Hydrogen double-deckers for two West London routes

[Wirewiper]

Transport for London has ordered 20 hydrogen-powered double-deckers for delivery next year, they will be manufactured at Wrightbus in N Ireland and are presumably based on that manufacturer's Streetdeck design. The buses will be operated by Metroline on routes 7/N7 (Oxford Circus-East Acton/Northolt) and 245 (Golders Green-Alperton); a hydrogen refuelling facility will be installed at Metroline's Perivale Garage.

https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/new...decker-buses-to-help-tackle-londons-toxic-air

The world’s first hydrogen double decker buses will be introduced on three London bus routes next year, helping tackle the capital’s air quality crisis.

Transport for London (TfL) has today ordered 20 of these green buses – which produce no pollution from their exhausts - as part of its drive to make London’s transport zero-emission. It follows the introduction of the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone last month.

The environment-friendly vehicles will be introduced on routes 245, 7 and N7, with people traveling to Wembley Stadium, or from west London to the West End, able to hop on the new green buses for a smoother and quieter journey. The new, modern buses will also enhance the customer experience, with on-board USB charging points making bus travel even more attractive.

TfL is investing £12m in the new buses and the fuelling infrastructure. Wrightbus in Northern Ireland will manufacture them, creating new jobs in the region. More than £5 million of funding is being provided by European bodies and £1 million from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles.

Metroline seems to be at the forefront of alternative fuel technology double-deckers. It already has 5 experimental BYD electric double deckers in service on route 98 (Willesden-Holborn) from Willesden Garage. During the Summer the company will take delivery of 68 electric double-deckers; 31 Optare Metrodeckers for route 134 (North Finchley-Warren Street) from Potters Bar Garage and 37 BYD/ADL E400 City for route 43 (Friern Barnet-London Bridge) from Holloway Garage.

 

[ValleyLines142]

They are on it to be fair, and also the 4, 6, 17, 52, 114, 140, 222, 260 and the 460 are all Volvo B5LHs too.

 

[Wirewiper]

They are on it to be fair, and also the 4, 6, 17, 52, 114, 140, 222, 260 and the 460 are all Volvo B5LHs too.

The Volvo B5LHs are hybrids though so still reliant on diesel fuel even if the driveline is electric.

Metroline does have electric single-deckers (BYD/ADL Enviro200) on route 46 though.

 

[ValleyLines142]

The Volvo B5LHs are hybrids though so still reliant on diesel fuel even if the driveline is electric.

Metroline does have electric single-deckers (BYD/ADL Enviro200) on route 46 though.

Are they on the 214 as well?

 

[317 forever]

Are they on the 214 as well?

Not yet. They will be from August 17th but as part of a new tender with Go-Ahead.

Metroline also have many more routes using Volvo B5LHs than the list a few posts ago.

 

[Surreyman]

ADL also have a Hydrogen Fuel Cell E400 available, was being promoted at ADLs Guildford open day.
Publicity seemed to imply that Merseyside (Stagecoach & Arriva) would be ordering some.

 

[Jordan Adam]

ADL also have a Hydrogen Fuel Cell E400 available, was being promoted at ADLs Guildford open day.
Publicity seemed to imply that Merseyside (Stagecoach & Arriva) would be ordering some.

Contracts for the JIVE2 project have already been awarded to Wright for the deckers. It was actually TFL who organised all the framework.

 

[goldisgood]

The Merseyside ones have been said to be Enviro 400s afaik - I think there was a press release not too far back with Arcola and ADL working together for the new buses and refuelling faclity?

 

[Jordan Adam]

The Merseyside ones have been said to be Enviro 400s afaik - I think there was a press release not too far back with Arcola and ADL working together for the new buses and refuelling faclity?

Merseyside are not involved with JIVE afaik, it's just Aberdeen, Birmingham, Dundee and London.

 

[goldisgood]

Merseyside are not involved with JIVE afaik, it's just Aberdeen, Birmingham, Dundee and London.

My bad - I thought you were saying that the Merseyside ones were JIVE Streetdecks!

 

[Wirewiper]

Transport for London has ordered 20 hydrogen-powered double-deckers for delivery next year, they will be manufactured at Wrightbus in N Ireland and are presumably based on that manufacturer's Streetdeck design. The buses will be operated by Metroline on routes 7/N7 (Oxford Circus-East Acton/Northolt) and 245 (Golders Green-Alperton); a hydrogen refuelling facility will be installed at Metroline's Perivale Garage.

https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/new...decker-buses-to-help-tackle-londons-toxic-air

"The world’s first hydrogen double decker buses will be introduced on three London bus routes next year, helping tackle the capital’s air quality crisis.

Transport for London (TfL) has today ordered 20 of these green buses – which produce no pollution from their exhausts - as part of its drive to make London’s transport zero-emission. It follows the introduction of the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone last month.

The environment-friendly vehicles will be introduced on routes 245, 7 and N7, with people traveling to Wembley Stadium, or from west London to the West End, able to hop on the new green buses for a smoother and quieter journey. The new, modern buses will also enhance the customer experience, with on-board USB charging points making bus travel even more attractive.

TfL is investing £12m in the new buses and the fuelling infrastructure. Wrightbus in Northern Ireland will manufacture them, creating new jobs in the region. More than £5 million of funding is being provided by European bodies and £1 million from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles."

Some clarity here - according to LOTS (London Omnibus Traction Society) the 20 hydrogen buses are for route 7/N7 which has a Peak Vehicle Requirement of 19. Plans to order 20 hydrogen buses and install hydrogen refuelling facilities at PV (Perivale Garage) were announced in July last year. The 245 is only mentioned in the TfL press release at it happens to be the other double-deck route at PV; there are no plans to use hydrogen buses on the 245.

Source: http://www.lots.org.uk/

"Latest news
Sunday 12 May

"On 10th May TfL announced that 20 Wrightbus Streetdeck hydrogen fuel cell buses were coming this year to Metroline at Perivale (PV) Garage for routes 7/N7 (pvr 19). The press release also said route 245 but that is because it is simply the other double-deck route at PV. Last July in TLB647 page 21 we did record the fact that HFC was to be installed at PV and that London was getting 20 buses." <snip>

 

[Hophead]

Merseyside are not involved with JIVE afaik, it's just Aberdeen, Birmingham, Dundee and London.

Metrobus have 20 hydrogen single-decks due next year for Fastway routes 10 & 20. These are also JIVE-funded.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Metrobus have 20 hydrogen single-decks due next year for Fastway routes 10 & 20. These are also JIVE-funded.

Those are funded through OLEV rather than JIVE.

Currently approved/ordered are
10 Deckers for Aberdeen (JIVE)
5 Unconfirmed for Aberdeen (OLEV)
18 Deckers for Birmingham (JIVE)
12 Singles for Dundee (JIVE)
20 Deckers for London (JIVE)
20 Single Deckers for "Brighton & Hove" (OLEV) - These would be the vehicles you've mentioned.
3 Unconfirmed for "Northern Ireland" (OLEV)

Contracts for JIVE have already been awarded to Wright and Vanhool. For OLEV they're unconfirmed, however Aberdeen City Council were recently in talks with Caetano over building the 5 OLEV funded buses.

JIVE buses are due for delivery 2019/2020, OLEV vehicle delivery dates are again unconfirmed.

 

[Hophead]

Thanks for the clarification: new-tech bus funding is a complicated business!