Metrobus (London bus company): Difference between revisions

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Metrobus is a bus operator, ran under the name of Go-Ahead London Metrobus, with routes in south and south-east London, and parts of Surrey and Kent. The company operates all of its routes under contract to Transport for London. Formed through a management change in 2014, The company used to be part of Metrobus in Crawley, a different Go-Ahead Group before the London part being taken over by Go-Ahead London. The other and orginal Metrobus, based in Crawley, was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in 1999.^[2]

In February 1981 the Orpington & District bus company collapsed due to financial difficulties, and the Tillingbourne Bus Company based in West Surrey took over their operations, setting up Tillingbourne (Metropolitan) Limited.^[3] In July 1983, Metrobus Limited was formed through its two directors, Gary Wood and Peter Larking, buying out the subsidiary.^[4][5]

The newly formed company acquired the former Orpington & District garage at Green Street Green, Orpington, along with six employees and six vehicles. Three routes were operated by Metrobus at the time it was set up: 353 (Croydon to Orpington via Coombe Road, weekday peak hours only), 355 (Croydon to Forestdale, weekday peak hours only) and 357 (Croydon to Orpington via Forestdale, Monday-Saturday, all day).

In May 1982 a 'shopper bus' service was introduced, running from Sanderstead to Bromley town centre via New Addington. In keeping with the route numbers of the former Tillingbourne services, this route was numbered 354.^[5] In October 1983 the 354 was rerouted to cut out New Addington and extend the route to Croydon. Due to requests from residents, the route also began to serve Bourne Vale, which was some distance from other bus services.^[6]

In 1986 route 355 was discontinued for short journeys between Croydon and Forestdale, and the 354 frequency increased and rerouted via Selsdon Vale (although the residents of the area refused to allow LT to put fixed bus stops in place). The route was also curtailed at Selsdon, although it was extended back to East Croydon the next year.^[7] In 1995 route 357 was withdrawn after routes 353 and 354 were retimetabled.^[8]

Throughout the late 1990s, Metrobus introduced other commercial routes operated under Section 3(2) of the London Regional Transport Act 1984 (later to become London Local Service Agreements), including the 351, 356 and 358. All such routes were later transferred to Transport for London in mid-2002, although the 358 still remains tendered to Metrobus as of 2012.^[9]

In 1999,Metrobus was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group.^[10]

Routes 353 and 354 were altered due to the opening of Croydon Tramlink on 20 May 2000. Both routes were transferred to standard TfL contract; the 353 was withdrawn between Addington Village and Croydon, and the 354 (renumbered T33 to reflect its new status as a Tramlink 'feeder' route) was withdrawn between Addington and Bromley.

On 8 December 2007, Metrobus took over the operations of First London's Orpington garage. All the staff and 35 vehicles were included, although the garage itself was closed, with the 'R' prefix routes transferring to the Orpington garage, and the T32 going to Croydon.^[11]

Go-Ahead London brought the London part of Metrobus in 2014 under the namer of Go-Ahead London Metrobus.

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Metrobus initially had a blue and yellow livery. This was superseded by a two-tone blue livery in the early 2000s while those on contracted Transport for London services were repainted red with yellow and blue sweeps. This later gave way to all over red.

Most buses have blue, red and orange oblong shapes on the seats, or "sails", however buses are now getting refurbished with Crawley's "Blue Moon" moquette now becoming standard on all Metrobus buses, although they may now get the Go-Ahead London cloured squares moquette.

Driver training vehicles are a mixture of older and newer Darts, the older ones are blue and yellow, and the newer ones are red and blue. Three more Darts have recently been converted into driver training vehicles and they are white.

Metrobus London operates routes from two garages These are:

Croydon garage operates London bus routes 64, 119 (day time service only), 127, 130, 202, 293, 359, 367, 405, 434, T32 and night route N64.

The Beddington Lane depot was opened by Metrobus in December 2005 to house route 127 which had been surrendered early by Centra. Work was completed on the garage buildings in February 2006. This garage took over the London routes that ran from Godstone with the exception of the 146 and 246 which moved to Orpington.

On 14 April 2012, route X26 passed to Quality Line.^[12][13]

On 19 May 2012, route T33 passed to Abellio London and route 54 was transferred to this garage.^[14][15]

On 31 August 2013, route 612 passed to Arriva London.^[16][17]

On 31 August 2013, Metrobus commenced operating route 434.^[18]

On 26 April 2014, Stagecoach London commenced operating route 75.

On 3 May 2014, Stagecoach London commenced operating route 54.

On 3 May 2014, the allocation of route 367 was transferred to this garage.

• Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 8.9m for route 434
• Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m / East Lancs Esteem for route 367
• Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m / Plaxton Pointer 2 as a logistical spare ^[19]
• Dennis Dart SLF 10.7m / Plaxton Pointer 2 for route 130
• MAN 14.240 10.8m / Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart for routes 359 and T32
• MAN 14.240 10.8m / MCV Evolution for route 202
• Scania N230UD 10.8m / Optare Olympus as logistical spares ^[20]
• Scania OmniCity double-deck 10.8m for routes 64, 293 and N64
• Scania OmniCity single-deck 12.0m for route 293
• Scania OmniDekka 10.6m for routes 119, 127 and 405

The Green Street Green garage operates London bus routes 119 (night service only on this 24-hour route), 126, 138, 146, 161, 162, 181, 233, 284, 320, 336, 352, 353, 358, 464, B14, R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R8, R9, R11, and school route 654.

A former farm, Green Street Green depot was for many years the only garage for all of Metrobus' London tendered routes since the award of route 61 in 1986. More recently routes have been operated from Godstone and in December 2005 a new depot was constructed in Croydon to cope with new tender awards. During mid-2005 major reconstruction started on the Green Street Green site to make improvements and provide an expansion. During these works, a temporary base was being used at Polhill in next to the base of what was Southlands Travel.

On 23 February 2013, Metrobus commenced operating route 233.^[21]

On 23 March 2013, Metrobus commenced operating route 126.^[22]

On 30 November 2013, Stagecoach London commenced operating route 261. The company also gained routes R5, R7 and R10 on 7 December 2013.^[23]

• Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 8.9m for routes 138, 162, 233, B14, R1, R4 and R11
• Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m for route R9
• Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.8m for routes 126 and 284
• Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m / East Lancs Esteem for routes 146 and 336
• Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m / Plaxton Pointer 2 for routes 352, 464, R3, R4 and R6
• MAN 12.240 10.2m / East Lancs Esteem for route R2
• Optare Solo SE 7.1m for route R8
• Scania N230UD 10.8m / Optare Olympus as logistical spares ^[24]
• Scania OmniCity double-deck 10.8m for route 320
• Scania OmniCity single-deck 12.0m for route 358
• Scania OmniDekka 10.6m for routes 119, 161, 320, 353, 654 and for rail replacements duties ^[19]
• Scania OmniTown 10.5m / East Lancs Esteem for route 181

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  Scania OmniDekka on its first day in service, showing an older version of the London livery.

• List of bus operators of the United Kingdom

• Metrobus website
• Showbus double gallery
• Showbus single deck gallery