Transport UK London Bus#Walworth (WL)
{{Short description|Bus company operating services in Greater London}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = Transport UK London Bus
|logo =
|image = LTZ1618-211-20241015-153359.jpg
|image_caption = New Routemaster on route 211 in October 2024
|parent = Transport UK Group
|founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2009|5|21}} (as Abellio London)
|headquarters = Camberwell
|service_area = Greater London
|service_type = Bus services
|routes = 73 (June 2024)
|depots = 6
|fleet = 800 (March 2023)
|website = [https://www.transportukbus.com www.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
File:Abellio 2416 (SN61DGZ) Elephant & Castle 15.01.2024.jpg on route 45 in Elephant and Castle in January 2024]]
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.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2878193/National-Express-buys-200-London-buses.html National Express buys 200 London buses] The Daily Telegraph 27 February 2004 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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180915074322/https://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/newsmedia/corporate-news/2009/national-express-group-plc-agreement-to-sell-travel-london/ National Express Group PLC agreement to sell Travel London] National Express 21 May 2009[http://www.abellio.com/pers/?key=1000000113&template=uk-pressarchive1&persitem=archief&pid=2 NedRailways acquisition reinforces long term commitment to UK transport market] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118210918/http://www.abellio.com/pers/?key=1000000113&template=uk-pressarchive1&persitem=archief&pid=2 |date=18 January 2016 }} NedRailways 9 June 2009 On 30 October 2009 the business was rebranded as Abellio London.{{cite web |last=Smith|first=Ian|title=Connex/Travel London/Abellio | website=www.countrybus.org| date=7 February 2021 | url=http://www.countrybus.org/Trident/TA_TravLon/TA_TLAb.htm}}{{cite web | title=Our History | publisher=Abellio |url=https://apply.abellio.com/about/history/ | access-date=30 November 2022}}
Abellio London was included in the sale of Abellio's United Kingdom businesses to Transport UK Group in February 2023.{{Cite web |title=Abellio UK to be renamed Transport UK Group as management buyout deal completes |url=https://www.abellio.com/news/abellio-uk-to-be-renamed-transport-uk-group |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301074525/https://www.abellio.com/news/abellio-uk-to-be-renamed-transport-uk-group |archive-date=1 March 2023 |access-date=2 March 2023 |publisher=Abellio |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Deakin |first=Tim |date=28 February 2023 |title=Transport UK Group MBO of Abellio UK completes |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/transport-uk-group-mbo-of-abellio-uk-completes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301162927/https://www.route-one.net/news/transport-uk-group-mbo-of-abellio-uk-completes/ |archive-date=1 March 2023 |access-date=2 March 2023 |work=routeone |language=en-GB}} 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.{{cite web|last=Peat |first=Chris |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/abellio-london-to-become-transport-uk-london-bus/ |title=Abellio London to become Transport UK London Bus |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=29 February 2024 |access-date=29 February 2024}}
Garages and routes
File:Transport UK London Bus 3402 - LC71 KWK.jpg Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV on route 63 on Farringdon Road in February 2025]]
Transport UK London Bus operates 74 TfL bus routes from six garages. 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)=
=Battersea (QB)=
File:LV24EWS Transport UK 3080 Wright StreetDeck Electroliner London Transport Museum.jpg on route C3, wearing an advertising wrap for the London Transport Museum, in July 2024]]
As of May 2025, Battersea garage operates routes 24, 27, 133, 156, 159, 211, 306, 322, 337, 344, 345, 415, 485, 639, 670, C3, G1, N27 and N133.
This garage was established by Q-Drive in the late 1990s, hence the QB code.{{cite book|last1=Carr|first1=Ken|title=The London Bus Guide|date=September 2014|publisher=Visions International Entertainment|isbn=978-0-9570058-6-0|edition=4|location=Boreham|page=111}} 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|date=June 2020}} In December 2015, Battersea garage started operating route 159.[http://www.abellio.co.uk/news/159-streatham-station-to-marble-arch Abellio London now operates route 159] Abellio 16 December 2015
=Beddington (BC)=
=Dawley Road (DH)=
=Twickenham (TF)=
As of June 2024, Twickenham garage operates routes 111, 267, 285, 465, 481D, 490, 671, 969, H20, H25, H26, R68 and R70. 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.{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240317152330/http://www.lots.org.uk/|title=Latest news: 17 March 2024|work=London Omnibus Traction Society|access-date=17 March 2024}}
=Walworth (WL)=
File:TU 1531 C10.jpg on route C10 at Westminster in March 2025]]
As of November 2023, Walworth garage operates routes 3, 45, 63, 68, 363, 381, C10, P5, P13, N3, N63, N68 and N381. On 30 April 2016, routes 35 and 40 passed to London Central.
After being closed by London Regional Transport in the 1980s,{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/9th-march-1985/20/lrt-tenders |title=LRT tenders |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=161 |issue=4111 |page=20 |location=Sutton |publisher=Transport Press |date=9 March 1985 |access-date=15 September 2018}} Walworth garage was reopened by Travel London in 2005, who needed more garage space after gaining new contracts.{{cite press release|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2005/february/green-light-for-new-energy-efficient-bus-infrastructure |title=Green light for new energy efficient bus infrastructure |publisher=Transport for London |date=24 February 2005 |access-date=5 October 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4292601.stm |title=Solar powered bus garages |work=BBC News |date=24 February 2005 |access-date=5 October 2016}}
Former garages
=Southall (AB)=
Southall garage opened on 29 July 2017, when routes E1, E5, E7 and E9 were transferred from Hayes.[https://www.abellio.com/news/abellio-london-surrey-wins-three-new-routes-west-london Abellio London & Surrey wins three new routes in West London] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729004705/https://www.abellio.com/news/abellio-london-surrey-wins-three-new-routes-west-london |date=29 July 2017 }} Abellio{{cite magazine |title=Fleet News |magazine=Buses |issue=750 |page=66 |location=Stamford |publisher=Key Publishing |date=September 2017}} It was replaced by Armstrong Way (GW) garage in July 2019.{{cite magazine |title=Two more new garages open but will others close? |magazine=Buses |issue=773 |page=24 |location=Stamford |publisher=Key Publishing |date=August 2019}}
=Hayes (WS)=
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. It moved to a new site on Dawley Road in 2021.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk/news/19555009.bus-firm-moving-new-depot-hayes/ |title=Bus firm moving to new depot in Hayes |work=Hillingdon & Uxbridge Times |date=2 September 2021 |access-date=10 February 2022}}
Fleet
As of March 2024, Transport UK London Bus operates a fleet of 848 buses.{{cite web |date=31 March 2024 |title=Bus Fleet Audit |url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/fleet-annual-audit-report-31-march-2024.pdf |access-date=27 July 2024 |publisher=Transport for London}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline}}
- {{Official website}}
{{Abellio}}
{{Bus operators in London}}