Tower Transit route 23: Westbourne Park - Liverpool Street Station
Approaching Elkstone Road / Great Western Road (L)

Ahead of the controversial Baker Street / Finchley Road service changes are introductions from batch MV38201-51, Tower Transit's first purchase from MCV Bus & Coach. The new buses have been running along route 23 but are partly for the 13 - a renumbering of the current route 82 - which joins Tower Transit from Westbourne Park on 1 April 2017.

The full purchase also consists of vehicles for Tower Transit's double-decker conversion of route 308 which has been overdue since 4 March. I don't understand why the 'H' for hybrid has been discarded from the 'MV' fleetcode given to this bus type under TT's fleet: 'MVH' would have been calm alongside the DNHs.

Route 23 is one of many routes subject to change in central London. Check out my review: The West End Consultation.

©London Bus Breh 2017.

Tags:   Transit Systems Tower Transit Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles MCV MCV EvoSeti EvoSeti Volvo Volvo Bus Volvo B5L Volvo B5LH Volvo B5L Hybrid Hybrid Hybrid Bus Hybrid Technology MV MV38210 LJ17 WRO 17-reg London Buses London Buses Bus London Buses route 23 Route 23 Westbourne Park Westbourne Park Bus Garage Great Western Road Elkstone Road TfL Transport for London

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Tower Transit route 23: Liverpool Street Station - Westbourne Park
Departed St. Mary's Hospital (G), towards Paddington Station (F)

I have jumped on these new EvoSetis once. I envisioned the buses to look good at night with the green and grey retro-style interior of Tower Transit and they do not disappoint. The driver's average speed was less satisfying, but that did not undermine the ride quality.

The hybrid system is effective, as expected from the B5LH chassis: electric drive hinted at how great a service the 23 would be if it was fully allocated electric double-decker buses.

TfL recently proposed a significant change for route 23 to run from Lancaster Gate to Wembley Park. I suggested Maida Vale to Wembley Park. Either way, route 23 is unlikely to serve here from 2018 onwards. Check out my review: The West End Consultation.

©London Bus Breh 2017.

Tags:   Transit Systems Tower Transit Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles MCV MCV EvoSeti EvoSeti Volvo Volvo Bus Volvo B5L Volvo B5LH Volvo B5L Hybrid Hybrid Hybrid Bus Hybrid Technology MV MV38207 LJ17 WRK 17-reg London Buses London Buses Bus London Buses route 23 Route 23 Paddington St. Mary's Hospital Praed Street Norfolk Place TfL Transport for London

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Tower Transit route 13: Victoria Station - North Finchley, Bus Station
Approaching Lyndale Avenue (K)

Route 82 was 'withdrawn' to become route 13 on 1 April 2017. Previously operated by Metroline, Tower Transit won the contract to the renumbered service, introducing to it their first MCV manufactured buses, MV38201-35.

I shall try to review the controversial Baker Street / Finchley Road service changes soon on London Connected.

©London Bus Breh 2017.

Tags:   Transit Systems Tower Transit Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles MCV Bus and Coach MCV MCV EvoSeti EvoSeti Volvo Volvo Bus Volvo B5L Volvo B5LH Volvo B5L Hybrid Hybrid Hybrid Bus Hybrid Technology MV38209 LJ17 WRN 17-reg London Buses London Buses Bus London Buses route 13 Route 13 Finchley Road Hampstead TfL Transport for London

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Tower Transit route 328: Golders Green Station - Chelsea, World's End
Departed Carlton Vale (K), towards Cambridge Road (MC)

I knew to expect an odd-working MV for this year's Notting Hill Carnival and I was not disappointed. Route 328 had ample MVs in service as surplus to its VHs for the increased PVR supplementing both days of the carnival.

Surprisingly, though, the only other noteworthy odd-working from Westbourne Park was a VH on route 31 on the Bank Holiday Monday.

©London Bus Breh 2017.

Tags:   Transit Systems Tower Transit Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles MCV MCV Bus and Coach MCV EvoSeti EvoSeti Volvo Volvo Bus Volvo B5LH Volvo B5L Volvo B5L Hybrid Hybrid Hybrid Bus Hybrid Technology MV MV38203 LJ17 WRD 17-reg London Buses London Buses Bus London Buses route 328 Route 328 Kilburn Park Kilburn Park Road Carlton Vale TfL Transport for London

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Tower Transit route 308: Clapton Pond - Wanstead, Woodbine Place
Windmill Lane (Z)

Tower Transit retained route 308 from Lea Interchange (LI) on 4 March 2017. New buses, MV38235-51, were ordered for the service change with the batch including spare vehicles shared with route 58.

The route previously used full-sized Enviro200s, but proving insufficient DNs and VNs started appearing to improve capacity. The new contract recognises this demand and my bus demonstrated the need for a full double-decker allocation as seating capacity was full on both decks. As for the buses themselves, I'm pretty neutral about them but they are doing their job.

©London Bus Breh 2017.

Tags:   Transit Systems Tower Transit Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles MCV MCV Bus and Coach MCV EvoSeti EvoSeti Volvo Volvo Bus Volvo B5LH Volvo B5L Volvo B5L Hybrid Hybrid Hybrid Bus Hybrid Technology MV MV38239 LJ17 WTO 17-reg London Buses London Buses Bus London Buses route 308 Route 308 Stratford Leyton Road TfL Transport for London

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