First, we deal with the 10, which had gained something of a poor reputation for reliability in recent months. Created in 1988 as a sectionalisation of the western half of the 73, it was split further today. However, the route numbers for the two services were switched during the process, leading to the anomalies of a very low-numbered OPO route and a most incongruously high numbered new Routemaster service.

The 10 has thus reverted to its original form as Hammersmith to Kings Cross, but now as an OPO service awarded to First and operated from a bursting at the seams Westbourne Park garage, who have racked up success after success recently.

The Archway to Marble Arch half retains Routemasters from Metroline London Northern, but now under the number 390. Holloway, another garage with a runout of over two hundred buses, is still in charge pending the preparation of a new base at Kings Cross.

One would question the relatively backwater Archway section keeping RMLs, as this was only actually added to allow buses to reach Holloway for meal reliefs and in the event made regular with the withdrawal of route C12. Similarly, the 10 could struggle with OPO buses over the length of Oxford Street, but in both cases, without any more Routemasters to draw on, there's not been much choice. Hopefully those disgruntled by the old 10's performance will be placated by the large increase in the numbers of buses running on both routes.

TOP PICTURE: First continue to vary their orders, with each batch taking up a new body and chassis combination. This time it's twenty-eight long-wheelbase Volvo B7TLs with Transbus (Alexander) ALX400 bodywork, one of which is Westbourne Park's VFL 1261 (LT52 WWG) seen at Marble Arch. Detail changes from previous ALX400s (comprising the TALs on the 25, with which they will be sharing half of Oxford Street) include a one-piece upstairs front windscreen, Transbus badges and DDA blind boxes with more black masking.

BOTTOM PICTURE: It certainly feels strange to have a crew route in Central London numbered this high. The blinds on Holloway's RM 1971 (ALD 971B) are nowhere near as comprehensive as their predecessors on the 10, and the side and rear panels have even been reduced from four to three lines of via points. The bus is seen at Euston where neither 10 nor 390 are able to serve the bus station, which is undergoing redevelopment.