Wave 99 2nd year anniversary of entry into service

It's been 2 years since the upgraded fleet of Wave 99 Scania MMCs entered service between EB and HS. 2 years of posh buses on the Wave 99 and I still remember the very first day they entered service back in January 2018 as I remember sampling 2 of them on the first proper day.

This post features photos of some of the Scania MMCs I photographed over the past few weeks in the run up to the 2nd year anniversary. 

EBs duo 15330 and 15329 are the first photos that will be featured HS ones will follow.

15330 is seen loading as it takes up another Wave to Hastings

15329 is seen in the town centre working an outbound journey

HS have the highest allocation of Scania MMCs out of the 2 garages as they do 10 workings compared to EB with its 2.

15332 works a shortened version of the route to Hastings rail station

15333 is also seen on the same working as the working 15332 was on it was only going to Hastings rail station 

Here is 15334 doing the full route here it loads

15338 is seen in wet conditions as it picks up for its outward journey

Hopefully these buses will last for many more years on the route.

The Departure of one really good bus

It always upsets me when I have to do a tribute to a bus I really like but have to in this case. I was informed via Facebook Messenger earlier that E300 27573 has gone a little bit further East along the Coast to Hastings to be reunited with 27571/2. Its replacement is a pile of junk which is not good at all. 

It's now a very slim chance that I will see this E300 down this way as they normally do the 304/254 from Hastings to Tunbridge Wells here is my little tribute to such a good bus. But anything can happen and there will be rare workings.

27573 is seen in Cornfield Road sometime late last year 

 27573 sometimes worked the 51 here it having just terminated in Eastbourne Town Centre

27573 is seen having just finished working route 51

 Like all E300s that have operated in the area, 27573 spent most of its time on the 1/1A services the route it was new to 11 years ago.

27573 works route 1 in Eastbourne Town Centre

My final photo of 27573 was taken on New Years Eve a week before I knew of its transfer

It's not all doom and gloom as they're still running GX58s in Eastbourne just not as many as they used to 27573 will be missed loads.

2019 highlights

What a year it has been for the buses loans and new arrivals transferred in as well as trips out too. 2019 was the year the Tridents were brought back, route number changes, rare workings, loans, the Santa Bus and so much more all took place last year here are a selection of photos from the year.

Tridents were brought back in the last few months of 2019 as demonstrated by 18161 GX54 DVB a few days after Christmas.

18161 was 1 of 3 Tridents that reinstated Trident operation works the 1A

I also went on a trip to Brighton in July 2019 and was lucky enough to snap Pulse branded E300 27677 GX60 PDU on the 17 normally worked by unbranded E300s.

Bringing a Pulse to Brighton E300 27677 works the 17

 August 2019 saw me go to Hastings to sample their open top service Trident 18477 LX55 ESF took me on the whole of route 66.

Open Top Trident ALX400 18477 was my ride on route 66 in Hastings in August 2019

 February 2019 saw the 9 day Brighton line blockade. All of the E300s at the time were sent to do the rail replacement resulting in loans being brought in to cover normal services which mainly were Scanias.

Scania 15438 KX08 KZH was brought in to cover normal services whilst E300s were on rail replacement in February 2019

Scania 15475 GN09 AZP was also a loan here it is working the 1A

 E300s 27571/2 left back in 2018 and can rarely be found in the area 27572 was working the Wave 99 in summer 2019.

E300 27572 GX58 GKC works the Wave 99 in Summer 2019

 I tried to keep my distance away from rail replacement because of bullying but at the end of May 2019, I went to see some and saw Scania 6958 belonging to MetroBus.

Scania 6958 is seen in Eastbourne station in May 2019

 There was a massive timetable change in September 2019 which saw the 56 changed to the 6 here is E300 27578 GX58 GKK on the route. This was one of the loan buses that were brought in back in February 2019 only to find itself working in EB for the long term in July 2019.

E300 27578 works route 6

 Brighton and Hove sometimes have their Beach Bus 489 BJ63 UJT and South Downs Bus 490 (BJ63 UJU) on the Coaster.

Volvo 489 BJ63 UJT works the 12X

490 BJ63 UJU departs from one of the new bus shelters

 Finally, December 2019 saw the Santa Bus return this time it was E300 27579 GX58 GKL and I managed 2 rides on it too. 

December 2019 saw the return of the Santa Bus E300 27579 was decorated and is seen working the Loop