The London Enviro 200

By David Beddall

Launched by Transbus in 2004, the original Enviro 200 mode was not a success. The Enviro 200 was relaunched in 2006, this new model becoming more successful. The new model was taken into stock by many London operators, replacing older single-deckers in their fleets. The Enviro 200 had just as much success as its predecessor, the Dennis Dart SLF. As with the Dart SLF, the Enviro 200 was available in a number of lengths. 2014 saw the launch of the Enviro 200 MMC (major model change), this replacing the original ‘classic’ Enviro 200 in 2018. The first all-electric Enviro 200 MMCs arrived in London in 2016, this becoming the standard model for new contracts. The London Enviro 200 looks at the history of the Enviro 200 and Enviro 200 MMC model in London service.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pen and Sword
• Release date: Feb 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9781399095235

David Beddall

The author's interest in buses and coaches began at age 7\. Growing up in Kempston, just outside Bedford, United Counties was his local bus company. Spending most Saturdays at Bedford bus station noting the comings and goings of the United Counties fleet, this grew his interest further. Twenty-three years later, his interest in buses has expanded to the whole of the United Kingdom, in particular London and of course Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire.

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TRANSBUS ENVIRO 200 DEMONSTRATOR

February 2005 saw the arrival of a Transbus Enviro 200 single-deck demonstrator. The vehicle in question was registered SN54GRU and measured 10.4m in length, with a seating capacity of twenty-seven. This new model was built to dual-door layout, but not in the traditional way. Instead of featuring a centre door, the second door was located at the rear of the saloon. A hybrid version was also produced but this was not demonstrated in London.

The original Enviro 200 demonstrator (SN54GRU) featured a door at the front and rear of the vehicle rather than the traditional centre exit. It is captured by the camera passing through King’s Cross bound for Liverpool Street Station. Jeff Lloyd

SN54GRU was placed on loan with several London operators. London United was first to operate the vehicle, putting it to use from their Fulwell garage on route 33. It arrived on 1 February 2005, wearing London red. It remained with London United until 21 March when it moved on to Metroline. It was used by them on the 214 and was allocated to Holloway garage for the duration of its stay with the Company.

First London was next to trial the Enviro 200. It arrived with First on 10 April 2005 and found itself allocated to Willesden Junction. From there it was used on the 187, staying in use until early May. It was at this time that it transferred back to Metroline at Holloway. It was again used on the 214 before moving on to the 274.

SN54GRU returned to Dennis at Guildford in December, before returning to First London in early 2006. It was again allocated to Willesden Junction for use on the 187. The layout of this vehicle was not to the liking of Transport for London and no orders were placed for this version of the model.

SN54GRU made a brief return to the London area in January 2009 when it was used by Epsom Buses for use on the 408.

EAST LONDON BUS GROUP

The East London Bus Group took delivery of the first ADL Enviro 200s in London. Seventy-five Enviro 200s were taken into stock and shared between the East London and Selkent divisions, replacing a number of the inherited Dennis Dart SLF saloons. The Australian banking group Macquarie purchased the operations of Stagecoach London forming this new group. The Company retained the five-digit fleet numbering system introduced by Stagecoach in 2003.

The first eight Enviro 200s were allocated to Selkent at Catford. 36001 to 36008 (LX56DZU/V/W/Y/Z, EAA/C/E) arrived in November 2006 ready for the take up of the 273 (Lewisham-Petts Wood) in January 2007. The early arrival of the batch led to them being stored at East London’s Waterden Road, Stratford garage until they were needed. 36004 was put to use on type familiarisation work. These eight saloons measured 8.9m in length and could seat twenty-six.

A gap of almost two years passed before any more Enviro 200s arrived. A batch of five longer 10.8m saloons were again allocated to Selkent, this time at Bromley. 36009-13 (LX58BZW/Y, CAA/E/O) arrived in September 2008 and were used on the 246 (Bromley North Station-Westerham).

The East London Bus Group took delivery of the first Enviro 200s in London service. They entered service with the Selkent division, being allocated to Catford for route 273. The last of the batch, 36008 (LX56EAE), is captured by the camera heading towards Petts Wood showing off the Selkent logo. Ian Armstrong Collection

Two years passed before the next Enviro 200s arrived with the East London Bus Group. They were again allocated to the Selkent division, this time at Bromley. 36013 (LX58CAE) is seen passing through Bromley town centre on the final stage of its journey to Bromley North. Liam Farrer-Beddall

September also saw the arrival of thirteen shorter 8.9m long Enviro 200s with Selkent. Rolling stock numbers 36014 to 36026 were allocated to these vehicles, which carried registration marks (LX58CAU/V, CBF/O/U/V/Y, CCA/D/E/F/J/K). Bromley received six of the batch (36014-7) for route 354 (Penge, Crooked Billet-Bromley North Station), with the other seven (36020-6) being allocated to Catford for route 356 (Shirley-Sydenham).

A new length of Enviro 200 was introduced to the fleet in October, these measuring 9.3m with a seating capacity of twenty-four. Eleven of these vehicles arrived at Plumstead at this time, numbered 36027 to 36037. They were registered LX58CCN/O/U/V/Y, CDE/F/K/N/O/U and were used on route 386 (Woolwich-Blackheath).

The East London division took delivery of their first Enviro 200s in April 2009 when seven 10.8m long saloons arrived at Rainham, from where they were put to use on the 372 (Hornchurch-Lakeside). Fleet numbers 36038 to 36044 were allocated to these vehicles which wore registration marks LX09ACU/V/Y/Z, ADO/U/V.

A more sizable batch of seventeen 10.2m Enviro 200s arrived at Rainham in August 2009. 36045-61 (LX59ANF/P/R/U/V, AOA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/J/K/L/M) were put to use on the D3 (Bethnal Green-Crossharbour Asda) in September, at which time they were reallocated to West Ham garage.

36062-5 (LX59ECF/J/N/T) joined 36045-61 at West Ham in December. These 10.2m long saloons were shared between routes 323 (Canning Town-Mile End) and 488 (Bromley-by-Bow-Dalston Junction). They were joined at West Ham by similar 36066-75 (LX59ECV/W/Y/Z, EDC/F/J/K/L/O) in February 2010. The batch completed the allocation on the 488 but could also be found on the 323.

Thirteen 8.9m Enviro 200s were delivered to Selkent in September 2008, being shared between Bromley and Catford. 36026 (LX58CCK) is the last of the batch and is seen operating route 356 to Shirley. Ian Armstrong Collection

October 2008 saw the final Enviro 200s arrive with Selkent. Eleven 9.3m long examples were allocated to Plumstead at this time for route 386. 36035 (LX58CDN) is seen departing the former bus stops in Woolwich town centre, an area now pedestrianised. David Beddall

East London received their first Enviro 200s in April 2009 for route 372. A more sizable batch was allocated to West Ham garage between August and December 2009 for routes D3, 323 and 488. 36059 (LX59AOK) represents this batch and is captured by the camera out of service in the Canning Town area. Liam Farrer-Beddall

The East London and Selkent fleets continued operating until October 2010, when Macquarie sold both companies back to Stagecoach. The fleet of seventy-five Enviro 200s transferred to Stagecoach at this time, with developments regarding these vehicles can be found under that operator’s heading later in this book.

TRAVEL LONDON

The first Enviro 200s arrived with Travel London in December 2006 when six 10.2m long examples arrived at the company’s Beddington Farm garage. These took up rolling stock numbers ES401 to ES406 (LJ56ONN/O/P/R/S/T). They were put to use on the 152 (Pollards Hill-New Malden). These saloons gained new fleet numbers 8501 to 8506 in March 2007.

At the same time, a similar number of shorter 8.9m Enviro 200s were also taken into stock by Travel London for use on the C1 (Victoria, Vauxhall Bridge Road-Kensington, Campden Hill Road). The route was late altered to operate between Victoria and Shepherds Bush Green. Registration marks LJ56VSP/T/U/V/X/Y were allocated to these vehicles which were numbered ES1 to ES6. They were allocated to Walworth, with ES1 and ES3 being stored at Beddington. These six vehicles were renumbered 8101-8106 in March 2007.

ES401 (LJ56ONN) was the first Enviro 200 to be taken into stock by Travel London. Six in total arrived for use on the 152. Matthew Wharmby

Eight additional 10.2m twenty-nine-seater Enviro 200s arrived with Travel London in March 2008 for use on the 350 (Hayes & Harlington Station-Heathrow Terminal 5). Rolling stock numbers 8507 to 8515 were allocated to this batch, along with registration marks LJ08CZP/R/S/T/U/V/X/Y/Z.

The final batch of Enviro 200s to be purchased by Travel London came in the form of three 8.9m long saloons. 8107 to 8109 (YX58DTV/Y/Z) were allocated to Beddington Cross for use on the 434 (Coulsdon, Ridgemount Avenue-Whytleafe South). Similar 08-plate registration marks were booked for the batch, but due to their late arrival, these were altered to the registrations mentioned.

National Express sold the Travel London operation to NedRailways in June 2009. Initially little change happened. However, in October 2009 the new owners rebranded the Company as Abellio London. The above Enviro 200s were transferred to this new operating company.

8101-6 were allocated to Walworth garage for use on Central London route C1. However, they could also be found operating on other Walworth services. 8101 (LJ56VSP) is photographed operating route 129, heading for Greenwich, Cutty Sark. Ian Armstrong Collection

8515 (LJ08CZZ) was the last of eight Enviro 200s purchased by Travel London for route 350. It is seen here heading for Hayes & Harlington Station. Ian Armstrong Collection

ARRIVA LONDON

The first batch of Enviro 200s were introduced to the Arriva London fleet in March 2007. However, just prior to this an Enviro 200 registered SN56AWZ was taken on loan for driver familiarisation duties. The first batch was made up of ten 9.3m Enviro 200s for the 393. These twenty-four-seater saloons were allocated to Clapton garage where they were used on the 393 (Clapton-Holloway). LJ07EDK/L/O/P/R/U/V/X, EEA/B were allotted rolling stock numbers ENS1 to ENS10. In June, the 393 was extended to Chalk Farm, requiring extra vehicles. To work the extension, four additional similar length Enviro 200s were taken into stock by Arriva, numbered ENS11 to ENS14. These vehicles took up registration marks LJ07ECF/N/T/V.

Ten shorter Enviro 200 saloons were the first of their type to enter service with Arriva London on route 393. Four more joined the fleet when the route was extended to Chalk Farm in June 2007. ENS4 (LJ07EDP) is seen passing through Hackney Central on its way to Chalk Farm. Liam Farrer-Beddall

Croydon garage took delivery of the first 10.2m long Enviro 200s in April 2007. ENL1 to ENL9 (LJ07ECW/X/Y/Z, EDC/F, EBO/P/U) were put to use on the T31 (New Addington-Forestdale), winning the contract from First London. They took over the routes from 12 May 2007.

A third length of Enviro 200 was introduced to the Arriva