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Photographer / Copyright
Ray Monk
Images should not be reused without permission.

View vehicle details
E113 L114ULA
E114 L639XLC

Location Link/s
Lewisham Bus Station

Date added to site
30/05/2006

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Details: Lewisham Bus Station on 23rd May 2006 plays host to a pair of East Thames Buses Mercedes-Benz minibuses. However, look at the bus! Ready for a history lesson?
East Thames Buses is the trading name for London Buses Ltd, who returned to the business of actually running buses in 2000 when Harris Bus folded. A couple of years later they took over the routes and vehicles of London Easylink (a trading name of Durham Travel Services!!!), who were also in trouble. London Easylink had a fleet of Volvo B7TL/Plaxton buses, which ETB renumbered from VP149-173 to VP1-20. Fast forward to late 2005, and First had a bad fire at Westbourne Park garage, with several buses destroyed. ETB were once again able to help, sending a few spare VPs on loan. Meanwhile, in South London, Centra London (who had taken over Mitcham Belle) were also in trouble and their routes were being reassigned. Metrobus (part of the Go-Ahead group) got the 127 but didn't have enough buses. So they borrowed some PVLs from fellow Go-Ahead company London General. PVLs are of course identical to VPs! Metrobus took delivery of some new Scanias for the 127 in April 2006 and the PVLs were returned to London General who put them in store at their non-operational base in Mandela Way. By then the remainder of the Centra routes had been reassigned, including the 201 to ETB! This needs to be worked by single-deckers, and the nearest ETB base is at Mandela Way. So they transferred some DAF single-deckers off the 132, replaced by borrowing the batch of PVLs that were stored just across the fence. As well as the 132, these can also be seen on the 185, alongside the original VPs! Any questions?
If you found this at all interesting, you ought to be a member of LOTS!

Comments Log-in to add your own comments
Posted ByCommentsDate/Time
Thomas YoungThese buses actually run from Belvedere rather than Mandela Way, and they have recently been given new fleetnumbers (in random order) in the VP series. Although treated to East Thames lettering, they still carry London General livery and Go-Ahead logos, rather confusingly.Tue 04/07/2006, 09:34
Thomas YoungMy mistake. The Go-Ahead logos have been removed. They still look a lot like PVLs though, and as my nearest bus stop is served by two routes, one with PVLs and the other with whatever ETB puts out, confusion is common!Mon 28/08/2006, 13:42