The Borismaster, initially officially called the New Bus for London (NBfL), 'LT' type, and latterly the New Routemaster (NRM) has been a controversial bus introduced over the reign of Boris Johnson as London mayor. Say what you like about the BM/NBfL/LT/NRM it was a commitment he made, Londoners voted for him (just) and he's delivered that commitment. Over the weekend of 12/13 December the 600th NRM entered service, one of the first NRMs for Abellio London for route 159, which they also started operating on the 12th. Transport for London has ordered 800 NRMs in total (plus a few prototypes) which they allocate to routes and operators.
However, somewhat more quietly, Transport for London has also been working with the UK's other big bus builder Alexander Dennis to restyle their Enviro 400 workhorse to resemble a NRM. This type was first revealed at the Coach & Bus Live show in Birmingham NEC in October, and also entered service over the weekend of 12/13 December, this time in the hands of Arriva London on route 78 (Nunhead-Shoreditch).
1) Rapid evolution of the Enviro 400: 14, 64 and 65 plate vehicles shown
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| A 2014 Enviro 400, this one being a National Express West Midlands vehicle in West Bromwich, |
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| Evolved in to the Enviro 400MMC (Major Model Change). Supposedly doesn't rattle. At all. This one is a 2015 example with Abellio in Croydon. |
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| And by the end of 2015 the Enviro 400 has morphed in to this, NRM-esque styling. Compare to the NRM below..... |
2) A NRM (below) for comparison to the Enviro 400 City above
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| Stagecoach NRM LT246. Similarities to the Enviro 400 City - they're red, they have the TfL roundel on the front and the windows up the staircase (Wrights are also offering the latter on their new buses so it may be the next big thing?). However there are enough similarities that the person on the street might think they are on an NRM/NBfL/Borismaster, |
3) The Enviro 400 City
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| Looking forward it instantly looks more like a regular bus. Big windows. That open! |
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| The air cooling unit common on modern London buses alongside the diagonal windows and panel up the stairs, very much a feature of the NRM copies on to the E400City. |
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| Looking back it is clearly not an NRM: there;s no rear staircase. However the RM/NRM terracotta interior paneling is retained, as are gold grab rails. The wrap-up rear window is unusual, but is a style Alexander Dennis have adopted for their new single deck buses too. |
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| And finally the moquette. The latest evolution in the TfL boxy stripes moquette now includes roundels. I think it looks superb and could be a new standard across all modes. |
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| And finally: by the no. 78 bus stand (also used by 47s) in Shoreditch is a bar glamming up Far Rockaway, Sadly it was closed, else I'd have gone in and told them Far Rockaway sounds far more exuberant than it actually is, being a windy cold terminus of the New York Subway with a distant view of Kennedy Airport! |
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| Terminus of the NY Subway A Train: Far Rockaway. Absolutely nothing there, and it might look sunny but it was freezing! |
