London Buses route 20
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 20 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London
.
with an extension to the newly opened Walthamstow Central station
on the Victoria Line
. At the time of the route 20 introduction, there were already two other routes in the Loughton area with 20 numbers, the 20A and 20B. As the new route ran parallel with the 20A for many miles, the new route was titled 20.
In 1986, the route was tendered out to Eastern National
after Loughton garage closed, with their CityBus subsidiary operating the route from a base in Walthamstow. The contract with Eastern National lasted until 7th March 1992, when Grey-Green
won the contract operating the route from Barking (DX). In the late 1990s, Cowie Group (which owned Grey-Green) rebranded themselves as Arriva
. Between 1st June 1998 and 9th March 2002, Capital Citybus
(later First London
) operated the school journeys from Northumberland Park (NP) and later Hackney (H).
On 26th April 2003, the route was converted to low-floor operation. When the contract was renewed on 24th March 2007, the route was moved to Edmonton (EC) depot.
Blue Triangle has gained the contract of route 20 and from 24 March 2012 they will be operating it.
. The RTs were replaced with Daimler DMS
buses until about the early 1980s, when the route started using Leyland National
s and Leyland Titans
. When Eastern National
took over after the closure of Loughton
garage in 1985, they used Leyland National
s and Bristol VR
s. Cowie Group
then took over using new Alexander ALX200
s and Volvo Olympian
s.
In 2003 new Volvo B7TL
s with Wright Eclipse Gemini
bodywork were introduced to the route. These were replaced with older DAF DB250LF
/Alexander ALX400
s in March 2007.
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, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London
Arriva London
Arriva London is a division of Arriva which operates bus services in London, UK. It is made up of many previous bus operators including previously independent Grey Green...
.
History
The 20 commenced operation on 7 September 1968 as a replacement for route 38A from Loughton to LeytonLeyton
Leyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....
with an extension to the newly opened Walthamstow Central station
Walthamstow Central station
Walthamstow Central is a London Underground and commuter rail station. It is the terminus of the Victoria line, and is on the branch of the London commuter rail network operated by National Express East Anglia...
on the Victoria Line
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
. At the time of the route 20 introduction, there were already two other routes in the Loughton area with 20 numbers, the 20A and 20B. As the new route ran parallel with the 20A for many miles, the new route was titled 20.
In 1986, the route was tendered out to Eastern National
Eastern National
Eastern National is a non-profit organization based in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, that partners with the National Park Service in the United States...
after Loughton garage closed, with their CityBus subsidiary operating the route from a base in Walthamstow. The contract with Eastern National lasted until 7th March 1992, when Grey-Green
Grey-Green
Grey-Green was a coach and bus operator in the United Kingdom. It was based in Stamford Hill, and can trace its origins back over a century to the foundation of George Ewer’s horse carriage business in 1885.-History:...
won the contract operating the route from Barking (DX). In the late 1990s, Cowie Group (which owned Grey-Green) rebranded themselves as Arriva
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
. Between 1st June 1998 and 9th March 2002, Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus
Capital Citybus was a major bus operator for London Buses in North and East London. The company was eventually sold to First in 1998. Capital Citybus is not to be confused with the other former London bus and coach operator Capital Logistics, for whom in 1999 it provided amongst others relief buses...
(later First London
First London
.First London is one of many operators of London Buses and owned by First Group. They did also run the Tramlink network, in a partnership with Tramtrack Croydon before June 2008. Their registered office is at Paddington station in London...
) operated the school journeys from Northumberland Park (NP) and later Hackney (H).
On 26th April 2003, the route was converted to low-floor operation. When the contract was renewed on 24th March 2007, the route was moved to Edmonton (EC) depot.
Blue Triangle has gained the contract of route 20 and from 24 March 2012 they will be operating it.
Vehicles
The route first started using RTsAEC Regent III RT
The AEC Regent III RT was a variant of the AEC Regent III. It was a double-decker bus produced jointly between AEC and London Transport. It was the standard red London bus during the 1950s.-Prototype:...
. The RTs were replaced with Daimler DMS
Daimler Fleetline
The Daimler Fleetline is a rear-engined double-decker bus chassis built between 1960 and 1973 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, and from 1973 until 1980 in Farington, Lancashire, England. However, the last complete vehicle did not enter service until 1983...
buses until about the early 1980s, when the route started using 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 and Leyland Titans
Leyland Titan (B15)
The Leyland Titan was a model of double-decker bus produced by the Leyland Truck & Bus division of British Leyland from 1977 until 1984, almost exclusively for London Transport.-Development:...
. When Eastern National
Eastern National Omnibus Company
Eastern National was a bus operating company in south east England from 1929 to the 1990s.-Early history:Eastern National Omnibus Company Ltd started in 1929 as a joint venture between the London and North Eastern Railway, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and the National Omnibus &...
took over after the closure of Loughton
Loughton
Loughton is a town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located between 11 and 13 miles north east of Charing Cross in London, south of the M25 and west of the M11 motorway and has boundaries with Chingford, Waltham Abbey, Theydon Bois, Chigwell and Buckhurst Hill...
garage in 1985, they used 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 and Bristol VR
Bristol VR
The Bristol VR was Bristol's rear-engined bus chassis, designed as a competitor to the Leyland Atlantean and Daimler Fleetline.-Development:...
s. Cowie Group
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
then took over using new Alexander ALX200
Alexander ALX200
The Alexander ALX200 was a midibus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was one of the ALX-series, which accounted for 5 different models , built for new generation bus chassis produced since late 1990s.It was designed by John Worker, and was launched in summer...
s and Volvo Olympian
Volvo Olympian
The Volvo Olympian was a rear-engine double decker bus built by Volvo at Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It was first built in 1992 and entered production in March 1993, replacing the Leyland Olympian....
s.
In 2003 new 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...
s with Wright Eclipse Gemini
Wright Eclipse Gemini
The Wright Eclipse Gemini is a type of double-decker bus body built for Volvo B7TL and later Volvo B9TL and Volvo B5L Hybrid for use in the United Kingdom....
bodywork were introduced to the route. These were replaced with older DAF DB250LF
VDL DB250
The VDL DB250 is a double-decker bus sold in the UK through VDL Bus International's UK dealer Arriva Bus & Coach. A small number of DB250s have also been exported to Istanbul, Turkey.-DB250:...
/Alexander ALX400
Alexander ALX400
The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
s in March 2007.
Current route
- Walthamstow Central StationWalthamstow Central stationWalthamstow Central is a London Underground and commuter rail station. It is the terminus of the Victoria line, and is on the branch of the London commuter rail network operated by National Express East Anglia...
- Selborne Road
- Hoe Street
- LeytonLeytonLeyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....
- Lea Bridge RoadLea Bridge RoadLea Bridge Road is a major through route in North East London, across the Lea Valley from Clapton to Whipps Cross in Leyton. Lea Bridge was once the name of a football stadium for Leyton Orient located along Lea Bridge Road. Lea Bridge Road is an excellent area for residence. The area is welcoming...
- Whipps CrossWhipps CrossWhipps Cross is an area of the London Borough of Waltham Forest in London, England. It is most famous for Whipps Cross University Hospital.-The environs:...
- Lea Bridge RoadLea Bridge RoadLea Bridge Road is a major through route in North East London, across the Lea Valley from Clapton to Whipps Cross in Leyton. Lea Bridge was once the name of a football stadium for Leyton Orient located along Lea Bridge Road. Lea Bridge Road is an excellent area for residence. The area is welcoming...
- Woodford New Road
- High Road Woodford GreenWoodford GreenWoodford Green, formerly in the county of Essex, is part of the North East London suburb of Woodford, on the edge of Epping Forest, mostly within the London Borough of Redbridge with a small part on the western side of the green within the London Borough of Waltham Forest .-History:Woodford Green...
- High Road
- Old Station Road
- Loughton StationLoughton tube stationLoughton is a London Underground station, some two miles north of the Greater London boundary, in the Epping Forest district of Essex.It is served by the Central Line and lies between Buckhurst Hill and Debden...
- Old Station Road
- High Road
- Church Hill
- Rectory Lane
- Hillyfields
- Chester Road
- Debden Estate
- Willingale Road
- Colebrook Lane
- Jessel Drive
- Burney Drive
- Mannock Drive
- Willingale Road
- The Broadway
- Burton Road
- DebdenDebden, Epping ForestDebden is a suburb of the town of Loughton, in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England. It takes its name from the ancient manor of Debden, which lay at its northern end. The area is predominantly residential, but is also the location of Epping Forest College, East 15 Acting School and the De...
Burton Road for Debden StationDebden tube stationDebden is a London Underground station on the Central Line in Debden, in the Epping Forest district of Essex. The station is between Loughton and Theydon Bois...
See also
- List of bus routes in London
- List of bus routes in Essex
- Arriva LondonArriva LondonArriva London is a division of Arriva which operates bus services in London, UK. It is made up of many previous bus operators including previously independent Grey Green...