London Buses Discussion

[Mikey C]

Last week (I've been away) I was very surprised to see Metroline VWH2092 with a MASSIVE advert on the side, blocking the 2 windows next to the wheelchair area. I'm really surprised that this is allowed.

 

[Mattplans]

Last week (I've been away) I was very surprised to see Metroline VWH2092 with a MASSIVE advert on the side, blocking the 2 windows next to the wheelchair area. I'm really surprised that this is allowed.

View attachment 209583

What do you find objectionable about it?

 

[MotCO]

If I was a passenger, I would not lle to sit beside a blank wall and not be able to see out. If they are beside the disabled spaces, then wheelchair users would nit have any option but to sit there. Not very welcoming.

 

[Mikey C]

If I was a passenger, I would not lle to sit beside a blank wall and not be able to see out. If they are beside the disabled spaces, then wheelchair users would nit have any option but to sit there. Not very welcoming.

Exactly. That is the wheelchair/buggy area.

 

[MCR247]

Using space where there isn’t any windows is one thing, but fully blocking pre-existing windows is certainly a choice.

 

[capitalpotter]

Using space where there isn’t any windows is one thing, but fully blocking pre-existing windows is certainly a choice.

The advert that covers the windows are actually seethrough

 

[duncombec]

It's not really clear from an outside picture, but could the window-covering part of the poster be contravision?

 

[MotCO]

It's not really clear from an outside picture, but could the window-covering part of the poster be contravision?

Even contravision is not to clever for passengers, particularly at night.

 

[MCR247]

The advert that covers the windows are actually seethrough

Ah, well in that case I actually think this is potentially quite clever. I’m generally not a fan of contravision, however if it is going to be there why not make it look better

 

[PGAT]

Last week (I've been away) I was very surprised to see Metroline VWH2092 with a MASSIVE advert on the side, blocking the 2 windows next to the wheelchair area. I'm really surprised that this is allowed.

View attachment 209583

I have just seen the same thing on the 35 (fleet Ee192)

 

[Thirteen]

Saw a old style diesel 270 bus today which is odd considering the route is now all electric, guessing bus shortage at the Beddington Garage?

 

[ukiki323]

Saw a old style diesel 270 bus today which is odd considering the route is now all electric, guessing bus shortage at the Beddington Garage?

Maybe heat issues with the electric buses it uses. Since a number of buses from the 270's old smart hybrid allocation were kept as spares they have strayed occasionally since the route converted .

 

[bb21]

TfL have now published the annual bus fleet audit (as at 31 March 2026)

Lots of tables, some showing summary numbers for last few years

fleet grew 185 buses in a year
929 buses added in 2025 (highest since 2017), all were electric

As data is in tables, not practical to quote it

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/31-march-2026-bus-fleet-audit.pdf

For anyone interested in lots more info on each of the 8982 buses there is a hefty spreadsheet on this link

Bus fleet data & audits

An audit of the LBSL contracted fleet is carried out once a year. The data provides the fleet size, respective percentage of the fleet and average age by operator

tfl.gov.uk

I know this table was correct to end of March, but are there any 09 reg buses still in TfL services? There are still a bunch of 59 ones congregated around Croydon (Metrobus single-door WVLs on SL7, WVNs on 403, and Arriva DWs on 194) so presumbaly they are the last surviving lot from that year.

 

[Kay_M]

I know this table was correct to end of March, but are there any 09 reg buses still in TfL services? There are still a bunch of 59 ones congregated around Croydon (Metrobus single-door WVLs on SL7, WVNs on 403, and Arriva DWs on 194) so presumbaly they are the last surviving lot from that year.

No more 09-reg buses on London services. I think the last one operated either later last year or early this year. Arriva's DW263 and DW266 are the oldest buses in london service being registered January 2010

 

[Snow1964]

No more 09-reg buses on London services. I think the last one operated either later last year or early this year. Arriva's DW263 and DW266 are the oldest buses in london service being registered January 2010

GoAhead also has a few 59-reg :
WVL336, 341, 343 and WVN 20, 22 still operating

 

[Thirteen]

The 485 has gone back to using diesel for some buses as its buses are being used for the 378.

 

[Mark L]

The 485 has gone back to using diesel for some buses as its buses are being used for the 378.

The 378 and 485 interwork so the combined allocation is currently about 50:50 diesel and battery-electric. More GB Kite Electroliners are due soon.

 

[LUYMun]

The SL12 route between Gants Hill and Rainham, Ferry Lane will be launching on 5th September with fares being free in the first week of service, TfL announces.