First London
Encyclopedia
First London is one of many operators of London Buses
London 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...
and owned by First Group. They did also run the Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
network, in a partnership with Tramtrack Croydon before June 2008. Their registered office is at Paddington station
Paddington station
Paddington railway station, also known as London Paddington, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex.The site is a historic one, having served as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway and its successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station dates...
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...
. First London is a widely known bus company in west and north west 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...
, as nearly all the routes in that area are operated by First London.
First London has the operator with the third largest number of London Buses
London 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...
routes, after 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...
(1st place), and Arriva London
Arriva London
Arriva London is a division of Arriva which operates bus services in London, UK. It is made up of many previous bus operators including previously independent Grey Green...
(2nd place).
Company history
First entered bus operations in 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...
in 1997 after acquiring Centrewest and Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus was a major bus operator for London Buses in North and East London. The company was eventually sold to First in 1998. Capital Citybus is not to be confused with the other former London bus and coach operator Capital Logistics, for whom in 1999 it provided amongst others relief buses...
in 1998. More recently, the two divisions have been re-organised into one brand, "First London", split into two areas: First London West (the former Centrewest) and First London East (the former Capital area). Local identities, such as the old "First Gold Arrow" and "First Challenger" Centrewest brands have also been discarded in favour of the simpler "First" identity. First Berkshire's (the former First Beeline) operations have also been transferred to First London management.
Legally, operations are split between three registered companies. They all share the same main address.
Dagenham (DM)
This garage holds 101 buses, and runs London bus routes 58London Buses route 58
London Buses route 58 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
(Friday), 165
London Buses route 165
London Buses route 165 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
, 179, 193, 252, 365, 368, 498, school routes 370, 608, 646, 648, 652, 656, 679, 686 and Essex route 265.
History
They previously operated a garage in RomfordRomford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
(Harold Wood) which closed in 2004, and was an outstation of Dagenham.
On 26 March 2011, First Capital Successfully gained the contract for route 368 and are now operating it from this garage.
From 3 September 2011, First Capital successfully gained the contract for routes 608 and 648 and are now operating them from this garage.
Bus types in use
- Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m / Marshall CapitalMarshall CapitalThe Marshall Capital was a single-decker bus body built by Marshall between 1997 and 2003. It was typically placed on the Dennis Dart SLF chassis, but it was also built on other chassis and used to rebody older chassis....
(DMS) for route 193. - Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m / Marshall CapitalMarshall CapitalThe Marshall Capital was a single-decker bus body built by Marshall between 1997 and 2003. It was typically placed on the Dennis Dart SLF chassis, but it was also built on other chassis and used to rebody older chassis....
(DML) for routes 646, 648, 953 and 958. - Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
9.9m & 10.5m / 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...
(TN/TNL) for routes 58, 370, 608, 652, 656, 679 and 686. - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (DN) for routes 165, 179, 252, 265 (Essex), 365 and 498.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (DML) for routes 165, 368, and 498.
First Capital North Ltd
First Capital North Ltd operates two bus garages - one in Hackney WickHackney Wick
Hackney Wick is an area straddling the boundary between the London Borough of Hackney and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in east London. It is an inner-city development situated 5 miles northeast of Charing Cross...
and one in Northumberland Park
Northumberland Park, London
Northumberland Park is a suburb near Tottenham, in Haringey, London, England. It is served by Northumberland Park railway station....
.
Lea Interchange (LI)
This garage holds 129 buses, and runs London bus routes 26London Buses route 26
London Buses route 26 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
, 30
London Buses route 30
London Buses route 30 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:Route 30 commenced operation on 8 May 1911 between Kings Cross and Fulham Cross...
, 58
London Buses route 58
London Buses route 58 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
, 308, 309, 339, RV1
London Buses route RV1
London Buses route RV1 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Prior to its launch, the service was promoted as Riverside Bus, and was intended to open up the south bank of riverside London, connecting visitor attractions such as the Tower of London, the Tate Modern, the...
, W11, 24-hour routes 25
London Buses route 25
London Buses route 25 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
, 236
London Buses route 236
London Buses route 236 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
, night bus N26 and school route 686.
History
The garage was opened in 2007 to replace the original depot in Waterden Road that was closed to due development of the Olympic Park for London 2012. The original Waterden Road depot was opened in 1996 to cope with the tender wins in the StratfordStratford, London
Stratford is a place in the London Borough of Newham, England. It is located east northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an agrarian settlement in the ancient parish of West Ham, which transformed into an industrial suburb...
area on a former industrial site. In 2004 the garage received Mercedes-Benz Citaro Hydrogen 'Fuel Cell' buses for evaluation on route 25
London Buses route 25
London Buses route 25 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
and subsequently on route RV1
London Buses route RV1
London Buses route RV1 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Prior to its launch, the service was promoted as Riverside Bus, and was intended to open up the south bank of riverside London, connecting visitor attractions such as the Tower of London, the Tate Modern, the...
.
On 25 June 2011, First Capital successfully gained the contracts of routes 25, 26, 30 and N26 and operating them from this garage.
In June 2011, VDL SB200
VDL SB200
The VDL SB200 is a light-weight 12m citybus produced from 2001 by VDL Bus International...
11.9m/Wright Pulsar
Wright Pulsar
The Wright Pulsar is a bus body built by Wrightbus for the VDL SB200 lightweight bus chassis. It is the replacement for the "Classic" style Commander, Merit and Cadet....
Hydrogen powered (WSH) for route RV1, where temporarily withdrawn following a fire on one of the fleet.
Arriva London, have successfully gained the contract of route W11 and from 3 March 2012 they will operate it.
CT Plus, has successfully gained the contract for route 309 and from 3 March 2012, they will be operating it from their Ash Grove (HK) garage.
First Capital has successfully gain the contract for route W14 and from 25 February 2012, they will be operating it from this garage.
First Capital has successfully gain the contract for route W15 and from 3 March 2012, they will be operating it from this garage.
On 17 September 2011, Dockland Buses gained the contracts for routes D6, D7 and D8 and are now being operated from their Silvertown (SI) garage.
Bus types in use
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 9.3m (DM) for route 339.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (DML) for route RV1.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (DN) for routes 26, 30 and N26.
- Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m / Caetano NimbusCaetano NimbusThe Caetano Nimbus was a bus body built by Salvador Caetano in Waterlooville, Hampshire, England, between 1999 and 2007. It was constructed exclusively on the Dennis Dart SLF....
(DMC) for routes 236 and 308. - Dennis Dart SLF 9.4m / Marshall Capital (DM) for routes 309 and W11.
- Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m / Marshall CapitalMarshall CapitalThe Marshall Capital was a single-decker bus body built by Marshall between 1997 and 2003. It was typically placed on the Dennis Dart SLF chassis, but it was also built on other chassis and used to rebody older chassis....
(DML) for routes 236 and 308. - VDL SB200VDL SB200The VDL SB200 is a light-weight 12m citybus produced from 2001 by VDL Bus International...
11.9m / Wright PulsarWright PulsarThe Wright Pulsar is a bus body built by Wrightbus for the VDL SB200 lightweight bus chassis. It is the replacement for the "Classic" style Commander, Merit and Cadet....
Hydrogen powered (WSH) for route RV1. - Volvo B9TLVolvo B9TLThe Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo Buses since 2002. It superseded the older Volvo B10TL and the Volvo B7TL.-Chassis:...
10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 (VN) for routes 25, 58 and 686. - Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart to introduced on routes 308, W14 and W15 from March 2012.
Northumberland Park (NP)
This garage holds 125 buses, and runs London bus routes 58London Buses route 58
London Buses route 58 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
(Friday), 67, 191, 231, 259, 299
London Buses route 299
London Buses route 299 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Capital.-History:...
, 357, 389, 399, 476, W4, W10, school routes 616, 692 and 699.
History
The garage was opened in 1991 to house the WalthamstowWalthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
Citybus operation, an offshoot of Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus was a major bus operator for London Buses in North and East London. The company was eventually sold to First in 1998. Capital Citybus is not to be confused with the other former London bus and coach operator Capital Logistics, for whom in 1999 it provided amongst others relief buses...
, the operation steadily grew especially after the collapse of 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...
company. Capital Citybus was bought out by the management team in late 1995, and subsequently by First Group in 1998 becoming First Capital.
On 5 February 2011, First Capital successfully gained the contract for route W4.
First Capital have successfully gained the contract for route W16 and from 3 March 2012, they will be operating it from this garage.
Bus types in use
- Dennis Dart SLF 9.4m / Marshall CapitalMarshall CapitalThe Marshall Capital was a single-decker bus body built by Marshall between 1997 and 2003. It was typically placed on the Dennis Dart SLF chassis, but it was also built on other chassis and used to rebody older chassis....
(DM) for routes 357 (Suns) and W10. - Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (DN) for routes 191 and 231.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 8.9m (DMS) for route W4
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 9.3m (DM) for routes 299, 389 and 399.
- Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
9.9m / 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...
(TN) for routes 58, 357, 616 and 853. - Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
10.5m / 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...
(TNL) for routes 692 and 699. - 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 / 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...
(VNL) for route 67. - Volvo B9TLVolvo B9TLThe Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo Buses since 2002. It superseded the older Volvo B10TL and the Volvo B7TL.-Chassis:...
10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 (VN) for routes 259 and 476. - Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart to be introduced on route W16 from March 2012.
First Centrewest London Buses Ltd
First Centrewest London Buses Ltd operate 7 bus garages in Atlas Road, AlpertonAlperton
Alperton is a district in the London Borough of Brent in northwest London.There is a high incidence of Indians living in Alperton . There is also a small Sri Lankan community in Alperton , and 10% stated as others....
, Greenford
Greenford
Greenford is a large suburb in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, UK. It was historically an ancient parish in the former county of Middlesex. The most prominent landmarks in the suburb are the A40, a major dual-carriageway; Horsenden Hill, above sea level; the small Parish Church of...
, Hayes
Hayes, Hillingdon
Hayes is a town in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. It is a suburban development situated west of Charing Cross. Hayes was developed in the late 19th and 20th centuries as an industrial locality to which residential districts were later added in order to house factory workers...
, Uxbridge
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
, Westbourne Park
Westbourne Park
Westbourne Park may refer to:* Westbourne Park tube station* Westbourne Park, South Australia...
and Willesden Junction.
Atlas Road (AS)
The Atlas Road garage runs London bus routes 28London Buses route 28
London Buses route 28 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, 31
London Buses route 31
London Buses route 31 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, 328
London Buses route 328
London Buses route 328 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
and night routes N28 and N31.
History
On 1 October 2011, routes 28, 31, 328, N28 and N31 was transferred to this garage from Westbourne Park (X) due to the Crossrail construction. However, Atlas Road operates as an outstation for Westbourne Park, so Westbourne Park buses may been seen on Atlas Road routes, and Atlas Road vehicles may been seen on Westbourne Park Routes in return.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 / 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....
(VNW) for routes 28, 31, 328, N28 and N31. - Volvo B7TL 10.6m / Wright Eclipse Gemini (VNZ) for route 28.
- 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...
10.4m (WNH) for route 328.
Greenford (G)
The Greenford garage holds 107 buses, and runs London bus routes 92, 95, 282, E1London Buses route E1
London Buses route E1 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, E3
London Buses route E3
London Buses route E3 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, E5, E7, E9 and E10.
History
Greenford bus depot is part of a local council depot and was first used in 1993 as a midibus base. The opening of Greenford garage led to the closure of Hanwell, and in 1995 the garage was operating 110 midibuses. The standard fare of vehicles in the late 1990s were Renault/Wright midibuses, and Marshall Minibuses but both types had a bad reputation and did not last long. In recent years the allocation has been much diverse, ranging from MarshallMarshall Bus
Marshall Bus was a British bus manufacturer between 1992 and 2002. The company's most popular product was the Marshall Capital, which was a single-decker bus body built between 1997 and 2003...
-bodied Darts to Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
/Plaxton
Plaxton
Plaxton is a builder of bus and coach vehicle bodies based in Scarborough, England.-History:The Plaxton of today is the successor to a business founded in Scarborough in 1907 by Frederick William Plaxton.-Beginnings:...
vehicles.
From late 2003 until 14 March 2009 Ealing Community Transport
Ealing Community Transport
Ealing Community Transport is an English social enterprise which provides various services, including recycling and community transport as well as being one of many operators of London Buses...
operated London route - 195 from the Greenford depot using garage code EY.
On 13 November 2010, route 92 was transferred to this garage.
On 2 July 2011, Metroline
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:...
won the contract of route 105 and are operating it from Perivale West (PA).
Bus types in use
- Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
9.9m / 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...
(TN) for route 282. - Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (DML) for routes 95, E7 and E9.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 8.9m (DMS) for routes E5 and E10.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro 400Alexander Dennis Enviro 400The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus built by Alexander Dennis from late 2005. It is designed as the replacement of the Alexander ALX400 body....
10.1m (DN) for routes E1 and E3. - 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 / 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....
(VNZ) for route 92. - Volvo B9TLVolvo B9TLThe Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo Buses since 2002. It superseded the older Volvo B10TL and the Volvo B7TL.-Chassis:...
10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 (VN) to be introduced on route 92 from December 2011.
Hayes (HS)
The Hayes garage holds 50 buses, and runs London bus route 195London Buses route 195
London Buses route 195 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, UK. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, 207
London Buses route 207
London Buses route 207 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, 427
London Buses route 427
London Buses route 427 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
and Night bus N207.
On 13 November 2010, route 195 was transferred to this garage.
Bus types in use
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (DML) for route 195.
- Mercedes-Benz O530G Citaro (articulated) 18m (EA) for route 207
- Volvo B9TLVolvo B9TLThe Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo Buses since 2002. It superseded the older Volvo B10TL and the Volvo B7TL.-Chassis:...
10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 (VN) for route 427 and N207. - Scania OmniCityScania OmniCityThe Scania OmniCity is an integrally-constructed transverse-engined low floor citybus available on the European market. The OmniCity is a complete product built in Poland by Scania AB, a company based in Sweden....
10.6m (SN) to be introduced on route 207 from 10 December 2011.
Alperton (ON)
London Buses route 224
London Buses route 224 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, UK. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:Route 224 was introduced on 24 February 1990 using MCW Metrobus double-deckers...
, 245
London Buses route 245
London Buses route 245 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
and 24-hour route 83
London Buses route 83
London Buses route 83 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
.
History
It was one of three garages built by the LPTB, and the only one to survive, Alperton Garage opened in June 1939, adjacent to the Piccadilly Line station of the same name, to serve the extensive local area that had built up in the mid 1930s.When it opened it had an allocation entirely of STL's which were reshuffled from Cricklewood
Cricklewood
Cricklewood is a district of North London, England whose northeastern part is in the London Borough of Barnet, western part is the London Borough of Brent and southeastern part is in London Borough of Camden.-History:...
, Hanwell
Hanwell
Hanwell is a town situated in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, between Ealing and Southall. The motto of Hanwell Urban District Council was Nec Aspera Terrent...
, Harrow Weald
Harrow Weald
Harrow Weald is an area in north-west London, England. It includes a suburban development and forms part of the London Borough of Harrow.-Locale, geography and history:...
, and Willesden
Willesden
Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...
garages. As Alperton was a new garage and had plenty of headroom it was one of the few garages able to take utility Guy Arabs, and at one stage these made up its complete allocation and lasted until 1954 when they were replaced by STLs.
By 1972 with the arrival of numerous AEC MB and SM class single deck buses to operate the numerous OMO services, and the further allocation of Daimler Fleetline
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...
DMS, parking space was becoming a problem. It therefore became necessary to park a dozen or so buses on nearby Glacier Metals' car park overnight. The garage was consequently enlarged between 1976–1978, which encompassed the adjacent former Underground substation, and the LT Lifts and Escalators department which had to move out to new premises. During the reconstruction works, 18 vehicles were outstationed at Stonebridge (SE).
The last 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:...
buses were transferred out in 1975, and until the beginning of the 1980s, Alperton had an entirely RM
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...
and 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...
allocation. The first MCW Metrobuses
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...
arrived in 1981, and gradually replaced the DMS on all the OPO routes, and would become the mainstay of the fleet for many years.
Following the September 1982 service reductions, all the remaining RMs were transferred away to other garages, route 187
187
Year 187 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Quintius and Aelianus...
and 83
83
Year 83 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Rufus...
being one manned at the same time. Replacement Metrobuses were allocated to make up the allocation (mainly used vehicles from Edgware (EW), Hanwell (HL), and Fulwell (FW), making the garage all Metrobus.
By 1995 Alperton was doing most of the maintenance for the Centrewest operation and had also become the home of the training fleet.
On 26 november 2011, Metroline have won the contract for route 79 and they are now operating it from their Perivale (East) garage.
Bus types in use
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 9.3m (DM) to be introduced on route 223 from December 2011.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (DML) for route 245.
- Dennis Dart SLF 9.4m / Marshall CapitalMarshall CapitalThe Marshall Capital was a single-decker bus body built by Marshall between 1997 and 2003. It was typically placed on the Dennis Dart SLF chassis, but it was also built on other chassis and used to rebody older chassis....
(DM) for route 223. - Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m / Marshall CapitalMarshall CapitalThe Marshall Capital was a single-decker bus body built by Marshall between 1997 and 2003. It was typically placed on the Dennis Dart SLF chassis, but it was also built on other chassis and used to rebody older chassis....
(DML) for route 224. - Volvo B9TLVolvo B9TLThe Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo Buses since 2002. It superseded the older Volvo B10TL and the Volvo B7TL.-Chassis:...
10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 (VN) for routes 83.
Uxbridge (UX)
The Uxbridge garage was built for 76 buses, however holds 88, and runs London bus routes 331London Buses route 331
London Buses route 331 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, 607
London Buses route 607
London Buses route 607 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, A10
London Buses route A10
London Buses Airbus routes describes the dedicated routes run by London Buses and its successors to Heathrow Airport. The routes have the prefix letter A. Currently only one route exists, the A10, with four others having been withdrawn.-Route A10:...
, U1, U2, U3, U4, U5, U10, and night route N207.
History
The original Uxbridge Garage was around half a mile out of town on the Oxford road and was built by the LGOC in 1921, but passed to Thames Valley a year later. The garage was taken back by the LGOC in 1929 to work its new local routes which were operated mainly by single deckers. An extension was added in the late 1940s and a new garage was planned, although work didn't begin until the 1980s. The new garage came into commission in late 1983 and is situated next to the underground stationUxbridge tube station
Uxbridge is a London Underground station in Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, north-west London. The station is the terminus of the Uxbridge branches of both the Metropolitan Line and the Piccadilly Line. The next station towards London is Hillingdon. The station is 15.5 miles west of...
occupying the lower ground floor of a multi use building. In 1989 the garage began operating the U-Line network of local routes using 16 seater Mercedes Alexander midibuses (MA's) in an initiative by London Transport
London Regional Transport
London Regional Transport was the organisation responsible for the public transport network in Greater London, UK from 1984-2000. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.The organisation was...
. The growth of use of the U-Line services over the years since 1989 has meant that larger buses have been put into service on these routes, in particular the U4 which has seen upgrades from MA's to DML's (older Marshall versions) to the current fleet of double deck TN's. The garage also operated the busy 207
London Buses route 207
London Buses route 207 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
and (since 1991) the express version 607
607
Year 607 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 607 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* August 1 – Prince Shotoku of Japan...
from Uxbridge
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
into Shepherds Bush (extended to White City Bus Station/Westfield shopping centre since January 2009). In 1994 the garage was allocated some of London's first low-floor single decker, Dennis Lance SLF/Wright
Wrightbus
Wrightbus is an independent coachbuilder and pioneer of the low-floor bus. Based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, it was established in 1946 by Robert Wright and currently run by his son William Wright.-History:...
-bodied vehicles (LLW's) with Centrewest branding for the then operated route 222.
Bus types in use
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (DML) for routes 331, A10, U1, U5 and U10.
- Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
9.9m / 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...
(TN) for routes U3 and U4. - Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
10.5m / 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...
(TNL) for route 607 and N207. - Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m / Caetano NimbusCaetano NimbusThe Caetano Nimbus was a bus body built by Salvador Caetano in Waterlooville, Hampshire, England, between 1999 and 2007. It was constructed exclusively on the Dennis Dart SLF....
(DMC) for routes U2 and U3.
Westbourne Park (X)
The Westbourne Park garage holds 181 buses, and runs London bus routes 9 (Heritage)London Buses route 9 (Heritage)
London Buses route 9 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.It is a short working of the standard route 9...
and 24-hour routes 23
London Buses route 23
London Buses route 23 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest....
, 295.
History
Westbourne Park Garage was part of the re-construction programme undertaken by London TransportLondon Transport (brand)
London Transport was the public name and brand used by a series of public transport authorities in London, England, from 1933. Its most recognisable feature was the bar-and-circle 'roundel' logo...
in the early 1980s. As was common practice at the time, the new garage replaced two older garages - the small and inadequate Middle Row (X), and the larger former trolley bus depot at Stonebridge (SE). The new garage, which opened in 1981 in Great Western Road, and is of unusual design in that it is built beneath the elevated A40 Westway, the roof of the garage being profiled to match the concrete flyover. Originally, the garage allocation consisted of RM
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...
, and a small number of DM
DM
-Academia:* Doctor of Management, an academic management degree* Doctorate in Medicine, an academic medical degree* Doctor of Music, an academic music-performance degree, also known as D.M.A-Science:* Adamsite, a chemical agent used in riot control...
to B20 "quiet" specification for Route 18. These were supplemented in 1983 by a number of Leyland Titan
Leyland Titan (B15)
The Leyland Titan was a model of double-decker bus produced by the Leyland Truck & Bus division of British Leyland from 1977 until 1984, almost exclusively for London Transport.-Development:...
of T class for comparative trials.
In 2006, an arson attack destroyed around ten buses.
On 1 October 2011, routes 28, 31, 328, N28 and N31 transferred to the new Atlas Road (AS) garage.
Bus types in use
- AEC Routemaster (RM) for route 9H.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m (DN) for route 23.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro400H hybrid to be introduced on route 23 from April 2012.
- Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
10.5m/Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(TNA) for routes 23 and 295. - Dennis Trident 2 9.9m/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...
(TN) for route 295. - Volvo B9TLVolvo B9TLThe Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo Buses since 2002. It superseded the older Volvo B10TL and the Volvo B7TL.-Chassis:...
10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 (VN) to be introduced on route 295 from December 2011.
- Wright Gemini 2 DLWright 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...
(WN) 10.4m for route 23.
Willesden Junction (WJ)
London Buses route 18
London Buses route 18 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, 187, 226
London Buses route 226
London Buses route 226 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:When the 226 began in the early 1950s it was very different from the way it is today...
, 228, 487 and Night route N18.
History
On 13 November 2010, N18 was transferred to this garage following the withdrawal of articulated buses from the day 18.Bus types in use
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m (DML) for routes 187, 226, 228 and 487.
- Volvo B9TLVolvo B9TLThe Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo Buses since 2002. It superseded the older Volvo B10TL and the Volvo B7TL.-Chassis:...
10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 (VN) for route 18 and N18.