Travel London
Encyclopedia
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. In October 2009, it was rebranded as Abellio London.
In 2005 NEG
expanded again with the takeover of the London Bus operations of Tellings-Golden Miller
as well as 15 Surrey
County Council contracts. Travel London is the sister company of Travel West Midlands and Travel Dundee
.
Following the acquisitions of Limebourne, Connex Bus, Tellings-Golden Miller, Wings Buses and Link-Line, Travel London had a wide operating area within Greater London and Surrey. The company operated contracts on behalf of Transport for London
(TfL), Surrey County Council, and Kingston University. Operations are split between three registered companies.
From early September 2007, the Surrey routes operated from Byfleet under the Travel London (West) license depot were re-branded as Travel Surrey
.
On 11 November 2007, National Express Group announced plans to re-brand their UK bus service companies under the National Express identity. The new name National Express London was meant to have be unveiled in 2008, however the plans never materialised before the sale
In February 2009 there were news reports speculating that the National Express Group were in negotiation to sell Travel London to Singapore
based ComfortDelGro Corporation
, the parent company of Metroline
, which has substantial London Buses contracts in North and West London.
Speculation continued fuelled by the fact Travel London won some significant TfL route contracts (including 407 and 414), which could have been gained on a low price with the idea the buyer would have to run the routes.
In May 2009, it was announced that National Express Group had agreed to sell Travel London to NedRailways
, a subsidiary of NS Dutch Railways
, for a price of £32 million. The sale included 66 routes, 36 of them TfL tendered services in London and the others Surrey County Council and Kingston University routes. All vehicles and premises used were sold, and all staff transferred to NedRailways.
Travel London Ltd operated the garages at Beddington Cross, Queenstown (Battersea) and Walworth Road, operating 66, 82 and 98 buses respectively (246 in total) when the company was renamed. Beddington Cross ran London Buses routes 3
, 152, 157
, 434, G1, P13, and night route N3
, and was opened by Connex in 2000 to house their newly won route 3. Queenstown ran routes 35, 156
, 211
, 452
, C3
, 24-hour route 344 and night bus N35
. Walworth Road operated routes 40, 100, 129, 188
, 343
, 381
, C1
, night routes N343
and N381
. Walwoth Road is a very historical depot, originally being a site acquired by the LCC for electric trams. It was known as Camberwell Tram depot until 1950 when, after buses arrived, it was renamed to avoid confusion with Camberwell bus garage.
Travel London won the contract for London Buses route 407, starting from 31 October 2009. This was used as the launch of the new Abellio name.
name (from September 2007). Respectively, they operated approximately 94 and 50 buses — 146 in total. Fulwell ran London Buses routes 235, 481, 490, H20, H25, H26, R68 and R70. Byfleet operated Surrey County Council tendered routes 218, 400, 426, 438, 441, 446, 451, 461, 471, 472, 513, 514, 515, 515A, 555, 557, 564, 566, 567, 570, 571, 572, 574, 637, 662, 663 and 690. Fulwell garage also operated Kingston University
routes KU1, KU2, and KU3, until the contract was lost to Tellings-Golden Miller's Heathrow operations in 2009.
Additionally, the Travel Surrey fleet was nearly all Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer, expect for one East Lancs Spryte
bodied Dart SLF, and a Dennis Trident
/Alexander ALX400
for route 400. The Kingston University contract was run with Optare Solo
s and Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400s, wearing the same livery as Travel Surrey.
Travel London (Middlesex) Ltd operated one garage in Hayes. It ran 19 buses, and ran London Buses routes 112
, 350
, H28 and U7.
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...
which was originally a subsidiary of the National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
. In May 2009 the company was sold to NedRailways
Abellio (transport company)
Abellio is a public transit operator in Germany which operates both bus and rail networks. The headquarters of the company are in Essen. Abellio Germany is part of the Abellio Group , the international expansion arm of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen.-History:Abellio was formed by the Essen public...
, now called Abellio. In October 2009, it was rebranded as Abellio London.
History
Travel London came into existence in its current guise when National Express bought Connex Bus (established in UK in 1996, a division of French owned transport corporation Connex) in 2004. Ironically had taken over an existing operator Limebourne Buses which had actually taken over the original Travel London when that was sold.In 2005 NEG
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
expanded again with the takeover of the London Bus operations of 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...
as well as 15 Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
County Council contracts. Travel London is the sister company of Travel West Midlands and Travel Dundee
Travel Dundee
National Express Dundee is a bus operator based in Dundee, Scotland and operates services mainly within Dundee City. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Express Group.-History:...
.
Following the acquisitions of Limebourne, Connex Bus, Tellings-Golden Miller, Wings Buses and Link-Line, Travel London had a wide operating area within Greater London and Surrey. The company operated contracts on behalf of 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...
(TfL), Surrey County Council, and Kingston University. Operations are split between three registered companies.
From early September 2007, the Surrey routes operated from Byfleet under the Travel London (West) license depot were re-branded as Travel Surrey
Travel Surrey
Travel Surrey was a bus operator in Surrey which was originally a subsidiary of the National Express Group. It was given its own brand name from 1 September 2007. In May 2009, the company, along with Travel London, was sold to NedRailways...
.
On 11 November 2007, National Express Group announced plans to re-brand their UK bus service companies under the National Express identity. The new name National Express London was meant to have be unveiled in 2008, however the plans never materialised before the sale
In February 2009 there were news reports speculating that the National Express Group were in negotiation to sell Travel London to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
based ComfortDelGro Corporation
ComfortDelGro Corporation
ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited is the world's second-largest transport company with a fleet of 46,200 vehicles.Headquartered in Singapore, ComfortDelGro also has operations in China, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Vietnam and Malaysia. Currently, overseas ventures account for 50% of...
, the parent company of 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:...
, which has substantial London Buses contracts in North and West London.
Speculation continued fuelled by the fact Travel London won some significant TfL route contracts (including 407 and 414), which could have been gained on a low price with the idea the buyer would have to run the routes.
In May 2009, it was announced that National Express Group had agreed to sell Travel London to NedRailways
Abellio (transport company)
Abellio is a public transit operator in Germany which operates both bus and rail networks. The headquarters of the company are in Essen. Abellio Germany is part of the Abellio Group , the international expansion arm of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen.-History:Abellio was formed by the Essen public...
, a subsidiary of NS Dutch Railways
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen , or NS, is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands.Its trains operate over the tracks of the Dutch national railinfrastructure, operated by ProRail, which was split off from NS in 2003...
, for a price of £32 million. The sale included 66 routes, 36 of them TfL tendered services in London and the others Surrey County Council and Kingston University routes. All vehicles and premises used were sold, and all staff transferred to NedRailways.
Travel London Ltd
London Buses route 3
London Buses route 3 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
, 152, 157
London Buses route 157
London Buses route 157 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
, 434, G1, P13, and night route N3
Night buses in London
Night buses in London are after-hours versions of their daytime numerical equivalents, normally running the same route but with extensions at either end of the service. This is normally to provide a night service to destinations served by tube or train during the day...
, and was opened by Connex in 2000 to house their newly won route 3. Queenstown ran routes 35, 156
London Buses route 156
London Buses route 156 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
, 211
London Buses route 211
London Buses route 211 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
, 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:...
, C3
London Buses route C3
London Buses route C3 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
, 24-hour route 344 and night bus N35
Night buses in London
Night buses in London are after-hours versions of their daytime numerical equivalents, normally running the same route but with extensions at either end of the service. This is normally to provide a night service to destinations served by tube or train during the day...
. Walworth Road operated routes 40, 100, 129, 188
London Buses route 188
London Buses route 188 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
, 343
London Buses route 343
London Buses route 343 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
, 381
London Buses route 381
London Buses route 381 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
, C1
London Buses route C1
London Buses route C1 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:The route has always been operated by minibuses since London Transport operation...
, night routes N343
Night buses in London
Night buses in London are after-hours versions of their daytime numerical equivalents, normally running the same route but with extensions at either end of the service. This is normally to provide a night service to destinations served by tube or train during the day...
and N381
Night buses in London
Night buses in London are after-hours versions of their daytime numerical equivalents, normally running the same route but with extensions at either end of the service. This is normally to provide a night service to destinations served by tube or train during the day...
. Walwoth Road is a very historical depot, originally being a site acquired by the LCC for electric trams. It was known as Camberwell Tram depot until 1950 when, after buses arrived, it was renamed to avoid confusion with Camberwell bus garage.
Travel London won the contract for London Buses route 407, starting from 31 October 2009. This was used as the launch of the new Abellio name.
Bus types used
When the name was changed to Abellio, various types were operated:- Dennis Trident 2Dennis Trident 2Dennis 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...
9.9m/Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
for routes 3, 152, 157, 211, C3 and N3. - Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m/Alexander Dennis Pointer for routes G1 and P13.
- Dennis Dart SLF 9.2m/Alexander Dennis Pointer for route 100.
- Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/Alexander Dennis Pointer for routes 129 and 152.
- Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10.6m/ Wright Eclipse GeminiWright Eclipse GeminiThe Wright Eclipse Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL and Volvo B5L Hybrid for use in the United Kingdom....
for routes 3, 157, 188, 343, 381, N343 and N381. - Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m for route 152.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 8.9m for route 434.
- Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m for routes 35, 40, 156, 344, 452 and N35.
- Wright ElectrocityWright ElectrocityThe Wright Electrocity is a type of hybrid bus built by Wrightbus. There were originally two prototypes, one based on Dennis Dart SLF chassis and the other based on DAF SB120 chassis...
10.1m for route 129. - MCW MetrobusMCW MetrobusThe 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...
MkII (driver trainer)
Travel London (West) Ltd
Travel London (West) Ltd operated the garages at Fulwell and Byfleet, the Byfleet depot latterly under the Travel SurreyTravel Surrey
Travel Surrey was a bus operator in Surrey which was originally a subsidiary of the National Express Group. It was given its own brand name from 1 September 2007. In May 2009, the company, along with Travel London, was sold to NedRailways...
name (from September 2007). Respectively, they operated approximately 94 and 50 buses — 146 in total. Fulwell ran London Buses routes 235, 481, 490, H20, H25, H26, R68 and R70. Byfleet operated Surrey County Council tendered routes 218, 400, 426, 438, 441, 446, 451, 461, 471, 472, 513, 514, 515, 515A, 555, 557, 564, 566, 567, 570, 571, 572, 574, 637, 662, 663 and 690. Fulwell garage also operated Kingston University
Kingston University
Kingston University is a public research university located in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, United Kingdom. It was originally founded in 1899 as Kingston Technical Institute, a polytechnic, and became a university in 1992....
routes KU1, KU2, and KU3, until the contract was lost to Tellings-Golden Miller's Heathrow operations in 2009.
Bus types used
When the name was changed to Abellio, the following types were operated:- Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m/Alexander ALX200Alexander ALX200The Alexander ALX200 was a midibus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was one of the ALX-series, which accounted for 5 different models , built for new generation bus chassis produced since late 1990s.It was designed by John Worker, and was launched in summer...
for routes 481, H20 and H26. - Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/Alexander Dennis Pointer for routes 490 and R68.
- Dennis Dart SLF 10.8m/Alexander Dennis Pointer for route R70.
- Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m/Alexander Dennis Pointer for routes 481, H20 and H26.
- Dennis Dart SLF 10.8m/Caetano NimbusCaetano NimbusThe Caetano Nimbus was a bus body built by Salvador Caetano in Waterlooville, Hampshire, England, between 1999 and 2007. It was constructed exclusively on the Dennis Dart SLF....
for route 235. - Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/Caetano NimbusCaetano NimbusThe Caetano Nimbus was a bus body built by Salvador Caetano in Waterlooville, Hampshire, England, between 1999 and 2007. It was constructed exclusively on the Dennis Dart SLF....
for route H25.
Additionally, the Travel Surrey fleet was nearly all Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer, expect for one East Lancs Spryte
East Lancs Spryte
The East Lancs Spryte is a single-decker bus body built by East Lancashire Coachbuilders. It was designed to body the Dennis Dart chassis, but a handful had been built on others, for example, the Volvo B6...
bodied Dart SLF, and a Dennis Trident
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...
/Alexander ALX400
Alexander ALX400
The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
for route 400. The Kingston University contract was run with 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 and Dennis Trident/Alexander ALX400s, wearing the same livery as Travel Surrey.
Travel London (Middlesex) Ltd
London Buses route 112
London Buses route 112 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The route is currently contracted Abellio London.-History:The 112 is a busy service which serves North Circular Road in the West...
, 350
London Buses route 350
London Buses route 350 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London .-History:...
, H28 and U7.
Bus types used
- Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/East Lancs SpryteEast Lancs SpryteThe East Lancs Spryte is a single-decker bus body built by East Lancashire Coachbuilders. It was designed to body the Dennis Dart chassis, but a handful had been built on others, for example, the Volvo B6...
for route U7. - Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/Caetano NimbusCaetano NimbusThe Caetano Nimbus was a bus body built by Salvador Caetano in Waterlooville, Hampshire, England, between 1999 and 2007. It was constructed exclusively on the Dennis Dart SLF....
for route 112. - Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m/Alexander Dennis Pointer for route H28.
- Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10.6m/Wright Eclipse GeminiWright Eclipse GeminiThe Wright Eclipse Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL and Volvo B5L Hybrid for use in the United Kingdom....
for route 350. - Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m for route 350.