Arriva London
Parent | Arriva UK Bus |
---|---|
Founded | 1998 |
Headquarters | Wood Green |
Service area | Greater London |
Service type | Bus operator |
Routes | 92 |
Depots | 14 |
Fleet | 1497 |
Fuel type | Diesel, electric and hybrid |
Website | www.arrivalondon.com |
Arriva London is a bus operator operating services in Greater London. It is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Bus and operates services under contract to Transport for London. Operations are split between two registered companies, Arriva London North Limited and Arriva London South Limited.
History
[edit]The origins of Arriva London can be traced back to 1980 when the Cowie Group purchased the Grey-Green coach business in London.[1][2][3]
On February 1987, Grey-Green commenced operating bus routes in north and east London under contract to London Regional Transport.[1][4][5][6]
On 1 April 1989, London Buses was divided into 11 separate business units, two of which were Leaside Buses and South London Transport.[7][8] As part of the privatisation of London bus services, the Cowie Group purchased these business units in September 1994 and January 1995,[9] rebranding both as Cowie Leaside and Cowie South London in January 1996.[10][11]
On 1 August 1996, the Cowie Group purchased British Bus, which owned the Kentish Bus and London & Country businesses that also operated London bus services.[12][13]
On November 1997, the Cowie Group was rebranded as Arriva.[14]
On 1 January 2016, as part of a decision to consolidate all of Arriva's Transport for London operations with Arriva London, Arriva Herts & Essex, Arriva Kent Thameside and Tellings-Golden Miller Transport for London operations were transferred to Arriva London.
Garages
[edit]Arriva London North Limited
[edit]Arriva London North Limited operates nine garages.
Barking (DX)
[edit]Barking garage operates routes 150, 175 and SL2.[15]
Barking garage was opened in 1992 by Grey-Green to meet the demands of their expanding North East London operations.[16] Dix Coaches was a subsidiary of Grey-Green operating from a base in the Dagenham area, which moved to the new garage on opening, hence the DX code.
Clapton (CT)
[edit]Clapton garage operates routes 38, 73, 253, N38, N73 and N253.[15]
Edmonton (EC)
[edit]Edmonton garage operates route 158.[15]
The garage was reopened by County Bus & Coach in 1997, and in 1998 this operation was merged with the Leaside Travel unit. In 2005 the garage was adapted for Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated buses on route 149.[17] Having closed in September 2012, on 1 March 2014, Edmonton reopened to replace Lee Valley.[18]
Enfield (E)
[edit]Enfield garage operates routes 121, 191, 192, 279, 307, 313, 349, 377 and N279.[15]
Enfield garage was built in 1927 by the London General Omnibus Company. Further land was soon acquired in the front of the garage for use as a bus stand, which later also got used as a terminus for trolleybuses. The garage was modernised at a cost of over £6 million in the early 1980s, and when it reopened in 1984 it had space for 106 buses. More recently it has become a central part of Arriva London operations with the accident repair centre and undertaking of major refurbishments.[19]
Grays (GY)
[edit]Grays garage operates routes 66, 103, 248, 347, 370 and 375.[15]
As part of a decision to consolidate all of Arriva's Transport for London operations with Arriva London, Grays garage was transferred from Arriva Kent Thameside on 1 January 2016.[20][21]
Palmers Green (AD)
[edit]Palmers Green garage operates routes 34, 102, 141, 675 and SL1.[15]
Opened in July 1912 by the London General Omnibus Company to house their Central London bus fleet operating in competition with the MET[who?] trams. Just before World War II the allocation at Palmers Green was entirely AEC Regents, whilst afterwards it was allocated AEC Regent III RT, RTL, RTW and SRTs, making Palmers Green the only London Transport garage to be allocated all four standard double deck types, although none could fit in the garage until the roof could be raised by 10 inches, which was completed in 1952 after a process taking 20 weeks.[22] The garage was further modernised in 1974 by which time 60 buses were allocated.[specify] AEC Routemasters arrived in 1969 replacing the RTs, but the RTs lasted there until 1978.[22]
One man operated buses in the form of AEC Regal VIs began arriving and were followed in time by AEC Swifts, Daimler Fleetlines, and MCW Metrobuses. The Routemasters lasted on route 29 until the late 1980s, and in 1994 the allocation was 51, entirely MCW Metrobuses. In latter years the allocation has increased slightly and other than Metrobuses, Volvo B10Ms and Alexander ALX400 bodied DAF DB250LFs have been allocated.[citation needed]
Stamford Hill (SF)
[edit]Stamford Hill garage operates routes 19, 76, 254 and N19.[15]
Stamford Hill opened in February 1907 as a London County Council tram depot. In February 1939, it was converted into trolleybus depot and in July 1961 for bus use. It was closed in 1995, before reopening in 2006. It closed again in November 2020.[23][24] The garage was re-opened on 24 February 2024 to operate route 254.[15]
Tottenham (AR)
[edit]Tottenham garage operates routes 41, 123, 149, 243, 318, 341 and N41.[15]
Tottenham garage was built in 1913 by the MET to run buses to support their tram network. The buses were requisitioned during World War I, and then between 1917 and 1919 the garage was loaned to AEC. Before World War II in 1939 the allocation consisted of ST, STL and LTs, but during the war it was the first garage to receive utility Guy Arabs, and later in 1949 London's first 8 ft wide buses. When route 236 moved with its RFs to Dalston in 1971 it signalled an absence of single deckers at the garage that would last until 2001 when route W4 was won.[citation needed]
MCW Metrobuses and AEC Routemasters were the staple diet of the garage for many years until the new Alexander ALX400 bodied DAF DB250LFs arrived. The final Routemasters left Tottenham in September 2004 when route 73 was converted to Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated bus operation and moved to Lea Valley. However, Tottenham has retained a single Routemaster for the Arriva London Heritage fleet for use at shows and special events. It is probably the most famous too, being the (numerically) first production Routemaster, RM5.[citation needed]
Wood Green (WN)
[edit]Wood Green garage operates routes 29, 144, 221, 329, W3, W4, W6 and N29.[15]
Transformed in the early 1900s from a horse tram depot to a modern tram depot with a capacity of 67. It was completely remodelled in the late 1930s to allow for trolleybus operations and a capacity of 108. The garage was further adapted again in 1960 for buses. AEC Routemasters arrived to replace trolleybuses in April 1961, and with the closure of West Green in 1962 more work arrived.[25][26]
Arriva London South Limited
[edit]Arriva London South Limited operates five garages.
Brixton (BN)
[edit]Brixton garage operates routes 50, 59, 137, 319, 417 and N137.[15]
Originally built as a depot for cable trams which ran up Brixton Hill in 1892, it was re-built between 1904 and 1906 for use by electric trams. In 1993 it was extended onto a site formerly owned by the water board and containing a large water main, and then in 1949 reconstruction started to bury the main and convert the depot into one large building instead of two smaller ones. The last trams ran from the depot in 1951, by which time AEC Regent III RTs had started to arrive with the last remaining until 1976.[citation needed]
In 1971 Brixton became one of the first to receive Daimler Fleetlines and then in 1984 MCW Metrobuses. The garage also received the first production Wright Cadet bodied DAF single deckers in 2001. Brixton was also the last depot to operate AEC Routemasters in regular service in London on route 159 until December 2005. Now the garage has only double-decker buses, all the other single-decker buses have been transferred to other garages.
Croydon (TC)
[edit]Croydon garage operates routes 60, 166, 194, 312, 405, 412, 466, 627, 645, 685 and SL5.[15]
Built by the London General Omnibus Company in 1915, the garage was handed over to Thomas Tilling on opening as part of an agreement between the two operators. The garage had to have roof reconstruction in the early 1930s to allow roofed double deckers to use the garage and was totally destroyed in 1941 after an air raid which also killed four staff and destroyed 56 buses. The reconstruction was finally completed in the mid-1950s. AEC Regent III RTs mainly monopolised the garage until the arrival of AEC Routemasters in 1964.[27]
In 1969 experimental XAs and later FRM1 were tested on route 233. When the XAs departed in 1973 they were replaced by Daimler Fleetlines which lasted until January 1993. LSs started to arrive in the late 1970s and MCW Metrobus in 1985 until they were replaced by Leyland Titans. When Elmers End closed a reshuffle took place with the Routemasters departing and the garage became fully one man operated, and later in 1994, the garage became fully double deck with the departure of the last Leyland Nationals.[citation needed]
Dartford (DT)
[edit]Dartford garage operates routes 99, 229, 269, 301, 335, 401, 428, 492 and B15.[15]
As part of a decision to consolidate all of Arriva's Transport for London routes with Arriva London, Dartford garage was transferred from Arriva Kent Thameside on 1 January 2016.[20][21]
Norwood (N)
[edit]As of January 2024, Norwood garage operates routes 2, 202, 249, 432, 468 and N2.
Norwood garage was opened in 1909 by the London General Omnibus Company. The garage has had a steady allocation over the years and in 1951 took over some of the vehicles for the Festival of Britain services from the nearby Norwood Tram Depot. In 1981 the garage underwent complete reconstruction, with the buses and staff being transferred temporarily to the reopened Clapham Garage until 1984.[citation needed]
The allocation has mainly been Leyland Olympians and AEC Routemasters until recently when Alexander ALX400 bodied DAF DB250s were allocated in its completely double-deck allocation which included the Northern Counties Palatine bodied Volvo Olympians which came with the operation of the former Londonlinks routes 176/route 188.[citation needed]
The garage previously supplied some buses and drivers for route 19 following the conversion from Routemaster operation in 2005, but this ceased with the closure of Battersea, with the whole of the route transferring to Brixton.[citation needed]
Thornton Heath (TH)
[edit]As of September 2024, Thornton Heath garage operates routes 64, 198, 250, 255, 289, 410, 612, 663, 689 and N250.
Originally opened as the garage for the first horse tramway in Croydon in 1879 it was later rebuilt as an electric tram depot in 1901. Initially, it could house 26 trams but was extended the following year to take 43 cars. Thornton Heath was earmarked for closure as a tram depot for reconstruction at the tram replacement program of 1950–52 but actually shut before the last tram finished with the work and staff moving to Purley.[citation needed]
Buses were starting to operate from the new garage before reconstruction was complete in 1951 with 54 AEC Regent III RTs, just half of its capacity. AEC Routemasters arrived in the early 1960s bringing it up to 84 buses. The RTs lasted until 1976, outlasting the RMs which were replaced by Daimler Fleetlines in 1971, although they did return between 1976–1978 and 1982–1987 when the garage became entirely one man operated.[citation needed]
By 1994 the garage was worked almost entirely by Leyland Olympians and MCW Metrobuses with a few Dennis Dart and MCW Metroriders. There was also a period where the then South London Transport regularly transferred vehicles about, and whilst Thornton Heath retained its Olympians throughout, they were joined not only by Metrobuses but also Leyland Titans. Thornton Heath also briefly flirted with SR-class StarRiders, as well as sharing vehicle evaluation duties with Bromley for the DA/SA classes of vehicle, operating SA1 From October 1989 to February 1990 before swapping it for DA1, which stayed here for a further 6 months before being moved to Westlink.[citation needed]
Thornton Heath became Arriva London's third garage to begin moving to electrification of its fleet in November 2024, following the installation of an electrical substation to facilitate the charging of up to 109 battery electric buses. Initially, the garage will house a fleet of 22 electric buses, expanding to full capacity by spring 2025 upon the completion of the electrification project, which will eventually see the removal of diesel refuelling tanks from the garage.[28]
Former garages
[edit]Ash Grove (AE)
[edit]As of February 2024, Ash Grove garage operated route 254. This garage was shared with Stagecoach London.
History
[edit]One of three new garages opened in 1981 by London Buses at a cost of £3.5 million, it had space for 140 buses undercover and a further 30 in the yard. The roof was unusual in being carried by 10 35-ton triangular trusses, said to be the largest in the UK, supported on reinforced concrete columns.
On opening the garage took over Hackney's operation of Red Arrow routes 502 and 513 using brand new Leyland Nationals which had been stored at the garage, and also the entire Hackney and Dalston allocations. Ash Grove found itself in the London Forest operation, and also had a reputation for staff militancy and closed in 1991. The garage was reopened in 1994 by Kentish Bus to operate their Leyton area route gains, although they referred to it as Cambridge Heath. It was also used over the years to house stored vehicles for the London Transport Museum, and again in 2000 to store additional AEC Routemasters that had been acquired to supplement shortages in London.[citation needed]
In 2000 it was reopened by the London Buses subsidiary East Thames Buses which took over the former Harris Bus routes after that company ran into financial difficulties. Hackney Community Transport also moved into the garage yard in recent times to house its routes won in the London area although East Thames Buses later moved to new premises in Mandela Way, Southwark and were replaced at the garage by Arriva's new Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated buses for route 38 following the conversion from Routemasters in November 2005.[citation needed]
On 24 February 2024, Arriva London moved out of this garage and route 254 was transferred back to the recently re-opened Stamford Hill garage.
Battersea (BA)
[edit]History
[edit]The original Battersea garage was opened in 1906 by the London Roadcar Company on the north side of Hester Road, but by 1914 more space was needed and an annexe was built on the south side. Two modernisation schemes were undertaken, first in the 1960s to allow for AEC Routemasters to be allocated and again in 1971 when a new canteen and recreation room was built.
The garage closed in 1985 with its allocation being split between Victoria and Wandsworth garages. Battersea was however given a reprieve some time later when it was used to house the London Buses coaches and sightseeing operations until 1988 when the entire operation moved to Wandsworth garage. In 1993, a yard adjacent to the old garage was opened as a base for Kentish Bus route 19 operation after it had moved out of its Covent Garden Market base.
Most of the area formally occupied on both the North and South sides of Hester Road has now been built into a luxury flats complex. The only section remaining is the small shed which was originally an outstation from Brixton garage housing the route 19 Routemasters. When the Routemasters left in July 2005 the garage received an allocation of Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TLs for route 19, although some of these need to be parked at (and use drivers from) Norwood garage because there was not enough space for these larger buses.
In November 2009, Battersea garage was closed and the site redeveloped.
Beddington Farm (CN)
[edit]History
[edit]A modern purpose-built depot that was largely open air. Opened in 1990 by London Country Bus Services, it ran 73 vehicles, although had space for 120. Beddington Farm was to replace the existing garages at Godstone and Chelsham and operated both LB tendered routes and existing London Country Croydon area routes. Beddington Farm became a Londonlinks depot when the Non-London work moved away before coming under Arriva South. It was transferred to Arriva London in 1999 with six routes and buses painted red, green or blue. In 2007 route 450 was transferred to Beddington Garage from Thornton Heath in a swap with route 289.
In July 2011 Arriva confirmed Beddington Farm would close by 31 March 2012.[29]
Garston (GR)
[edit]As of June 2018, Garston garage operated routes 288, 303, 305, H18 and H19.
History
[edit]Opened on 18 June 1952, Garston became part of London Country North West in 1986, being included in the sale of the business to Luton & District Transport in 1988 which in turn was rebranded Arriva Shires & Essex.[30] In 1986 it became a London Regional Transport contractor when it began to operate route 142.[31] As part of a decision to consolidate all of Arriva's Transport for London routes with Arriva London, Garston garage was transferred from Arriva Shires & Essex on 1 January 2016.[20][21] It closed on 31 August 2018 coinciding with the expiry of its last Transport for London contracts.[32][33][34]
Heathrow (HE)
[edit]History
[edit]The depot was originally operated by Tellings-Golden Miller. On 31 May 2014, the garage gained route E10 from Metroline. It used new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 single deckers. As part of a decision to consolidate all of Arriva's Transport for London routes with Arriva London, Heathrow garage was transferred from Tellings-Golden Miller on 1 January 2016.[20][21] During December 2017, the operation of route E10 was transferred to London United. As a result, the depot closed soon after.[35]
Lee Valley (LV)
[edit]History
[edit]Lea Valley depot was at the back of an industrial estate alongside the River Lea close to Northumberland Park. The depot was opened in 2005 to house the Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated buses for route 149 which were later joined by more with the conversion of route 73.
On 1 March 2014, Lee Valley garage closed with the site acquired by National Grid with operations transferred to a reopened Edmonton.[18]
Fleet
[edit]As at November 2024, the fleet consisted of 1496 buses.[36]
The Heritage Fleet
[edit]The Heritage Fleet was operated between 2006 and 2022 by Arriva. It used AEC Routemasters for private hire work, and was formed after Routemasters in London were withdrawn from normal service in December 2005.
History
[edit]Arriva London inherited four Routemaster operator services when it purchased Leaside Buses and South London Transport: routes 19, 38, 73 and 159. Routes 19 and 159 were replaced by one man double deckers and 38 and 73 by Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated buses. Route 159 was the last London route to be converted on 9 December 2005, bringing 50 years of Routemaster operation to a close.
Following this, Arriva London collected some of the more significant Routemasters in their fleet and set up the Heritage Fleet in early 2006.
In November 2022, Arriva London announced it was putting all vehicles from the Heritage Fleet up for sale by the end of 2022, ending 17 years of service with the division. Routemaster RM2217 operated special services on route 137 on 2 December to commemorate the end of the Heritage Fleet, with proceeds from the event being donated to the Royal British Legion.[37][38]
Operations
[edit]The Heritage Fleet offered their vehicles for private hire, such as events celebration and weddings. The buses were also hired to attend other public events, and often the buses appeared at bus events, such as Showbus and the London Bus Preservation Trust Cobham bus rally.
Fleet
[edit]The Heritage Fleet was made up of nine AEC Routemasters. As Arriva was the biggest operator of Routemasters before they were withdrawn from normal services, they operated some of the most significant Routemasters. These included;
- RM5: This is the lowest numbered production Routemaster, although RM8 was actually built first.[39]
- RM6: In 2002, this Routemaster was painted in a gold livery to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee, the livery which it now carries.[40]
- RML901: This was part of the first batch of 24 RMLs (Routemaster Lengthened) to enter service.[41]
- RM1124: This was retained as it contains a Cummins Euro II engine, meaning it already meets emission standards to be set for London.[42]
- RMC1453: This was the first production Green Line Routemaster Coach.[43]
- RMC1464: This is an open top bus, so is popular for private hires.[44]
- RM2217: The last production standard length Routemaster built. This bus operated the final regular Routemaster service in December 2005.[45]
- RML2355: This is still in the condition as when it left service, but is awaiting restoration. It is unusual in retaining its original body and chassis after the Routemaster overhaul scheme.[46]
- RML2360: This is being looked after for the London Transport Museum. It has been converted inside for exhibition use.[47]
References
[edit]- ^ a b The Arriva London Story Archived 11 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Arriva London
- ^ History and growth Archived 20 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Arriva
- ^ Leasing industry's Sir Tom Cowie dies Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Fleet News 2 February 2012
- ^ LRT allocates 10 bus routes Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 25 October 1986 page 22
- ^ In Brief Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 17 November 1988 page 16
- ^ London Country North East loses three routes Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 25 February 1988 page 15
- ^ Companies House extract company no 2328559 Archived 29 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Arriva London North Limited formerly Leaside Bus Company Limited
- ^ Companies House extract company no 2328467 Archived 29 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Arriva London South Limited formerly South London Transport Limited
- ^ The Arriva London Story Archived 11 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Arriva London 2012
- ^ Morgan, Mike (6 January 1996). "New look for new year". Coach & Bus Week. No. 199. Peterborough: Emap. p. 9. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ "Cowie's red bus facelift". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 339. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 5 January 1996. p. 4.
- ^ Cowie buys British Bus for £282m Archived 20 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Herald Scotland 1 August 1996
- ^ Cowie Group plc and British Bus Group Limited: A report on the merger situation[usurped] Competition Commission 31 October 1996
- ^ Bamber Forsyth unites Cowie Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Design Week 23 October 1997
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "London Bus Routes and Bus Garages". Arriva London. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Grey Green plans Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 8 August 1991 page 16
- ^ Opening of state-of-the-art garage at Edmonton Archived 17 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine Transport for London 23 May 2006
- ^ a b "Arriva London" Buses issue 703 page 66
- ^ Savine, Les; LSPhotography (26 December 2020). "Enfield Bus Garage (E)". LSPhotography Blog. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d Arriva London adds four more garages Arriva London
- ^ a b c d "Arriva London" Buses issue 731 February 2016 page 66
- ^ a b Lyons, Mark (8 August 2022). "Palmers Green". The London Bus. Vol. 9. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 44–47.
- ^ Short Hops Buses issue 786 September 2020 page 22
- ^ Historic London bus garage to close Coach & Bus Week issue 1440 15 September 2020 page 39
- ^ Lee, David (15 October 2018). "History of the Routemaster Bus Part 1". routemaster4hire. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "1962 AEC Routemaster coach - RMC1461 - London Bus Museum". Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "London's electric trams and trolleybuses". London Transport Museum. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "Arriva electrifies third London depot". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ Jobs axe fear as bus firm to close garage Surrey Mirror 22 July 2011
- ^ Acquisition by Arriva plc of Sovereign Bus & Coach Company[usurped] Competition Commission December 2004
- ^ "Arriva to close Garston Garage following tender loss" Buses issue 752 November 2017 page 23
- ^ Garston bus garage to close next year, Arriva confirms Watford Observer 17 August 2017
- ^ "Fleet News" Buses issue 760 July 2018 page 68
- ^ "Garston send off" Coach & Bus Week issue 1357 28 August 2018
- ^ Buses; Fleet News. Key Publishing. January 2018.
- ^ Bus Fleet Audit Transport for London
- ^ Larkin, Nick (29 November 2022). "Arriva London heritage fleet sell-off". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "Special Journeys over Route 137". Arriva London (Press release). 14 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via London Bus Museum.
- ^ "RM 5". The Heritage Fleet. 6 June 1959. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "RM 6". The Heritage Fleet. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "RML 901". The Heritage Fleet. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "RM 1124". The Heritage Fleet. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "RMC 1453". The Heritage Fleet. 19 June 2010. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "RMC 1464". The Heritage Fleet. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "RM 2217". The Heritage Fleet. 8 December 2005. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "RML 2355". The Heritage Fleet. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "RML 2360". The Heritage Fleet. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
External links
[edit]Media related to Arriva London at Wikimedia Commons