London Buses route 23
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 23 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest
.
Due to its 24-hour service and high frequency it is one of the busiest routes in London and is very popular with tourist route connecting famous sites such as St. Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square
, Piccadilly Circus
, Regent Street
and Oxford Street
as well as three mainline rail terminals.
on 18 May 1985. The route has always been operated by Centrewest, initially a subsidiary of London Buses
, which became part of First Group in 1997. It mainly used Routemaster
s including an open top one, along with MCW Metrobus
es. In 2003, Dennis Trident 2
10.5m Alexander ALX400
s were used to convert the 23 to low floor with the last Routemasters running on 14 November 2003. In May 2008, Alexander Dennis Enviro400s were introduced to the route and more recently Gemini 2 DL's were introduced in 2009.
In January 2009 Transport for London reduced the peak frequency of route 23 from twelve buses per hour to ten, as part of its implementation of the request from the Mayor of London
to reduce the bus flow in Oxford Street by 10% in each of 2009 and 2010. The off-peak service already operated at this frequency.
On 5 January 2009 a bus operating route 23 crashed into a shop in Westbourne Grove after swerving to avoid a van, injuring ten people.
Later in 2009 Transport for London decided not to proceed with a possible change of the eastbound route in the Elgin Crescent area, following a consultation with residents and local interest groups. The proposal would have routed the eastbound 23 along Ladbroke Gardens instead of Elgin Crescent, while routes 52
and 452
would continue to run along Elgin Crescent in both directions. The most common benefit stated amongst supporters was fewer buses along the overcrowded Elgin Crescent; those opposing the change were concerned about safety at the junction of Ladbroke Grove and Ladbroke Gardens, and the suitability of Ladbroke Gardens to accommodate a bus service.
In March 2010 it was announced that the contract for route 23 had been retained by First Centrewest from 13 November with 31 existing double deckers.
featured the route in the show Boring? The number 23 bus? Never! at the Boring Conference in December 2010.
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
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...
, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest
First London
.First London is one of many operators of London Buses and owned by First Group. They did also run the Tramlink network, in a partnership with Tramtrack Croydon before June 2008. Their registered office is at Paddington station in London...
.
Due to its 24-hour service and high frequency it is one of the busiest routes in London and is very popular with tourist route connecting famous sites such as St. Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
, Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London's West End in the City of Westminster, built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly...
, Regent Street
Regent Street
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
and Oxford Street
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, as well as its most dense, and currently has approximately 300 shops. The street was formerly part of the London-Oxford road which began at Newgate,...
as well as three mainline rail terminals.
History
The current route only dates back to 1992. The original route 23 was renumbered route 15London Buses route 15
London Buses route 15 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The regular service on route 15 is currently contracted to Stagecoach London and operated with modern double-decker buses...
on 18 May 1985. The route has always been operated by Centrewest, initially a subsidiary 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...
, which became part of First Group in 1997. It mainly used 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 including an open top one, along with MCW Metrobus
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...
es. In 2003, 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...
10.5m Alexander ALX400
Alexander ALX400
The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
s were used to convert the 23 to low floor with the last Routemasters running on 14 November 2003. In May 2008, Alexander Dennis Enviro400s were introduced to the route and more recently Gemini 2 DL's were introduced in 2009.
In January 2009 Transport for London reduced the peak frequency of route 23 from twelve buses per hour to ten, as part of its implementation of the request from the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
to reduce the bus flow in Oxford Street by 10% in each of 2009 and 2010. The off-peak service already operated at this frequency.
On 5 January 2009 a bus operating route 23 crashed into a shop in Westbourne Grove after swerving to avoid a van, injuring ten people.
Later in 2009 Transport for London decided not to proceed with a possible change of the eastbound route in the Elgin Crescent area, following a consultation with residents and local interest groups. The proposal would have routed the eastbound 23 along Ladbroke Gardens instead of Elgin Crescent, while routes 52
London Buses route 52
London Buses route 52 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
and 452
London Buses route 452
London Buses route 452 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
would continue to run along Elgin Crescent in both directions. The most common benefit stated amongst supporters was fewer buses along the overcrowded Elgin Crescent; those opposing the change were concerned about safety at the junction of Ladbroke Grove and Ladbroke Gardens, and the suitability of Ladbroke Gardens to accommodate a bus service.
In March 2010 it was announced that the contract for route 23 had been retained by First Centrewest from 13 November with 31 existing double deckers.
In popular culture
Radio presenter Geoff LloydGeoff Lloyd
Geoff Lloyd is a British radio presenter. Lloyd presents Geoff Lloyd's Hometime Show, Monday-Friday, 5pm-8pm on Absolute Radio...
featured the route in the show Boring? The number 23 bus? Never! at the Boring Conference in December 2010.
Current route
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- St Paul'sSt Paul's CathedralSt Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
Churchyard - City Thameslink Station
- AldwychAldwychAldwych is a place and road in the City of Westminster in London, England.-Description:Aldwych, the road, is a crescent, connected to the Strand at both ends. At its centre, it meets the Kingsway...
- Charing Cross StationCharing Cross railway stationCharing Cross railway station, also known as London Charing Cross, is a central London railway terminus in the City of Westminster, England. It is one of 18 stations managed by Network Rail, and trains serving it are operated by Southeastern...
- Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
- Piccadilly Circus StationPiccadilly Circus tube stationPiccadilly Circus tube station is the London Underground station located directly beneath Piccadilly Circus itself, with entrances at every corner...
- Oxford Circus StationOxford Circus tube station-External links:* ** ** * Plans of the station after the Victoria Line works , , *...
- Bond Street StationBond Street tube stationBond Street tube station is a London Underground station on Oxford Street, near the junction with New Bond Street. Note that the street-level entrances are approximately 200 metres west of New Bond Street itself...
- Marble Arch StationMarble Arch tube stationMarble Arch is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster. The station is between Lancaster Gate and Bond Street stations on the Central line, and is in Travelcard Zone 1.-History:...
- Paddington StationPaddington stationPaddington 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...
- Ladbroke Grove StationLadbroke Grove tube stationLadbroke Grove is a London Underground station on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines, between Latimer Road and Westbourne Park stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2 set in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea ....
- 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...
Sainsbury's - Westbourne Park StationWestbourne Park tube stationWestbourne Park is a London Underground station on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines, between Ladbroke Grove and Royal Oak stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2 in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea . Although the Metropolitan Railway had been extended to Notting Hill and Hammersmith...