Today route 94 (Piccadilly Circus - Acton
Green) ceased Routemaster operation. Considerable media
interest is beginning to awaken surrounding the
withdrawal of London's famous and irreplaceable mode of
bus operation, and not a moment too soon, in my opinion.
Here's my few words on tonight's send-off by London
United.
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The
Routemasters rostered on the twenty-four
scheduled weekday workings on the 94 took longer
to depart than previously intended due to a delay
getting the new Tridents equipped for service at
Shepherds Bush. On Thursday the new buses all
entered service in one go, still in crew mode.
The conversion of the 94 has also meant the end
of a rather smart route-branding scheme London
United applied to the route's buses a couple of
years ago. It is seen worn by RML 2722 (SMK 722F), seen at the
Piccadilly Circus stand on Wednesday. |
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Had to get
these things out of the way, dull as they are. 32
new ALX400-bodied Dennis Tridents are the new
face of the 94 from Saturday 24th. They continue
the same ghastly turquoise and green interior
(with spoiled-milk coloured floor) pioneered on
earlier deliveries to sister company Sovereign.
Even more irritatingly, the seats omit the
cushion. I got talking to the conductor on one of
these (not one of the 44 to be laid off but a
lucky driver redeployed for the day) and he was
as resigned to the march of 'progress' as I was.
The driver reckoned they provided a better
service. If I hadn't seen how the 94's new TLAs
were running today, with three pairs, I wouldn't
have laughed in his face. Showing blinds so
uninformative as to make you wonder why they
bothered putting any in at all is brand new TLA 26 (SN53 KJE). |
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There is a
tiny bit of hope. At least two of Shepherds
Bush's RMLs managed to slip the noose and make
their way to the Edgware garage of sister company
Sovereign for continued work on the 13. One of
them is RML 881 (HSL 656, ex WLT 881)
of the 1961-1962 prototype batch. I was under the
impression that London United's small number of
short RMs would join counterparts at Sovereign,
but we'll see what else turns up on the 13. Maybe
they'll stop rogue Volvo B7TLs and DAFs from
getting out on crew work, something that had been
becoming common. |
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Only five RMLs
were out on the 94 on the final day - RMLs 2298
(S372), 2349 (S369), 2500 (S352), 2734 (S370) and
RML 880 as the final journey's duplicate. Here in
Oxford Street is RML 2734 (SMK 734F) doing what
it's always done, but not for much longer. By the
time of the early evening finish for
Routemasters, all four of the daytime RMLs were
scheduled to leave Acton Green closely timed,
giving the assembling crowds something to
entertain them while waiting for the final two
runnings. |
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I wasn't quite
sure what order to get the final pair in, as RML
2500 was the official scheduled last bus as S352
from Acton Green at 19:30 (returning from
Piccadilly Circus at 20:18) but
beautifully-liveried company showbus RML 880 (WLT 880) was its
duplicate, intended to carry enthusiasts. But the
enthusiasts wanted to be on the last one of
course, so most travelled in the opposite order
intended. As it happened, an accident in Regent
Street forced both S352 and duplicate to be
curtailed to Oxford Circus. I hope there aren't
still any people at Piccadilly Circus waiting!
RML 880 is seen having made its final arrival at
Shepherds Bush garage. This bus will continue on
the 9 till that route too goes, slated to be in
September. |
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Quite a few
members of the press attended the 94's passing,
with attention paid to the event on TV, radio and
websites (other than this one, which is always
there for this kind of thing!). RML 2500 (JJD 500D) as S352
finally reached Acton Green at 9:35 pm, after
which it returned (still in service) to Shepherds
Bush Garage where it signed off for good.
Once again, I extend my thanks to London United
for the 94's send-off and salute all those who
attended. The next loss is a double whammy, with
both Metroline's services 6 and 98 going OPO on
27th March, but their replacements are due to
start from the first of that month. |
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