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Transport UK London Bus
New Routemaster on route 211 in October 2024
ParentTransport UK Group
Founded21 May 2009; 15 years ago (2009-05-21) (as Abellio London)
HeadquartersCamberwell
Service areaGreater London
Service typeBus services
Routes73 (June 2024)
Depots6
Fleet800 (March 2023)
Websitewww.transportukbus.com

Transport UK London Bus, formerly Abellio London, is a bus company operating services under contract to Transport for London in Greater London, England.

History

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Alexander Dennis Enviro400H on route 45 in Elephant and Castle in January 2024
Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV on route 63 at Ludgate Circus in December 2023

The origins of Transport UK London Bus can be traced back to June 1998 when National Express commenced operating routes C1 and 211 under the Travel London brand. In August 2000, National Express sold the business to Limebourne, who in July 2001 sold out to Connex. In February 2004, National Express repurchased the business.[1] Travel London operated contracts on behalf of Transport for London (TfL).

On 21 May 2009, National Express sold Travel London to Abellio. The sale included 36 TfL-tendered services. All vehicles, depots and staff were included.[2][3] On 30 October 2009 the business was rebranded as Abellio London.[4][5]

Abellio London was included in the sale of Abellio's United Kingdom businesses to Transport UK Group in February 2023.[6][7] The new group began the process of rebranding Abellio London to Transport UK London Bus from early 2024, with the rebrand officially taking effect from 2 March 2024.[8]

Garages and routes

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Transport UK London Bus operates 73 TfL bus routes from six garages.[8] Beddington, Battersea and Walworth are operated by Transport UK London Bus Limited and Twickenham, Armstrong Way and Dawley Road by Transport UK West London Bus Limited.

Armstrong Way (GW)

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As of April 2024, Armstrong Way garage operates routes 195, 207, 427, 482, E5, E7, E10, E11, H28, H32 and N207. Routes E1 and E9 were lost to other contracts, with route E1 going to London United and route E9 going to Metroline.

Battersea (QB)

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As of June 2024, Battersea garage operates routes 24, 27, 133, 156, 159, 196, 211, 306, 322, 344, 345, 415, 639, 670, C3, N27 and N133.[9]

This garage was established by Q-Drive in the late 1990s, hence the QB code.[10] Travel London's original bus garage was situated further north towards Stewarts Lane railway depot which was the home of the Gatwick Express, a rail franchise then operated by its parent National Express. Connex moved into these premises after purchasing the Limebourne business in July 2001.[citation needed] In December 2015, Battersea garage started operating route 159.[11]

Beddington (BC)

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As of April 2024, Beddington garage operates routes 109, 130, 201, 270, 315, 367, 404, 407, 433, 464, N109, S3 and S4.[9]

Dawley Road (DH)

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As of April 2024, Dawley Road garage operates routes 278, 350, E6, U5, U7 and U9.[9]

Twickenham (TF)

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As of June 2024, Twickenham garage operates routes 111, 267, 285, 465, 481D, 490, 671, 969, H20, H25, H26, R68 and R70.[9] On 2 October 2021, route 290 passed to London United. Brand new Wright GB Kite Electroliner BEVs were first noted on route R70 on 12 March 2024.[12]

Walworth (WL)

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As of November 2023, Walworth garage operates routes 3, 45, 63, 68, 363, 381, C10, P5, P13, N3, N63, N68 and N381.[9] On 30 April 2016, routes 35 and 40 passed to London Central.

After being closed by London Regional Transport in the 1980s,[13] Walworth garage was reopened by Travel London in 2005, who needed more garage space after some new contracts.[14][15]

Former garages

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Southall (AB)

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Southall garage opened on 29 July 2017, when routes E1, E5, E7 and E9 were transferred from Hayes.[16][17] It was replaced by Armstrong Way (GW) garage in July 2019.[18]

Hayes (WS)

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This garage closed in late 2021, transferring its routes to Armstrong Way (GW) garage. Hayes garage used to operate and hold London bus routes 278, 350, 482, H28, U5, U7 and U9.[9] It moved to a new site on Dawley Road in 2021.[19]

Fleet

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As of March 2024, Transport UK London Bus operated 848 buses. These include: the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 and Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC, the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 and Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC, the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 EV City, the Wright Streetdeck Electroliner and Wright GB Kite Electroliner,[20] the Switch MetroCity, the Caetano e.City Gold[21] and the New Routemaster.[22]

References

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  1. ^ National Express buys 200 London buses The Daily Telegraph 27 February 2004
  2. ^ National Express Group PLC agreement to sell Travel London National Express 21 May 2009
  3. ^ NedRailways acquisition reinforces long term commitment to UK transport market Archived 18 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine NedRailways 9 June 2009
  4. ^ Smith, Ian (7 February 2021). "Connex/Travel London/Abellio". www.countrybus.org.
  5. ^ "Our History". Abellio. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Abellio UK to be renamed Transport UK Group as management buyout deal completes". Abellio. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  7. ^ Deakin, Tim (28 February 2023). "Transport UK Group MBO of Abellio UK completes". routeone. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  8. ^ a b Peat, Chris (29 February 2024). "Abellio London to become Transport UK London Bus". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Route finder". Abellio London. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  10. ^ Carr, Ken (September 2014). The London Bus Guide (4 ed.). Boreham: Visions International Entertainment. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-9570058-6-0.
  11. ^ Abellio London now operates route 159 Abellio 16 December 2015
  12. ^ "Latest news: 17 March 2024". London Omnibus Traction Society. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  13. ^ "LRT tenders". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 9 March 1985. p. 20. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Green light for new energy efficient bus infrastructure" (Press release). Transport for London. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  15. ^ "Solar powered bus garages". BBC News. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  16. ^ Abellio London & Surrey wins three new routes in West London Archived 29 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine Abellio
  17. ^ "Fleet News". Buses. No. 750. Stamford: Key Publishing. September 2017. p. 66.
  18. ^ "Two more new garages open but will others close?". Buses. No. 773. Stamford: Key Publishing. August 2019. p. 24.
  19. ^ "Bus firm moving to new depot in Hayes". Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Wrightbus secures further orders with transport operator Abellio". wrightbus.com. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  21. ^ Editorial Staff (20 November 2023). "Abellio launches a new fleet of CaetanoBus e-buses in London on line 433". Sustainable Bus. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Bus Fleet Audit" (PDF). Transport for London. 31 March 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
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