A recent yet unexpected repaint comes in the form of long term absentee SEL746, the vehicle is part of a batch of 33 ordered by the company in 2007 and delivered between the summer of that year and January 2008. For no apparent reason on the
19th of February 2013, the vehicle was withdrawn from service, however it was later emerged that it had suffered severe damage, although the details were not disclosed.
During my various trips to CELF, I never did actually manage to catch a glimpse of the vehicle, it became somewhat of an interest point for me as at the time it seemed weird as to why it was out of action for so long. One the
18th of January 2014, just a month shy of a year out of service, it inaudibly slipped back into service on the 297. Albeit sporting a fresh coat of paint complete with the latest Metroline logo and a very small roundel.
For all the efforts of repainting the vehicle, it will become redundant in June 2014 along with sister vehicles, SEL739 - 745 & 747 - 764 which will be replaced by 21 brand new Volvo B5LH/Gemini3 buses as per the new route 7 contract. No doubt the repaint has activated the rumour mill again to where these buses will end up after their duties are relieved on the route 7. One was seen driving in the Holloway area in the direction of HT garage. I'll let that one land where it does...Feel free to comment!