London Buses route 124
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 124 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London
.
was double-decked and re-numbered 124. The re-numbering of the route into the 100+ series was required by London Transport at the time. Route numbers in the 200+ series were reserved for single-deck routes. This was the third time that the route number 124 had been used in London.
By 1949 the 124 used to run from Forest Hill railway station to Eltham via Perry Vale, Woolstone Road, Catford
and carried on with the current route to Eltham. This service was run by RT type
buses. In 1955, Monday to Friday peak times only, the route was extended to Blackfen
from Eltham. In 1960 the peak services were diverted to Falconwood
Parade, instead of Blackfen, and Sunday afternoon services extended to Bexley
Hospital. Later in the same year the Sunday service was renamed 124A due to different routeing at Avery Hill.
In 1963 the 124 was extended yet again from Eltham to Woolwich
Parsons Hill (Monday - Saturday) via Falconwood, Welling
, Wickham Road, Plumstead
Corner and Plumstead railway station
, due to suspended 126 and 195. In 1968 the Saturday service between Welling and Woolwich was withdrawn.
In 1972 the service converted to double deck one person operation, and Monday to Friday am peaks between Plumstead and Woolwich. But in 1977 this part was completely axed. In 1983 Leyland Titans
started to be used on the 124. In 1983 one floor buses started to be used and in June 1987 the established part between Forest Hill
and Catford was completely withdrawn, leaving the service Catford - Eltham Station/Eltham Southend Crescent/Avery Hill/Welling/Bexley Hospital, the forest hill section was re-assigned to the re-routed 108B.
1990 saw the route converted to midibus operation and diverted at Mottingham
via Middle Park Avenue and Kingsground, instead of Court road direct. The stand at Southend Crescent was used at all times not just shopping hours and the route had been taken over by Selkent
(later Stagecoach London
). In 1994 the 124 was simplified having only two 'last stops', Catford and Southend Crescent in Eltham. 1999 saw the route converted to Dennis Dart
/Plaxton Pointer
operation. In 2001 low floor operation commenced and in 2005 the contract was kept by Stagecoach (or from 2006 onwards Selkent).
There was also
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...
contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to 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...
.
History
Today's 124 commenced operation on 4 May 1938 when the single-deck route 209 between Eltham (Southend Crescent) and Forest HillForest Hill railway station
Forest Hill railway station is situated in Forest Hill, part of the London Borough of Lewisham. The station is located on the South Circular Road ....
was double-decked and re-numbered 124. The re-numbering of the route into the 100+ series was required by London Transport at the time. Route numbers in the 200+ series were reserved for single-deck routes. This was the third time that the route number 124 had been used in London.
By 1949 the 124 used to run from Forest Hill railway station to Eltham via Perry Vale, Woolstone Road, Catford
Catford
Catford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
and carried on with the current route to Eltham. This service was run by RT type
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. In 1955, Monday to Friday peak times only, the route was extended to Blackfen
Blackfen
Blackfen is a largely residential area of Sidcup in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London; and makes part of the electoral ward of Blackfen and Lamorbey Ward along with Lamorbey. It is situated 10.2 miles east south-east of Charing Cross. The word "Blackfen" means a black, marshy area...
from Eltham. In 1960 the peak services were diverted to Falconwood
Falconwood
-Southeastern Train Services:Nearest Train Stations* Falconwood railway station, Lingfield Crescent, Eltham, London, SE9 2RN.* Eltham railway station, Well Hall Road, Eltham, London, SE9 6SL....
Parade, instead of Blackfen, and Sunday afternoon services extended to Bexley
Bexley
Bexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...
Hospital. Later in the same year the Sunday service was renamed 124A due to different routeing at Avery Hill.
In 1963 the 124 was extended yet again from Eltham to Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
Parsons Hill (Monday - Saturday) via Falconwood, Welling
Welling
Welling is a district in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London. It is a suburban development situated between Shooter's Hill and Bexleyheath north of the A2 road and 10.5 miles east south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
, Wickham Road, Plumstead
Plumstead
Plumstead is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. Plumstead is a multi cultural area with large Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities, in similarity to local areas such as Woolwich and Thamesmead...
Corner and Plumstead railway station
Plumstead railway station
Plumstead railway station serves the suburb of Plumstead, in the London Borough of Greenwich, east of Woolwich Arsenal. It is served by Southeastern....
, due to suspended 126 and 195. In 1968 the Saturday service between Welling and Woolwich was withdrawn.
In 1972 the service converted to double deck one person operation, and Monday to Friday am peaks between Plumstead and Woolwich. But in 1977 this part was completely axed. In 1983 Leyland Titans
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:...
started to be used on the 124. In 1983 one floor buses started to be used and in June 1987 the established part between Forest Hill
Forest Hill, London
Forest Hill is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It situated between Dulwich and Sydenham. The area has enjoyed extensive investment since plans to extend the East London Line to Forest Hill were unveiled in 2004....
and Catford was completely withdrawn, leaving the service Catford - Eltham Station/Eltham Southend Crescent/Avery Hill/Welling/Bexley Hospital, the forest hill section was re-assigned to the re-routed 108B.
1990 saw the route converted to midibus operation and diverted at Mottingham
Mottingham
Mottingham is a district of south London, England; located at the convergence of the London Borough of Bromley, the London Borough of Lewisham and the London Borough of Greenwich...
via Middle Park Avenue and Kingsground, instead of Court road direct. The stand at Southend Crescent was used at all times not just shopping hours and the route had been taken over by Selkent
Selkent
Selkent, or the South East London & Kent Bus Company Ltd, is one of many operators of bus services contracted to Transport for London. It is currently owned by Stagecoach Group, as part of Stagecoach London....
(later 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...
). In 1994 the 124 was simplified having only two 'last stops', Catford and Southend Crescent in Eltham. 1999 saw the route converted to Dennis Dart
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....
/Plaxton Pointer
Plaxton Pointer
The Plaxton Pointer is a successful single-decker bus body manufactured during the 1990s by Plaxton and latterly built by Alexander Dennis.With the launch of the Dennis Dart in 1989, Plaxton's subsidiary Reeve Burgess made the Pointer body on the short 8.5 m...
operation. In 2001 low floor operation commenced and in 2005 the contract was kept by Stagecoach (or from 2006 onwards Selkent).
Current route
- CatfordCatfordCatford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
St. Dunstan's College - CatfordCatford railway stationCatford railway station serves the London suburb of Catford. Mainly used by commuters, it is on the line from mostly Kentish Town to Sevenoaks, between and in Travelcard Zone 3. Connections to London Victoria and are available at Peckham Rye....
and Catford BridgeCatford Bridge railway stationCatford Bridge railway station is on the Mid-Kent Line, serving Hayes line trains from Charing Cross to Hayes. It lies between Ladywell and Lower Sydenham stations, in Travelcard Zone 3. It is next to, and on a lower level than, Catford railway station on the Catford Loop line...
Stations - Catford Road
- CatfordCatfordCatford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
Lewisham Town Centre, Broadway TheatreBroadway theatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and Catford Library - CatfordCatfordCatford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
Rushey Green - Sangley Road
- Sandhurst Road St. Andrews Church
- Torridon Road Dowanhill Road
- Torridon Road Ardoch Road
- Baudwin Road
- North DownhamDownhamDownham is a district located in south-east London, occupying much of the boundary between the London Borough of Lewisham and the London Borough of Bromley; it is the name of an electoral ward covering much of the area on the Lewisham side...
Walters Road - Verdant Lane Hither Green Cemetery
- Northover
- Northover Vanoc Gardens
- Downham Way The Green
- Grove Park railway stationGrove Park railway stationGrove Park railway station is a railway station in London, England. It is located on Baring Road within Travelcard Zone 4, and serves the areas of Grove Park and Downham in the London borough of Lewisham. The station was opened in 1871. Currently there are five platforms...
- Grove Park Baring Road
- ChinbrookChinbrookChinbrook is a suburb in southeast London; it is located southeast of Charing Cross and is in the southeast corner of the London Borough of Lewisham on its boundary with the London Borough of Bromley...
Road Amblecote Road - ChinbrookChinbrookChinbrook is a suburb in southeast London; it is located southeast of Charing Cross and is in the southeast corner of the London Borough of Lewisham on its boundary with the London Borough of Bromley...
Road Grove Park Tavern - Dunkery Road Court Farm Road
- MottinghamMottinghamMottingham is a district of south London, England; located at the convergence of the London Borough of Bromley, the London Borough of Lewisham and the London Borough of Greenwich...
Village - Mottingham railway stationMottingham railway stationMottingham railway station is a suburban railway station situated on Court Road between Eltham and Mottingham, in the London Borough of Greenwich, south-east London. The station is located in Travelcard Zone 4, between Lee and New Eltham. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by...
- Middle Park Road
- Kingsground
- ElthamEltham, London-Parks and open spaces:There is a large variety of open green space in Eltham, in the form of parkland, fields and woodland.*Avery Hill Park is large, open parkland, situated to the east of Eltham. It is most notable for its Winter Garden, a hothouse containing tropical trees and plants from around...
Church - ElthamEltham, London-Parks and open spaces:There is a large variety of open green space in Eltham, in the form of parkland, fields and woodland.*Avery Hill Park is large, open parkland, situated to the east of Eltham. It is most notable for its Winter Garden, a hothouse containing tropical trees and plants from around...
High Street - ElthamEltham, London-Parks and open spaces:There is a large variety of open green space in Eltham, in the form of parkland, fields and woodland.*Avery Hill Park is large, open parkland, situated to the east of Eltham. It is most notable for its Winter Garden, a hothouse containing tropical trees and plants from around...
Southend Crescent
Previous route 124s in London
The route number 124 had been used twice prior to its current use.- Between 1924 and 1927 for a Wormwood ScrubsWormwood ScrubsWormwood Scrubs, known locally as The Scrubs, is an open space located in the north-eastern corner of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London. It is the largest open space in the Borough, at 80 ha , and one of the largest areas of common land in London...
(Pavilion)Becontree BecontreeBecontree is a place in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, east north-east of Charing Cross.-Becontree estate:The area was developed between 1921 and 1932 by the London County Council as a large council estate of 27,000 homes, intended as "homes for heroes" after World War I. With a...
(Chittys Lane) *, UpminsterUpminsterUpminster is a suburban town in northeast London, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Located east-northeast of Charing Cross, it is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan, and comprises a number of shopping streets and a large residential...
* Sunday only route via Ladbroke GroveLadbroke GroveLadbroke Grove is a road in west London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is also sometimes the name given informally to the immediate area surrounding the road. Running from Notting Hill in the south to Kensal Green in the north, it is located in North Kensington and straddles...
, Marble ArchMarble ArchMarble 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...
, HolbornHolbornHolborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
, BankBankA bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
, AldgateAldgateAldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City...
, PlaistowPlaistow, NewhamPlaistow is a place in the London Borough of Newham in east London. It formed part of the County Borough of West Ham in Essex until 1965.Plaistow is a mainly residential area, including several council estates; the main road is the A112 - Plaistow Road, High Street, Broadway, Greengate Street and...
and BarkingBarkingBarking is a suburban town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in East London, England. A retail and commercial centre situated in the west of the borough, it lies east of Charing Cross. Barking was in the historic county of Essex until it was absorbed by Greater London. The area is...
. *Termini varied. - Between 1934 and 1938 for a PimlicoPimlicoPimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
Ponders End Ponders EndPonders End is a place in the London Borough of Enfield, North London located in an area generally known as the Lea Valley. It is roughly located in the area either side of Hertford Road between The Ride and the Boundary Public House and Wharf Road and the Southbury railway station/Kingsway...
daily route via Camden TownCamden Town-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
, Finsbury ParkFinsbury Park, LondonFinsbury Park is an area in north London, England which grew up around an important railway interchange at the junction of the London Boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney...
, HarringayHarringayHarringay is a residential area of North London, part of the London Borough of Haringey, United Kingdom. It is centred on the section of Green Lanes running between the northern boundary of Finsbury Park up to the southern boundary of Duckett's Common, not far from Turnpike Lane.-Location:The...
, Turnpike Lane stationTurnpike Lane tube stationTurnpike Lane tube station is a station at Turnpike Lane on the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground, between Manor House and Wood Green stations, and in Travelcard Zone 3.It is located within the London Borough of Haringey...
, TottenhamTottenhamTottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
and EdmontonEdmontonEdmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
.
There was also
- Between 1934 and 1938 a daily route 124A between PimlicoPimlicoPimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
and Edmonton (Cooks Ferry) via Angel, Edmonton.