LT battle bus brea
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LONDON Transport's availability record of Fleetline buses had been "appalling", until LT carried out its own modifications to the vehicles.
This was announced by Stan Smith, LT chief mechanical engineer, at a meeting of the London Transport Passengers Committee.
As the result of the modifications, Mr Smith added there was every hope that availability in the future would be satisfactory. When buses were actually available for service their reliability in service wa5 actually quite good, said Mr Smith_ They now worked about 30,000 miles before a breakdown in service — thiE figure being about the same a5 for a Routemaster.
Modifications made by to Fleetline gearboxes arE thought by Mr Smith to raisE the expected life ofthe unit from one and a quarter year: to three years.
Last year, LT received a _batch of faulty gearboxes from Leyland which lasted only around six weeks in service but these had all been replaced under guarantee, said MI Smith.
Questioned about the rate at bus failures in hot weather, Mt Smith said that he did not expect the high numbei experienced last year to bE repeated.
LT was deliberately running engines after their normal life had expired last year because of a shortage, and it was usually these engines that failed in the hot weather.
New materials were being developed by LT for the flexible joints in the Fleetlinc cooling system, and a nev‘ automatic cut-out in cases ot overheating.
Some of the 70 joints in thE Fleetline were "well nig!: impossible to see," said Mr Smith.
The Committee was told LT had had six Rolls-Royce engines in service for a year. They were heavier than Gardner engines but "had a potential of being very durable," said Mr Smith.
He also said LT was interested in buying any spare Routemasters that came onto the market "if only for spares". Buses of this type would continue on Central London routes for a considerable number of years.