LTB Fleetlines in Service This Month
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STRIKING NEW SINGLE-DECKERS COMING TEN years too late? The first of a batch of Daimler Fleetlines (above) due to enter service with London Transport on September 15, on route 424. Based at East Grinstead garage, the buses will be the first-ever rear-engined, front-entrance doubledeckers to be operated by London Transport. The Park Royal bodies are identical (apart from exterior livery, which is country area green and cream) to those of the 50 Leyland Atlanteans for the central area which were described and illustrated in The Commercial Motor. July 2, 1965. Of the latter, 33 have now been delivered and are awaiting service.
Although it is intended to operate the Fleetlines eventually as one-man buses with the top deck sealed off in off-peak Periods, they will enter service initially as normal two-man double-deckers, pending Government legislation authorizing the former type of operation. When this legislation is passed, the buses will then be fitted with staircase doors. Parliament's nationalized industries committee has criticized the Board for needing "more foresight and drive ".
However, there are signs of a wind of change at last blowing around 55 Broadway. Not least of the experiments coming in the autumn is the introduction of 14 new Green Line single-decker coaches which promise to be very eye-catching vehicles. Although based on standard frames to BET outline, the AEC Reliance-mounted coaches will be literally "Green Lines "• the livery being a single broad green band at waist level, bearing the legend "Green Line Express", superimposed on an otherwise flake grey livery. Internally, the appearance will be enhanced by the fitting of standard Duple Group full luxury coach seats, upholstered in an attractive blue and white fleck moquette. More initiative along these lines is obviously called for in the committee of MPs report. reviewed this week.