London Buses route 61

61
Overview
Operator	Stagecoach London
Garage	Bromley (TB)
Vehicle	Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.2m & 10.8m
Peak vehicle requirement	11
Night-time	No night service
Route
Start	Bromley
Via	Bromley Common Locksbottom Orpington Petts Wood
End	Chislehurst
Length	11 miles (17 km)
Service
Level	Daily
Frequency	About every 15 minutes
Journey time	35-48 minutes
Operates	5:30am until 1:00am
Transport for London Performance London Transport portal

London Buses route 61 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London.

History

The route 61 began on 11 October 1950 and provided a service between Eltham and Bromley. The route was operated at Bromley (TB) by RT-type buses. The route ran from Eltham to Bromley Garage Monday to Saturday and Sunday ran from Eltham to Bromley North Station. By 16 October 1957 the route was revised around the Bromley area, Monday to Saturday and Sunday afternoons the route ran from Eltham to Bromley North Station, Sunday mornings ran from Eltham to Bromley Garage.

1960s

On 31 December 1966, the route was full-time between Bromley Garage and Bromley North Station. On 15 July 1972, the 61 was converted to OPO (One Person Operation) using Daimler Fleetline buses. The Saturday service was also withdrawn between Chislehurst and Eltham; this was replaced by the 227.

By 18 May 1974, the Saturday service between Chislehurst and Eltham was now back in full-time operation.

On 29 September 1979, the route was converted to small deck operation which was operated by Leyland Nationals (LS).

1980s

On 16 August 1986, a company called Metrobus took over the route from London Transport, they operated the 61 from their Orpington depot (MB) by various types of double deckers, however they also provided single deck operations. There was a few changes to the route of the 61 Monday to Saturday ran from Chislehurst to Bromley North Station and Sunday ran from Eltham to Bromley North Station.

1990s

By 19 January 1991, the route was withdrawn between Chislehurst and Eltham fully. By 2 December 1995, Metrobus lost the contact to Centrewest. They operated the 61 from their Swanley (SJ). The route was still under double deck operation.

On 3 March 1996, the Sunday service was converted to single deck operation and the Monday to Saturday operation was run by new Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympians.

2000s

In 2002, the route was converted to low-floor with new Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL vehicles.

On 2 December 2006, Selkent gained the contract of route 61 and are now operating it from Bromley (TB). New Alexander Dennis Enviro400s were introduced.

In August 2006, it was listed as the second most dangerous bus route in the Capital, with 458 serious incidents logged that year, ranging from criminal damage, thefts and assaults.

Current route

• Bromley North Station
• Tweedy Road
• Kentish Way
• Elmfield Road
• Bromley High Street
• Bromley South Station
• Masons Hill
• Bromley Common
• Hastings Road
• Farnborough Common
• Locksbottom
• Crofton Road
• Orpington Station
• Station Road
• Orpington High Street
• Chislehurst Road
• Goodmead Road
• Perry Hall Road
• Chislehurst Road
• Poverest Road
• Chislehurst Bridge
• St Pauls Cray Road
• Centre Common Road
• Chislehurst High Street
• Albany Road
• Green Lane
• Chislehurst Gordon Arms

See also

• List of bus routes in London
• Stagecoach London

External links

• Transport for London
• London Bus Routes
• London Bus Routes Zenfolio
• Full Timetable (PDF)