Metroline CELF Centre Part 50...New Commercial Streetlite & News Special

We made it to a half a century of CELF Centre visits and unlike Jack who visited here last week, it seemed as if luck was on my side today as the title may suggest. Having been out of the scene for the past month, it was nice to be greeted by something new and something which I had no clue even existed.

The yet unregistered 8.8 ton demonstration vehicle was ordered in April of this year for completion in late June, ordered specifically for the new commercial Route 714, it will operate out of the company's Potters Bar base in Hertfordshire, although its specification may suggest may suggest otherwise. Typical of any Metroline vehicle it features the blue on orange interior as well as the Esteban Civic seating and makes a welcome change from the far too familiar E200, regardless of how much ADL want to change the design.

Whether or not more are ordered is dependant on this trial, however at present it seems as if Metroline cannot get enough of the Wright offerings at the moment and this comes as the news of an order for 23 new VWHs was announced just three days prior.

Metroline Wright Streetlite

Although I remain unconvinced in regards to the design of the Streetlite it does offer a welcome change from the current offerings on the market. Although there is no official fleet number, through a grapevine I did hear that it may be coded STL1470 and registered SL15ZGR. Typical of me I asked if the vehicle could be moved in order to gain more shots and here's what the request produced...

Seen here entering the CELF Centre facility driven by my favourite engineer who moved the bus in order for me to get a better shot.

Metroline VWH2097

One of 64 new buses for Willesden Garage is seen resting prior to the start of its very long life...News from the centre suggest the following.

• Route 90 converts to DD operation using a mix of SELs and VWs, with VW1205-1216 moving back to PA from HT to facilitate this conversion.
• Route E8 to gain MMs from PA with DEs moving in the opposite direction along with a few from Cricklewood.
• VP5xx from Willesden to transfer to HT in order to aid the ousting of the TPs and TPLs.