London Buses route 111
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 111 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to London United.
Bus Garage to Hounslow West, Heston
and Lampton
, back to Hounslow Bus Garage and then to Hanworth
(Brown Bear). It was extended via Twickenham
, Richmond and Chiswick
to Hammersmith
on Sundays. The route was operated with ST buses from Hounslow Garage (AV). The Hammersmith extension was extended to run on Saturday afternoons and evenings in the late 1940s. Operation was by RT buses from AV with Mortlake Garage (M) working on the route at weekends. Riverside Garage (R) buses replaced the Mortlake ones on Saturdays from 3 May 1950.
On 27 June 1951 the section between Richmond and Hammersmith was withdrawn, being replaced by an extension of route 71. The weekend allocations on the 111 from M and R were replaced by ones from Twickenham Garage (AB). On 24 February 1952, the route was cut back to terminate at Twickenham Station
on Sundays. On 7 October 1953 it was further cut back on Sundays to terminate at Hanworth (Brown Bear), and the AB allocation was withdrawn.
On 12 October 1955 the part of the circular section from Hounslow to Heston via Hounslow West was withdrawn and replaced by new route 232. The 111 was extended from Heston to London Airport Central (now Heathrow Airport) via Cranford
. On 2 May 1956 the section between London Airport Central and Cranford (Queen's Head) was withdrawn on Monday to Friday except peak hours. On 17 October 1956 the Sunday service was also cut back at Cranford, while the Saturday service was similarly truncated on 28 July 1957.
On 11 January 1958 the Saturday evening service between Hanworth and Richmond was withdrawn. The Saturday afternoon extension to Richmond was cut back at Twickenham on 23 July 1958, and the Saturday and Sunday service extended in Cranford to the Berkeley Arms. From 12 October 1960 the remaining journeys between London Airport Central and Cranford were withdrawn, and on 8 May 1963 the Saturday journeys between Hanworth and Twickenham were withdrawn. Route 111 now ran just between Hanworth (Brown Bear) and Cranford (Berkeley Arms) every day.
On 1 July 1964 route 111 was extended to Hampton Station
on Monday to Friday daytime and Saturdays, and on to Kingston upon Thames
via Hampton Court (Saturday shopping hours), although the route was withdrawn between Hounslow and Cranford except during Monday-Friday peaks. The Sunday service was withdrawn in January 1966. On 21 February 1966 the Mon-Friday evening service was extended to Cranford, but this was reversed on 7 September 1968.
Route 111 was converted to driver-only single-deck operation with SMS-type
vehicles on 23 August 1969. It initially operated only between Cranford (Mon-Friday peaks and Sundays) or Hounslow (Mon-Friday off-peaks and Saturdays) and Hanworth. In January 1971 the Mon-Friday daytime service was reinstated between Hanworth and Hampton Station.
On 19 July 1975 the Saturday evening and Mon-Friday service was extended to Cranford, and the Saturday evening and Sunday service was extended to Hampton Station. The SMS vehicles were replaced by Leyland National
s in 1976. On 28 January 1978 the 111 was extended from Hounslow to Cranford and from Hampton to Kingston at all times.
In April 1981 the route was extended from Cranford to Heathrow Airport Central. A year later it was converted to double-deck operation using Metrobuses
. On 31 August 1996 the Kingston terminus was moved from Wood Street to the Cromwell Road Bus Station.
In 2000 low-floor Volvo B7TL
10m/Alexander ALX400
s (VA) were bought to convert the route to low-floor and 5 brand new Dennis Trident
9.9m/Alexander ALX400
(TAs) where bought to help increase the frequency.
On 1 December 2007, route 111 was converted into a 24-hour service. The plan was initially opposed by residents in Hampton, who had instead wanted an improved service on route 481.
From 1 May 2010 23 new Scania Omnicity double deckers were introduced. Monday to Friday peak hours service increased to every 8-9 minutes.
In August 2009 a driver on the route was attacked by a passenger angry that he could not alight at a set of traffic lights in Hounslow. The bus's handbrake came off and the vehicle crashed into the traffic lights, although there were no injuries. The man was caught on CCTV and later jailed for 15 months.
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
contracted bus route in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The service is currently contracted to London United.
History
This route began on 16 February 1944, as part of a restructuring and simplification of routes 110, 110A and 110B, running from HounslowHounslow
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
Bus Garage to Hounslow West, Heston
Heston
Heston is a place in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It is a suburban development area, based on a former farming village west south-west of Charing Cross.-History:...
and Lampton
Lampton
Lampton is a small area located in the borough of Hounslow, London between Hounslow and Spring Grove....
, back to Hounslow Bus Garage and then to Hanworth
Hanworth
Hanworth lies to the south east of Feltham in the London Borough of Hounslow. The name is thought to come from the Anglo Saxon words “haen” and “worth”, meaning “small homestead”....
(Brown Bear). It was extended via Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, Richmond and Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
to Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
on Sundays. The route was operated with ST buses from Hounslow Garage (AV). The Hammersmith extension was extended to run on Saturday afternoons and evenings in the late 1940s. Operation was by RT buses from AV with Mortlake Garage (M) working on the route at weekends. Riverside Garage (R) buses replaced the Mortlake ones on Saturdays from 3 May 1950.
On 27 June 1951 the section between Richmond and Hammersmith was withdrawn, being replaced by an extension of route 71. The weekend allocations on the 111 from M and R were replaced by ones from Twickenham Garage (AB). On 24 February 1952, the route was cut back to terminate at Twickenham Station
Twickenham railway station
Twickenham railway station is in Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains.-History:...
on Sundays. On 7 October 1953 it was further cut back on Sundays to terminate at Hanworth (Brown Bear), and the AB allocation was withdrawn.
On 12 October 1955 the part of the circular section from Hounslow to Heston via Hounslow West was withdrawn and replaced by new route 232. The 111 was extended from Heston to London Airport Central (now Heathrow Airport) via Cranford
Cranford, London
Cranford is a place in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development located 12.4 miles west of Charing Cross and on the eastern perimeter of London Heathrow Airport....
. On 2 May 1956 the section between London Airport Central and Cranford (Queen's Head) was withdrawn on Monday to Friday except peak hours. On 17 October 1956 the Sunday service was also cut back at Cranford, while the Saturday service was similarly truncated on 28 July 1957.
On 11 January 1958 the Saturday evening service between Hanworth and Richmond was withdrawn. The Saturday afternoon extension to Richmond was cut back at Twickenham on 23 July 1958, and the Saturday and Sunday service extended in Cranford to the Berkeley Arms. From 12 October 1960 the remaining journeys between London Airport Central and Cranford were withdrawn, and on 8 May 1963 the Saturday journeys between Hanworth and Twickenham were withdrawn. Route 111 now ran just between Hanworth (Brown Bear) and Cranford (Berkeley Arms) every day.
On 1 July 1964 route 111 was extended to Hampton Station
Hampton railway station
Hampton railway station, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is on the Shepperton branch line. It is in Travelcard Zone 6. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains.- Services:...
on Monday to Friday daytime and Saturdays, and on to Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
via Hampton Court (Saturday shopping hours), although the route was withdrawn between Hounslow and Cranford except during Monday-Friday peaks. The Sunday service was withdrawn in January 1966. On 21 February 1966 the Mon-Friday evening service was extended to Cranford, but this was reversed on 7 September 1968.
Route 111 was converted to driver-only single-deck operation with SMS-type
AEC Swift
The AEC Swift was a rear-engined single-deck bus chassis built by AEC between 1964 and 1974. The chassis design was closely related to the Leyland Panther...
vehicles on 23 August 1969. It initially operated only between Cranford (Mon-Friday peaks and Sundays) or Hounslow (Mon-Friday off-peaks and Saturdays) and Hanworth. In January 1971 the Mon-Friday daytime service was reinstated between Hanworth and Hampton Station.
On 19 July 1975 the Saturday evening and Mon-Friday service was extended to Cranford, and the Saturday evening and Sunday service was extended to Hampton Station. The SMS vehicles were replaced by Leyland National
Leyland National
The Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
s in 1976. On 28 January 1978 the 111 was extended from Hounslow to Cranford and from Hampton to Kingston at all times.
MCW Metrobus
The MCW Metrobus is a double decker bus model manufactured by MCW from 1977 until 1989, with over 4,000 examples built. The original MkI model was superseded by the MkII model in 1981/1982, although production of the original MkI continued for London Transport until 1985...
. On 31 August 1996 the Kingston terminus was moved from Wood Street to the Cromwell Road Bus Station.
In 2000 low-floor Volvo B7TL
Volvo B7TL
Volvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
10m/Alexander ALX400
Alexander ALX400
The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
s (VA) were bought to convert the route to low-floor and 5 brand new Dennis Trident
Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
9.9m/Alexander ALX400
Alexander ALX400
The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
(TAs) where bought to help increase the frequency.
On 1 December 2007, route 111 was converted into a 24-hour service. The plan was initially opposed by residents in Hampton, who had instead wanted an improved service on route 481.
From 1 May 2010 23 new Scania Omnicity double deckers were introduced. Monday to Friday peak hours service increased to every 8-9 minutes.
Incidents
The route has been involved in a number of incidents. In February 2009 a man was hit and killed by a bus on route 111 in Hampton, apparently as a result of the driver attempting to avoid illegally parked cars.In August 2009 a driver on the route was attacked by a passenger angry that he could not alight at a set of traffic lights in Hounslow. The bus's handbrake came off and the vehicle crashed into the traffic lights, although there were no injuries. The man was caught on CCTV and later jailed for 15 months.
Current route
- Heathrow Airport Central Bus Station
- Harlington CornerHarlington, LondonHarlington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Hillingdon, on the northern perimeter of London Heathrow Airport. It is situated west of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
- CranfordCranford, LondonCranford is a place in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development located 12.4 miles west of Charing Cross and on the eastern perimeter of London Heathrow Airport....
- HestonHestonHeston is a place in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It is a suburban development area, based on a former farming village west south-west of Charing Cross.-History:...
- Lampton Corner
- Hounslow East Station
- HounslowHounslowHounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
Bus Station - HanworthHanworthHanworth lies to the south east of Feltham in the London Borough of Hounslow. The name is thought to come from the Anglo Saxon words “haen” and “worth”, meaning “small homestead”....
- Hampton StationHampton railway stationHampton railway station, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is on the Shepperton branch line. It is in Travelcard Zone 6. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains.- Services:...
- HamptonHampton-In Australia:*Hampton, Queensland*Hampton, Victoria*Hampton East, Victoria*Hampton Island*Hampton Park, Victoria-In Canada:*Hampton, New Brunswick*Hampton, Nova Scotia*Hampton, Ontario*Hampton, Prince Edward Island-In the United Kingdom:...
Church - Hampton Court PalaceHampton Court PalaceHampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London; it has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century. The palace is located south west of Charing Cross and upstream of Central London on the River Thames...
- KingstonKingston upon ThamesKingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
Cromwell Road Bus Station