London Buses route 132
| 132 | |
|---|---|
,_2011_North_Weald_bus_rally.jpg){kind=spacer} Daimler Fleetline on route 132 | |
| Overview | |
| Operator | Go-Ahead London |
| Garage | Bexleyheath (BX) |
| Vehicle | Volvo B7TL 10.1m / Plaxton President Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m |
| Peak vehicle requirement | 12 |
| Night-time | Night Bus N21 |
| Route | |
| Start | North Greenwich |
| Via | Blackheath Eltham Avery Hill Blackfen Blendon Bexley |
| End | Bexleyheath |
| Length | 10 miles (17 km) |
| Service | |
| Level | Daily |
| Frequency | About every 12-20 minutes |
| Journey time | 38-70 minutes |
| Operates | 05:30 until 00:30 |
| "Performance" (PDF). tfl.gov.uk. | |
London Buses route 132 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.
History
In 1950, the route operated as a circular route from Eltham Well Hall Station to Bexleyheath and back again (via Crook Log and Danson Road), with extra trips running between 13:30 and 17:00 weekdays from Eltham to Bexley Hospital. In March 1959 the circular route was discontinued and replaced by a service from Eltham Well Hall railway station to Bexleyheath Bus Garage via Blendon, Danson Road, and Crook Log. As part of the Trolleybus Replacement Programme, journeys on weekdays and Saturday mornings continued onto Erith.[1] The summer of 1964 saw the route change again, always starting at Eltham, to Bexleyheath Garage (on Sundays), onto Erith, Belvedere, Abbey Wood, Plumstead and Woolwich Parsons Hill (Monday - Saturday), and onto Woolwich Road Victoria Way (Monday - Friday peak times only).[2]
By Easter 1970, the route had been extended from Bexleyheath to Slade Green, terminating at Bexleyheath Garage on Saturdays and Sundays only. In January 1974 the first double deck bus was operated on the 132, and in March 1975 the Saturday service was extended to Slade Green, to help out with the increasing population wanting a link to Bexleyheath shopping area. April 1978 saw the route moving to the south of the A207 (once Watling Street), serving Eltham Station via Blackfen, Blendon and Bexley village to Bexleyheath. The next few decades saw a number of operators running the route: Boro'line from January 1988 to February 1992, then Kentish Bus until January 1998, Harris Bus until they went into liquidation in March 2000, and East Thames Buses following Harris Bus' collapse.[2]
In September 2006, Violet Stephens, an 80-year-old passenger on the route, died after breaking her neck having fallen over when the bus stopped without warning.[3]
In September 2008, it was announced that the route was to be extended westwards via the Greenwich peninsula to North Greenwich, forming a quicker link between North Greenwich and Eltham instead of Route 161. This followed several years of campaigning by local MP Clive Efford.[4] The extension began operation in January 2009 and also included new later journeys, with the last bus back from North Greenwich leaving at 1am.[5]
On 3 October 2009, East Thames Buses was taken over by Go-Ahead London, so route 132 was henceforth operated by Go-Ahead London, under a 5-year contract. On 7 November 2009, the allocation was transferred to Bexleyheath (BX).[6]
Since October 2009, part of the route from Eltham to Bexleyheath has been covered at night by the re-routed night bus route N21.[7]
On 1 December 2012, route 132 was converted to double deck using Plaxton President bodided Volvo B7TLs. [8]
Current route
- Bexleyheath Market Place
- Bexley Station
- Bridgen
- Blendon
- Blackfen
- Avery Hill
- Eltham Station
- Blackheath Sun-in-Sands
- North Greenwich Station
[9]
See also
References
- ^ "Bexleyheath:Birthday Garage". Buses Magazine (668). November 2010.
- ^ a b Route 132 busesatwork.co.uk
- ^ Elderly passenger dies after bus suddenly brakes | News | This is London
- ^ MP celebrates introduction of new bus route (From News Shopper)
- ^ Bexley: Changes aimed at improving bus routes (From News Shopper)
- ^ Go-Ahead London: Bus Talk - December 2009 go-ahead-london.com
- ^ Duncan Borrowman welcomes proposed night bus changes (Bexley Borough Liberal Democrats)
- ^ http://www.londonbusroutes.net/changes.htm#42
- ^ London Bus Routes - 132 Timetable
External links
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