Articulated buses (or ‘bendy-buses’) were introduced to a number of routes in London in connection with the Mayor of London’s new Congestion Charge, which commenced in February 2003. The first routes to be fully operated by bendy-buses were the Red Arrow services 507 and 521, followed by brand new routes 436 and 453. However, route 18 was the first conventional seven-day-a-week bus service to be converted (in November 2003) and was the first bendy-bus route not to enter the Congestion Charge Zones. Although First was the operator of six bendi-buses on route 207 as part of a six-month experiment into the use of these vehicles in London, route 18 was the company’s first actual bus service to be fully operated by this type. Route 18 was also the first bendy-bus route in London to require a new depot (Willesden Junction), which opened specifically to operate and maintain these vehicles. ECA3021 is one of 32 Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530G 49-seaters, purchased for route 18. However, Willesden Junction depot became responsible for the maintenance of another 27 similar buses following by the conversion of route 207 to bendy-bus in 2005, and it is not uncommon for buses to swap between routes from time to time.

First Wyvern formally First Midland Red Buses Ltd have today announced that the Company will be merging with two other FirstGroup subsidiaries, First Leicester and First Northampton, to form one larger business under the umbrella of First In The Midlands, effective from the beginning of April 2002.

The Alexander ALX400 (later known as the TransBus ALX400/Alexander Dennis ALX400) is a bus body built by Alexander Dennis; it is part of a new generation of mainly low-floor bus chassis first produced in the late 1990s by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders. It was one of the ALX-series, all except ALX100 feature the same designs on the front and rear panels.Released in 1997, the ALX400 is the 2-axle double-deck variant of series. It replaced the aging R-series bodies and was fitted to numerous chassis, including the Dennis/TransBus Trident, the DAF/VDL DB250LF and the Volvo B7TL. It proved a big success with national operators; huge numbers serve London and the rest of the United Kingdom.

Further to the previous successful release of the Mini Pointer Dart replicas with other operators’ colours, CMNL is releasing a further MPD model. This is UK3023 carrying the eye-catching Tamar Link colours.This Plaxton Pointer-bodied Super Low Floor Dennis Dart was registered on December 1998 and was fully operational on First’s Torpoint service 80 March 2005. The vehicle re-branding was the result of a successful Urban Bus Challenge bid submitted by Plymouth City Council, supported by Cornwall County Council and was jointly funded by the Department for Transport and FirstGroup plc.The bus provides an enhanced service for commuters traveling from South East Cornwall to Plymouth across the Torpoint Ferry. The striking design was the result of extensive market research carried out by First Group and has been well received by regular customers on the service.

The UK3024 Travel London MPD replica carries the fleet number DP32  and registration number BU05 HFM.

Alexander Royale Trident Travel West Midlands represents fleet number 3125 (N125 YRW). 3125 was delivered new to London United as its A125 in the spring of 1996 for London Airbus services. National Express purchased the Airbus operation from London United in 1999 along with the 19 Olympians which operated it. These vehicles were unusual in having Air Conditioning, only 9 seats in the lower saloon, luggage racks and a wheelchair space & lift. Following the reduction of Airbus services 3 Olympians were transferred within the NX group to TWM, early in 2003, for the Private Charter Unit at Hockley where they had their seating capacity increased and were fitted with seatbelts. 

Detailed diecast model of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated bus in the red livery of London General. Lettering includes route details, warning notices and passenger information signs.

Fleet number MAL 31, registration BX 02 YZT, operating on Red Arrow service 507, linking the major railway termini in central London.

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