London Buses route 24

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24
Metroline route 24.jpg
Overview
Operator Metroline
Garage Holloway (HT)
Vehicle New Routemaster
Peak vehicle requirement 27
Night-time 24-hour service
Route
Start Hampstead Heath
Via Camden Town
Trafalgar Square
Victoria
End Pimlico
Length 7.06 miles (11.36 km)
Service
Level Daily
Frequency 6-10 minutes
Journey time 39-66 minutes
Operates 24-hour service

London Buses route 24 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Pimlico and Hampstead Heath, it is operated by Metroline.

History

Preserved Grey-Green Alexander bodied Volvo Citybus as used on route 24 from 1988
London General Alexander Dennis Enviro400 at Trafalgar Square in June 2011

Route 24 dates back to 1910, when it ran between Hampstead Heath and Victoria station. In August 1912 it was extended to Pimlico and has continued in that form until the present day, making this the oldest unchanged bus route in London.[1] Thirty-three Daimler double-decker buses with 34 seats were allocated to route 24, now running between Pimlico and Hampstead, with the fleet name "British" painted in green livery. These buses were running from Camden Town (AQ) garage until they were replaced by AEC NS-Type buses in 1927.[2] Thirty-three NS-type buses were used on route 24 until 1934.[3]

Originally, the route was operated by the London General Omnibus Company, and later the British Automobile Traction Co until September 1933, when the London Passenger Transport Board, later London Transport Executive, was formed and ran under the name "London Transport".

During its life with London Transport, route 24 was operated mainly from Chalk Farm (CF) garage in Harmood Street.[4] It was also run at times from Victoria (Gillingham Street) (GM) garage.

On 7 November 1965, the first 30 Leyland Atlantean buses entered service on route 24.[5] It was the first route to use front-entrance double-decker buses in London. Routes 67 and 271 also trialled front-entrance buses.[6][7] On 12 June 1966, the Atlanteans moved to Tottenham garage and were replaced by AEC Routemasters.[6] The route was crew operated until 25 October 1986, apart from two short periods in 1965/1966 and 1975.

The route was the first central London route to be awarded under the tendering process to a private company, Grey-Green, on 5 November 1988, using Alexander bodied Volvo Citybuses painted in its own grey, green and orange livery from its Stamford Hill garage.[8][9] Grey-Green were owned by Cowie Group, and became part of Arriva London following the company's acquisition of two other London operators.[10]

Upon being re-tendered, in November 2002 the route passed to Metroline's Holloway garage, and in 2006 was the first London bus route to be operated by Alexander Dennis Enviro400s. Upon re-tendering, on 10 November 2007 it passed to London General's Stockwell garage.[10] Alexander Dennis Enviro400H hybrids were introduced to the route in early 2009.[11]

On 11 February 2008, a bus on diversion had its roof removed after the driver drove into the side rather than under the middle of an arch bridge.[12] Transport for London said the diversion was safe if drivers followed instructions, and had been operating successfully for over 24 hours. This came three months after another 24 lost its roof in the same place while out of service.[13]

A night element to the route was introduced on 27 November 1999, in the form of route N24, to replace part of the withdrawn route N2 between Hampstead Heath and Pimlico. The N prefix was dropped during April 2004, thus making it a 24-hour route.

In February 2010 it was reported that a Muslim bus driver, new to the country, pulled his 24 bus over near Gospel Oak, locked the passengers in and prayed to Mecca.[14] The Sun newspaper had to pay out £30,000 after allegedly misrepresenting the incidents stating that the driver was a fanatic who had forced passengers off the bus.[15]

Metroline was awarded the contract for route 24 which started on 10 November 2012. [16]

New Routemasters were introduced on 22 June 2013. The rear platform remains open from Monday to Friday between 05:15 and 19:50 when it is staffed by a customer assistant.[17]

Current

Route 24 operates via these primary locations:[18]

References

  1. ↑ London's oldest bus routes The London Magazine
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ London steps up hybrid trials :: Bus and Coach Magazine
  12. ↑ BBC News - "Six hurt as roof ripped from bus" Retrieved 12 February 2008
  13. ↑ BBC News - Bus roof ripped off by low bridge
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 2012 Bus Tender Result Transport For London
  17. ↑ Press Release Transport For London
  18. ↑ Route 24 Map Transport for London

External links

  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
  • Timetable
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