LTSV Latest Data - Detail View

This page shows the most recently added or edited database records.

Photos Added

Count	Photo	Details	Added
101		By Dave Wolstencroft At least 8 of these Ford Puma mild-hybrid cars have been added to the Metroline fleet this year. Seven were delivered in April, while AY23KWN came about four months later. It appears to have remained at the CELF in Perivale since August, as seen here on 18th September 2023.	26/09/2023
102		By Dave Wolstencroft The fourth LUL vehicle found at Hatton Cross on the night of 14th September 2023 was the largest and had travelled the furthest. Long-wheelbase Ford Transit van 8401F is allocated to Hainault Depot on the opposite side of London, and it has only been reported a handful of times during its 6-year career.	26/09/2023
103		By Dave Wolstencroft Most night trips do not really cover the suburbs, as the chance of coming across vehicles is considerably slimmer and the distances involved greater. On the 14th of September 2023 (or more accurately the early hours of the 15th), Dave decided to call in at Hatton Cross on his way back to base, and there he found four LUL SVs parked in the bus station. Curiously all four were from different bases. Shown here is Renault Kangoo Maxi van 8559R (with sun-bleached front roundel), normally resident at Morden Station. Similar 8557R (even down to the faded roundel) from Wembley Park Station was nearby, while alongside was VW Transporter minibus 8713VW from Acton, Museum Way.	26/09/2023
104		By Dave Wolstencroft Renault Kangoo Maxi vans 8935R to 8937R were all new in June 2019 and initially seemed to be allocated to Allsop Place at Baker Street. The first two are no longer kept there, although they do still turn up nearby at nighttime. This 14th September 2023 photo shows 8936R parked near the top of Baker Street, with 8937R directly behind.	26/09/2023
105		By Dave Wolstencroft Also on Chapel Street on 14th September 2023 was Renault Kangoo Maxi van 8880R. 8999VW and 8370R are on the opposite side of the road.	26/09/2023
106		By Dave Wolstencroft On the night of 14th September 2023, Dave photographed this line of five LUL vans parked on Chapel Street near Griffith House. Nearest was Renault Kangoo Maxi 8366R, with 8370R, 8999VW, 8881R and 8829R in front. Note that chevron rears, once standard on Griffith House vehicles, are no longer generally applied.	26/09/2023
107		By Ray Monk Is it time for another anonymous Dartford crew ferry car yet?! With some jolly bus drivers, this is Peugeot 508 estate car MJ22WMC in Bexleyheath on 13th September 2023. I get confused by Peugeot model designations, and the 508 seems to have no relation to the 5008. Still, at least Peugeot put the model numbers on the front of their cars as well as the (more normal) rear.	26/09/2023
108		By Laurence Carty Another excellent view of preserved Leyland Titan breakdown tender 1279LD alongside current rescue tender 2609 at Acton Works on 12th September 2023. It would be interesting to see how each of these vehicles would look in the livery of the other!	26/09/2023
109		By Laurence Carty 1279LD, the preserved Leyland Titan breakdown tender that recently resurfaced at the Worthing Bus Rally, paid a visit to Acton Works on 12th September 2023. It was parked alongside its modern equivalent in the form of Volvo FL rescue tender 2609 (KS66XZV) outside the ERU shed. The Emergency Response Unit is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, having been established as a single operation in 1993.	26/09/2023
110		By Andrew Lidinson Another DLR Keolis Amey vehicle without a fleetnumber is Peugeot Partner van GJ72MJY, found at Lewisham Station on 7th September 2023.	26/09/2023
111		By Andrew Lidinson The Mk6 Ford Transit is now becoming a rare sight as a service vehicle. Apart from the possibility of exhibition unit KJ53UNW still lingering at the Acton Museum Depot (reports please), the only other examples are three with Abellio, and it would appear that none are in active use. BP06NDZ was new in 2006 and acquired by Abellio by 2012. It was usually to be found at Hatton Cross Bus Station in use as a rest vehicle, and was no doubt home-based at Fulwell. It was also noted in 2022 and 2023 at a commercial garage in South Croydon. On 6th September 2023 it was photographed parked on Haling Park Road in South Croydon. This would seem to suggest that it had been disposed of. However, it retained Abellio lettering all round (except on the offside), and its licensing data gave no indication of a change of ownership.	26/09/2023
112		By Ray Monk I have in the past moaned about the fact that some garages seem to use an endless stream of anonymous hired cars as crew ferry vehicles, most notably Arriva London's Dartford. However, I suspect that the bus drivers who use these vehicles do not mind at all. If the cars were bought, they would probably be lower-spec or second-hand, while some of the hired vehicles seem to be quite posh and are no doubt more comfortable. Seen at the Arnsberg Way bus stand in Bexleyheath on 6th September 2023 were two such cars, with Peugeot 5008 GD21ENX parked in front of Citroen C5 KM72PXN.	26/09/2023
113		By Richard Davis Demonstrations of recovery equipment and techniques are a feature of the TruckFest shows, and at TruckFest South West in Shepton Mallet on 2nd September 2023, Dynes Recovery AY22UKT was teamed with Egertons Scania UK51WSX to lift an elderly Dennis Dart bus onto a flatbed recovery truck.	26/09/2023
114		By Richard Davis Richard was at another TruckFest show on 2nd September 2023, this time TruckFest South West at Shepton Mallet in Somerset. Dynes Recovery were in attendance again and here we see their 3-axle DAF AY22UKT which carries the name John.	26/09/2023
115		By Ray Monk Also photographed outside the offices at Acton Works on 2nd September 2023 was Ford Transit Connect van 8465F. This 6-year old van has been noted numerous times working out of Stratford Market Depot but, being generally seen on the move at night, this is the first time it has been photographed. The Transit Connect was once the standard small van for the LUL fleet, but just 4 are in stock at present.	26/09/2023
116		By Ray Monk 8701VW is quite an elusive vehicle, with relatively few sightings since it was new almost five years ago. I suspect that it is allocated to Earls Court and hence usually hidden away in the small shed off Earls Court Gardens. It was found visiting Acton Works on 2nd September 2023.	26/09/2023
117		By Ray Monk Seen in the front car park at Acton Works on 2nd September 2023, CJ23HBE is a Hyundai Kona electric car operated by Mitie. This firm is contracted to provide security and facilities services to LUL, and this is reflected in the dual branding applied on the sides, although from the front it could appear to be an LUL vehicle. A couple of genuine LUL service vehicles are visible in the background.	26/09/2023
118		By Kim Rennie Dynes Recovery 4-axle Volvo FH truck KM22UUZ (named Reuben) has appeared on LTSV several times already, but this is the first view of it earning its keep. Taken outside Bow Garage on 1st September 2023, it had presumably just brought one of the allocated LT class New Routemaster buses back to the garage for attention.	26/09/2023
119		By London Spotter The Docklands Light Railway has been receiving new service vehicles in recent months, though keeping track of them is proving difficult. Some carry fleetnumbers previously carried by older vehicles, while others have no numbers applied. One of the latter is Peugeot Expert crew van GL23VKR, seen at Stratford Station on 30th August 2023.	26/09/2023
120		By Ray Monk TfL-liveried Toyota Yaris car 9111T was delivered in early 2020 and was soon allocated to Blackwall, Naval Row as a replacement for Toyota Prius LS13EVV (the last service vehicle to carry the white/orange TfL Streets livery). As with LS13EVV, the car is kept in a yard alongside the north portals of the Blackwall Tunnel, and can be viewed through the fence from an adjoining footpath, as here on 28th August 2023.	26/09/2023
121		By Ray Monk The Toyota Corolla name has been in use since 1968, though (as with the Ford Transit) it has applied to various designs over the years. SC21VKN is an example of the 12th generation Corolla, introduced in 2018. This one is on hire to Stagecoach London for use as a crew ferry vehicle from Rainham Garage and it was photographed at the bus stop near Tescos in the town on 26th August 2023. Despite the global success of the Corolla model, this is only the second example known to have worked as a London service vehicle, the first being Epsom Coaches A8HRR.	26/09/2023
122		By Ray Monk Ray was back in Rainham on 26th August 2023 and photographed some more of the hired cars used as crew ferry vehicles from the nearby Stagecoach London garage. First up is Nissan Juke YJ23DBS, one of three similar cars added to the fleet recently. It has the spattering of mud typical to vehicles working from Rainham.	26/09/2023
123		By Lee Thatcher MF20RZG is a Renault Master van numbered R70037 in the RATP Dev fleet and allocated to Shepherds Bush Garage. On 22nd August 2023 it was caught heading up Park Lane in central London and passing one of the Stagecoach London Scania OmniCity buses now converted to part open-top for use on sightseeing tours.	26/09/2023
124		By Lee Thatcher Lee supplied some excellent photos of bus garages for use in the new SUP45A publication. However, the print deadline had been moved forward a week and they unfortunately arrived just too late. This photo is worth showing here, since it includes a service vehicle as well as a couple of other interesting aspects. Taken on 22nd August 2023, it shows the garage at Cornwall Road in Waterloo. Opened in 1990 on the site of a long-established bus terminating stand, it initially operated single-deck buses on the Red Arrow routes, and hence was given the code RA. The Red Arrow network was reduced, debranded and finally abandoned in April 2023, the last two routes (507 and 521) being covered by changes to other services. The garage was retained and was used as a base for routes 153 and 214, both of which had previously worked from Northumberland Park. The routes both used SEe electric single-deckers similar to those on the 507 and 521, although without the large standee area. I had assumed that most of the standee SEe buses would have been moved elsewhere pending upseating and reallocation, and indeed some have been noted at Northumberland Park. However, visible here are SEe27 and SEe28, neither of which had been used for almost 4 months. The standee area is evident by the yellow handrail visible inside SEe27 on the left. Another point of interest is the red and white double-deckers parked in a line in the center. TfL has decided to develop a network of express bus routes, most of which will together form a circuit around outer London. This led to the idea of branding these services as 'Superloop', although the branding has also been extended to other express routes. The X68 was introduced in 1986 as a peak-hours only service from Croydon to Russell Square in the mornings, returning in the afternoon. It was run with normal double-deck buses that were used on other routes during the day. In July 2023 the route was renumbered to the SL6, and its buses were given the smart new red and white livery with Superloop lettering. It was planned that such vehicles would not be used on other routes, hence the buses spend most of the day just parked up. Curiously, even though the route is run by Camberwell (which is only a few miles south of here), the buses are parked at Waterloo Garage during the day, and indeed 10 were lined-up when Lee visited (the route requires 10 buses, with a total of 12 EH buses suitably reliveried). Finally, to the service vehicle. FJ64OWO is a BYD E6 electric car that has been based here (off and on) since at least mid-2017. It has never had any lettering, and it was sometimes joined by similar FJ64OWP, though I did suspect that they were perhaps owned by BYD themselves. The fact that FJ64OWO is still here suggests that it is now a Go-Ahead vehicle, and any reports of FJ64OWP being seen would be welcomed.	26/09/2023
125		By Derek Everson Derek photographed this Ford Transit Connect van in Guildford Bus Station on 21st August 2023. Although lettered for Farnham Coaches, KR58ZGF was being used to ferry Safeguard bus drivers, and the two companies are in fact co-owned. Note that this rather elderly van has a one-piece rear door, instead of the more common twin, side-hinged doors.	26/09/2023
126		By Ray Monk Having said that the Stagecoach London Hyundai I800 minibuses are used for longer runs, here is a photo showing one having made the shorter journey to Rainham Tescos. DV68TTO is on the left, while just leaving is DS23SRX, one of three electric Vauxhall Corsa cars recently added to the fleet. As can be seen, both vehicles have lettering that refers to 'Operations (Team) Rainham', presumably to distinguish them from vehicles for use by the engineers. The car is allocated national fleetnumber 91787, although this does not appear to be carried. Photographed on 21st August 2023.	26/09/2023
127		By Ray Monk Another Stagecoach London hired crew ferry car seen at Rainham Tescos on 21st August 2023 was Ford Puma AO71FND. Metroline has recently taken a batch of similar vehicles, two of which appear later in today's batch of photos.	26/09/2023
128		By Ray Monk In Rainham, between the supermarket and the petrol station both run by Tesco, is a small bus station which is frequented by crew ferry vehicles from the nearby Stagecoach London garage. The Hyundai I800 minibuses appear to be used for the longer runs (such as to Romford), with more local runs handled by cars, many of which are hired and have no markings. A typical example was Peugeot 2008 MD72TVK, seen on 21st August 2023.	26/09/2023
129		By Ray Monk Ray travelled to Rainham (Essex) on 21st August 2023 but instead of heading to the Stagecoach garage off Ferry Lane he looked around the station and the nearby Tesco supermarket. At the former he found a gaggle of Arriva Seat Ibiza cars, parked in a small yard at the end of Old Station Lane (the station platforms are visible in the background). All the cars were from Grays garage, whose route 103 terminates nearby. It would appear that the cars are used as places for drivers to take their rest breaks as much as to ferry them to and from the garage, while looking at Google maps suggests this has been the case for at least the past few years.	26/09/2023
130		By Lee Thatcher Seen heading west on Brentford High Street on 17th August 2023 was Trams Ford Transit Custom van 8723F loaded onto a transporter and with evidence of frontal damage. It was perhaps on its way from Acton Works to a Ford garage, though it was back at Acton looking fully recovered a couple of weeks later.	26/09/2023
131		By Dave Wolstencroft This anonymous white Peugeot Partner van OV68VZC has become a bit of a fixture at Watford Junction Bus Station lately, normally parked in a bay marked for ferry vehicles only. It is presumed to be from the Hemel Hempstead garage of Arriva Southern Counties and I suspect it is actually an engineers van. Crew ferry duties are mainly in the hands of cars or Mercedes Sprinter minibuses like the one just visible behind. Also visible is a London Overground train in the bay platforms of the adjoining station. Photographed on 14th August 2023.	26/09/2023
132		By Dave Wolstencroft Another of the regular Griffith House night-time visitors is Renault Kangoo Maxi van 8364R seen parked on the pavement outside on 10th August 2023. This van is over six and a half years old and would probably have been replaced by now under normal circumstances.	26/09/2023
133		By Dave Wolstencroft Ford Transit Custom crew van 8749F is one of the regular Griffith House night gang, and it was found parked nearby on Chapel Street on 10th August 2023.	26/09/2023
134		By Ray Monk Ray passes through Bexleyheath a couple of times each week and, as often as not he finds a previously unreported crew ferry vehicle parked at the bus stand on Arnsberg Way. On 2nd August 2023 it was this silver Peugeot 308 estate car BF21VPP.	26/09/2023
135		By Dave Wolstencroft TfL Toyota Yaris car 8898T returned to Stratford City Bus Station in August 2023, being photographed there on the 18th.	23/08/2023
136		By Dave Wolstencroft Dave W has had several night trips in recent weeks and in the early hours of 18th August 2023 he found 8205VW parked at the Sainsburys near Gloucester Road Station. This is one of two VW Caddy Maxi crew vans that have Incident Response Vehicle markings and which are normally kept in the basement at Palestra in Southwark. Being over 6-and-a-half years old, they would probably have been replaced by now under normal circumstances.	23/08/2023
137		By Ray Monk Whilst adding the photo of the new Wood Green van, I realised I had not yet shown the previous resident. Vauxhall Corsa van WM16CSZ was new in mid-2016 and was based at Wood Green from at least late-2017. It seems to have never gained any lettering, nor did it have the chevrons or light-bars normally applied to engineering support vehicles. Ray photographed the anonymous van inside Wood Green garage on the 2nd of January 2020.	23/08/2023
138		By Thomas Young Another new Vauxhall Combo van for Arriva London was found on 17th August 2023, when FL23JCV was seen at Wood Green Garage. The van itself is very like the other examples shown recently, so I have used this wider shot to illustrate more of the interior of the garage. Note the gentle curve to the long, thin sheds, the opening onto the parallel shed, and the hanging signs showing buses where to park.	23/08/2023
139		By Thomas Young A view of the front of mystery Mercedes Sprinter van FX58ZRO in Edmonton on 17th August 2023 shows that it once had Arriva lettering above the windscreen. Motability (in the side lettering) is not a proper word, being instead a charity that provides cars to people in exchange for their Mobility Allowance benefits. And there is some weird antenna on the roof just ahead of the light-bar. So, we still don't really now whether this is a real service vehicle or not. If you see this van out and about, please let me know.	23/08/2023
140		By Thomas Young In June 2021 I received reports of a red Mercedes Sprinter van with LBSL-style lettering and the fleetnumber E01. FX58ZRO had been new to Humber Refinery (where it was used as a fire engine!), but we didn't know who now operated it. Photos on Flickr didn't help, with one showing it inside Bexleyheath Garage, although it had initially been seen in Edmonton. On 17th August 2023 I found the van (in Edmonton again) and took a couple of photos. This rear view shows that the livery looks official, and TfL are famously very picky about letting other organisations use its roundel. Yet some of the lettering is a bit odd. The Arriva circles logo appears twice but with no mention of the Arriva name, while the 'LONDON NORTH' on the rear and 'company' on the side both appear to have bits missing.	23/08/2023
141		By Thomas Young Following the takeover of Hackney Community Transport's TfL bus operations by Stagecoach in August 2022, their vehicles started appearing on the Stagecoach Fleet Cards. This was how we learned of two Mercedes Sprinter vans that had been acquired in 2021, as neither had previously been reported. On 17th August 2023 I visited the Walthamstow Avenue garage to try and find one of the pair. KM21OWB was indeed present, though it was not positioned well for photography. This view shows its front end, as well as the admin block of the garage, while a peer through the fence showed that the van had gained Stagecoach lettering all round, and was a high-roof van rather than a low-roof crew van.	23/08/2023
142		By Thomas Young The condition of the road leading to Rainham Bus Garage is terrible, with huge potholes, often filled with water, and requiring slow and careful navigation. The heavy lorries using adjoining premises are no doubt partly to blame, but buses (with their lower ground clearance) have a very hard time. It could perhaps explain why the garage has had a steady influx of hired crew ferry vehicles in recent months. I wouldn't be surprised if the vehicle suspensions were shot after a few dozen passes. The parallel road (now called Steel Approach, and which used to lead to the Blue Triangle and Arriva Tour garages) has recently been resurfaced, but I suspect that access requirements will make any renewal of the road into the Albright Industrial Estate difficult. When I visited on 17th August 2023, there was a steady flow of both buses and crew ferry vehicles, the latter including the established Hyundai minibuses plus some of the unmarked hired cars. But there were also three new Vauxhall Corsa electric cars, all in white with 'Stagecoach Operations Team Rainham' lettering. DS23SRZ was caught after making the turn onto Ferry Lane, with a fairly typical splattering of mud. A Stagecoach list received a few days later showed that the new cars have been given national fleetnumbers 91786-91788.	23/08/2023
143		By Dave Wolstencroft TfL liveried Renault Kangoo van 9118R had been quite elusive at first, but in Spring 2023 it took up residence at North Greenwich Station, where it was photographed on 17th August 2023. I should point out though that it is not always there...	23/08/2023
144		By Dave Wolstencroft On the night of 16th August 2023 Dave caught this line-up of 5 LUL service vehicles near the top of Baker Street. To the fore was Renault Kangoo Maxi van 8546R, followed by similar 8936R and 8935R, regular Kangoo 8549R and Ford Transit 9015F. The Kangoos have all been shown on LTSV as being allocated to Baker Street, as they are rarely seen elsewhere, while the Transit had come down from Neasden. The premises in the background include the London Beatles Store and The Sherlock Holmes Museum!	23/08/2023
145		By Dave Wolstencroft This Ford Transit Mk8 crew van is somewhat elusive, apparently only ever being seen by Dave Wolstencroft! It was probably new in late 2020 but we only learned of its existence in autumn 2022, and it was several months until we managed to obtain its fleetnumber. It appears to reside in the north yard at Neasden Depot, making it hard to see during the day. On the night of 16th August 2023 it was one of several vehicles found parked near Baker Street Station.	23/08/2023
146		By Dave Wolstencroft Toyota Yaris car 9112T is allocated to the LUL offices on Allsop Place, behind Baker Street Station, and it was photographed parked outside on the night of 16th August 2023. I like this slightly close-up view as it shows how the frontal styling has a pronounced snout, somewhat reminiscent of 1930s streamliners!	23/08/2023
147		By Dave Wolstencroft Dave visited Griffith House again on the night of 16th August 2023. Among the vehicles seen was 8765F, a Ford Transit Courier van nominally allocated to Frank Pick House in Acton.	23/08/2023
148		By Thomas Young Beddington Cross was among the last of many locations visited on 15th August 2023 (thanks to Dave for the driving). Parked outside were Peugeot Expert van 6910 (KV69NNP) and Ford Transit Custom minibus EO22KLF. Most of Abellio's current engineering van fleet are numbered in the 69xx series and all are essentially the same, despite being badged as Citroen Dispatches, Peugeot Experts or Vauxhall Vivaros. Each of these models does come in two lengths, and KV69NNP is an example of the longer variant, with more body behind the rear wheels. The minibus is another that started life in the west (Southall/Hayes) before moving to BC in 2023.	23/08/2023
149		By Thomas Young Another recent Vauxhall Combo van for Arriva that has already been shown on LTSV, this photo of FL23TTK at the Purley Way Ibus offices on 15th August 2023 has been included as it may help visitors to find the location. The red car in the background is heading south on Purley Way, while the building behind the van is mainly occupied by Matalan. There is a sign near the parked blue car that shows that this access road is for Matalan deliveries and the Arriva Control Centre only.	23/08/2023
150		By Thomas Young Arriva London Vauxhall Combo van FL23JDF has already been shown on LTSV, just after it was delivered to Thornton Heath Garage. I have included this photo partly because it proves that the van is indeed based there, partly because I was chuffed that it emerged from the depths of the garage just after I got my camera out (on 15th August 2023) and partly because I am trying to include photos that show a bit more of the locations. Thornton Heath is an attractive garage in as much as that it has a very wide entrance which leads onto a front yard where buses often pause before heading out. It is also south facing, something I had never really considered until I recently needed some good quality photos of London bus garages!	23/08/2023
151		By Thomas Young Over the last year or so, at least 44 Seat cars have been added to the Arriva London fleet, all in unmarked white and with Birmingham registrations. The majority have been of the Ibiza model, with just six of the Arona. Both models share the same mechanical basis, the main difference being that the Arona is marketed as an SUV and has slightly taller bodywork. You can play spot the difference with this view of Ibiza BP72VAO (left) and Arona BG23KYJ (right) in the yard at Norwood Garage on 15th August 2023.	23/08/2023
152		By Thomas Young This is a view of Battersea Garage as seen from Stewarts Lane (the name is perhaps better known as the name of the railway depot it leads to) on 15th August 2023. As with many modern bus garages, covered accommodation for buses is limited to the engineering bays, other buses parking in the large yard. Over 180 buses are based here, including 74 New Routemasters like LT610 seen here. However, the reason for including this photo is the white vehicle visible parked in the background amidst the staff cars. This turned out to be ex Hackney CT Toyota Hiace minibus DG53DPY, and I only noticed this since it still carried the yellow C logos on the bonnet and doors. The minibus is not believed to be an operational Abellio vehicle, though it is ironic for it to end up here, as the location has previous for using 'second-life' service vehicles. 15 years ago Ford Transit van KJ03DYH (ex Metronet) and Citroen Berlingo estate RA53WKP (ex Metroline) were both based here.	23/08/2023
153		By Thomas Young Seen in the large yard at Abellio's Battersea Garage on 15th August 2023, this Citroen Dispatch van MT17UMJ had fleetnumber 6904 marked on the back. This suggests that it was acquired in about 2019/2020, although it had never previously been reported. A clue may be in the secondary lettering, which reads 'Technical Engineering Support', unlike other vans which just show 'Engineering Support'. There is also the matter of the side stripe. Some vans have a green stripe, some an orange one. I had guessed that the green stripe might indicate ULEZ compliance, but this now seems unlikely, and is in any case now largely irrelevant. It could in fact be a policy change. Vans numbered 6901 to 6903 have green stripes, while 6906 upwards have orange. By the way, I can now add that MJ17USE at Walworth (with an orange stripe) is numbered 6905, which completes the set of numbers 6900 to 6910. The fleetnumber for DV69EOO (at Fulwell) has not yet been reported but could perhaps be 6911. Finally, the purple bus alongside is a driver trainer.	23/08/2023
154		By Thomas Young The second LTSV website was launched in 2008, and covered railway wagons, being extended in 2021 to cover all UK trains. There have been a few photos that could legitimately be added to both sites, but this is probably the first to combine a London service vehicle and a freight train. It was taken, almost by chance, at the entrance to Battersea Garage on 15th August 2023 and shows Abellio Ford C-Max car WM18NRE (latterly based at Beddington) arriving while Freightliner 59203 passed overhead with a train of hopper wagons. By the way, if you haven't looked at the LTSV Rail Data website, just click on the LTSV logo in the top left corner of this page.	23/08/2023
155		By Thomas Young On 15th August 2023 I paid my first visit to Abellio's Battersea garage, and it was quite rewarding. Parked near the entrance were Ford Transit Custom minibus EO22KJF and Citroen Dispatch van LG19DJE. The former was one of four added to the fleet in 2022, which we had initially assumed to be hires to allow greater social distancing due to the COVID-19 situation. All four were initially based at west London garages (Southall and Hayes).	23/08/2023
156		By Thomas Young The only van in the side yard at Camberwell Garage on 15th August 2023 was unmarked white HG21XTH, a Nissan NV250 (Renault Kangoo lookalike). I believe this is a Go-Ahead London service vehicle though, since similar HG21XBL was seen at the Merton head-office back in 2021. Futhermore, HG21XSA, and one other un-identified, have recently been seen in the vicinity of Silvertown and Henley Road garages.	23/08/2023
157		By Thomas Young There is now a very small yard on the side of Camberwell Garage, with a gated entrance off the short cul-de-sac called Station Terrace. This appears to have been added when the new engineering block was built in about 2009, and it is near the point marked E on this aerial photo. When I had a look in on 15th August 2023, a Mercedes Vito minibus was present. Go-Ahead London uses loads of these minibuses as crew ferry vehicles, but Camberwell has not previously had such a requirement. RF19UZK still had the dual fleetnumbers on the rear (FV20 and DS03), which mark it out as a Silvertown/Henley Road vehicle. Perhaps it was here for maintenance, or maybe for the application of driver recruitment adverts. Further reports would be appreciated.	23/08/2023
158		By Andrew Lidinson Seen through the trees at the bus stand on Cheviot Road in Norwood on 15th August 2023, RIG4837 is a Hyundai I30 car operated by Abellio from its Beddington. It is slightly unusual for not having been given Abellio logos, but more unusual for bearing a dateless Irish registration number.	23/08/2023
159		By Dave Wolstencroft Unmarked black Peugeot 308 car MD69RNA had been added to the Arriva Southern Counties fleet a couple of years ago, initially based at Guildford. Following the closure of that garage in December 2021 it appears to have moved across to Hemel Hempstead, and was photographed in the bus station at Watford Junction on 14th August 2023. It was parked in front of anonymous white Peugeot Partner van OV68VZC, which is presumably also an Arriva vehicle. I saw the van in the same location back in May, so it has evidently been in use for a while, and it has now been added to the database.	23/08/2023
160		By Dave Wolstencroft Not previously seen at Griffith House, VW Caddy Maxi crew van 9130VW had latterly been based at Dagenham East Station. Photographed on Harcourt Street on 10th August 2023.	23/08/2023
161		By Dave Wolstencroft Dave Wolstencroft has now managed to photograph most of the vehicles that are regular participants in the night-time congregations at Griffith House. The majority are Renault Kangoo Maxi vans, but 8828R is an example of the shorter variant. It was photographed on Harcourt Street on the night of 10th August 2023, with Kangoo Maxi 8366R parked behind. The photo is remarkably sharp given the tenth of a second exposure.	23/08/2023
162		By Bob Donaldson Toyota Prius 8887T was from a batch of 7 such cars (8886T to 8892T) delivered in autumn 2019 and mainly allocated to the Power Supply base at Tufnell Park. 8887T was noted there a couple of times but has been notably absent since 2020. On 10th August 2023 it was photographed in Warlingham (Surrey).	23/08/2023
163		By Ray Monk The turnover of hired vehicles at Arriva London's Dartford Garage has continued, one of the latest being KT21DXZ. This was a Seat Arona similar to some new examples delivered to other Arriva garages in plain white. It was photographed parked behind Peugeot 5008 car GD21ENX at the bus stand in Bexleyheath on 9th August 2023.	23/08/2023
164		By Dave Wolstencroft Go South Coast is a group of bus operators owned by Go-Ahead and with quite complicated histories. Seen in Salisbury on 8th August 2023 was their Ford Transit Mk8 van EA67YNE. It was marked as a Bus Stop Maintenance Vehicle and displayed the five main brands used by buses within the group. The moustache on the bonnet is not part of the standard livery....	23/08/2023
165		By Peter Terry This Land Rover Defender was photographed at an event at the London Bus Museum in Brooklands back in 2014 (note the Year of the Bus logo in the windscreen). Operated by Southern Transit and given their smart red and grey livery, the most interesting aspect was perhaps the registration number. D162FYM was originally applied to L162, a Leyland Olympian double-deck bus new to London Buses in 1987. The bus later passed to Arriva London South and was withdrawn in 2005, while the Land Rover is somewhat younger, having been new (with an unknown registration) in 1997. D162FYM is still on this vehicle but it is currently off the road.	23/08/2023
166		By Peter Terry Seen at the Worthing Bus Rally on 30th July 2023, this Ford Transit van belongs to bus company Southern Transit and has a personalised registration that is connected to London buses. It was actually photographed in almost exactly the same place last year and this new photo has been added mainly because it is better quality!	30/07/2023
167		By Peter Terry At the Worthing Bus Rally on 30th July 2023, preserved Leyland Titan Breakdown Tender 1279LD was carrying a portable generator to provide power to 'tea bus' RML2333. This view of the rear shows the fold-back doors, the rudimentary tail-lift and some of the interior shelving. It makes for an interesting comparison with a similar photo taken in 1970 whilst 1279LD was still with LT.	30/07/2023
168		By Peter Terry Three of London Transport's nine Leyland Titan Breakdown Tenders were preserved, though little has been seen of any of them for a few years. 1278LD was recently recovered in poor condition and is undergoing a long-term restoration in Lincolnshire, while 1416LD was at the Pump House Museum in Walthamstow until at least 2015 but seems likely to have since moved. 1279LD has not been reported since 1994 but was said to be under restoration by bus company Southern Transit. It was therefore a pleasant surprise to see that it attended the Worthing Bus Rally on 30th July 2023. This photo taken at the rather damp event shows that the tender appears to be in good condition, though it had to run on trade plates (198DY).	30/07/2023
169		By Ray Monk This Ford Transit van was first noted at Westbourne Park Garage in early 2023, though it may have been operated since new in late 2021. This garage passed from Tower Transit to RATP London Transit in 2021, although the vehicle was not shown on an RATP fleet list seen more recently. The reflections in this 30th July 2023 photo disguise the fact that this van carries no markings whatsoever.	30/07/2023
170		By Ray Monk A rear view of recently delivered Volvo FMX flatbed lorry KY23LRZ at Acton Works on 30th July 2023 shows that it is almost indistinguishable from smaller KY23LNO. Indeed the main differences are at the front, where KY23LRZ has an additional axle and a much larger crane. On the right is an unidentified free-standing demountable flatbed. Loose bodies are usually left on the opposite side of the lorry yard, as seen with DB10 in 2021.	30/07/2023
171		By Ray Monk Another view of TfL Citroen Relay 9168C at Acton Works, this time on 30th July 2023 and showing the front and offside. The fleetnumber is more apparent in this view, as is the rather tall bodywork. As often happens, I am drawn to things visible in the background. On the right is Isuzu caged truck LM72ZBE of Enterprise Flex-e-rent. A caged truck has been a part of the fleet for many years, used for waste collection jobs that don't warrant a full-sized dustcart, and usually parked near the top of the ramp to the lorry yard. Since the departure of liveried BN07YAV in about 2016, this role has been fulfilled by hired vehicles. To the right of that, and almost hidden behind 9168C, is DB9, the demountable box body now used as a junk store, while on the right are trailers including T66, the new Nooteboom T80 and long-withdrawn Cobul box CBT57.	30/07/2023
172		By Ray Monk Parked outside Signal House at Acton Works on 30th July 2023, 8686VW is a VW Caddy Maxi van that has been notably absent from reported sightings of late. It was seen at Acton Works when new in autumn 2018, then again around late-2019 and early-2020 but nothing since. As such, I have no idea where this van may be allocated.	30/07/2023
173		By Malcolm Conway Somewhat dwarfed by the Caetano Levante coach behind (though which it looks like it is about to tow!), this Ford Transit Connect van is lettered for Clarkes of London. This established coach operator was acquired by National Express in late 2016 but has continued to trade using its traditional name and green livery. The coach behind is owned by National Express itself and has fleetnumber SH292. When first established, National Express did not own any vehicles, instead using coaches supplied by contactors (often the regional National Bus Company subsidiaries but later also private coach firms). Being co-owned, Clarkes are presumably better placed to attend to any breakdowns in London than Birmingham-based National Express.	30/07/2023
174		By Malcolm Conway The distinctive orange livery of Crouch Recovery makes a second appearance on LTSV, ironically at the same location as last time. V31TOW is a Volvo FMX recovery unit built in 2016 and seen at Victoria Coach Station on 10th July 2023. Apart from having 3-axles instead of 4, there are not many differences between this and A4TOW in the earlier photo.	30/07/2023
175		By Ray Monk This Ford Fiesta van appears to have been used by Arriva London's Dartford Garage since it was new in late 2019. I had presumed that it was a hire at first, since Arriva is not known for taking Ford service vehicles. However, the fact that it is still in use 3 and a half years later suggests that it is a full-time member of the fleet. At least it is now a bit easier to spot, having gained engineering recruitment posters on the doors. Seen at Geddes Place bus stand in Bexleyheath on 25th July 2023.	30/07/2023
176		By Ray Monk Edgware again, this time on 24th July 2023. Ray spent over an hour at this location and, apart from two Arriva cars parked, the only service vehicle seen was this unmarked Toyota Aygo car which put in four appearances, each time with different drivers. This shows that it was in use as a crew ferry, presumably on hire to RATP to cover for accident damaged Dacia Sandero D75121. I was going to ignore this as a short time hire but it turns out to have been in use for at least a couple of months. Stagecoach London had a hired Toyota Aygo at Barking for a few months in late-2022/early-2023.	30/07/2023
177		By Steve Warman Edgware bus garage is shared by Metroline and RATP, both companies using the ramped access road at the end of the bus station. Latley RATP has taken to parking their service vehicles along this road, as seen here in late July 2023. To the fore is Dacia Sandero car D75120 (MJ69ZKA), with similar D75122 (MJ69ZBP) and van R70031 (MF20RYT) visible in the background. Dacia D75121 (MJ69ZBZ) was also parked nearby, with front and rear damage, while the white car with red wing mirrors behind D75120 is a Toyota Aygo that is believed to have been hired to cover. On the left is a new parking area for Metroline, opened following the demolition of the LUL power substation a few years ago.	30/07/2023
178		By Andrew Lidinson Arriva's Norwood Garage received a large batch of Seat cars in February 2023, topped up with a handful more in April, the latter seemingly replacing the last of the older vehicles. Seat Ibiza BD23KRU is from the second batch, as is Seat Arona BG23KYJ visible in the background. The Ibiza is numbered S11 by means of a paper in the back (is that still called the parcel shelf?), this number having previously been allocated to Vauxhall Corsa WP66TDX.	30/07/2023
179		By Phil Hambling Toyota Prius car 8669T was delivered in June 2018 but was very elusive. Just two sightings were reported (both at Waterloo at night), so we had no idea where it was based. In spring 2023 it was spotted at Hainault Depot twice, so it is presumably now based there. It may have been there all along of course. On 18th July 2023 Phil found it parked in Basildon, in a location where he has previously found Hainault vehicles.	30/07/2023
180		By Andrew Lidinson Four Ford Transit Custom vans were included on a list of Arriva London service vehicles received last year, but they are proving to be a bit enigmatic, with reports and photos scarce or non-existent. For example, nobody has seen the van supposedly allocated to Wood Green, while the Enfield one was not visible when I visited earlier this month. The other two were listed as being at Grays but this appears to be incorrect or outdated. AJ21CPX has been seen at Crystal Palace, while AK22LXS has been noted at Dulwich and Catford (where Andrew did well to catch it on 17th July 2023). With no sightings at garages, it is not entirely clear where these vans are based.	30/07/2023
181		By Colin Smith An unexpected arrival at Acton Works in about May 2023 was another Volvo FMX flatbed lorry, joining the one delivered a month or so earlier. KY23LRZ is similar to earlier KY23LNO (which is just visible on the right in the photo here) but has 4-axles and a considerably larger crane behind the cab. The cranes on both lorries are made by Danish firm HMF, KY23LNO having their model 4020 while KY23LRZ has a 7020. The larger crane looks to be similar in capability to that on Mercedes Actros 2591, so perhaps the new lorry is a belated replacement. Photographed on 16th July 2023.	30/07/2023
182		By Richard Davis A very expensive line-up of hardware seen at the Truck Cruise Weekender on 16th July 2023. Three Dynes recovery trucks show their business ends, comprising Scania AV23BOF, Volvo KM22UUZ and DAF AY23VTM. Just visible at the right is the cab of DAF artic SN72YDK.	30/07/2023
183		By Richard Davis Richard attended the Truck Cruise Weekender at the Hertfordshire Showground in Redbourne on 16th July 2023. Dynes Recovery had several vehicles in attendance, including brand-new DAF AY23VTM (Lottie) seen here.	30/07/2023
184		By Dave Wolstencroft Another of the vehicles seen at Colindale Station on 15th July 2023 was VW Caddy Maxi crew van 9000VW. Dave therefore managed to photograph all of 8998VW to 9001VW in the same week! Judging by reports, 9000VW had initially been allocated to Griffith House (with the other 3), but then moved on, most likely to Stratford Market Depot.	30/07/2023
185		By Dave Wolstencroft On 15th July 2023 Dave was not specifically looking for service vehicles (for a change!), yet he stumbled across a gang of them in the car park at Colindale Station. 8 vehicles were present, in connection with engineering work on the Northern Line, and a couple of them were quite rare. For example, Ford Transit van 8570F (shown here) had only been reported 5 times in its almost 6 year career. In fact, with no sightings since 2020 and a V5C issued in June 2022, we had assumed that the van had been withdrawn. Presumably the V5C was actually issued for some other reason, as 8570F is clearly still an LUL vehicle.	30/07/2023
186		By Ray Monk In mid-2023 I received reports of a black van with well@tfl markings seen in the lorry yard at Acton Works. I presumed that this was a follow-on (or addition) to the Fiat Ducato box van seen the previous year (NX67NLP, also with well@tfl lettering but on a white livery). When Ray visited Acton on 15th July 2023 he was able to get a closer look at the new van, which turned out to be a black Citroen Relay registered LC70VLO. The biggest surprise was that it carried a fleetnumber (9168C), in white lettering in the usual position near the front quarterlights. The allocation of new fleetnumbers had got as high as 9165 (with a few gaps) in 2020, then stalled due to the financial difficulties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is possible that this van - first registered on 31st December 2020 - has been operated since new but this seems unlikely. DVLA data shows it as being grey and with a V5C issued on 12th May 2023. V5Cs are usually issued in connection with a change of owner/keeper. So, if this vehicle is second-hand, it represents only the second such addition in recent years, the first being specialised Power Supply department van 7755F. We still aren't too clear on what well@tfl is, nor whether NX67NLP remains in use. If it is, the Ducato may also now be numbered.	30/07/2023
187		By Ray Monk A relatively unusual visitor to Acton Works on 15th July 2023 was Volkswagen Caddy Maxi crew van 8242VW, outwardly a standard vehicle but one of the few to be fitted with a tailgate rear door. Mainly allocated to Stratford Market Depot, it had a stint at Griffith House in 2022, and was seen at Smallbills Garage a couple of days before this photo was taken.	30/07/2023
188		By Ray Monk Larger service vehicles are only rarely seen in the car park at Acton Works. Ray found Ford Transit crew van 8805F there on 15th July 2023. New in 2019, this van was elusive for its first few years but appears to have become a more regular Acton resident since early 2023.	30/07/2023
189		By Ray Monk VW Caddy Maxi crew van 8983VW was seen catching some sunshine in the car park at Acton Works on 15th July 2023. Sightings suggest that this van alternates between being based at Lillie Bridge and Dagenham East.	30/07/2023
190		By Dave Wolstencroft Dave went to South Ockendon on 14th July 2023, in the hope of seeing LUL 8775F. This was rather risky, as it had only been reported there once, some 5 months earlier. Fortunately for him, the van was there again, as seen in this photo. 8775F is a Ford Transit Custom van used by the Lifts and Escalators section and nominally allocated to Frank Pick House in Acton.	30/07/2023
191		By Malcolm Millichip This photo is rather remarkable in that it was taken from an Overground train passing Abellio's Battersea garage on 11th July 2023. Two consecutively numbered Citroen Dispatch vans were visible parked outside the engineering bays in the form of 6903 LG19DJE nearest and 6902 LG19BFV beyond. Note that 6903 is missing the back part of its side trim, while 6902 is missing the front part! Note also that the NS (Dutch Railways) logo is still carried alongside the fleetnames, even though the sale to Transport UK Group was completed in February this year.	30/07/2023
192		By Lee Thatcher An official list from RATP in late 2022 showed that they had four BYD electric cars, including three nominally allocated to Shepherds Bush Garage. Although LK66KVO has been seen there a few times, the other two were notably absent from reports. That is until Lee found OU19FDP plugged in at the garage on 11th July 2023. The 70 is the only route operated from here that does not pass Shepherds Bush (or White City) so perhaps these cars are used to ferry drivers to Chiswick Business Park.	30/07/2023
193		By Dave Wolstencroft Although delivered nearly 3 years ago, VW Caddy van 9165VW still has the highest reported fleetnumber in the central fleet. Or at least it did until this month! Since it was new, 9165VW has only been reported at night, mainly at Griffith House but also at Stratford Market Depot. On 10th July 2023 it was parked on Harcourt Street (near Griffith House) at the head of a line of LUL vehicles.	30/07/2023
194		By Dave Wolstencroft VW Caddy Maxi 9001VW is also a regular sight at Griffith House, but differs from 8998VW/8999VW in being a van rather than a crew van. It was caught on nearby Harcourt Street on 10th July 2023, parked in front of 8354F, one of the (now) rare Ford Fiesta vans.	30/07/2023
195		By Dave Wolstencroft VW Caddy Maxi crew vans 8998VW and 8999VW are regularly seen among the nighttime congregations at Griffith House. On 10th July 2023 Dave photographed 8999VW parked on Harcourt Street ahead of a couple of LUL Renault Kangoo Maxi vans.	30/07/2023
196		By Dave Wolstencroft On the night of 10th July 2023, Dave Wolstencroft visited both Griffith House and Lillie Bridge, though the former is much better for photography than the latter. Among various vehicles seen on neighboring streets was Ford Transit Custom crew van 8580F.	30/07/2023
197		By Thomas Young One other service vehicle seen at Northumberland Park on 10th July 2023 was Boleyn Recovery Volvo FH DX65SYU, carrying fleetnumber 26. This had come from the nearby Go-Ahead London garage and was another vehicle to have a very early (or very late) Poppy adornment. DX65SYU has been seen doing London bus related work since at least 2019.	30/07/2023
198		By Thomas Young Having been loaded with wheelsets on 10th July 2023, LUL MAN lorry LV66XYC then left Northumberland Park Depot, perhaps bound for Acton Works. I have included this photo as it shows another part of the depot in the background. Osborne House is the building on the right, situated at the junction of the roads and somewhat separate from the main depot. One SV is usually parked here, and VW Caddy Maxi crew van 8762VW can just be seen.	30/07/2023
199		By Ray Monk LUL's Northumberland Park Depot is just over the road from Go-Ahead London's Northumberland Park Garage. On 10th July 2023 the only service vehicle in the front yard was MAN lorry LV66XYC, in the process of being loaded with wheelsets. Note the mesh dropside doors.	30/07/2023
200		By Thomas Young On 10th July 2023 I joined Ray Monk and Dave Wolstencroft to visit a few locations in North London, first up being Northumberland Park Garage. This Go-Ahead London base has a large allocation of electric buses and, being rather remote, also has lots of crew ferry vehicles. Three of the Mercedes Vito minibuses are visible in this view (WV71ZVS, RX71SYS, RX71SYU), all of which have the blue driver recruitment advertising on the sides and rear. Indeed of 9 Vitos noted during our visit, only one remained in the previous unmarked red livery. Beyond the minibuses on the right is an SEe class bus displaying blinds for former Red Arrow route 507. This, and route 521, were withdrawn at the end of April 2023, being replaced by changes to various other routes. The buses used on Red Arrow routes always had fewer seats than normal, as they were short journeys carrying heavy loads. The SEe buses are now being fitted with additional seats for use on normal services elsewhere in London.	30/07/2023

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