London Buses route 350
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 350 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London
.
that were designed to serve the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport. The route is notable as it operates on many roads in Harlington
that were not previously served by buses. In January 2008 it was awarded to Travel London
using new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts, and began operating on 22 March 2008 between Hayes & Harlington Station
and Harmondsworth
, and was extended to Terminal 5 when it opened.
The route is a renumbering, and extension from West Drayton to Heathrow T5, of the previous route H50 which was introduced in 2001 to create a new direct link between Hayes & Harlington and West Drayton stations via Stockley Business Park, as the only routes serving Stockley Park
(routes A10
and U1, and now route U5) were not direct enough to transport commuters to the railway stations.
The route was initially branded as Trainlink, provided the Hayes West Drayton partnership and the Government's Challenge Fund, operated by Wings, the 3 single deck buses carried a green livery with route brandings, similar to that of route A10.
The service had become very popular with commuters commuting to and from Stockley Park in the mornings and evenings, but very little used outside these times with buses often seen running nearly empty. The decision was taken to convert the whole service to double deck as there were only 3 buses needed for the route. However, Wings had sold their bus operation to Tellings-Golden Miller
(TGM), who were reluctant to operate double deckers, so various options were considered and the problem eventually solved itself when TGM was bought out by Travel London who were able to operate double decker buses, which entered service in April 2005. This was short lived, and the route was converted back to single deck, with some double deck peak journeys, on 22 March 2008 when it was renumbered 350 and officially extended from West Drayton to the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow, although buses stopped short at Harmondsworth until Terminal 5 opened to the public. The low loadings outside peak hours could not justify more double deckers being bought for the extension.
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
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London
Abellio (UK bus company)
Abellio London and Abellio Surrey operate buses in London and Surrey. They are part of the Abellio Group owned by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen.-History:...
.
History
Route 350 is one of many new routes in and around HillingdonHillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
that were designed to serve the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport. The route is notable as it operates on many roads in Harlington
Harlington, London
Harlington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Hillingdon, on the northern perimeter of London Heathrow Airport. It is situated west of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
that were not previously served by buses. In January 2008 it was awarded to Travel London
Travel London
Travel London was a bus operator in London which was originally a subsidiary of the National Express Group. In May 2009 the company was sold to NedRailways, now called Abellio...
using new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts, and began operating on 22 March 2008 between Hayes & Harlington Station
Hayes and Harlington railway station
thumb|right|Up freight west of Hayes & Harlington in 1962Hayes and Harlington railway station is a railway station in Hayes and Harlington in the London Borough of Hillingdon.-History:...
and Harmondsworth
Harmondsworth
Harmondsworth is a village in the London Borough of Hillingdon, close to London Heathrow Airport. The village is situated south of West Drayton.The nearest places are: Hayes, Harlington, Heathrow Airport, Longford, London, Sipson, West Drayton and Yiewsley....
, and was extended to Terminal 5 when it opened.
The route is a renumbering, and extension from West Drayton to Heathrow T5, of the previous route H50 which was introduced in 2001 to create a new direct link between Hayes & Harlington and West Drayton stations via Stockley Business Park, as the only routes serving Stockley Park
Stockley Park
Stockley Park is a business estate located between Hayes and West Drayton in the London Borough of Hillingdon.It is home to over 33 companies such as Apple Inc...
(routes 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:...
and U1, and now route U5) were not direct enough to transport commuters to the railway stations.
The route was initially branded as Trainlink, provided the Hayes West Drayton partnership and the Government's Challenge Fund, operated by Wings, the 3 single deck buses carried a green livery with route brandings, similar to that of route A10.
The service had become very popular with commuters commuting to and from Stockley Park in the mornings and evenings, but very little used outside these times with buses often seen running nearly empty. The decision was taken to convert the whole service to double deck as there were only 3 buses needed for the route. However, Wings had sold their bus operation to Tellings-Golden Miller
Tellings-Golden Miller
Tellings-Golden Miller , a subsidiary of Arriva, is a bus service and coach operator in the United Kingdom.-Golden Miller:Reputedly, Fred Varney began the Golden Miller company with the winnings from a bet made on the horse Golden Miller, which won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in...
(TGM), who were reluctant to operate double deckers, so various options were considered and the problem eventually solved itself when TGM was bought out by Travel London who were able to operate double decker buses, which entered service in April 2005. This was short lived, and the route was converted back to single deck, with some double deck peak journeys, on 22 March 2008 when it was renumbered 350 and officially extended from West Drayton to the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow, although buses stopped short at Harmondsworth until Terminal 5 opened to the public. The low loadings outside peak hours could not justify more double deckers being bought for the extension.
Current route
- Heathrow Terminal 5
- HarmondsworthHarmondsworthHarmondsworth is a village in the London Borough of Hillingdon, close to London Heathrow Airport. The village is situated south of West Drayton.The nearest places are: Hayes, Harlington, Heathrow Airport, Longford, London, Sipson, West Drayton and Yiewsley....
- West Drayton StationWest Drayton railway stationWest Drayton railway station is a railway station serving West Drayton, a western suburb of London, England. The station is served by local services operated by First Great Western from to stations.-History:...
Station Approach - Stockley ParkStockley ParkStockley Park is a business estate located between Hayes and West Drayton in the London Borough of Hillingdon.It is home to over 33 companies such as Apple Inc...
- Hayes & Harlington StationHayes and Harlington railway stationthumb|right|Up freight west of Hayes & Harlington in 1962Hayes and Harlington railway station is a railway station in Hayes and Harlington in the London Borough of Hillingdon.-History:...