On my way down to Kent on Tuesday I stopped in London with the intention to ride and photograpgh Borismasters on every route they operate on. I came very close to achieving it. Right now Borismasters operate on routes 9, 11, 24, 148 and 390. There are a few floating around on the 38 but that route is still predominantly operated by other vehicles.
So I ended up catching the 11 from Liverpool St - Victoria, the 24 from Victoria - Pimlico and back, the 148 from Victoria - Elephant and Castle from where I went to Waterloo on the 172 (a very rattly E400) to do the electric bus back to Victoria. I then caught the 38 (not a Borismaster) to Green Park where I caught the 9 to Trafalgar Square.
That just left the 390, which doesn't go through Central London, running from Notting Hill Gate - Archway. So on Thursday, while taking an extended "cross London" journey between main line stations on the Circle Line the staff at Notting Hill Gate Station kindly let me out for a few mins so I could get some shots of the 390. I didn't ride one but plan to next time now I know the 148 also passes through Notting Hill Gate.
I really like the Borismasters, but in no way can I see them lasting 50 years like their predecessors. They have been well designed, seem more solid than other new buses, and I love the illuminated side adverts that become obvious after dark. But like everything else let's see what condition they are like in 3 or 4 years time, and only then will we be able to really judge.
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| LT59 LTZ 1059 at the temporary Liverpool St terminus while the bus station is closed |
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| LT's 21 and 23 at the Pimlico terminus of the 24 on the Victoria Embankment |
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| LT138 on the 148 at Elephant & Castle |
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| LT90 approaching Trafalgar Square on the 9 |
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| LT107 at Notting Hill Gate terminus of the 390. Don't know what the one behind is. |
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| Absolutely no idea of the vehicle but it does show the illuminated side ad rather well |
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