*LAST DAY* WVL264 (LX06EBP) Go-Ahead London (London General)
After 12 years of operation on the route, Friday March 30th was the final day that Go-Ahead London would operate route 468. The route will return to Arriva London, who were the last operator to have the route before Go-Ahead, and I must say, as much as I like Go-Ahead, I'm very pleased to see the 468 returning to Arriva tomorrow, it's a shame however that it isn't being operated by South Croydon Garage, the route going to Norwood for its second spell with Arriva.
The 68 group of routes (68/N68/468/X68) have been operated by one operator throughout their history and for the first time, they are being split between three operators, with the 68/N68 passing to Abellio London and the 468 passing to Arriva London
Route X68 will be the only 68 group route that will remain with Go-Ahead London and will have its own dedicated batch of Enviro400H MMC's
When Go-Ahead won the 68, 468 and X68 from Arriva, a huge batch of Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini's were ordered (WVL212-WVL273). Come the end of the contract, there are only 20 of them left at Camberwell, around 15 of them are with Metrobus at Croydon and Orpington (most of the Orpington fleet were cascaded elsewhere due to the loss of route 161, 3 at Merton and Stockwell, around 4 withdrawn and with new operators, the last two (WVL272 and WVL273) in the commercial fleet and one sadly destroyed by fire outside Camberwell Garage (WVL221). The rest are scattered across all Go-Ahead Garages.
One of the WVL's that remained at Camberwell throughout the duration of the 68/N68, 468 and X68 contracts was WVL264 (LX06EBP), and it is seen on the stand at Nottingham Road, South Croydon on what could turn out to be it's last day in service, although I think they may be sent to Stockwell or other garages to replace older WVL's and PVL's. It will be interesting to see what happens to these WVL's after the 468 loss as the E's being made redundant are ultimately destined for Metrobus for route 403.
*LAST DAY* WVL264 (LX06EBP) Go-Ahead London (London General)
After 12 years of operation on the route, Friday March 30th was the final day that Go-Ahead London would operate route 468. The route will return to Arriva London, who were the last operator to have the route before Go-Ahead, and I must say, as much as I like Go-Ahead, I'm very pleased to see the 468 returning to Arriva tomorrow, it's a shame however that it isn't being operated by South Croydon Garage, the route going to Norwood for its second spell with Arriva.
The 68 group of routes (68/N68/468/X68) have been operated by one operator throughout their history and for the first time, they are being split between three operators, with the 68/N68 passing to Abellio London and the 468 passing to Arriva London
Route X68 will be the only 68 group route that will remain with Go-Ahead London and will have its own dedicated batch of Enviro400H MMC's
When Go-Ahead won the 68, 468 and X68 from Arriva, a huge batch of Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini's were ordered (WVL212-WVL273). Come the end of the contract, there are only 20 of them left at Camberwell, around 15 of them are with Metrobus at Croydon and Orpington (most of the Orpington fleet were cascaded elsewhere due to the loss of route 161, 3 at Merton and Stockwell, around 4 withdrawn and with new operators, the last two (WVL272 and WVL273) in the commercial fleet and one sadly destroyed by fire outside Camberwell Garage (WVL221). The rest are scattered across all Go-Ahead Garages.
One of the WVL's that remained at Camberwell throughout the duration of the 68/N68, 468 and X68 contracts was WVL264 (LX06EBP), and it is seen on the stand at Nottingham Road, South Croydon on what could turn out to be it's last day in service, although I think they may be sent to Stockwell or other garages to replace older WVL's and PVL's. It will be interesting to see what happens to these WVL's after the 468 loss as the E's being made redundant are ultimately destined for Metrobus for route 403.