Quality Line route 465: Kingston, Cromwell Road Bus Station - Dorking, South Street
Departed Cromwell Road Bus Station (A16), towards Eden Street (D1)

The Optare Versa hybrid has been reintroduced to London service with Quality Line this month, primarily on Epsom (EB) route 465.

It's interesting how I liked this bus on route 360, because I was forgetting why when I boarded it today. The acceleration is poor for a route like the 465, consisting of many fast and long straights with a few hills, as well. It is only when we were driving downhill and because of the long straights that I was able to record 47mph, otherwise the bus could barely achieve 30mph+ which made it difficult for the driver to keep to schedule.

Uphill showed the height of the atrocious acceleration. Towards Dorking, the bus was struggling to reach 10mph climbing uphill. Towards Kingston, we were left with no momentum to continue climbing up the hill approach to Juniper Hall bus stop on Old London Road. The bus rolled backwards as the driver released the handbrake, then re-applied it again to stop the roll, on two attempts to get moving again before a third attempt which was a success. Soon, the driver made the decision to curtail to Chessington and drive the bus back to the garage, simply explaining 'the bus is crap'.

More suited to slower routes, I think. The bus was simply disappointing, an adjective I do not usually link with Quality Line.

©London Bus Breh 2015.

Tags:   Epsom Coaches Group Epsom Buses Quality Line Optare Optare Versa Optare Versa Hybrid HOV HOV01 OP07 ARE 07-reg London Buses London Buses Bus London Buses route 465 Route 465 Kingston Cromwell Road Cromwell Road Bus Station TfL Transport for London

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