Extending new London Country image
Page 17
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• An important step in the introduction of a new image for London Country Bus Services Ltd since the undertaking passed • from London Transport control to that of the National Bus Company is reflected in 32 new buses currently being delivered to the undertaking.
The vehicles comprise 11 two-door double-deckers and 21 Green Line singie-deckers, originally ordered by Western Welsh and South Wales Transport, respectively. Built to the specification of LCBS, the vehicles introduce a new lighter green livery to be known as "light National green", in place of the dark Lincoln Green inherited from London Transport. The new colour is one of the options for Leyland National integral single-deckers.
Daimler Fleetline CRL6-30 9.5-metre chassis with Leyland 680 engines rated at 153 bhp and semi-automatic transmission form the basis of the double-deckers,.which have Northern Counties 72-seat bodies.
Basically to the coachbuilder's standard design, an important difference is the use of Park Royal curved two-piece front windscreens to allow interchangeability with the 90 Park Royal double-deckers at present under construction for LCBS.
The Green Line single-deckers are based on AEC Swift 3MP2R chassis with AEC AH505 engines rated at 132 bhp, and have 45-seat Alexander W-type bodies with sealed windows and roof level fresh air ventilation under the control of the driver. Unlike the 90 Park Royal-bodied AEC Reliances currently being delivered for Green Line service (CM December 17 1971), the Swifts are also painted in the light National green livery, while retaining the light green relief colour associated with Green Line coaches.
Following completion of delivery, the Fleetlines are expected to enter service on route 410 (Bromley to Reigate), probably on February 19, replacing RML double-deckers which, in turn, will replace elderly RTs. The Swifts will replace RF-type coaches on a busy Green Line service.