London Buses Discussion

[Thirteen]

Saw an electric 39 bus today, I'm assuming it's the same model used by the 163, 164 and 265 but good to see they're being rolled out on that route.

 

[Snow1964]

On Saturday route 28 transfers from RATP with electric buses, to a 3 year diesel bus contract with Metroline.

Metroline are expected to use 12-14 year old buses spare from other routes.

Not sure why it is converting back to diesel and getting buses nearly 10 years older (perhaps opposite of superloop, sort of un-super)

 

[Goldfish62]

Not sure why it is converting back to diesel and getting buses nearly 10 years older (perhaps opposite of superloop, sort of un-super)

I know exactly why but can't really say on here. Suffice to say it's contract price. It's hopefully just a one-off.

 

[Mikey C]

On Saturday route 28 transfers from RATP with electric buses, to a 3 year diesel bus contract with Metroline.

Metroline are expected to use 12-14 year old buses spare from other routes.

Not sure why it is converting back to diesel and getting buses nearly 10 years older (perhaps opposite of superloop, sort of un-super)

As an aside it's frankly bizarre that Metroline now operate all the 28/31/328 routes, considering their history at Westbourne Park which the routes also pass by.

 

[Goldfish62]

As an aside it's frankly bizarre that Metroline now operate all the 28/31/328 routes, considering their history at Westbourne Park which the routes also pass by.

Westbourne Park now no longer operates any routes that pass by the garage.

 

[Busoccultation]

Westbourne Park now no longer operates any routes that pass by the garage.

23 still does by terminating inside the garage and serving the stops on Elkstone Road that's still round the corner from the garage.

 

[Goldfish62]

23 still does by terminating inside the garage and serving the stops on Elkstone Road that's still round the corner from the garage.

That's true if you count routes in service in the vicinity rather than actually right outside the garage.

 

[Busaholic]

Westbourne Park now no longer operates any routes that pass by the garage.

And to think that Peter Hendy made his name there leading Centrewest before he went on to ever greater things.

 

[Goldfish62]

And to think that Peter Hendy made his name there leading Centrewest before he went on to ever greater things.

You can largely thank Tower Transit for its decline. The second time an Australian company has made a complete hash of things in London. I fear for the future of GoAhead now its bus side is under Australian control.

 

[Edsmith]

On Saturday route 28 transfers from RATP with electric buses, to a 3 year diesel bus contract with Metroline.

Metroline are expected to use 12-14 year old buses spare from other routes.

Not sure why it is converting back to diesel and getting buses nearly 10 years older (perhaps opposite of superloop, sort of un-super)

The 28 was never intended for electrics but got the buses spare from the C3 when it was retendered early and frequency reductions on the 23.

 

[Busaholic]

You can largely thank Tower Transit for its decline. The second time an Australian company has made a complete hash of things in London. I fear for the future of GoAhead now its bus side is under Australian control.

At least it appears to be a bus company (Kinetic) rather than a bank or finance company, so can only hope it's third time lucky!

 

[Cesarcollie]

At least it appears to be a bus company (Kinetic) rather than a bank or finance company, so can only hope it's third time lucky!

So was Tower Transit! However, the only common thread is country of (full or part) ownership. The management is completely different so no doubt behaviours will be different!

 

[Goldfish62]

At least it appears to be a bus company (Kinetic) rather than a bank or finance company, so can only hope it's third time lucky!

Meanwhile, Tom Joyner, former MD of Cross Country who suddenly left in February, has been appointed MD of GoAhead London after the sudden departure of the incumbent a couple of weeks ago.

Source : internal staff notice.

 

[Busaholic]

Meanwhile, Tom Joyner, former MD of Cross Country who suddenly left in February, has been appointed MD of GoAhead London after the sudden departure of the incumbent a couple of weeks ago.

Source : internal staff notice.

There seems to be an epidemic of suddenness, not usually a good sign.

There seems to be an epidemic of suddenness, not usually a good sign. Perhaps it should be called Elphickeness,

 

[Kay_M]

Could be a cascade with the 119 moving to Croydon, 269s to MB? I’m very much clutching at straws though

The 119 already runs from Croydon garage

 

[Edvid]

No fewer than 10 break clauses invoked in the latest tender programme update - most of them by Stagecoach, plus Go-Ahead and Transport UK. All the big operators have now done so.

Source: https://tangytango.proboards.com/thread/13032/tendering-programme-update-13-2024 (forum members only; not available on TfL's site yet)

Tendering Programme Update

13th May 2024

The current contracts for the following routes will now terminate early:

55/N55 (QC77201): termination date 28th February 2025.

56 (QC77202): termination date 28th February 2025.

304 (QC62603): termination date 6th June 2025.

308 (QC77401): termination date 7th March 2025.

397 (QC77601): termination date 28th February 2025.

415 (QC77701): termination date 7th March 2025.

488 (QC77301): termination date 28th February 2025.

677 (QX77902): termination date 14th March 2025.

U5 (QC78001): termination date 21st March 2025.

W16 (QC77502): termination date 7th March 2025.

These routes will therefore be added to the Tendering Programme in supplementary tranches 908A, 908B, 908C, 909A, 911A and 921A.