Now that the new Irizar ie tram buses have finally entered service, a trip to Orpington to sample these new vehicles in operation, together with some older classes that have limited time left in the area.

***Go Ahead London’s new Irizar ie tram buses have begun entering service on the 358 from 20th November. IE18 takes a top up on the pantograph charging point at Crystal Palace Bus Station.***

*These vehicles certainly stand out with their distinctive new look. Note the wheel covers and low glass panels at passenger leg level.*

Route 417: Clapham Common to Crystal Palace

I began my day by Northern Line to Clapham Common, where I walked to the nearby Old Town Bus Stand.

My first route was the 417, which has now been converted by operator Arriva London to new Wright StreetDeck Electroliners. I had sampled these on the 307 in the Enfield area some months ago, but this was my first time on the class south of the river, where they have now entered service at Brixton (BN) and Thornton Heath (TH) Garages.

A pair of the new buses were present when I arrived and I boarded ES38, which was first to depart. The now familiar new interior greeted me as I took my seat. After picking up a few at Clapham Common Station, we continued via Acre Lane and Kings Avenue to Clapham Park, before taking a left up to Brixton Hill, joining the A23 past the home garage at Telford Avenue. Onwards via the genteel Leigham Court Road which is a unique section for the 417, before joining other routes at Norwood Crown Point.

By now we had caught up the bus in front and we worked more or less in tandem over the final section up to the terminus at “The Palace”. A fairly uneventful and smooth run, taking around 40 mins.

The 417 was renumbered from 137A in 1999, which had started 8 years previously to convert the southern section of then crew route 137 to OPO, although initially the “A” had a M-F Peaks projection to Sloane Square and a M-S eves and Suns extension to Oxford Circus in lieu of the parent 137, thereby converting the whole route to OPO at those times. By 1999, the projections had been lost and the 417 settled down to the route we know today. Initially operated by Norwood (N) Garage with L class Olympians, low floor operation commenced in 2003 with DLAs, although VLAs also appeared in due course. From 2016, T class Enviro400s were the norm, with a few HV hybrids at times. The recent electrification resulted in a transfer from N to BN Garage.

***Arriva London Wright StreetDeck Electroliners ES147 and ES38 of Brixton (BN) Garage share the stand at Clapham Common Old Town.***

*“You wait ages for a bus and then two come along together!”*

Route 358: Crystal Palace to Orpington

At Crystal Palace, the excitement began as I observed one of the new Irizars on the 358 undergoing a pantograph charge in the Bus Station, with a couple of officials monitoring the process. Another one was behind and took its place when the first one left, taking about 5 mins or so to top-up with juice. LVF showed that the service was about two-thirds operated by the new vehicles, with MEC, SE and WS types making up the balance, with 14 (of the 20) IEs now in use, as the progressive conversion continues. After many postponements in recent months, these vehicles finally began to enter service from 20th November.

Finally, it was time to jump onboard, with IE18 of Go Ahead London’s Orpington (MB) Garage being the vehicle, one that had just entered service earlier in the week. First impressions were of a somewhat cold and uninviting interior, with a white colour scheme and grey faux leather seating not being too welcoming on a chilly day. The seats have higher backs, with those at the front topped in red to denote priority usage.

The low glass panels along the sides of the vehicles at passenger leg level are an odd feature and seem to be there purely as a point of design rather than for any practical purpose.

New info screens are installed, with one at the front showing the next 3 stops and number of stops to the ultimate destination, whilst the right hand side scrolls between times to key stops (in very small characters), Tube status updates and general messages. A second screen is located on the offside wall above the wheelchair space and is like the ones on other new types.

In terms of the ride, acceleration was quick and we bowled along at a fairly rapid pace where traffic conditions allowed. Braking seemed a bit harsh with the short wheelbase producing a bit of a “nodding donkey” effect on slowing down and stopping, producing a feeling of mild sea-sickness after a while!

Many comments from passengers on the new vehicles, which are clearly very distinctive and different from “normal” buses.

This is a long route and can be prone to delays at busy times, but traffic was reasonably free-flowing as we made our way down the hill to Anerley and on through Penge to Beckenham and Elmers End. Temporary lights in the Eden Park area didn’t cause much delay on this occasion and we progressed through Shortlands into Bromley Town Centre. A general exchange of passengers in the town as we continued south past Bromley Common and Bromley (TB) Garage, where there was evidence of electricity charging being installed.

On via Locks Bottom and Farnborough Village to MB Garage at Green St Green, with no driver change to hinder us. Then the final stretch into Orpington, serving the High St and Walnuts Centre, before making our way up the hill to the Station. 1h 30m for the trip wasn’t too bad.

As at Crystal Palace, pantograph charging was going on at Orpington Station stand, generally with two buses present, one awaiting its turn whilst the other was receiving its top-up. Interesting vehicles, with some good and not so good features in my opinion.

***Not one I rode, but the nearside view of the new Irizars is on display at Orpington Station, in this case IE11 of Orpington (MB) Garage.***

*Taken at the end of the day just before dusk.*

Route R3: Orpington to Princess Royal Hospital

Back to the more mundane next, with a turn on the local R3. This is one of several operated by GAL from MB Garage that have been retained on re-tender from Spring 2025 on the basis of new electrics, with 32 ADL Enviro 100EV single decks on order.

For now, the older types continue, the R3 generally being the home to short Wright StreetLites. I had WS5, an early example, that seemed to have seen better days, being a bit tatty inside. Nevertheless, we made our way back from the Station through Orpington Town Centre and out via St Mary Cray before turning left along Poverest Road and the dog leg round Amherst Drive, before continuing on to Petts Wood. After looping to serve the Station, we circled the Coppice Estate, before returning to Crofton Lane on to Locks Bottom and the nearby terminus at Princess Royal Hospital. 55 mins end to end.

The R3 was one of the original routes introduced with the “Roundabout” midibus network back in 1986 using OV and RH types and has undergone a number of changes since. Originally, it ran between Petts Wood and Green St Green via Orpington and Chelsfield, receiving a western extension to Locks Bottom in 2001 and to PR Hospital in 2004. At the other, it was cut back to Chelsfield in 2001 (in conjunction with changes to the R1 & R8) and then to Orpington Station in 2017 (when the R7 took over the Chelsfield leg). Various small bus types have performed over the years since the orginal vehicles, including FM, MC, MM, DMS and other Darts, to Enviro200s, SE and WS classes.

***Wright StreetLite WS5 of MB Garage at Princess Royal Hospital after my ride on it.***

*These vehicles are due for replacement by new Enviro100 EV types in 2025 on this route.*

Route R4: Princess Royal Hospital to Pauls Cray Hill (and back to St Mary Cray Village)

At the hospital terminus, I switched to the other local route to serve that point, the R4. This is normally operated by Enviro200s, either SE types or the older examples inherited from Metrobus that curiously retain their digital only fleet numbers without class code, when it might be expected that they be included in the SEN sequence used for acquired vehicles. As with the R3, new electrics are intended for introduction in 2025, so a chance to ride the existing buses for perhaps the last time.

A short wait produced fleet no 159 of MB Garage and we soon set off on the trip back to Orpington and on to Pauls Cray Hill. In Locks Bottom, early school chucking out time due to end of term produced a bit of congestion and a number of students boarding. A different intermediate routeing on the R4 took us via Starts Hill Road, Farnborough Way and Tubbenden Lane to Orpington Station, by which time we had emptied out.

Then a bit of a slog through the by now congested Orpington Town Centre, with a long queue at the lights to turn right at Carlton Parade. Through the Ramsden Estate, before turning into the narrow Chelsfield Lane. A detour around Cockmannings Estate, before reaching St Mary Cray Village. Some delays again here due to traffic in the narrow roads, before ascending to the end of the line at Pauls Cray Hill. The 60 min journey was around 10 mins more than scheduled.

After a short break, I returned on the same bus a few stops down to St Mary Cray Village, where I alighted.

Another original “Roundabout” route from 1986, the R4 began as Pauls Cray Hill to Locks Bottom, with the extension to PR Hospital added in 2004. In addition, there was a rerouteing in Farnborough in 1991, with a diversion from the original direct route via Ramsden in 2001 to replace part of the R8. Similar types have operated on the R4 over the years as per the R3 above.

***Enviro200 fleet no 159 of MB Garage is one that was inherited from Metrobus and is also at Princess Royal Hospital on the R4.***

*This route is also due to receive new electrics in the form of Enviro100 EVs in 2025.*

Route R6: St Mary Cray Village to St Mary Cray Station and back to Orpington

Last route of the day on this trip was the R6. This is the third incarnation of this number, the first being a route between Orpington & Sevenoaks via Knockholt, which had a complex set of workings on an infrequent basis replacing former London Country services when introduced in 1986. This version only lasted around 18 months, coming off in early 1988. The second use of the number was as a M-F Peak Hour circular from Orpington via Knockholt and Pratts Bottom, which was around from 1992 to 1998.

The current R6 began in 2001 as a short route between Orpington & St Mary Cray Station, operated initially by Crystals with Solos. First took over in 2006 with DMS Darts, but in 2007 the contract was novated to Metrobus, who later became part of GAL. The various Dart types were eventually replaced with Enviro200s, although the odd StreetLite has also appeared.

However, the route is due to be withdrawn in Spring 2025, as following a TfL Consultation, it has been decided to reroute the B14 to cover most of it. Quite what the existing users of the B14 will make of a longer journey into and out of Orpington has yet to be seen!

For now, the R6 operates out of MB Garage with just 2 buses on a 30 min frequency and with around 25 mins running time each way, there is little scope for recovery in the event of delays. Indeed, on the afternoon I travelled on it, both buses seemed hopelessly late on their schedules, with maybe 1 working in 3 being missed. At the stop I was waiting at, the bus due at 1406 didn’t appear and the 1436 was around 10 mins late.

Finally, Enviro200 fleet no 156 turned up and I boarded for the short run around Burrfield Drive and Sandway Road, followed by a long delay for the lights to cross the main road at Cray Avenue / Sevenaoks Way. A broken down SE290 right on the junction near the railway viaduct at St Mary Cray Station didn’t help. 20 mins to the “hesitation point” at the station, before continuing around the loop working and back across the main road to St Mary Cray Village. Back around the Burrfield Drive Estate and then on to Orpington via the direct route. 35 mins on this leg to Orpington Station, by which time the bus must have been a good 20 min late.

An inauspicious end to the day, but at least I had completed my intended routes and I had an easy interchange to the Thameslink service from Orpington Station for the journey home.

Watton

Orpington & Round-About

On & Around the Great Cambridge Road

Living the Liffey