Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSC, CMILT.

Welcome to the September 2017 edition of Busmopolitan.

Unfortunately, there was another terrorist attack in London on 15/9/17, with the District Line on the Underground being targeted. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt, but it shows that we must continue to be on our guard.

Out in the provinces, the usual shuffle of local bus contracts has now settled, and this was followed by many changes to school contracts, for the new academic year. Panther Travel has meanwhile launched a new commercial service – X15, offering a more direct link between Harwich and Colchester than incumbent operator First.

At First Essex, repaints into Refreshed livery seem to be gathering pace, while on the railway, the entry to service of the new Class 345 EMUs for Crossrail is advancing, with the first withdrawals of Class 315s taking place.

And in the skies, Ryanair has caused disquiet by announcing mass flight cancellations into the autumn, due to “a staff shortage”. Up to 18000 flights are reported affected. The “shortage” is actually down to poor personnel rostering, with apparently “too many staff booked for leave at any one time”.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (COLCHESTER).
The last bus in SxConnect livery, Volvo B7RLE/Wright 3818 (GN07 AVE) is now in Interurban colours.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (HARLOW).
Southend DAF SB120/Wright Cadet 3529 (LF02 PNE) was again on loan in September.
Optare Solo 1518 (YJ07 VRC) is delicensed.

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (SOUTHEND).

(John Podgorski).

Withdrawn is DAF SB120/Wright Cadet 3507 (KE51 PUO). It is pictured (above) in its previous life as a Transport for London contracted bus, at Upminster in March 2008. Route 370 is now double deck worked.
3507 was replaced by the reinstatement of DAF DB250LF/EL 6255 (FD02 UKK).
The ADL/Enviro 400 MMCs are no longer diagrammed to work on Sundays, their place being taken that day by Optare Versas. The MMCs have also appeared on rail replacement, marking a return by Arriva Southend to this work after several years. 6499 from this batch now has a tachograph.

ARRIVA LONDON NORTH.
Later model DW Class VDL300/Wright Gemini2s have arrived at Grays (GY) from north London (Tottenham), to replace VLA Class Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400s on TfL370 (Lakeside-Romford). Existing DWs have made appearances on TfL370 already. Those moved to GY are DW222/23/25/26/28/29/38-40/42/44. DW225 (LJ59 AEU) was the first noted. DW222/23 (LJ59 AEO/P) were observed later. The DWs will also be used when TfL 103 (Chase Cross-Rainham), 175 (Hillrise Estate-Dagenham New Road) are gained from Stagecoach in October. VLA operation at GY ceased at the end of September. The last were VLA111/15/16/18/19 (LJ05 BLZ, BKF/G/L/N) which are now delicensed and stored at Edmonton (EM).
Meanwhile, Barking (DX) has received DW250 (LJ59 AAV) from London South and DW326/29/31 from north London.

Above: DW225 at Lakeside on 2/9/17. (John Podgorski).

Further ex Arriva London South New Routemasters at Ash Grove (AE) are LT317/22/25.

ARROW TAXIS, MALDON.

Above: Mb Sprinter/UVM AY17 UVM, at Butler Road bus park, Halstead, on 1/9/17. It is on the ex Regal service to Sudbury. (Simon Austin).

Below: Sister AY17 UVL in Maldon on the first Saturday of D1 operation, 2/9/17. This is due to last for two months initially. (David Arnold).

BARKERBUS, ROYDON.
Sold is Setra S315 N11 HCL ex EK51 KZB.

Above: EOZ E180 H18 VEW departs Colchester North Station on 30/9/17, on GA RRP to Witham. (Simon Austin).

BLUE TRIANGLE.
Some of the ELT branded LTs have appeared on other routes; such as the 5 and 15.
LT950 was on 15 on 4/9/17. The ex Stagecoach LTs on TfL15 are currently running in red with LBL roundels but no fleet names.

Above: The second of the ex Blue Triangle Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2s, now with Metrobus, to be converted for use on TfL X26 (West Croydon-Heathrow Airport) is WVL343. It was seen at Kingston on 2/9/17. (Daniel Acott).

BRENTWOOD COACHES, HUTTON. Mercedes 0184D/Plaxton Cheetah YN60 FMC has passed to Bagnall, Swadlincote.

CHAMBERS.
Ex Anglian Bus Scania Omnidekka 556 (YN55 PZF) has been taken into stock, as no 1504.
Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 571 (W488 WGH) has transferred to Hedingham.
Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Mini Pointer 291 (EU06 KCX) was on loan from Hedingham in early September.
New contracts are some of the Hedingham School runs, shared with Hedingham Omnibuses.
Stanway Schoolbus 1 (Mount Bures-Wakes Colne Green-Chappel-The Teys) has been transferred from Hedingham.

Above: Dennis Trident/EL no 724 at Stanway School on 22/9/17. This and no 725 are not fitted for OPO, so are restricted to schools. (John Podgorski).

CHELMSFORD TAXIBUS.
VW LT46 welfare bus 102 (LF08 XGD) has passed to Wadsworth, Tamworth.

CITYJET.
New are CRJ900LRs EI-FPP/R.

COLAS RAIL.
6/9/17: 70808 on 6L37.
7/9/17: 66847 on 6L37. 70802 on 6L44 Oxwellmains-West Thurrock.
12/9/17: 60002 on 6L44 Oxwellmains-West Thurrock cement tanks, instead of usual ’70.
13/9/17: 37254 top and tailing 37057 on Network Rail inspection train on GEML and Harwich branch.
14/9/17: 60021 on 6L44 Oxwellmains-West Thurrock.
15/9/17: 70814 on 6L37.
18/9/17: 60076 on 6L44 and return on 19/9/17.
21/9/17: 60095 on 6L44.
26/9/17: 60021 on 6L44.
28/9/17: 60095 on 6L44.

DBS.
1/9/17: 66077 on Burton-Felixstowe.
4/9/17: 66040 on Wakefield-Felixstowe. 66061 on Burton-FLX. 66182 at Bow Olympic.
5/9/17: 66069 on 4L40 Cowley-Purfleet. 66102 at Bow Midland. 66182 at Bow Olympic.
6/9/17: 66102, 66198 at Bow. 66188 at Bow Olympic.
7/9/17: 66188 at Bow Olympic.
12/9/17: 66023 on 4L07 Burton-FLX. 66066, 66182 at Bow Olympic.
13/9/17: 66088 at Bow Olympic. 66102 at Bow Midland on Plasmor. 66171 on 4L45 Wakefield-FLX. 66199 on 4L07 Burton-FLX.
14/9/17: 66086 on Wakefield-FLX. 66133 on 4L07.
15/9/17: 66121 on Mountsorrel-Harlow Mill. 66199 on 4L07.
18/9/17: 59206 at Bow Midland. 66030 at Bow Olympic.
19/9/17: 66030 at Bow Olympic. 66135 on Mountsorrel-Harlow Mill but failed and replaced by 66102. 66176 on 4L07.
20/9/17: 66012 on 4L07.
21/9/17: 59004 at Bow Midland. 66070 at Bow Olympic. 66086 on 4L07.
22/9/17: 66012 on Wakefield-FLX. 66044 at Bow Olympic. 66133 on 4L07.
24/9/17: 66137 at Griffin Wharf, Ipswich on sand.
25/9/17: 59101 at Bow Midland. 66012 on Wakefield-FLX. 66013 on 4L07.
26/9/17: 66084 on Mountsorrel-Harlow Mill. 66116 on 6M67 Broxbourne-Mountsorrel. 66162 on Barrington-Wembley spoil.
27/9/17: 66197 on 4707.
28/9/17: 59203 at Chelmsford. 66004 on 6V47 Margam-Tilbury. 66034 at Ripple Lane on 6M95 from Peak Forest. 66089 on 6X77 Warrington-Dagenham Dock. 66100 at Bow on 6M50. 66114 on 4707. 66144 on Dagenham Dock-Ripple Lane trip. 66197 on 4M07.

DE VERE, SIBLE HEDINGHAM.
The Hennys-Lamarsh feeder for the Turners Hedingham School run, has passed to Chambers.

DOCKLANDS BUSES.
Most of the ex London General ADL/E200s on TfL100 (Wapping-Barbican) retained their MW depot codes in September, and the batch is generally kept to that route.

DRS.
5/9/17: 68001 + 37425 on 0Z19 Crewe Gresty Bridge-Norwich, seen Chelmsford @ 1320.
8/9/17 was the last day of Class 68 operation in East Anglia.
12/9/17: 37419 on Norwich-Willesden light engine, via GEML.
13/9/17; 57002 + 68034 seen passing Kelvedon @ 1220 on Willesden Brent-Norwich light engine move.
16/8/17: 68001 + 68034 on 1G03 Norwich-Liverpool Street excursion.
18/9/17: 37419 towing 57007 up GEML.37422 and Caroline on 2Z02 Richmond-Hackney.
28/9/17: 37716 hauling GA DVT 82112 on 5P94 Norwich-Ilford inter depot move. Seen Marks Tey @ 1124. 57002/007 on 0Z60 Tonbridge West Yard-Stowmarket light engine move via NLL and GEML.
29/9/17: 37716 towing GA 90007 on 0Z56 Norwich-Crewe light engine.

EASYJET.

Above: Airbus A320 G-EZBC at Jersey on 23/9/17, having just arrived from London Southend. (Colin Garnier).

ENSIGNBUS.
New is BCI Excellence 151 (LX67 DDU).
Vehicles sold are:
Dennis ADL/Enviro 200 GX09 AGZ and Dart SLF/Caetano Nimbus 798 to EOS London, Rainham; Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 156 to Carters of Kettering; ADL/Enviro 200 651 to Grant Palmer of Flitwick; Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400 903 to Goodwins of Eccles.
ADL/Enviro 200 701 (PX61 AXZ) has been written off due to fire damage.

Above; BCI Excellence no 146 begins its day’s work at Tilbury, Civic Square, on 2/9/17. (Daniel Disbury).

A staff contract has commenced for Amazon. It transports workers to the warehouse at Tilbury, from neighbouring towns.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 no 713 at Dorking station, Surrey on 10/9/17 – on an e-rail to West Croydon for Southern. (Chris Carmen).

EOS LONDON.
Ex Ensign are ADL/Enviro 200 GX09 AGZ and Dennis Dart SLF/Caetano Nimbus 798.
From 4/9/17, service 87 (Harlow-Staple Tye-Epping) became M-F peak hours only.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 KX58 BGY on the 87 at Epping station on 11/9/17. (Daniel Acott).

EUROSTAR.
373321/32 have gone to EMR, Kingsbury, for scrap.

Above: 373213 heads towards London at Rainham Marshes on 2/9/17. (John Podgorski).

FIRST ESSEX.

(Wayne Bell).

From First Potteries is Optare Solo 53209 (CN07 KZM). Solo 53123 (EO02 NFE) is back here via First Potteries. Both are at Chelmsford (CF). Another ex First Borders Scania L945UB/Wright Solar is 61230 (YM52 UWH) – seen (above) at Quayside depot on 19/9/17.
Dennis Trident/Plaxton Presidents 33186 (LT02 WVB), 33190 (LT52 XAA) have transferred from Colchester (CR) to Hadleigh (HH), while 33044 (LN51 DVH) was on loan from CR to HH during September. Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 69421/30/32/33 (AU58 FFH/S/V/W) are now at CF ex CR. Dennis Trident/Plaxton President 33086 (LN51 GMG) is back in use at CR, ex long term VOR.
Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400s 32087 (KP51 WBX) 32477 (AU53 HJN), B7TL/Wright Geminis 32628/31 (KP54 KAU, KBF) and Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 42932 (SN05 EAP) are now in Refreshed livery. 32477 was the last of its batch to be treated. All of the Solos are now in Refreshed colours, bar 53123.
Withdrawn is Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall Capital 41735 (X735 HLF).

Above: Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer 42933 at Brentwood (High Street) on ex Regal Essex CC route 565 on 6/9/17. (Simon Austin).

Below: ADL/Enviro 200 MMC 44660 at Willingale on 6/9/17, on ex NIBS Essex CC route 46. (Simon Austin).

Above: Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 32628, newly into Refreshed livery, heads into Colchester along Maldon Road on 23/9/17. (John Podgorski).

FLAGFINDERS.
Is running the Halstead-Honywood School (at Coggeshall) ‘Bus 3’ contract, on behalf of Hedingham.
Bova Futura GB55 FLG has received the new livery.
Scania K113/VH XIL 8427 is sold.

Above: GB55 FLG at Ipswich on GA RRP on 24/9/17. (John Podgorski).

FREIGHTLINER.

Above: 86607 at Ipswich in October 2003. Although in the newer livery, the picture is dated by the grey liveried ’86 and ’47 either side. (John Podgorski).

66501-66599, 66951-66956 are now all in the Intermodal Pool. The 66/6s are in the Heavy Haul Pool.

1/9/17: 66567 + 66543 on Lawley St-Felixstowe.
5/9/17: 86607 + 86628 on 4L91 Traffod Park-FLX.
12/9/17: Heavy Haul 66614 at Bow Olympic – on 6E80 to Tunstead.
13/9/17: Heavy Haul 66620 at Bow Olympiac. Intermodal 86614 on 4L91 to Ipswich.
14/9/17: 66953 + 66416 + 66531 on 4E22 Ipswich Leeds ! Lineside fire at Headstone Lane on WCML caused disruption and diversions.
18/9/17: 66606 on Bow-Barrow Hill. 66622 on West Thurrock-Tunstead.
24/9/17: 66520 and 66616 on Gidea Park engineer’s.
27/9/17: 66619 at Bow Midland.
28/9/17: 66760/65 at Felixstowe.
30/9/17: 66548 on Shenfield ‘Thunderbird’.

(John Podgorski).

GBRf.

Above: 66765 on an “up” intermodal at Ipswich on 9/9/17. (Simon Austin).

1/9/17: 66717 at Bow Midland.
5/9/17: 66726 at Bow Midland.
6/9/17: 66715 on 4M29. 66770 on 4L02. 66772 on Harwich-North Walsham Tanks.
10/9/17: 66715/51/64/78 at Ipswich on engineers’.
11/9/17: 66727 + 66754 with 2 tank wagons on Parkeston-Ipswich movement.
13/9/17: 66722 on 4Z81 Masborough-FLX. 66756 on 4Z26 FLX-Masborough. 66779 ‘Evening Star’ on 4M23 FLX-Hams Hall.
14/9/17: 66727 on 6A32 North Walsham-Parkeston Quay empty tanks. 66732 on 4M29 FLX-Basford Hall. 66744 on 4Z33 FLX-Doncaster. 66756 on 4Z26 FLX-Masborough. 16/9/17: 66732 on Birch Coppice-FLX.
17/9/17; 66705 + 66765 + 66753 + 66727 on 6P39 Peterborough=Parkeston Quay hauling 1 oil tanker.
18/9/17: 66756 on 4Z81 Masboro-FLX. 66765 + 66705 on 0L33 Ipswich-Felixstowe.
19/9/17: 66747 at Bow Midland.
20/9/17: 66753 on Harwich-North Walsham tanks and return.
21/9/17: 66754 on 4Z26 FLX-Masboro.
22/9/17: 66750 at Bow Midland. 66735 replaced 66709 on 4M29 FLX-Hams Hall.
24/9/17: 66760 + 761 + 765 on 0L33 Peterborough-Ipswich.
26/9/17: 66741 and 66766 on West Horndon-Whitemoor engineer’s. 66747 at Bow Midland. 66760 on 4M23. 66765 on 4M29.
27/9/17: 66721 at Bow Midland. 66761 on Harwich-North Walsham tanks.
28/9/17: 66761 on Harwich-North Walsham tanks.
30/9/17: 66774 at Kelvedon on 6T64 ballast train from Whitemoor (March).

(John Podgorski).

GOLDEN BOY COACHES, HODDESDON.
New is Mb Sprinter 516/UVM X-Clusive XO67 BOY.

GREAT NORTHERN.
8/9/17: Networker EMU 365511 on Hornsey-Ilford inter-depot move (via Stratford).

GREATER ANGLIA.

Above: Northumberland Park Station, looking south (towards central London), in August 2017. The London Underground Victoria Line depot is to the left. The strip of land in between, with the security hut, is where the Panther Travel shuttle buses are parked when not in use. The to be replaced level crossing is in the foreground. Ultimately this station will be replaced by a new structure, which will incorporate 4 through running lines. (Alex Hazell).

1/9/17: 170203 on Ilford-Ipswich ECS.
2/9/17: 321443 on 1P23 London to Norwich. Covering for failed 90008.
17/9/17; Renatus 321301 + 303 on 3Y17 Parkeston- Ipswich, then 1Y17 Stowmarket-Liverpool Street.
22/9/17: 317664 + 672 on Liverpool St-Braintree.
29/9/17: 317502 + 317514 on 1653 Liverpool St-Witham.
30/9/17: 317504 + 511 on 1F63 Liverpool St-Braintree. 317655 + 665 on 1F51 LST-BTE. 317656 + 666 on 1F30 LST-BTE.

HEDINGHAM.
From Chambers is Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 571 (W488 WGH). It is allocated to Clacton (CN) but may also work from Kelvedon (KN). It initially entered traffic at CN unbranded, except for Chambers route branding on the nearside, and then had a spell at KN.
Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Mini Pointer 291 (EU06 KCX) was loaned to Chambers in early September. 290 (EX02 RYR) moved from CN to KN on 11/9/17.
The first Saturday of Hedingham operation of 91, 95 (2/9/17), saw Volvo B7TL/Plaxton Presidents 573/74 (W491/506 WGH) in action.
From 4/9/17, 63, 82, 83 reverted to joint Clacton (CN)/Sible Hedingham (HD) operation. Over the summer vacation, HD had been the sole operator of these routes.
New school contract gains are of Hedingham School (from Turners), and Manningtree School (from Wards). Some of the Hedingham School runs are covered by Chambers.
There have been some changes to existing school contracts. Honywood 1 and 2, plus Plume 1 and 4 have been merged into single routes; Silver End-Coggeshall and Tollesbury-Maldon respectively. The latter is virtually a duplicate of registered service 95A and is numbered PL1. PL5 (Mundon-Plume) is now PL4. Honywood schoolbus 4 (Easthorpe), and 122 (Birch-Stanway School) are back at Kelvedon (KN) from Sible Hedingham (HD).  Honywood schoolbus 3 (Halstead) has been subcontracted to Flagfinders.
Layer-Stanway School is revised. It no longer starts at Maypole Green and no longer runs via Friday Woods and Malting Green. It now originates at Little Wigborough, before running along the B1023 through Layer. At Kingsford Cross Roads it turns right, then left at Maypole Green to serve St Michaels Estate as a loop – before continuing to Stanway School. Dennis Trident 743 was seen (below) at Maypole Green on 5/5/17, about to depart on a morning journey along the old route. This new route partly replaces a run previously subbed to Stans of Great Totham (St Michaels-Stanway School).

(John Podgorski).

IPSWICH BUSES.

Above: Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander ALX200 no 141 (Y273 FJN), seen after withdrawal – at Constantine Road depot on 24/9/17. (John Podgorski).

KINGS TOURS, COLCHESTER.

Above: Van Hool TX Alicron KC14 ABC at Blankenberge, Belgium on 14/9/17. (Marc Marangou).

LODGE, HIGH EASTER.
Reinstated is DAF SB120/Wright Cadet YG52 CLY.

LONDON GENERAL NORTH.

(Thomas Drake).

The 68 Southend seafront service finished for the season on 2/9/17. AEC PRV Routemaster open topper RML2318 (CUV 318C) made a special appearance.

Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall Capitals DMN1, 2 (LT02 NUK/V), 142/43 (LT02 ZDR/S) are here. 143 is being used for spare parts, but the others are active, mostly on TfL W4 (Oakthorpe Park-Jarrow Road) and W11 (Chingford Hall Estate-Walthamstow), but also occasionally on TfL192 (Enfield-Edmonton Grenn), 299 (Cockfosters-Muswell Hill) and 379 9Chingford-Yardley Lane Estate). They are the last Marshall SLFs on TfL work. DMN1, 2 were new to First Capital at Dagenham, while 142/43 were originally with First Orpington Buses.

LONDON OVERGROUND.
9 & 11/9/17: 315817 was on Romford-Upminster, instead of the now usual ‘317.
315810 on 14 & 16, 17/9/17. 315807 on 21/9/17. 315802 on 30/9/17.

Above: 315812 and 315803 at Seven Sisters on 30/9/17. (John Podgorski).

Below: Ex Stansted Express 317714 at London Liverpool Street on 30/9/17. (John Podgorski).

LONDON UNDERGROUND.

Above: S7 unit 542+543 – a sister to the train involved in the explosion, heads a District Line service on the approach to Wimbledon on 9/4/17. To the right is South West Trains (now South Western Railway) Wimbledon Park depot, with the central London skyline in the distance; 6 miles away at this point. (John Podgorski).

At 0820 on 15/9/17, there was an explosion on board District Line S7 Stock train unit 535 (car 22535) at Parsons Green station. This was forming the rear of a Wimbledon-Edgware Road service, with unit 536 leading. A white bucket within a plastic carrier bag caught fire as a result. Subsequent examination found it to be a bomb. 29 people were injured – with flash burns and crush injuries, the latter sustained in the frantic exit from the train and station. All trains in the area were stopped. Their passengers and the station itself were all evacuated. The Wimbledon branch was suspended south of Earls Court.
The bomb itself was confirmed as being an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), consisting of an explosive mixture with battery powered timer and detinator, placed within a plastic builders’ bucket and concealed in a LIDL plastic carrier bag. The device ignited, but did not fully explode. If it had properly gone off, the results would have been carnage.

Above: Scene of the incident. The front of the stricken (Edgware Road bound) train (unit no 536) can be seen in the platform, with another (Wimbledon bound) S7 Stock unit, stopped just short of the station. In the distance is Parsons Green train crew and stabling depot. (ATN).

Above: One of the ex District Line D Stock units converted to a Rail Adhesion Train (RAT) at Neasden on 7/9/17. To the left is its predecessor, an ex Metropolitan Line A Stock RAT. The Wembley Arch can be seen above the cab of the D unit. (Justin Marquis).

Above: Victoria Line 2009 Stock no 11020 forms the rear of a Walthamstow Central-Brixton service, as its departs Seven Sisters on 30/9/17. 11019 was leading.  (John Podgorski).

Below: At Seven Sisters, there is a branch, which surfaces to access Northumberland Park depot. This is the signal box/control tower at the depot throat, seen on 30/9/17. In the background can be seen major building works to the Tottenham Hotspur football ground at White Hart Lane. (John Podgorski).

Above: 2009 Tube Stock 11094 at the end of the line at Northumberland Park depot on 30/9/17. (John Podgorski).

Above; The maintenance shed at Northumberland Park depot, built for the 2009 Tube Stock. Seen on 30/9/17. (John Podgorski).

MTR CROSSRAIL.
New are 345012/13/16/17. 345012 on test on Southend Vic line on 25/9/17. Most are running from Ilford, but Gidea Park is also seeing the type stabled.
Further Class 315 withdrawals are of 315820/35/51/54.
315820/35/40/48 are stored at Ilford Car Sheds. 315851/54 are stored at Aldersbrook Sidings, by the CrossRail Tunneling Academy. 315851/54 are “warm stored”, meaning they are often still connected to “the juice”.
Tracklaying was completed on 15/9/17, with the insertion of the final clips in a ceremony at Whitechapel.

Above: Class 315s at Shenfield sidings on 30/9/17. (John Podgorski).

Below: New (left) and old at Gidea Park depot on 30/9/17. (John Podgorski).

Above: Class 345s and 315s at Ilford depot (new sidings) on 30/9/17. (John Podgorski).

NEW HORIZON, FRATING.
Acquired through Ensign are ex Abellio London Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis BX54 DJZ and BX55 XLW.

NIBS, WICKFORD.

Above: Ex RATP London Volvo B7TL/EL no 154, departs Basildon Bus Station on 6/9/17. (Simon Austin).

PANTHER TRAVEL.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 AB62 PAN at High Street, Dovercourt on the first day of X15.
(Simon Austin).
Below: DAF DB250LF/EL DC52 PAN at Colchester bus station on the initial X15 return journey. ADL/E400/Olympus VB08 PAN has since been allocated as the regular double decker. (Simon Austin).

From 4/9/17, X15 – a commercial Harwich-Colchester express service started, running every 2 hours M-Sat daytimes. It follows the line of First 104 between Harwich and Wix (via the Oakleys), before running along the A120 to Great Bromley, and then following the line of First 76 from Elmstead Market into Colchester. School journeys are extended to/from Norman Way. This is an alternative to the “slow around the houses” 103/4 First services via Manningtree. DAF DB250LF/EL Lolander DC52 PAN ran the inagural X15, with ADL/Enviro 200 AB62 PAN also appearing on the first day.
From Mid Wales Travel is long ADL/Enviro 200 YX62 FCA.
Plaxton Primo DC04 PAN has been named ‘Aldo’.
Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Super Pointer BIG 7006 is withdrawn due to accident damage.
The White Notley school contract 110 has been taken completely in house. It had previously been subcontracted from Fargo. The St Osyth school contract 135 is no longer run.

Above: YX62 FCA being collected from Aberystwyth on 31/8/17. (Chris Sampson).
Below: YX62 FCA at Southway, Colchester on 7/9/17. It is on the schooldays only extension of 80A to/from Norman Way. (Simon Austin).

Above: DC62PAN shows off its white livery (and X15 rear advert) as it approaches North Station, Colchester on 30/9/17. (John Podgorski).

ADL/E200 YX62 FCA has been named ‘Karen’ and re-registered DC62 PAN. It is currently running in white, with only front in fleet livery. Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere BIG 9807 has reverted to its original N611 APU mark. Volvo Olympian/Alexander Royale BIG 9210 has been upseated from 84 to 87.
Volvo B10M/Plaxton Paramount G737 REG ex SIL 6719 has gone to Takeley Metals for scrap after cannibalisation.

REGAL BUSWAYS.
Optare Tempo PO1 (YJ56 WVX) is withdrawn due to accident damage.
DAF SB3000/VH YJ03 PKK is delicensed.

Above: Short ADL/Enviro 200 no 652 at Brentwood (High Street) on ex Stephensons Essex CC route 71 on 6/9/17. (Simon Austin).

Below: Former Stagecoach East London Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 T697 KPU at Braintree Freeport on 18/9/17. It is on the shuttle to/from Braintree Bus Park. It also works the Silver End-New Rickstones Academy in Witham contract, and is now the only vehicle at Braintree outstation. (Simon Austin).

RYANAIR.
New Boeing 737-800s are EI-FZY/Z, GDA-C.

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON.
New are ADL/Enviro 40H MMCs 12426-32 (YX67 VBC/D/E/F/G/J/K). They are allocated to Leyton 9T) and are for the forthcoming TfL257 (Walthamstow-Stratford) contract, won from London General North. The new Enviros were initailly stored at West Ham (WH).
Optare Metrocity demonstrator YJ65 EOW was on loan at Romford North Street (NS) during September, and used on TfL165 (Romford-South Hornchurch).
The latest New Routemaster overall adverts are LT239 – Wolfenstein and LT383 – Replay Jeans.
New Routemaster LT264 (LTZ 1264) was badly damaged when it crashed into the Renzo Piano building at Covent Garden, during the late evening of 18/9/17, while working an eastbound TfL8 (Oxford Circus-Bow Church). Fortunately there were no serious injuries. The bus was recovered to Bow (BW) depot for eventual repair.
From 1-2/9/17, N8 (Hainault-Oxford Circus) was reduced in frequency, due to the Night Tube on the parallel Central Line.

Above: A late night Central Line (westbound) service calls at Newbury Park on 14/3/16. 1992 Tube Stock car 91195 is leading. This is one of the stations which the N8 night bus passes near, although not immediately past. The nearby Gants Hill Underground is directly served by N8. (John Podgorski).

Trident disposals are of 17890 (LX03 OPZ), 17955/56 (LX53 JYV/W) – to Lister PSV, Bolton (dealer), and 17935/37-40 (LX53 JXV/Y/A-C) to Stagecoach Lincolnshire.

STAGECOACH HUNTINGDONSHIRE.
New cfor the Cambridge Busway ar Volvo B8RLE/Wright Eclipse3s 21311/12 (BF67 GOH/J).

STANS, GREAT TOTHAM.
Now operates just one school contract; for Great Totham Primary.

SWALLOW, RAINHAM.
Volvo B7R/Plaxton YX60 BZU is named ‘Toby’.

TITAN AIRWAYS.
G-EUNB is an Airbus A318-112 leased from British Airways.

TONY GLEW, COLCHESTER.
This operator continues to trade, but under a new O Licence. The new holder is A1 Taxis of Coggeshall. A new title of TG Travel is being used. Dennis Javelin/Berkhof M348 MCY, Javelin/Caetano YIL 5494, LDV Convoy BX06 XZA, Mb 0814D L111 ANT, Renault Master X256 XBX are in use. School contract 583 (Wickham Bishops-Colchester Schools) is run again. Talisman had operated it in the latter part of the last academic year.

TOWER TRANSIT.

(John Podgorski).

Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis 34427/13 (LK04 HYG, HZP) have gone to Ensign for breaking. They were seen (above), at Purfleet on 23/9/17.

TRUSTYBUS, ROYDON.
Sold are Dennis Trident/Plaxton Prsidents TPL425/28 (LK03 CGF/V).

TURNERS OF ESSEX, WICKHAM ST PAUL.

Above: Now privately preserved Leyland Olympian/Alexander RL H817 CBP at Braintree Bus Park on 22/9/17. The owner is on the platform, with his father at the wheel. (John Podgorski).

The Hedingham School contract has been lost to Hedingham and Chambers.
Leyland Olympian/Alexander RH K973 HSC has been sold for conversion into a motorhome.
Volvo B6/Plaxton Pointer M832 CVG has gone to Cornwall, for conversion into a mobile caravan. Volvo B10M/Alexander PS P859 GND has passed to a buyer at Tunbridge Wells for continued pcv use.
MAN13.220/Noge YN03DXD and Scania Omnidekka YN03 DFX are long term VOR.
Withdrawn are ex Wicks Dennis Javelin/Plaxton Excalibur R123 XWF; MAN16.290/Jonckherre Deaville VBZ 1450, Mb 614D/Frank Guy W364 SNN, ex Wicks Neoplan Transliner X293 AKY; Renault Master Y507 CCY.

Above: Parked up at Wickham St Paul depot on 22/9/17, were ex Wicks of Braintree Neoplan Transliner X293 AKY, ex Wicks Dennis Javelin/Plaxton Excalibur R123 XWF and Turner’s ex Metrobus via Ensign Scania Omnidekka YN03 DFX. The first two were withdrawn, while the Scania was awaiting gearbox repairs. (John Podgorski).

Above: On loan to Turners from Ensign, ex Wilts and Dorset Leyland Olympian/NC K736 ODL, on one of the Hedingham School contracts at Halstead on 2/3/16. (Simon Austin).

Below: Turners ex Metrobus Scania Omnidekka YN03 DFV, on the same run and at the same location on 17/3/16. (Simon Austin).

UNO.
New at Northampton, for ‘Violet’ route 19 (Town-University) are ADL/Enviro 400 MMCs 289-93 (YX67 VFR-W/Y) and ex demonstrator 286 (YY64 GXG).

WARD’S OF ALRESFORD.
The Manningtree School contract has been lost to Hedingham. Panther Travel continues to run contract 030 from Manningtree to Harwich.

With thanks to: Anglia gen, D Alcott, D Arnold, ATN, S Austin, A Barham, C Carmen, R Delahoy, T Drake, Ensign, C Garnier, A Hazell, L Kinsella, S Kinsella, J Lidstone, LOTS,  M Marangou, J Marquis, C Sampson.