Arriva London
Encyclopedia
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
which operates bus services in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK. It is made up of many previous bus operators including previously independent Grey Green. Operations are split between two registered companies, Arriva London North and Arriva London South.
Company History
Arriva London was previously the operator with the largest number of London BusesLondon Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
route contracts, however Go-Ahead London
Go-Ahead London
Go-Ahead London is the trading name used collectively for the London bus operations of the Go-Ahead Group. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands...
has now gained more contracts.
In 2005, TfL
TFL
TFL may refer to:* Tasmanian Football League, an Australian rules football competition* Tensor fasciae latae muscle, a thigh/hip muscle* Transport for London, a public transport organisation in the London area* The Flaming Lips, an American rock band...
reported that Arriva London had more complaints a year than any other bus operator in London, although at the time Arriva did operate the biggest percentage of bus services in London.
Palmers Green (AD)
London Buses route 125
London Buses route 125 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 329, 24-hour route 102
London Buses route 102
London Buses route 102 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, school route 629 and 634.
History
Opened in July 1912 by the LGOC to house their Central LondonCentral London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
route in competition with the MET trams. Just before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the allocation at AD was entirely STL, whilst afterwards it was allocated RT
AEC Regent III RT
The AEC Regent III RT was a variant of the AEC Regent III. It was a double-decker bus produced jointly between AEC and London Transport. It was the standard red London bus during the 1950s.-Prototype:...
, RTL, RTW and SRT's the only garage to be allocated all four standard double deck types, although none could fit in the garage until the roof could be raised by 10 inches, which was completed in 1952 after a process taking 20 weeks. The garage was further modernised in 1974 by which time the PVR was 60 buses. RM's
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
arrived in 1969 replacing the RT's, but the RT's lasted there until 1978. OPO buses in the form of RF's began arriving and were followed in time by SMS
AEC Swift
The AEC Swift was a rear-engined single-deck bus chassis built by AEC between 1964 and 1974. The chassis design was closely related to the Leyland Panther...
, DMS
Daimler Fleetline
The Daimler Fleetline is a rear-engined double-decker bus chassis built between 1960 and 1973 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, and from 1973 until 1980 in Farington, Lancashire, England. However, the last complete vehicle did not enter service until 1983...
, and M's
MCW Metrobus
The MCW Metrobus is a double decker bus model manufactured by MCW from 1977 until 1989, with over 4,000 examples built. The original MkI model was superseded by the MkII model in 1981/1982, although production of the original MkI continued for London Transport until 1985...
. The RM's lasted on route 29 until the late 1980s, and in 1994 the allocation was 51, entirely M's. In latter years the allocation has increased slightly and other than Metrobuses, Volvo Citybuses (VA)
Volvo B10M
The Volvo B10M is a popular mid-engined bus and coach chassis built by Volvo between 1978 and 2001. It was built as the successor of the B58 and was equipped with a 9.6-litre horizontally-mounted Volvo THD100/THD101/THD102/THD103/THD104/DH10A diesel engine mounted under the floor, near the middle...
and DAF/ALX400 (DLA)
VDL DB250
The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
have been allocated.
Bus types in use
- DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.6m / Plaxton PresidentPlaxton PresidentThe Plaxton President was a double-decker bus body built at Northern Counties plant in Wigan, England and branded as a Plaxton product for its main production run. It was unveiled in 1997 and built between 1999 and 2005. When Plaxton became part of TransBus International, the body was sold under...
(DLP) for routes 125, 329, 629 and 634. - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (T) for routes 102 and 329.
Ash Grove (AE)
This garage holds approximately 75 buses, London bus routes 78London Buses route 78
London buses route 78 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 168, 254
London Buses route 254
London Buses route 254 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
and 393.
History
One of three new garages opened in 1981 by London Buses
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
at a cost of £3.5 million, it had space for 140 buses undercover and a further 30 in the yard. The roof was unusual in being carried by 10 35-ton triangular trusses, said to be the largest in the UK, supported on reinforced concrete columns. Although technically in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, buses showed "CAMBRIDGE HEATH Ash Grove Garage" on their blinds. The garage on opening assumed Hackney's operation of "Red Arrow" routes 502 & 513 using brand new Leyland National
Leyland National
The Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
s which had been stored at the garage, and also the entire Hackney and Dalston allocations. Unfortunately Ash Grove found itself in the London Forest
London Forest
London Forest was a subsidiary of London Buses active between 1988 and 1991. Formed as one of the eleven operating divisions of London Buses in readiness for privatisation, the company initially operated from garages at Ash Grove, Walthamstow and Leyton on a network of routes in North-East London...
operation, and also had a reputation for staff militancy and closed in 1991. The garage re-opened in 1994 for use of Kentish Bus to house their Leyton area route gains, although they referred to it as Cambridge Heath. It was also used over the years to house stored vehicles for the LT museum
London's Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum, or LT Museum based in Covent Garden, London, seeks to conserve and explain the transport heritage of Britain's capital city...
, and again in 2000 to store additional RM's that had been acquired to supplement shortages in London. It also operationally re-opened again in 2000 for use by the London Buses company "East Thames Buses
East Thames Buses
East Thames Buses was the only government owned bus operator of London Buses. It was sold to London General in 2009.-History:East Thames Buses was formed in 1999 to take over the services operated by the failed Harris Bus Company...
" which took over the former Harris Bus routes after that company ran into financial difficulties. Hackney Community Transport also moved into the garage yard in recent times to house its routes won in the London area although East Thames Buses have now moved to new premises at Mandela Way (SE1) and were replaced at the garage by Arriva's new Citaro articulated buses for route 38 following the conversion from Routemasters in November 2005.
Alexander Dennis Enviro200 buses from Ash Grove are still carrying the garage code for Clapton (CT), and not Ash Grove (AE).
On 20 August 2011, route 254 was transferred to this garage from Stamford Hill (SF).
Bus types in use
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 9.3m (ENS) for route 393.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (T) for routes 78 and 168.
- Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m / Wright Eclipse GeminiWright Eclipse GeminiThe Wright Eclipse Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL and Volvo B5L Hybrid for use in the United Kingdom....
(VLW) for routes 168 and 254.
Tottenham (AR)
This garage holds approximately 152 buses, and runs London bus routes 41, 76, 123, 149London Buses route 149
London Buses route 149 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 318, night routes N41, N76 and 24-hour route 243
London Buses route 243
London Buses route 243 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
.
History
Tottenham garage was built in 1913 by the MET to run buses to support their tram network. The buses were requisitioned during the war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and then between 1917-1919 the garage was loaned to AEC. Before World War II in 1939 the allocation consisted of ST, STL & LTs, but during the war it was the first garage to receive utility Guy Arabs (G), and later in 1949 London's first 8 ft wide buses. When route 236 moved with its RFs to Dalston in 1971 it signalled an absence of single deckers at the garage that would last until 2001 when route W4 was won on tender. Ms & RMs were the staple diet of the depot for many years until the new DLAs arrived. The final RMs left Tottenham Garage in September 2004 when route 73 was converted to bendi-bus (Citaro artics) and moved to LV. However Tottenham has retained a single RM for the Arriva London Heritage fleet for use at shows and special events. It is probably the most famous too, being the (numerically) first production Routemaster RM5 (VLT 5).
On 16 October 2010, route 149 was transferred to this garage.
Bus types in use
- DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) for routes 41 and 243. - VDL DB300 10.4m / Wright Gemini 2Wright Gemini 2The Wright Gemini 2 is a double-decker bus built by Wrightbus since 2008. It was announced in December 2007 but was not named until 2008.It was constructed as an integral with VDL chassis modules. It is available in two versions, the diesel-powered version and the diesel-electric hybrid version...
(DW) for route 149. To be introduced on route 243 from 2013. - Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(VLA) for routes 123 and N41. - Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m / Plaxton Pointer 2 (PDL) for route 318.
- Volvo B5LVolvo B5LThe Volvo B5L is a hybrid-electric powered bus built by Volvo since 2008.The design of the chassis is similar to that of the Volvo B7L...
Hybrid 10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 (HV) for routes 76 and N76.
Clapton (CT)
This garage holds approximately 124 buses, and runs London bus routes 38London Buses route 38
London Buses route 38 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London....
, 242, 393 and N38.
History
Clapton Garage has its origins back as far as 1882 when it was known as Hackney Tram Depot and housed horse trams. In the early 1900s it was taken over by the LCC to house electric trams which lasted here until 1939 when trolleybuses took over. In the early 1940s some of the surrounding buildings in Bohemia Place were knocked down to provide more space and better access to the garage. By 1950 the depot had changed its name to Clapton to avoid confusion with the nearby Well Street garage (H) prior to being converted for motorbus operation. Following the conversion the parking area allowed for 90 buses and in 1959 67 RTL's were allocated as part of the trolleybus replacement program. Over the years the garage has seen various types allocated including RT, RM, DMS, M, & T's, but in 1987 with just a few RM's and M's remaining the garage was closed with the remaining work transferred to the newer Ash Grove. In 1989 the garage was reprieved to take some pressure off of Walthamstow by housing MRL's for route 236. With the closure of Ash Grove in 1991 work started to build up steadily, and then in 1995 route 253 was allocated there from the closed Stamford Hill (SF). The story has now almost gone full circle with routes 242/253 transferring back to Stamford Hill and route 38 to Ash Grove leaving Clapton without an allocation. The office buildings are still in use and drivers still sign on and off at the garage but then travel to Ash Grove to collect their buses. In 1998 Clapton received the first low-floor double deckers in London in the DLA's purchased by Arriva, and also tried out LPG buses. In 2001 the garages allocation was up to over 100 buses.
The garage parking area will be modernised in readiness for any additional services connected with the Olympic Games to be held in 2012.
For a short time after the introduction of the Mercedes artics to route 38 which were garaged at Ash Grove, servicing of these vehicles was done at Clapton. However, the garage has been used to fit buses with TfL's latest on bus information system. It has seen buses from AE, AR and E at least visiting there for treatment. It may even be used for buses from other companies in the whole of London.
On 14 November 2009, this garage started operating again and routes 38, 242, 393 and N38 were transferred to this garage.
Bus types in use
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 9.3m (ENS) for route 393.
- VDL DB300 10.4m / Wright Gemini 2Wright Gemini 2The Wright Gemini 2 is a double-decker bus built by Wrightbus since 2008. It was announced in December 2007 but was not named until 2008.It was constructed as an integral with VDL chassis modules. It is available in two versions, the diesel-powered version and the diesel-electric hybrid version...
(DW) for routes 38, 242 and N38. - Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m / Wright Eclipse GeminiWright Eclipse GeminiThe Wright Eclipse Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL and Volvo B5L Hybrid for use in the United Kingdom....
(VLW) for route 242. - New Bus for London to be introduced partially on route 38 from November 2011 to Jan 2012.
Barking (DX)
This garage holds approximately 97 buses, and runs London bus routes 128, 135London Buses route 135
London Buses route 135 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London for London Buses.-History:Route 135 began operation on 24 May 2008...
, 150, 173, 275, 325, 462, school route 667.
History
The Garage was opened in 1992 by Grey Green to meet the demands of their expanding North East London operations. Dix Coaches was a subsidiary of Grey Green operating from a base in the Dagenham Area, which moved to the new depot on opening, hence the code DX. The depot is basically just a yard in an industrial area on the borders of Barking and Dagenham, with parking outside and just a couple of small buildings although a maintenance facility is included on the site. The Grey Green was superseded in the mid nineties by Cowie, the parent group, and then later transposed into Arriva.
Blue Triangle
Blue Triangle
Blue Triangle is one of many operators of London Buses, it is based in Rainham and is part of Go-Ahead London. It is the operator of the East London Transit service.-History:...
have successfully gained the contract for route 462 and from 24 March 2012 it will be operated from their Rainham (BE) garage.
Stagecoach London
Stagecoach London
Stagecoach London , is a bus company which principally operates services in the UK capital city of London, under contract to the London Buses arm of Transport for London. It was formed in 1989 as a subsidiary of London Buses. The company privatised in 1994 and acquired by the Stagecoach Group, but...
have succesfully gained the contract for route 275 and from 3 March 2012, it will be operated from their Barking (BK) garage.
Bus types in use
- Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m / Plaxton Pointer 2 (PDL) for route 462.
- Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(VLA) for route 128, 275 and 667 - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (T) for routes 135 and 150.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (ENL) for routes 173 and 325.
- Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m / Wright Eclipse GeminiWright Eclipse GeminiThe Wright Eclipse Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL and Volvo B5L Hybrid for use in the United Kingdom....
(VLW) for route 275.
Enfield (E)
This garage holds 138 buses, and runs London bus routes 121, 279London Buses route 279
London Buses route 279 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 307, 313, 317, 327, 349, 377, 491, school routes 313 and Night route N279.
History
Enfield was built in 1927 by the LGOC. Further land was soon acquired in the front of the depot for use as a bus stand, which later also got used as a terminus for trolleybuses. The garage was modernised at a cost of over £6M in the early eighties, and when it re-opened in 1984 it had space for 106 buses. More recently it has become a central part of Arriva London operations with the accident repair centre and undertaking of Major refurbishments. Over the years various types were allocated to the garage, but in 1994 the garages allocation was entirely Metrobus.
Bus types in use
- DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.6m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) for routes 121, 279 and 313. - DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) routes 279 and 317. - DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Plaxton PresidentPlaxton PresidentThe Plaxton President was a double-decker bus body built at Northern Counties plant in Wigan, England and branded as a Plaxton product for its main production run. It was unveiled in 1997 and built between 1999 and 2005. When Plaxton became part of TransBus International, the body was sold under...
(DLP) for routes 307 and N279. - DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.6m / Plaxton PresidentPlaxton PresidentThe Plaxton President was a double-decker bus body built at Northern Counties plant in Wigan, England and branded as a Plaxton product for its main production run. It was unveiled in 1997 and built between 1999 and 2005. When Plaxton became part of TransBus International, the body was sold under...
(DLP) for route 279. - Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (ENL) for route 491.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.8m (ENX) for route 313. These buses are to be delivered in plain Red, for running the 2012 Olympics shuttle services.
- Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m / Alexander Dennis Pointer (PDL) for routes 327 and 377.
- Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m / Wright Eclipse GeminiWright Eclipse GeminiThe Wright Eclipse Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL and Volvo B5L Hybrid for use in the United Kingdom....
(VLW) for route 349. - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (T) to be introduced on routes 279 and 313 from January 2012.
Edmonton (EC)
This garage holds 147 buses, and runs London bus routes 20London Buses route 20
London Buses route 20 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 34
London Buses route 34
London Buses route 34 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 379, 382, 397, 444, W14, W15, W16 and school route 657.
History
Opened in 1993 by London Suburban Bus to house its two London Conracts for routes 4 & 271, and later route 41. The company was taken over in 1995 by MTL London Northern
Metroline
Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:...
, with routes 4 & 271 transferred in to HT, and route 41 transferred to Cowie Leaside and the garage was closed in 1996. The garage was re-opened by Arriva County Bus in 1997, and in 1998 this operation was merged with the 'Leaside Travel' unit. In 2005 the garage was adapted for bendy-buses on route 149
London Buses route 149
London Buses route 149 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
. In addition, the garage also took over route 29
London Buses route 29
London Buses route 29 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
with more Citaros in January 2006.
Blue Triangle
Blue Triangle
Blue Triangle is one of many operators of London Buses, it is based in Rainham and is part of Go-Ahead London. It is the operator of the East London Transit service.-History:...
have successfully gained the contract for route 20 and from 24 March 2012, they will be operating it from their Rainham (BE) garage.
First Capital have successfully gained the contract for route W14 and from 25 February 2012 they will be operating it from their Lea Interchange (LI) garage.
First Capital have successfully gained the contract for routes W15 and W16 from 3 March 2012, W15 will be operated from their Lea Interchange (LI) garage, route W16 from their Northumberland Park (NP) garage.
Bus types in use
- DAF DB250VDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) for routes 20, 34 and 657. - Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m / Alexander ALX200Alexander ALX200The Alexander ALX200 was a midibus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was one of the ALX-series, which accounted for 5 different models , built for new generation bus chassis produced since late 1990s.It was designed by John Worker, and was launched in summer...
(ADL) for route W15. - Dennis Dart SLF 9.4m / Alexander ALX200Alexander ALX200The Alexander ALX200 was a midibus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was one of the ALX-series, which accounted for 5 different models , built for new generation bus chassis produced since late 1990s.It was designed by John Worker, and was launched in summer...
(ADL) for routes 397 and W14. - Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m / Plaxton Pointer 2 (PDL) for routes 379, 382 and W16.
- Dennis Dart SLF 9.3m / Plaxton Pointer 2 (PDL) for route W15.
- DAF SB120VDL SB120The VDL SB120 is a low-floor light-weight midibus produced from 1999 by VDL Bus International of the Netherlands primarily for the UK market....
10.1m / Wright CadetWright CadetThe Wright Cadet was a midibus body built by British coachbuilder Wrightbus, solely on the DAF/VDL SB120; it was sold via VDL dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. For a time, Volvo additionally sold the chassis/body combination, however the body was marketed as the Merit.The Cadet was replaced by the Wright...
(DWL) for route 444.
Lee Valley (LV)
This garage holds 99 buses, and runs London bus route 192, W3, W6, 24-hour route 341, school routes 628, 653, 683 and 688.History
The depot is at the back of an industrial estate alongside the river Lee close to Northumberland Park. The depot was opened in 2005 to house the articulated buses for route 149 which were later joined by more MA's with the conversion of route 73.
On 15 October 2011, route W3 was transferred to this garage from Wood Green (WN).
Bus types in use
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 8.9m (EN) for route 192. To be introduced on route 379 from March 2012.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 9.6m (ENS) to be introduced on routes 397 and W11 from March 2012.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (T) for route 341. To Be introduced on route W3 from January 2012.
- DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) for route W3. - DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.6m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) for routes 628, 653, 683 and 688. - Dennis Dart SLF 9.3m / Alexander Dennis Pointer (PDL) for route W6.
Stamford Hill (SF)
This garage currently houses around 125 buses, and runs London bus routes 73London Buses route 73
London Buses route 73 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London...
, 253
London Buses route 253
London Buses route 253 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:Route 253 was introduced in 1961 to replace replace Trolleybus 653....
, N73 and N253.
History
Opened as an Electric Car shed in 1907 by London County Council and was converted to Trolleybus operation in 1939. Became a bus garage in 1961 and between 1965 and 1966 it took part in comparative trials between the XA, XF and RML types with the XAs remaining at the garage.
The garage closed in 1995, only to be reopened in 1996 for use by Leaside Travel. It was also used by Grey-Green during the Cowie ownership but, was closed again in 2000 during Arriva ownership, only to reopen again in July 2002.
On 3 September 2011, routes 73 and N73 was transferred to this garage from Lee Valley (LV) with 51 new buses (including 20 hybrids).
Bus types in use
- Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m & 10.6m / Wright Eclipse GeminiWright Eclipse GeminiThe Wright Eclipse Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL and Volvo B5L Hybrid for use in the United Kingdom....
(VLW) for routes 253 and N253. - Volvo B5LVolvo B5LThe Volvo B5L is a hybrid-electric powered bus built by Volvo since 2008.The design of the chassis is similar to that of the Volvo B7L...
Hybrid 10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 (HV) for routes 73 and N73. - VDL DB300 10.4m / Wright Gemini 2Wright Gemini 2The Wright Gemini 2 is a double-decker bus built by Wrightbus since 2008. It was announced in December 2007 but was not named until 2008.It was constructed as an integral with VDL chassis modules. It is available in two versions, the diesel-powered version and the diesel-electric hybrid version...
(DW) for routes 73 and N73.
Wood Green (WN)
This garage holds 135 buses, and runs London bus routes 29London Buses route 29
London Buses route 29 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 141
London Buses route 141
London Buses route 141 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 144, 184, 221, 298
London Buses route 298
London Buses route 298 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:The route was created in September 1968 as a replacement for part of route 29 and all of route 29B...
, school route 617 and night bus N29.
History
Transformed in the early 1900s from a horse tram depot to a modern tram depot with a capacity of 67. It was completely re-modelled in the late 1930s to allow for trolleybus operations and a capacity of 108. The garage was further adapted again in 1960 for motorbuses. RM's arrived to replace trolleybuses on April 26, 1961, and with the closure of West Green in 1962 more work was moved into the garage.
On 26 November 2011, route 29 was transferred to this garage from Edmonton (EC).
Sullivan Buses have successfully gained the contract for route 298 and from 4 February 2012 and they will be operating it using Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m.
Bus types in use
- Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (T) to be introduced on route 144 from January 2012.
- DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.6m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) for route 617. - DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.6m / Plaxton PresidentPlaxton PresidentThe Plaxton President was a double-decker bus body built at Northern Counties plant in Wigan, England and branded as a Plaxton product for its main production run. It was unveiled in 1997 and built between 1999 and 2005. When Plaxton became part of TransBus International, the body was sold under...
(DLP) for route 221. - Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (ENL) for route 184.
- DAF SB120VDL SB120The VDL SB120 is a low-floor light-weight midibus produced from 1999 by VDL Bus International of the Netherlands primarily for the UK market....
10.1m / Wright CadetWright CadetThe Wright Cadet was a midibus body built by British coachbuilder Wrightbus, solely on the DAF/VDL SB120; it was sold via VDL dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. For a time, Volvo additionally sold the chassis/body combination, however the body was marketed as the Merit.The Cadet was replaced by the Wright...
(DWL) for route 298. - VDL DB300 10.4m / Wright Gemini 2 HEVWright Gemini 2The Wright Gemini 2 is a double-decker bus built by Wrightbus since 2008. It was announced in December 2007 but was not named until 2008.It was constructed as an integral with VDL chassis modules. It is available in two versions, the diesel-powered version and the diesel-electric hybrid version...
(HW) for route 141. - VDL DB300 10.4m / Wright Gemini 2Wright Gemini 2The Wright Gemini 2 is a double-decker bus built by Wrightbus since 2008. It was announced in December 2007 but was not named until 2008.It was constructed as an integral with VDL chassis modules. It is available in two versions, the diesel-powered version and the diesel-electric hybrid version...
(DW) for routes 29 and N29. - Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m / Wright Eclipse GeminiWright Eclipse GeminiThe Wright Eclipse Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL and Volvo B5L Hybrid for use in the United Kingdom....
(VLW) for routes 29, 141, 144, 184, 221 and N29.
History
The original Battersea garage was opened in 1906 by the London Roadcar Company on the north side of Hester Road, but by 1914 more space was needed and an annex was built on the south side. Two modernisation schemes were undertaken, first in the 1960s to allow for Routemasters to be allocated and again in 1971 when a new canteen and recreation room was built. Unfortunately the garage closed in 1985 with its allocation being split between Victoria and Wandsworth garages. B was however given a reprieve some time later when it was used to house the London Buses coaches and sightseeing operations until 1988, when the entire opertaion moved to Wandsworth Garage. In 1993, a yard adjacent to the old garage was opened as a base for Kentish Bus route 19 operation after it had moved out of its Covent Garden Market base. Most of the area formally occupied on both the North and South sides of Hester road has now been built into a luxury flats complex. The only section remaining is the small shed which was originally an outstation from BN housing the route 19 RMs. When the Routemasters finally left in July 2005 the garage received an allocation on VLAs for route 19, although some of these need to be parked at (and use drivers from) Norwood Garage because there is not enough space at Battersea for the larger VLAs. The VLAs were "borrowed" from Brixton Garage and used as an interim measure until new buses arrived. The route is now operated using new DWs. Battersea's buses, including those parked at Norwood, are maintained by Brixton staff and major work is carried out at Brixton Garage, which is why some of Brixton's older DWs may be seen on the route.The garage has recently been demolished, there is now a construction site.
Brixton (BN)
This garage holds 154 buses, and runs London bus routes 19London Buses route 19
London Buses route 19 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 59
London Buses route 59
London Buses route 59 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 137
London Buses route 137
London Buses route 137 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 319, and night service N19 and 24-hour route 159
London Buses route 159
London Buses route 159 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
.
History
Originally built as a depot
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
for cable trams which ran up Brixton Hill in 1892, it was re-built between 1904-1906 for use by electric trams. In 1993 it was extended onto a site formerly owned by the water board and containing a large water main, and then in 1949 reconstruction started to bury the main and convert the depot into one large building instead of two smaller ones. The last trams ran from the depot in 1951, by which time RT's had started to arrive and finally left in 1976. In 1971 Brixton became one of the first to receive DMS's and then M's in 1984. The garage also received the first production DAF/Wright Cadet single deckers in 2001. And to add to the list of firsts/lasts, Brixton had the responsibility for the last Routemasters in 'Normal' service in London. Crowds lined the route of RM 2217 as it made its way from Marble Arch
Marble Arch
Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument that now stands on a large traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane, and Edgware Road, almost directly opposite Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park in London, England...
to Brixton Garage, preceded by RM's 5 & 6 arriving just after 2pm on Friday 9 December. Now the garage has only double-decker buses, all the other single-decker buses have been transferred to other Arriva London garages. Routes 319, 59 are stored at Brixton Tram Shed when not needed they operatre from Brixton Garage. Route 2 operates from this garage when the victoria line closures are on.
On 28 November 2009, Battersea (BA) was shut down and the 19 was transferred to this garage.
London General have successfully gained the contract for routes 19 and N19 and from 31 March 2012 they will be operating them from their Stockwell (SW).
Bus types in use
- DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) for route 319. - Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(VLA) for route 159. - VDL DB300 10.4m / Wright Gemini 2Wright Gemini 2The Wright Gemini 2 is a double-decker bus built by Wrightbus since 2008. It was announced in December 2007 but was not named until 2008.It was constructed as an integral with VDL chassis modules. It is available in two versions, the diesel-powered version and the diesel-electric hybrid version...
(DW) for routes 59, 137 and 159. - DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Wright Pulsar GeminiWright Pulsar GeminiThe Wright Pulsar Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for VDL DB250 and used in the United Kingdom since 2003.It has been ordered almost exclusively by Arriva and largely in London, although several batches were ordered for use by Arriva subsidiaries outside London, and by smaller...
(DW) for routes 19, 59, 137 and N19.
Beddington Farm (CN)
History
A modern purpose built depot that is largely open air. Opened in 1990 by London Country, it ran 73 vehicles, although had space for 120. Beddington farm was to replace the existing garages at Godstone
Godstone
Godstone is a village in the county of Surrey, England. It is located approximately six miles east of Reigate at the junction of the A22 and A25 major roads, and near the M25 motorway.-History:...
and Chelsham
Chelsham
Chelsham is a village in Surrey in the borough of Tandridge. It is within the civil parish of Chelsham and Farleigh.The village lay within the Anglo-Saxon administrative division of Tandridge hundred....
and operated both LB tendered routes and existing London Country Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
area routes. Beddington Farm became a Londonlinks depot when the Non-London work moved away before coming under Arriva South. It was transferred to Arriva London in 1999 with six routes and buses painted Red, Green, or Blue. In 2007 Route 450 got transferred to Beddington Garage from Thornton Heath in a swap with route 289.
Abellio London has successfully gained the contract of route 455 and from 3 March 2012, they will operate it.
Arriva is planning to cease normal operations this depot by the 3rd March 2012, with the remaining routes transferred to other depots. The depot will be mothballed operationally, but will still house the southern training section and engineering works.
Bus types in use
- Dennis Dart SLF 9.3m / Plaxton Pointer 2 (PDL) for route 410.
- DAF SB120 9.2m / Wright CadetWright CadetThe Wright Cadet was a midibus body built by British coachbuilder Wrightbus, solely on the DAF/VDL SB120; it was sold via VDL dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. For a time, Volvo additionally sold the chassis/body combination, however the body was marketed as the Merit.The Cadet was replaced by the Wright...
(DWS) for route 410. - VDL SB120VDL SB120The VDL SB120 is a low-floor light-weight midibus produced from 1999 by VDL Bus International of the Netherlands primarily for the UK market....
10.1m / Wright CadetWright CadetThe Wright Cadet was a midibus body built by British coachbuilder Wrightbus, solely on the DAF/VDL SB120; it was sold via VDL dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. For a time, Volvo additionally sold the chassis/body combination, however the body was marketed as the Merit.The Cadet was replaced by the Wright...
(DWL) for route 455 and as trainers. - DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Wright Pulsar GeminiWright Pulsar GeminiThe Wright Pulsar Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for VDL DB250 and used in the United Kingdom since 2003.It has been ordered almost exclusively by Arriva and largely in London, although several batches were ordered for use by Arriva subsidiaries outside London, and by smaller...
(DW) for route 264. - DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.6m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) Trainer
Norwood (N)
This garage holds 143 buses, and runs London bus routes 2London Buses route 2
London Buses route 2 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:Route 2 was the last West End bus route that was operated by step-entrance buses other than Routemasters...
, 133
London Buses route 133
London Buses route 133 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 249, 415, 417, 432, 24-hour route 176
London Buses route 176
London Buses route 176 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, school route 690 and night routes N2 and N137.
History
Norwood was opened in 1909 by the LGOC. The garage has had a steady allocation over the years and in 1951 took over some ove the vehicle for the Festival of Britain services from the nearby Norwood Tram Depot. In 1981 the garage underwent complete reconstruction, with the buses and staff being transferred temporarily to the reopened Clapham Garage until 1984. The allocation has mainly been Leyland Olympians, a couple of which still remain, and Routemasters until recently when new DLA's were allocated in its completely double-deck allocation which included the NC Palatine-bodied Olympians which came with the operation of the former LondonLinks routes 176/188. The garage previously supplied some buses and drivers for route 19 following the conversion from RM operation but this ceased with the closure of BA, with the whole of the route transferring to BN. Early in 2008 it started operating new route 415 which runs from Tulse Hill to Elephant & Castle via Brixton and Oval. From 23 January 2010 it gained route 133.
London General have successfully gained the contract for route 249 and from 31 March 2012 they will be operating it from their Merton (AL) garage.
Bus types in use
- Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (T) for route 133.
- DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) for routes 249, 415 and 690. - Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(VLA) for routes 249, 415 and 432. - Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10.6m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(VLA) for routes 2, 176, 415, 417, N2 and N137.
Croydon (TC)
This garage holds 119 buses, and runs London bus routes 50London Buses route 50
London Buses route 50 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 60
London Buses route 60
London Buses route 60 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 166
London Buses route 166
London Buses route 166 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 194
London Buses route 194
London Buses route 194 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 197
London Buses route 197
London Buses route 197 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London....
, 312, 403, 412, 466
London Buses route 466
London Buses route 466 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:Route 466 is similar to the original route 166...
, T31, school routes 405, 627, 685 and night route N133.
History
Built by the LGOC in 1915, the garage was handed over to Thomas Tilling on opening as part of an agreement between the two operators. The garage had to have roof reconstruction in the early 1930s to allow roofed double deckers to use the garage and was totally destroyed in 1941 after an air raid which also killed four staff and destroyed 56 buses. The reconstruction was finally completed in the mid-1950s. RT's mainly monopolised the garage until the arrival of RMs in 1964 and RMLs in 1967. 1969 saw the arrival of the experimental XA's
Leyland Atlantean
The Leyland Atlantean is a model of double-decker bus built by Leyland in the United Kingdom from 1958 to 1986....
and later FRM1 would be tested on route 233. When the XA's departed in 1973 they were replaced by DMS's which lasted until January 1993. LS's started to arrive in the late 1970s and M's in 1985 until they were replaced by L's. When Elmers End closed a reshuffle took place with the RM's departing and the garage became fully OPO, and later in 1994 the garage became fully double deck with the departure of the last LS. At this stage, allocation flitted between Ls, Ms and Ts. In September 2005 the garage swapped the numbers and routes around a little bit. As well as losing the routes X68, 68, 468, N68 to London Central
London Central
London Central is one of many operators of London Buses. It was established in late 1988 as one of 12 operating subsidiaries of London Buses Limited , and was privatised to the Go-Ahead Group in September 1994...
, a sight of DW has only been possible since an allocation was introduced from South Croydon garage last year - before the loss of route N68 the whole allocation was from Thornton Heath garage with DLAs, and indeed the bulk of the allocation still is. Buses from other garages can be seen running to and from the garage, including VLAs and DLAs from Brixton. In emergencies, the odd London Central
London Central
London Central is one of many operators of London Buses. It was established in late 1988 as one of 12 operating subsidiaries of London Buses Limited , and was privatised to the Go-Ahead Group in September 1994...
Volvo from South Croydon (on route 468/X68) can be seen at the garage.
On 29 October 2011, routes 403, 405 (school service) and 627 was transferred to this garage from Beddington Farm (CN).
Bus types in use
- DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) for routes 60 and 197. - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (T) for routes 50, 466 and N133.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (ENL) for routes 166 and T31.
- Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m / Plaxton Pointer 2 (PDL) for route 312.
- DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Wright Pulsar GeminiWright Pulsar GeminiThe Wright Pulsar Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for VDL DB250 and used in the United Kingdom since 2003.It has been ordered almost exclusively by Arriva and largely in London, although several batches were ordered for use by Arriva subsidiaries outside London, and by smaller...
(DW) for routes 50, 194, 403, 405, 412, 627 and 685.
Thornton Heath (TH)
This garage holds 97 buses, and runs London bus routes 109London Buses route 109
London Buses route 109 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-1950s:...
, 198, 255, 289, 450, 24-hour route 250, and night route N109.
History
Originally opened as the garage for the first horse tramway in Croydon in 1879 it was later rebuilt as an electric tram depot in 1901. Initially it could house 26 trams, but was extended the following year to take 43 cars. TH was earmarked for closure as a tram depot for reconstruction at the tram replacement program of 1950–1952, but actually shut before the last tram finished with the work and staff moving to Purley. Buses were starting to operate from the new garage before reconstruction was complete in 1951 with 54 RT's, just half of its capacity. Routemasters arrived in the early 1960s bringing it up to 84 buses. The RT's lasted until 1976, outlasting the RM's which were replaced by DMS's in 1971, although they did return between 1976–1978 and 1982–1987 when the garage became entirely OPO. By 1994 the garage was worked almost entirely by Leyland Olympian
Leyland Olympian
The Leyland Olympian was a double-decker bus built by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production before the demise of Leyland Bus.-Construction:...
s & MCW Metrobuses with a few Darts
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
& MCW Metrorider
MCW Metrorider
The MCW Metrorider, launched by MCW at the 1986 Motor Show, was a midibus designed built by Metro Cammell Weymann between 1986 and 1989. Constructed in two lengths, 7.0 m and 8.4 m, the Metrorider was an integral bus, marking it out from its van-based rivals of the time.It was the second...
s. There was also a period where the then South London Transport regularly transferred vehicles about, and, whilst TH retained its Olympians throughout, they were joined not only by Metrobuses, but also Titans. Thornton Heath also briefly flirted with SR-class StarRiders, as well as sharing vehicle evaluation duties with Bromley for the DA/SA classes of vehicle, operating SA1 From October 1989 to February 1990 before swapping it for DA1, which stayed here for a further 6 months before being moved to Westlink. Nowadays the fleet consists of Enviro400s, DLAs, PDLs and DWLs. In 2007, route 289 got transferred to Thornton Heath Garage from Beddington in a swap with route 450. On 1 October 2011, route 450 was transferred to this garage. Route 410 is scheduled to be transferred to this garage from Beddington.
Bus types in use
- DAF DB250LFVDL DB250The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
10.2m / Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(DLA) for routes 109, 198, 250, 289 and N109. - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (T) for routes 198 and 250.
- DAF SB120VDL SB120The VDL SB120 is a low-floor light-weight midibus produced from 1999 by VDL Bus International of the Netherlands primarily for the UK market....
10.1m / Wright CadetWright CadetThe Wright Cadet was a midibus body built by British coachbuilder Wrightbus, solely on the DAF/VDL SB120; it was sold via VDL dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. For a time, Volvo additionally sold the chassis/body combination, however the body was marketed as the Merit.The Cadet was replaced by the Wright...
(DWL) for routes 255 and 289. - Dennis Dart SLF 9.3m / Alexander Dennis Pointer (PDL) for route 450.
- Dennis Dart SLF 10.7m / Plaxton Pointer 2 (PDL) for route 289.
The Heritage Fleet
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
. It uses Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
s for private hire work, and was formed after Routemasters in London were withdrawn from normal service.
History
The world-famous LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Routemaster bus was withdrawn from normal London service on December 9, 2005, after the vehicle type was introduced some 50 years earlier. Arriva operated the last service to be operated by Routemasters, which was route 159
London Buses route 159
London Buses route 159 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
. The last day was celebrated by many enthusiasts and visitors, with extra vehicles running.
Following this, Arriva London collected some of the most significant Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
s in their fleet, and set up the Heritage Fleet in early 2006.
Current operations
The Heritage Fleet currently offer their vehicles for private hire, such as events celebration and weddings. The buses can also be hired to attend other public events, and often the buses appear at bus events, such as Showbus or the LBPT Cobham bus rally.Fleet
The Heritage Fleet is made up of 9 unique examples RoutemasterRoutemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
s. As Arriva were the biggest operator of Routemasters before they were withdrawn from normal services, they operated some of the most significant Routemasters. These include;
- RM5: This is the lowest numbered production Routemaster, although RM8 was actually built first.
- RM6: In 2002, this Routemaster was painted in a gold livery to celebrate the Queen's jubilee, the livery of which it now wears.
- RML901: This was part of the first batch of 24 RMLs (Routemaster Lengthened) to enter service.
- RM1124: This was retained as it contains a CumminsCumminsCummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
Euro II engine, meaning it already meets emission standards to be set for London. - RMC1453: This was the first production Green LineGreen Line CoachesGreen Line is a commuter coach brand in the Home Counties of England. It is owned by the Arriva group.Green Line has its origin in the network of coach services established by the London General Omnibus Company in the 1920s and 1930s...
Routemaster Coach. - RMC1464: This is an open top bus, so is popular for private hires.
- RM2217: The last production standard length Routemaster built. This bus was the last bus to finish service on route 159 when Routemasters were withdrawn.
- RML2355: This is still in the condition as when it left service, but is awaiting restoration. It is unusual in retaining its original body and chassis after the Routemaster overhaul scheme.
- RML2360: This is being looked after for the London Transport Museum. It has been converted inside for exhibition use.
See also
- List of bus operators of the United Kingdom
- London Bus photosite, containing many Arriva (and other) pictures.