Prepared on Notepad by Ian Smith,
This page created 29th April 2017, updated 15th July 2021.

First London Tridents: 2013-

The dispersal of Tridents continued in 2013, buses going early in the year to First Essex and Glasgow

First Berkshire at Bracknell received TN33179-33183 in February, displacing the earlier batch that were still dual-doored and in red willow-patter, albeit with digital displays. These were retuned to First London at Dagenham.

The new arrivals were single-doored and in First Berkshire livery. They were stationed at Bracknell, with heavy maintenance at Slough.

First surrenders London

In June sold off most of its London assets.

Metroline took Uxbridge, Greenford, Hayes, Alperton and Willesden Junction. Eighteen TNs were renumbered as Metroline TP1507-1539, and quickly gained Metroline fleetnames.

Tower Transit took Atlas Road, Westbourne Park and Lea Interchange, with a solitary TNL (33036), just four TNs: 32822 (trainer) and TN33197-99. They retained First fleetnumbers.

First leaves London

Dagenham was retained by First as First Capital East, with a pair of trainers (33806-7) and the five TNLs returned from Bracknell in store (32901-3, 929). There was also TN32963, TNL33085, TN33185/87/89/91 ad TNA 33377-33382. These were used on services bordering onto First Essex, and on continuing schools contracts.

But in September 2013 Dagenham closed down. Routes 165, 179,252 and 356 passed to Stagecoach.

It was not the end for the Tridents though. They went to other parts of the First operation around the UK - to Glasgow and Eastern Counties, and on to First Essex, First Manchester, First Aberdeen, First South West, First Hampshire & Dorset, First Scotland East and then as First Group reorganised new names, and sometimes new liveries appeared: Buses of Somerset, First Sheffield, First Bristol, First Solent, First East Lothian, First Kernow.... Some of the Tridents were long-lived, surviving in service until 2018 or even to 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic seeing some stored as public transport was suppressed and then reinstated for schools extras from September 2020.

First Berkshire contracts

In August 2015 First closed the Bracknell depot. Some services were switched to Slough depot, while others were taken over by Courtney Buses. The intermediate batch of Tridents were dispatched to First Southampton. At least there they received replacement black front panels around their digital displays!


1999-2000 2001 2002-3 2004-5 2006-8 2009-12 2013

Ian's Bus Stop TN histories. TN photos.