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| Count | Photo | Details | Added  |
| 1 |  |
By Ray Monk None of the six daytime bus routes operated by Metroline's Perivale (PV) garage actually pass the location, so crew ferry vehicles are needed for runs of varying distances. Parked in the garage on 23rd February 2026 were Ford Puma AY23KUC and Ford Tourneo Connect AV23LBN. Both are in unmarked red and both were new in 2023, although AV23LBN spent its first few months working from Potters Bar. |
28/02/2026 |
| 2 |  |
By Ray Monk Metroline added another three Ford Puma cars to its fleet in late 2024, of which AV74LNF is based at Perivale Garage (PV), where it was photographed on 23rd February 2026. |
28/02/2026 |
| 3 |  |
By Ray Monk The last three photos in today's batch were all taken at Metroline's Perivale (PV) garage, a location that is interesting because you cannot really see into it from outside. PV is also unique in operating the only hydrogen-powered buses used on TfL services. For engineering support, Ford Transit Courier Mk2 van AX24FOA is based, and was photographed on 23rd February 2026. All of the buses allocated to PV are double-deck, although it also looks after a dozen single-deckers used on route 224 from the outstation at Athlon Road, Alperton. One of these (DEL1977) is visible in the background. |
28/02/2026 |
| 4 |  |
By Ray Monk Back to the Ford garage at Alperton, this time their main yard (with the Golden Tours garage in the background). Present on 23rd February 2026 was AY23KWM, one of a dozen Ford Puma cars operated as crew ferries by Metroline. Most were delivered in unmarked red, with at least four later gaining colourful wraps to advertise bus driver recruitment. AY23KWM has a similar but much more restrained advertising, confined to a poster on the nearside door. It is based at Perivale (PV) garage. |
28/02/2026 |
| 5 |  |
By Ray Monk AV74FLZ is a Ford Puma car that was delivered to Metroline in unmarked red in late 2024. It was allocated to Willesden Junction Garage and about a year later was given a yellow livery to promote bus driver recruitment. This is believed to be in the form of a vinyl 'wrap', although if so it is very neatly done, and includes the mirror covers and door handles. Equally neat were similar AY23KUE (initially at Brentford but now at Uxbridge, Wallingford Road) plus green AY23KWO and blue AY23KVM. Willesden Junction garage was built on a former freight terminal and is right next to the West Coast Main Line. The overhead masts visible behind the fence on the right are for the tracks connecting the North London Line to the WCML. |
28/02/2026 |
| 6 |  |
By Ray Monk AX24FNU is a Ford Transit Courier Mk2 van operated by Metroline from their Willesden Junction Garage, where it was photographed on 23rd February 2026. This model is available in 'Fantastic Red', which is noticeably darker than the LT red on earlier Ford vans for Metroline (and other users). |
28/02/2026 |
| 7 |  |
By Ray Monk The use of the Atlas Road (Harlesden) site as a bus garage is due to end within the next few months. It is currently operated by First Bus London as their Park Royal Depot, coded either PK or RP. Bus route 220 was transferred to Stamford Brook (V) in October 2025, while the 18 is due to move to Westbourne Park (X) once electric charging facilities are completed. However, this may now be delayed as there is a plan to move the Tootbus sightseeing fleet into X for a few months while electric charging points are installed at Wandsworth (WD) garage. This photo taken on 23rd February 2026 shows some of the Dacia Sandero cars based here for use as crew ferries. These retain their RATP fleetnumbers in the D751xx range, though the company logos have been removed and not (yet) replaced by First ones. Cars here also have local fleetnumbers in the windows, as seen on 6 (MJ69ZBX) on the left. The history of this location is short but surprisingly complicated. It was opened by First London in 2011 (coded AS) to act as an overflow for X, even though it was only quarter of a mile away from another First garage (WJ - Willesden Junction, on the other side of the railway lines). When First withdrew from London bus operation in 2013, AS passed to new company Tower Transit, while WJ went to Metroline. Extension work at X allowed AS to be closed in June 2017, but not for long. Trunk route 18 had been operated from WJ (now Metroline) but was won on tender by London United, who had a very small base (Park Royal - PK) also on Atlas Road! Too small to run the 18, London United took over the former AS location from November 2017, moving the Park Royal name and PK code, although the official TfL code was RP. Meanwhile, Tower Transit sold out, with X passing to RATP in 2021, and then in 2024, RATP decided to sell out, with the entire London operation passing to First, who decided to have another go at London bus operation. You couldn't make this up... I should also mention that, although it is doomed and losing bus routes, RP gained a route as recently as 17th January 2026, when new route N118 was introduced to normalise short workings on route N18. Spare capacity at RP has been used for storage of withdrawn buses by First, as well as holding many of the new electric buses awaiting service on the 18. It has also been used in recent months to store new buses for Metroline, though this seems to have ended. Once the base is closed, the whole site is expected to be cleared for redevelopment. |
28/02/2026 |
| 8 |  |
By Ray Monk Although only delivered a couple of weeks ago, Ford Transit crew van 9490F is already in service and has been allocated to Hearne House at Acton, where it was photographed on 23rd February 2026. |
28/02/2026 |
| 9 |  |
By Ray Monk Being made ready for service at Acton Works on 23rd February 2026 was new Ford Transit Custom minibus 9524F. The 'green' logos on the bodysides, plus the access panel below the offside headlamp, show that this is a hybrid-electric vehicle, as indeed are the other Transit Customs delivered recently. The larger Transit vans (and crew vans) continue to be diesels for the time being. |
28/02/2026 |
| 10 |  |
By Ray Monk In what was the van yard (and is now the lorry yard) at Acton Works on 23rd February 2026 were a pair of Ford Transit Custom minibuses being prepared for service. Shown here is 9529F, registered EA75YFH, which had appeared on the FoI list as EF75YFH. It seems that, although it has answered lots of questions, the new list has created a few new questions of its own, partly through errors. |
28/02/2026 |
| 11 |  |
By Ray Monk The day after Dave found brand new 9496F and 9504F at Museum Way, Acton Town, I was forwarded a list of central fleet vehicles that had been obtained through a Freedom of Information request. As regular visitors may recall, a request made last year had resulted in a list being sent, but it omitted the all-important registration numbers. A new request was made a few months later and, perhaps surprisingly, it was again successful. The new list showed that 18 new Fords had been delivered recently, with the number range (9487F to 9532F) suggesting that lots more were on order. Ray decided to visit Acton Works on 23rd February 2026 to try and find some of the new vehicles. First up, parked on the Stub Road beside the railway, were a pair of high-roof Ford Transit crew vans. These were 9533F (nearest) and 9531F (beyond). Slightly confusingly, 9533F was not on the FoI list, though the registration EJ75WZO was shown as being on 9531F! |
28/02/2026 |
| 12 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft On one of his frequent visits to London (on 19th February 2026), Dave found a pair of brand new Ford Transit crew vans in the small front yard of the track depot at Museum Way, Acton Town. They were both in the new TfL white livery and they carried fleetnumbers 9496F (shown here) and 9504F (on the left). Could this be the long-awaited start of fleet renewal for the larger van fleet? The P&C room on the right is obviously where they keep their pilchards and custard. |
28/02/2026 |
| 13 |  |
By Ray Monk My reason for including another photo of a Go-Ahead London Mercedes Vito minibus at Bromley North Station is the number in the windscreen. RF19UZU, seen on 16th February 2026, is another example that moved from Orpington to the new garage at Sydenham in 2025. It was displaying a card showing number 915, which I presume is a duty number rather than a fleet number. This makes me wonder if they actually have 15 crew ferry duties at the new garage. |
28/02/2026 |
| 14 |  |
By Derek Everson Fleetnumbers 9399R to 9438R form a batch of 40 Renault Kangoo vans, or at least they were probably meant to. We know that 9411R was returned with faults and has not been replaced, while numbers 9418R and 9432R have not been seen and are notable gaps in the most recent official fleetlist. 9414R is one that is fairly easy to see, usually being parked at the offices on Allsop Place behind Baker Street Station. Derek photographed it there on 9th February 2026, with a side-on view that I could have used to make an icon image, if I hadn't already done one... |
28/02/2026 |
| 15 |  |
By Derek Everson Derek looked in on Edgware Road Station on 9th February 2026 and found that not a great deal had changed. On the left was LUL-liveried Ford Transit van 9140F, which appears to have gained a box on its roof. Could this be a ventilator for a generator fitted inside? Sister van 9139F at Lillie Bridge certainly has one, though I do not have a photo (yet). On the right is TfL Ford Transit Connect crew van 9233F, resident here since late 2024 after an initial spell at Lillie Bridge. Of the six vans/minibuses beyond, it is notable that three appear to be hires in anonymous white, the other three being in LUL livery. |
28/02/2026 |
| 16 |  |
By Ray Monk Also at River Road Garage on 2nd February 2026 was Mercedes Vito minibus SF22YKZ, one of quite a few second-hand additions to the fleet recently. Just visible behind is orange Mercedes Citaro bus MEC14, which still sees fairly regular use on the Here East contract at Stratford, even though it is technically only a spare to the four BYD SEe-class electric buses normally used. |
28/02/2026 |
| 17 |  |
By Ray Monk Over the past few years, Go-Ahead have made use of quite a number of these Nissan NV250 vans. They are probably hired, and it may be that some have seen periods working for other users, and their anonymous white livery makes them easy to miss. On 2nd February 2026, HG21XSC was found at River Road (Barking) garage, parked near the electric charging points. The buses in the background include an LT-class New Routemaster in advertising livery for Sephora. |
28/02/2026 |
| 18 |  |
By Ray Monk Most Arriva London bus garages have a Vauxhall Combo van for engineering support duties. The one at Barking (DX) is FL73VLY, which was found at home on 2nd February 2026. |
28/02/2026 |
| 19 |  |
By Ray Monk On a murky 2nd February 2026, Ray met Maeve Jane at North Greenwich Bus Station. This is the name carried by Dynes Volvo FH recovery truck MA74EVE, and it (she?) had been called out to rescue Arriva London hybrid bus HV148 that had broken down on an early route 335 duty. The bus was back in service ten days later. |
28/02/2026 |
| 20 |  |
By Keith Ward LUL Ford Transit Mk8 dropside truck 8939F was new in November 2019 and has been based at Lillie Bridge and Upminster depots. On 31st January 2026 it was found in the car park at Epping Station, part of which was closed off while some rail grinding machines were being moved from lorries on to the track. |
28/02/2026 |
| 21 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft Another service vehicle found at the Ford garage in Alperton on 29th January 2026 was TfL Ford Transit Connect van 9382F, normally based at Bollo House in Acton. Alongside was another SV in the form of Metroline Ford Transit Courier Mk2 van AV24KZZ with Falcon Coachworks lettering. The Transit Courier Mk2 is more like a van than the car-derived Transit Courier Mk1 and as can be seen, it is in fact very similar in size to the Transit Connect Mk2. |
28/02/2026 |
| 22 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft Athlon Road in Alperton has several places of interest for us. Starting from the Sainsburys end there is the newish Metroline bus garage, then a Metropolitan Police garage where one of the LSCP vans can often be found. Further along is the Golden Tours garage, with a fleet of blue double-deckers used on sightseeing work, and finally at the western end is a large Ford garage which often contains a service vehicle or two awaiting attention. When Dave visited on 29th January 2026, there were three, although they were actually parked in an overflow yard on the north side of Athlon Road. Shown here is TfL Ford Transit Connect crew van 9267F, which has been elusive since it was delivered nearly two years ago. |
28/02/2026 |
| 23 |  |
By Peter Terry The TfL Renault Kangoo vans at Turnpike Lane are usually parked nose-in to the wall across the bus parking area, so for a better photo we had to wait until Peter caught 9446R nearer the tube station entrance on 12th January 2026. This is from a batch of twenty electric Kangoo crew vans delivered in early 2025 and which are allocated to various users, including LBSL and the Elizabeth Line. |
28/02/2026 |
| 24 |  |
By Dave Hooker The Vauxhall Movano is broadly equivalent to the Ford Transit, although it has been markedly less popular as a London service vehicle. Interestingly, Network Rail went the other way for many years and built up a huge fleet of Movanos, although Transits have since made something of a resurgence. The only Movano reported in London use lately has been DY71KGF, which was hired to cover for LBSL Incident Response Unit 9062VW while it was away for maintenance. The van had no markings and was photographed at Morden Station on a chilly-looking 6th January 2026. |
28/02/2026 |
| 25 |  |
By Ray Monk The first service vehicle to be marked as purple in the LTSV database is Arriva London BMW 120 car LS25RNV, which was used as a crew ferry vehicle from Dartford Garage and was photographed at the bus stand on Arnsberg Way on 30th December 2025. |
28/02/2026 |
| 26 |  |
By Ray Monk The days of finding anonymous Arriva London crew ferry cars at the bus terminus in Bexleyheath may now have ended, since route B15 passed on tender to Go-Ahead London from 24th January 2026. Route 96 passed from Stagecoach to Arriva on the same day, but driver changes on that can be done in Dartford. The same applies to route 492, while the 229 and 301 have changeovers at Highland Road in Bexleyheath, although the cars may still park here sometimes. Anyway, back on 30th December 2025, Ray photographed two rather exotic cars at the bus stand, first up being Alfa Romeo Tonale GM23LMK in a very fetching green. |
28/02/2026 |
| 27 |  |
By Andrew Lidinson Andrew was in Scotland over the winter holiday, and although it was sunny in Aberdeen on 28th December, he later had some problems with snow! At the Stagecoach Bluebird garage in Aberdeen he found two service vehicles. If they are parked in their correct places, then Ford Transit Connect MW70XDX (fleetnumber 90687 on the rear) is the Service van, while Vauxhall Vivaro electric van DY25UHS is the Stores van. Note that the latter has the Stagecoach house colours across its nose. |
28/02/2026 |
| 28 |  |
By Ray Monk Go-Ahead London Mercedes Vito minibus RX71SYY has always worked south of the river, although it moved from Orpington to the new Sydenham Garage in 2025. Most of the bus routes that made the same move still have their crew change-overs at Bromley North Station, which is where the minibus was photographed on 12th December 2025. |
28/02/2026 |
| 29 |  |
By Ray Monk Go-Ahead London used several batches of Mercedes Vito minibuses from 2006, the most recent new ones arriving in late 2021. Delivered in anonymous red, many now carry blue adverts for bus driver recruitment, as seen on WO21PFV at Bromley North Station on 12th December 2025. Note however that this example does not have the blue covering the window in the nearside 'cargo' door, which others do. WO21PFV started out at Northumberland Park Garage, moving south of the river in 2025, and it is allocated 'paper' fleetnumber FV60. We had marked it as being withdrawn in August 2025 but that was obviously an error. |
28/02/2026 |
| 30 |  |
By Chris Jennings In a change of policy, Go-Ahead London has been adding second-hand service vehicles over the past few months, after many years of buying new. Most of the additions are relatively youthful, such as four-year old Mercedes Vito minibus SJ21CLV seen at Morden Wharf garage on 30th November 2025. Similar (but cleaner!) SH19UTJ was parked in front. It is reported that this garage is unable to be adapted for electric buses so it will perhaps be closed once the new premises at Thamesmead are completed. |
28/02/2026 |
| 31 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft Inside Morden Wharf Garage on 12th November 2025 was yet another second-hand addition to the Go-Ahead London fleet, although this one was only three years old. SF22YLW is a Mercedes Vito minibus. On the right are some of the fifteen WS-class Wright Streetlite buses based here and used mainly on route 286, while on the left are more of the recently delivered DEL class Wright StreetDeck Electroliner double-deckers that are in store pending the completion of electric charging infrastructure at various garages. |
18/11/2025 |
| 32 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft Also found at Morden Wharf Garage on 12th November 2025 was Mercedes Vito minibus SH19UTJ. This was one of the three seen at Sydenham Garage a couple of weeks earlier. |
18/11/2025 |
| 33 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft A theme in today's photos is finding vehicles that weren't the ones expected. It had been suggested that the three Go-Ahead London minibuses seen at Sydenham Garage at the end of October were being commissioned and were for use elsewhere. Dave wondered if Morden Wharf Garage may be their destination, so he paid a visit on 12th November and found... something else new. GH19FSP is a Ford Kuga 4x4 car in red with the latest Go-Ahead logos applied. Having hardly ever used second-hand service vehicles before, it seems that Go-Ahead London has been on a buying spree. |
18/11/2025 |
| 34 |  |
By Peter Terry A second new Works for London Hyundai Kona car found in Sutton on 11th November 2025 was BK75WLR, which has fleetnumber VEH1826. I have not added these vehicles to the database as they not exclusively used for public transport-related activities. However, I would welcome any further reports. |
18/11/2025 |
| 35 |  |
By Peter Terry Another side-on view by Peter, again on 11st November 2025 but this time in Sutton. The subject is Works for London Hyundai Kona car BV75PVJ and this view shows more clearly the fleetnumber applied (VEH1815 in this case). I believe these numbers may relate to one of the contractors that make up the Works for London consortium. Note that this car has no Buses or TfL markings or labels. |
18/11/2025 |
| 36 |  |
By Peter Terry Peter captured a neat side-on view of Transport UK Dacia Spring electric car 6006 (LV75PKA) at Beddington, The Plough on 11th November 2025. This location is where driver changeovers take place on lengthy route 407 (Caterham to Sutton via Purley and Croydon). |
18/11/2025 |
| 37 |  |
By Ray Monk On his way back from Beddington on 8th November 2025, Ray called in at Sydenham Garage, hoping to see either the three new minibuses or the two new vans. What he actually found was the Ford Transit Custom van that had earlier been based at the Fastrack depot in Dartford. EK68BXY is a high-roof, short-wheelbase van, and the registration series suggests it may have been new to another Go-Ahead operator. As the banner behind the van proclaims, Sydenham is the newest Go-Ahead London Garage. Making use of a former Clarkes Coaches base, it was opened on 6th September 2025 when six routes and 52 buses (all single-deck) were transferred in from Orpington. The base evidently has additional capacity and it is also being used to store new and withdrawn buses. Visible in the background are several OM-class Optare MetroCity single-deckers (which were withdrawn from route S1 in mid-2025) and some new DEL-class electric double-deckers. |
18/11/2025 |
| 38 |  |
By Ray Monk Ray was back at Beddington Cross garage on 8th November 2025 and photographed Transport UK 6003 (LV75PJU) another one of the six Dacia Spring electric cars recently added to the fleet. |
18/11/2025 |
| 39 |  |
By Ray Monk Fleetnumbers between 9168 and 9398 are believed to all be on Ford Transit Connect vans, although there are a handful that may have been skipped (or cancelled). This means that there are still about 20-30 such vehicles that have yet to be identified. A recent find was 9294F, which Bob spotted at a residential address in Beddington, not far from the tram depot at Therapia Lane. Ray took a peek on 8th November 2025 and the van was fortunately there again, although another correspondent has reported seeing it inside the tram depot. |
18/11/2025 |
| 40 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft The second van found at Sydenham Garage on 6th November 2025 was red Ford Transit Custom van YM20AGU, which was acquired in mid-October. |
18/11/2025 |
| 41 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft One of our spies reported seeing several Mercedes Vito minibuses at Go-Ahead London's new Sydenham Garage in late October 2025 which were evidently not new but which had had Go-Ahead London logos applied. This was surprising because Go-Ahead London has not had any second-hand vehicles for many years. Dave went to have a look on 6th November and, although the minibuses were not around, he found two second-hand vans, which had also had logos applied. Shown here is NA70YJU, a Mercedes Vito van in white. Licensing data suggests that it had only been acquired the day before. |
18/11/2025 |
| 42 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft Deja-vu all over again, as we have a brand new Ford Transit Custom van at Metroline's Hayes base (see also here). This time it was AV75LZO on 6th November 2025, and it had had Falcon lettering applied. Falcon Coachworks and Engineering is (along with Metroline) owned by the Comfort Delgro group, and they moved from a base in Iver to the former First London garage at Hayes some time ago. There they undertake a lot of work on Metroline buses, but they also deal with vehicles from other operators. As photos on LTSV show, Falcon vehicles turn up at most Metroline garages on a fairly regular basis. |
18/11/2025 |
| 43 |  |
By Thomas Young On the same 5th November 2025 walk on which I photographed 9039VW (see previous photo), I also found this Go-Ahead London Ford Transit van attending to a route 469 bus opposite Sainsburys in Abbey Wood. Although shown before, it is worth pointing out that this van is unusual for having an ESxx series fleetnumber applied (ES11 in this case). These numbers are allocated to most of the engineering van fleet, but this is the only to have had the number physically applied. Also perhaps of note is that the van is (or was) from Bexleyheath Garage but was attending to a bus from Morden Wharf garage. |
18/11/2025 |
| 44 |  |
By Thomas Young I found this LUL VW Caddy van parked in Abbey Wood while walking to my local shops recently, although I did not realise at the time that it was something of a rarity. New in October 2019, 9039VW was seen once before delivery, then a couple more times in late 2019 and early 2020 but that was it. When I came across it on 5th November 2025, it had not been reported for over five years. As is the way with these things, it was then seen again (at Baker Street at night) less than a week later. |
18/11/2025 |
| 45 |  |
By Ray Monk Old and new at Beddington Cross garage on 25th October 2025. The main subject is new Dacia Spring electric car 6002 (LV75PJO), one of six delivered a couple of weeks earlier. On the left is Ford Fiesta van NG56NHF, the last of many of this model acquired by Abellio and with the company since at least 2010. It has been parked up at Beddington for many months, seemingly out of use, and it is believed to still carry Abellio names, although they are just out of view in this photo. Abellio London was rebranded as Transport UK in March 2024. |
18/11/2025 |
| 46 |  |
By Ray Monk Vauxhall Astra car SG67VFV was acquired by Abellio in about 2021 and initially based at Fulwell and Southall before moving to Beddington Cross (where it was photographed on 25th October 2025) in 2024. This appears to be the only car to still carry the Abellio fleetname, and it has not had a fleetnumber applied, though one is no doubt allocated. |
18/11/2025 |
| 47 |  |
By Ray Monk Transport UK Vauxhall Astra car FP67OGN (fleetnumber 6885) was out of use when photographed at Beddington Cross garage on 25th October 2025, as shown by the VOR (Vehicle Off the Road) notice in the windscreen. Similar KU17UAM (6880) was parked alongside. |
18/11/2025 |
| 48 |  |
By Ray Monk Fleetnumber 6856 has been applied to Transport UK Volkswagen Golf car OU17XZD which (as far as we know) is the only Golf in the fleet. It was seen in the yard at Beddington Cross garage on 25th October 2025, but the main reason for using this photo is that it shows the rear aspect of the new Dacia Spring electric cars (6005 LV75PJY is on the right and another is behind the Golf). From this I realised that the logo shape on the front grille is actually the letters D and C from the maker's name. |
18/11/2025 |
| 49 |  |
By Ray Monk Ray was given permission to photograph all the crew ferry cars parked at Transport UK's Beddington Cross garage on 25th October 2025 and, perhaps surprisingly, there were over 20 present. The tight parking and the low sun made photography tricky but I am including a selection. First up is silver Vauxhall Mokka 6869 (FP17ORK). The Mokka was introduced in 2012, is named after a coffee bean and was built in Spain, Belarus, Russia, China and South Korea. Another Mokka (white 6886 FJ17YCB) is in the background. The fact that Transport UK has applied company logos and fleetnumbers to most of these vehicles makes it much easier to tell them apart from staff cars. |
18/11/2025 |
| 50 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft TfL Ford Transit Connect crew van 9202F was among the first batch of such vehicles delivered in late March 2024. Since then, it has only been reported twice, both times at Griffith House at night. Dave photographed it there on the 16th October 2025, and the only notable thing about is that it has a CCTV recording notice on the bonnet. |
18/11/2025 |
| 51 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft New over six years ago (in July 2019), but never previously photographed, 8767F is a Ford Transit Courier van from a batch of nine that were allocated to the Lifts and Escalators department. 8767F was initially elusive but has become a regular night-time visitor to Griffith House since early 2025. On 16th October 2025 it was parked on Harcourt Street, ahead of a number of TfL Ford Transit Connect crew vans, of which 9217F is visible here. |
18/11/2025 |
| 52 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft Another vehicle found near Griffith House on the night of 16th October 2025 was Renault Kangoo van 9424R. Curiously, a list seen a couple of months ago showed that numbers 9399 to 9438 were all on Renault Kangoo vans except for gaps 9411, 9418, 9424 and 9432. We believe that 9411R was delivered but returned with a fault, but we cannot explain the others. |
18/11/2025 |
| 53 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft The night-time congregations of service vehicles around Griffith House in Marylebone are not as numerous as they used to be, and the majority are now white TfL Ford Transit Connects. However, unseen examples do still turn up from time to time. On the night of 16th October 2025, Dave found short-wheelbase van 9307F, which had managed to avoid being seen for about a year since delivery. It was seen again about a month later, this time at Bollo House in Acton. |
18/11/2025 |
| 54 |  |
By Ray Monk Based on initial sightings, Ford Transit Connect crew van 9362F has been allocated to Hainault Depot. However, it can also be found parked in Basildon, as here on 15th October 2025. |
18/11/2025 |
| 55 |  |
By Ray Monk In an unexpected development, the contract to run the North Kent Fastrack bus routes (centred on Dartford) were won by Go-Ahead London in late 2024, replacing Arriva Kent Thameside who had provided the services since they started in 2006. A base was obtained on an industrial estate outside Dartford, and a motley fleet of diesel buses was assembled for use ahead of the delivery of new Irizar ie-tram electric buses. A year later and the new electrics are still not all in use. In terms of service vehicles, a Ford Transit Custom van (EK68BXY) was seen in photos on-line, and it was added to the database. However, when Ray visited the base on 15th October 2025, he found only two other vehicles, both of which came from the main Go-Ahead London fleet. Shown here is Ford Fiesta van EU16KWR, previously at Plough Lane, Croydon and Merton. The other van was Ford Transit Connect EK64CFY, which had started life at Bexleyheath. |
18/11/2025 |
| 56 |  |
By Ray Monk A new arrival at Metroline's Potters Bar Garage is Toyota Proace minibus LR75UWH. In plain white and presumably hired, it was seen in the garage's front yard on 14th October 2025. There are two other Toyota Proaces in the LTSV database but there shouldn't be! I added Stagecoach London hired van ND73FVP in late 2024, then marked it as withdrawn a few months later. Then in September 2025 the vehicle appeared on a Stagecoach London fleetlist, so I added it to the database, somehow missing the fact that I had already done so. I will fix this shortly. |
18/11/2025 |
| 57 |  |
By Ray Monk TfL Renault Kangoo electric crew van 9452R was photographed parked in Cheshunt on 14th October 2025. This van has never been reported in London, so we have no idea what section it works for. However, it could be significant that LBSL vans 6733VW and 7379VW had been seen in Cheshunt in years past. |
18/11/2025 |
| 58 |  |
By Ray Monk Inside the Metroline part of Edgware Garage on 14th October 2025 were three Ford Transit Connect vans. AY20HVD (shown here) and AV20BYD (in the distance) both had lettering for Falcon Coachworks and are not regularly based here. Indeed AV20BYD was seen a couple of hours later at Harrow Weald Garage. AV72ZNL (in the middle) is the resident engineer's van and has Metroline lettering. |
18/11/2025 |
| 59 |  |
By Ray Monk Photographed at Edgware Garage on 14th October 2025, MJ69ZBP is from the initial batch of 30 Dacia Sandero cars added to the RATP-Dev fleet around the end of 2019. Since then, six of the batch have been withdrawn, and the name of the operator has been changed to First Bus London. Although the RATP-Dev names and logos have been removed, they have not been replaced, but the original fleetnumbers are still carried. As regular visitors to LTSV will know, missing wheeltrims are not unusual on crew ferry cars. |
18/11/2025 |
| 60 |  |
By Ray Monk The Ford Transit Courier model was significantly changed in 2023. Still based on the Ford Fiesta chassis, the new version (which we have called the Mk2) has a flatter bonnet and a more boxy appearance. As far as we know, Metroline is the only company to use the type as a service vehicle (so far), and they already have nine, all of which have a red livery that is slightly darker than London bus red. AV24KZZ seen at Cricklewood Garage on 14th October 2025 has lettering for co-owned Falcon Coachworks and Engineering Services. |
18/11/2025 |
| 61 |  |
By Ray Monk Metroline added at least six new Renault Kangoo electric vans in mid-2025, four of which are based at the head office at Cricklewood Garage. Seen on charge there on 14th October 2025 was MM25UCG. |
18/11/2025 |
| 62 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft This unmarked red Ford Transit Custom Van AV75GCU was found at Metroline's Hayes base on 13th October 2025, and (judging by the registration series) will almost certainly be a Metroline service vehicle. The Custom van is not a standard type for Metroline, although there is one allocated to Uxbridge (AY21KKH), so this could well be its replacement. |
18/11/2025 |
| 63 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft Dave visited Transport UK's Beddington garage on 13th October 2025 and was surprised to find some brand new electric cars present. Transport UK had so far followed the policy of its predecessors Abellio London and Travel London in using only second-hand cars as crew ferries. The new cars were Dacia Spring electrics in silver, and they had fleetnumbers starting a new sequence from 6001. As I mentioned recently, a change of numbering series was on the cards anyway. Starting at 6700 in about 2009, the numerous second-hand cars added had taken the series up to at least 6896, but the block from 6900 had already been used for engineer's vans. |
18/11/2025 |
| 64 |  |
By Ray Monk The third service vehicle allocated to Stagecoach London's Lea Interchange Garage is Vauxhall Vivaro electric van DV73FSK, which is used by the engineering department and carries a red livery. The electric Vivaro is now the standard engineer's van with Stagecoach London, and most of the garages have one allocated. Curiously, DV73FSK does not seem to have a Stagecoach national fleetnumber allocated, while all the others do. Photographed (with permission) at its home garage on 6th October 2025. |
18/11/2025 |
| 65 |  |
By Ray Monk According to the latest Stagecoach London fleetlist, Lea Interchange garage has just three service vehicles (plus a couple of hires and staff cars, which we do not cover here). For some reason, the fleetlist shows the Stagecoach national fleetnumbers for most service vehicles, but not for these three. Two are Vauxhall Combo Life electric cars, of which DV73CUX was seen outside the garage on 6th October 2025. The Combo Life is a passenger-carrying version of the Combo van, and it could perhaps also be classed as a minibus. Similar DV73FSE works from Rainham and is allocated fleetnumber 91803. |
18/11/2025 |
| 66 |  |
By Ray Monk A fleetlist seen recently suggested that there were 20 Renault Kangoo electric crew vans in the current fleet, numbered as a block 9439R to 9458R. We have probably now identified these all, although the number on the one at Stonebridge Park (MW74CSV) has not been visually confirmed. One of the last to be found was 9450R, which was seen at Stratford City Bus Station in late September, then photographed at North Greenwich Station on 6th October 2025. |
18/11/2025 |
| 67 |  |
By Ray Monk Works for London has taken a new batch of cars recently, most of which seem to be Hyundai Konas, like BN75XXR seen at Eltham Bus Station on 2nd October 2025. Just visible is that this car has a fleetnumber (VEH1813) in a circle on the side doors, and it also has removable signs with the Buses roundel and referring to maintenance of stops and shelters. |
18/11/2025 |
| 68 |  |
By Chris Holland LUL Renault Kangoo Maxi van 8858R is from the batch allocated from new in 2019 to the Power Supply department, based nominally at Tufnell Park, though it was photographed at Darenth Valley Hospital near Dartford on 1st October 2025. Note that this van has even more notices on the rear than usual, with two additional yellow ones referring to 'black box' monitoring and speed limits. |
18/11/2025 |
| 69 |  |
By Ray Monk First seen at Acton Works in late August 2025, this vehicle is a bit of a mystery. LT73EAK is an Isuzu Forward F110.240 mini dustcart with TfL lettering on a white livery. The body, built by UK firm Terberg Matec (a subsidiary of Dutch Royal Terberg Group), is not of the usual compactor type, though it has a pivoted framework that is most likely used to lift and tip wheeled bins. The lettering appears to be applied to the bodywork (rather than on labels), suggesting that it is a long-term fleet member, although other evidence suggests it is only on hire. LT73EAK was first licensed in December 2023 and has not had a V5C issued since. So, either it has been with TfL since then, or it is owned by a hire company. Seen at Acton Works on 20th September 2025. |
25/09/2025 |
| 70 |  |
By Ray Monk Seen in the top car park at Acton Works on 20th September 2025 was an anonymous white Renault Kangoo van, MT25GVF. It remains to be seen whether this is a long-term addition to the fleet or just a hire. |
25/09/2025 |
| 71 |  |
By Ray Monk Most of the original fleet of vehicles leased in 2018 to support the Elizabeth Line have been replaced in recent months. 9455R is one of (at least) eight Renault Kangoo electric crew vans allocated to the operation, and was seen in the car park at Plumstead Depot on 18th September 2025. Visible in the background is VW Caddy Maxi crew van 8637VW, believed to be the last white/blue/purple vehicle to remain in service. It is due to be replaced by a further delivery of electric vehicles in the next few weeks. |
25/09/2025 |
| 72 |  |
By Ray Monk This view of new TfL Ford Transit Custom crew van 9461F at Plumstead Elizabeth Line Depot on 18th September 2025 shows the hatch that covers the electric charging socket. |
25/09/2025 |
| 73 |  |
By Ray Monk Another four new electric vehicles were delivered to the Elizabeth Line depot in Plumstead in autumn 2025, following on from the batch of 15 Ford Transit crew vans. 9461F-9464F are Ford Transit Custom crew vans, the first of the updated design to feature in the central fleet. They have standard TfL white livery and feature a mock front grille similar to the styling applied to several other electric car and van designs. This photo taken inside the depot (with special permission) on 18th September 2025 shows 9464F and 9462F, with 9461F on the left. |
25/09/2025 |
| 74 |  |
By Ray Monk Stagecoach London added another Vauxhall Vivaro electric van to its fleet in summer 2025, to replace Ford Transit Custom van MJ20UVH at Plumstead. DW25RXF differs from other Vivaros in the fleet due to it being a 2024-facelift model, lacking the grille between the headlamps. It is also white and had not yet received any lettering when seen at Plumstead Garage on 18th September 2025. Note that the van appears to have a glazed panel inboard of the offside headlamp, but not one on the opposite side. Stagecoach national fleetnumber 91479 is assigned. |
25/09/2025 |
| 75 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft The first 75-reg service vehicle to be reported was AY75FZH, a Ford Transit Courier Mk2 van found at Metroline's Hayes Garage on 18th September 2025. The type, colour, light-bar and registration suggest that this will be a Metroline vehicle, although no lettering was (yet) carried. Given that Metroline has also recently taken a batch of white Renault Kangoo vans, I was surprised to see Fords still being added. However, the Renaults were electric and it may be that some garages are not yet ready to operate such vehicles. Note that Hayes Garage is not used for any 'live' TfL bus services. It is instead mainly used to house the co-owned Westbus bus and coach fleet, plus a large number of withdrawn Metroline buses. It could be that this van has replaced venerable VW Caddy RCZ7361, which would suggest it will not be seen very often. |
25/09/2025 |
| 76 |  |
By Peter Terry The second TfL Renault Kangoo found at West Croydon Bus Station on 18th September 2025 was 9401R. Similar 9404R plus the hired van (per the previous photo) are presumably hidden behind 9401R, although the reason for their presence here is not known. |
25/09/2025 |
| 77 |  |
By Peter Terry West Croydon Bus Station does not seem to have a permanent allocation of service vehicles, or at least not any that are there when I visit! However, on 18th September 2025, Peter found two TfL Renault Kangoo vans present. Shown here is 9404R, which is one of several that seem to have taken over whatever role it was that the Toyota Yaris cars previously performed. The van parked behind was also in TfL use (with a notice in the windscreen), but the fact that Peter did not photograph it as well suggests it was in anonymous white and most likely a hire. |
25/09/2025 |
| 78 |  |
By Keith Wood You wait ages for a bus garage open day and then three come along all together. After Swanley on 23rd August and Crawley on 6th September, it was the turn of Stagecoach London's Catford garage to hold an event on 13th September 2025. The open day was to mark the 111th anniversary of the first opening of the garage, and there was also a running day along most of route 54 (which passes the garage) with a very varied collection of preserved vehicles in operation. Unfortunately there was nothing of interest (service vehicle wise) at the garage itself, so here we see LBSL VW Crafter Incident Response Unit van 9057VW passing nearby. This van is based at Eltham Bus Station but has not been shown on LTSV since it was freshly-delivered to Acton Works in February 2020. |
25/09/2025 |
| 79 |  |
By Peter Terry Another Metrobus car seen during the Crawley open day on 6th September 2025 was VW Tiguan 8146 (EK14ZNA), although this photo was actually taken in Crawley two days later (8th September) which was sunnier. Of note is that the Metrobus fleetnames are of the latest style, without the previous ellipse around the 'Metro' section, but with diagonal lines on the M. |
25/09/2025 |
| 80 |  |
By Peter Terry Another service vehicle seen during the open day at Metrobus Crawley on 6th September 2025 was Ford Transit van HT70KCC, fleetnumber 8137. Dating from 2021, the silver livery suggests that it was not acquired from new, while DVLA data shows that the last V5C was issued in July 2024. Dual Metrobus / Brighton & Hove fleetnames are carried. |
25/09/2025 |
| 81 |  |
By Peter Terry Seen at Crawley Garage during the Metrobus open day on 6th September 2025, EX13KPU is a Ford Kuga that has been given fleetnumber 8145. Of note is that this has Metrobus fleetnames only, with no mention of Brighton & Hove. |
25/09/2025 |
| 82 |  |
By Peter Terry Metrobus held an open-day at their Crawley Garage on 6th September 2025, which explains the visitors queuing behind this van. EA68DXR is a Ford Transit Connect van with fleetnumber 8127 and joint Metrobus and Brighton & Hove fleetnames. The increasing integration of these two fleets, particularly in terms of service vehicles, means it is no longer practical to separate the Metrobus vehicles. As such, they are no longer included in the LTSV database, although I am happy to continue to include photos as and when. |
25/09/2025 |
| 83 |  |
By Ray Monk These vans are proving troublesome! Go-Ahead London used a number of anonymous white Nissan NV250 vans from 2023 onwards. The vans all had HG21*** registrations, but in early 2025 it appeared that they had all gone (back to the hire company?). However, a few have since resurfaced, along with some additional ones. Ray found HG21XRW at the side of Camberwell Garage on 6th September 2025. Note the barrel alongside. It was a long time before I twigged that Q8 Oils come from Kuwait! |
25/09/2025 |
| 84 |  |
By Peter Terry Every time I get sent a photo of a Dynes Recovery tow truck, it seems to be a new one that has not been seen before! Peter caught Scania DR74RJP (named Freddie Jnr) pulling Arriva London T155 through Croydon on 31st August 2025, the bus having failed with starter motor trouble while on a duty on night bus N250. T155 was back in service the following day, although all of the elderly Enviro 400s at Thornton Heath Garage should have been replaced by new electric buses by now. As usual, problems with installation of charging infrastructure are the cause, and most of the new buses have been put into temporary service elsewhere. |
25/09/2025 |
| 85 |  |
By Peter Terry GJ23UUK is a Peugeot Boxer van used by DLR Keolis Amey as an Emergency Response Vehicle. It was seen at Canning Town Bus Station on 30th August 2025. Note that, unlike most vans with this operator, this one does not appear to have a fleetnumber applied. |
25/09/2025 |
| 86 |  |
By Peter Terry Allocated fleetnumber 203, Ford Transit Connect van BX11FKF has been with Go-Coach since at least 2020. It is a high-roof version and has lettering for Infrastructure Support Services. Most of the Go-Coach operation is beyond the Greater London boundary, and this 14-year old van is unlikely to be ULEZ compliant. It still looks in good condition though. Seen entering Swanley Garage during the open day held on 23rd August 2025. |
25/09/2025 |
| 87 |  |
By Peter Terry Go-Coach has an associated bus recovery and repair operation that trades as 'The Bus Doctor', and several of their vehicles were in evidence during the open day at Swanley Garage on 23rd August 2025. Shown here is a Ford Transit Custom crew van carrying the registration WLT868 which originated on a London Transport Routemaster bus. The van is of course much younger, dating from 2018. |
25/09/2025 |
| 88 |  |
By Ray Monk Go-Coach, which has recently rebranded itself as Go Bus, had a trio of Ford Transit Connect vans in its fleet, allocated numbers 201-203, although the numbers do not appear to be applied externally. Two of the vans were seen during the open day held at Swanley Garage on 23rd August 2025, and here we see low-roof BX12USL (201). |
25/09/2025 |
| 89 |  |
By Ray Monk Bus operator Go-Coach held an open-day at its Swanley Garage on 23rd August 2025, to mark 100 years since the garage was first opened. The garage was used by London Transport and LCBS for many years and has seen various other users since, with Go-Coach moving in a few years ago. Seen leaving the garage on that day was Iveco EuroStar recovery truck S855WYC. Although relatively elderly (first licensed in 1999), the truck had only recently been acquired and looked smart in Go-Coach's yellow and purple livery but with lettering for co-owned operation 'The Bus Doctor'. During the open-day, a display of preserved buses, cars and other vehicles was put on a few miles down the road at West Kingsdown, and S855WYC was parked there for most of the day, alongside some (even) older recovery vehicles. |
25/09/2025 |
| 90 |  |
By Peter Terry Fleetnumbers 9439R to 9458R are on a batch of 20 Renault Kangoo Electric crew vans spread across a number of locations, although a couple have not yet been seen. The largest concentration is at the Elizabeth Line depot at Plumstead, which has eight, while it looks as though Turnpike Lane Bus Station has three. 9441R was seen at Walthamstow Bus Station on 20th August 2025. In recent years this location has not had a specific allocation, using vehicles from Turnpike Lane as and when needed. |
25/09/2025 |
| 91 |  |
By Peter Terry Peter found two TfL Renault Kangoo vans at Walthamstow Bus Station on 20th August 2025. It would appear that diesel van 9405R (in the foreground) is one of several that have replaced the elusive Toyota Yaris cars, and it is probably not allocated to any particular location but liable to turn up anywhere as required. Electric crew van 9441R behind (which is also in the next photo) is more likely to be a local 'bus station' vehicle and it has also been seen at Turnpike Lane. |
25/09/2025 |
| 92 |  |
By Ray Monk Some of the batch of Renault Kangoo electric crew vans delivered in early 2025 have been allocated to Turnpike Lane Bus Station, replacing Nissan Leaf cars. Present on 15th August 2025 were 9446R (on the left) and 9443R. |
25/09/2025 |
| 93 |  |
By Ray Monk A couple more 73-reg Vauxhall Combo E vans with Arriva London have been tracked down recently. Ray found FL73VMT parked at the offices behind Wood Green Garage on 15th August 2025. Note the West Ham United football club logo on the bonnet. |
25/09/2025 |
| 94 |  |
By Dave Wolstencroft Dave visited the Elizabeth Line depot in Plumstead on 14th August 2025 and was surprised to find no fewer than 15 brand new Ford Transit vans present. All were in TfL white livery and were of the electric 'E-Transit' variant, the first examples for the central fleet. After much peering through the fences, Dave managed to read the fleetnumbers on most of the vans, these being in the range 9470F to 9486F. Shown here is 9482F. The arrival of so many vans was unexpected, since the Elizbeth Line previously had a fleet of just seven Transit crew vans. |
25/09/2025 |
| 95 |  |
By Ray Monk The last photo from the visit to Stratford Market Depot on 13th August 2025 shows TfL Renault Kangoo van 9409R. This was parked in the area nearest to the Jubilee line and DLR tracks, and hence could perhaps be seen from passing trains. |
25/09/2025 |
| 96 |  |
By Ray Monk Ray found a small quantity of Renault Kangoo vans in unmarked white at Stratford Market Depot on 13th August 2025. Given that we know this location has previously operated numbered service vehicles in an anonymous condition, it seemed sensible to add these to the database, particularly as MC73YKX (shown here) has been seen on the night run-outs on several occasions over the past year. |
25/09/2025 |
| 97 |  |
By Ray Monk OK, we've probably seen enough of TfL Transit Connects for today. Just one more, this time crew van 9185F. Stratford Market Depot on 13th August 2025. |
25/09/2025 |
| 98 |  |
By Ray Monk Seen at Stratford Market Depot on 13th August 2025, 9263F is a long-wheelbase Ford Transit Connect van, a type that is very much out-numbered by the crew van variants. On the right is an older Renault Kangoo Maxi in LUL livery. |
25/09/2025 |
| 99 |  |
By Ray Monk Despite the arrival of lots of new small vans in 2024 and 2025, a number of older examples remain in use. Seen at Stratford Market Depot on 13th August 2025 was LUL-branded Renault Kangoo Maxi van 8529R, which is very nearly 8 years old. |
25/09/2025 |
| 100 |  |
By Ray Monk Two more Ford Transit Connect crew vans at Stratford Market Depot on 13th August 2025, in the shape of London-registered 9179F and 9176F. The grey diamond-shaped logos on the sides and rears will inform fire brigade staff (if ever needed) that these vehicles are diesel powered. |
25/09/2025 |
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