Delays, Diversions

LONDON (Reuters) - Police defused a bomb in a parked car in London's theatre district on Friday and launched a counter-terrorism investigation.

Explosives officers were called to examine a car parked in Haymarket early on Friday morning, London police said in a statement.

"They discovered what appeared to be a potentially viable explosive device. This was made safe," they said, adding that counter-terrorism officers were investigating.

A police spokesman confirmed the device was a bomb.

I knew this was going to happen after reading this news report.

PICCADILLY CIRCUS: Route 38 is diverted westbound from Holborn to Regent Street and experiencing severe delays due to the emergency services blocking some roads in the area while investigating a security alert on Haymarket near Piccadilly Circus. London Bus tickets are valid on London Underground by any reasonable route.

Route 38 is diverted westbound from Holborn via Kingsway, Strand, Trafalagar Square, Cockspur Street, Pall Mall and Regent Street.

Only 1 in 3 buses are going through to Victoria.

Now I have to walk a further distance to get to Chinatown. Yeaaa, I could take other buses, but this particular bus is...specially bendy, hahaha....

As to why it is special, someone wrote about the 73, also using a bendy like the 38, like this one on Charing Cross Road...

The bendybus replaced all RM's on the No.73 route on saturday 5th September 2004.

Also called an articulated vehicle, it is operated by a single driver.

There are three doors for entry and exit.

Passengers are required to purchase tickets prior to boarding or to touch their Oyster (touch & go) cards to units fitted in the doorways. However the absence of ticket inspectors on the bus led to it being called the 'free bus'.

The bendy bus is made up of 1.5 buses joined by a consatina bendy bit. It is comprised of only one deck.

FYI, I do pay for my fare ok....unless I forget to.