London Buses route E2
Encyclopedia
London Buses route E2 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to Metroline
.
to Brentford
via Pitshanger Lane, Ealing Broadway
and Northfields
, replacing the former route 97.
Like the E1
and E3
, established on the same date, the E2 was initially operated by MBS-class AEC Merlin
s stationed at Hanwell (HL) garage. On 7 December 1975, it was converted to double-deck operation using DMS-class Daimler Fleetline
s, which in turn were replaced by MCW Metrobus
es in 1981.
In June 1984, the E2 gained an extension to Ruislip Station
, plus a further extension on summer Sundays to Ruislip Lido
, replacing the former route 273.
When London Buses Limited
split into eleven pre-privatisation
subsidiaries in late 1988, the E2 came under the operation of Centrewest. Two years later, in 1990, this subsidiary created the E-Line network, which involved the E2 being converted to minibus
operation using RW-class Renault
S75 / Wright Nimbus
es, and losing its Ruislip - Greenford section to new route E7, except on Sundays.
Hanwell garage closed in 1993, the RWs being transferred to the then-new Greenford (G) base.
In May 1997, the now-privatised Centrewest lost the E2 upon re-tender to Armchair Passenger Transport, who ordered a batch of single-door Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer
s for both this route and the E8
, painted in the company's distinctive orange and white livery. At the same time, the E2 was diverted in Brentford to terminate at Armchair's Commerce Road base instead of the County Court, while the Sunday service to Ruislip was transferred to the E7.
Armchair retained the E2 upon a second re-tender, in 2002, and ordered a fresh batch of Dart SLF / Pointers, this time with dual doors and a new livery of red with orange relief, in compliance with Transport for London
's 80%-red regulation.
In November 2004, Armchair was acquired by Metroline
. Just over two years later, on 6 January 2007, its bus operations were rebranded under the Metroline name, and the Dart SLFs were subsequently repainted red with blue skirts.
Following another re-tender, Metroline retained the E2 from 30 May 2009, converting it back to double-deck operation using existing TP-class Dennis Trident 2
/ Plaxton President
s. These were replaced by brand-new TE-class Alexander Dennis Enviro400s in September 2009.
In October 2010, new VW-class Volvo B9TL
/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 2s entered service on the route.
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 Metroline
Metroline
Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:...
.
History
Route E2 was established on 30 November 1968 as a flat-fare route from GreenfordGreenford
Greenford is a large suburb in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, UK. It was historically an ancient parish in the former county of Middlesex. The most prominent landmarks in the suburb are the A40, a major dual-carriageway; Horsenden Hill, above sea level; the small Parish Church of...
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:...
via Pitshanger Lane, Ealing Broadway
Ealing Broadway station
Ealing 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:...
and Northfields
Northfields tube station
Northfields is a London Underground station in Northfields, west London. The station is on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly Line, between Boston Manor and South Ealing stations...
, replacing the former route 97.
Like the E1
London Buses route E1
London Buses route E1 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
and E3
London Buses route E3
London Buses route E3 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, established on the same date, the E2 was initially operated by MBS-class AEC Merlin
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...
s stationed at Hanwell (HL) garage. On 7 December 1975, it was converted to double-deck operation using DMS-class Daimler Fleetline
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...
s, which in turn were replaced by 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 in 1981.
In June 1984, the E2 gained an extension to Ruislip Station
Ruislip tube station
Ruislip is a London Underground station in Ruislip in west London. The station is on the Uxbridge branch of both the Metropolitan line and Piccadilly line, between Ruislip Manor and Ickenham stations. The station is located on West End Road...
, plus a further extension on summer Sundays to Ruislip Lido
Ruislip Lido
Ruislip Lido is a reservoir and artificial beach in Ruislip, within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated between Ruislip Common, Ruislip Woods , and Poors Field....
, replacing the former route 273.
When London Buses Limited
London Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
split into eleven pre-privatisation
Privatisation of London bus services
The privatisation of London bus services was the progressive process of the transfer of operation of London Buses from public bodies to private companies....
subsidiaries in late 1988, the E2 came under the operation of Centrewest. Two years later, in 1990, this subsidiary created the E-Line network, which involved the E2 being converted to minibus
Minibus
A minibus or minicoach is a passenger carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger carrying van. Minibuses have a...
operation using RW-class Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
S75 / Wright Nimbus
Wright Nimbus
The Wright Nimbus was a minibus body manufacturered by Wrightbus. It was built on Mercedes-Benz T2 and Renault S75 van derived chassis. The Nimbus has since became relatively rare as the Mercedes-Benz 709D with a Plaxton Beaver or Alexander ALX100 body was more popular during its tenure in the...
es, and losing its Ruislip - Greenford section to new route E7, except on Sundays.
Hanwell garage closed in 1993, the RWs being transferred to the then-new Greenford (G) base.
In May 1997, the now-privatised Centrewest lost the E2 upon re-tender to Armchair Passenger Transport, who ordered a batch of single-door Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer
Plaxton Pointer
The Plaxton Pointer is a successful single-decker bus body manufactured during the 1990s by Plaxton and latterly built by Alexander Dennis.With the launch of the Dennis Dart in 1989, Plaxton's subsidiary Reeve Burgess made the Pointer body on the short 8.5 m...
s for both this route and the 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:...
, painted in the company's distinctive orange and white livery. At the same time, the E2 was diverted in Brentford to terminate at Armchair's Commerce Road base instead of the County Court, while the Sunday service to Ruislip was transferred to the E7.
Armchair retained the E2 upon a second re-tender, in 2002, and ordered a fresh batch of Dart SLF / Pointers, this time with dual doors and a new livery of red with orange relief, in compliance with Transport for London
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...
's 80%-red regulation.
In November 2004, Armchair was acquired by Metroline
Metroline
Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:...
. Just over two years later, on 6 January 2007, its bus operations were rebranded under the Metroline name, and the Dart SLFs were subsequently repainted red with blue skirts.
Following another re-tender, Metroline retained the E2 from 30 May 2009, converting it back to double-deck operation using existing TP-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...
/ Plaxton President
Plaxton President
The Plaxton President was a double-decker bus body built at Northern Counties plant in Wigan, England and branded as a Plaxton product for its main production run. It was unveiled in 1997 and built between 1999 and 2005. When Plaxton became part of TransBus International, the body was sold under...
s. These were replaced by brand-new TE-class Alexander Dennis Enviro400s in September 2009.
In October 2010, new VW-class Volvo B9TL
Volvo B9TL
The Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo Buses since 2002. It superseded the older Volvo B10TL and the Volvo B7TL.-Chassis:...
/ Wright Eclipse Gemini 2s entered service on the route.
Current route
- GreenfordGreenfordGreenford is a large suburb in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, UK. It was historically an ancient parish in the former county of Middlesex. The most prominent landmarks in the suburb are the A40, a major dual-carriageway; Horsenden Hill, above sea level; the small Parish Church of...
Red Lion - Pitshanger LanePitshanger VillagePitshanger Village is a small but busy local centre, centred around the shops in Pitshanger Lane, located about 1 mile north of Ealing Broadway in West London. It contains numerous small shops, several cafes, two pubs, two churches, a school, and a park , and is often taken to also include parts of...
- 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:...
- West EalingWest EalingWest Ealing is a place in the London Borough of Ealing in west London.-History:West Ealing in its present form is less than 100 years old....
- Northfields StationNorthfields tube stationNorthfields is a London Underground station in Northfields, west London. The station is on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly Line, between Boston Manor and South Ealing 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:...
Commerce Road Bus Garage