This section has been created to allow you understand each letter on London's buses fleet code class system. I will do this according to the company and this should help ease confusion.
ABELLIO
ARRIVA
Typically Arriva use a three digit fleet code system where the first letter represents the Chassis, the second letter represents the height of the ground from the vehicle and the third letter represents the body on the vehicle. For example DLA - DAF Lowfloor ALX400. There are some minor exceptions however I hope by the end of this you will be able to understand each unique code.
ADL = ALX200 Dart Lowfloor - This code is used to represent their ALX200 Dennis Dart Buses.These can range anywhere from 9.3m Models to 10.2m models.
DLA = DAF Lowfloor Alexander - This code is used to represent the company's ALX400 bodied DAF DB250 Buses. 10.2m models to 10.6m Models.
DLP = DAF Lowfloor President - This code is used to represent the company's President bodied DAF DB250 Buses. These range from 10.2m models to 10.6m Models.
DW - DAF Wright - This is the code used to represent the company's Wright Gemini 1 & 2 Bodied DB250 and DB300 Buses. These Buses have a length of 10.3m.
DWL = DAF Wright Long - This code is used to represent the company's Wright Cadet bodied DAF SB220 Buses. Strangely these were placed in the same code series as their DAF DB250 and D300 Buses with the Wrightbus Gemini1 & 2 bodywork. The addition of the 'L' prefix can be justified by the fact these Buses are 10.2m.
EN = ENviro - This is the code used to represent the company's 9.3m E200 Buses. Simply coded EN which stands for Enviro, these were the first E200s for the company however the further delivery of more E200 Buses with different lengths has made the fleetcode seem slightly awkward.
ENL
ENS
ENX = ENviro Xtra - This is one of the stranger codes in Arriva's fleet coding system. The 'E' and 'N' prefix stand for the Enviro 200 as the body and chassis of the Bus due to the fact the Bus is an integral, however the addition of the 'X' represents that the Buses are longer than standard as they are 10.8m long. The code ENL which should have been the code for these Buses was already taken by their 10.2m E200 Buses. As of 2011, these Buses operate exclusively on the Route 313.
HV = Hybrid Volvo - This code is used to represent the company's Wright Gemini2 bodied Volvo B5LH Buses. These Buses operate almost exclusively on the Route 73 and 76 however they also make cameo appearances on the 149,243 and 253.
HW
PDL = Pointer Dennis Lowfloor - This code is used to address Arriva London's Plaxton Pointer bodied Darts, which range from 9.3m to 10.8m.
T = Trident - The code simply means Trident. The reason Arriva went with simplistic one digit code is due to the fact these are the only Buses in the Arriva fleet to be on the Trident Chassis.
VLA = Volvo Lowfloor Alexander - This is the code used to represent the company's Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL Buses which come in the lengths of 10m and 10.6m.
VLW
CT PLUS
FIRST LONDON
GO AHEAD LONDON GROUP
LONDON SOVEREIGN
Transdev London Sovereign typically use a two/three digit code system, the first letter represents the chassis of the Bus, the second letter can in some cases represent the the Length of the Bus and/or the the body of the Bus. For example DE = Dennis (Chassis) Enviro (Body) or VLE Volvo (Chassis) Long (Length) East Lancs.(Body).
DE = Dennis Enviro - The code used for their 10.2m ADL E200 model Buses.
DPS = Dennis Pointer - Dennis Pointer - This is the code used to represent the company's Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart Buses. The Buses are 10.2m and it is not known why the code of 'S' was chosen to be placed at the end of the fleet code.
SLE = Scania Long East Lancs - This is the code used to represent the company's East Lancs Omnikdekka bodied Scania N94 Buses.
SP = Scania Poland - This is the code used to represent the company's Scania Omnicity Integral Buses, strangely for this one the second digit is used to show the actual location of where the Bus was built rather than the body.
VLP = Volvo Long President - This is the code used to represent the company's Plaxton President Volvo B7TL Buses.
VLE = Volvo Long East Lancashire - This is the code used to represent the company's East Lancashire Vyking bodied Volvo B7TL Buses.
LONDON UNITED BUS WAYS
METROLINE
Typically with Metroline fleet codes a two digit system is used e.g VP, however there may be an exception in the case there is a Hybrid Bus where the 'H' prefix is added to the end of if the Bus is slightly longer than usual where the 'L' prefix is added to the end.
DE = Dennis Enviro - The code used for their 10.2m ADL E200 model Buses.
DEL = Dennis Enviro Long - The code used for their 10.8m ADL E200 Buses. Note the addition of the 'L'.
DES = Dennis Enviro Short - The code used for their shorter ADL E200s. Note the addition of the 'S'
DLD = Dennis Long Dart - The code used for their 10.2m Plaxton Pointer Darts, note the addition of the 'L' code in the middle rather than at the end of the code. This is only one of two exceptions within this fleet system.
DP = Dennis Pointer - The code used for their Plaxton Pointer body Dennis Darts that were purchased in Early 2007 from Centra Buses who were formerly 'Mitcham Belle and some that were inheritted from Armchair Travel.
DSD = Dennis Short Dart - The code used for their 9.3m Plaxton Pointer Darts. Note the addition of the 'S' code in the middle rather than at the end of the code. This is one of the exceptions within this fleet system
MM = MAN MCV - The code used for their 10.4M MCV Bodied MAN 12.240 Buses.
SEL = Scania East Lancs - This code is used for their 10.8m Scania East Lancashire Olympus Buses. This is the only case where the 'L' hasn't been used to represent the length of the Bus as this body is naturally longer than standard.
TA = Trident ALX - This is the code used for their 9.9m ADL ALX400 bodied Trident 2 Buses.
TAL = Trident ALX Long - This is the code used for their 10.5m ADL ALX400 bodied Trident 2 Buses
.
TE = Trident Enivro - This is the code used for their 10.1m and10.2m Enviro 400 Buses.
TEH = Trident Enviro Hybrid - This is the code used for their 10.1m and 10.2m E400 Hybrid Buses. Note the addition of the 'H' prefix.
TP = Trident President - This is the code used for their 9.9m Plaxton President bodied Trident 2 Buses. These were first introduced in 1999 as part of a large batch consisting of 65 buses, numbered TP1 - 65. Following their success, another batch was introduced in 2002 for new route 205, their bonnet numbers were TP297 - 316, however at the end of 2009 following the 205 loss, they were withdrawn and returned back to Dawson's Rentals.
Another batch was ordered in 2003, for Routes 139, 189, 217, 231 and W8, their bonnets numbers were 348 - 465.
TPL = Trident President Long - This code used for their 10.5m Plaxton President bodied Trident 2 Buses. Note the 'L' prefix to show the added length. These were first introduced in 2002 and allocated to three garages across the company, Harrow Weald, Holloway and Potters Bar. They were given the bonnet numbers, TPL236 - 296 and are fitted with 4 speed Voith gearboxes.
VP = Volvo President - This is the code used for their 10m Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL Buses. The first of this type was introduced in 2002 for the high profile route 24. The examples were allocated bonnet numbers, VP317 - 347, however since 2002 up until 2005 the company introduced more and more of these vehicles and they made up of a large fleet of 326 Volvo B7TLs within the Metroline fleet. Their numbers range from VP317 - 347, VP466 - 469, VP470 - 490, VP491 - 510, VP511 - 580 and VP604 - 628.
VPL = Volvo President - This is the code used for their 10.6m Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL Buses. The first of these were introduced in 2000 following the retention of many routes across the company, there are 102 vehicles in total and their numbers range from 135 - 236. They were the company's first Euro3 complaint vehicles and they are fitted with 4 speed Voith Gearboxes.
Two more recent batches were purchased in 2004, within bonnets numbers VPL581 - 603, for the route 390 and VPL629 - 637 for the route 134 in 2005.
VW = Volvo Wright - This is the code used for their 10.4m Wright Gemini2 bodied B9TL Buses. The First of the type was ordered back in 2009 for the Route 260 and 302 initially and allocated bonnet numbers VW1034 - 1055. However a change of plan saw them introduced to Brentford Garage for the Route 237. The latter batch of these vehicles from VW1205 onwards now have a length of 10.5m.
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ABELLIO
ARRIVA
Typically Arriva use a three digit fleet code system where the first letter represents the Chassis, the second letter represents the height of the ground from the vehicle and the third letter represents the body on the vehicle. For example DLA - DAF Lowfloor ALX400. There are some minor exceptions however I hope by the end of this you will be able to understand each unique code.
ADL = ALX200 Dart Lowfloor - This code is used to represent their ALX200 Dennis Dart Buses.These can range anywhere from 9.3m Models to 10.2m models.
DLA = DAF Lowfloor Alexander - This code is used to represent the company's ALX400 bodied DAF DB250 Buses. 10.2m models to 10.6m Models.
DLP = DAF Lowfloor President - This code is used to represent the company's President bodied DAF DB250 Buses. These range from 10.2m models to 10.6m Models.
DW - DAF Wright - This is the code used to represent the company's Wright Gemini 1 & 2 Bodied DB250 and DB300 Buses. These Buses have a length of 10.3m.
EN = ENviro - This is the code used to represent the company's 9.3m E200 Buses. Simply coded EN which stands for Enviro, these were the first E200s for the company however the further delivery of more E200 Buses with different lengths has made the fleetcode seem slightly awkward.
ENL
ENS
ENX = ENviro Xtra - This is one of the stranger codes in Arriva's fleet coding system. The 'E' and 'N' prefix stand for the Enviro 200 as the body and chassis of the Bus due to the fact the Bus is an integral, however the addition of the 'X' represents that the Buses are longer than standard as they are 10.8m long. The code ENL which should have been the code for these Buses was already taken by their 10.2m E200 Buses. As of 2011, these Buses operate exclusively on the Route 313.
HV = Hybrid Volvo - This code is used to represent the company's Wright Gemini2 bodied Volvo B5LH Buses. These Buses operate almost exclusively on the Route 73 and 76 however they also make cameo appearances on the 149,243 and 253.
PDL = Pointer Dennis Lowfloor - This code is used to address Arriva London's Plaxton Pointer bodied Darts, which range from 9.3m to 10.8m.
T = Trident - The code simply means Trident. The reason Arriva went with simplistic one digit code is due to the fact these are the only Buses in the Arriva fleet to be on the Trident Chassis.
VLA = Volvo Lowfloor Alexander - This is the code used to represent the company's Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL Buses which come in the lengths of 10m and 10.6m.
VLW
CT PLUS
FIRST LONDON
GO AHEAD LONDON GROUP
LONDON SOVEREIGN
Transdev London Sovereign typically use a two/three digit code system, the first letter represents the chassis of the Bus, the second letter can in some cases represent the the Length of the Bus and/or the the body of the Bus. For example DE = Dennis (Chassis) Enviro (Body) or VLE Volvo (Chassis) Long (Length) East Lancs.(Body).
DE = Dennis Enviro - The code used for their 10.2m ADL E200 model Buses.
DPS = Dennis Pointer - Dennis Pointer - This is the code used to represent the company's Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart Buses. The Buses are 10.2m and it is not known why the code of 'S' was chosen to be placed at the end of the fleet code.
SLE = Scania Long East Lancs - This is the code used to represent the company's East Lancs Omnikdekka bodied Scania N94 Buses.
SP = Scania Poland - This is the code used to represent the company's Scania Omnicity Integral Buses, strangely for this one the second digit is used to show the actual location of where the Bus was built rather than the body.
VLP = Volvo Long President - This is the code used to represent the company's Plaxton President Volvo B7TL Buses.
VLE = Volvo Long East Lancashire - This is the code used to represent the company's East Lancashire Vyking bodied Volvo B7TL Buses.
LONDON UNITED BUS WAYS
METROLINE
Typically with Metroline fleet codes a two digit system is used e.g VP, however there may be an exception in the case there is a Hybrid Bus where the 'H' prefix is added to the end of if the Bus is slightly longer than usual where the 'L' prefix is added to the end.
DE = Dennis Enviro - The code used for their 10.2m ADL E200 model Buses.
DEL = Dennis Enviro Long - The code used for their 10.8m ADL E200 Buses. Note the addition of the 'L'.
DES = Dennis Enviro Short - The code used for their shorter ADL E200s. Note the addition of the 'S'
DLD = Dennis Long Dart - The code used for their 10.2m Plaxton Pointer Darts, note the addition of the 'L' code in the middle rather than at the end of the code. This is only one of two exceptions within this fleet system.
DP = Dennis Pointer - The code used for their Plaxton Pointer body Dennis Darts that were purchased in Early 2007 from Centra Buses who were formerly 'Mitcham Belle and some that were inheritted from Armchair Travel.
DSD = Dennis Short Dart - The code used for their 9.3m Plaxton Pointer Darts. Note the addition of the 'S' code in the middle rather than at the end of the code. This is one of the exceptions within this fleet system
MM = MAN MCV - The code used for their 10.4M MCV Bodied MAN 12.240 Buses.
SEL = Scania East Lancs - This code is used for their 10.8m Scania East Lancashire Olympus Buses. This is the only case where the 'L' hasn't been used to represent the length of the Bus as this body is naturally longer than standard.
TA = Trident ALX - This is the code used for their 9.9m ADL ALX400 bodied Trident 2 Buses.
TAL = Trident ALX Long - This is the code used for their 10.5m ADL ALX400 bodied Trident 2 Buses
.
TE = Trident Enivro - This is the code used for their 10.1m and10.2m Enviro 400 Buses.
TEH = Trident Enviro Hybrid - This is the code used for their 10.1m and 10.2m E400 Hybrid Buses. Note the addition of the 'H' prefix.
TP = Trident President - This is the code used for their 9.9m Plaxton President bodied Trident 2 Buses. These were first introduced in 1999 as part of a large batch consisting of 65 buses, numbered TP1 - 65. Following their success, another batch was introduced in 2002 for new route 205, their bonnet numbers were TP297 - 316, however at the end of 2009 following the 205 loss, they were withdrawn and returned back to Dawson's Rentals.
Another batch was ordered in 2003, for Routes 139, 189, 217, 231 and W8, their bonnets numbers were 348 - 465.
TPL = Trident President Long - This code used for their 10.5m Plaxton President bodied Trident 2 Buses. Note the 'L' prefix to show the added length. These were first introduced in 2002 and allocated to three garages across the company, Harrow Weald, Holloway and Potters Bar. They were given the bonnet numbers, TPL236 - 296 and are fitted with 4 speed Voith gearboxes.
VP = Volvo President - This is the code used for their 10m Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL Buses. The first of this type was introduced in 2002 for the high profile route 24. The examples were allocated bonnet numbers, VP317 - 347, however since 2002 up until 2005 the company introduced more and more of these vehicles and they made up of a large fleet of 326 Volvo B7TLs within the Metroline fleet. Their numbers range from VP317 - 347, VP466 - 469, VP470 - 490, VP491 - 510, VP511 - 580 and VP604 - 628.
VPL = Volvo President - This is the code used for their 10.6m Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL Buses. The first of these were introduced in 2000 following the retention of many routes across the company, there are 102 vehicles in total and their numbers range from 135 - 236. They were the company's first Euro3 complaint vehicles and they are fitted with 4 speed Voith Gearboxes.
Two more recent batches were purchased in 2004, within bonnets numbers VPL581 - 603, for the route 390 and VPL629 - 637 for the route 134 in 2005.
VW = Volvo Wright - This is the code used for their 10.4m Wright Gemini2 bodied B9TL Buses. The First of the type was ordered back in 2009 for the Route 260 and 302 initially and allocated bonnet numbers VW1034 - 1055. However a change of plan saw them introduced to Brentford Garage for the Route 237. The latter batch of these vehicles from VW1205 onwards now have a length of 10.5m.
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