TfL has announced the latest London Bus tender awards for November 2020 with more routes converting to double deck electric buses. This is a followup to my previous article.
LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:
|
Route |
Current Operator |
New Operator |
PVR |
Vehicles |
|
49 |
Abellio London |
RATP London United |
15 |
New electric double deck |
|
63/N63 |
Go-Ahead London Central |
Abellio London |
26 |
New electric double deck** |
|
132* |
Go-Ahead London Central |
Go-Ahead London Central |
16 |
New electric double deck |
|
156 |
Abellio London |
Abellio London |
15 |
Existing hybrid double deck |
|
160/660 |
Arriva London North |
Stagecoach Selkent |
13 |
New electric double deck |
|
180 |
Go-Ahead London Central |
Stagecoach Selkent |
17 |
New electric & existing hybrid double deck |
|
332 |
Metroline |
Metroline |
15 |
Existing hybrid double deck |
|
344 (24h) |
Abellio London |
Abellio London |
21 |
Existing hybrid double deck |
|
414 |
Abellio London |
Tower Transit |
TBC |
Existing hybrid double deck |
* 24 hr route at weekends only.
** N63 operated by existing hybrids.
All the diesel & hybrid vehicles detailed above will meet Euro VI emissions standards. New electric vehicles may enter service after the contract start date dependent on infrastructure and/ or vehicle delivery timescales.
The above contracts will commence on the following dates:
• 21st August 2021: Route 344.
• 4th September 2021: Routes 49.
• 11th September 2021: Route 156.
• 18th September 2021: Route 160/660.
• 2nd October 2021: Routes 132 & 180.
• 9th October 2021: Route 332.
• 13th November 2021: Route 63/N63.
• 20th November 2021: Route 414.
The tender awards have enabled bus manufacturers (Alexander Dennis/BYD, Optare and Wrightbus) to keep their production lines busy by building more zero emission buses.
Optare have posted a news release on their fifth order of Metrodecker EV batch for Go-Ahead London.
From Optare
Optare celebrates 5th order for Metrodecker EV
Optare are delighted to announce GoAhead London have placed an order for 17 Metrodecker EV’s for route 200 in London. This route will operate out of the company’s Merton garage, the first electric route from this depot. This order marks the 3rd order for the Metrodecker EV in London, the 5th to date, and will bring the total number in service to 108 by May 2021.
Optare has worked closely with GoAhead London over a number of years in the development of its latest generation of battery electric buses. The Metrodecker EV prototype first saw service in the Capital with GoAhead London on a 5 month trial at New Cross on route 36 and route 21 in January 2018. During this trial, a lot was learnt about the bus and the zero emission heating systems in particular as the trial took place during the extreme cold spell; “the Beast from the East”. GoAhead’s trial feedback played a key part in the final design of the production bus launched at the NEC in October 2018.
Richard Harrington, Engineering Director, Go Ahead London commented: “As an EV leader in London we have built a good understanding of zero emission bus operation. We were pleased to provide feedback & guidance to Optare during their development process and we have been impressed with the production Metrodecker EV in recent service trials. The bus is a good fit for Route 200. We look forward to successful roll out and partnership with Optare.”
Robert Drewery, Commercial Director, Optare stated: “We are thrilled to be involved in the electrification of route 200. We see this order as another step in our cooperation with GoAhead London and the development of our ZEV solutions”.
Upcoming London Bus routes to be served using zero emission buses:
7/N7, 65/N65, 69, 173, 174, 183, 184, 200, 281, 290, 358 371, 398 484, H9/H10 and X140.
It won’t be long until the ADL/BYD Enviro400EV Citys enter service on routes 173 and 174.
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