Today hosted another visit to Metroline CELF Center but I promise you readers more garage visits will follow, we are in the process of organizing quite a few interesting visits. It just takes a while that's all...

Today's visit hosted nothing really special if I'm being honest. The remaining DEs for the 274 DE1152 - 1170 have all been delivered to the center and have all been commissioned by the wonderful staff at the Center ready for delivery to KC (Kings Cross) Garage. These new DEs have a much more sturdy feel to them unlike their 08 Reg sisters across at PA (Perivale West). Aside that four new VWs (1193/1194/1195/1197) for the Route 79 have been delivered early to the center and are now in the process of getting commissioned. The Route 79 is the latest route to be won of First by Metroline...and will be run from PA. The introduction of this route to this garage in September will result in either the 143,326 or C11 moving to W (Cricklewood) and/or Holloway or the E6 moving to PV (Perivale East).

Metroline DE1168 LK11 CXA

Metroline VW1197 LK11 CYP

Metroline DE1166 LK11 CWY

Metroline TP434 LK03 GGA

Metroline DLD190 Y154 NLK

Metroline DE1160 LK11 CWR

Metroline DLD190 Y154 NLK

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Today I visited CELF Center again for what may be the 30th time although the title may suggest otherwise.The reason for this visit was to view the new Dennis Enviro 200s for the 274, shown below, for the contract that commenced on June 25th 2011.

Metroline DE1154 LK11 CWJ

The new DEs are part of a batch consisting of 19 vehicles, numbered between DE1152 - 1170. The new DEs are an amazing 7,900Kgs which makes them the heaviest E200s in London on the Dennis Dart chassis. They are almost 400Kgs heavier than their 10 Reg sisters numbered DE1115 - 1151 for Routes 143 and C11. These vehicles were built at Plaxton's former Scarborough plant which is known the build heavier vehicles than the rest of the Alexander-Dennis plants. I also visited Perivale West Garage home to the recently won Route 105, it appears the VWs are growing nicely on the drivers and the staff at the Garage are looking forward to taking on a further 12 in January for the 297.

More Photos Below:

Metroline DE1156 LK11 CWM and DE1157 LK11 CWN

Metroline MM787 LK57 EHX

Metroline VPL196 Y146 NLK

Metroline DLD174 Y674 NLK

Metroline TA72 T72 KLD

Metroline DE867 LK08 DXA and DE958 LK58 CTU

Metroline DE959 LK58 CTV

Metroline VW1183 LK11 CXT

Metroline VW1175 LK11 CXJ

Metroline VW1177 LK11 CXM

Metroline TPL296 LR02 BDU

Metroline VP342 LR52 BOF

Metroline DE1152 LK11 CWF (Nearside)

Metroline VPL232 Y232 NLK

Metroline VP342 LR52 BOF

Metroline VW1186 LK11 CXW

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First London VNW32425 LK04 HYC

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Here are the first pictures of the long awaited Enviro 200s destined for London Sovereign for both of their Harrow (SO) and Edgware (BT) Bases. The delivery of these two vehicles pictured at the Watford Gap in Northamptonshire are the first of a 43 strong order of new Buses for the gained Route 251 and retained Routes; H9,H10,H11,H14 and H17.

The Buses are considerably early as their contracted work will start in September this year, nevertheless they are happily welcomed. They are the first batch of new vehicles to be ordered by London Sovereign following their split from London United. They do not have the new 'Enviro style lights' but do have the new bumper which makes them look very sharp indeed.

Photo © ReynardBizzar 

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Today I visited Arriva London's Stamford Hill Garage located just south of Tottenham in North London. This is one of two garages that has been speculated for closure by Arriva London as they try to cut down on their yearly budgets. However the reason I visited the Garage was due to the fact I gained some information that some HVs for the Route 73 had been delivered early.

The HVs are powered by the highly reliable and durable Volvo B5LH 5 liter Engine with hybrid electric technology. There are in fact 20 of these vehicles allocated to the Route 73 for the contract starting in October this year, numbered between HV27 - 46 they are the third batch of HVs that have been bought by Arriva. They feature gold advert frames a restyled rear end and Powerblinds as standard. I may add that these are possibly the most reliable Hybrid vehicles in London and are well worth their £330,000 price tag. With Go Ahead London set to get 16 of these vehicles early next year, lets hope Metroline follow suit.

More Photos Below:

Arriva London HV30 LJ11 EFW

Arriva London HV32 rear nearside

Arriva London HVs lined up Stamford Hill Garage

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Go Ahead London PVL272 PN02 XBW

Metroline VP319 LR52 BLV

Go Ahead SO2 BV55 UCU

Go Ahead London WVL149 LX53 BJK

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I finished my College course for the year and decided that I might as well visit CELF Center again to see if anything new is happening. Now to your left you will see a picture of VW1177 LK11 CXM which is part of the batch for the Route 105 which the company will take over in July. A keen eye is not even needed to see that this Bus is blinded for the 297. However it won't be long  until these VWs become a regular occurrence on this route due to the fact that Metroline have placed an order for 12 VWs for Perivale West Garage to standardize the Bus types at the Garage.

VW1177 LK11 CXM

The remaining TEs (897,898,899,900,901,902,903,904,905,906,907 and 908) will all be sent to Cricklewood (W) to oust the remaining T and V reg TAs which will then go to Engisnbus of Thurrock. Minor news suggested that Metroline may in fact go for the MCV D103LE or the Optare Olympus next year if contracts are retained. Both bodies will be on the Volvo B9TL Chassis.

Metroline TPL264 LN51 KYY

Metroline VW1186 LK11 CXV

Metroline TEH1110

Metroline TE889 LK08 NVD

Metroline VW1176 LK11 CXL

Metroline VW1180 LK11 CXP and
VV1189 LK11 CXZ

Metroline VW1183 LK11 CXT             

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Go Ahead London PVL302 PJ02 RFX can proudly take the title of the first ever Go Ahead London Bus to go all-over red!

 

Its been a long time coming now and from May 2009 when Metroline dropped their White and Blue skirt, Go Ahead London were the only company to have their skirt, which I have to say looks quite awful. Now the time is drawing closer to the Olympics almost every firm in London is trying to make a good reputation for themselves, this is the same for London Bus Industry. I was told this back in March but all London operators from October 2011, all London Buses have to be 100% red. So now Go Ahead London face a race against time to ensure that every Bus in their London fleet is 100% red before January 2012. I must congratulate Go Ahead for hanging on that long but a rule is a rule. Comments welcomed.

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