Thursday 31 December 2015

New route branding introduced

 
Good evening everyone, welcome to my new blog post. You may remember that in Summer this year, I published a blog post on SP60 Enviro400s replacing ADL Enviro300s on the 1/1A. Very recently, new ONE branding was introduced after the route not being branded for a while because the Enviro300s lost their 1/1A branding last year and earlier this year. This is because of some service changes taking place next Monday that involve the 1/1A.
 
Only one Bus wears the new ONE branding at the moment and it is ADL Enviro400 19652 ( SP60 DPU ) which was one of a batch new in 2010 to the Tayway 73 in Scotland. The new ONE branding is really basic and it isn't very detailed. 19652 was taken out of service for a number of weeks to under go its transformation. It has been repainted, had its purple removed from the destination blind, had its fleet number applied again and the new branding applied.
 
19652 and similar 19648 in Terminus Road

A rear shot of 19652 with the branding where the engine is

Front shot of 19652
This is just the first Bus to receive the branding and with the other members of batch to follow in the new year. I boarded this today and it is still sounds the same as it did when I last went on it. Although it is really basic, Stagecoach have done a really good job with the branding.

Thursday 17 December 2015

RRBS last Sunday part 2 Go - Ahead companies

Welcome to part 2 of my Rail Replacement post at Eastbourne last Sunday. Part 1 was on the independents that did it so if you haven't read that one yet, then I think you should read that one first before reading this one. The Go - Ahead 
companies involved were:

Brighton & Hove
Go - Ahead London
MetroBus

This one won't be as wordy as Part 1 because I explained in part 1 the stations they were running in between. Enjoy the read :-)
Brighton & Hove South Downs Volvo B9TL/Gemini 2 490 BJ63 UJU

Go - Ahead London E40D\Enviro400 E214 SN61 DDL

E214 SN61 DDL

Rear view of 490 BJ63 UJU

Brighton & Hove Gemini 2 Coach 551 BF12 KXT

490 BJ63 UJU

E214 SN61 DDL at the front

Go - Ahead London E40D\Enviro400 E211 SN61 DDF

MetroBus Enviro200 6735 SN12 AAF

Wednesday 16 December 2015

RRBS last Sunday Past 1 independent Bus companies

Good Evening everyone, welcome to my new blog post. You have seen quite a few of my posts on Rail Replacement Bus Services in Eastbourne. Last Sunday, engineering works closed the Railway line between Eastbourne and Lewes. Buses were drafted in to provide a Replacement Bus service between the 2 stations. This is a 2 part blog 1 part is on the independent Bus companies and part 2 is going to be on the Go - Ahead Companies. Most of the independent Bus companies that did it are mentioned in this post.

Seaford and District provided some of their B7TL ALX400s and a Trident ALX400, whilst Southern Transit provided a couple of their Ex - Stagecoach London Trident ALX400s.

Seaford and District Volvo ALX400 AV20 X20 SEA

Southern Transit Trident ALX400 TA400 Y514 NHK

TA400 in front of a Seaford and District Trident

Southern Transit Trident ALX400 TA406 Y517 NHK

A close up shot of Seaford and District AV20 X20 SEA
TA406 Y517 NHK
 Both of these companies have run extras in London before due to Tube Strikes. Part 2 of this series will follow within the next couple of days enjoy the read.

Monday 14 December 2015

Olympian back in service in the South East

Good Evening everyone, welcome to my small blog post nothing much to report tonight. Stagecoach Volvo Olympian 16380 ( N380 LPN ) made a return to service a few weeks ago after being withdrawn for sometime. It transferred to Hastings depot late Summer this year from Thanet. It only managed a week in service then it was withdrawn because of some problems with the Bus. 

After being parked in death row alongside some other withdrawn Buses 16380 came back to life. I have seen it a few times now on the 98 and here are my 2 photos of it.

Close up shot of 16380


Far out shot of 16380

Some enthusiasts in Thanet called it the beast and they want it preserved as well this petition some time ago got loads of Signatures.