A day in Ladbroke Grove (08/08/24)

It had almost been exactly a week since my trip to Earlsfield in South West London, and once again a trip was undertaken on Thursday 8th of August 2024, this time to Ladbroke Grove in North West London. 

My journey started off as usual by taking an Elizabeth Line to London Paddington, taking 30 minutes from Goodmayes. Exiting Paddington Station, I walked to the bus stop for bus route 23. The London Bus Route 23 is a route that has been altered quite a bit over the past few years, the Westbourne Park bit always stayed the same with the Central London destination always being changed around. It originally terminated at Liverpool Street, going via Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Aldwych, Fleet Street, City Thameslink, St Pauls, Mansion House and Bank. In 2017, the route was cut to Aldwych no longer going to Liverpool Street. A year later, in 2018 the route was rerouted to Hammersmith, so it did not go towards Aldwych instead via the old London Bus Route 10 routing - the latter route was withdrawn. From Marble Arch, it completely misses Oxford Street, going via Hyde Park Corner, High Street Kensington and Kensington Olympia. This was a very indirect routing from Westbourne Park to Hammersmith, the train is quicker which takes no more than 10 minutes to reach.  In April 2023, the route was reverted back to Aldwych having previously terminated at Hammersmith but it goes via Hyde Park Corner instead of Oxford Circus, clearly it means that the routing was not a total success. 

The Optare Metrodecker Interior (upstairs) onboard route 23, for the previous operator Tower Transit.

London Transit RATP Group OME46013 (YJ70EVT) seen at Ladbroke Grove Station on route 23 towards Westbourne Park. I had just alighted from this bus. 
Previously OE34013 under Tower Transit.
Bus type seen in this photo: Optare Metrodecker EV (Electric bus)

My vehicle for the journey from Paddington Station to Ladbroke Grove Station, was the Optare Metrodecker EV. Now, these electric buses have been involved in some incidents; one being the Potters Bar Garage (PB) fire at Metroline, that destroyed six buses at the garage (two being Optare Metrodeckers) with the culprit vehicle being the Metrodecker EV. This occurred in May 2022. The other incident involved a Go Ahead London Metrodecker EV catching fire while operating in service on allocated route 200 (Raynes Park to Mitcham, Fair Green). This happened in January 2024, so much more recent than the previous one. So despite those happening, personally I think the Metrodecker EVs has a decent interior although, I am not sure what's with the lower decker rear window - looks like a kidney! Their acceleration is not too bad for an electric, but then again 20mph roads and the vehicles themselves are speed limited so, don't expect anything amazing! Their reputation may have been tainted, however my ride was not too bad. The Metrodecker EVs were purchased by Tower Transit during late 2020, RATP Group took over their West London operations (London Sovereign and London United) in December 2021 merging with Tower Transit, and name was called RATP Dev Transit London. Westbourne Park (X) garage is under London Transit, but the others would still retain their London Sovereign/London United operations. This batch appear to be fine though. 

Metroline London OME2677 (YJ69DFX) is seen in Muswell Hill on route 134 towards North Finchley.
Bus type seen in the photo: Optare Metrodecker EV (Electric bus)
Photo taken during: November 2021
Photo taken by: Fabio Tanniguchi

The Metroline Metrodecker EVs entered service in 2019 (the first ones for London) for route 134 (Warren Street to North Finchley), 31 were originally ordered for the route, but 3 were written off in the Potters Bar fire, so that leaves 28. They have been quite unreliable in terms of reliability and range meaning they are out of passenger service for many months. As a result, hybrid buses such as Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 3s and MCV Evosetis (both of these with the Volvo B5LH chassis) tend to work the route on a daily basis. The Metroline Metrodeckers as seen in an article (see here) are currently at the moment off the road, being repowered (as of typing) so that they can last longer while in passenger service in terms of range. This is being done by Wrightbus (bus manufacturer) calling the project NewPower, so batteries, air conditioning and other electrical stuff with electric vehicles is being replaced from what I understand. Anyway, we will wait and see what happens with that. 

London Transit RATP Group WH45406 (SK19FCL) is seen at Ladbroke Grove, Sainsburys on route 452 heading towards the bus stand. The downstairs interior for this vehicle is seen above, I took this bus for a short journey. 
Previously WH31127 under Tower Transit.
Bus type seen in the photo: Wrightbus Streetdeck HEV96 Microhybrid (Hybrid bus)

At Ladbroke Grove, I got something to eat and then took route 452 towards Ladbroke Grove Sainsburys, onboard a Wright Streetdeck. This route used to be operated by Abellio London, but passed over to Tower Transit in December 2018, later RATP Group (or known now as RATP Dev Transit) London in December 2021, although the 23 and 452 bus routes operate under the same garage (Westbourne Park). It also explains why alot of the former Tower Transit vehicles still retain the interiors, maybe they will refurbish the vehicles for their current operators - maybe not, I don't know. As it happened, I managed to ride on a Streetdeck and well, they are not the fastest vehicles around, but then again these buses are quite underpowered. Eventhough I only rode a couple stops, it explains why bus operators were not so keen on ordering the Streetdeck. The engine on this version of the Streetdeck, sounded like a washing machine on it's last spin cycle, weirdly. No idea why but it's funny to me. The 452 bus route is also allocated Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 2s, (with the Volvo B9TL chassis) which was the previous allocation when Tower Transit originally won the route. MCV Evosetis on the Volvo B5LH hybrid chassis also makes up the numbers, but I did not see one when I was out. 

London Transit RATP Group VDW41002 (BJ11DTO) is seen at Ladbroke Grove station on route 452 towards Vauxhall. 
Previously VN36108 under Tower Transit.
Bus type seen in the photo: Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 2 Volvo B9TL (Diesel bus)

View of the Grand Union Canal near Ladbroke Grove Sainsburys.

After spending a bit of time in Ladbroke Grove, I walked over to Queens Park and boarded London Bus Route 36, which starts here and ends at New Cross Gate. I would go as far as Paddington. Needless to say on the way there, we weaved in and out a bit of the roads, eventually we took a left turn staying on Harrow Road for a little while, reaching Royal Oak and another trip through the houses lead us to Paddington where I alighted. It took around 20 minutes but I can imagine it takes longer during rush hour. 

Onboard route 36 in Maida Vale.

Another Go Ahead London Bus Route 36, seen in the Paddington area on a journey towards Queens Park.

Go Ahead London EH209 (YY67UTJ) seen at Paddington Station on route 36 towards New Cross Gate, I had just alighted from this bus.
Bus type seen in this photo: Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC Hybrid (Hybrid bus)

I got the Elizabeth Line home after that. Overall, it was a nice little outing around North West London and I am glad I got to explore different areas of London during the month of August.

Update:

Since I last wrote this post over a year ago, Route 452 has had some changes. On the 28th of February 2025, First Bus London made their return (yes First London previously operated from 1997 to 2013.) to London, taking over RATP London's West and South West London garages. Meaning that this route (as well as Route 23) is under First Bus now. Additionally the route no longer goes from Ladbroke Grove Sainsburys to Vauxhall, this was cut back to Notting Hill Gate on the 29th of November 2025, owing to lack of bus stand space at Kensal Rise. Which is where the route previously went to but, the Ladbroke Grove Sainsburys curtailment was made permanent a couple of years ago. Amazing how much can change within a short space of time!

Thank you for reading and happy riding!