Wednesday 25 December 2013
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!
Monday 23 December 2013
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.
Monday 16 December 2013
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.
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.
Saturday 14 December 2013
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.
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.
Monday 2 December 2013
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.
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.
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