New DE's for 46: Enter Service!

Route 46 operates between Lancaster Gate and Farringdon Street via Hampstead. The route is operated from King's Cross Garage (KC) situated in Central London.

Now, you may remember back in May 2012 when we visited Metroline's CELF Centre - Click Here and these buses had just been delivered. Three months later, and after their use as Olympic Shuttle Buses, these buses have been introduced into service on route 46.

History of Route 46:

The route was introduced in January 1972, launched to replace the withdrawn section of route 45 between Hampstead Heath and Farringdon Street.



Five months later in June 1972, the route was converted to one person, double decker operation and began operating from Hampstead Heath to King's Cross on Sunday's.

The next year, it was extended to operate between Kensal Rise Station and Farringdon Street.

In 1992, the route was converted to a Dart Operation. Since then, the route had been allocated from a different garage until it stopped in 2000 at Harlesden (HR) when it had then been extended to Warwick Avenue Station.

7 years later in 2007, the route was allocated to King's Cross Garage (KX) and in 2010, the route had been extended to Lancaster Gate and transferred to King Cross Garage (KC) after   King's Cross Garage (KX) closed.

Let's get back to the DE's!

Now, not only have these DE's been used as Olympic Shuttle Buses, these buses have strayed onto routes 274 and 214, and will probably continue to as they are both based at the same garage!

Many seem to be excited over the new DE's for the 46. I have to say that it is nothing so special seeing as it is the same old story 24/7. Personally I think they look great with Metroline, but we all have different opinions.

Some things what the new DE's contain are:

- a batch of 19 Buses (DE1318 - DE1336)

-a weight of U.W. 7674 KGS

-a body length of 10.25 metres

-a horsepower of 140 on a Alison 2100 Series Gearbox with a Cummins isBe Engine

-a seating capacity of 29

-Estaban Civic seats

Here's the fleet list:

DE1318 - LK12AWU - body no. C202/1
DE1319 - LK12AWX - body no. C202/2
DE1320 - LK12AWY - body no. C202/3
DE1321 - LK12AWZ - body no. C202/4
DE1322 - LK12AXA - body no. C202/5
DE1323 - LK12AXG - body no. C202/6
DE1324 - LK12AXH - body no. C202/7
DE1325 - LK12AXP - body no. C202/8
DE1326 - LK12AXR - body no. C202/9
DE1327 - LK12AXS - body no. C202/10
DE1328 - LK12AXV - body no. C202/11
DE1329 - LK12AXW - body no. C202/12
DE1330 - LK12AXZ - body no. C202/13
DE1331 - LK12AYF - body no. C202/14
DE1332 - LK12AYG - body no. C202/15
DE1333 - LK12AYL - body no. C202/16
DE1334 - LK12AYP - body no. C202/17
DE1335 - LK12AYZ - body no. C202/18
DE1336 - LK12AZA - body no. C202/19

Without further ado, enjoy the rest of the pictures!

Olympic Shuttle / CELF:

In Service on Routes:

Which do you prefer - Old or New?

A special thanks to all whose photos are featured above!

Thanks for Reading!

Feel free to Comment Below!