Arriva’s Routemasters are up for grabs as another big group slims down its heritage fleet, reports Nick Larkin
Just days after Stagecoach announced the sale of its heritage fleet, Arriva London is also selling its classic vehicles. The collection includes AEC RM 2217, the last standard-length Routemaster, pictures of which were seen across the world when it performed the official final journey of the type in normal London service in December 2005. Also in the fleet is RM 5 (VLT 5), numerically the first production Routemaster, and ‘coach’ Routemasters RMC 1464 (464 CLT) and RMC 1453 (453 CLT).
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An Arriva spokesperson said: “It is with great sadness that Arriva London announces that our heritage fleet operation will cease at the end of 2022 and the vehicles will be available for sale for further use or preservation. To commemorate the retirement of these iconic buses after over 60 years of service and almost 17 years under the Arriva Heritage Fleet banner, the company will be running special journeys over route 137 on Friday 2 December.”
The route passes close to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, so Arriva will be collecting for the Royal British Legion as part of its Remembrance commemorations. It is expected that the vehicle in service will be RM 2217, numerically the last standard-length bus, which has spent 36 years of its 57-year life at either Brixton or Norwood Garages.
Ensignbus running day
Ensign’s annual heritage bus running day is taking place on Saturday 3 December with some 25 classic coaches and buses taking part – among them some surprises. Vehicles from the 1930s to the 1980s will run until early evening on four routes – the X21 from Upminster to Brentwood, along with the X54 from Lakeside to Purfeet Heritage Centre and RAF Hornchurch. Then there’s the Upminster – Aveley – Lakeside – Bluewater – Gravesend service, and route X81 between Shenfield, Brentwood, Lakeside, Grays and Tilbury Ferry.
As well as vehicles from Ensign’s own fleet – the company is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year – watch out for visiting vehicles. “We’re really looking forward to the event and people can expect a couple of surprises,” said Ensign’s Customer Services Manager Paul Dickson.
The special journeys will operate as follows:
Upper Norwood, Crown Point: 10.00
Streatham Hill, Telford Avenue: 10.14(d) 12.35(d) 15.42(d)
Clapham Common Station: 10.28 12.49 15.57
Battersea Park Station: 10.40 13.01 16.09
Sloane Square, South Side: 10.50 13.11 16.19
Knightsbridge Station: 10.55 13.16 16.24
Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge: 11.00 13.21 16.29
Marble Arch: 11.06 13.27 16.36
Marble Arch: 11.22 13.48 16.55
Hyde Park Cnr, Knightsbridge: 11.29 13.55 17.03
Knightsbridge Station: 11.32 13.59 17.07
Sloane Square, South Side: 11.36 14.04 17.12
Battersea Park Station: 11.47 14.15 17.25
Clapham Common Station: 11.59 14.27 17.38
Streatham Hill, Telford Avenue: 12.13(a) 14.42(a) 17.53
Upper Norwood, Crown Point: 18.10
