London bus tender awards for December 2019

 

The new tender awards have revealed one route is set to convert to use zero emission electric single deck buses.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

TfL to change New Routemaster boarding on all routes after successful pilot scheme on route 8 and N8

It has been revealed in a Freedom of Information request released by TfL that the aesthetic 3-door, 2-staircase hybrid bus known as the New Routemaster is undergoing changes to the boarding procedure, moving to front door entry only on all the routes served using these vehicles. 

Comparing the two double-deck EV’s for London: BYD/ADL Enviro400EV and Optare Metrodecker EV

Enviro400EV City

There are two double-deck electric buses currently operating on routes 43 and 134 operated by Metroline for London Buses.

London bus tender awards for mid November 2019 - New Electric double decks for routes 23, 319 & C3

TfL has announced the new London bus tender awards for mid-November 2019; it has revealed three routes will be served with double deck pure electric buses.

Thursday 14 November

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

TfL’s update with the double-deck hydrogen rollout

We have all heard the news of Jo Bamford purchasing Wrightbus, and now a Freedom of Information release has revealed the current situation with the double-deck hydrogen rollout for London bus services.

The FOI release from TfL has revealed details the contract for 20 double deck hydrogen buses hosted on the GOV.UK contract finder website.

Route 19 to convert to three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemaster buses

As more London bus routes are restructuring to save costs, the withdrawal of route 48 has enabled another conversion to New Routemaster (NRM) operation.

According to London Bus Routes service changes, route 19 is expected to partially convert to New Routemaster operation on 12th October 2019 as route 48 is withdrawn. Then on 25th April 2020 it is expected route 19 will be fully served with New Routemaster buses from route 67.

Upcoming new London electric bus routes for 2020

It has been revealed that London will be getting more electric buses during 2020.

Taking a look at a recent Freedom of information (FOI) request submitted to Tfl; they have released some interesting information regarding the electric bus project for London. TfL stated under a Freedom of Information request:

We are currently converting routes 43 and 134 to double deck electric buses – and all buses will be in service by the end of the year. These double decks are made by two manufacturers – Optare and a partnership with BYD/ADL.

London bus tender awards for early October 2019

This is a brief news update for London buses.

TfL has announced the London buses tender awards as bus operators Metroline and Stagecoach retained their routes respectively and Abellio lost their K1 contract to RATP-Dev London United with new diesel single deck buses.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Wrightbus has gone in to administration!

I know I haven't been posting for a month, but I have to break this sad news.

Wrightbus, who notably manufactured 1,000 of the three door, two staircase hybrid New Routemaster buses, 6 Volvo B5LH with SRM bodywork and 2 Volvo B5LHC with SRM bodywork has gone in to administration due to cash flow problems which has affected thousands of jobs.

Why the Wrightbus SRM failed and Alexander Dennis’ Enviro400 City is gaining success

This is my essay about the failure of the Wrightbus SRM bodywork and the success of Alexander Dennis’ City bodywork. The purpose of this essay is not to discredit Wrightbus and their SRM design.

Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis developed and manufactured their own New Routemaster spin-offs as part of TfL's challenge to succeed the New Routemaster bus designed by Heatherwick Studios.

The SRM has only been sold in two drivelines which are the Volvo B5LH and B5LHC. Yet other bus operators (in London and elsewhere) haven’t shown much interest using the SRM for their services.

London bus tender awards for mid August 2019 and pure electric double-deck bus for Reading Buses

TfL has recently revealed the new London bus tender awards and Abellio have won nearly all the new contracts.

TfL changes New Routemaster Route 8 boarding to front door only

TfL have announced plans to change the boarding of the three-door two-staircase New Routemaster buses to front door entry to ensure passengers pay their fare by the driver.

London bus tender awards for late July 2019

TfL has recently announced new contract awards for their London bus services.

One of the notable routes mentioned is the 25 which TfL awarded the new contract to Stagecoach London.

2019 London Buses fleet list and Big Red Book

Transport for London has released the bus fleet audit report and the London Bus fleet list on their website.

A brief mention from the London Bus Fleet Audit report:

Opinion: Design criticisms of Wrightbus Gemini 3 and SRM

This is more of an 'essay' type article because I have some criticisms with the design of the Wrightbus double deck products such as the Gemini 3 and SRM. I have criticised the Wrightbus double deck products in my previous articles and therefore I will lay out my ideas which could possibly inspire the manufacturer to make changes.

Double Deck Hydrogen buses for Aberdeen, Scotland

As Liverpool and London authorities purchased double deck hydrogen buses for their services, the news has come that Aberdeen will be getting double deck hydrogen buses, jointly funded by Aberdeen City Council, European Union (FCH JU) and Scottish Government.

Extracts from Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking news release

The new additions to the hydrogen fleet will underline the city’s role as a pioneer in green energy.

The contract which was signed this month will deliver 15 city buses. The project has been funded by Aberdeen City Council, European Union (FCH JU) and Scottish Government with an investment of about £500k per vehicle, building on the initial research funding contributed by the Scottish Cities Alliance.

Electric bus types revealed for London bus routes 94, C10 & P5

Hot off the press is the news that RATP-Dev placed an order for 29 of the Alexander Dennis BYD Enviro400EV for use on their London Buses Route 94 contract.

Extracts from Alexander Dennis

Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and BYD Europe jointly announced today that the companies’ electric vehicle partnership, which delivers the leading UK electric bus, has already topped 100 double deck bus sales. ADL is a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), one of the world’s largest independent global bus manufacturers and BYD is a global leader in batteries and electric buses.

The zero emission 'New Routemaster spin-off' Enviro400EV City finally entered service on London Buses Route 43

Finally, after a very long wait, the spin-off of the New Routemaster, the pure electric Enviro400EV City which is jointly manufactured by Alexander Dennis and BYD has entered in to service on London Bus route 43 as of 1st July 2019.

Bus designs have evolved to reflect similarity to the New Routemaster bus and I’d like to say a new chapter has started with the iconic Enviro400 City which has gone pure electric.

According to London Vehicle Finder, the first five of the BYD Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV City entered service on route 43 on 1st July 2019 - here's the mini fleet list.

London Bus tender awards for late June 2019

This is a quick news update about London Bus services.

Recently I mentioned that London Bus route 67 converted to New Routemaster operation as part of the Central London bus reshaping plan; the new tender awards have revealed Arriva London lost the route 67 contract to Go-Ahead London General.

Should London Buses use a standard interior colour scheme?

As the new battery-electric Enviro400EV City (jointly manufactured by BYD and Alexander Dennis) is set to serve London Buses Route 43 anytime soon, it has been revealed that Metroline has chosen to use their own interior livery instead of the burgundy (dark red) and brass (gold coloured railings) with the TfL/LT Roundel seating moquette. The interior colour design is based on the New Routemaster bus (including their own seating moquette) which reflects similarity with the classic AEC Routemaster bus.

Route 67 converts to New Routemaster operation as part of Central London bus route changes

We have recently seen London bus service changes which occurred on 15th June 2019. The changes affected routes 3, 4, 9/N9, 14, 35, 40, 45, 46, 53, 59, 67, 76, 100, 134, 149, 171, 172, 205/N205, 242, 341, 343, 388, 468, 476 and RV1. You can read more on the Central London bus route changes on the TfL website.

A small number of the routes are served with New Routemaster buses and were affected. This has enabled a number of New Routemaster buses to serve another route which is route 67.

TfL awards contract to CAF to replace old DLR trains

TfL has finally found a manufacturer to build new DLR trains to replace 33 of the old DLR trains manufactured by Bombardier. The manufacturer who won the contract is Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A (CAF) and they will be building 43 new DLR trains.

Extracts from TfL press release

Customers using the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will benefit from more frequent and reliable journeys from 2023, after Transport for London (TfL) today announced it has awarded a contract to replace the oldest trains currently serving the railway.

London bus tender awards: New hybrids for route 212 and zero emission electric buses for route 444

TfL awards Go-Ahead London with new double deck hybrids and zero emission electric single deck buses for routes 212 and 444. Both of the bus routes serve Chingford Station.

Class 710 trains start to serve the London Overground GOBLIN service

I realise this news is overdue but I would like to cover the new Overground train on my website.

Extracts from TfL press release

London bus routes C10 & P5 to go electric

The new tender awards have revealed that routes C10 and P5 are set to go zero emission electric by next year.

Notification of Tender Results

15th May 2019

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

New York City MTA withdraws iconic RTS buses from service

Looking at London’s sister... that other global city called New York City in the United States of America; The New York City Transport authority MTA has withdrawn their iconic RTS buses after nearly 40 years in service.

I know this news is a bit overdue but I've only recently become aware of the event.

Double deck hydrogen buses for London and Liverpool

Two cities in England have placed orders for double deck hydrogen buses which are manufactured by Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis – both are based in the United Kingdom.

It's been a long wait to see the hydrogen double decker buses come to London and thankfully TfL has purchased 20 of them for routes 7, N7 and 245.

Extracts from TfL press release

Transport for London (TfL) has today ordered 20 of these green buses - which produce no pollution from their exhausts - as part of its drive to make London's transport zero-emission. It follows the introduction of the world's first Ultra Low Emission Zone last month.

Bus Route in East End of London set to go electric (Route 323)

London bus Route 323 which serves the East end of London (Canning Town to Mile End Station via Bromley By Bow Station) is set to go zero emission electric in January 2020.

Looking at the recent London bus tender awards, it was announced that Stagecoach has retained the route 323 contract with single deck electric buses.

Three new Low Emission Bus Zones for London

TfL and the London Mayor have announced new Low Emission Bus Zones for three areas of London.

Extracts from TFL press release

Just two weeks after the launch of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London, the Mayor and TfL have taken further measures to reduce toxic air in the capital's most polluted areas by introducing three new Low Emission Bus Zones (LEBZ).

Singapore LTA orders 50 three-door, two-staircase Tri-axle Enviro500 buses

The Singaporean Land Transport Agency has awarded S$34 million (GBP £19 million) to Alexander Dennis to build 50 Tri-axle Enviro500 buses with three doors and two staircases.

Extracts from Land Transport Agency

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the tender to procure 100 three-door double-deck Euro 6 diesel buses to two tenderers - Alexander Dennis (Singapore) Services Pte. Ltd. and ST Engineering Land Systems Ltd. Details of the awarded contracts are as follows:

Upcoming New London buses for year 2019

Using the information from the 'London Bus Routes' services changes page. I've compiled a list of routes that will be getting new buses during the year 2019.

The increase of the Enviro400 City, and also the London bus tender awards

Two bus operators in Britain launch the Enviro400 City manufactured by Alexander Dennis. First, Glasgow operates the new Euro 6 diesel spec and secondly, Nottingham City Transport increases the bio-gas spec of the Enviro400 City.

Class 717’s for Great Northern, Enviro400H City buses for Route 20 and London Bus Tender awards

The Class 717’s have finally entered service on National Rail’s Great Northern routes serving the Moorgate branch.

Extract from Govia

For the first time in 40 years, passengers are riding on new trains in the tunnels to London Moorgate, as Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) begins to replace mainland Britain’s oldest electric rail fleet.

In a £240 million investment, 150 new carriages are being introduced between now and late summer, to replace trains that first entered service in 1976.

2019 Green Bus Fund and London Bus tender awards

The UK government have announced £48 million of funding for transport authorities and bus companies to purchase ultra low emission buses.

From Gov UK

New trains for Greater Anglia and Great Northern

Greater Anglia has announced they are testing their new Class 745 and 755 trains manufactured by Stadler Rail.

From Greater Anglia

Watch out for Greater Anglia’s brand new trains – which are being tested in daylight on more routes in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex from later this month.

Greater Anglia is replacing every single train with brand new state-of-the-art trains which will start to come into service in the middle of this year.

New Routemasters set to move from Route 88 to 87

First of all, late as it, I would like to wish all of my readers a very Happy New and once again, I do apologise for the lack of articles for January.

As part of the consultation changes for London bus routes C2 and 88, the entire route C2 will be withdrawn and route 88 will be re-routed to cover the old route C2.

From TfL consultations

Following our consultation, we have identified the appropriate steps to address the key concerns raised during the consultation.