Login
Login

Green Line bus route 724

{{short description|Home Counties bus route}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}

{{Infobox bus line

|number=Green Line 724

|image=Arriva 3797 (FL63DXF) Heathrow Airport 09 06 2023 (52962123037).jpg

|bgcolor=#b3f700

|titlecolor=black

|operator=Arriva Herts & Essex

|garage={{ubl|Harlow|Ware}}

|vehicle={{ubl|Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC|VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2}}

|length={{convert|57|mi|km}}

|frequency=Hourly

|day=Daily

|locale={{plainlist|

|termini={{ubl|Harlow|Heathrow Central}}}}

Green Line route 724 is a bus service currently operated by Arriva Herts & Essex as part of the Green Line Coaches network. It runs on an orbital route round the north and western outskirts of London between Harlow and Heathrow Central bus station, and is partly funded by airport operator Heathrow Airport Holdings.

History

Route 724 was started by Green Line Coaches (then part of London Transport) on 10 July 1966, on a route from High Wycombe to Romford via North London using AEC Regal coaches.[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/1st-july-1966/47/ie-man-operation-for-first-time-i-london-transport One-Man Operation for First Time on London Transport Coaches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123111938/http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/1st-july-1966/47/ie-man-operation-for-first-time-i-london-transport |date=23 January 2016 }} Commercial Motor 1 July 1966 page 45{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LugMAQAAIAAJ | title=The London single-deck bus of the fifties | publisher=Oakwood Press | author=Wagstaff, J. S. | year=1976 | pages=10 | isbn=978-0853611981 | quote=All the Country Area and Green Line routes were meanwhile being converted to one-man operation, passengers paying the driver as they boarded, the first Green Line one-man service being the 724. This was a new route introduced in July 1966, using one-man RF coaches from the outset. Running between Romford and High Wycombe as a limited-stop cross-country facility, it proved very successful in contrast to the earlier 727 experiment.}} By June 1972 it had been rerouted to start from Staines and serve Heathrow Airport.[http://www.eplates.info/P_724-727.jpg 724 & 727 timetable] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223134513/http://eplates.info/P_724-727.jpg |date=23 December 2013 }} London Country Bus Services 3 June 1972 The sections of route between Staines and Heathrow, and between Harlow and Romford were later dropped.

Route 724 was included in the sale of London Country North West to a management buyout when privatised in January 1988, in turn passing to Luton & District Transport in 1990, British Bus in 1994 and finally the Cowie Group in August 1996.[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/12th-november-1987/32/london-country-three-to-go London Country - three to go] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714185138/http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/12th-november-1987/32/london-country-three-to-go |date=14 July 2014 }} Commercial Motor 12 November 1987 page 32[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1988/apr/18/national-bus-company Hansard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129023658/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1988/apr/18/national-bus-company |date=29 November 2014 }} House of Commons 18 April 1988{{cite journal|last=Morris|first=Stephen|journal=Buses Focus|title=NBC since NBC: a history of the former NBC subsidiaries|date=September 1996|page=46}}[http://www.arriva.co.uk/about_arriva/history_growth/overview/ Overview] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928054413/http://www.arriva.co.uk/about_arriva/history_growth/overview/ |date=28 September 2013 }} Arriva Today it is operated by Arriva Herts & Essex.

In December 1997, a fleet of nine Plaxton Prestige bodied DAF SB220s were purchased, with extra luggage space built in.{{cn|date=February 2016}} These were some of the first low-floor buses to operate in the United Kingdom.

These were replaced in August 2006 by nine Mercedes-Benz Citaros. These were the result of a Quality Bus Partnership between Arriva Shires & Essex, BAA and Hertfordshire County Council. These buses seat 39 and also have extra luggage racking.[https://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/transit/news/?ID=2074 Heathrow service relaunched] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714184453/https://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/transit/news/?ID=2074 |date=14 July 2014 }} Transport Xtra 18 August 2006 Journey times were also improved.[http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/903176.revamped_buses_set_for_takeoff/ Revamped buses set for take-off] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323075553/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/903176.revamped_buses_set_for_takeoff/ |date=23 March 2012 }} Watford Observer 4 September 2006

In March 2008, the route was diverted to serve the new Heathrow Terminal 5.[http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/__80256E4D002F7E0E.nsf/vWeb/wpDOMR7CQKNQ?Open&show=current®ion=Shires%20and%20Essex&town=Heathrow%20Airport Arriva - "Green Line 724 to serve Heathrow Terminal 5."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926235633/https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/__80256E4D002F7E0E.nsf/vWeb/wpDOMR7CQKNQ?Open&show=current®ion=Shires%20and%20Essex&town=Heathrow%20Airport |date=26 September 2017 }} From 19 May, the service was withdrawn from Heathrow Terminal 4, with another new timetable introduced. Short workings on other parts of the route became routes 725 and 726.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090824184113/http://www.greenline.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Services/Shires_and_Essex/ha724se0608.pdf Route 724 timetable] Arriva 2 June 2008

In February 2021, the Citaros were replaced by a fleet of 8 Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMCs, which were transferred from Arriva Kent Thameside.{{Cite web|title=HarlowRide Enthusiast Pages|url=http://www.harlowride.co.uk/enthindex.htm#TOP|access-date=2021-04-01|website=harlowride.co.uk}}

In July 2022, part of the batch of ADL Enviro200 MMCs were replaced by Wright Pulsar 2 bodied VDL SB200s transferred from Leicester in return for the Enviro200s.

From 24 July 2022, additional early morning, late evening and weekend journeys were introduced in conjunction with the Heathrow Airport Partnership.{{cite web | url=https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/were-making-some-changes-to-our-services-in-harlow | title=Arriva Bus }}

Current route

Route 724 operates via these primary locations:{{cite web|url=https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/find-a-service/724-harlow-to-london-heathrow-airport|title=Route 724: Harlow to Heathrow Airport|work=Arriva Herts & Essex|access-date=25 May 2025}}

References

{{Reflist}}

  • {{cite book|last=McCall|first=Albert|title=Green Line: the history of London's country bus services|year=1980|publisher=New Cavendish Books|isbn=0-904568-26-1}}

External links

  • [https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/herts-and-essex/services/724---harlow-to-london-heathrow-airport/?direction=outbound Arriva 724 Harlow to London Heathrow Airport]
  • [http://www.greenline.co.uk/ Green Line Coaches website]

{{London Heathrow Airport}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:724, Green Line Coaches Route}}

Category:Bus routes in England

Category:Green Line Coaches routes

Category:Transport in Essex

Category:Transport in Harlow

Category:Transport in Hertfordshire

Category:Transport in the London Borough of Hillingdon

Category:Transport in St Albans

Category:Transport in Watford

724