London United will lose the contract to operate route 9 (Aldwych - Hammersmith) from next January in favour of Metroline. Although a shadow if its former self, the route, which once ran from Mortlake as far east as Rainham, is one of the UK capital's longest established and has been run by London United since the company's inception in 1989. Metroline will run it from Brentford garage using the current New Routemasters. In common with other recent contracts based on operation of New Routemasters, the new arrangements for routes 9, 189 (Marble Arch - Brent Cross) and schoolday route 632 (Grahame Park -Kilburn Park) are for five years. Route C3 (Clapham Junction - Earl's Court) will return to Abellio London in September after three years. New battery-electric buses will replace the Optare Metrodecker EVs currently used. London Transit will continue to operate route 23 (Westbourne Park - Hammersmith) which will be rerouted to run between Westbourne Park and Aldwych. Contracts for both routes had been surrendered early (Look in on London last month). A break clause has been exercised in respect of the contract for route 306 (Acton Vale - Sands Wharf), operated by Metroline, which will now terminate on April 12, 2024 instead of December 12, 2025.
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