Last Week with Abellio / Transport UK - London Bus Route 196 Observations

It’s the final week of Abellio / Transport UK operating Route 196. This Saturday, the route will pass to Arriva London South operating from Norwood (N) temporarily using existing Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 Volvo B5LHs. Brand new ADL Enviro 400 EVs will be introduced later on in the year. Various clips taken all throughout late 2024 to earlier this year. I’ll definitely miss the current allocation and buses Abellio have put on the 196 over the years, especially the 61/12 regs and the whooshing 14/64 reg E40Hs which I remember very well on the 3/N3 during their early stint before it converted to LTs (Some of which 14/64 plate E40Hs still contain older blinds for the route). A route that will always remain iconic and recognisable for its Enviro 400s having been one of the first routes in London to be officially allocated with them; (London Generals E1-15) and still currently serves them now (until Saturday) at Abellio / Transport UK, in the form of E40Hs. Classic Enviros have served the route well for 19 years, they’ll definitely be a missed sight on this route. The new chapter for this route starts on the 3rd of May with Arriva London South taking over the new contract. More buses will likely be drafted into Norwood to release LED HVs to cover for the 196 temporary allocation. List of buses featured in this clip: 00:00 2440 - SN12AUH at Kennington Lane 00:08 2609 - SN18KKY departing Stockwell Gardens 00:17 2478 - SN64OFC leaving Stanley Hall 00:26 2615 - SN18KLF speeding through Hermitage Road 00:33 2416 - SN61DGZ arriving into Vauxhall Bus Station 00:44 2528 - YX15OWW entering Binfield Road / Stockwell Station 00:55 2456 - SL14DDO starting its trip towards Norwood Junction 01:05 2614 - SN18KLE at Beulah Hill 01:14 2463 - SL14OFA at Durham Street 01:27 2452 - SL14DDF climbing through Knights Hill 01:40 2617 - SN18KLK departing Beulah Spa 01:49 2456 - SL14DDO at Newington Causeway 02:01 2611 - SN18KLA at Brockwell Park 02:08 2454 - SL14DDK at West Norwood Fire Station 02:16 2440 - SN12AUH at Upper Beulah Hill 02:26 2484 - SN64OFK at Harleyford Road 02:38 2539 - YY16YKF at Stockwell Bus Garage 02:51 2467 - SN64OER flies up Knights Hill 03:03 2542 - YY16YKK heading towards Brixton Academy 03:14 2457 - SL14DDU leaving Rothschild Street 03:25 2550 - YY16YKS at Lansdowne Way 03:38 2485 - SN64OFL making an entry into Vauxhall Bus Station 03:52 2528 - YX15OWW heading towards Kennington Lane 04:00 2459 - SL14DDX speeding down Milton Road 04:13 2616 - SN18KLJ arriving at Norwood Bus Garage 04:25 2444 - SK14CTZ departing Loughborough Street 04:34 2604 - SN18KKS at Kennington Lane 04:44 2440 - SN12AUH at Effra Road 04:56 2481 - SN64OFG at Effra Road 05:06 2539 - YY16YKF arriving at Lakeview Road 05:18 2447 - SK14CUG leaving Kennington Road 05:28 2459 - SL14DDX heading towards Herne Hill Station 05:39 2539 - YY16YKF at Elephant & Castle 05:46 2429 - SN61CYL passing through Stockwell Bus Garage 05:57 2538 - YY16YKE arriving at Dalberg Road / Effra Parade