I see it was the route coming jome. Cricklewood was one of 2 garages who started the route when it replaced trolleybus route 666. The other was Stonebridge Park a farage convertes for motorbuses from Trolleybus
Nice to see the 266 back with Metroline, the EvoSetis suit the route and is the second route to have them as a temporary allocation as currently the 266 and 333 are both using EvoSetis as temporary allocations. At least the difference is that the 266 is getting variety with VWHs and VWs out on the route, I hope to see both E400Hs and MMCs on the route soon. Seems like only some VWHs were reblinded for the route and I assume the inserts on the other vehicles will be done to include the 266. Also, it’s the second time that the 266 has used buses from EW to kickstart Metroline’s operation as back in 2017, the route took 56/07/57 reg TEs off the 113 which got a full 61 reg TEH allocation and also took some from the 186 which gained a small 60 reg TEH allocation. It’s inevitable now that RP will be closing, I can see the 220/224 going to V and then the 224 lost back to Metroline after.
Agreed although it's a shame it's getting electrics. It's good that it's back at Cricklewood though since the VMHs have strayed onto the routes there. It would be nice to see an LK61 stray onto the route although they probably aren't blinded (although VWH2038 isn't blinded which did not stop them putting it on the route lol).
I think the 266 will get WDE Electroliners since Metroline have ordered them for the 4 and have ordered them in greater quantities than BYDs and the new E400EVs. It’ll be nice to see Wrights back on the route as I loved the VNs on the route and I was quite sad to see TT give up the 266 early at the 5 year clause as the VNs were a nice staple on the route and I also loved the common appearances of the BU16 VHs and the 58 reg WNs too as well as the recent 13/16/67 reg VHs. Realising now, the 266 has used G2 DB300s, G2 B9TLs and G2 B5LHs. It’s more than likely the 266 will get WDEs and I reckon Metroline will order them given W have a huge G3 fleet already for the 139/328 anyways and there can be common mechanical parts between the WDEs and VWHs too. I doubt W will re-blind the 61 reg TEHs given majority of them were withdrawn after the 32 got LTs and since then, the remaining surviving ones have been reallocated to the 210 to oust out the TEs last year. There is still 1 ex-266 13 reg TEH1462 that didn’t go to G and has remained at W so I think that’s the only TEH that may have old blinds with just 139 inserts added since then so may have the 266 and could stray which is nice as the 13 reg TEHs were the common staple on the 266 till the 2019 loss.
SG has less routes they’ve got 81,120 and 635 aswell i hope 116 and 423 will go metroline from SG and i hope 222 will partly transfer to SG. i hope SG need more routes since it has less routes at the moment
The 266 is one of those routes that has been shifting itself every now and then, 322 is another good example and I definitely prefer that route with it’s current operator, using lovely modern electric buses
Don’t forget 135 too, it was first with Arriva out of DX (don’t even know but that wouldn’t be possible in having the 135 at DX in present day), then GAL out of SI then TT out of LI and a month later it becomes an SLN route out of LI too.
Would live to know what an evo seti would look like if Ratp had em and what bonnet number they would use for it? VHM44 or 45 001 etc ? Lol Same with arriva, HVM 223 lol
The 266 is a 7 year contract so it would be pretty funny to see it go to RATP. I'm glad the 190 has stayed Metroline since it adds some variety to Richmond
@@leytonjones2416 I didn't know that until this week. It does make sense though since X is getting the 18 and the 220 can move to S or V. The 224 can also be lost to ML I guess
S have no space for the 220 so I can see the 220 going to V to provide a common fleet of hybrid DDs with the E3. S can then be fully electric and also move the 72 to V
Its true, i worked there not long ago and these were the rumours. The place was actively being dug up affecting our dead runs in and out of the garage too. I also worked at S garage, its quite small so couldn’t see the 220 going there plus, S dont deal with hybrid buses anymore since the 94 and the recent acquisition of the 49 (i got to drive some of the last VH round face G3s with the extra lights at the bottom before the route went electric), so yh stamford brook would make a lot of sense for the 220, even that wandsworth garsge where the tour buses reside - i think route 28 used to come from there…
@@MostlyBuses1Good point. LK60s are for UNO now, and the remaining LK61 TEH’s are now for the 52, 139 and 282, so the 266 is using different present fleets of Metroline temporarily. Evosetis, Gemini 2’s and also gemini 3’s. For RATP’s ADH’s, diesels and hybrids, some or most of these are now doing different routes other than the 266. Few YX62’s are for UNO. Great video and I do remember the 266 in Metroline too.
@@zfs.59do they? I thougtt only stagecoach inherited evosetis from them on routes 308 for example. I cant see any evo setis for ratp transit at the top of my head for some reason coz ratp defo never had any of their own before the partnership with TT.. Wait, am i right to say the 13 that goes edgware is one of them?
@@MostlyBuses1 In fact AC didn't lose them, Over a decade we notice 6, 52, 98, 260, 302 and 460 affirmations that are aligned with Metroline a repetitive set of actions, 297 commenced in 1998 or N98 around 2001 keen to promote this winning streak.
AC are somehow immune to losing routes, they haven’t had a single route move in or a route that they’ve lost for a while now. The only likely route AC could lose is the 260 as RATP at S could put up competition to win the route and if they did happen to win the 260 then the 70 could go back to X and the 70 should be at X anyways.
@@zfs.59AC ain’t losing the 260 let’s be real they did have part of the 316 back in 2017 for like 3 months, 260 got retained anyways. S could try for the either the 95, 207 or SL8 only space for one of those routes if 70 moves elsewhere, 95s tender is due. I agree though 70 should be based at X aswell as the 226.
I like the VMHs on the 139 and 328, suits both routes and the 328 did use EvoSetis under TT too quite a few times. VMHs have done the 32 so many times under EW’s wing so no stranger either. They just haven’t been on the 16, 139 and 210 at all
There was a whole reason why the 266 was cut to Acton as it was too unreliable going to Hammersmith with often curtailments to Acton, North Acton, Harlesden and Willesden as a result. Sometimes you’d get the odd Willesden Junction curtailment but since the cut to Acton, the 266 has improved and is a much nicer reliable route. The 218/306 are adequate in covering the old 266’s links but the 306 should ideally terminate at Acton High Street to link with the 266 further
Someone here suggested swapping the 306 and 266's terminus so that the 266 would terminate at Acton Vale and the 306 would terminate at Acton High Street which I think is a good idea
Nah I loved TT on the 266, I think it was my favourite operator on the route out of RATP and Metroline running the 266. Sad thing is that TT have struggled since being established in 2013, they struggled running the 266 which was a hell route to run back in its heyday going to Hammersmith especially having to run it out of Westbourne Park (X) which is so out of the way from Brent Cross and Acton/Hammersmith in terms of deadrun compared to RP and W which are closer to the Acton/Brent Cross ends to the route than X are. Because TT struggled in running the 266 and that it became difficult, they gave up the route at the 5 year clause in 2017 and Metroline was the only operator that bidded for the 266 back then as TT didn’t even bother bidding in 2017 and didn’t even bid for the even shortened 266 back in 2019 but chose to bid for the 218 instead which shows that X hated having the 266. The G2s on the 266 at TT suited the route and I did love seeing the refurbished WNs on it too as well as the refurbished VNs on the 266 and those refurb examples were allocated to the 28’s contract renewal in 2016 so the 266 in theory had a mix of unrefurbished and refurbished G2s under TT for a year and a half. It is currently good to see the VW class G2 B9TLs return to the route as 11/12 reg VWs are allocated now until the electrics arrive and it is some reminder of the TT days tbh
Also those G2s under TT which were unrefurbished and were the actual 266 examples were all sadly withdrawn after TT gave up the contract at the 5 year mark and those VNs allocated to the 266 were leased too. If they were owned like the 28’s refurbished examples then it was a good chance that they would’ve kept the ex-266 61/12 reg batch to try retain the 31 in 2018 to oust out the outgoing VNWs. The lease on those 266 VNs expired and now the ex-266 VNs can be found at YellowBuses in Bournemouth and some other First companies outside of London. I do remember 10 of them went to Arriva for the 123/158 and were unrefurbished but they actually left the Arriva fleet in late 2021.
Bus spotting number 266 at its stops… brilliant 🇬🇧🇺🇸👍
Thanks!
Great observations bro!🔥
@@SOL2_Transport Thanks so much!
I see it was the route coming jome. Cricklewood was one of 2 garages who started the route when it replaced trolleybus route 666. The other was Stonebridge Park a farage convertes for motorbuses from Trolleybus
Nice to see the 266 back with Metroline, the EvoSetis suit the route and is the second route to have them as a temporary allocation as currently the 266 and 333 are both using EvoSetis as temporary allocations. At least the difference is that the 266 is getting variety with VWHs and VWs out on the route, I hope to see both E400Hs and MMCs on the route soon. Seems like only some VWHs were reblinded for the route and I assume the inserts on the other vehicles will be done to include the 266. Also, it’s the second time that the 266 has used buses from EW to kickstart Metroline’s operation as back in 2017, the route took 56/07/57 reg TEs off the 113 which got a full 61 reg TEH allocation and also took some from the 186 which gained a small 60 reg TEH allocation. It’s inevitable now that RP will be closing, I can see the 220/224 going to V and then the 224 lost back to Metroline after.
Agreed although it's a shame it's getting electrics. It's good that it's back at Cricklewood though since the VMHs have strayed onto the routes there. It would be nice to see an LK61 stray onto the route although they probably aren't blinded (although VWH2038 isn't blinded which did not stop them putting it on the route lol).
I think the 266 will get WDE Electroliners since Metroline have ordered them for the 4 and have ordered them in greater quantities than BYDs and the new E400EVs. It’ll be nice to see Wrights back on the route as I loved the VNs on the route and I was quite sad to see TT give up the 266 early at the 5 year clause as the VNs were a nice staple on the route and I also loved the common appearances of the BU16 VHs and the 58 reg WNs too as well as the recent 13/16/67 reg VHs. Realising now, the 266 has used G2 DB300s, G2 B9TLs and G2 B5LHs. It’s more than likely the 266 will get WDEs and I reckon Metroline will order them given W have a huge G3 fleet already for the 139/328 anyways and there can be common mechanical parts between the WDEs and VWHs too. I doubt W will re-blind the 61 reg TEHs given majority of them were withdrawn after the 32 got LTs and since then, the remaining surviving ones have been reallocated to the 210 to oust out the TEs last year. There is still 1 ex-266 13 reg TEH1462 that didn’t go to G and has remained at W so I think that’s the only TEH that may have old blinds with just 139 inserts added since then so may have the 266 and could stray which is nice as the 13 reg TEHs were the common staple on the 266 till the 2019 loss.
SG has less routes they’ve got 81,120 and 635 aswell i hope 116 and 423 will go metroline from SG and i hope 222 will partly transfer to SG. i hope SG need more routes since it has less routes at the moment
@javellsuktransport3588 I don't think they have space for all those
The 266 is one of those routes that has been shifting itself every now and then, 322 is another good example and I definitely prefer that route with it’s current operator, using lovely modern electric buses
Don’t forget 135 too, it was first with Arriva out of DX (don’t even know but that wouldn’t be possible in having the 135 at DX in present day), then GAL out of SI then TT out of LI and a month later it becomes an SLN route out of LI too.
Yeah those MetroCities are some great buses, even if they're really unreliable.
Those metro cities are god awful, when I use to work for TUK, the engineers hated the 322 and you’d see buses broken down all over the place 😂
@@court692able I guess that's one of the reasons why TUK ordered E100s for the G1. It would be cool to see the E100s stray onto the 322
It's come Home to Metroline. Was there many years
Is that why ive been seeing lots of Evosetis on 328??
@@OmarZamel-w8v yes
@MostlyBuses1 ok looks like I need to catch the evosetis before it's to late
@@OmarZamel-w8v yeah you do
Would live to know what an evo seti would look like if Ratp had em and what bonnet number they would use for it?
VHM44 or 45 001 etc ? Lol
Same with arriva, HVM 223 lol
Same. RATP do have EvoSetis though. They're the ex Tower Transit ones and they're coded VMH45321 - 52. Arriva ones would be so weird too lol
Yo they got the mk1's too
(Wouldn't be surprised if 266 decides to switch operations again in the next 5 years)
I'm surprised that 190 never had their operations changed since it went on service
The 266 is a 7 year contract so it would be pretty funny to see it go to RATP. I'm glad the 190 has stayed Metroline since it adds some variety to Richmond
I just here park royal bus garage ratp group is closing down because hs2 has got the land please check out this information available.
@@leytonjones2416 I didn't know that until this week. It does make sense though since X is getting the 18 and the 220 can move to S or V. The 224 can also be lost to ML I guess
S have no space for the 220 so I can see the 220 going to V to provide a common fleet of hybrid DDs with the E3. S can then be fully electric and also move the 72 to V
Its true, i worked there not long ago and these were the rumours. The place was actively being dug up affecting our dead runs in and out of the garage too.
I also worked at S garage, its quite small so couldn’t see the 220 going there plus, S dont deal with hybrid buses anymore since the 94 and the recent acquisition of the 49 (i got to drive some of the last VH round face G3s with the extra lights at the bottom before the route went electric), so yh stamford brook would make a lot of sense for the 220, even that wandsworth garsge where the tour buses reside - i think route 28 used to come from there…
@@ace-paidinfull5240 The 337 was also operated from Wandsworth under Arriva which was cool
Yes, it's been planned since at least 2021
The fact that all of my locals are Metroline for the 2nd time in a row...
lol. I can sort of relate to that but with GAL
@@MostlyBuses1 nice!
All of my locals are stagecoach but D3 ruined the chain with GAL
@@15_developer and in typical GAL fashion it got SEes
Nice to meet you there i was the one that said yo to you 🙂😁
@@wltb48325 it was nice meeting you too!
Wait! is 266 and N266 using Wright gemini 3 mark 1s?
yes. They're from the 328
@ how are they using them are you being for real? 😟
@Mohammedlovestflforever err yes, have you seen the video?
@ yes I have
@@MostlyBuses1Good point. LK60s are for UNO now, and the remaining LK61 TEH’s are now for the 52, 139 and 282, so the 266 is using different present fleets of Metroline temporarily. Evosetis, Gemini 2’s and also gemini 3’s. For RATP’s ADH’s, diesels and hybrids, some or most of these are now doing different routes other than the 266. Few YX62’s are for UNO. Great video and I do remember the 266 in Metroline too.
The last day of route 266 RATP operation (explained):
th-cam.com/video/rWiWaDb672g/w-d-xo.html
Back home at Cricklewood. Good to see the Evosetis spreading their operational wings at another garage.
Agreed
Will miss the e400 on metroline
yeah same. At least now that it's back some E400 hybrids can appear
Imagine this : RATP bought evoseti and electroliners
@Transport11233 it was just announced that they're getting Electroliners for the 31 so that part has come true
RATP already have EvoSetis inherited from tower transit tbf
@@zfs.59do they? I thougtt only stagecoach inherited evosetis from them on routes 308 for example.
I cant see any evo setis for ratp transit at the top of my head for some reason coz ratp defo never had any of their own before the partnership with TT..
Wait, am i right to say the 13 that goes edgware is one of them?
I think 266 and N266 will get Alexander Dennis Enviro400EVs.
@athavanainkaran2499 I hope they get those or BZL DDs since ML have only ordered BD11s and Electroliners for their DD routes.
Or Electroliners is likely for the 266. I hope it’s WDEs though
I miss 305 you miss 305 too 😢
ok
Evosetis look good on 266 tbf
They do, although I miss them on the 113 (I only rode 4 VMHs on that route).
Nice vid keep up :)
Thanks and don't worry, I will!
266 was metroline earlier
Then it is metroline again 💀
ikr. This is the third time now
Yh
i saw you there
@@whatis_890 oh ok. Were you on the Gemini 2?
@@MostlyBuses1 no evoseti
@@whatis_890 which one?
@@MostlyBuses1 the LX18
It just been confirmed the 266 will get byd bd11 buses
what's the source?
@MostlyBuses1 bus fandom website
I think Metroline should be perfect
@Jackson_Playz-l3c For the 3rd time in a row, your right
Yeah I think they'll run the route better than RATP did
@@MostlyBuses1 In fact AC didn't lose them, Over a decade we notice 6, 52, 98, 260, 302 and 460 affirmations that are aligned with Metroline a repetitive set of actions, 297 commenced in 1998 or N98 around 2001 keen to promote this winning streak.
AC are somehow immune to losing routes, they haven’t had a single route move in or a route that they’ve lost for a while now. The only likely route AC could lose is the 260 as RATP at S could put up competition to win the route and if they did happen to win the 260 then the 70 could go back to X and the 70 should be at X anyways.
@@zfs.59AC ain’t losing the 260 let’s be real they did have part of the 316 back in 2017 for like 3 months, 260 got retained anyways. S could try for the either the 95, 207 or SL8 only space for one of those routes if 70 moves elsewhere, 95s tender is due. I agree though 70 should be based at X aswell as the 226.
Imo eVoSetis don't suit the route but the B9TLs are perfect
It's a nice change for me as they haven't done the route before and now the VMHs can go on the 210, 139, 16, 32 and 328
I like the VMHs on the 139 and 328, suits both routes and the 328 did use EvoSetis under TT too quite a few times. VMHs have done the 32 so many times under EW’s wing so no stranger either. They just haven’t been on the 16, 139 and 210 at all
Hi 👋
hi!
How are you
@@albertcooper9217 good thanks. What about you?
266 belonged to RATP in my opinion.
Well to be fair this is Metroline's 3rd time on the 266
@S4nsTransport In my opinion, I gotta give it to Metroline. Luvin the Evoseti's
Well, Park Royal garage (along with neighbouring businesses) has gotta go to make way for HS2.
@@englandbuses7023 Yeah it seems like it'll be closing soon. The 18 is moving to X next year
@@MostlyBuses1 Same as 640
266 should be extended back to Hammersmith and n266 be withdrawn again
There was a whole reason why the 266 was cut to Acton as it was too unreliable going to Hammersmith with often curtailments to Acton, North Acton, Harlesden and Willesden as a result. Sometimes you’d get the odd Willesden Junction curtailment but since the cut to Acton, the 266 has improved and is a much nicer reliable route. The 218/306 are adequate in covering the old 266’s links but the 306 should ideally terminate at Acton High Street to link with the 266 further
Someone here suggested swapping the 306 and 266's terminus so that the 266 would terminate at Acton Vale and the 306 would terminate at Acton High Street which I think is a good idea
Nah I’m I the only one that misses Tower Transit running the 266 with the G2’s??
@@ARJUN_2009_ZOOMER probably not
@@MostlyBuses1 Hmmm 🤔
Nah I loved TT on the 266, I think it was my favourite operator on the route out of RATP and Metroline running the 266. Sad thing is that TT have struggled since being established in 2013, they struggled running the 266 which was a hell route to run back in its heyday going to Hammersmith especially having to run it out of Westbourne Park (X) which is so out of the way from Brent Cross and Acton/Hammersmith in terms of deadrun compared to RP and W which are closer to the Acton/Brent Cross ends to the route than X are. Because TT struggled in running the 266 and that it became difficult, they gave up the route at the 5 year clause in 2017 and Metroline was the only operator that bidded for the 266 back then as TT didn’t even bother bidding in 2017 and didn’t even bid for the even shortened 266 back in 2019 but chose to bid for the 218 instead which shows that X hated having the 266. The G2s on the 266 at TT suited the route and I did love seeing the refurbished WNs on it too as well as the refurbished VNs on the 266 and those refurb examples were allocated to the 28’s contract renewal in 2016 so the 266 in theory had a mix of unrefurbished and refurbished G2s under TT for a year and a half. It is currently good to see the VW class G2 B9TLs return to the route as 11/12 reg VWs are allocated now until the electrics arrive and it is some reminder of the TT days tbh
Also those G2s under TT which were unrefurbished and were the actual 266 examples were all sadly withdrawn after TT gave up the contract at the 5 year mark and those VNs allocated to the 266 were leased too. If they were owned like the 28’s refurbished examples then it was a good chance that they would’ve kept the ex-266 61/12 reg batch to try retain the 31 in 2018 to oust out the outgoing VNWs. The lease on those 266 VNs expired and now the ex-266 VNs can be found at YellowBuses in Bournemouth and some other First companies outside of London. I do remember 10 of them went to Arriva for the 123/158 and were unrefurbished but they actually left the Arriva fleet in late 2021.
ML keep getting and losing this route
Your title should be First Day (Again)
ikr. At least this time it's on a 7 year contract (I think). The title is clear enough imo
It would be good if they swapped the terminus for the 266 to terminate at Acton Vale with the 306 being extended to Acton High Street in the future.
@@drewphillips2359 I would support that idea
The 266 is for 7 years yes as it’s using electrics.
@@drewphillips2359agreed.