Metroline's Frog Exchange & Enviro Shuffle

Since 2015, Metroline have consistently ordered Wrightbus Gemini 3 B5LH buses for their recent contract gains and renewals, with the latest examples often called"frogfaces" by enthusiasts. A huge number of these vehicles have started to enter service recently, primarily for routes 260, 302 and 17. However, the buses couldn't simply enter service on their designated routes, as these modified Gemini 3's have a long rear overhang, which prevents them from working routes 4 (which was originally meant to receive these buses in September 2017) and 17. However, the buses had already been ordered before route testing, so some re-shuffling was necessary in order to have the right buses allocated to the right route. Additionally, some of the cleaner, more technologically advanced buses will be diverted onto Central London routes in an attempt to improve air quality, meaning that Greater London buses are being downgraded to cast-offs.

Metroline VWH1415 arrives at Willesden Bus Garage after a route 52 journey.

Due to increasing pollution levels in Central London, the 52 will require brand new Euro 6 hybrid buses. However, the contract isn't due to be awarded until 2019, so some new vehicles have to be sourced from elsewhere. The 260 (which is also based at Willesden Bus Garage) was recently retained with brand new Wrightbus Gemini 3 B5LH vehicles, which are compatible with "green bus corridors" in Zone 1, so these buses will be used on the 52 instead, with the 260 taking the existing Gemini 2 vehicles (see above for illustration) currently on the 52. However, due to a ticket machine shortage, the 260 is still using the old Volvo President vehicles that have been the mainstay on the route for many years, even though the contract was retained on Saturday 24th June 2017! By December, all of Willesden's Central London routes will be operated by Euro 6 Wrightbus Gemini 3 B5LH vehicles, as a result of more contract renewals and even more new Gemini 3's for the 6 and 98.

Metroline Travel VWH2314 pauses en route to Mill Hill Broadway, working the 302.

The one route at Willesden Bus Garage that has received the correct type of bus is the 302, running between Mill Hill Broadway and Kensal Rise. Although the route is extremely popular and creates many new links, residents at the Southern end of the route have always complained about it, stating that it "always runs empty" and "should be withdrawn from the area." There were also some complaints about noise from the roaring Volvo President buses, so hopefully the Kensal Rise area is grateful for their brand new quiet buses. This route was also retained on Saturday 24th June 2017, but the process of introducing buses onto this route has been very slow, with the majority of the allocation consisting of the older vehicles almost two months later! Hopefully some ticket machines can be sourced and the 302 can gain the new buses it deserves sooner or later, until it's robbed like all of its fellow outer London routes!

Metroline Travel VWH2017 departs Ludgate Circus on a route 17 journey to London Bridge.

On Saturday 22nd July 2017, the contract for route 17 was renewed with a batch of Wrightbus Gemini 3 B5LH vehicles, although these aren't the buses originally ordered for the contract. The newer "frogface" examples have a longer rear overhang, which resulted in an unsuccessful route test on the 17. However, the new buses had already been ordered for the contract, and some shorter vehicles that still complied with the latest tough emission standards had to be sourced for the fast approaching contract renewal. Before the upgraded Wrightbus Gemini 3 B5LH was made available, a temporary model was ordered for a handful of new contracts around 2014/15 (often known as the "smiley-face" by enthusiasts) which is just as clean as the latest examples, but also has a shorter rear overhang. A batch of 23 of these vehicles were working the 7, running between Oxford Circus and East Acton, a route with a similar Peak Vehicle Requirement to the 17. As a result, the former 7 buses (VWH2001-2023) are being transferred to Holloway (HT) garage for the 17 contract, with green blinds fitted from existing fleet at HT, whilst the 7 has been upgraded with the brand new vehicles originally destined for the 17. This efficient swap ensures that all contract standards are met, but the vehicles are also suitable for their respective routes.

VWH2296 stands at Oxford Circus on its first day in service on route 17.

Routes 4 and 17 have always been seen as the neglected routes at Holloway (HT) garage, with the oldest buses in the garage consistently appearing on these routes over anything else, even though they spend a considerable amount of time in Central London. Lots of enthusiasts were delighted that new buses were finally being prioritised for these routes (the 4 is scheduled to convert on Saturday 30th September 2017), although when both routes failed their route tests for the new buses ordered, it was announced that these routes would be receiving cast-offs instead (the 4 will receive existing "smiley-face" Gemini 3's from either Willesden or Potters Bar), further contributing to the constant degradation of these forgotten routes at Holloway (HT) garage. The 7, on the other hand, has always been one of Metroline's favourite routes, being allocated the unique Scania Olympus buses before 2014. It was also the second route in London to receive Wrightbus Gemini 3 B5LH "smiley-face" vehicles (Metroline's first batch), and now it has unexpectedly received brand new vehicles again, without a contract renewal prompting them! Instead of ordering various separate batches, Metroline decided that one large chunk of buses for all of the routes would be easier to handle, so some of the buses currently found on the 7 were originally destined for route 260, and carry Willesden (AC) garage code.! These buses have used existing blinds from the "smiley face" vehicles previously allocated to the route, so this swap also removed the need for ordering any new blinds. Hopefully regular users of route 7 are grateful for yet another batch of new buses, and the 4/17 commuters also (will) appreciate their modest upgrade.

The latest fleet shuffle across Metroline garages involved finding a large number of ADL Enviro 400 vehicles for their latest win, a temporary contract for the 266, a route they used to operate five years ago.

Tower Transit VH38118 is seen at Acton Old Town Hall, on a route 266 journey to Hammersmith.

Since Tower Transit started operating route 266 in June 2013, they've been slammed for their poor performance and constant failure to meet low targets. Sometimes the service was fairly decent, although mileage was a large issue and large gaps were a common occurrence. The allocation consisted of a dedicated batch of Wrightbus Gemini 2 B9TL vehicles which were inherited from First London's brief stint on the route from 2012-2013, but towards the end of the contract some Wrightbus Gemini 3 B5LH vehicles strayed onto the route, such as the bus seen above. The route was based at Atlas Road (AS) garage for the majority of the contract, conveniently located in the middle of the route, but for the last month the 266 was based at Westbourne Park (X) garage as the expansion was complete, resulting in the closure of Atlas Road. Upon tendering, the service was lost to Metroline, the same company who operated the route before 2012. Enthusiasts speculated that the route would be based at Willesden Junction (WJ) garage due to their available space, although the route returned to Cricklewood (W) after an absence of five years, on Saturday 29th July 2017.

Metroline Travel TE1090 pauses at Willesden Lane en route to Hammersmith on the first day of operation. I bet you're all delighted that you have the opportunity to play 'spot the enthusiast' here.

 Due to the high PVR of this long route, a large number of ADL Enviro 400 vehicles had to be sourced from multiple garages for the new contract. Around 50% of the buses have transferred from Potters Bar (PB) garage, following the loss of route 217 to Sullivan Buses. They have been refurbished recently and contain new inserts that display "Hammersmith Bus Station", which is a little confusing as there are two bus terminals there! The rest of the buses on the 266 were formerly allocated to the 113 at Edgware (EW) garage; these have been replaced by TEH-class ADL E40H vehicles that have transferred from Cricklewood (W) garage, enabling the 113 to convert to 100% hybrid operation (which means 80% in practice). Many enthusiasts were angry that the route has received some 11 year old vehicles for the changeover, although the 266 is on a special 2-year temporary contract due to route modifications in conjunction with Crossrail, meaning that the vehicles should still be in a decent condition towards the end. As the route is becoming very difficult to operate due to its impressive length, TFL have proposed to curtail the 266 to Acton High Street, meaning that it will no longer serve Acton Vale or Hammersmith, although the night service will be maintained for the whole route, with the Brent Cross-Hammersmith through trips re-numbered "N266". The daytime replacements will consist of DD route 306 (running between Acton Vale and Fulham Sands End) and SD route 218 (running between Hammersmith and North Acton). Click here for a link to the consultation, where you can share your views on the 266 restructuring with TFL themselves by submitting a response.

Metroline Travel TA642 pauses at Willesden Green Station. Ironically, these ALX400 vehicles were used on the 266 for the previous contract before 2012!

The first day was rather dramatic, as the new Metroline schedule hadn't been updated into the TFL system, resulting in buses not appearing on countdown screens or London Vehicle Finder, which made chasing the solitary Trident ALX400 on the route rather difficult! Despite the technical difficulties, Metroline have made a promising start, with a generally reliable service since the first day, which makes me think that the curtailment of the route could potentially be unnecessary, and perhaps the service can be operated sustainably with a dedicated operator. Although the ADL Enviro 400 buses have made up the majority of the allocation since the new contract, some of the 6 Trident ALX400 vehicles based at Cricklewood (W) garage have strayed onto the route, which has been amusing for some enthusiasts as these vehicles were used on the previous contract before 2012. Even though regular users of route 266 have received a downgrade in terms of vehicle type, the service has improved significantly and hopefully Metroline can keep up the good work for the next 28 months.

Thanks for reading and stay safe!