L1/Group News December 2013

General Note:

The Loaned Fleet (with same numbers): 
ex-Metroline VP317-347, 466-472, 474, 476, 477, 479. Code VPN  These will be returned before the 409 passes to Croydon Buses in 2014. These are also covering the E40H/E400H being converted to E45Hs.

There have been 42 second hand buses from Croydon Buses to supplement the two TENs currently on training or existing buses in service:
7 Enviro 200: LT56NBA-NBG (DEN5-11) (trainers)
3 E40Ds: SN63ABD-ABF (TEN113-115) (for Beeline 190 - refurbished)
3 Optare Versas: YN63 BMX-BMZ (OVN1-3) (trainers)
10 Mercedes Citaro: KX54TBX, KX05TBA-TBE, BX09ABA-ABC, BL59ABD (MCN910-920) (for Beeline and 7series spares)
1 Enviro 300: YN04CMJ (ETN4) (trainer)
1 DB250H: KX57EMN (Engineering Testbed)
17 E40H: LT58SXA, SN10SXB-H,J-T, SN60SXY (TE1400-1417) (London use to replace VPNs - then as trainers).

Also, there have been an order of 40 new diesel E40D and E20D (25/15) just as trainers or Beeline:
25 E40D (TEN114-139) (LU63HEA-H,J-P,R-Z, JN63CNT): TEN114-119,121,139 for Beeline, TEN122-134 for 7series (74/75 peaks, X74). As a first, all of these buses will have LED displays.
15 E20D (DEN12-26) (CU63SNT-V, HN63HEA-H, RM63FRD-G): All trainers

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 WE on 11th December, before moving to F from the 1st January, and continuing via UP (for 4 weeks), HO, SD and U before returning to HN for use on Route X91.

Henlev Group are selling some operations - we have been the successful bidder for Hemel Hempstead (we have also bought Arriva operations at Hemel Hempstead), and practically everything else except what has been sold to Croydon Buses. This includes three TfL route contracts and two London area garages. Walton will be an outstation for Fulwell, whilst Chessington/Barwell will be a separate garage run (currently) jointly by Wellglade Group and L1/Group. The rest is in a joint holding company for re-sell or retention. 

L1/Heathrow Buses

Heathrow North (HN)

Due to the crash (see previous L1/Group post), Heathrow North is half-shut, and the ADL side will be severely over capacity due to part closure of it. Heathrow North is under rebuilding at the moment due to the severe crash. ADL building has been split between Hayling Island and Falkirk temporarily. All L1/Group buses have priority at Heathrow North, though. Rebuilding will be complete by January 2014.

The Heathrow North expansion will start now, for finishing work by November 2014. This expansion will be used for overhauling/bodyshop of buses (L1/Group only), mainly. This is due to it moving out of HN temporarily due to the expansion of the ADL part of the garage to ensure it can handle the new influx of orders from Hong Kong amongst other areas!

Route 457, a new route for TfL, has been won by us and will use new hybrid Optare TempoSR 10.7m (OTM) from 31st May 2014

The New L1/Card Smartcard has been rolled out across our non-TfL buses, as well as our train companies, starting on the 2nd November 2013 (HN Open Day). It is available for sale at all L1/Group Trains/Buses ticket offices, travel shops, various newsagents and our garages. This allows for quicker, cheaper, easier ticketing across our network of buses and trains.

Routes 108 (Bracknell-Jennetts Park) 151/151A (Bracknell-Wokingham), 153 (Warfield-Binfield) will be taken over from Thames Travel on 7th December using E25H (new and existing) for Beeline services. They will be Beeline services.
L1/Cards will be valid on the whole route every day.

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.

Route 175 between Heathrow North Bus Garage and Aldershot. This has had an increase to every 15 minutes due to very popular demand! Stagecoach tickets for Stagecoach Gold 1 is accepted between Camberley and Aldershot (that route has been decreased to every 15 minutes) - thus in that corridor, there is an every 7-8min service.

Due to the new Oxford LEZ, routes 74 and X74 will only be operated by hybrid Volvo 7900s (V), Enviro 450H (TE), or the newest Enviro 400 E40D (TEN122-134). E25H may appear, but is unlikely. Older TENs, E400H and Citaros will no longer appear on these routes.

From 20th January 2014, new 7series X75 will run between Heathrow Terminal 6 and Reading. The route is limited stop, calling at Heathrow North Garage, Maidenhead Station, Frascati Way then all stops via Twyford and Bath Road to Reading, St Mary's Butts. This service will run every 30 minutes. As a consequence, 7series 75 will be reduced to every 12 minutes. As per normal, L1/Card is accepted.

Hydrogen and CNG buses at Southall have infrastructure at Heathrow North.
Seven Scania KUB270/Enviro 300SG (12m) will be shared between 7series X74 and new 7series X75:
SEG4-10 (LR63 CNK-P, R)

Two buses have returned to the fleet. TAN1 and TAN2 (formerly TA1/SN03HNB, TA2/SN03HNC), the first two Tridents for Heathrow Buses are now back as showbuses running mainly back on the 140. 

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. 

Route 204 will move from HN to SA from 23rd November 2013.

Due to bus shortages, the conversion of Route 456 to full allocated double decker with increased frequency is only starting now, 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 for the 456 (TE1300-1325) are all in service.

Hydrogen, Electric, and Compressed Natural Gas single deck buses (ironically) will be trialled on the 456 for TfL and L1/Group:

Two hydrogen VDL SB200/Wright Pular 2s:
WS9-10 (HY63 GEN, HY63 GEM)

Two BYD Electric Buses:
BE1-2 (LT63 BYD, LS63 BYD)

Two Optare TempoSR Electric (10.7m):
OSE3-4 (OP63 ARE, LT63 TSR)

Three CNG Scania KUB270/Enviro 300SG (12m):
SEG1-3 (LR63 CNG, LR63 CNH, LR63 CNJ)

Two CNG MAN Ecocity/Caetano:
MCG4-5 (YN63 YTS, YN63 YTT) 

These buses will run extra services on the route every day. The infrastructure for the electric buses to run are based in Southall Garage. Hydrogen and CNG tanks will be based at Heathrow North Garage.
12m buses are prohibited from running between Southall and Greenford due to tight turns, hence the 12m buses will only run between Southall TH and Chiswick.

Route 335 will now have a half/half allocation at each HN and WE, as opposed to just the double decker workings. All the MCNs (non-hybrids) will move to HN, leaving and the hybrid MCs will move to WE. Thus 335 will have no buses from WE from 2014.

The Southall Garage Open Day (for itself), involving the alternative technology buses launch, will be on the 19th January 2014.

Brentford (DI)

Route 695 shared duty will now share with Route 278 on Monday-Friday at DI. This change happens on the week beginning 20th January 2014.

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.

Route 239 has been lost on tender and will leave on the 31st May 2014
Part of Route 480 has been retained, a sole double deck working between East Acton and Richmond (return).

The Volvo B5TL demonstrator is at DI on Route 311 (usually), coded VTN1090, moved on 20th November. It will move to WE Garage for use on the 335 from 20th January.

Wembley (WE)
Some NBfLs from the trial at SA are at WE for driver training for Route 16.

Route 113/N113 will be run from Wembley Garage using new E45Hs, joining on the 26th April 2014.
Route 224 has been lost on tender and will leave on the 31st May 2014

Route 335 will partly run from Wembley using MCs ex-Southall Garage from 2014.

Fulwell (F) and Walton (WT)
The garage has been recoded 'F' to avoid any previous operator links.

Route 411 will be gaining new Optare TempoSR diesels temporarily before the permanent Optare TempoSR Hybrids arrive, when the route is gained. These diesels will then transfer to non-London (Hemel Hempstead) operations.

Walton Garage has been acquired as an outstation for Fulwell, which will operate one bus on Route 411 when gained.

Bracknell (BL)
Bracknell will re-open in 2014, moving most Bracknell-based Beeline routes to the bus garage.

Hemel Hempstead (HE)
Bought from Arriva and Henlev Groups - this operation will be influenced by trentbarton, rebranded and routes restructure by January 2014. New buses - Optare TempoSR diesel and hybrid will be used. Route 320 (now berry) will use new E45Hs.

L1/Romford Buses

Upminster (UP)
East London Transit will be surrendered early by Blue Triangle on the 4th January, as all the buses have been delivered for some time now...

UP will have some work taking place through until next year, so some buses will be stored (if for storage) in HN whilst the work takes place.

Routes 66 and 499 have had their contracts novated to L1/Romford Buses. Existing E45H/E40H (for 66) and existing E25H (for 499) have been transferred from the conversion to NBfL for the 15 and double deck conversion of the 456.

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)

Route 8 will be converted to NBfL buses in 2014. SD will host these buses next year.

Upton Park (U)

No new news.

chessingtonbuses, part of L1/Group and Wellglade Group

Chessington (CH)

This garage has been bought from Henlev Group. Route 166 is planned to run from here. Route 418 will be transferred to Fulwell under L1/Heathrow Buses.
Wellglade are also evaluating local services around Chessington and the surrounding area to the south.

Croydon Buses goes international!

Croydon Buses has gone international with the purchase of Henlev's Malta and Gozo operations, for a undisclosed amount. The new operation will be branded Malta & Gozo Buses, and the current fleet will be refurbished or sold. The merged name will now be Bale Group Ltd and from the 16th of April 2014 Bale Group plc, as we are floating on the Stock Market with shares avalible for just £1. We have plans to replace many of the buses in Malta, such as the King Long's with new 9.5m WF Streetlites to  replace them. The bendy buses will be replaced with a mix of new Scania Citywide arctics and Solaris Urbino 18's. We shall be taking over the operation on New Years Day 2014. We shall post more info soon. We have also purchased 1 Dennis Pointer Dart, registered HW54BUV, and 4 Enviro 200's, registered LT63AGA-D. These are for our new shuttle route NHS1 between East and West Croydon stations and Croydon University Hospital. They will be repainted, but the interior will remain. We also are to trial on board wifi on these buses, plus the new buses for routes 64, 445, N64 and T31. The deal, worth £243.0000 will be supplied by Icomera of Sweden, and will be free to use. We also have purchased Hoeford depot in Hampshire from Henlev, and the operation will be branded Fareham Buses. The deal also included the routes E1 and E2 from Gosport to Fareham, and 17 B7RLE's with a Gemini body. The new buses will also receive Icomera WiFi. The trial will last 8 months and will be free to use. If successful, we have plans to roll it out across the entire Bale Group. It is unknown whether we will introduce a charge for this. 30% of Bale Group has been purchased by National Express. That's all from us, hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Henlev London news

Henlev London (HenlevConnex) will be leaving London on 1st Jan 2014. The selling of our two garages is yet to be finalised.

L1/Group Heathrow North Garage Bus/Coach Crash - 28/11/13

(Note - this is fictional, and this crash obviously never happened in real life, thankfully. This is part of the WLTM novel though).

On the 28th November 2013, an unfortunate accident between a Crawley Luxury coach (KC04CLC), L1/Group TE6 (LN08MOM, formerly LN08MIM), a truck and a car happened outside Heathrow North Bus Garage on the M4. The coach and bus crashed into Heathrow North Garage itself, as a result of the accident throwing them down the embankment.

The death toll currently stands at 29, most coming from the coach, containing Year 10 students on their way to Windsor Castle on a geography trip. Also, three staff members, two at ADL and the TE6 driver, died. Two occupants from the car died, and 24 people from the coach died, including the driver, a teacher and 22 students.

The damage to Heathrow North Garage was that two ADL production bays for the E45H were ruined, and some other bays are damaged, limiting severely production of ADL products. Some structural damage to the building has been noted. ADL production is at a slower pace now, thus some staff and building is being temporarily moved to Falkirk whilst that plant's staff are on holiday. Repair work has already started on the damaged part of the garage. Three buses have been damaged (severely) - they are three new on production buses. They are what would be L1/Group TE1281, London OmniBus 653, and London United ADH171. A replacement "TE6" for London United is under construction already (diverted TE1283, a new bus will replace it).

TE6 as a fleetname will be reserved for the remembrance bus of the crash - a special bus built at Heathrow North Garage which will be named after all those who died at the crash. The name plate on the outside will say "in memory of the 29 who died at the Heathrow North accident, 28/11/13". This will be taken under care of the Heathrow North Garage team as a special bus. This will have a special number plate registration too.

L1/Group Christmas-New Year Operations 2013-2014

Transport for London services:
23rd December 2013 - Normal Monday Service

24th December 2013 - (for L1/Group) Normal Tuesday Service for day routes. 24 Hour routes finish at about midnight. 969 runs a normal service. No night services by TfL itself (see non-London).

25th December 2013 - No bus service (see non-TfL for services in London by L1/Group)

26th December 2013 - All non-Heathrow Airport services start at around 6am. 15 and 392 (OPO operation for Boxing Day) starts at 5:20am. Heathrow Airport services start at normal time (24-hour services at 4am.) N111 will run between 4am and normal finishing time. A Sunday service operates on all routes. Normal Thursday night service. Route 941 will run.

27th December 2013 - Saturday Service. Route 969 will run. Normal Friday night service.

28th December 2013 - Normal Saturday Service

29th December 2013 - Normal Sunday Service

30th December 2013 - Saturday Service.

31st December 2013 - Saturday day service. Route 969 will run.

31st December to 1st January overnight - The following L1/Group routes will run a night service, in addition to the day service: 5, 92, 97, 123, 174, 204, 248, 252, 290, 350, 369, 438 (Euston-Canning Town), 456, 490, 498, E1, E2, E7, U3, U4. All night routes will have an enhanced frequency. Central London services will have severe delays and be curtailed. Route 278 will be diverted via Park Lane, Marble Arch, Paddington and Euston between Hyde Park and Old Street.

1st January 2014 - Sunday Service (Wednesday night service)

2nd January 2014 - Normal Thursday Service

Non-TfL Services:
23rd December 2013 - Normal Monday Service

24th December 2013 - Saturday Service. 7series 75 night service will run.

25th December 2013 - 7series 75 will run an hourly service to Slough (2 hourly to Maidenhead). 7series 72, 174, Beeline 190 will run a 2 hourly service between 9am and 10pm. Route N111 will run commercially with an hourly service.
Route N9 will be run as N4 running from Heathrow North Garage, via T6-1,2,3-5-4, Hatton Cross then as N9 to Aldwych, hourly. Route N15 will run commercially with an hourly service. Route N95 will run between Southall North and Heathrow North Garage commercially with an hourly service. These routes will stop running (except 7series 75, N4 and N111) at 9:30pm.
Route N111 will be transferred back to TfL control at 4am. Route N4 will stop running at midnight.
The L1/Card is allowed on these routes, however, the fare will be £2.20 flat fare, no discounted fares. Staff and Freedom Pass holders are free on these services. Capping does not apply on Christmas Day service (except 7series 75 - the cap is £6). The fare for these buses will be £3 - no discounted fares.

26th December 2013 - Sunday Service. 7series 74/X74 will be run by L1/Group.

27th December 2013 - Friday Service except 7series 74, 75 where no peak extras will run.

28th December 2013 - Normal Saturday Service

29th December 2013 - Normal Sunday Service.

30th December 2013 - Normal Monday Service

31st December 2013 - Normal Tuesday Service

31st December-1st January - Night service additionally on Surrey 461, 7series 72, 7series 74, Beeline 190. This will be hourly. 7series 75 night service will run.

1st January 2014 - Sunday Service. 7series 74/X74 will be run by L1/Group

2nd January 2014 - Normal Thursday Service.

TfL Operator News November 2013 (except those with separate posts)

Operator Breakdown (a new section for each operator except ones involved in the blog):

Abellio London:
Route 407 has been retained with new hybrid double deckers, which will be E45Hs, built in Heathrow North ADL.
This will be also part of a batch for newly gained Walworth route 176/176N, compensating the loss of Route 100. This will use new E45Hs.

Arriva Group:
Arriva Kent Thameside have lost Route 286, buses from there will be dispersed and refurbished by L1/Group at HN.
Tellings Golden-Miller have won 475 (formerly 541) back from Trustybus and will run from Harlow using E25Hs.
Arriva have won the new route 442 (formerly 255 with Roadrunner Coaches) and from Enfield, will use E25Hs.

LT205-260 are delivered and ready for Route 38 in December.

CT Plus:
Route losses of the 153, 212 and 388 have made a large surplus of buses, including nearly the whole double decker fleet, which will be sold soon.

Ealing Community Transport:
For Routes 65/N65, a fleet of Volvo B5TL/Wright Gemini 3 will be ordered for the route, running from Greenford Depot.

Go-Ahead:
Northumberland Park have won the Route 232 from Metroline. New E25Hs are ordered for the route.

Metroline:
We have lost Routes 113, N113, 232, 332 to L1/Heathrow Buses and London General/Tower Transit (the latter two). The TE/DEs will be subsequently replace more VP/L,TPs and DLDs in the fleet.

Routes 4, 43/43N will be using new Volvo B5LH/Gemini 3 from next year.

Route 390 has been converted to NBfL operation on the 30th December using LT181-204.

RATP:
Route 71 is retained, but is moved to Tolworth (TV) in order to fit Route 22. Route N22 will run from AV. Route N65 will move to AV until it is lost. Route 120N will be run from HH using SPs as a result (permanently).
Routes 71, 281 and 281N (and 681) will have new E45Hs.

Route 49/49N being converted to NBfL means that some routes will move to PK, and Route 211 will move to Shepherd's Bush, and will be withdrawn between Stamford Brook and Hammersmith from March 2014.

London Sovereign Alperton Garage will operate the re-structured 239 won from L1/Heathrow Buses, using Optare TempoSR hybrids. Also, 10 new E45Hs are being delivered for the 182. The rest will be done by SPs ex-London United.

All London United SPs except those at HH will move to FW/TV eventually, or London Sovereign to replace SLEs and VPs.

Route 10 will be the next London United route to be converted to NBfL operation, allowing the last TAs to be withdrawn, and the first few SPs to be withdrawn too. This makes Stamford Brook Garage SP-free! The date will be mid-late 2014, confirmation on a firm date is underway. However, due to space constraints at Stamford Brook to turn around a bus, the route will be extended to Turnham Green, thus needing a PVR increase of 1.

Rumours that Henlev London will buy Tolworth Garage is false, and officials have said that "any discussions between London United and Henlev Group have reached a dead end, as we are unwilling to sell Tolworth Garage as it is deemed to be important for our expansion inside London"

Route 293 has been won back from Metrobus at Quality Line, Epsom. New Citaros have been ordered for the route.

Stagecoach:
The sale of Bow Garage, including E40Hs and Route 277/277N has been completed to the Transdev Group.

Sullivan Buses:
We have retained our revised 306, and we will use E20Ds on the route.

Transdev:
We have bought Bow Garage from Stagecoach Group and will run new contracts on the 100, 153, 286, as well as existing buses on the 277/277N. This new "O Licence" will be under "Transdev East London". The new hybrid buses will be the E25H

Tower Transit:
Routes 357 and 397, which will be run from Edmonton, is won. New Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 3 will be ordered for the 357 and the Sunday service and 397 will be operated by new Optare Versas.

Route 224 gained from L1/Heathrow Buses will use new E25Hs at Willesden Junction.
New E45Hs will be delivered to Willesden Junction and Westbourne Park for Route 332, all built at ADL Heathrow North.


L1/Group Buses, London OmniBus, Henlev Group and Croydon Buses have separate pages where they provide more detailed news.

The TfL order for NBfLs have increased from 600+ to 700.

L1/Group News November 2013

General Note:

The Loaned Fleet (with same numbers): 
ex-Metroline VP317-347, 466-472, 474, 476, 477, 479. Code VPN  These will be returned before the 409 passes to Croydon Buses in 2014. These are also covering the E40H/E400H being converted to E45Hs.

There have been 42 second hand buses from Croydon Buses to supplement the two TENs currently on training or existing buses in service:
7 Enviro 200: LT56NBA-NBG (DEN5-11) (trainers)
3 E40Ds: SN63ABD-ABF (TEN113-115) (for Beeline 190 - refurbished)
3 Optare Versas: YN63 BMX-BMZ (OVN1-3) (trainers)
10 Mercedes Citaro: KX54TBX, KX05TBA-TBE, BX09ABA-ABC, BL59ABD (MCN910-920) (for Beeline and 7series spares)
1 Enviro 300: YN04CMJ (ETN4) (trainer)
1 DB250H: KX57EMN (Engineering Testbed)
17 E40H: LT58SXA, SN10SXB-H,J-T, SN60SXY (TE1400-1417) (London use to replace VPNs - then as trainers).

Also, there have been an order of 40 new diesel E40D and E20D (25/15) just as trainers or Beeline:
25 E40D (TEN114-139) (LU63HEA-H,J-P,R-Z, JN63CNT): TEN114-119,121-122,139 for Beeline rest as trainers
15 E20D (DEN12-26) (CU63SNT-V, HN63HEA-H, RM63FRD-G): All trainers

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.

Recently, there have been rumours that the company has been subject to a takeover bid (the whole L1/Group) by a consortium of First Group, Keolis and MTR. This bid has been rejected on the grounds that the bid was worth very little compared to our valuation of the company. However, the rumours that the Wellglade Group have purchased a 11.1% stake in L1/Group are true, and we also have a 11.1% stake in Wellglade Group, thus influences will pass between the groups.

L1/Heathrow Buses

Heathrow North (HN)

The Heathrow North expansion will start in December, for finishing work by November 2014. This expansion will be used for overhauling/bodyshop of buses (L1/Group only), mainly. This is due to it moving out of HN temporarily due to the expansion of the ADL part of the garage to ensure it can handle the new influx of orders from Hong Kong amongst other areas!

The "Slough Locals" DEs now have the Beeline livery:
DE391-399, DE494-504.

Route 457, a new route for TfL, has been won by us and will use new hybrid Optare TempoSR 10.7m (OTS) from 31st May 2014

The Volvo B5TL demonstrator at HN on Route 105 (usually), coded VTN1090, has moved on to the 456 at SA

The TENs ex-23 (except TEN111) are now in Green Line livery and are running Green Line services from Heathrow North Garage

The New L1/Card Smartcard has been rolled out across our non-TfL buses, as well as our train companies, starting on the 2nd November 2013 (HN Open Day). It is available for sale at all L1/Group Trains/Buses ticket offices, travel shops, various newsagents and our garages. This allows for quicker, cheaper, easier ticketing across our network of buses and trains.

Route 9 (Addlestone-Englefield Green) operated by Jeakins Coaches currently will be transferring to L1/Heathrow Buses from 4th November 2013 using 3 E25Hs from Beeline services. The route will now be advertised as a "Beeline" route, and will run hourly Mon-Sat, every 2hrs every Sunday. Also, it would be extended to Slough from Englefield Green Cherrywood Avenue.
L1/Cards will be valid on the whole route every day.

Route 53 (Binfield-Wexham Park Hospital) operated by Thames Travel currently will be transferring to L1/Heathrow Buses from 23rd November using E25H (new and existing) for Beeline services. The route will now be advertised as a "Beeline" route, and will run every 30mins Mon-Sat, hourly every Sunday. The route will start earlier and some journeys will go as a 6 to Wexham Park Hospital to/from Slough (runs as a 75 from HN Garage) before starting as a 53.
L1/Cards will be valid on the whole route every day.

Routes 108 (Bracknell-Jennetts Park) 151/151A (Bracknell-Wokingham), 153 (Warfield-Binfield) will be taken over from Thames Travel on 7th December using E25H (new and existing) for Beeline services. They will be Beeline services.
L1/Cards will be valid on the whole route every day.

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.
L1/Cards will be valid on the whole route every day.

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.

7series 74 and X74 will have revised operations and timetable on the weekends (from 23rd November 2013):
X74 will be extended to Oxford Station from Oxford Carfax from 2nd November 2013
All Sunday L1/Group involvement will be withdrawn. The Mon-Sat service will increase to every 30 minutes from hourly.
All non-Sunday non-L1/Group involvement will be withdrawn.
Sunday - Route 74 will run 2 buses per hour, with a gap of 20 then 40 minutes. Route X74 will run between 74 buses hourly, thus departures from HN will be at 00 (74), 20 (X74) and 40 (74) from each direction. They will still be joint between London OmniBus and Carousel Buses.
L1/Card will be accepted on Monday-Saturday only, a cash discount on Sundays.

New 7series Route X78, announced on HN Open Day, to compete partly with Arriva on the Bourne End-High Wycombe corridor (Route 37) will start from 9th November with new Optare TempoSRs with new 7series fittings, will run from High Wycombe to Heathrow Terminal 4 via Heathrow Terminal 6, route 78, omitting Cippenham and then Arriva 37 to High Wycombe. 
The route will be limited stop between Heathrow and Bourne End, only stopping at Hatton Cross, Heathrow T6, Heathrow North Garage, Slough Bus Station, Slough Town Hall, Slough Three Tuns, Everitts Corner, Bishops Centre, Cookham High Street and Bourne End Station between Heathrow T4 and Bourne End. It then runs all stops to High Wycombe via Wooburn, Wooburn Green, M40 Junction 3/Loudwater, Wycombe Marsh and 74 to High Wycombe. Free Transfer tickets are available to Route 75 to Maidenhead from High Wycombe (75 is every 10 minutes during the day, so there are guaranteed connections at Bishops Centre).
L1/Cards will be valid on the whole route every day.
X78 will run every 30 minutes Monday-Saturday, hourly on Sunday. X74/X78 will run with a gap of 15 minutes between Slough and Heathrow North Garage during Mon-Sat.

2 more new 7series routes will start from the 16th November: 
Route 174 between Heathrow Terminal 6 and Luton (please note in the timetables, the service is split at Hemel Hempstead like the 702, where guaranteed same bus connections are available, even though all buses have tachographs and have through journeys.). This will run every 30 minutes, and tickets will be accepted with Greenline 724 between Garston and Heathrow.
Route 175 between Heathrow North Bus Garage and Aldershot. This will run every 30 minutes.
They will use new TempoSRs which have arrived at Heathrow North Garage already.

Two buses have returned to the fleet. TAN1 and TAN2 (formerly TA1/SN03HNB, TA2/SN03HNC), the first two Tridents for Heathrow Buses are now back as showbuses running mainly back on the 140. 

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 base LTs for the 392, where 45 LTs are planned to be used. Half the allocation will be shared with 311 at DI, half at the 392 solely. 

Route 204 will move from HN to SA from 23rd November 2013.

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 happened on the week beginning 21st October 2013. It will then share Monday-Friday with 204 from January 2014.
LTs 112-138 for 392 will be based at SA.

Due to bus shortages, the conversion of Route 456 to full allocated double decker with increased frequency is only starting now, 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 TE1315 being delivered at this time.

The Volvo B5TL demonstrator is at SA on Route 456 (usually), coded VTN1090, moved on 4th November. It will move to DI Garage for use on the 311 from 20th November.

Route N7 has transferred to SA, no buses have moved.

Route 335 will now have a half/half allocation at each HN and WE, as opposed to just the double decker workings. All the MCNs (non-hybrids) will move to HN, leaving and the hybrid MCs will move to WE. Thus 335 will have no buses from WE from 2014.

All the new E45Hs for the 83 contract have now entered service on the 83 and 456.

Brentford (DI)

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.

Route 239 has been lost on tender and will leave on the 31st May 2014
Part of Route 480 has been retained, a sole double deck working between East Acton and Richmond (return).

Wembley (WE)
Some NBfLs from the trial at SA 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.

Route 113/N113 will be run from Wembley Garage using new E45Hs, joining on the 26th April 2014.
Route 224 has been lost on tender and will leave on the 31st May 2014

Route 335 will partly run from Wembley using MCs ex-Southall Garage from 2014.

Fulwell (LF)
Routes 85 and 213 are now settling nicely at Fulwell Garage with their new E45Hs.

Bracknell (BL)
Bracknell, under a change of plan, is being refurbished and will re-open with the Bracknell Beeline operations based in Bracknell (except 191 and Green Line, which will stay at Heathrow North).

L1/Romford Buses

Upminster (UP)
The first few Volvo B5LH/Plaxton President for the East London Transit are being delivered to UP.

The first production E45H, TE1257 is in service in UP, running mainly on the 5 and 248.

UP will have some work taking place through until next year, so some buses will be stored (if for storage) in HN whilst the work takes place.

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 used on the 15 now. LT111 is a showbus.