Weekly Summary - March 1st

As this is the first edition of the series, I shall attempt to briefly explain the format of these quick publications. They will consist of any news or events which have occurred in the past week, along with anything worth covering for the next two weekends.

This week in action:

•  As of Sunday 24th February, the one-way system around Gloucester Place and Baker Street has been scrapped, in favour of both roads becoming two way. As ever, TfL's delivery has been poor with the initial opening delayed and filled with a diversion due to a overhanging tree. The bus stops contain incorrect information since they have just been taken from their previous positions - Selfridges is now located near Baker Street Station according to this and TfL have had to draft in stewards to force buses to actually stop there! There is no clue as to which bus routes are serving which street, given the online information hasn't been updated, whilst the traffic has still been a problem even with the new system. What a mess!
•  On the same day a rail-tour of the art-deco 1938 stock London Underground train took place, with locations ranging from Ealing Common to Moorgate and Baker Street.
• After a considerable amount of time in absence, London's only BCI tri-axle bus, TA1, has returned to service on the 12.
• Given that the 4-car Class 710 Aventra trains were meant to upgrade the Gospel Oak to Barking line in February 2018, people have started to wonder if they will ever be able to accumulate fault-free mileage and enter service. However, just as the temporary "solution" has been implemented, there have been actual sightings of these trains whizzing up and down the line over the past few days, finally showing some signs of progress. It'll be a while before they start picking up passengers - a Class 37 locomotive did have to follow directly behind in the likely to event of breakdown - but the earlier they can enter service the better.
• Rare workings have been few and far between this week, with the only examples being an Enviro 400 MMC (EH222) on the N1, a long Enviro 200 (DEL2062) on the 268, along with two smart hybrid MMCs (11067 and 11068) on the 61.
• VWH1362 is said to be the first Metroline Wrightbus Gemini 2 B5LH to return from a refurbishment.
• It has been confirmed that, contrary to popular belief, the 406 will be using Scania OmniCity vehicles for its new contract in June.
• A rather baffling mix-up has occurred with the new ADL Enviro 200 MMCs which Metroline have ordered for their takeover of the 393 later this month. Although they specified 9.7m DEM-class vehicles, photographs of them speeding down the motorway on delivery seem to suggest that they are actually much longer. 
• One Scania OmniCity vehicle, SP160, is still active on route E3.
• LDP206, one of the oldest Go-Ahead London Dart Pointer vehicles, has been withdrawn.

This weekend - 2nd/3rd March:

• Route 15H will take a break from operation this month - the last weekday service ran on Friday 1st March and after between the first and last weekend of March, it will not operate. After this, the route will return at summer weekends and public holidays only.
• Stagecoach London lose the 158 (Stratford to Chingford Mount) just after midnight on Saturday 2nd March, with this change reducing the number of Trident ALX400s in service rapidly. Arriva will take over with a mixture of Wrightbus Gemini 2s in the form of both DB300s and B9TLs.
• Rail replacements are in action this weekend from Clapham Junction to Surrey Quays, Twickenham and Kew Bridge (last two Sunday only), Stratford to Romford, Sandilands to Elmers End and Barking to Grays via Rainham.

Next weekend - 9th/10th March:

• On the Saturday route 27 will be curtailed to Hammersmith Bus Station, whilst the 440 will be restructured. From South Acton it will no longer go through Chiswick Park, Turnham Green, Wellesley Road then to Power Road. Instead it will serve Chiswick Business Park and Wellesley Road to terminate at Turnham Green.
• Rail replacements can be found from Stratford to Romford, Sandilands to Elmers End and Barking to Grays via Rainham, Lewisham to Orpington (Saturday), Orpington to Sevenoaks (Sunday) and London Bridge to Streatham (Sunday).

Thanks for reading and stay safe!