‘Scene’ in Victoria (London)

I think that most bus and coach enthusiasts will have visited the iconic Victoria Coach Station in London at some stage.

 

This Art Deco building dates from 1932 and id now a Grade 2 English Heritage listed building.

One of the delights is watching the streamed departures when a mass of coaches depart in convoy for all points of the compas.

 

A selection of coaches awaiting the ‘off’.

 

Just around the corner however is the ‘Green Line Coach Station’ which although smaller is perhaps more interesting because it sees more varietyYJ58 FJO

 

A Van Hool T917 Alicron working for Arriva The Shires’ seen in ‘greenline757 livery which links Victoria with Luton Airport.

 

KX61 GDU

A Volvo B9R with Plaxton Panther 2 bodywork belonging to ‘Stagecoach in Warwickshire’ seen on ‘megabus.com’ duties.

 

LK58 EDA Volvo B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodywork. Working for ‘First Berkshire’ in ‘greenline’ livery.

 

Based at Bracknell and working the 702 in from there.

 

 

L66 SGB

 

A Scania K340EB4 with Caetano ‘Levante’ bodywork working for ‘South Gloucester Bus & Coach’ who are a ‘National Express’ (NE) contractor for whom it is working service 040 to Bristol.

 

The registration is ‘cherished’ having appeared on previous coaches in the fleet.

 

The coach is widely travelled in more ways than one having been new to ‘Yorkshire Traction’ before moving to ‘East Midland’ and then to Kent before joining its current owner.

 

BF63 ZPY

 

A Volvo B9R with Caetano ‘ Levante’ bodywork displaying its ‘NE’ branding.

 

It is actually operated by ‘Go-Ahead’ group company ‘Go North East’.

 

YJ14 LFK

 

A Van Hool TDX21 Astromega of ‘Stagecoach Oxfordshire’s Oxford tube operation. 

 

One of a batch of 26 that were delivered in 2014 to replace entirely an existing fleet of the same which in turn replaced an existing fleet of Neoplan Skyliners.

 

These magnificent Euro 6 engined vehicles operate 24/7.

 

I remember traveling on this service in 1986 when it was run with double deck coach seated MCW Metroliners.

 

Remember them?

 

 

 

 

‘Scene’ Coaching in London

Whilst in the Capital recently, I took the time to record some of the coaching activity of which there is plenty.

 

FJ60 HYL

 

A Volvo B9R with Caetano ‘Levante’ bodywork working for ‘Green Line’.

 

It previously worked in full ‘National Express’ (NE) livery for ‘NE’ contractor ‘Tellings Golden Miller’.

 

CC64 BMC

This immaculate Van Hool Alicron bodied vehicle belongs to’ BM Coaches’ of Hayes in Middlesex.

 

BS 085 DR 

This bit of exotica is a French registered Iveco Irisbus produced coach called the ‘Magelys PRO’. 

 

The manufacturers ‘blurb’ claims that it has 30% more glass and consequently better all round vision for the passenger than other coaches.

 

BS63 HDV

A Volvo B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodywork. Working for ‘First Berkshire’ in ‘greenline’ livery.

 

Based at Bracknell and working the 702 from there.

 

T60 UBE

 

A Van Hool TDX21 Astromega. One of 26 purchased in 2014 for the ‘Stagecoach’ group ‘Oxford Tube’ services from the city of that name into London.

 

These Euro 6 engined vehicles replaced a similar number of the similar (TD927) type some of which have been cascaded to ‘Stagecoach Western’ in Scotland.

 

CX 556 RE

Another French registered vehicle, this time a Van Hool Alicron operated by a company called ‘Bihan’ although it could be 13HAN which doesn’t seem likely.

 

C18 BUS

A Mercedes-Benz engined Neoplan N516SHD Starliner with Ayats Apollo bodywork working for ‘Coniston Coaches’ who work out of Stourport-on-Severn.

 

BJ-SF-13

 

This time Dutch registered. This is a Volvo chassis fitted with Berkhof Axial bodywork working for ‘Ruijs Reizen’ who are based in Oss in Southern Holland.

 

YJ55 WSV

 

A VDL SB4000 with Van Hool Alizee bodywork working for ‘Arriva The Shires’ and wearing ‘greenline’ livery.

 

CC60 CRC

A Mercedes-Benz chassis fitted with an unusual body the Beulas Stela working for ‘Chambers Coaches’ of Stevenage.