London Buses route 207

File:Uxbridge Bus Station and Garage - geograph.org.uk - 1758655.jpg (right) at Uxbridge bus station in June 1976]]

File:First_London_EA11060_LK05_FCZ_2.JPG Mercedes-Benz O530G in Shepherd's Bush in June 2009]]

Route 207 originates from London United Tramways route 7 which ran between Uxbridge and Shepherd's Bush Green.{{Cite news |url=http://londonist.com/2016/09/london-bus-numbers |title=How Do London's Buses Get Their Numbers? |last=Craig |first=Zoe |date=15 September 2016 |work=Londonist}} In 1936, this route was replaced by a trolleybus route 607 which ran until 1960. Route 207 was introduced on 9 November 1960 as part of the trolleybus replacement program stage 8, replacing trolleybus route 607 between Uxbridge and Shepherd's Bush Green, using AEC Routemasters. The route was converted to crew operated Daimler Fleetlines in 1976, reverted to Routemasters in 1980 due to unreliability. One man operation followed in 1987 using MCW Metrobuses. In 1990 limited stop route 607 began, paralleling route 207.{{cite journal|last=Aldridge|first=John|title=Low-floor double-deckers flood in|journal=Buses|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issue=536|date=November 1999|page=14}}

The route, which runs along the entire length of the Uxbridge Road, was operated as two overlapping sections in the late 1990s, with a peak vehicle requirement of 35 double-deckers.[http://www.etcproceedings.org/paper/uxbridge-road-bus-priority-demonstration-project European Transport Conference: Uxbridge Road bus priority demonstration project] The proposed West London Tram paralleled much of the 207.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-13680358-rough-ride-for-tram-line.do|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912224139/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-13680358-rough-ride-for-tram-line.do|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2012|last=Lydall|first=Ross|title=Rough ride for tram line|work=Evening Standard|date=8 October 2004}}

Low floor buses replaced the MCW Metrobuses in 2001, along with six articulated buses which were on trial on the route for six months, running between Hayes Bypass and Shepherd's Bush Green, from First London's Greenford garage. The trial was a success and on 9 April 2005 the route was split into two sections; the Hayes Bypass to Shepherd's Bush Green section retained the number 207 and was converted to single deck articulated bus operation with Mercedes-Benz O530Gs. The section between Uxbridge and Acton was renumbered 427 using Dennis Trident 2s. A new base opened at Hayes for the 207; the Uxbridge and Acton allocations were withdrawn.{{cite journal|last=Aldridge|first=John|title=Artics run at last on the 207|journal=Buses|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issue=603|date=June 2009|page=19}}

In October and November 2004 the route was found to have the highest level of police callouts of any service in London.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-16124045-capitals-most-dangerous-bus-routes.do|last=Lydall|first=Ross|title=Capital's most dangerous bus routes|work=Evening Standard|date=25 January 2005|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225193059/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-16124045-capitals-most-dangerous-bus-routes.do|archivedate=25 December 2009}} Fare evasion following the conversion to bendy bus operation is also perceived to be a problem by local transport user group EPTUG.{{cite news|url=http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2009/07/24/bendy-buses-to-disappear-from-ealing-by-2011-64767-24232206/|last=Kubiak|first=Paloma|title=Ealing's bendy buses to disappear by 2011|work=Ealing Gazette|date=24 June 2009}}

Route 207 was extended from Shepherd's Bush Green to White City bus station when Westfield London opened in November 2008.[http://uk.westfield.com/london/getting-there/bus Westfield London - Bus Routes and Directions][https://www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2008/november/new-white-city-bus-station-will-cater-for-10000-passengers-a-day New White City bus station will cater for 10,000 passengers a day] Transport for London 25 November 2008 A month earlier, passengers' organisation London TravelWatch had claimed that the route carried more passengers than any other route in Europe, although this was disputed by some commentators.{{cite journal|last=Aldridge|first=John|title=London TravelWatch says artic replacement will cost £48 million a year|journal=Buses|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|issue=644|date=November 2008|page=20}} In 2009 it was announced by new Mayor of London Boris Johnson that articulated buses would be replaced by the end of 2011; it was initially expected that the 207 would be converted to rigid single-deck operation.

In February 2011, Transport for London confirmed that the route would be converted to double-deck vehicles in December 2011, and that the frequency of the route would be increased. Similar changes were planned for night bus variant N207. The proposals were criticised by local Liberal Democrat politicians for failing to increase the seating capacity of the route while increasing the number of vehicles on the Uxbridge Road.{{cite news|url=http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-and-hammersmith-news/local-fulham-and-hammersmith-news/2011/02/08/lib-dems-hit-out-at-207-bus-service-increases-82029-28133341/|last=Burns|first=Greg|title=Lib Dems hit out at 207 bus service increases|work=Fulham Chronicle|date=8 February 2011}}

On 10 December 2011, route 207 was converted back to double deck using Scania OmniCity double deckers. It was the last bus route in London to be operated by articulated buses.[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-16091997 Bendy bus makes final journey for Transport for London] BBC News 10 November 2011

On 22 June 2013, route 207 was included in the sale of First London's Hayes garage to Metroline.[http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/latest_news/?id=009241 FirstGroup Announces Sale of Eight London Bus Depots] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105122627/http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/latest_news/?id=009241 |date=5 November 2013 }} FirstGroup 9 April 2013[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-22079937 Aberdeen firm FirstGroup sells off depots for £80m] BBC News 9 April 2013[http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=7610&categoryid=0 First quits London bus business] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607010730/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=7610&categoryid=0 |date=7 June 2014 }} Bus & Coach Professional 9 April 2013

Route 207 was London's fifth busiest bus route with 12.9 million passengers in 2015/16.https://tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/bus-service-usage.xlsx {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} The route passed to Abellio London on 6 April 2019."Metrobus and Abellio gain TfL contracts" Coach & Bus Week issue 1351 17 July 2018 page 7

Route 207 operates via these primary locations:[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/207 Route 207 Map] Transport for London

• Hayes Bypass
• Southall
• Ealing Hospital
• Ealing Broadway station {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|crossrail}} {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
• Ealing Common station {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
• Acton Town Hall
• Acton Central station {{rail-interchange|london|overground}}
• Shepherd's Bush Market station {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
• Shepherd's Bush stations {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
• White City bus station for Wood Lane station {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}

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{{Articulated buses in London|state=collapsed}}

{{London Bus Routes}}

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Category:Bus routes in London

Category:Transport in the London Borough of Ealing

Category:Transport in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

Category:Transport in the London Borough of Hillingdon