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Prepared in Notepad by Ian Smith, updated 23rd April 2002.
Best on Netscape Navigator, screen size 800*600.

COBHAM OPEN DAY, 7th April 2002

Part Five: New buses

After the midibus interlude the London bus companies settled down to traditional buses again: the Volvo Olympian and the Dennis Dart, mainly. This generation, being neither old enough for nostalgia and preservation, nor new enough for companies to show off, was not well represented at the show, but there were a few examples:#
AV39 is a one-off in the Metroline fleet, having an Alexander Royale on its Volvo Olympian chassis;
VA157 of Arriva London North-East has been given the gold Jubilee treatment.

AV39 at Brooklands VA157 at Brooklands

The new low-floor Darts are busy sweeping the first generation of Darts off from London Streets.
PDL50, Dart / Plaxton of Arriva London South is from Thornton Heath;
DLD207, Dart / Plaxton is with Metroline;
X2 SUL, Dart / Caetano is with Sullivan Bus.

PDL50 at Brooklands DLD207 at Brooklands Sullivans DC2 at Brooklands

Brand new buses at the show included Connex' Optare Solo S251 for Central London midibus routes,
and Metroline's Dennis Trident / East Lancs Lolyne 417 for Bromley suburban routes (as well as trips to the seaside).

S251 at Brooklands Met417 at Brooklands Met417 at Brooklands

Giving visitors a taste of bendi-bus operation was Centrewest's AV1, seen illustrating the odd effects of nearside kneel plus heavy camber in Redhill Road.

AV1 in Redhill Road AV1 in Redhill Road

Many thanks to all the folk at Cobham who organised the day. I enjoyed it, and there seemed to be LOTS of people - and the sun shone!

Ian's Bus Stop Part Four. Part Five.