This
article is a list of Transport for
London (TfL) contracted London Bus
routes in London
, as well as
commercial services that enter the Greater London
area (except coach).
Classification of route numbers
Historic classification
Historically, bus routes run by London Transport were grouped by
the type of service that they provided.
The 1924 London Traffic Act imposed a numbering scheme known as the
Bassom Scheme, named after the chief constable of the Metropolitan
Police. The odd letters came into use because the full length of a
route was allocated the main number. Short workings used letter
suffixes. The numbers reflected the company that operated the
route.
The numbering was revised in 1934 after
London Transport was
formed:
Current classification
| Route Number |
Type of Service |
| 1–499 |
Day routes, including 24-hour services. |
| 500–599 |
Day routes that run only part-time. |
| 600–699 |
Schoolday services, normally operating only one return journey
per day. |
| 700–899 |
Not used for local bus services - numbers reserved for regional
and national coach services. |
| 900–999 |
Mobility Services, normally operating one returning journey per
week. |
| N-prefixed routes |
Night buses. |
| X-prefixed routes |
Express routes. |
| Other letter-prefixed routes |
Local day routes, including 24-hour services, with the letter
denoting the town the bus travels through. |
Key
| 24-hour bus services |
Route has variable final destinations or
starting points |
| † |
Transport for London services that cross the Greater London
boundary.
Standard ticketing applies throughout.
|
| †† |
Rail Replacement Bus Services.
Special fares apply.
Travelcards accepted.
|
List of routes
1–99
100–199
200–299
300–399
400–499
500–599
The 500 series numbers were originally allocated to
Red Arrow services, they did not
operate on Sundays. Route
507
now operates throughout the week, however the
521 does not operate on Saturdays or
Sundays.
600–699
Many of these routes are run for schools to reduce overcrowding on
regular bus services. Their timetables are subject to short notice
alteration and re-routing in accordance with school requirements.
A
notable exception is route 607, which is a limited stop service operating in West
London
, whose number is "inherited" from the period (15
November 1936 - 8 November 1960), when this route was served by
trolleybuses .
900–999
These are Mobility Bus Routes. These routes provide a once a week
return journey to a local shopping centre where there is no
alternative route in the main bus network. The prevalence of
low-floor buses across London has reduced somewhat the number of
Mobility Bus services.
| Route |
Start |
End |
Day of Operation |
Operator |
| 917 |
Park Hill Rise |
Croydon |
Wednesdays only |
Abellio London |
| 931 |
Crystal Palace |
Lewisham |
Fridays only |
Abellio London |
| 941 |
Bedfont Green |
Hampton Hill Sainsburys |
Wednesdays only |
Abellio London |
| 953 |
Scrattons Farm |
Chase Cross |
Wednesdays only |
First London |
| 958 |
Woodford |
Ilford |
Tuesdays only |
First London |
| 965 |
Riverhill |
Kingston Sainsburys |
Mondays and Fridays only |
Transdev London |
| 969 |
Whitton |
Roehampton Vale Asda |
Tuesdays and Fridays only |
Abellio London |
| 972 |
Neasden Birchen Grove |
Colindale Asda |
Thursdays only |
First London |
|
Letter prefixes
Night only routes (N-prefixed)
Night bus routes are often related to the day numerical equivalent,
normally running the same route but with an extension at either end
of the service. This is normally to provide a night service to
destinations served by tube or train during the day.
However, in a few cases, a few services have a route number that
has no connection to its daytime equivalent, such as the
N5, which operates in a different part
of London to
day route 5.
There are also 24-hour routes, which are listed in the day routes
above, shaded blue. Route
65
is classed as a 24-hour service, but unusually has an extension to
its night service, rather than the night service being designated
N65.
Commercial routes within the London area
These routes are operated with a
London Service Permit
issued by
Transport for London.
See also
References
-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,,-197292,00.html
- Route 324 not yet operational
Bibliography
External links