From the Editor 

An interesting issue for this past week with Paris and Hong Kong joining the page this week.

There will be one more issue for 2024 next Sunday and  then we move after a break into 2025.

The Stagecoach electric buses for Oxford are still in process of delivery whilst the final ADL Hybrid has now been withdrawn - 12008.

In this issue

Christmas is fast approaching. 

Kevin Fuller pictures from Uxbridge

Aylesbury with Thomas Walker-Werth

FirstGroup agrees to purchase RATP Dev Transit London business

328 memories from Grahame Wareham

Overseas Interlude from Paris and Hong Kong

Coach visitors to Oxford from David Beynon

Fleet News & Developments

James Allum with a Christmas bus from Durham

Christmas is fast approaching. 

190 is seen in Thame driven by Lewis Nagle in this very seasonal picture on December 6th.

Kevin Fuller pictures from Uxbridge

   
   
   
 

Great variety from these operators on November 30th. Ed

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Aylesbury with Thomas Walker-Werth

Towards the end of November I popped down to Aylesbury to see the last of the unrepainted Redline StreetDecks. I also photographed a pair of venerable early-2000s deckers in service with the red companies.

   

The first of Arriva Milton Keynes's formerly Sapphire Enviro 200 MMCs to have received the current fleet livery. 

As always, readers can see more pictures here, any of which you're welcome to use:

https://mktom.smugmug.com/2024/November-2024/UK-Bus-Other-Transport-November-2024

FirstGroup agrees to purchase RATP Dev Transit London business

FirstGroup is set to return to the Transport for London (TfL) contracted bus market after reaching a binding agreement to purchase of RATP Dev Transit London and its subsidiaries London United Busways, London Sovereign and London Transit for £90 million.

Completion is expected in H1 2025 following approval from current ultimate owner the French government. The deal will bring around 12% of the TfL red bus market along with 10 depots in central and west London, 982 buses – of which a third are battery-electric – and in the region of 3,700 staff.

RATP Dev Transit London reported revenues of £271 million for the year to 31 December 2023. That figure is expected to grow to £300-350 million over the coming five years. £45m towards the purchase will be from FirstGroup cash reserves with the remainder representing assumption of RATP London’s asset-backed finance leases.

The business has 90 TfL route contracts along with what FirstGroup says is “an experienced management team with a proven record of developing and implementing a comprehensive turnaround plan that includes enhanced bid discipline and improved operational and cost performance.”

Those leaders are expected to transfer and remain in post after the acquisition. FirstGroup notes that the turnaround plan has been developed over the past three years and has included early termination of lossmaking routes at contract review dates, as well as better operational performance and cost control, and workforce stabilisation.

The 10 depots that form part of the expected deal include Westbourne Park. It was formerly part of First London until that operation was split and sold in 2013, initially becoming part of Tower Transit.

Acquisition of RATP Dev Transit London will further build the FirstGroup coach and bus presence within the M25. In early 2023 it purchased Purfleet-based Ensignbus while in October 2024, coach operator Anderson Travel, based near Tower Bridge, followed suit.

Speaking about the expected deal, FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer Graham Sutherland says: “This is a significant acquisition for the group that will diversify our portfolio and materially grow our earnings in the medium-term.

“It allows us to enter the London bus market at scale and will also bolster our credentials as we participate in future franchising opportunities across the UK. We look forward to continuing to build on our relationship with TfL and to welcoming RATP London’s employees into the group, to continue the transformation of the business, and to capitalise on the growth potential in the London market.”

FirstGroup has identified “a number of synergies that could further enhance profitability” of RATP Dev Transit London including purchasing activities, merging some back-office functions, and the financing of zero-emission buses.

Following closure of the deal, RATP Dev will focus its resources on urban rail globally, Deputy CEO and member of the Executive Board Mehdi Sinaceur says.

“We are confident that FirstGroup, with its wide-ranging expertise and commitment to driving model shift and leading in social and environmental sustainability, is the ideal partner to support RATP Dev Transit London’s continued success and contribute to sustainable transportation in London.”

by Grahame Wareham

Issue 328. 

H328 MWL962 1948 AEC Regent II Weymann H30/26R body. In 1952 H328 was renumbered H862 and was finally withdrawn from Oxford service in January 1960, passing to PVD (dealer), Dunchurch and subsequently sold locally to Aston, Marton the same month and later being absorbed into the nearby Smiths, Long Ichington business in June 1960. In 1964 the bus was sold to Limmer & Trinidad and converted into a tar spraying caravan unit for use by Hardasphaltic for the nearby M1 road building contract where it lasted in Buckinghamshire until 1967. 

     

328  328NJO 1962 AEC Bridgemaster 2B3RA with Park Royal H40/25F forward entrance body was the final Bridgemaster of the unique short wheelbase City of Oxford order.  328 spent its Oxford operating life initially on City route 1 which encompassed six differing termini from the Eastern suburbs surrounding Cowley, with destinations Blackbird Leys, Florence Park, Minchery Farm, Sandford, Littlemore and of course Cowley Road Garage. The original terminus for route 1 was Cowley Lamp, which is now Hockmore Street behind Cowley Centre, now renamed Templars Square! From 1968 could be found regularly on Route 2 which along with Route 8 were some of the last City routes to be converted to OMO.

 

328 was withdrawn in 1972 and sold to TPE (dealer) Macclesfield and passing on to Premier Travel, Cambridge in June 1972 as their 226 after receiving its new livery in COMS Oxford paintshop. For some reason Premier Travel hardly used this bus and it was withdrawn in May 1973 passing to Smith, Thriplow for scrap.

Andrew Webb

Whilst the UK endured the impact of Storm Darragh on 7 December Paris was enjoying a pleasant winter day with spells of sunshine. 

Double decker operation in Paris is limited to sightseeing tours.  Both sightseeing operators in the French capital will be familiar to British eyes as they both operate tours in London. 

 

The red, white and blue colour scheme used by Tootbus is appropriate for London and Paris, with the layout being amended to reflect the flags of each nation. 

This Unvi bodied Scania has been decorated for Christmas and is seen at Place de la Concorde
 after traversing the length of Avenue des Champs-Élysées.  

Seen in the same location is this tri axle Ayats Bravo. 

Big Bus have invested in these new full electric Ankai double deckers,
the branding promoting its green credentials as it completes another trip along Avenue des Champs-Élysées. 

Regular bus services are also beginning to gain full electric vehicles, although this seems at a smaller scale than the UK. 

The Bolloré Bluebus 12m is a French built model that has found favour with RATP. 
This example is seen approaching Place de la Concorde. 

 Despite the cutting edge technology employed to power the bus it seems that old fashioned cable ties are the preferred method of securing the number plate on several examples including this one!

Paul Hawkins

https://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2017/0412/00062_2916694/E113.pdf

Photos from Hong Kong Airport featuring KMB Subsidiary LWB Set up to run services from the New Territories to Hong Kong Airport using Original Enviro 500's Enviro 500 Facelifts, Wright Gemini 3 and MCV EvoSeti bodied Volvo B8L

     
     
     
   

From your Editor.

I made many visits to Hong Kong from 1974 onwards and well remember the ex Lancashire United and Southdown buses which were joining the fleet in those days.

Also a memorable trip on a Guy single deck up the Victoria Peak, exhilarating to say the least and on a tram thought the island markets. Happy memories.