An old B9TL 'Wright Volvo' Double Decker Bus on a 2010/59 reg plate. 🚍🤳🤗👍

[@ameerali.ouarda]

Is it crazy that I still look see these buses as new. It definitely has a timeless design, and is one of my favourites as a passenger. The seat comfort and legroom is great and I love the smell of the engine and heavy feel to the drive.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

The design doesn't look old at all. Very curvaceous, like the original Ford KA from 1996.

[@nathanw9770]

Same, infact I still see Gemini 1s as very modern vehicles even though they came out in 2002. Design has been Wrightbus' strong suit for a very long time.

[@toasted_b12]

The moquette is an adapted Go Ahead one. When Go Ahead bought these buses from First, they had the First’s old ‘sprinkles’ moquette and the rest of First’s standard interior; the light blue poles and purple highlights etc. When it came for Go Ahead to refurbish them, the kept the original First interior but replaced the old First moquette with a grey and light blue version of standard Go Ahead moquette.

[@Ron_TTE]

yeah

[@nathanw9770]

Yh I like it when GAL does that. I wish they did the same for their ex-Metrobus fleet.

[@toasted_b12]

@@nathanw9770 so true

[@konyctg]

@@toasted_b12also the original filament interior lights were replaced with LED ones in the go ahead refurb

[@Noel_p]

for me, this is what I first think of when I think of a London Double decker. Moved to London in 2010 when these were new on route 259 and ever since they've been my favourite. Best in terms of comfort with those amazing seats AND they just look sooooo goof, especially with those fully glass window frames, which makes it look so elegant and timeless

[@vgbeastbomb8327]

This is a Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2, which is a bus built between 2009-2014 and it is powered by a Euro 5 9.2 Litre Volvo engine and it is partnered with either a ZF or (Rarely) Voith Gearbox.

[@Terra967]

My dad loves that type of bus

[@drb111uk5]

There's nothing better than a B9TL 👍👍

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

They are very powerful and smooth to drive. A quality bus indeed.

[@johngreene6805]

Love driving the volvos when I was on the buses in London rtes 1/188

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

I've enjoyed 188 as well. Russell square to north Greenwich is a lovely route.

[@jntrains4526]

The leather on the seating is to just to stop the moqquete from getting worn away from feet on seats, the seat pattern is a grey version of the Go Ahead standard seating however the flooring and poles are all from first.

[@joshuahalla.k.a.controlla6333]

Great video. ☺️ I love these buses. I can't believe these are being considered "old" now. I remember when these were new.

[@TLBNation]

These were new to first london, miss that bus company

[@nathankew7173]

Wow amazing good to see them

[@jackprocter8694]

Gosh remember B9s brand new in Leeds! We still have similar aged B9s from 2008 - 09 which are still going although many have been replaced by lethargic streetdecks.

[@ZJS0113]

The 56 is still running on 58plate versions of this bus

[@DesiroDriver]

Hope you saw BBC inside the factory with Greg Wallace. The London bus production line. Great tv! 😀

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

It was a fabulous programme Stuart. I enjoyed watching it.

[@joebodie4264]

Hi anton I get busses very similar to this every day on the 51 or 321. I don’t think they have any air conditioning because they are always really hot.

[@laurenceleask5139]

Yes its first love this bus

[@a11csc]

glad you got your wish anton

[@anthonykdramanu9158]

I remember the days those buses were the new thing!

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

I do too. The years have flown by.

[@thebusenthusiastperson237]

these are my favourite buses, they still operate on my local bus routes. i love the engine and interior of these buses

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

They are a nice bus.

[@kaan7335]

@@DoubleDeckerAnton is this 476 route

[@acebatlerx4841]

The seating is Go Ahead London pattern but the colour scheme is similar to First London.

[@8834]

It’s one of those Ex-First buses, like the London transit and RATP ones

[@xenocloudyt]

@@8834 they could’ve made VMH45344 have the RATP seats but with green colour scheme

[@ashwatthganesh485]

The refurbished one looks exactly like the metroline one .12 years of these bus and its 1st time seeing you using an old bus.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

I get about.

[@jocodesigns3985]

The seat maquette are refurbished go ahead London. The poles are still first London. I’m guessing that’s the 476 route. The windows have a film layer so that if it breaks it wont shatter everywhere, it will be contained and stick to the film layer.

[@thecyberleaderwhufc]

Hiya I like these buses good thing they’ve got these on the 58s love them there but faster than the 2012/14 buses

[@TheEcholima07]

Just come back up North. We have all the old London cast offs.

[@GTLPT]

the seats are not in First moquette, that is Abellio, we have some 07, 57, 08 and 58 plate ones up here in the north, keep up the epic work pal

[@MajidTransportYT]

The moquette is from Go-Ahead but it’s different because of the colour of the poles anton

[@ThomasWhiteford]

Lothian buses in Edinburgh Received similar from London Being Ex First & Metroline London

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Its good to see they were cascaded out and still operating, for another 5 or so years.

[@richardcrankshaw8646]

Well done Anton

[@chideramolokwu9558]

Wow Anton this bus is amazing sad to see this go

[@eleanorgooding2932]

Good video anton

[@lzh4950]

Singapore's largest public bus operator SBS Transit bought almost 1600 of these (but locally assembled at its parent's company ComfortDelgro's (which later bought MetroLine also) factory) from 2010 all the way until 2017 (after having bought 200x from 2006-7 with an older Euro III engine & different bodywork), forming almost 80% of the country's double-decker fleet back then, but without a dedicated emergency exit (window-breaking hammers have been provided instead since the mid-'90s), but with A/C (which replaces the lower deck rear window & a row of seating), a 3rd axle & a semi-circular upp deck rear window instead. Those delivered before late-2015 also had some of the staircase steps curved in shape

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Thankyou for the information. Your welcome.

[@32446]

I love these Volvo B9TL Wright eclipse Geminis The ones in Leeds have adverts on them I’m in Turkey right now Anton

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Enjoy your Turkish holiday...🙂

[@javellsuktransport3588]

2:26 it was the first London design of the seats

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Thanks.

[@Itsmeh939]

Is that the 476 bus

[@8834]

Can’t believe that these are over 10 years old now.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

I know...time has been good to them. They are a quality made bus.

[@LJ07EBP]

Same

[@robinsbusvideos]

A b9tl being called old does not feel right haha. making me feel old

[@hamidsgamingadventures8210]

ive been on one on the 44

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

What was the ride like? How would you rate it out of 10?

[@jordanrochester1200]

Also you mentioned tinted film on the passenger window glass, that was a very unique thing that First did with the majority of its buses. The best buses in my opinion to showcase the tints when NP used to be with First were the TN/TNL and WVN buses.

[@steady_94]

Well that is a treat! Love B9s

[@aaronvideo252]

We have quite alot of this boys here in Singapore also still my favourites. They came in around 2010 Wow 12 years alr :c

[@LJ07EBP]

All england buses under the year 2011 have emergency exit door who would've thought the day would come where Doubledeckeranton would rec a Gemini 2 highlighting it as old keep up the good work i like the stuff u pointed out in he video

[@sarahsrandomvideos6965]

Great video as always Anton. Hope you keeping well in the hot weather x😃😊

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

It is sweltering.

[@sarahsrandomvideos6965]

@@DoubleDeckerAnton it way too hot for me. Hopefully it cool down soon x🥵🥵

[@rossmcgarrie9787]

Use to love travelling on the Volvo B9TL when Lothian Buses 🚍 had them in Edinburgh. The B9TL is full of quality an epic bus to travel on. I love them Antoni Pal. 👍👍

[@TITTLDN2023]

Some of ex London Buses

[@rossmcgarrie9787]

@@TITTLDN2023 yes Lothian Buses 🚍 bought around 100 B9TLs from London around 3 to 4 years ago. Some were new to Go-Ahead while others were new to First London. Think a small number came from Metroline also.

[@TITTLDN2023]

@@rossmcgarrie9787 yep I do miss metroline ex first gemini 2 and that was leased

[@GreaterAngliaFanClass321]

Love a B9, keep up the great videos and safe driving 👌

[@Evolution.58]

Great Quick video anton, i assume this is the 476 with those ex-first beasts!

[@CookieCft]

You drove my local :)

[@TheHobartAviationFan]

Nice to see some older buses still in mint condition, though round here in Hobart, buses built in the early 2010s are still considered fairly new, and they'll all get at least 7 or 8 more years of service down here I imagine.

[@Abdul.M.]

Great Video mate Former First London bus

[@chandlerbstransport422]

The internal colours are from First and the seat padding is a different colour to match the interior (probably)

[@Londonbusenthusiast353]

That first London nice

[@brunostransportjourneys2807]

Brilliant video Anton! These buses are my favourite. The seat material is from Go Ahead. These got refurbished a few years ago.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Cheers Bruno. 👍

[@brunostransportjourneys2807]

@@DoubleDeckerAnton No problem. 👍

[@trickifichd2939]

Ex metroline I think used on the 18

[@seb1things1]

Come at Edgware Bus Garage and you ll see plenty

[@tall_dude1233]

In Victoria, BC, Canada, we are still running 2002 Dennis Trident III TransBus. 19 units or so. They are fully air conditioned, non of the windows open except for drivers window.

[@COBO2]

He’s driving an ex First London bus on the 476 cool 😎

[@im_cool_i_guess]

I see these buses all the time on the 476 and they should continue to operate on this garage, I remember when it used to be on the 259 before lost to arriva in 2017. They still have these former first group b9tl's at lea interchange garage by towe- Ahem Stagecoach, they are on routes 58 and 308. Although there was a 2012/14 version of these bus you're less likely to see it because they are super rare! I pray that go ahead london keeps the 476 route along with the b9tl's because that is an amazing route, I remember when it first went to Euston until 2019 when it was cut back to King's Cross and now its being threatened to cut back to Newington Green. What will this achieve? I don't think it's fair tfl should be devouring your vital routes because they are all necessary no matter what. Anyways keep up the good work and when do you think of doing a live stream?

[@Matthewsbuses1997]

They also operate on the 119 route as well

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Not sure when my next live stream will be. Hopefully soon.

[@TransportNRTH73]

B9TLs dont operate the 308, they operate routes 58, 262, 473 and D8. These wouldn't be able to get retendered on the 476 as they are older than 10 years old.

[@iiBus]

Lothian used to have 50 09/59 plate Gemini 2 B9's, although now gone. We have 64 ex-london B9's & 60 11 plate Gemini 2 B9's here :)

[@paulbelfastlimerick]

Another great video. The Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus B9TLs just go on and on and are well maintained but very loud! As with London, the switch to hybrids and electrics will see them off soon. I wonder could the glass film be an anti-etching measure?

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

It's quite rare to have glass film on a film. I'm not sure.

[@irishmikey]

Do they have the Wrightbus Rattle though. Ulsterbus Different Wrightbus always have a rattle from new. I am convinced some guy in Ballymena sits in the factory making sure it has the rattle. To be honest though when JCB owners son rescued the factory from bankruptcy maybe he got rid of it. He is also very much into hydrogen and plans hydrogen infrastructure for Ireland. I do know Ulsterbus put in a big order to replace it Derry and Belfast Metro fleet with hydrogen and electric. Mainly electric I think.

[@TheTransportHub17]

Great video Anton. These are nice buses. Metroline have some at Potters Bar which still have the first London Moquette. The moquette on your bus is the Go-Ahead moquette but a grey version so that it matched the interior.

[@xenocloudyt]

They should’ve done that with the London Transit ex TT buses and make a green version of the RATP interior

[@westlondontransportwildlif5810]

I do like the B9TLs and I have many of them near where I live in West London. I think I prefer the older B9TLs from 2007-2009. Along with these there are also a handful of former First London buses around me as well. The B9TL has been used on so many bus bodies as well. From Wrightbus Gemini 1 and 2s to Enviro 400s & Enviro 500s, Optare Olympuses and MCV DD103s. Great video Anton!

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

Na B5LH all day long!

[@BKvlogz]

This is definitely bus route 476

[@fearless_huseyin]

Good video Anton. Nice to see a old Wright Bodied Volvo at Kings Cross. 😊

[@erwallace1]

Hi Anton, I went for a ride on the 476 yesterday and caught a very similar if not the same bus, which registration was LK59 FDX and I really enjoyed it. I got on the bus just after the Kings Cross area and caught it up Pentonville Road and it was brilliant. I was also the only one on the bus so I got to sit in the prime seats (back of the bottom deck) and was able to hear the engine roar. Anyways, I was just wondering if you were driving, I boarded around 12:00 on the 12th of august so I thought that it might be you.

[@geoffreyacquaah272]

And great review of the bus, too bad there’s no air-conditioning. Hopefully the new bush’s for that route will have air conditioning and make journeys more comfortable for passengers

[@airbus350ulr]

The bushes will have air conditioning 😂

[@ElectroRail]

Yes I hope the new bushes have good air conditioning

[@SketchyScot]

Absolutely brilliant buses, though I'd describe them as hit or miss - and some DO miss! Had a '57 plate this morning out on my countryside runs as the mist was gradually being burnt off by the morning sun through Kilsyth 🥰 All the best ant' 👍 The seats are defo re-trimmed (by what looks like your op) but some of that interior retains that Firstbus light blue/purple!!

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

Yes, they are lovely to drive Sketchy Scot...👍

[@naomisfunandtransportchann4376]

Good video Anton! Hope you don't get to hot when you are driving the buses

[@Karim9100]

Hello Anton. Great video 😁 I have some great news too, I have passed my bus driving test now, yay, thank you again for your advice too, really helped buddy 🌟🙏🏽🙌😁

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

That's great news Karim...congratulations...🎉👏🔝🚍😁💯👍

[@Karim9100]

@@DoubleDeckerAnton thank you so much 😁😁🌟🌟

[@Lothianbusgamer21]

lothian still got buses form 09 and 04

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

The 04's will probably be replaced in a few years time. I remember when we had new 54/05 reg plate ones in Huddersfield and Halifax in late 2004/early 2005.

[@Lothianbusgamer21]

Yea the plan is to get EVORa

[@Lothianbusgamer21]

As it’s Volvo B7

[@lawrencediangana]

These WVN's are Beast I really like about these, Great Video Anton :)

[@thetrainhornmaster9439]

These do 131 and 57 in Merton garage they also have the oldest bus in London Enviro 400 LX07BYG the oldest bus in London and the B9TLs are still on 280 151 154 93 and 213 with Go Ahead and 452 in RATP as tower transit is now RATP and 58 in Stagecoach and 190 231 237 E2 E8 and other routes in Metroline they are very nice except for 131 I am gonna miss these on 57 and 163 tho these will be gone by 2026 I think

[@rjm1764]

Our oldest Geminis are from 2008. Though, there is one 2009 model in service. The rest of the 2009 models were on the Airlink up until a couple of years ago when the service was withdrawn, so the buses are still mostly parked up, and may no longer see further service. They do the odd maintenance run. These older Geminis aren't on my local routes, but we do get the odd Gemini 2 from 2012 or 2013, which are very similar, to the older ones, bar some small differences, but have middle doors. I much prefer travelling on the Gemini 2s, and the same with the Gemini 1s, if I ever get the chance to travel on one, to the Gemini 3s. I think they sound nicer, and have nicer interiors. They seem more airy.

[@JerryTom0077]

My local route 237 has had these busses for God knows how long, and I know they replaced the old ALX 400's because I remember the blue banner at the bottom, but that was probably like 8 years ago since the switch, also the seats are comfortable

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

I look at it every day in sheps bush and wonder why they r still proud to keep em.. Same with the 476, same with any other company or garage that does this. Before 49 and 414 moved, they had them bloody noisy old boneshakers, why does it have to take a tender change for a route to gain better buses?

[@E356.]

They were new on the 237 back in early 2010 so atleast 13 years ago.

[@charleysmith7565]

Those used to be from First Capital Connect before they sold and distributed their buses. Turns out First Greater Manchester has some slightly similar Geminis on MX58/09 regs and are still going. I'm sure west Yorkshire have Geminis from 07-09 reg too Anton

[@jordanrochester1200]

@DoubleDeckerAnton We met earlier at NP, felt like I was meeting a celebrity 😆 was great seeing you in person😃😃😃, I'm currently on a two week holiday and back next Saturday on the 397s, and yeah I remember when those buses on 476 were new, very fantastic buses and comfy for passengers, but sadly they are old now 😥, had great memories of them when they used to go from NP to Euston. Hope you had a great day Anton

[@leicestertravels4705]

We’re down to our last B9TL Gemini in Leicester (thank god for the Olympuses), and I think it’s on borrowed time. We didn’t have them from new, but they were still a fresh addition, and always a nice ride, especially the few that got refurbished to Sapphire spec. I used to like riding the ones in Manchester as well.

[@leicestertravels4705]

@@fin57 Having engine work done, then off to Derby.

[@joshuaellams9216]

One of my local company who did my college route have a load of go aheads LX11 C… B9TLs

[@stuartmoran4711]

These are brilliant buses The B9TL Gemini Glasgow has a huge fleet of them but they are sadly going south to bud replaced by electrics

[@breakyfx]

I thought so that from the start that the bus is ex first but anyways nice video DDA!

[@jaggass]

Alot of B9TL's sound like coffee grinders.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

I know what you mean...they don't rev high...very low revs constantly, but a lot of torque.

[@londonbusfanrex]

It’s not the first moquette it’s a Go ahead one that they use for the buses they didn’t order. (Grey or purple)

[@Paco_Gaepedores]

To me, B9TL is new buses :D As there are still B10TL and B7TL roaming around here in Hong Kong

[@andyrichardsvideovlogs8835]

That would be brand new in Uddersfield tha knows... 😅 Send em up here 👍

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

I remember driving the old Leyland Atlanteans Roe bodied and Northern Counties type.

[@airbus350ulr]

Buses are heavy 😂, a 737 (ryanair) is less than 60 tons 😂.

[@ZX_64]

I never seen a LWB version of this bus but these buses are so loud sound like a afterburner

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

They change gear at low revs.

[@ZX_64]

@@DoubleDeckerAnton I thought It was this bus maybe it was the Gemini

[@jackhoward4109]

Scarborough has loads anton

[@jackhoward4109]

Saw them buses on that route the other day when I was in London

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

Not sure why NP refused to upgrade these to the straight faced (B5LH) version (WHV in go-ahead terms) starting from reg plates in 2015-2016 and beyond.. As it goes i was driving a 2015 version today on the 49, but hybrid version and with the extra 6 lights below the main headlights. Hated driving these on the 476, they are just too outdated now

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

They are a bit sticky with the handbrake on release. They are showing their age. It was nice to finally drive them though.

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

@@DoubleDeckerAnton yh in that regard im happy for you because i know how it feels. Same thing for me with the newer version to what you drove, except mine has the extra light ms under the headlights, been wanting to drive that version of the gemini 3, missed it when i did route 1, havent worked at metroline, so it finally happened here at RATP

[@TLBNation]

@@ace-paidinfull5240 the old buses are brilliant

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

@@TLBNation nah not a big fan lol

[@itsdanguo0519]

The windows are different I noticed it’s ribbon glazed

[@Storfordcountyrailway]

they are on 89 still

[@andrewhill400]

Some of those 476 buses still have FIRST Not In Service on the destination blinds. I used to think they were incredibly easy to drive but getting a bit tired now at 12 years old.

[@trickifichd2939]

They Still got 3 more years left in service

[@andrewlipiainen4133]

1. Seat Design is Go Ahead. 2. Engine 9360cc

[@griffithsgriffiths1529]

Their one of the last buses made after the early to mid 2000s that you can rev

[@TheLondonTransportDroid]

They are quiet slow moving off those Anton

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

They are slow when moving off yes.

[@BusBoysBusChannel6091]

What was the full reg plate? Just wondering if this ones up with GNE now.

[@ryanhack8755]

Near me even the 2021 buses have emergency exits the no emergency exits must be a London thing

[@fin57]

its a dual door thing

[@_4.2_]

one of the best buses i ever drove i had them on the route 266 28 now there only 7 left in the garage for the 452 but sometimes on the route 28

[@ace-paidinfull5240]

Always on the 28 they dont use anything else. They were using newer VHs when the whole tower transit/ratp thing happened, but now its just back to them 13 plate old things

[@_4.2_]

@@ace-paidinfull5240 the 13s are hybrid but the others are just diesel

[@SpeedSetSims]

I find those type of passenger windows have a tendency of slamming shut randomly on the upper deck

[@Matthewsbuses1997]

Is that the 476?

[@voidwrld26]

we've got the Volvo B9TL's (you got it right Anton!) in Glasgow on the older body, the drivers love them, so do the passengers!🤣

[@jacksugden8190]

Wrightbus Gemmini from NI, all it was, was a box on four wheels, no styling in York Way, wouldn’t have looked twice.

[@DoubleDeckerAnton]

6 wheels...😉

[@jacksugden8190]

@@DoubleDeckerAnton ✅

[@alanoliver]

See quiet a few of go ahead environ 400 are now working up Newcastle and some iin poole

[@davidhowell4691]

Hi Anton I enjoy your videos what no. bus routes do you drive