New (Routemaster) Buses for Route 55

A New Routemaster spotted on London Vehicle Finder

  

The New Routemaster first began operating on Saturday 17^th January 2015, but officially the new contract for Route 55, given to Stagecoach London, commences on the 28^th February 2015.

Recently, London Buses route 137 received New Routemasters which officially started on 6^th December 2014.

#TFL London #BusStrike advice

I give you some basic advice during the Bus Strike.

If you like to know what bus route is running on your bus stop or to see how many buses are running on your route. I recommend you to use London Vehicle Finder which I reviewed.

You can use London Vehicle Finder on your smartphone, then enter in the route number and press go.

Video: Buses at Romford 12th January 2015

The day before the London Bus services go on strike which is on the 13th January 2015.

London #BusStrike on 13th January 2015

On 13^th January 2015, London bus drivers to hold industrial action over pay and conditions.

TfL issued a press release.

Transport for London (TfL) has today advised bus passengers to check the TfL website for the latest information about planned strike action by members of the Unite union, who work for London's bus companies, which could affect bus services on Tuesday 13 January.

The planned strike, the result of a dispute between Unite and the bus companies over driver pay and conditions, is planned to take place between 00:01 and 23:59 on Tuesday 13 January. This would affect services throughout Tuesday 13 January and also night bus services operating on the Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Bus services during the day on Wednesday 14 January should operate as normal.

New 2015 fares arrived for London Transport Services

Yes New year, New fares. 

Image from Transport for London

Click Here for 2016 fares

This is a follow up from my previous article relating to the 2015 TFL fares.
From 30^th December 2014, TFL have issued the press release on the new fares.

·          Customers will be able to buy tickets, including Travelcards, at 2014 prices until 1 January

·         Pay as you go daily caps cut to provide more affordable travel for flexible and part time workers

·         Savings of up to £600 per year for customers using pay as you go

·         Overall fares for 2015 frozen in real terms

·         Travelcard season tickets used by over one million customers to increase by less than inflation and real term cut in bus fares

·         Barclays Cycle Hire charge structure simplified to £2 per 30 minutes after the initial free period

Industrial action for London Bus services operated by Tower Transit

Route 25 is one of the routes affected.

"Au Morandarte Flickr DSC00149 (12486722443)" by Au Morandarte from London, Middlesex, England - DSC00149Uploaded by Ultra7. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

TFL have issued a press release in regards of the private bus operator Tower Transit striking.

Transport for London (TfL) has today issued advice to bus passengers ahead of planned strike action by members of the Unite union, who work for Tower Transit, which will affect bus services in east and central London on Monday 29 December and Monday 5 January. 

The strike is over a dispute between Unite and Tower Transit over bus driver pay and conditions. Only around 22 per cent of Tower Transit bus drivers voted for strike action. TfL is calling for Unite and Tower Transit to swiftly resolve the dispute so that passengers are not disrupted 

Change of operator for London Buses route 498

Recently there have been reports that Route 498 have been awarded to Stagecoach London from Go Ahead Blue Triangle.

But we might soon see the last of the Optare Olympus Scania N250UD buses for route 498 because Go Ahead London's contract will come to an end by 27th June 2015. Leaving it to Stagecoach East Londonwith new double decks to operate on route 498 for a new contract.

So here is the video of the Optare Olympus Scania in action.

More Electric Buses for London

"London United OCE3 (LJ14 SZR), Regent Street Bus Cavalcade (3)" by John Pannell from Watford, UK - 2014-Year-of-the-Bus-Cavalcade--DSCF1557. Licensed under CC BY-2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Earlier this week, TFL issued a press release about the roll out of the new single deck electric buses.

The two Optare MetroCity buses are now in service on route 312, which is operated by Arriva, between South Croydon and Norwood Junction. The bus route is used by around 4,700 passengers a day. Passengers travelling on these buses will benefit from much lower noise and vibration levels compared to regular buses with diesel engines.

These new electric buses are the latest addition to Europe's greenest bus fleet and will increase TfL's experience and understanding of this relatively new technology. The buses were built by UK bus manufacturer Optare, which is part of the Hinduja Group, based in Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire. They have zero tail pipe emissions at point of use, resulting in lower overall carbon emissions.

Route 137 conversion officially confirmed by TFL

New Routemasters are now in service on route 137

TfL issued a press release on the conversion of Route 137 to New Routemasters.

Transport for London (TfL) has today announced that the next bus route to be served entirely by New Routemaster buses will be the 137.

From Saturday 6 December there will be phased conversion of the route, which is operated by Arriva, and runs between Oxford Circus and Streatham Hill, via Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Sloane Square, Chelsea Bridge, Battersea Park and Clapham Common. The route will be running entirely with New Routemaster buses by the end of December.

During peaks hours, 31 of these state of the art buses will be in passenger service to carry the 22,000 people who travel on the route each week day.

Video: Class 315 Abellio Greater Anglia from London's Liverpool Street to Stratford

Take a virtual ride on the Class 315 train from London's Liverpool Street to Stratford.