Weekly Summary - March 8th

It's been a really quiet week on the buses, with hardly any news worth reporting. Nonetheless, a few rare workings and some 'vintage' events for those interested will be happening over the next two weekends.

This week in action:

• Some progress has been made in regards to the misplaced bus stop reading 'Selfridges' at the top end of Baker Street. The incorrect name is yet to be corrected, although some of the right routes have been installed with the use of a permanent marker.
• The first brand new ADL Enviro 400 MMC smart hybrids have been delivered for Twickenham (TF) garage for route 207, which Abellio will take over in April.
• Route 15H has taken a break from operation and will return on Saturday 30th March, on weekends and public holidays only.
• Arriva successfully assumed operation of the 158 on Saturday 2nd March, with the Gemini 2 B9TLs and DB300s being much newer than the previous allocation of Trident ALX400s ; most of these have been stood down.
• New MCV EvoSeti B5LH and existing ADL Enviro400H vehicles have entered service at Holloway (HT) garage, primarily on routes 43 and 271 respectively, in an attempt to 'clean up' their allocations in time for the Ultra Low Emission Zone. Those Volvo/B7TL Presidents won't be around for much longer!
• Two Dart Pointers are still active on route 72 at London United.
• Arriva London's Wrightbus Streetdeck micro-hybrid has transferred from Norwood (N) garage to Palmers Green (AD) and can now be found on the 141.
• Rare workings have been even more sparse this week, with an Optare Versa on the 413 and a technically overweight E200 MMC on the 33 being of significance on the single deck front. Interestingly, over at Rainham (RM) garage the Enviro 400 19000, better known as 'Spirit of London', strayed onto route 372 for half a rounder (banditised) instead of sticking to the 248 and 252

 This weekend - 9th/10th March:

• On the Saturday route 27 will be curtailed to Hammersmith Grove (with a shortened route N27 being introduced to terminate at the 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).

Next weekend - 17th/18th March:

•  Although technically not at the weekend, Friday 15th March marks Red Nose Day 2019 and this year a large number of operators will be sending out Routemasters and other vintage double deckers on Central London routes, with donations to charities of their choice. Confirmed routes are the 2 (Arriva London), 8 (Stagecoach London), 9 (London United), 14 (Go-Ahead London), 23 (Tower Transit) and 24 (Metroline). Interestingly, one route 9 journey at 1330 will continue from Hammersmith to Liverpool Street, with a return at 1513
• Rail replacements are in action from West Croydon to Sutton and Epsom Downs, Streatham to Epsom, Stratford to Romford, Lewisham to Dartford via Woolwich (Sunday) and Hounslow to Staines/Windsor (Sunday).
• Courtesy of Visions International, a London bus tour is scheduled to take place on Saturday 16th March, based on the programme "On The Buses" it involves taking an RT through a variety of relevant locations in North London, including the former Eastern National Wood Green garage and the current Sullivan Buses base at South Mimms.  

Thanks for reading and stay safe!