini 3 (x15) and Plaxton President (x9) have been ordered for the 48. The Volvo Gemini 3s will be coded VT.
Stratford (SD)
Routes 25 (full HO allocation), 425 has moved to SD. Existing TELs and TEs for the 25/425 have moved for the change.
Upton Park (U)
All the LTs for the 15 conversion to NBfL are currently being stored at UP before use. Some are being tested on Routes 15 and N15.
No comments:
Post a Comment