Archive.html News (Upto : 2009)

Our TfL route U7 has been rerouted from the 4th July, and is thus Uxbridge to Hayes End,
then Diverted via Hewens Road, Charville Lane and the existing route (in reverse to before) to Lansbury Drive,
then via Uxbridge Road to Hayes Sainsbury’s.
The CampusLink Routes (CL/CC1) were both withdrawn at the end of trem with the closure of the Newlands Campus site.
Our TfL route U2 has from Saturday 31st Jan been extended from Hillingdon Hospital to Brunel University.
This was already used as the turnaround point.
The 2 unused DE Class DAF-EL Myllennium have been looked at for re-use as trainers and work has started on the convertions. They are renumbered to the 9xx serires. This will lead to the 2 oldest VNs being stood down.
Also DT49 our oldest Dart has been semi-retired/preserved, but could still see use.
A new Mercedes Spinter Van has appeard for the service fleet as SV901(EY58LZA).
With the London LEZ, the evening journeys on the 305 were having to stop short of Uxbridge Station (inside zone) with the MP
Mercedes Midi being non-complate. This has now been restored with the arrival of MPD57(HW54DBZ) another MPD class Dart, in dealer plain white. The Mercedes is now the backup, so if used with still have to stop short.
Finally a small Maintance facility has been installed at our (GX) site, if major work is required it's still done at our main (WA) site.
SV903 a Merc.307D Flatbed was scrapped over a year ago but was missed in it's demise.
With its main rebuild finnished the Hillingdon Lynx has finally moved to Gerrards Cross, where final finishing is to be done.
Sold are DP942(M200RAB), DP946(N336WTF), VN134(R480UWB), VN135(R595UWB)
The new Enviro 200s and the odd Enviro 400 for TfL route 350 arrived as ES71-79 TA-H08RAB/TS08LHR AD Enviro200; ED111 111RBC AD Enviro400. The move over of routes to to our Gerrards Cross site (GX) was revised, with another route (305) also transfering and now worked by a MP class Mercedes. The Campus Link routes moved unchanged, but the 335 becomes a mixed LPD Dart/VA Olympain route. This saw DE41/42 LL51MYL, LR02ELC; DAF SB220LF-EL Myllennium were de-licensed, and the single-door Dart from the 305 set aside for Trainer convertion as LPD940. Also 2 Dennis Trident/East Lancs Double Deckers have arrived as ET107/8(LS04VXN/LX05ZZR), replacing PD137-139(T137-9AUA) sold in p/x.
Withdrwan are DP942(M200RAB), DP946(N336WTF), VN134(R480UWB), VN135(R595UWB)
With the inpending change of Route H50 to the new 350. Required space at Windsor Avenue (WA) has been made by transfer over 3 non-TFL routes to the Gerrards Cross site (GX) from the start of March. With no maintance ready at GX this will still be done at WA. The Routes are the Campus Link CC1 & 393, plus the 335. With this 10 buses transfered over.
Our two Dart-Plaxton DP class trainers are withdrawn. DP942(M200RAB), DP946(N336WTF).
As from the Week of 12th Janurary TfL School routes 697 & 698 have gained 1 extra pm only journey each.
Two LPD Dart are used, Including, LPD43(T153OGC), a newly arrived member of the class.
To conform to LSP requirements, and also a weak bridge, a Plaxton Primo PP27(PP57RAB), has arrived for Bucks Route 459.
Another Dart-Plaxton MPD MPD52(KU52RXR), has also arrived to cover an increase on the 393 Campus Link route.
MM31-34 (LK57 AVT-X) Are our four MAN-MCV Evolution have finaly arrived for their duty on the U7 route.
The 4 LPDs will now be used as cover for the TfL I-Bus programme to be started, the above MANs already fitted.
Also another nearly new Renault Trafic 8-seat Minibus has arrived for crew changing as SV904 (HX06LZR).
TfL Route 350 has been awarded, to start from March 2008. New single-decks plus 1 new double-decker are required for a pvr of 9. The double-decker will be a M-F peak only between Hayes and West Drayton.
The 350 will replace the H50 route and will run between Hayes - West Drayton - Harmondsworth - Heathrow T5.
The Training fleet VN Olympians and Volvo Coach are now in use, with the Metrobus trainer, MB936 being withdrawn.
Another MPD Class Dart, MPD51(W951AOS) has been acquired to allow, along with one of the original MPD, the 'Campus Link' routes to be fully worked by MPD class buses. This will see the MPs (now fully aquired, off loan) move over to Route 459 and the DT Dart from that, becoming the spare for 'Campus Link' routes.
The Main news story is that a new smaller garage site has been leased, sited just outside of Gerrards Cross.
With there now being two sites we have coded them, the Main site being WA and the new site GX.
This will house the Country Lane fleet, but will still be seen there for maintance and hire preperation.
The Hillingdon BL will also move over, the Hillingdon Lynx is being slowly worked on when time permits.
The opertunity has been been taken to aquire a RF class AEC Regal, this being RF69 (LYF420) and this became the first vehicle to be housed at the new location. De-licensed are VN134/135 (R480/595UWB)
4 MAN-MCV Evolution are on order instead of the 4 VDL SB120-Plaxton Centro which have been cancelled.
TfL Route U2 has had its contract extended for two more years.
With new requirements to driver training vehicles (for testing), Volvo coach VP8 has been set aside for this work as VP948.
Aswell as Olympians VN123, VN126 renumbered as VN923 & VN926. These will see the withdrawal of the 2 Dart trainers.
Our two awaited MPD Darts have been delivered for use on Route 393 and CC1.
They carry a combined 'campus link' route branding for both routes and will work the route and are MPD55/56 (LT55/56RAB).
The 2 Mercedes-Plaxton Beaver 2 are MP21/22(W239EDH, X129UDG), now acquired, and are also in use.
With this the 335 has reverted back to DE operation.
But those for the U7 have been delayed, and 4 Dart SLF/Plaxtons are on loan to cover, DP44-7(V544/0/6/7JBH).
We have been awarded another TfL School route, this being new route 696 with 1 double-deck.
Our Titan T118[T1018] has been sold for Continued Preservation
With the continued growth of the Bus services side of the company, a decision has been made to disband the Coach fleet (of 6), this taking place at the end of September. The Country Lane fleet will continue unaffected.
The coach fleet was VP1 (111RBC), VP2 (E862GWK), VP3 (D941OTH), VP4 (S141FFW),
BF6 (W56EAN), VP8 (R48OUT), also withdrawn is Trident TA100 (ST04RAB).
Route news see us introduce new route 393 (Campus Link) for Bucks Chiltern University College between Handy Cross Sports Centre and Newland Park Campus starting from mid September.
2 Mercedes 0814-Plaxton Beaver 2 are on loan, with 2 Alexander Dennis Dart MPDs on order.
Also ordered are 4 VDL SB120 - Plaxton Centro for the awarded TfL Route U7, for operation from November this year.
Also Herts CC Route R21 has been retained on retendering.
Vehicle news sees another Volvo Olympian appear, with a Alexander dual-door body as VA117 (XDZ5917)
With the entry into use of the newer double-deck trainers MB930 has been stood down.
MB136 has been reinstated, upon transfer to the training fleet, so is renumbered to MB936.
We have also retained our 2 TfL school routes on retender (697/698) and arriving for these is another, but second-hand Volvo B7TL-East Lancs Vyking has entered the fleet as EV106 (LS04WLX).
We have at last got hold of a Hillingdon Leyland Lynx as LX2 (F102GRM) has arrived, it requires a full rebuild and repaint back into Hillingdon colours, as this will only be done when workshop time premits.
TfL Route H50 was to start from the end of October but will now start from the January 16th, as a result the new WV's are for now in use on our school routes, on which the odd one had already appeared.
With the deadline for low-floor buses on TfL routes set for the new year, 4 second hand DAF low-floor Double Deckers are in the process of being perpaired for entry into use, being PD130/37/38/39 (T130AUA etc).
The VN class Olympians, having seen light use on the school routes since the WV's temporary allocation, will become a non-TfL Spares/Rail Replacement Fleet, bar one [VN133] which will be converted to a trainer as VN933 and replace MB930.
This has seen our old Leyland Olympian renumbered to make way(only on paper from L139 to LN129) as it has also been withdrawn for disposal as have MB136 and DP43. along with our Mk2 Metrobus. The 2 DA class DAF/Optare have been sold.
Another vehicle has entered the County Lane Fleet is LH10 (WAT710T), being a Bristol LHS with Plaxton Bodywork.
We have been given permission to combine both our operating units together by removing the dividing fence. We are looking again at another garage unit, which the Country Lane fleet would move over to, no suitable location has yet been found.
The Mon-Sat p.m. peak journeys on Route 305 will be run from the end of July. This will be worked using the LPD Dart.
Plus we have retained Bucks CC Route 459. T118 has been transfered into the Preservation fleet, but can be used if required.
TfL Route H50 will be taken on from October 2005 requiring 3 Double-deckers. As a result another 3 Volvo B7TL, but this time with Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini (dual-door) bodywork are now on order to be WV103-105 (LT05RAB/LHR/RBC).
Route C1 has finished for the Summer, this route will reappear as the CC1 on renumbering.
Darts DP42/46 to DP942/46 now as trainers, plus TA104 to TA100. DP43 is De-licensed with DA41/44 Withdrawn.
Route 335 has been withdrawn between Slough & Uxbridge from March. This has seen the two DEs transfer over to the C1,
with the TA becoming the regular performer on the 335, with a DE working the Saturday journeys.
The low-floor Dart now the main spare for these routes.
The two DAs were look over for convertion to driver trainers, but instead 2 DP Dart are under the early stage of convertion.
When completed, will replace the Leyland National trainer, which is of note as it was one of the first buses owned.
New Service Vans are SV905-908 (RN05TAC/F; FD05TRA/TRN) and older SV904 (J709PLX) Sold for Scrap
Route C1 sees use of newly arrived low-floor Dart LPD40 (S460JLK), plus a DP Dart, replacing in the 2 DA Deltas.
We have bought for contiued presivation BL95 (OJD95R), a Hillingdon 128 route BL, already in orginal livery from it's last owner.
We are also in early talks about a Hillingdon Leyland Lynx (A trainer with First Group).
Hong-Kong Metro ML132 (F132UJN) has been Sold
Bucks CC Route C1 taken on from the New September College term, using the 2 DAs.
Newly aquired are EV101/2 (PD54SAG/H) Volvo/EL and MPD54 (RB54MPD) Dart MPD.
With the rapid withdrawnal of Routemasters in London RML2428 (CUV428C) has arrived, and being new as a Country bus,
it will fill at home back in Country Green livery.
Also arriving are Olympians VN123/6 (P383EHS, N926DSM) and Trident/Alexander TA104 (ST04RAB)
Withdrawn and Sold are MP95/6 (P95MOY, P916DOA); L37 (RAB50X); with SV901 (A231RBP) -Scrapped.
Acquired is Leyland Titan T118 (A618THV).
With fleet growth a partial renumbering has taken place. All double deckers are now 1xx, with Service Veichles 9xx.
Aquired: 10/03- OS62,66,67 (OS03RGZ/G/T); DT49 (G49TGW); 06/03- OS65 (OS03RGS)
Withdrawn: 09/03- LS47 (KJD547P) -Sold: Continued Preservation; 06/03- VR29 (BEL9S) -Sold, without use; 04/03- SV105 (G315ALC) -Scrapped
TfL Route U2 was taken on from May 3rd, But not all of the Solo's had been delivered, resulting in a number of short term hires in use OS60 (DG51OYX); OS61,63,64 (OS03RGL/E/A); MCW Metrobus tri-axle ML32 (F132UJN); Withdrawn and sold: 03/03- L38 (G686CPU)
Commerical Routes 458 was withdrawn altogether from the end of Feburary
TfL Route U2 has been won on tender from May 2003. Having darts already in the fleet, a few other demonstrators were looked at for possible use on this route. As a result a batch of Optare Solo's have been ordered.
This route is of note as it runs past our HQ.
Commerical Routes 458 has a new timetable from late September. (One fewer joiuney)
Withdrawn: 09/02- AP19 (RIL1059) -Sold for Scrap (Bodywork)
With these September uptakes, fleet strength would excess our garage capacity, as luck what have it, the unit next door was on the market. This became operational by the end of July 2002, with a larger office building and undercover storage to house the COUNTRY LANE fleet, the yard as the extra parking for the ROUNDABOUT fleet. All Maintenance still taking place at the original unit.
Aquired:05/02- MPD53 (LT02RAB); SV103 (F328GHK); SV104 J709PLX; 04/02- MB36 (F36PRT):
03/02- DE52 (LR02ELC); VN33 (S833SFL); 02/02- DE51 (LL51RAB); SV102 (V382LVH): 01/02- SB11 (201SJT)
Withdrawn: 02/02- L40 (WOY340X) -Sold; VP97 (V257BNV) -off loan
Aquired:12/01- BF6 (W56EAN); DP48 (P716GUM) 11/01- MPD50 (LT51RAB): 10/01- MP97 (V257BNV) loan
September 2000 saw TfL School Services 697/698 and our first Herts CC (route R21) begain.
Withdrwan: 08/01- VR28 (HAD5860) -Scrapped
Aquired: 07/01- VP3 (D941OTH); VP4 (S141FFW); VN34 (R480UWB):
04/01- VN35 (R595UWB); L37 (RAB50X); MB30 (RAB50V); DA44 (L504YGA): 03/01- VP2 (E862GWK): 02/01- OB12 (JRT212)
Withdrawn & Sold: 08/00- MP93 (R473NRX) -Accident
May 2000 saw Bus services operation begain with 3 Routes, the Commerical 458 and Bucks CC 335 and 459.