London Buses route 65
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 65 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.
Argyle Road (now Scotch Common) to Leatherhead
via Ealing Broadway, South Ealing, Brentford
, Richmond, Petersham
, Kingston
, Tolworth
, Hook
and Chessington
. It was initially operated from Kingston (K) and Turnham Green
(V) garages, using STL-class AEC Regents and, after World War II
, RT
s and RTL-class Leyland Titans. In 1952, by which time only RTs were operating on the route, Kingston's allocation was shifted to nearby Norbiton
garage (NB).
In 1966, the route lost its Saturday and Sunday services in favour of a route 65A. These services were restored just two years later, in November 1968, when the 65A was withdrawn. This, however, was just one part of a large reconfiguration of the 65 that also saw the southernmost section between Chessington Zoo
and Leatherhead withdrawn (replaced by route 71) and the northernmost section between Argyle Road and Ealing Broadway reduced to Monday to Friday peak hours; a Kingston allocation was also reintroduced.
In 1971, the Turnham Green allocation was withdrawn. Four years later, in 1975, the elderly RTs were replaced by Routemaster
s, and the 65 was extended from Chessington Zoo to Chessington Fox & Hounds during Monday to Friday peak hours.
The section between Argyle Road and Ealing Broadway was withdrawn altogether on 4 September 1982, replaced by route 273 (now covered by the 297
and E2
), and in January 1984 Kingston garage closed, its allocation transferring to Norbiton. In August 1985, a Hanwell (HL) allocation was introduced on Sundays, consisting of longer Routemasters (RMLs), but this lasted only six months before the 65 was converted to one-person operation using MCW Metrobus
es, all based at Norbiton.
The section between Kingston and Chessington was reduced to Sundays only in February 1987, and withdrawn altogether four months later. By this time, route tendering had been established in London, and the 65 thus came under the operation of Kingston Bus, a low-cost unit established by London Buses Limited.
In 1990, the 65 was lost upon re-tender to Brentford
-based Armchair Passenger Transport. This company was due to operate the route from September of that year, but could not obtain new buses in time, so London & Country took charge on a temporary contract, mainly using AN-class Leyland Atlantean
s from distant Croydon
and Leatherhead garages.
Armchair finally took up the 65 in January 1991, using a batch of seventeen all-Leyland Olympian
s plus three second-hand Atlanteans. It retained the route upon a second re-tender, in 1996, and subsequently replaced the ageing Atlanteans with new Volvo Olympian
/ Northern Counties Palatine II
s. A variety of other buses worked the 65 during Armchair's tenure, including Alexander
-bodied Leyland Olympians made spare from the company's loss of route 260, two mk II MCW Metrobuses new to East Kent Road Car Company
, and the odd single-decker from the 209, E2 and E8
.
On 29 June 2002, eleven years of Armchair operation came to an end as the 65 passed to London United (now Transdev London), using new TA-class Dennis Trident 2
/ Alexander ALX400
s based at Fulwell (FW) garage
. In August of that year, an N65 night service was introduced, but this lasted only until January 2004, when the 65 itself became a 24-hour service.
On 4 July 2009, the 65 was extended during nights to Chessington, along the same route used during the day by the 71. Shortly after, on 28 July, the TAs were replaced by brand new SP-class Scania OmniCity
double-deckers.
In December 2009, it was revealed by Boris Johnson
, the Mayor of London
, that the 65 received more passenger complaints than any other London bus route, with some 107 complaints having been made the previous year about the route's reliability.
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, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.
History
The 65 was introduced in 1934, running from EalingEaling
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
Argyle Road (now Scotch Common) to Leatherhead
Leatherhead
Leatherhead is a town in the County of Surrey, England, on the River Mole, part of Mole Valley district. It is thought to be of Saxon origin...
via Ealing Broadway, South Ealing, Brentford
Brentford
Brentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
, Richmond, Petersham
Petersham
Petersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
, Kingston
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...
, Tolworth
Tolworth
Tolworth is a mostly residential area of outer South London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, located south west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include: New Malden, Kingston, Surbiton, Berrylands, Chessington, Ewell and Worcester Park....
, Hook
Hook, London
Hook is a place in south west London, England. It forms part of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and is located 13.5 miles south west of Charing Cross....
and Chessington
Chessington
Chessington is a town in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in Greater London, England. The Hogsmill river runs through it. Neighbouring settlements include: Tolworth, Ewell, Surbiton, Claygate, Epsom, Oxshott, Leatherhead, Esher, Kingston upon Thames and Worcester Park.-History:Its name...
. It was initially operated from Kingston (K) and Turnham Green
Turnham Green
Turnham Green is a public park situated on Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London. It is separated in two by a small road. Christ Church stands on the eastern half of the green. A war memorial stands on the eastern corner...
(V) garages, using STL-class AEC Regents and, after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, RT
AEC 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:...
s and RTL-class Leyland Titans. In 1952, by which time only RTs were operating on the route, Kingston's allocation was shifted to nearby Norbiton
Norbiton
Norbiton is a place in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London. It lies approximately east of Kingston upon Thames's town centre, and from Charing Cross. Its main landmarks include Kingston Hospital and Kingsmeadow football stadium, which is currently used for the home matches of both...
garage (NB).
In 1966, the route lost its Saturday and Sunday services in favour of a route 65A. These services were restored just two years later, in November 1968, when the 65A was withdrawn. This, however, was just one part of a large reconfiguration of the 65 that also saw the southernmost section between Chessington Zoo
Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park and zoo in South West London, England. It lies south of Central London. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a theme park was developed alongside it, opening in 1987...
and Leatherhead withdrawn (replaced by route 71) and the northernmost section between Argyle Road and Ealing Broadway reduced to Monday to Friday peak hours; a Kingston allocation was also reintroduced.
In 1971, the Turnham Green allocation was withdrawn. Four years later, in 1975, the elderly RTs were replaced by Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
s, and the 65 was extended from Chessington Zoo to Chessington Fox & Hounds during Monday to Friday peak hours.
The section between Argyle Road and Ealing Broadway was withdrawn altogether on 4 September 1982, replaced by route 273 (now covered by the 297
London Buses route 297
London Buses route 297 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
and E2
London Buses route E2
London Buses route E2 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
), and in January 1984 Kingston garage closed, its allocation transferring to Norbiton. In August 1985, a Hanwell (HL) allocation was introduced on Sundays, consisting of longer Routemasters (RMLs), but this lasted only six months before the 65 was converted to one-person operation using MCW Metrobus
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...
es, all based at Norbiton.
The section between Kingston and Chessington was reduced to Sundays only in February 1987, and withdrawn altogether four months later. By this time, route tendering had been established in London, and the 65 thus came under the operation of Kingston Bus, a low-cost unit established by London Buses Limited.
In 1990, the 65 was lost upon re-tender to Brentford
Brentford
Brentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
-based Armchair Passenger Transport. This company was due to operate the route from September of that year, but could not obtain new buses in time, so London & Country took charge on a temporary contract, mainly using AN-class Leyland Atlantean
Leyland Atlantean
The Leyland Atlantean is a model of double-decker bus built by Leyland in the United Kingdom from 1958 to 1986....
s from distant Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
and Leatherhead garages.
Armchair finally took up the 65 in January 1991, using a batch of seventeen all-Leyland Olympian
Leyland Olympian
The Leyland Olympian was a double-decker bus built by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production before the demise of Leyland Bus.-Construction:...
s plus three second-hand Atlanteans. It retained the route upon a second re-tender, in 1996, and subsequently replaced the ageing Atlanteans with new 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....
/ Northern Counties Palatine II
Northern Counties Palatine
The Northern Counties Palatine is a step-entrance double-decker bus body built by Northern Counties of Wigan, UK. It was built mainly on Leyland Olympian and Volvo Olympian chassis, although some were also built on DAF, Volvo B10M Citybus and Scania chassis...
s. A variety of other buses worked the 65 during Armchair's tenure, including Alexander
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders was a Scottish bus coachbuilder and operater based in Falkirk.-History:Walter Alexander, notice a lack expasion by the Falkirk and District Tramways Company's especially in to Grangemouth which never hdd a tram line. In 1913 Alexander's Motor Service was created to...
-bodied Leyland Olympians made spare from the company's loss of route 260, two mk II MCW Metrobuses new to East Kent Road Car Company
East Kent Road Car Company
The East Kent Road Car Company Ltd was a bus company formed in 1916 and based in Canterbury, Kent. The company operated bus and coach services in Kent...
, and the odd single-decker from the 209, E2 and E8
London Buses route E8
London Buses route E8 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
.
On 29 June 2002, eleven years of Armchair operation came to an end as the 65 passed to London United (now Transdev London), using new TA-class Dennis Trident 2
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...
/ Alexander ALX400
Alexander ALX400
The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
s based at Fulwell (FW) garage
Fulwell Garage
Fulwell Bus Garage is a former London Transport bus garage located in Twickenham in westLondon. It is north of Fulwell railway station and operates as two halves, with entrances on the A311 Wellington Road and B358 Stanley Road. It is currently operated by London United and Abellio.-History:Fulwell...
. In August of that year, an N65 night service was introduced, but this lasted only until January 2004, when the 65 itself became a 24-hour service.
On 4 July 2009, the 65 was extended during nights to Chessington, along the same route used during the day by the 71. Shortly after, on 28 July, the TAs were replaced by brand new SP-class Scania OmniCity
Scania OmniCity
The Scania OmniCity is an integrally-constructed transverse-engined low floor citybus available on the European market. The OmniCity is a complete product built in Poland by Scania AB, a company based in Sweden....
double-deckers.
In December 2009, it was revealed by Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, that the 65 received more passenger complaints than any other London bus route, with some 107 complaints having been made the previous year about the route's reliability.
Current route
- Ealing Broadway StationEaling Broadway stationEaling Broadway is an east-west National Rail and London Underground station in Ealing in west London. The station is located in Haven Green , at the termination of The Broadway, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.-Services:...
- South Ealing StationSouth Ealing tube stationSouth Ealing is a London Underground station in west London. The station is on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly Line, between Acton Town and Northfields stations...
- BrentfordBrentfordBrentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
High Street - Kew Bridge StationKew Bridge railway stationKew Bridge railway station is in the London Borough of Hounslow, in west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains....
- Kew Gardens Kew Gardens Station
- Richmond StationRichmond station (London)Richmond station is a National Rail and London Underground station in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London which is managed by South West Trains....
- Richmond Bus Station
- PetershamPetershamPetersham is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the east of the bend in the River Thames south of Richmond, which it shares with neighbouring Ham. It provides the foreground of the scenic view from Richmond Hill across Petersham Meadows, with Ham House further along the River...
- HamHam, LondonHam is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on the River Thames.- Location :Its name derives from the Old English word Hamme meaning place in the bend in the river. Together with Petersham, Ham lies to the east of the bend in the river south of Richmond and north of Kingston...
- Kingston Station
- 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 - 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...
Brook Street - Surbiton Station (Nights)
- HookHook, LondonHook is a place in south west London, England. It forms part of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and is located 13.5 miles south west of Charing Cross....
(Nights) - Chessington North StationChessington North railway stationChessington North railway station, in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in South West London is on the Chessington Branch and is served by South West Trains; it is in Travelcard Zone 6. The station, like all others on the branch, is built in the concrete Art Deco style of the 1930s and it...
(Nights) - Copt Gliders Estate (Nights)
- Chessington World of AdventuresChessington World of AdventuresChessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park and zoo in South West London, England. It lies south of Central London. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a theme park was developed alongside it, opening in 1987...
(Nights)