Travel London

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Travel London

A Travel London Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini bus, incorrectly blinded for route 156.
Parent company	NedRailways
Founded	2004
Headquarters	Battersea
Locale	London, Surrey
Service area	London
Service type	Urban and interurban bus services
Routes	36
Fleet	Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart Alexander Dennis Enviro400 Caetano Nimbus Dennis Dart SLF Dennis Trident 2 MCW Metrobus MkII (trainer) Optare Solo Volvo B7TL Wright Electrocity
Web site	www.travellondonbus.co.uk

Travel London is a operator of buses in London, and is owned by NedRailways.^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Travel London Ltd 2.1 Garages 2.1.1 Beddington Cross 2.1.1.1 History 2.1.1.2 Bus types in use 2.1.2 Queenstown (Battersea) 2.1.2.1 History 2.1.2.2 Bus types in use 2.1.3 Walworth Road 2.1.3.1 History 2.1.3.2 Bus types in use 3 Travel London (West) Ltd 3.1 Garages 3.1.1 Fulwell 3.1.1.1 History 3.1.1.2 Bus types in use 4 Travel London (Middlesex) Ltd 4.1 Garages 4.1.1 Hayes 4.1.1.1 History 4.1.1.2 Bus types in use 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

[edit] History

Travel London came into existence in its current guise when National Express bought Connex Bus (established in UK in 1996, a division of French owned transport corporation Connex) in 2004. Ironically had taken over an existing operator Limebourne Buses which had actually taken over the original Travel London when that was sold.

In 2005 NEG expanded again with the takeover of the London Bus operations of Tellings-Golden Miller as well as 15 Surrey County Council contracts. Travel London is the sister company of Travel West Midlands and Travel Dundee.

Following the acquisitions of Limebourne, Connex Bus, Tellings-Golden Miller, Wings Buses and Link-Line, Travel London had a wide operating area within Greater London and Surrey. The company operated contracts on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), Surrey County Council, and Kingston University. Operations are split between three registered companies.

From early September 2007, the Surrey routes operated from Byfleet depot were re-branded as Travel Surrey.

On 11 November 2007, National Express Group announced plans to re-brand their UK bus service companies under the National Express identity. The new name National Express London was meant to have be unveiled in 2008, however the plans never materialised before the sale

In February 2009 there were news reports speculating that the National Express Group were in negotiation to sell Travel London to Singapore based ComfortDelGro Corporation, the parent company of Metroline, which has substantial London Buses contracts in North and West London.

Speculation continued fuelled by the fact Travel London won some significant TfL route contracts, which could have been gained on a low price with the idea the buyer would have to run the routes.

In May 2009, it was announced that National Express Group had agreed to sell Travel London to NedRailways, a subsidiary of NS Dutch Railways, for a price of £32 million. The sale includes 66 bus routes in total, 36 TfL tendered services in London and 30 Surrey County Council and Kingston University routes. All vehicles and premises used were sold, and all staff will transfer to NedRailways.^[2]

[edit] Travel London Ltd

[edit] Garages

They have three bus garages.

[edit] Beddington Cross

As of January 2007, this garage holds 66 buses, and runs London bus routes 3, 152, 157, 434, G1, P13, and night route N3.

[edit] History

Opened in early 2000 by Connex bus to house its recently won route 3 contract. The garage consists of two industrial units. Connex were taken over by Travel London who now operate the garage.

[edit] Bus types in use

• Dennis Trident 2 9.9m/ Alexander ALX400 for route 3, 157 and N3.
• Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m/ Alexander ALX200
• Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m/ Alexander Dennis Pointer for route G1 and P13.
• Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/ Alexander Dennis Pointer for route 152.
• Volvo B7TL 10.6m/ Wright Eclipse Gemini for route 157.
• Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m for route 152.
• Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 8.9m for route 434.

[edit] Queenstown (Battersea)

As of January 2007, this garage holds 82 buses, and runs London bus routes 35, 156, 211, 452, C3, 24-hour route 344 and night bus N35.

[edit] History

[edit] Bus types in use

• Dennis Trident 2 9.9m / Alexander ALX400 for route 156, 211, 344 and C3.
• Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m. for route 35, 344, 452 and N35.

[edit] Walworth Road

As of January 2007, this garage holds 98 buses, and runs London bus routes 40, 100, 129, 188, 343, 381, C1, East London Line replacement routes ELC, night routes N343 and N381.

[edit] History

Originally a site acquired by the LCC for its electric trams it was known as Camberwell Tram depot until 1950 when its name was changed to Walworth with the arrival of buses to avoid confusion with Camberwell opposite. A major rebuilding had to be done in the 1950s to repair bomb damage from the 2nd world war in which time some buses were worked out of Camberwell in the late 1960s the garage assumed operation of the Red Arrow routes with MBA's and later LS's until closure in 1985. In 1987, following the closure of Victoria and Ash Grove garages, it operated the Red Arrow routes for a short time until Waterloo garage was ready. During the early 1990s the garage once again re-opened, this time for the Londonlinks operation of routes 78 & 176. The Cowie group undertook a major restructure a few years later which once again saw closure in 1997.The garrage is still owned by the Go ahead Group (who own London Central and London General) and they have leased it out. The garage lay dormant for the next six years until late 2003 when work started on refurbishing the garage for the new leasee, The National Express Group, who intended to house new gains in the London area. The garage is now complete and Travel London has rapidly built up its portfolio of routes since the P13 & 381 started in September 2004.

[edit] Bus types in use

• Dennis Trident 2 9.9m / Alexander ALX400 for route ELC.
• 9.9m Alexander Dennis Enviro400 for route 40.
• Volvo B7TL 10.6m/ Wright Eclipse Gemini for route 188, 343, 381, N343 and N381.
• Dennis Dart SLF 9.2m/ Alexander Dennis Pointer for route 100.
• Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/ Alexander Dennis Pointer for route 129.
• MCW Metrobus MkII (trainer)
• Optare Solo 8.5m
• Dennis Trident 2 9.9m / Alexander ALX400 for route ELC.
• Wright Electrocity 10.1m for route 129.

[edit] Travel London (West) Ltd

[edit] Garages

They have one bus garage.

[edit] Fulwell

This garage holds 94 buses, and runs London bus routes 235, 481, 490, H20, H25, H26, R68 and R70.

Travel London also operates inter-campus bus services on behalf of Kingston University, routes KU1, KU2 and KU3.

[edit] History

Travel Surrey was originally part of Travel London West, until renamed in September 2007.

[edit] Bus types in use

• Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m/ Alexander ALX200
• Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/ Alexander Dennis Pointer for route 490 and R68.
• Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/ Alexander Dennis Pointer for route R70.
• Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m/ Alexander Dennis Pointer for route 481, H20 and H26.
• Dennis Dart SLF 10.8m/ Caetano Nimbus for route 235.
• Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/ Caetano Nimbus for route H25.
• Dennis Trident 2 9.9m/ Alexander ALX400 for route KU1.
• Optare Solo 8.5m for route KU2 & KU3.

[edit] Travel London (Middlesex) Ltd

[edit] Garages

They have one bus garage.

[edit] Hayes

This garage holds 19 buses, and runs routes 112, 350, H28 and U7.

[edit] History

[edit] Bus types in use

• Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/ East Lancs Spryte for route U7.
• Dennis Dart SLF 10.2m/ Caetano Nimbus for route 112.
• Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m/ Alexander Dennis Pointer for route H28.
• Volvo B7TL 10.6m/ Wright Eclipse Gemini for route 350.
• Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m for route 350.

[edit] See also

• List of bus operators of the United Kingdom

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Travel London (bus company)

• Travel London website
• Ned Railways website

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