LDN; route 29- double decks return- a mix of old and new

Route 29 reverted to double deck operation as of this Saturday.The contract to run the route is with Arriva, and the current contract will terminate next year.
The replacing contract [to run route 29 for 5 extendible to 7 years] is currently being tendered.

Therefore, Arriva- who run the contract now, negotiated with London Buses that the order for 33 new Wright integral buses[DWs]for route 243 would be used instead on route 29, and the 9 buses would be older - from fleet reserves [VLWs].

When the new contract starts in 2013, new buses would be specified; the new buses in use on route 29 would be transferred to route 243.

Is is complicated, but this is the cost of withdrawing the articulated buses early!

Here is new DW497, and existing and older VLW85 on route 29 shown in the fading winter sunny afternoon at Harrington Square.

Note: Prior to the arrival of articulated buses, the 29 was worked by DLAs, DLPs [i.e. Dafs with alx400 or Plaxton bodies] and VLWs.

regards

Yoram

Why are there shallower windows for staircase in 1st photo?

原帖由 abh 於 2011-11-29 07:31 發表
Why are there shallower windows for staircase in 1st photo?

for the placement of ventilation unit

It's weird to see a 9-year-old bus being deployed to a showcase central London route...
I hope the Bendis stay longer rather, though the B7TLs are not bad too.

it's politics!
the mayor of London insisted that all articulated buses are withdrawn by the end of 2011, regardless of the costs.
Route 29 will be re-offered for tender, starting in 2013.
Naturally, the current operator- Arriva- will not buy new buses for the route,because they may well loose the route to another operator.

in the meanwhile, Wood Green- the garage operating the 29- is due to get new E400 tridents for routes 144 &221 in early 2012. One wonders if some of those new buses would not be used on the 29 instead...: Lol

regards

Yoram