User:Cain Mosni/Chessington buses

Buses

Chessington is served by many regular bus routes, however, from January 2010 route 65 will extend nightly to Chessington Zoo. Yet this is the only night service in the area.

During the day, however, there are many routes to local towns, under Transport for London regulation. The state of said buses were berated in February 2015 by local Councillors, as it was very difficult to access hospitals by public transport, particularly buses, from Chessington and other areas in the southern-most reaches of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. These Include;

Route 65

Ealing to Chessington World of Adventures and Zoo, Via Brentford, Kew, Richmond, Ham, Kingston (Terminates here during daytime), Surbiton and Copt Gliders. Originally the 65 ran to Chessington daily until the 71 was discounted between Richmond and Ham. The route terminates at Kingston Eden street from 5am to 12pm. After 12pm buses extend to Chessington Zoo and World of adventures via the 71 route. Basically the 'N65' runs to Chessington while the 65 runs to Kingston. In reality the 71 is the day route and the 65 being the night route.

This route is served by Alexander ALX400 and Scania OmniCity buses and operated by London United.

Route 71

Kingston Cromwell Road Bus Station to Chessington World of Adventures, Via Surbiton, Hook, Chessington North and Copt Gilders.

This route began on a direct path between Leatherhead and Richmond upon Thames, travelling up Chessington's Leatherhead Road when entering the borough, with sister bus, route 65, running from Ealing Broadway, serving the Copt Gilders housing estate and terminating in Chessington.

Route 65 was permanently curtailed back to Kingston, upon conversion from Routemaster buses and route 71 itself curtailed from Richmond upon Thames in the north to Kingston Upon Thames, and from Leatherhead in the south to the current terminus at Chessington World of Adventures, providing a service once again to the Copt Gilders Estate. The northern end of the route is now covered by Route 371.

This route is served by Alexander ALX400 buses and operated by London United.

Route 465

Kingston Cromwell Road Bus Station to Dorking Townfield Court, Via Surbiton, Hook, Leatherhead and Mickleham.

Route 465 began as a descendant of route 71, after the southern section of the route 71 to Leatherhead was removed, to allow it to serve the area known as Chessington South better. In later years the northern section of route 465, past Kingston, was removed in order to focus the route more upon the southern section, covering most of Surrey, however it must be pointed out that Transport for London's Oyster Card, and all other TfL ticketing methods, are valid throughout the journey. The bus route is operated by Quality Line. This route was previously contracted to Arriva London and Metrobus.

Route 467

Hook Kingston By-Pass/Gladstone Road or Hinchley Wood School to Epsom Clock Tower or Epsom General Hospital, Via Ewell.

Route 467 is an hourly service provided by Quality Line which has already been considered for complete removal by Transport for London.

It is the only link between Chessington and Epsom not necessitating changing routes at Tolworth or Surbiton requiring additional journey time and expense, as a second bus must be boarded in order to continue the journey. This can be attested to the fact that in April 1965 the Borough of Epsom and Ewell opted not to become part of Greater London.

The route has roots from the London Country route 468 which was introduced in May 1946 in time for the first post-war Epsom Derby, which went from what was then Chessington Zoo to Effingham via Epsom Hospital. It was renumbered 467 in 1999 after London suffix lettered bus routes were renumbered; 68A became London Buses route 468, so the 468 became the 467, which had previously been used as a London Transport country route between Horton Kirby and Sidcup.

In early 2005, it was suggested that the route be merged with the K4, providing a service between Epsom Hospital and Kingston Hospital. This did not go ahead as a result of the incompatibilities of a lack of funding from Surrey Council, a lack of buses small enough to operate the route (the K4 uses small low-floor buses whereas the 467 uses massive double-deckers), an inability to cope with the school appendages on certain 467 journeys, and difficulty finding a suitable route through Hook, Mansfield Park and Winey Park.

In 2006, the route was considered for complete removal by Transport for London but was saved after the route attracted additional funding from Surrey County Council.

The 'K' routes

K1: New Malden Station to Kingston Via Tolworth, Sunray Estate and Surbiton. Technically this route does not serve Chessington but serves a stop in Thornhill Road which is a very short walk from the Southborough area of the town.

K2: Kingston Hospital to Hook Library Via Chessington Industrial Estate, Tolworth, Berrylands and Surbiton.

K4: Kingston Hospital to Hook, Mansfield Park (Ripon Gardens) Via Villiers Avenue, Surbiton, Hook and Winey Park Estate.

Route K3 and routes K5 do not serve Chessington.

K50

Route K50 was a Park & Ride Express bus service from Kingston Eden street to Chessington Zoo. It was discontinued as a result of the withdrawal of funding from The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and due to significantly reduced passenger numbers.

Routes 671 and 833

Route 671 follows route 71 for the majority of the Chessington section, however terminates early at Chessington South railway station. It serves Tiffin School for Girls and is operated by London United.

Route 833 was a Surrey County Council-operated bus on behalf of Hinchley Wood School. It was discontinued amidst heavy condemnation in 2006, however was reintroduced via an extension of the 467.