Prepared on Notepad by Ian Smith,

This page created 25th March 2012.

Optare Excels: Travel London


Bus Histories

These histories are incomplete. They are being assembled as I garner information from a variety of sources. Particularly useful have been: 

401  R401 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9244, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
 301            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL301          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands #401
                8/03    converted to single doorway
                8/03    TWM Birmingham Central
               12/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
                3/09    Travel West Midlands #401
                4/09    in service, TWM, Wolverhampton
               11/11    in service, TWM, Wolverhampton
                1/12    route trainer, TWM, Coventry
                2/12    withdrawn

402  R402 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9245, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane) 
 302            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
                2/01 QB unusual on 344
 XL302          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                6/03    converted to single doorway B34F
                7/03    transfer to Travel Dundee #204
                6/04    in service, Travel Dundee #204 
                4/05    in service, Travel Dundee #204 
                1/09    Travel Dundee
                4/10    in service, Travel West Midlands #7204
 
403  R403 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9246, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane) 
 303            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL303          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                6/03    converted to saingle doorway: B34F 
                7/03    transfer to Travel Dundee #206
               11/08    transfer to Travel West Midlands #7206
                1/09    to TWM Wolverhampton

404  R404 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9247, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
               10/99    used on 211 
                6/02    in service on 211
 304            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL304          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                6/03    converted to single doorway, B34F 
                7/03    transfer to Travel Dundee #203
               11/08    transfer to Travel West Midlands #7203
                1/09    to TWM Wolverhampton
                4/09    in service, TWM
                7/10    in service, TWM
                2/11    in service, TWM
                7/11    withdrawn 

405  R405 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9248, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
 305            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL305          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                6/03    converted to single doorway: B34F 
                7/03    transfer to Travel Dundee #207
               12/08    transfer to Travel West Midlands #7207
                5/09    to TWM Wolverhampton
                6/10    in service, Wolverhampton, single doorway
                2/11    in service, TWM
               11/11    withdrawn 

407  R407 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9249, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane) 
 307            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL307          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands #407
                8/03    converted to single doorway
                9/03    TWM Birmingham Central
               12/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
               12/11    withdrawn

408  R408 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9250, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
 308            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL308          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                6/03    converted to single doorway B34F 
                7/03    transfer to Travel Dundee #205
                1/09    Travel Dundee
                2/09    transfer to Travel West Midlands #7205
                5/09    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
               11/11    withdrawn

409  R409 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9251, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane) 
 309            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL309          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                6/03    converted to single doorway: B34F 
                7/03    transfer to Travel Dundee #208
               11/08    transfer to Travel West Midlands #7208
                9/09    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton 

410  R410 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9252, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane) 
 310            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL310          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                6/03    converted to single doorway, B34F
                7/03    transfer to Travel Dundee #202
               11/08    transfer to Travel West Midlands #7202
                2/09    TWM Wolverhampton
                1/11    withdrawn

411  R411 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9253, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane) 
 311            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL311          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                8/03    converted to single doorway
                9/03    TWM Birmingham Central
               12/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton

412  R412 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9254, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane) 
 312            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL312          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands #412
                8/03    converted to single doorway
                9/03    TWM Birmingham Central
               12/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
                1/12    route trainer, Coventry
                1/12    withdrawn 

413  R413 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9255, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
 313            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL313          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands #413
                7/03    converted to single doorway
                9/03    TWM Birmingham Central
               12/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
               11/11    withdrawn 

414  R414 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9256, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane) 
 314            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL314          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands #414
                8/03    converted to single doorway
               10/03    TWM Birmingham Central
               12/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
               12/11    withdrawn

415  R415 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9257, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
 315            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL315          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands #415
                8/03    converted to single doorway
               11/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
               12/11    withdrawn 

416  R416 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9258, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
 316            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL316          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
               10/03    converted to single doorway
               11/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
                1/12    withdrawn 

417  R417 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9259, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
 317            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL317          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
               10/03    converted to single doorway
               11/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
               12/11    withdrawn 

418  R418 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9260, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
 318            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL318          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
               10/03    converted to single doorway
               12/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
                1/12    withdrawn 

419  R419 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9261, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
 319            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL319          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
               10/03    converted to single doorway
               12/03    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
                3/12    withdrawn 

420  R420 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9262, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane) 
 320            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL320          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                        converted to single doorway
                2/04    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
                1/12    withdrawn 

421  R421 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9263, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane) 
 321            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL321          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea)
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                        converted to single doorway
                1/04    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
                1/12    withdrawn 

422  R422 HWU   6/98    Optare Excel L960, Optare 9264, B26D
                6/98    new to Travel London for 211, (Stewarts Lane)
 322            8/00    leased to Limebourne (Independent Way) for 211 (Battersea)
 XL322          7/01 QB lease taken over by Connex for 211 (Battersea) 
               11/02    off-lease to Travel West Midlands
                        converted to single doorway
                1/04    transfer, TWM Wolverhampton
               11/11    withdrawn 

      YJ51 JXH  9/01    Optare Excel L1070, Optare 9513, B30D
                9/01    new to Optare: demonstrator
XL323           6/02 QB on hire to Connex
               10/02    return to Optare
               10/07    driver trainer with Wallace School of Transport
                7/10    driver trainer, Wallace

Photographic references


A key to the references is in the bibliography. 

404     R404 HWU  LBic2000p29 10/99    on 211 to Hammersmith, Parliament Square, Trav London

421     R421 HWU  LBR00 p30    */99    on 211 to Waterloo Stn, Victoria, Trav London

Ian's Bus Stop Travel London XLs. XL histories. XL photo refs.