Mercedes-Benz 811D / PlaxtonThis page created 17th August 2006 by Ian Smith. Best on 800*600.
Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus entered the midibus era in February 1992, when it started operation
on a number of routes won in the Wood Green area re-organisation.
Twenty Mercedes 811Ds with Plaxton Beaver bodywork,
with fastflow doorways were ordered for six of the routes:
153 (Finsbury Park - Smithfield) 298 (Southgate Stn - South Mimms) 299 (Muswell Hill Broadway - Southgate Stn - Cockfosters) W6 (Southgate - Lower Edmonton) W10 (Crews Hill Stn - Clay Hill - Chase Side - Enfield Town) There were also the D4 (Mile End - Leamouth) and 236 (Finsbury Park - Hackney Wick), for which three MAs and ten MRLs respectively were ordered. There was spare midibus capacity on Sundays, and soon the Mercedes appeared a long way from home on the Sunday contract to operate the 321 (Luton - Watford)! This situation did not remain static, as loadings changed requiring larger buses, and fairly early on eight of the Mercedes went to Citibus Tours in Oldham. First of the Mercedes to be repainted into Capital Citibus more-red livery was 610, which was normally to be found on the 318 (Stamford Hill - North Middlesex Hospital). The remaining twelve survived through the takeover by First Group in July 1998. Another five 811Ds came into the First Capital fold in September 1998 when the old Thamesway operations at Ponders End (now run by Essex Buses) were transferred to First Capital control. The five 811Ds (800-804) were renumbered into vacancies in the 600 series. (A considerable number of 709Ds came too, but these have already been considered on the Eastern National pages). Disposal came in 2000-1, with most being transferred for service elsewhere in the First empire, notably Rotherham with First Mainline.
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