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.