Edited by John Podgorski BA Hons, MSc, CMILT.

Welcome to the May 2020 edition of Busmopolitan.

May 8th saw the 75th anniversary of VE Day – the end of World War 2. It also marked 58 years since the end of London trolleybuses. To be precise, the last London trolleys were actually in the far south west of the Capital, at Fulwell, between Kingston and Twickenham. Their East End sisters had departed 1 to 2 years earlier. Until relatively recently, old trolleybus infrastructure was still visible in parts of north east London. The editor remembers a few trolley poles on Blackhorse Road, between Walthamstow and Tottenham, still being there in the early 2000s. Likewise, Stratford High Street had several of those as street light standards, prior to the major redevelopment of that area from the 1990s. Examples between Canning Town and West Ham disappeared in the 1980s.

Above: Old trolley poles at Tottenham Hale in March 2001. (John Podgorski).

From mid-May, Coronavirus lockdown restrictions began to be eased in England, with bus and train services being slowly increased in line with this.

AIRPORT BUS EXPRESS. By the end of May, the depot had been cleared of all vehicles and equipment. Preserved Eastern Counties liveried Leyland National YYE 274T had taken up residence.

Above: YYE 274T at Stansted on 30/5/20. (John Podgorski).

ARRIVA KENT THAMESIDE (COLCHESTER).
ADL/Enviro 400 MMCs 6503/04  (SN66 WHW/X) have arrived on loan from Arriva Southend.

Odd sightings:
4/5/20: ADL/E200 4012 (GN58 BTU) on Staff Shuttle. 5/5/20: ADL/E200 4016 (GN58 BTZ) on Staff Shuttle. 6/5/20: ADL/E200 4017 (GN58 BUA) on Staff Shuttle. 7/5/20: ADL/E200 4021 (GN58 BUJ) on Staff Shuttle. 11/5/20: ADL/E200 4022 (GN58 BUO) on Staff Shuttle. 12/5/20: ADL/E200 4016 on Staff Shuttle. 14/5/20: 4015/16 on Staff Shuttle. 19/5/20: ADL/E200 4019 (GN58 BUF) on Staff Shuttle. 28/5/20: 3986, 4012 on Staff Shuttle.

Above: 4012 on a Staff Shuttle on 4/5/20. (John Podgorski).

Above: 4021 on 6/5/20, with ‘Supporting NHS’ scroll. (John Podgorski).

ARRIVA SOUTHEND. Received on loan from Northfleet is ADL/Enviro 400 MMC 6515.

CHAMBERS.
(John Podgorski).                                                                                                                                                                  

The Scania N230UD/Olympuses are being branded for the revised ‘Boomerang’ Sudbury-Colchester-Bury services (pictured above). They feature route, fare and time details, along with pictures of attractions. The Scania Omnidekkas which had been branded for ‘Colchester-Sudbury now up to every 30 minutes’ are being debranded.
N230UD/Olympus 870 is long term VOR. Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 566 (W428 WGH) remains in withdrawn condition at the depot.

Above: Scania Omnidekka 804 on new route 784 at Colchester on 23/5/20. (Simon Austin).

COLAS.
13/5/20: 37612 + 9702 with 96608, 6262, 999606, 9810 on 3Q61 Cambridge-Ferme Park via Liverpool Street test train.
15/5/20: 37612 on NR test train Colchester-Norwich-Harwich Town and return.
18/5/20: 67023 tnt 67027 + 9523, 977997, 72631, 975091 on 1Q18 Heaton-Cambridge NR test train and then to Derby RTC. 26/5/20: 37099 tnt 37175 on 1Q95 NR Test Train on C2C, then on GOBLIN as 1Q96. 27/5/20: 37099 tnt 37175 on 1Q97 Ferme Park-Cambridge via around GE in Essex.

Above: 37099 at Chitts Hill, near Colchester. (James Cole).

DBS.
59206 to new orange/black livery.
1/5/20: 66090 on 4E45 Felixstowe-Wakefield. 66175 on 4L76 East Midlands Gateway-Felixstowe.
5/5/20: 66090 on 4E35 FLX-Wakefield.
6/5/20: 66056 on 6L07 Acton-Ipswich Griffin Wharf and return. 66090 on 4E45.
7/5/20: 66090 on 4E45.
11/5/20: 59004 on 6L30Acton-Chelmsford. 59201 on 7V31 Bow-Acton. 59206 on 7V57 Harlow Mill-Acton. 66090 on 4L45 Wakefield-FLX.
12/5/20: 59004 on 6V12 Chelmsford-Acton stone.
13/5/20: 59101 on 6L21 Whatley-Dagenham Dock. 59204 on 6L26 Acton-Dagenham Dock. 59206 on Acton-Chelmsford. 66090 on 4L45.
14/5/20: 59206 on 6V12 Chelmsford-Acton.66168 on 6L34 Tunstead-Bow.
15/5/20: 59206 on 7V57 Harlow Mill-Acton.
17/5/20: 59101 at Dagenham Dock.
18/5/20: 66098 on 4E25 Bow-Heck.
21/5/20: 59204 on Acton Chelmsford stone and return. 27/5/20: 66095 on 4M79 FLX-East Midlands Gateway. 28/5/20: 66086 on 6L69 Heck Plasmor-Bow. 66090 on Wakefield-FLX. 66106 on on 6L74 Mountsorrel-Harlow Mill stone. 66147 on 4M79 FLX-East Midlands Gateway.

DOUBLE DECK DINER, CLACTON. This enterprise has ceased. Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400 V124 MEV has passed to Burgers, Ribs and Wings of Colchester.

DRS:
8/5/20: 57306 towed GWR 387132 West Ealing-Ilford as 5Q50. 57306 towed GWR 387130 as 5Q47 Ilford-Reading.
12/5/20: 47812 on 0Z47 Broxbourne-Colchester-Norwich light loco.
13/5/20: 47812 on Norwich-Manningtree light loco. 88002 on 0A88 Crewe-Norwich light loco.
15/5/20: 47812 on 0Z47 Manningtree-Stratford-Stansted light loco.
20/5/20: 88002 towed 37059 on 0Z88 Norwich-Willesden.

EASYJET. On 29/5/20 announced it was to cut up to 4,500 jobs due to Covid-19.

FIRST ESSEX.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 44544 at High Street, Halstead on Good Friday 10/4/20. The Sunday and Bank Holiday 352 was renumbered to 42B at the end of March 2020. (Simon Austin).

From First Bath is Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 37542 (SF54 OSK) – allocated to CR. Ex First Bristol Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis 37004/06 (WX55 VHN/P) have entered service at CR, having been stored since arrival. From late May some previously ‘SORNED’ buses returned to use. Seen were ADL/Enviro 200 MMCs 67189/91-95 (HH); Volvo B7RLE/Wrights 66796 (MX05 CBV) (CF), 66799 (MX05 CCD) (CF), 69532/33 (PL05 UBR/S) (CF); Volvo B7TL/ALX400s 32087 (KP51 WBZ) (CR), 32478 (AU53 HJO) (CR), 32485 (AU53 HKC) (CR); Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis 32628 (KP54 KAU) (CF to CR), 32629 (KP54 KAX) (CR), 32631 (KP54 KBF) (CF), 32669 (SN55 NDZ); 37015/016/017 (WX55 VJC/D/E) (CR). Note 67189/91-95 are usually Chelmsford Park and Ride vehicles and have temporarily moved to Hadleigh. B7TL 32628 has been transferred CF to CR. Sold to Ensign were Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 62407; Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse 66807 and ADL/Enviro 300s 67638/40. 62410 was resold by Ensign to Dan’s Coach Travel, Needham Market.

Odd sightings:
1/5/20: B7TL/Gemini 37007 (WX55 VHR) on 64; B7TL/Gemini 37037 (YJ06 XLC) on 65. 2/5/20: B7TL/Gemini 37034 (YJ06 XKZ) on 65; B7TL/Gemini 37035 (YJ06 XLA) on 64; B7TL/Gemini 37037 (YJ06 XLC) on 65; B9TL/Gemini 37140 (SN57 CHZ) on 65; X30 ADL/E200 MMC 67171 (YY66 PCO) on 71. 3/5/20: B7TL/Geminis 37034, 37062 (YJ06 XMP) on 65; Route 62 B9TL/Gemini 37136 (SN57 HCU) on 61; X30 ADL/E200 MMC 67171 on 71. 4/5/20:B7TL/Gemini 37007 on 65; 37034 on 65; Route 62 B9TL/Gemini 37136 on 61; B9TL/Gemini 37140 on 64. 6/5/20: B7TL/Geminis 37007, 37034, 37037 on 65; ADL/E200 44002 (LK57 EJE) on 71. 7/5/20: 37037 on 65; Route 62 B9TL 37134 (SN57 HDJ) on 61; SLF/Pointer 42936 (SN05 DZS) on 71; 44003 (LK57 EJF) on 71. 8/5/20: StreetLite 63332 (SK65 PXO) on 75. 9/5/20: Route 62 B9TL 37136 on 61; B9TL 37140 on 67. 10/5/20: Route 62 B9TL 37139 (SN57 HCY) on 65. 11/5/20: B7TL/Gemini 37034 on 65; B7TL/Gemini 37042 on 64; Route 62 B9TL 37136 on 65. 12/5/20: B7TL/Gemini 37034 on 65; B7TL/Gemini 37037 on 64; Route 62 B9TL/Gemini 37136 on 61; B9TL/Gemini 37140 on 65.13/5/20: B7TL/Gemini 37034 on 64. 14/5/20: B7TL/Gemini 37034 on 65. Route 62 B9TL/Geminis 37134/39 on 61. 15/5/20: 37037 on 65. 16/5/20: B9TL/Gemini 37140 on 65. 16/5/20: 37140 on 65. 17/5/20: 37034 on 65; Route 62 37133 on 61; Route 62 37138 on 65; Route 62 37139 on 61. 19/5/20: 37007 on 64; 37034/37/42 on 65; 37062 on 70; Route 62 37133/39 on 61; X30 67171 on 70 + 71. 21/5/20: 37034/37 on 65; Route 62 37138 on 61. 22/5/20: 37037 on 64; 37062 on 65. 23/5/20: 37007 on 65; 37034 on 70; 35037 on 65; 37062 on 65; R62 37133 on 61; R62 37136 on 65; R62 37139 on 65. 24/5/20: 37007 on 65. 26/5/20: 32068 on 62 bis; 32629 on 88 bis; 37007 on 65; 37034 on 64; 37037 on 70; 37042 on 64A; 37062 on 65; R62 37133 on 65 + 1A; R62 37134 on 61; R62 37136 on 61; R62 37138 on 64. R62 37139 on 61; 37140 on 65; StreetLite 63335 on 88; StreetLite 63343 on 75; B7RLE 66799 on 70; ADL/E300 67737 on 62. 27/5/20: 32669 on 64 bis; 37007 on 64; 37042 on 64; R62 37136 on 64. 28/5/20: B7TL/ALX400 32478 on 103; B7TL/Gemini 32628 on 65; B7TL/Gemini 32669 on 64A; B7TL/Gemini 37004 on 67; B7TL/Gemini 37015 on 64; B7TL/Gemini 37016 on 104; 37034 on 64; 37037 on 65; B7TL/Gemini 37062 on 64; R62 37133 on 65; R62 37136 on 65; R62 37139 on 61. 29/5/20: 32478 on 65; 32087 on 64; 37007 on 65; B7TL/Gemini 37017 on 64; 37042 on 65 = 1A; R62 37138 on 64A; StreetLite 63343 on 75. 30/5/20: 37037 on 64; 37042 on 64.

FELIXSTOWE TRAVEL.
Was active on rail replacement during May.

Above: The depot on 23/5/20. (John Podgorski).

FREIGHTLINER. 

The Class 86s are likely to continue until the end of  2020.                                                                                                                                 

1/5/20: 90042/16 on 4M74 towards Ipswich/Felixstowe.
2/5/20: 90043/48 on 4L97 Trafford-Felixstowe.
8/5/19: 86612/13 on 4L89 Coatbridge-FLX.
11/5/20: 66425 on 4M07 Tilbury-Daventry Tesco. 66513 on 4M56 London Gateway-Garston. 86604/9/12/13/22/28/32/39 at Ipswich.
13/5/20: 66542 on 4L36 Wentloog-FLX. 86604/09 on 4M87 Trafford-Ipswich. 86612/13 on 4L75 Crewe-Ipswich. 86639/32 on 4L97 Trafford-FLX.
14/5/20: 90042/043 on 4L89.
15/5/20: 86622/28 on 4L89.
17/5/20: 86607/09/12/22/32/38/39 all at Ipswich.
20/5/20: 86605/12 on on 4L89; 86608/09 on 4L97. 27/5/20: 66563 on 6V12 Chelmsford-Acton stone. 66570 on 4L36 Wentloog-FLX. 66416 on 4L32 Wentloog-FLX. 86604/39 on 4L89/4M87. 86613/28 on 4M45/4L60. 86622/37 on 4L97. 86632/07 on 4L75. 28/5/20: 66620 on 6M92 West Thurrock-Tunstead. 29/5/20: 66413/15 on FLX-Leeds. 66507 on 4L57 Birch Coppice-FLX. 66522 on 4L32 and 66529 on 4L36 Wentloog-FLX. Pink 66587 on 4E64 FLX-Tees Dock. 86622/37 on 4L75. 86628/13 on 4M45. 86638/12 on 4L97. 86639/04 on 4L89 + 4M87.

Above: 86609 + 86608 at Ipswich on 23/5/20. Seen from Ranalegh Road. (John Podgorski).

GBRf.  Above: An unidentified GBRf Class 66 at Felixstowe Beach on 23/5/20. (John Podgorski).                                            66731 named ‘Captain Tom Moore’.
1/5/20: 66701 on 4Z35 Doncaster-Felixstowe. 66723 on ZA723 North Walsham-Harwich tanks. 66727 on 4L29 Birch Coppice-Felixstowe. 66740 tnt 66766 on 6X69 Stowmarket-Romford NR Milling Machine move. 66741 on 4M01 Felixstowe-Hams Hall. 66752 on 4E86 Felixstowe-Masborough.
4/5/20: 66724 on 0Z20 Tonbridge-Colchester (as Thunderbird for Class 720 test runs)..
5/5/20: 566701 on 4Z35 Doncaster-FLX. 66705 on 4E86 FLX-Masborough. 66726 on 4L29 Birch Coppice-FLX. 66760 on 4M01 FLX-Hams Hall.
6/5/20: 66701 on 4Z35. 66705 on 4E86. 66723 on 4M01. 66726 on 4L29. 66740/766 on Bishops Stortford-Romford with NR Milling Machine, then light to Peterborough. 66748 on 0Z93 Peterborough-Cambridge route learner.
7/5/20: 66701 on 4Z35. 66705 on 4E86. 66720 on N Walsham-Harwich tanks. 66723 on 4M01. 66724 on 0Z22 B Stortford-Peterborough light loco. 66726 on 4L29.
8/5/20: 66701 on 4Z35. 66705 on 4E86. 66723 on 4M01. 66726 on 4L29. 66782/784 on 6T60 Whitemoor-West Ham engineers.
9/5/20: 66769/730 on Peterborough-Romford light loco, for duties with Milling Machine.
11/5/20: 66726 on Peterborough-Colchester 0Z21 light loco via ECML. 66730/769 at Romford CCE depot. 66746 on 4R43 Parkeston-FLX.
13/5/20: 66724 on 4E20. 66743 on 4L04 Hams Hall-FLX. 66746 at FLX. 66747 ON 4Z81 Masboro-FLX. 66766 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks then 0A66 back to Ipswich. 66767 on 5Z62 Eastleigh-Ilford-Wembley ECS. 66783 on 4M23 FLX-Hams Hall.
14/5/20: 66789 on 6L90 Tonbridge-Bow the 6O60 to Grain.
18/5/20: 66703 tnt 66772 on 6T60 Whitemoor-Barking engineers. 66746 on 4M29. 66764 on 0Z21 Peterborough-Colchester light engine for Thunderbird use. 66781 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks.
19/5/20: 66764 Colchester Thunderbird.
21/5/20: 66746 on 4M29. 66766 on Ham,s Hall-FLX. 66779 on 6L37 Hoo-Whitemoor. 66781 on N Walsham-Harwich tanks. 66783 on 4M23. 23/5/20: 66732 tnt 66749 on 6T61 Whitemoor-Hythe engineers. 66746 on 4L29. 66764 tnt 66768 on 6T60 Whitemoor-Felixstowe Beach engineers. 26/5/20: NHS liveried 66731 on 4Z81 Masboro-FLX. 27/5/20: 66756 on 4M23. 66768 on Harwich-N Walsham tanks. 66780 ‘CEMEX Express’ on 6L37. 28/5/20: 66768 on N Walsham-Harwich tanks. 29/5/20: 66713 on 4L18 Trafford-FLX. 66724 on 0Z22 Colchester-Peterborough light loco via London. 66746 on 4M29. 66749 on 4L02. 66777 on 6L37.

GODWARD, WICKFORD.
Was on rail replacement in May.

Above: Godward recently acquired some used Mercedes Tourismos. BF61 HCL was seen at Southway, Colchester on 10/5/20, on a Greater Anglia Clacton-Colchester rail replacement. (John Podgorski).

GREATER ANGLIA.

Above: ’90s await collection from Norwich in April 2020. (EADT).

90003-15 were taken out of store at Norwich and transferred to Freightliner at Crewe during May. They will soon be appearing on the GEML again, but powering a different kind of train ………….
Various withdrawn MkIII carriages have gone to Long Marston for storage. 10413, 11078/095, 12021/098 sold to Eastern Rail Services.
DVT 82121 has passed to the Colne Valley Railway, Castle Hedingham – for preservation.
4/5/20: 317339 CC-IL after PRM mods. 720509 on 1Q01 Liverpool Street-Ipswich test. 745108 on 5Q91 Norwich-Liverpool Street test. 745110 is the last ‘Flirt’ to be delivered. 755401 to pasenger service.
5/5/20: Withdrawn Mk III carriages 12015/35/56/61/67/79/84, 12108/46/67 moved from Mid Norfolk Railway to Long Marston for storage as 5Z50. 720509 on Ilford-Ipswich-test.
6/5/20: 317883 towed Clacton-Kilmarnock by ROG 37884. 720509 on Ilford-Colchester test. 745001 towed Parkeston Quay-Norwich by ROG 37611 as 5Q37. 745108 on 5Q96 test.
7/5/20; 90010/003/011 on 0Z25 Norwich-Crewe light loco via GEML, NLL. 317511 towed Kilmarnock-Ilford by ROG 37884. 720511 delivered from Derby to Ilford between 47749/47727. 745110 delivered as 5Q99 by DBS 66001. Withdrawn MkIII carriages 12034/46/49/90, 121116/18/26/37/59/64 on 5Z50 Mid Norfolk Railway-Long Marston for storage behind DRS 37402 + 37716 (towed by 33202 on MNR).
8/5/20: 90006/008/005/007 on Norwich-Crewe light loco via GEML and NLL.
12/5/20: 720509 on 5Q02 Liverpool Street-Ipswich test. MkIIIs 10406/17, 11088/093/101, 12064/091/125/54 from MNR to Long Marston for storage being DRS 37402.
13/5/20: 317662 on Eastleigh-Ilford ECS. 745004 on 5G82 Liverpool Street-Norwich ECS. Withdrawn 12062/153, 82102/03/05/32/52 towed Norwich to Wymondham by DRS 37402.
14/5/20: 317348 towed Ilford-kilmarnock by ROG 37884.379005 on Wickford-Southminster as 2J16 nd 2J17 return ECS. 720509 on test on Southend Vic line.
15/5/20: Last Class 90s left Norwich for Crewe – 90004/09/12/13/15 as 0Z25 with 90015 leading and powering. 317884 on Kilmarnock Ilford 5Q50 ECS behind ROG 37884.
17/5/20: 745109 on 5Q71 Norwich-Liverpool Street test.
18/5/20: Revisions/increases to timetable on main line in connection with lockdown relaxations. 720509 on 5Q90 Liverpool Street-Ipswich test. 720511 on 5Q12 Liverpool Street-Ipswich test. 720515 delivered. 745103 on 5Q77 Stowmarket-Liverpool Street test.
19/5/20: 720511 on Liverpool Street-Colchester Town test. 25/5/20: 720515 on 5Q17 Colchester-Liverpool Street test. 26/5/20: 379011 on Wickford-Southminster ECS and return. 27/5/20: 10413, 11078/095, 12021/098 towed Norwich to Great Yarmouth CS by ROG 37402. 28/5/20: 317340 towed Ilford-Kilmarnock by ROG 37800. 720511 on 5Q02 Liverpool St-Norwich test and 5Q07 return. 29/5/20: 317883 towed Kilmarnock-Ilford by ROG 37800. By 31/5/20; 321448 moved from Ilford to Long Marston for storage – by road.

Above: 755331 at Felixstowe on 23/5/20, on the 1828 to Ipswich. (John Podgorski).

Above: 720515 on test at Chitts Hill, near Colchester on 25/5/20. (James Cole)

GALLOWAY, MENDLESHAM. Above: Optare Solo 333 in Stowmarket on 23/5/20. Routes 384 and 385 have been taken back from Stephensons during the Covid-19 crisis. Galloway and Stephensons are sister Eastern Transport Holding companies. (John Podgorski).

HEDINGHAM.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200 263 on Halstead on 352 on 18/5/20. This operates Mon to Sat evenings only. (Simon Austin).

Volvo B7TL/Wright Geminis 511/14 (LB02 YWY, YXF) moved HD to KN on 27/5/20, but 514 returned to HD on 29/5/20. 523 (LX05 EZF) returned to service at CN w/c 24/5/20. Omnidekka movements:
5/5/20: 813 – KN-Chambers; 814 – Chambers-KN. 15/5/20: 801 – Chambers-KN; 802 – KN-Chambers. 20/5/20: 803 – Chambers-KN; 811 – KN-Chambers. 22/5/20: 800 – Chambers-KN; 802 – KN-Chambers; 803 – KN-Chambers; 810 – KN-HD. 26/5/20: 810 – HD-KN. 5/20: 813 – Chambers-CN.
Odd sightings:
4/5/20: Omnidekka 810 on 63 + 50. 7/5/20: 810 on 63 am only. 12/5/20: ADL/E200 on CN 50 etc duty, rather than usual 298; Dart SLF/MPD 288 on HD 63 duty rather than usual long SLF/Pointer. 14/5/20: Long Dart SLF/Pointer 260 and later ADL/E200 264 on 50 + 84B etc; Omnidekka 810 on KN Duty 3904 63 + 50. 19/5/20: Omnicity saloon 458 on 74; 810 on KN D3904. 21/5/20: 803 on 63 + 50 D3904.

Above: ADL/Enviro 200./MCV Evolution 267 (AJ58 PZS) at Station Road, Clacton on 22/5/20. Ex Chambers, originally Carousel Buses at High Wycombe. (John Podgorski).

IPSWICH BUSES.
Odd sightings:
4/5/20: Versa 147 (YK 08 EPD) on 93. 5/5/20: Versa 146 (YK08 EPC) on 93. 6/4/5/20: ADL/E200 80 (YX63 ZVV) on 93. 7/5/20: Versas 150 (YK08 EPJ), 152 (YK08 EPV) on 93. 12/5/20: Versa 148 (YK08 EPE) on 93. 19/5/20: ADL/E200 104 (SN16 OGK) on 93.

Above: Scania Omnicities and the gold DAF DB250LF SORNED at Constantine Road depot on 23/5/20. (John Podgorski).

JR EXECUTIVE TRAVEL, COPDOCK.
By May 2020, the depot was being used for lorry parking.
‘JR Executive Travel’ is still on the gate.

LONDON GENERAL NORTH. Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini WVL204  is now at Metrobus at Croydon. Transferred from within GA London was Wright StretLite WS50.

LONDON OVERGROUND.
315805/06/07/11/12/17 on Romford-Upminster during May.
2/5/20: 317719/29/72, 888 withdrawn at Ilford.
18/5/20: 317708/10/32 stored at Wembley. 28/5/20: Class 315836 dewired on Bethnal Green Bank at approx 1105, whilst working with 315825 on the 2U34 1100 Liverpool St-Enfield Town – 315836 was trailing. Rescued by ROG 37402. West Anglia suburban electric lines blocked for most of rest of day.

LONDON TRANSPORT.Above: London Bridge, 22nd May 1974. Bow allocated Daimler Fleetline/MCW DMS1319 awaits departure for South Woodford on route 10. By 1982, the 10 ran between Victoria and Wanstead. The service number was later reused for a new Hammersmith-Kings Cross route in the mid 2000s, which lasted until autumn 2019. (John Parkin).

LONDON UNDERGROUND.
Service increases from 18/5/20. Blackhorse Road (Victoria Line) and Bow Road (District Line) stations reopened.

M&M STAFFING, CHELMSFORD.
Participated in rail replacement during May.

MTR ELIZABETH LINE.
345s on east side in mid May: 345003/6/8/9/11/12/18/20/29/38-40/42/44/49/52/56/57.
4/5/20: Peak hour Liverpool Street-Gidea Park shorts resumed (had been suspended since Lockdown). 345012 – OC-IL towed by ROG 37608. 7/5/20; 345003 OC-IL behind 37608 as 5Q50.
15/5/20: 345010 dragged Eastleigh-Ilford by ROG 37800.
19/5/20: 345016 – OC-IL; 345057 – IL-OC both behind ROG 37608. 26/5/20: 345005 – OC-IL.

NATIONAL EXPRESS. Above: The temporarily closed Start Hill, Stansted depot on 30/5/20. (John Podgorski).

NETWORK RAIL.
3/5/20: Milling Machine DR79601 returned to Bishops Stortford between GBRd 66740/766 from Laindon.
5/5/20: Windhoff MPVs DR98909/959 at Broxbourne for weedkilling season.

PANTHER TRAVEL. Plaxton Primo SB07 PAN has been SORNED.

ROG. 13/5/20: 37611 towed GA 745109 on 5Q49 Parkeston-Norwich.
18/5/20: 37611 on Manningtree-Norwich light loco. 47812 on Norwich-Manningtree light loco. 25/5/20: 57305 towed GWR 387137 West Ealing-Ilford. 28/5/20: 37402 on 1Z99 Norwich-Liverpool St light loco. 29/5/20: 37402 on Liverpool St-Norwich light loco. 47815 towed 47812 Manningtree to Ely as 0Z47 and then went forward to Leicester as 5M60 with barrier vehicles ADB977087, 975875 .

Above: 47812 at Manningtree on 23/5/20. (John Podgorski).

RYANAIR.
3000 redundancies were announced on 1/5/20; due to Covid-19.

STAGECOACH CAMBUS. Above: ADL/Enviro 400 19575 arrives at Drummer Street, Cambridge on 30/5/20. (John Podgorski). Above: Due to the Cambridge Park and Rides being closed due to Coronavirus, their buses have been used on other routes. ADL/Enviro 400 MMC 10794 was on Citi1 at Sidney Street on 30/5/20. (John Podgorski). Above: Amongst the vehicles parked up at Cambridge depot, as surplus due to the Covid-19 service cuts, are some Route X5 Volvo B11RT/Plaxton Elite tri-axle coaches from Bedford. 54310 is seen on 30/5/20. (John Podgorski).

STAGECOACH EAST LONDON.
The staff shuttles for the Nightingale emergency Hospital ceased after the first week in May, as the facility was put on standby.
TfL25 (Ilford-City Thameslink) was gained from Tower Transit from 23/5/20. New for this are ADL/E40D smart hybrids 11341-75. Bow is the operating garage.

Top: Welcome to new staff TUPED from Tower Transit at Lea Interchange. Middle: The first new N25 runout under Stagecoach. Above: The first day 25 departure under Stagecoach. (All: Louise Cocker).

STEPHENSONS:
Dart SLF/MPD 403 (EU03 CFX) at Great Bromley outstation, at the start of May. It replaced YourBus liveried ADL/E200 469 (SN66 WLL).
469 has now received fleet livery.  431 was back in use at Bury St Edmunds in May.

Above: 403 at Stanwell Street, Colchester on 4/5/20. (John Podgorski).

TfL.
Bus service increases from 18/5/20, in line with lockdown easing. This was done in stages on Saturdays. Front door boarding was phased back in from 30/5/20. However maximum passenger capacities are restricted to comply with social distancing. Roughly 10 for a single decker and 20 for a double decker.

THORNS OF RAYLEIGH. Volvo B10M/Vanhool L19 PCC has reverted to L970 KDT.

TOWER TRANSIT.

Above: ADL/Enviro 400 DN36655 (SN11 BTU) at Clements Road in Ilford on 8/9/18. This was before the 25 was cut back at its western end. (John Podgorski).

TfL25 (Ilford-City Thameslink) was lost to Stagecoach East London on re-tender from 23/5/20. The displaced Wright Streetdecks moved over to routes 262, 308, 473. Some Volvo B5LH/Wright Geminis VH38112-16 were reallocated from Lea Interchange to Westbourne Park for TfL452 (Kensal Rise-Clapham). All operational VHs are now concentrated at Westbourne Park.
Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis VN36140-49/52/53/55/56/58/61/64 are delicensed. Ex TfL212 Volvo B5LH/Wright Gemini3s VH38101-111 have transferred to Metroline.

TRUSTYBUS, ROYDON. Scania Omnitown YN04 GMX has passed to Ensign.

VICEROY, SAFFRON WALDEN. Above: The old garage and office on Bridge Street on 30/5/20. (John Podgorski).

WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS.
8/5/20: 172340 on 5Q51 Tyseley-Ilford move.

WRIGHTBUS.
This well known Northern Ireland bus builder announced 125 redundancies in May.

With thanks to: AngliaGen, S Austin, L Cocker, J Cole, EADT, Essex Buses Io, J Lidstone, LOTS, J Parkin, RE.