London Buses route H2
Encyclopedia
London Buses route H2 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to Arriva Shires & Essex
.
service that began in the 1970s in the Hampstead Garden Suburb
area, using Ford Transit
minibuses. On tendering in 1989, the route was won by R&I Tours, and moved from Finchley to Park Royal Garage. During 1995 R&I was bought out by MTL London, and in turn MTL was bought out by Metroline
in 1998.
A diversion for the route to serve Temple Fortune Lane in 2000 was considered, although the diversion would have taken the route away from Willifield Way, disrupting about 100 passenger trips each day, and increase the journey time taken to reach Hampstead Garden Suburb, therefore requiring an extra bus to ensure continued reliability. The idea was subsequently dropped, on passenger disruption and cost grounds. http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/assemmtgs/2002/assemapr10/assemapr10Item03appC.pdf
A requirement for all London bus routes to be low floor by the end of 2005, resulted in Perivale Garage's 10-year-old MetroRiders
being replaced by Optare Solo
s, brand new to Metroline in June. One year later, Metroline lost the contract to run the route, along with routes H1 and H3, on 10 June 2006 to Arriva Shires & Essex
, and more brand new identical Optare Solo
s were bought for the route, this time by Arriva.
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 Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex is a division of Arriva, with operations in Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London. It is one of many private operators of London Buses. Until 2002 its operations included Colchester...
.
History
The Hampstead route H2 has its roots in a Dial-a-RideLondon Dial-a-Ride
London Dial-a-Ride is an arm of Transport for London that provides multi-occupancy door to door transport service for people with a permanent or long term disability or health problem who are unable, or virtually unable to use conventional public transport.-Fleet:* Mercedes Sprinter 312D minibus*...
service that began in the 1970s in the Hampstead Garden Suburb
Hampstead Garden Suburb
-Notable Residents :*Theo Adams*Martin Bell*Sir Victor Blank*Katie Boyle*Constantine, the last King of Greece*Greg Davies*Richard & Judy Finnigan*David Matthews*Michael Ridpath*Claudia Roden*Jonathan Ross*Sir Donald Sinden*Marc Sinden...
area, using Ford Transit
Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
minibuses. On tendering in 1989, the route was won by R&I Tours, and moved from Finchley to Park Royal Garage. During 1995 R&I was bought out by MTL London, and in turn MTL was bought out by 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:...
in 1998.
A requirement for all London bus routes to be low floor by the end of 2005, resulted in Perivale Garage's 10-year-old MetroRiders
Optare MetroRider
The Optare MetroRider was a midibus built by Optare between 1989 and 2000. Optare based the original design on the MCW Metrorider after Optare bought the rights following a decision by MCW to end bus production. This model also replaced the less successful StarRider.The MetroRider was an integral...
being replaced by Optare Solo
Optare Solo
The Optare Solo is a low-floor midibus manufactured by Optare in Leeds, UK since 1997. The name "Solo" is a play on the low-floor status of the bus, the manufacturer believing its vehicle having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm with kneeling suspension.The innovative...
s, brand new to Metroline in June. One year later, Metroline lost the contract to run the route, along with routes H1 and H3, on 10 June 2006 to Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex
Arriva Shires & Essex is a division of Arriva, with operations in Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London. It is one of many private operators of London Buses. Until 2002 its operations included Colchester...
, and more brand new identical Optare Solo
Optare Solo
The Optare Solo is a low-floor midibus manufactured by Optare in Leeds, UK since 1997. The name "Solo" is a play on the low-floor status of the bus, the manufacturer believing its vehicle having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm with kneeling suspension.The innovative...
s were bought for the route, this time by Arriva.
Current route
Route H2 is a circular route and runs in this direction only- Golders Green StationGolders Green tube stationGolders Green tube station is a London Underground station in Golders Green, north London. The station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line between Hampstead and Brent Cross...
Bus Station - Golders Green Road
- Hoop Lane
- Meadway Gate
- Medway
- Wildwood Road
- Kingsley Way
- Neville Road
- Spencer Drive
- Holne Chase
- Winnington Road
- Norrice Lea
- Kingsley way
- Market Place
- Northway
- Hampstead Gardens Suburb
- Central Square
- North Square
- Erskine Hill
- Asmuns Hill
- Willifield Way
- Hampstead Way
- Medway
- Medway Gate
- Hoop Lane
- Finchley Road
- Golders Green StationGolders Green tube stationGolders Green tube station is a London Underground station in Golders Green, north London. The station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line between Hampstead and Brent Cross...