London Buses route 394
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 394 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to CT Plus.
(NDC). The NDC purchased two custom-made buses and appointed Hackney Community Transport (later renamed HCT Group
) to run the service following a competitive tendering process.
The service started in September 2001, initially running at a half-hourly frequency between Tolpuddle Street in Islington
and Broadway Market
. It was operated with two Renault
minibuses in a unique blue livery and served several roads with no other bus routes. Passenger numbers rose rapidly to 2,200 per week and Transport for London
agreed to integrate the Shoreditch Hoppa in to the mainstream London Buses
network, with a route number and inclusion on network maps.
Transport for London awarded HCT Group subsidiary CT Plus a contract to run route 394 in March 2003. The contract was retained by HCT when the route again came up for tender. When the new contract began, the route was extended to Homerton
and the vehicles on the route changed to low-floor Dennis Dart SLF single-deckers. The frequency of the route was increased; from initially using just two vehicles, it now requires 10 buses.
In October 2009 a baby was born on a bus operating route 394. The baby was given the middle name Dennis after the manufacturer of the bus.
Route 394 links the busy boroughs of Hackney and Islington, and visits the culturally significant areas of London Fields
and Hoxton
. Its route was featured in Time Out London magazine in March 2009.
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 CT Plus.
History
The 394, originally called the Shoreditch Hoppa, was started in September 2001 under a London Service Permit. It was developed to address the lack of public transport running east to west across Shoreditch and funded as part of the New Deal for CommunitiesNew Deal for Communities
New Deal for Communities is a regeneration programme led by the government of the United Kingdom for some of the England's most deprived neighbourhoods...
(NDC). The NDC purchased two custom-made buses and appointed Hackney Community Transport (later renamed HCT Group
HCT Group
HCT Group, owner of bus operator CT Plus, is a social enterprise providing transport services and community services in London and Yorkshire. It was founded in 1982 as Hackney Community Transport in the London Borough of Hackney to provide transport services for local voluntary organisations,...
) to run the service following a competitive tendering process.
The service started in September 2001, initially running at a half-hourly frequency between Tolpuddle Street in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
and Broadway Market
Broadway Market
Broadway Market is a street running from London Fieldsto the Regent's Canal in Haggerston in the London Borough of Hackney, east London.Before the late 20th century it was the site of a busy fruit and vegetable market, but this slowly dwindled over time - in the early 2000s, market activity was...
. It was operated with two Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
minibuses in a unique blue livery and served several roads with no other bus routes. Passenger numbers rose rapidly to 2,200 per week and Transport for London
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...
agreed to integrate the Shoreditch Hoppa in to the mainstream 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...
network, with a route number and inclusion on network maps.
Transport for London awarded HCT Group subsidiary CT Plus a contract to run route 394 in March 2003. The contract was retained by HCT when the route again came up for tender. When the new contract began, the route was extended to Homerton
Homerton
Homerton is a place in the London Borough of Hackney. It is bordered to the west by Hackney Central, to the north by Lower Clapton, in the east by Hackney Wick, Leyton and by South Hackney to the south.-Origins:...
and the vehicles on the route changed to low-floor Dennis Dart SLF single-deckers. The frequency of the route was increased; from initially using just two vehicles, it now requires 10 buses.
In October 2009 a baby was born on a bus operating route 394. The baby was given the middle name Dennis after the manufacturer of the bus.
Current route
- Homerton University HospitalHomerton University HospitalHomerton University Hospital is an NHS-run University Hospital in Homerton, Hackney- East London.-Overview:The hospital is run by the Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which was established on 1 April 2004 and is one among the first ten foundation trusts established in England...
Homerton Row - Mare Street for Hackney Downs StationHackney Downs railway stationHackney Downs railway station is in the London Borough of Hackney in east London. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by National Express East Anglia, on the West Anglia route, and it is in Travelcard Zone 2....
- Hackney Central StationHackney Central railway stationHackney Central railway station is a railway station on the North London Line in an area of the London Borough of Hackney known as Hackney Central in east London. It is between and , in Travelcard Zone 2. The station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground.The station is a...
- Broadway MarketBroadway MarketBroadway Market is a street running from London Fieldsto the Regent's Canal in Haggerston in the London Borough of Hackney, east London.Before the late 20th century it was the site of a busy fruit and vegetable market, but this slowly dwindled over time - in the early 2000s, market activity was...
- HaggerstonHaggerstonHaggerston is an area and a electoral ward in the London Borough of Hackney, in northeast London, UK. It is bounded by Hackney Road on the south, Kingsland Road on the west, Middleton Road on the north with London Fields and Broadway Market on the east...
- HoxtonHoxtonHoxton is an area in the London Borough of Hackney, immediately north of the financial district of the City of London. The area of Hoxton is bordered by Regent's Canal on the north side, Wharf Road and City Road on the west, Old Street on the south, and Kingsland Road on the east.Hoxton is also a...
Street - Angel StationAngel tube stationAngel tube station is a London Underground station in The Angel, Islington. It is on the Bank branch of the Northern Line, between Old Street and King's Cross St. Pancras stations. It is in Travelcard Zone 1. The tube stop serves as a portal to several Off West End, or fringe theatre, venues,...
- IslingtonIslingtonIslington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
Tolpuddle Street
Route 394 links the busy boroughs of Hackney and Islington, and visits the culturally significant areas of London Fields
London Fields
London Fields is a park and the name of an area of London, situated in the eastern borough of Hackney. The park itself was first recorded in 1540. At this time it was common ground and was used by drovers to pasture their livestock before taking them to market in London.London Fields is just over ...
and Hoxton
Hoxton
Hoxton is an area in the London Borough of Hackney, immediately north of the financial district of the City of London. The area of Hoxton is bordered by Regent's Canal on the north side, Wharf Road and City Road on the west, Old Street on the south, and Kingsland Road on the east.Hoxton is also a...
. Its route was featured in Time Out London magazine in March 2009.
External links
- Bus route maps for 394 on Transport for LondonTransport for LondonTransport 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...
website - official Route Performance report for 394
- Transport for London
- Our red bus routes on HCT GroupHCT GroupHCT Group, owner of bus operator CT Plus, is a social enterprise providing transport services and community services in London and Yorkshire. It was founded in 1982 as Hackney Community Transport in the London Borough of Hackney to provide transport services for local voluntary organisations,...
website