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While driving on Keele St, Toronto yesterday, I saw this signage, which was very touching.
Toronto Light Rail Transit Project:
" The Government of Ontario has committed $8.4 billion in support of new transit for Toronto. ( Some of this money is going towards) The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will add 19 kilometres of new transit from Mount Dennis (Weston Road) to Kennedy Station"
Thanks for visiting, enjoy your weekend.
Tower Transit route 28: Kensal Rise - Wandsworth, Mapleton Crescent
Southside Shopping Centre (S)
Just as it seemed like we were not getting anything special out of the Notting Hill Carnival bus services this year, Tower Transit sent out a VH on the 28 on Notting Hill Carnival Monday. To my surprise, the working has been recorded on the London Vehicle Finder a few times beforehand but most of these outings have been short.
VH38125 did a round in the late afternoon before going out of service, using Warwick Gardens as a bus stand (like the withdrawn 9H) to avoid an over-crowding of curtailed services at Notting Hill Gate. I had a photo but wanted better, so to see if it would come back in service I made use of the wait re-familiarising myself with the southwestern section of the route.
I was reminded what the Notting Hill Carnival is all about onboard a 28: to observe interactions and share one with passengers from different backgrounds all commuting home with the carnival's multicultural embrace, most symbolically evoked by classic Caribbean dubs which a man continued to play from his phone, hit me with nostalgia and love for Carnival. Such vibes set me up nicely for a better photo of this odd-working once it returned to service, where it would stay out for the rest of the evening.
©London Bus Breh 2018.
Tower Transit route 308: Wanstead, Woodbine Place - Clapton Pond, Lea Bridge Roundabout
Forest Gate Station (C)
©London Bus Breh 2018.
Tower Transit route 69: Walthamstow Central, Bus Station - Canning Town, Bus Station
Grove Road (SJ)
©London Bus Breh 2017.
Tower Transit route 23: Liverpool Street Station - Westbourne Park, Bus Garage
Golborne Road (L)
More TALs have been introduced as extra buses for route 23. Withdrawn Stagecoach London buses, TAL33200-33209 have been fitted with old displays from previous ALX400s that used to be in service for routes 7, 10, 23 and 27 when they were all with First London, explaining the 'Ladbroke Grove & Westbourne Park Station' displays on a few of the buses.
©London Bus Breh 2015.
Tower Transit route 25: City Thameslink Station - Ilford, Hainault Street
Approaching Redbridge Central Library (R)
Route 25 was cutback from Oxford Circus to City Thameslink on 1 December 2018. A new N25 service replaces the withdrawn link between Holborn Circus and Oxford Circus.
MVs and VHs started making appearances on the service around this time. The former type have become a mainstay, albeit in fewer numbers alongside Tower Transit's first StreetDecks WH31101-31128, introduced to route 25 from late March 2019.
©London Bus Breh 2019.
Tower Transit route 328: Golders Green Station - Chelsea, World's End
Departed Carlton Vale (K), towards Cambridge Road (MC)
I knew to expect an odd-working MV for this year's Notting Hill Carnival and I was not disappointed. Route 328 had ample MVs in service as surplus to its VHs for the increased PVR supplementing both days of the carnival.
Surprisingly, though, the only other noteworthy odd-working from Westbourne Park was a VH on route 31 on the Bank Holiday Monday.
©London Bus Breh 2017.
Tower Transit route 25: Ilford, Hainault Street - City Thameslink Station
St. Mary Axe (Z)
Route 25 was cutback from Oxford Circus to City Thameslink on 1 December 2018. A previous curtailment point only, the City Thameslink is now a terminus unique to the 25 but the cutback means there is no longer a bus service providing a direct link from The City to Oxford Street.
On the plus side, at least hybrid buses have become a theme on the 25. The service change has been met with an entry phase for hybrid buses, initially with VHs but now MVs, as the route prepares to go fully hybrid with Wright StreetDeck HEVs next year.
©London Bus Breh 2018.
Tower Transit route 23: Westbourne Park - Hammersmith, Upper Bus Station
Bypassing Bishop's Bridge Road / Westbourne Terrace (M), towards Paddington Station (H)
And bypass most bus stops it seems as route 23 replaces the withdrawn route 10 between Marble Arch and Hammersmith, no longer serving the West End - what a farce.
I tell you what, though: while the 23 does its nonsense, it has actually redistributed to route 7 the demand it deserves after years of operational ridicule including its cutback from Russell Square and even more ludicrous hints of a withdrawal. Funny how one of the reasons for these cuts has been to reduce "empty" buses, yet this service change has in practice emptied the route of its demand. The 23 has now been made so unattractive it could use single-deckers!
©London Bus Breh 2018.
Tower Transit route 69: Canning Town, Bus Station - Walthamstow Central, Bus Station
Approaching Stratford Bus Station (A)
Route 69 had its new contract to Tower Transit advanced to 6 February 2016 with loaned ALX400s from previous contract holders Stagecoach, although these were quickly ousted back home by existing Enviro400s from Lea Interchange (LI) and other surplus buses from Westbourne Park (X) and its outstation Atlas Road (AS).
Additionally, three new Alexander Dennis Enviro400H MMC Virtual Electric buses were introduced in October last year. These use inductive wireless technology fitted into the stands at Canning Town and Walthamstow to charge the batteries of the buses. The hybrid engine operating patterns are more similar to the 'New Routemaster' in the sense that the engine runs longer when in operation than the usual hybrid, which have that distinct pattern of turning off at a halt or slow speeds and switching on again after 10-12mph. With the VEs, the electric mode lasts a satisfying while even on the move. I'm not too sure how to rate the buses as hybrids, but when running on the electric motors the drive is lovely - like a double-decker Irizar i2e.
The best aspect of the DHs, by far, is the seating layout. Instead of headrails on top of the chairs, the seating height extends just above the average passenger's head to rest on, with enough windowsill to lean your elbow on and chill, or take a nice rest. And I took advantage of this - useful for when stuck in traffic. Great buses, this is my favourite double-decker bus type.
©London Bus Breh 2016.
Tower Transit route 228: Central Middlesex Hospital - Maida Hill, The Chippenham
Approaching Harlesden Jubilee Clock (W)
Tower Transit started a new contract to route 228 from Westbourne Park (X) on 19 January 2019. Existing Wright StreetLites, WV46215-220, were brought in from Lea Interchange (LI) alongside new examples WV46221-224 to meet a PVR of 9.
The 228 was voted one of the worst bus routes in London quite a few years ago, no doubt because routes 18 and 187 outsmart its duration and its unimpressive frequency. That is until I checked out the service change a few days ago, which was enjoying a much more noticeable frequency roughly making for a more reliable service. These new buses suit the 228, although despite better in person I am not too keen on the squeezed blinds for Central Middlesex Hospital. Overall, a decent update suggesting an improvement to this easy-to-criticise route.
©London Bus Breh 2019.
Tower Transit route 23: Liverpool Street Station - Westbourne Park
Approaching Sussex Gardens (ES)
Route 23 received a downgrade of 11-reg DNs today, with all of its hybrid buses straying onto route 28 as part of the Notting Hill Carnival's usual unallocated working fun. I'm not quite sure why the newer 12-reg DNs have been sent to east London in favour of the popular and quite demanding central London route 23, its official allocation lacking a complete allocation of hybrids and more recently consisting of much older VNWs.
Curtailed to Harrow Road, Elgin Avenue for the Notting Hill Carnival.
©London Bus Breh 2016.
Tower Transit route 339: Leytonstone Station, Grove Green Road - Shadwell Station
Stratford City Bus Station (X)
Tower Transit introduced a shorter 9.7m variant of the Wright StreetLite DF to route 339 on 11 January 2019. A nice addition, but even at low speeds rolling the rear wheels on uneven road surfaces seems to create aggressive feedback - interesting as they are fitted in pairs so should absorb more of the impact than the front wheels - which spoils an otherwise standard drive.
©London Bus Breh 2019.
Tower Transit route W14: Leyton, Superstores - Woodford Bridge
Departing Leyton Mills (F), towards Oliver Road (G)
I have understood that route 236 has received a PVR decrease to 14 from 17, releasing 3 StreetLites from its batch WV46201-220 as spares at Lea Interchange (LI). This explains why the WVs have started to stray onto routes 488 and W14, allowing me to finally get a working that has mocked me on two occasions by curtailing before reaching where I would wait for it (my initial attempt mentioned in the comments to this photo taken almost two years ago). The photo has come out quite noisy, though, my lack of photos in low light recently making me a bit rusty in these conditions!
The three spare WVs, currently non-specific in terms of fleet-codes, are planned to introduce route 228 to Tower Transit who have won a new contract to the route with existing and new buses starting from 19 January 2019.
©London Bus Breh 2018.
Tower Transit route 23: Liverpool Street Station - Westbourne Park
Departed St. Mary's Hospital (G), towards Paddington Station (F)
I have jumped on these new EvoSetis once. I envisioned the buses to look good at night with the green and grey retro-style interior of Tower Transit and they do not disappoint. The driver's average speed was less satisfying, but that did not undermine the ride quality.
The hybrid system is effective, as expected from the B5LH chassis: electric drive hinted at how great a service the 23 would be if it was fully allocated electric double-decker buses.
TfL recently proposed a significant change for route 23 to run from Lancaster Gate to Wembley Park. I suggested Maida Vale to Wembley Park. Either way, route 23 is unlikely to serve here from 2018 onwards. Check out my review: The West End Consultation.
©London Bus Breh 2017.
Tower Transit route 23: Westbourne Park - Liverpool Street Station
Approaching Elkstone Road / Great Western Road (L)
Ahead of the controversial Baker Street / Finchley Road service changes are introductions from batch MV38201-51, Tower Transit's first purchase from MCV Bus & Coach. The new buses have been running along route 23 but are partly for the 13 - a renumbering of the current route 82 - which joins Tower Transit from Westbourne Park on 1 April 2017.
The full purchase also consists of vehicles for Tower Transit's double-decker conversion of route 308 which has been overdue since 4 March. I don't understand why the 'H' for hybrid has been discarded from the 'MV' fleetcode given to this bus type under TT's fleet: 'MVH' would have been calm alongside the DNHs.
Route 23 is one of many routes subject to change in central London. Check out my review: The West End Consultation.
©London Bus Breh 2017.
Transit Systems Burwood Volvo B12BLE CB60 Evo II 4904 waits for time at International Airport operating route 420 to Burwood
I have seen some Marshall Capital buses roaming around Westbourne Park (X) recently. These are now driver trainers and it's good to see the single-decker bus about from time to time. You can still catch them in service in east London, Lea Interchange (LI) allocating DM41444-41445 to route 339.
Route 223, which stops by Wembley Park Station, had wonderful Marshall Capital buses but were withdrawn a few years ago in favour of the Enviro200 Dart. The best of the bus type came from Westbourne Park (X) on then single-decker route 328 but Wright-Volvo B7TL buses were purchased to convert many of the garage's routes to double-decker operation. Willesden Junction (WJ) route 187 kept the Marshall Capitals going strong until Enviro200s were introduced in 2008, DM41444-41445 staying in service for the route until 2011 when the buses moved to east London for the 339.
©London Bus Breh 2015.
Tower Transit route 28: Wandsworth, Southside Shopping Centre - Kensal Rise Station
Departed Westbourne Park Station (A), towards Harrow Road (C)
Tower Transit have started fitting white displays to the 62-reg VNs for route 28 ahead of contract renewal in April.
©London Bus Breh 2016.
Tower Transit route 58: Walthamstow, Bus Station - East Ham, Central Park
Approaching Edith Road (E)
Tower Transit retained route 58 from Lea Interchange (LI) on 4 March 2017. The route has kept its existing B9TL-Gemini 2 buses, adding new EvoSetis to its allocation from batch MV38235-51 ordered with the contract renewal to route 308.
I didn't manage to explore route 58 onboard one of its buses. A 20-minute gap in its unreliable service encouraged me to walk a considerable length of the route, instead. At least this opened the opportunity for me to explore and get a photo in a quieter and more residential section of the route I would have otherwise bypassed.
©London Bus Breh 2017.
Tower Transit route 28: Kensal Rise Station - Wandsworth, Southside Shopping Centre
Palace Gardens Terrace / Notting Hill Gate (K)
Starts from Notting Hill Gate during Notting Hill Carnival.
©London Bus Breh 2015.
Tower Transit route 266: Brent Cross, Shopping Centre - Hammersmith, Upper Bus Station
Willesden Green Station (A)
Route 266 has gone from having a strict allocation of decent buses with an unimpressive service to recently sparking interest by using WNs and VHs, from my observations with a decent service contrary to what has been said about the route.
©London Bus Breh 2016.
Tower Transit route 28: Wandsworth, Southside Shopping Centre - Kensal Rise Station
Notting Hill Gate Station, Palace Gardens Terrace.
Curtailed to Notting Hill Gate Station during the Notting Hill Carnival.
©London Bus Breh 2015.
Tower Transit route 70: South Kensington Station - Chiswick, Business Park
Great Western Road (M)
After many postponements of this service change last year, route 70 was finally extended from Acton High Street to Chiswick Business Park last weekend.
©London Bus Breh 2016.
The Kiev Metro, or Kyiv Metro (Ukrainian: Ки́ївський метрополіте́н, translit. Kyjivskyj metropoliten, IPA: [ˈkɪjiu̯sʲkej metropolʲiˈtɛn]) is a metro system that is the mainstay of Kiev's public transport. It was the first rapid transit system in Ukraine and the third one built in the Soviet Union (after Moscow and St Petersburg Metros). It has three lines with a total length of 67.56 kilometers (41.98 mi) and 52 stations. The system carries 1.331 million passengers daily (2015), accounting for 46.7% of Kiev's public transport load (as of 2014). In 2016, the metro carried 484.56 million passengers. The deepest station in the world, Arsenalna (at 105.5 m or 346.1 ft), is found on the system.
Ex Whippet, now with Harrogate Coach Travel. Nathan Merryweather in charge. He very kindly paused until I'd got my shot.
Tower Transit route 212: St. James Street Station - Chingford Station
St. James Street Station.
Tower Transit purchased VH38101-38111 for Lea Interchange (LI) route 212 when they won the route from CT Plus earlier this year. These buses seem a nice drive; the gear changes barely hinders acceleration unlike most Volvo B5LH buses and are arguably the best Volvo hybrids in London.
©London Bus Breh 2015.
Tower Transit route N28: Camden Town, Bayham Street - Wandsworth, Southside Shopping Centre
Hartland Road / Camden Market (CQ)
©London Bus Breh 2016.
Tower Transit route W15: Hackney, Town Hall - Higham Hill, Cogan Avenue Estate
Morning Lane bus stand.
Three loaned Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dennis Dart SLF buses (DP42600-602) were supposed to be introduced to the extended route 308 today, however they have strayed onto Walthamstow-prefixed routes W14 and W15, the latter pictured on stand just off the Hackney Mare Street where the route's displayed terminus of Hackney Town Hall is situated.
©London Bus Breh 2014.
Tower Transit route 31: White City, Bus Station - Camden Town Station, Bayham Street
Approaching Rudolph Road (KC)
Notting Hill Carnival Sunday this year gave us the workings we were certain of expecting. It looked as if Carnival Monday was going to be the same, then routes 31 and 328 did the predictable but unexpected by introducing DNs and DNHs to service.
One of my early years' local routes, I fell in love with the Marshall Capitals on routes 28, 31 and 328 especially. TN/TNLs succeeded before VNW/VNZs were introduced alongside. It was fantastic to see multiple more recent buses working these routes, the only other buses besides the two aforementioned being very rare VNs.
©London Bus Breh 2014.
Tower Transit route 236: Hackney Wick - Finsbury Park Station
Approaching Trelawney Estate (C)
Tower Transit retained route 236 from Lea Interchange (LI) with new Wright StreetLite buses on 29 April 2017. The door-forward variant purchased are the garage's second batch of the type, WV46201-220 entering service a few weeks late from 19 May.
Routes 236 and 444 commonly intermix their batch of vehicles, route RV1 the latest unallocated attraction of Lea Interchange's StreetLites. The 236 is a surprisingly frequent residential route, formerly allocated Marshall Capitals I'm sure I used to see navigating their way through Ridley Road Market when I was younger.
However, the narrow roads that it serves makes for a more meticulous drive, so in this respect the 236 has got nothing on the balance between residential and motorway sections of route 444. Nevertheless, it's good to see Tower Transit making orders from different manufacturers to make for a varied fleet of generally good quality buses.
©London Bus Breh 2017.
Tower Transit route 25: Oxford Circus, Holles Street - Ilford, Hainault Street
Departing Holles Street (OG), towards Great Titchfield Street / Photographers Gallery (OJ)
Hurrying this explains why this photo of one of few bus transfers from Westbourne Park (X) to Lea Interchange (LI) is not as central as I would have liked. A small number of 61-reg VNs, formerly allocated to route 295, can be seen in service on the 25 showing off new white displays.
©London Bus Breh 2015.
Tower Transit route 13: Victoria Station - North Finchley, Bus Station
Approaching Lyndale Avenue (K)
Route 82 was 'withdrawn' to become route 13 on 1 April 2017. Previously operated by Metroline, Tower Transit won the contract to the renumbered service, introducing to it their first MCV manufactured buses, MV38201-35.
I shall try to review the controversial Baker Street / Finchley Road service changes soon on London Connected.
©London Bus Breh 2017.
Tower Transit route N31: Camden Town, Bayham Street - Clapham Junction Station
Approaching Camden High Street (J)
©London Bus Breh 2016.
Tower Transit route 328: Golders Green, Bus Station - Chelsea, World's End
Approaching Ashmore Road (S)
©London Bus Breh 2014.
Tower Transit route 23: Westbourne Park - Liverpool Street Station
Departed Sussex Gardens (EE), towards George Street (EH)
Tower Transit have loaned five buses on the Dennis Trident 2 chassis (TAL33200-33205). This marks the return of the vehicle type to Westbourne Park (X). These buses have Stagecoach London origins, evident from the interior colours. Interestingly, these buses were in service for the operator only earlier this year before withdrawal and selling to Ensignbus.
©London Bus Breh 2014.