Route SL7: Go Ahead London: WVL342 (LX59DFA) Volvo B9TL/ Wright Gemini 2

Now to go lengthily loopy on London's Superloop, with another express entry into the catalogue, with a bus from a familiar area, to an infamous route before it's renumbering. We have Go Ahead WVL342 on the SL7

New in 2010, WVL342 was new as part of an order 16 WVL-class Wright bodied Volvo B9TLs delivered to Go Ahead, Blue Triangle from their garage at Rainham (BE), these were for the newly introduced East London Transit routes EL1 & EL2 from Ilford to Thames View Estate or Dagenham Dock via Barking. 2016 saw the buses move to River Road (RR) garage until they were replaced by the final order of LT-class New Routemasters. The buses were soon moved south to Croydon (C) garage for uptake on route X26, the ex-East London Transit examples being unique in being the only single-doored double deckers run by TFL, and were also fitted with luggage racks.

Our journey today sees us on the lengthy Suprtloop SL7 route, which runs from West Croydon Bus Station to Heathrow Airport, Central Bus Station via East Croydon, Wallington Green, Carshalton, Sutton, Cheam, North Cheam, Worcester Park, New Malden, Kingston, Teddington & Hatton Cross. The route is officially the longest in London, but only serves a total of 14 stops in either direction in the select areas above. The SL7 was a renumbering in 2023 of the existent X26 route, itself a remnant of former Green Line route 726, which at its introduction in 1977 ran from Gravesend to Windsor.

WVL342 is powered by a Euro 4 Volvo D9B-240 engine coupled to a Voith DIWA D864.4 4-speed automatic gearbox (I am about 50% sure on). So if you want some non electric or hybrid Superloop action. Feel free to enjoy!

Start: Hanworth Road, Popham Close (approximate start point)
Finish: Heathrow Central Bus Station