Sunday 28 September 2014

WLTM Tenders September 2014 (from TfL)

Tranche 264:
133/N133: Awarded to London General (formerly Arriva London South) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 6th June 2015
333: Awarded to Arriva London South (formerly London General) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 6th June 2015

Tranche 266:
381/381N: Awarded to London Central (formerly Abellio London) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 14th March 2015

Tranche 268:
28/N28: Awarded to Diamond London (formerly London United) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 6th June 2015
31/N31: Retained by London United with existing hybrid buses, contract start 18th April 2015
297/297N: Retained by London United with existing buses, contract start 18th April 2015
328: Retained by London United with existing hybrid buses, contract start 18th April 2015

Tranche 270A:
447: Awarded to L1/Heathrow Buses (temporary contract) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 1st November 2014.

Other News:

New Route 447 will be introduced by 1st November by L1/Heathrow Buses, running between Streatham Station and Canada Water via Tulse Hill, Forest Hill, Brockley Rise, Lewisham and Deptford. The proper contract will be awarded in November 2014, the current temporary contract will run until August 2015 at least.

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-)
London OmniBus are also receiving 1 NBfL for their 718 Greenline service, numbered LC590 and registered LTZ1590 
It has been decided that the OmniBus vehicle will be numbered LC1001 and registered 1CLT (bought from auction), thus the numbering of TfL LT vehicles now includes LT590.

October Tenders:
Tranche 270:
137: Oxford Circus-Streatham Hill Garage (Arriva London South)
N137: Oxford Circus-Crystal Palace (Arriva London South)

Tranche 272:
269: Bexleyheath-Bromley North (Stagecoach London)

Tranche 274:
162: Beckenham Junction-Eltham Station (Metrobus)
181: Grove Park-Lewisham Station (Metrobus)
284: Grove Park Cemetery-Lewisham Station (Metrobus)

Tranche 275:
331: Ruislip-Uxbridge (L1/Heathrow Buses)

Tranche 276:
147: Ilford, Hainault Street-Canning Town (L1/Romford Buses)

Wednesday 10 September 2014

L1/Group News July-September 2014

General Notes:

The L1/Card, is re-branded as it is accepted not just by the L1/Group. L'Card, as it will now be known (from July 2014 - some L1/Cards will still be sold thereafter under limited stock), will is be accepted by Reading Buses across the whole of Reading and Newbury (jetblack 1), Thames Travel (within Berkshire and around Bracknell only, mainly on ex-Courtney Buses routes), chessingtonbuses and trentbarton. The MANGO card is also accepted on L1/Beeline, 7series, 5series and Surrey Locals.

The last TE, TE1999 (chassis) is being constructed at this moment, the first TP, TP2000 demonstrator, will be used by all garages before being allocated to Route X91 at HN. Both buses will be showbuses. Note that TE1900-1999 are all E45H to the new MMC style, TE1900 is in service from June 2014 for Route U4 (HN). The last non-MMC bus, TE1899 is currently also being built, and will go to F for Route N74. This will notably enter service in December 2014, as the bus is the last one to be with the old body, thus entering service very late.

Another new showbus will be a new TE6, to replace the TE6 that was sadly lost in the M4 accident in November 2013. This will get a special interior, original Heathrow Buses logos and numberplate HN52ADL, 52 denoting as the number killed.

9 showbuses (and one modified) for 'Bus of the Year' are TE1110-TE1119: all have had new liveries, and interiors (vinyl floor design and new moquette, and where needed, painted bars) to match:
TE1110 - Shillbeer livery (interior like DM2646)
TE1111 - London Transport RM1 livery + interior (ENVIRO 450H TE1111) - existing showbus
TE1112 - Low Floor Livery 1990s (interior like LU LLWs)
TE1113 - London Transport 1980s (M1) livery + interior
TE1114 - 
Heathrow Buses livery 2003 (as in TAN1) + interior
TE1115 - London Transport RT1 livery + interior
TE1116 - Green Line 1960s (RMC) livery + interior
TE1117 - London Country 1930s (ST821) livery + interior
TE1118 - Beeline livery 1990s
TE1119 - Romford Buses livery 2004 + interior

All buses will have their retrospective liveries until further notice, then they will unfortunately either be repainted in red (except TE1111, which will be repainted in 1980s livery like RM111) or move outside London. All buses will keep their existing interiors afterwards.

More early TEs are leaving the fleet after TE2-70 have left for Abellio & London United. TE71, 72, 74-110 are destined to leave the fleet by July 2014. TE1, TE73 will not be sold.
TE/L112, 113, 116, 118, 119, 121-139, 141-499, 501-510 are next to go - they are going to London Sovereign (240), Arriva London North (348), London United (6/6N).
More early TEs will go to various provincial operators, including Stagecoach Manchester, First Manchester, Wellglade/Southern Vectis, Yellow Buses/RATP and Lothian.

The modified E40H/E45Hs (as opposed to the new-build E45Hs), approx up to TE1000, are now re-classed as E42H (Enviro 425). Therefore, the unmodified E400H (TE1) stays as it is, the modified E40H to E45H standard are classed as E42H, and those built as E45Hs stay as E45H.

The new Enviro 275H (E27H)/Wright Nebula will start replacing some early E25Hs, due to their better anticipated performance as a battery hybrid. The first bus will trial the 456 in November 2014, gaining the first of a few prototypes, including some which will end up with Wellglade London for their new contracts in 2015.


L1/Heathrow Buses


Heathrow North (HN)

Route 458 (Heathrow North Garage-Uxbridge via Langley) , a new route for TfL, has been won by us and will use new hybrid 8.8m E27H/Wright Nebula (EWS) from 2015

7series, Beeline and Surrey Local routes have had frequency changes. New Route 73A is an extension of Route 73 on certain Brooklands Museum events days.

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)

When gained from 1st November, Routes H13 and H14 will run from HN using E27H/Wright Nebulas (classed EW - recoded), but due to later than anticipated initial delivery, hence the new buses will arrive in December 2014.

Route 461 has been extended to Staines from Addlestone in April 2014, existing buses ex-TfL will be transferred, after refurbishment.

A new 7series route will launch on 1st November 2014: 7series 176 Heathrow North-Leatherhead via Terminal 5, Staines, Laleham, Weybridge, Stoke D'Abernon. Initially, it will use existing TempoSR Hybrids displaced from the temporary double decking of 7series X74 before permanently using 12m E27H/Wright Nebula, the first 7series route to get this new bus.

The conversion of Routes 90 and 235 to permanent double deck operation has begun, using existing buses displaced from Route U4 and new E45H/Enviro 400MMC.


Southall (SA)

Route 456 is not fully double decker due to reasons below:


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 at Southall North, hence the 12m buses will only run between Southall Town Hall and Chiswick.

Route 456 will be the first route to gain some E27H/Wright Nebula, including the prototype by 2015.

The Volvo B5TL demonstrator for Route 456, coded VTN1090 is now permanently on Route 456 at SA.

Route 456 will also gain TfL-sanctioned demonstrators, including the E45H/Enviro 400MMC demonstrator (TE1901), Streetdeck/Gemini 3 (DT1898), Optare Metrodecker (OD1897)

School journeys from Twyford School on Route 207 will be operated by London United instead of us from September. Other peak hour extras will still be run by Southall.

Brentford (DI)

Due to a PVR increase due to increased demand for the route, Route 392 will now have a PVR of 45, supplemented initially by existing TEs, before new NBfL addon orders from the 311 and 74 orders.

LTs 115, 116, 117, 125, 127, 369, 371 are in a Adidas all over advert - on Route 311/392
LTs 118, 119 are in a Visit the Philippines all over advert - on Route 311/392

Wembley (WE)

Route 335 Mercedes Citaros are to be replaced in the near future by E45H/Plaxton President, hence making the whole route hybrid.

Fulwell (F) and Walton (WT)

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 temporarily store some buses for Routes 411 and 418 when gained.

Also, from 1st November Routes 74 and N74 will be run from Fulwell, where new NBfLs will be introduced (on 74, N74 will get new TEs E45H/MMC).

Bracknell (BL)
Bracknell is open again after a long refurbishment, and there is also a new route 190A, which runs via Routes 171/172 between Bracknell and Great Hollands via Birch Hill, then via Jennett's Park to the A329(M) junction, and via 190 to Reading.

Hemel Hempstead (HE)
Routes are settling to normal with E25H, Optare TempoSRs and newer E45H replacing the old assortment. L'Card is used on all routes.

L1/Romford Buses

Upminster (UP)

Routes 66 and 499 have had their contracts novated to L1/Romford Buses. Existing E45H/E42H (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. Grays Garage is not part of the sale and hence is kept by Arriva.

Hackney (HO)

No new news.

Stratford (SD)

Route 8 will be converted to NBfL buses on 1st November 2014. SD will host these buses.

Route 15 will lose 2 LTs - LT99 has transferred to London United for the 9, and LT164 has moved to DI for the 392. These will be compensated when 8 will get LTs

Upton Park (U)

No new news.

Croydon Buses Update

It has been a exciting past few months at Croydon Buses, with exciting plans for commercial expansion, as well as this, we have won TfL contracts for school routes 663 (starting January 2015) and 689, and existing buses have been bought for these routes. We also are to expand to commercial operation outside of London, with new routes beginning in the next 3 months.
Route 446 Croydon to Oxted via Warlingham. This will use 4 new 10.8 metre Enviro 200s.
Route 447 Croydon to Westerham via Warlingham. This will use 4 new 12.5 metre Enviro 300s and 1 existing 12.5 metre Enviro 300.
Route 448 Croydon to Wallington via Beddington. This will use 1 existing 8.9 metre Enviro 200.
As a result of this expansion, several new and existing vehicles have been acquired, details below.
10 new Enviro 200s for Route T31 to replace the Citaro Ks. These buses will have Euro 6 engines and high backed Lazzerini seating. These buses have already arrived.
ENX1 SN64AEA
ENX2 SN64AEB
ENX3 SN64AEC
ENX4 SN64AED
ENX5 SN64AEE
ENX6 SN64AEF
ENX7 SN64AEG
ENX8 SN64AEH
ENX9 SN64AEJ
ENX10 SN64AEK
1 new Enviro 200 for Route NHS1 frequency increase. This bus will have a Euro 6 engine, high backed Lazzerini seating and free wifi. This bus has already arrived.
EN4 SN64AEL
4 new Enviro 200s for new Route 446. These buses will have a Euro 6 engine, high backed Lazzerini seating and free wifi. These buses will arrive in October.
ENX11 SN64AEM
ENX12 SN64AEN
ENX13 SN64AEO
ENX14 SN64AEP
4 new Enviro 300s for new Route 447. These buses will have a Euro 6 engine, high backed Lazzerini seating and free wifi. These buses will arrive in November/December.
EXL2 SN64AER
EXL3 SN64AES
EXL4 SN64AET
EXL5 SN64AEU
1 existing Enviro 300 for new Route 447. This bus will have a Euro 4 engine, high backed Lazzerini seating and free wifi. This bus has already arrived.
EXL1 SN56AXX
1 existing Enviro 200 for new route 448. This bus will have a Euro 5 engine, high backed Lazzerini seating and free wifi. This bus has already arrived.
EN5 YX59JPB
5 existing Enviro 425Hs for routes 663 and 689. These buses will have a Euro 5 engine and high backed Lazzerini seating. These buses have already arrived.
TH1 LN59DST
TH2 LN59DSU
TH3 LN59DSV
TH4 LN59DSW
TH5 LN59DSX
10 existing Citaros for TfL and Commercial spares. These buses have a Euro 4 and 5 engine and high backed seating. These buses have already arrived.
MCL1 KX54TBX
MCL2 KX05TBA
MCL3 KX05TBB
MCL4 KX05TBC
MCL5 KX05TBD
MCL6 KX05TBE
MCL7 BX09ABA
MCL8 BX09ABB
MCL9 BX09ABC
MCL10 BL59ABD
1 new Enviro 250H for Route 445 frequency increase. This bus will have a Euro 6 engine, high backed Lazzerini seating and free wifi. This bus will arrive in November.
HDE8 LP64LPH
11 new Enviro 450Hs for Route 412 tender win. These buses will have a Euro 6 engine and high backed Lazzerini seating. These buses will arrive in November.
TH6 LP64LPJ
TH7 LP64LPK
TH8 LP64LPL
TH9 LP64LPM
TH10 LP64LPN
TH11 LP64LPO
TH12 LP64LPP
TH13 LP64LPR
TH14 LP64LPS
TH15 LP64LPT
TH16 LP64LPU
3 existing Versas for TfL and Commercial spares. These buses have already arrived.
That's all from us, we'll update you when we have exciting news.

Monday 8 September 2014

WLTM Tenders August 2014 (from TfL)

Tranche 251:
320: Awarded to Diamond London (formerly Metrobus) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 4th April 2015
358/358N: Awarded to Stagecoach London (formerly Metrobus) with new hybrid buses, contract start 4th April 2015

Tranche 254:
47/N47: Awarded to Transdev London (formerly Stagecoach London) with existing hybrid buses, contract 21st March 2015
669: Awarded to New Citybus (formerly London Central/General) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 5th January 2015
689: Awarded to Croydon Buses (formerly Arriva London) with existing buses, contract start 3rd January 2015

Tranche 255A:
458: Awarded to L1/Heathrow Buses with new hybrid buses, contract start 10th January 2015

Tranche 256:
102/102N: Awarded to londonforest (formerly Arriva London) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 21st March 2015
W15: Awarded to Tower Transit (formerly L1/Romford Buses) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 21st March 2015

Tranche 257:
178: Awarded to New Citybus (formerly Stagecoach London) with existing hybrid buses, contract start 4th April 2015

Tranche 258:
608, 656, 667, 674, 679, 686: All awarded to L1/Romford Buses (formerly Blue Triangle) with existing hybrid buses, contract starts 3rd September 2014.

Tranche 259A:
663: Temporary contract awarded to L1/Heathrow Buses, permanent contract awarded to Croydon Buses. Temporary contract is with an existing hybrid double decker crosslinked with N4 am, X26 pm, starting 3rd September 2014. Permanent contract is with existing hybrid double decker start January 2015.

Other News:

Willesden Garage (AC) and Croydon Garage site (C) have been bought by Rotala Group, with the combined services of 202, 302 and 434 to make Diamond London.

For the new contract, Route 358 will be turned into a 24 hour service.

Route 381 is to be extended to Whitehall, hence N381 is withdrawn, replaced by 381N

Picketts Lock Garage has been bought by Wellglade Group, buses from there will be branded as londonforest.
Dartford Garage has been bought by Wellglade Group, buses branded as kentishbus - the O Licence will transfer on the 20th September, and existing hybrids are to be planned to replace the Arriva vehicles, hence the Arriva vehicles will return to Arriva after existing hybrids are passed.

All existing buses in these contracts are ex-L1/Group E42/20Hs.

2 new hybrid E50H (12m) will be trialled on Route 25 between Oxford Circus and Ilford, 2 more on Route 207 after all have temporary service on Route 456 between Turnham Green and Hanwell Terminus.

RATP have bought the Arriva Sightseeing operation of London - bringing WD (Wandsworth) and RH (Rainham) garages into their control. Routes 295/295N and 391 will move to Wandsworth Garage in December 2014.

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)
London OmniBus are also receiving 1 NBfL for their 718 Greenline service, numbered LC590 and registered LTZ1590 It has been decided that the OmniBus vehicle will be numbered LC1001 and registered 1CLT (bought from auction), thus the numbering of TfL LT vehicles now includes LT590.

September Tenders:
Tranche 259:
160: Catford Bridge-Sidcup Station (Arriva Kent Thameside)
This route has been released early, and will be awarded to Wellglade London t/a kentishbus with existing hybrid buses, contract start 20th September 2014.

Tranche 264:
133: Liverpool Street-Streatham (Arriva London South)
333: Elephant & Castle-Tooting (London General)
N133: Liverpool Street-Mitcham (Arriva London South)

Tranche 266:
381/381N: Whitehall, Horse Guards-Peckham (Abellio London)

Tranche 268:
28: Kensal Rise-Wandworth (London United)
31: Camden Town-White City (London United)
297/297N: Ealing Broadway-Willesden Garage (London United)
328: Chelsea World's End-Golders Green (London United)
N28: Wandsworth-Camden Town (London United)
N31: Clapham Junction-Camden Town (London United)