London tender results...

[suzyscottdotcom]

Today's bus service tender result announcement from Transport for London had been a fair time coming, for obvious political reasons - and these are to start next summer (that's the current plan!)

38 (Clapton Pond - Victoria) Retained by Arriva London North, but vehicle type changes from 47 Mercedes Citaro bendibuses, to 72 double deck buses.
507 (Victoria - Waterloo) Retained by London General, but vehicle type changes from 9 Mercedes Citaro bendibuses, to 15 dual door 12m long single deck buses.
521 (London Bridge - Waterloo) Retained by London General, but vehicle type changes from 19 Mercedes Citaro bendibuses, to 32 dual door 12m long single deck buses.

Before the introduction of the bendis, the 38 was RM's (with some rear-engined doubles from time to time), and the 507 and 521 were Leyland National Greenway single deckers. Of course, these will not be making returns, but the exact order will no doubt be announced in time.

Press release from the GLA here.

Comments

[lips-of-tragedy.livejournal.com]

It was meant to be a little joke really, I realise most of these buses are leased these days. It's a shame that the bendis haven't been better received, although them bursting into flames didn't help. There is one currently on trial here in Edinburgh on the X48 route but I don't think that any more will be leased. The way LB is going, they'll be running single decks for many more services!!

[suzyscottdotcom.livejournal.com]

I get what you meant! ;-)

Because of the heavy London specification, the operators would have difficulty moving them elsewhere. Some London stuff was leased when shorter contracts were being given, now it's 5 to 7 years.

Yes, there is a Scania bendi in X48 colours. More Lothian service changes in early-mid January.

And then, they went on fire... hmmm...

The bendicoaches were used on cross-forth services by Stagecoach for quite a while, but then the rules changed (so that when a double decker would get banned with high winds, so would a bendicoach). The last use of them over the Forth was the intention of Megabus to use them on the Inverness - Edinburgh - London service, although SYPTE/Trav South Yorks weren't happy with them entering Meadowhall bus station (or so the story goes), so they are now around Aberdeenshire.