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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 11, 2022 16:40:51 GMT
I feel all the more strongly in favour of this now that it is run from PM and no longer from C.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 11, 2022 16:35:25 GMT
When route 1 replaces route 168, I have visions of ServerKing creating a newspaper article about route 168 rising from the ashes and being awarded to Arriva.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 11, 2022 16:25:51 GMT
Here's routes I'd like to see go back to their original operators: Arriva to regain routes 24, 68/N68, 109, 125, 159, 168, 176, 379, 382, 407, 432, 444 Abellio to regain routes 112, 117, 235, 322, K1, K3, G1 Metrobus to regain routes 64, 75, 130, 146, 246, 261, 367, 405, 433, 464, R7 Go-Ahead London (the rest of the company) to regain routes 45, 85, 229, 270, 345, 401, 422 RATP to regain routes 27, 57, 81, 120, 222, 267, S4 Stagecoach to regain routes 15, 30, 69, 103, 269 Metroline to regain routes 18 Tower Transit to regain route 70, 295 Today is the first time I'm finally reading this thread in detail. I would like many of these to return to the respective operators you mention. However, in a handful of cases these would represent routes returning to their previous not their original operators. Some I notice include 176 at Q until 1990, 117 at AV until 1986, 322 at N until 1995, 75 at TL until 2014, 130 at TC until 2003, 146 at TB until 1985 and 295 at S until 1992. I realise that you mean original operator you noticed them with rather than the operator they originated with. But yes, we will inevitably see sentimental value in routes with operators as discovered. So I understand exactly how you feel.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 11, 2022 6:34:21 GMT
I suspect Connex threw in a few cheap bids as they were expanding massively at that time, 60 was picked up 1st September that year, 157 as you say 1st December, 196 in May 5th, 315 on 28th April, 405 on 21st April, and then in the new year, the G1 in May January 2002 as prior to this, they'd started operating the 3 & 322 the previous year Also Sutton gained the 413 at the same time and still had the 293 till 2003 (on a SCC contract from 2000) so it's likely the 157 would have had to move out to AL probably. Had it still been with Go Ahead it would likely have moved to C when it opened in 2005 or 06. Except that route 157 already left AL in 1988 (the AL & TH allocations moving to A) as part of the original SuttonBus scheme.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 7:24:20 GMT
It's early days yet, and news resulting from the change of Prime Minister has of course been abruptly halted by the death of the Queen.
However, early indications were that the change of PM had not lifted the Tories' fortunes in the polls. She could yet be the first PM for decades whose party was persistently behind in the polls.
Plus, if she loses the next General Election, she would still be at least 6 months short of her 50th birthday and the youngest ex-PM for decades.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 7:08:07 GMT
Don't know if this exactly counts as a ceased bus company, but here goes. Just been announced that McGills are to take over the operations of First Scotland East, lock, stock and barrel, from 19 September. This is interesting news in itself. It means we can then ride from Gourock to Edinburgh on just McGills buses. I would not however consider it a ceased bus company. Really just a "realignment" between First and McGills.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 7:04:59 GMT
The change will take effect from Monday 19th September.
As I shall be in Edinburgh next weekend, I shall see First buses there on their final day.
As an aside, I shall ride McGills and West Coast Motors owned buses in Dundee (Xplore Dundee) and Galashiels (Borders Buses) respectively. I shall therefore have done all owners of the privatised bus industry in 2021 or 2022!
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 6:56:41 GMT
When route 90 moves to PV, will these be the first VMHs there?
With Athlone Road due to operate routes 83 & 297, this could soon (though not initially) be planned to be an all-electric garage.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 6:53:08 GMT
The VWs on the 83, 297 and 483 will be free. Will they be the first Metroline travel VWs withdrawn or moved elsewhere within Metroline to help withdraw the older buses within the Metroline fleet? The ex First London VWs will probably most likely be withdrawn. Even the VWs on routes E2 & E8 are vulnerable when the new tender term starts next year (results awaiting).
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 6:51:22 GMT
Your last point about RP isn’t accurate , given RATP have X / V and S close by to decanter routes in if they need to. While that is true for the 18/220/224/228/266/440, the 223/258 would be too far from the garages you suggest, and currently the Sovereign garages are all at full capacity, even more so now with some buses parked overnight at the golf course. The only way that could work if RP were to close, is if the 698/X140 move to HH, then 258 to SO and 223 to CP. Maybe routes 223 & 258 would move to SO, route 183 to BT and route 13 back to X (as it is due to return to BT in January) ?
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 6:44:45 GMT
I think 417 will get 242’s HVs if retained and if the 242 withdrawal goes ahead Forgot about the 242. I was thinking the HAs off the 78 would be factored into the 417. Maybe that is why the 157 and 417 are slightly delayed as a more firm decision is awaited on the future of the 78 and 242. Route 417 may have had its result delayed a little, as the tender is due to commence next August. I didn't think route 157 was due to commence until December 2023 though.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 6:41:36 GMT
Where are you expecting the rest of the pvr to come from? There is precedent for partial LT conversions, notably the 176. Route 5 is still part LT, topped up by EHs. I spotted an EH on route 5 at Canning Town inbetween my DLR and Jubilee Line rides but forgot about LTs. Admittedly it was a south east London trip, meaning I would not have stopped off for any bus rides at Canning Town.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 6:36:03 GMT
Don't believe this was mentioned here yet. London United planned to strike again on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th September. This despite rail (and post) staff suspending their strikes while the country is mourning the loss of the Queen.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 6:33:30 GMT
They missed the takeover date if its January 2022!! 😂 I haven’t seen anything official yet but I believe it’s because of the ongoing staffing issue at RATP that they cannot take up the 226 next month. The new 226 takeover date should coincide with 142/642 takeover on 7/1/23 which goes the other way. Didn’t something similar happen a year or two back where one change was delayed couple of months to coincide with a change going other way, forgotten the routes that it happened too. The 176 & 188 swap was implemented on the same day in 2017, even though the official contract expiry dates were 2 weeks apart.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 10, 2022 6:30:24 GMT
Ain’t it weird how Stagecoach took most routes that were at First’s DM garage like the 165, 179, 193, 252, 365, 498 and 499 through tender wins then they took the LI route though purchases and now gained the 26, 309, 385, W11, W12, W16, W19, N550 and N551 when they purchased the HCT tender results. They also gained the 25 and 425 though tender wins. Weird. In a way. Mind you, most of the routes that worked from DM, LI, HK & AW are now with Stagecoach. So are former EnsignBus routes, some of which are the same as in the former category. East London no longer has the most competition in London. If anything, the greatest variety is now in north London, due to Sullivan and Uno.
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