London Buses route K1
Encyclopedia
London Buses route K1 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to London United.
, introduced in 1987.
The route remained in much the same format from its introduction until a route change in 1993 saw some switching of routes between Surbiton
and Kingston. Route K1 swapped with the route of service 71 between Surbiton and Kingston. At the same time, two other K-prefix routes swapped, with route K4
(a later introduction the K-prefix routes in 1990) switching with route K3
. Since then, the route has remained in its current format.
There was and earlier K1 shopper service using Routemaster
s, but in 1987 MCW Metroriders were seen for the first time on the streets of Kingston. Within five years, Dennis Dart
s were running on the service. The types of theses varied, with no particular allocation, with both Plaxton Pointer
and Duple
/Carlyle
bodied examples running. Low floor vehicles were introduced following the new contract in 2001, with a batch of Dennis Dart SLF
/Plaxton Pointer
s . introduced to the service.
Since its introduction, route K1 has been operated solely by London United (through its Westlink subsidiary) and its successor. The contract came up for renewal in October 2007, which was again won by Transdev London
, London United's new name. The contract specified new buses, and a batch of new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts were introduced in August 2008.
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
Route K1 is part of the K-prefix network of services run around Kingston upon ThamesKingston 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...
, introduced in 1987.
The route remained in much the same format from its introduction until a route change in 1993 saw some switching of routes between Surbiton
Surbiton
Surbiton, a suburban area of London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, is situated next to the River Thames, with a mixture of Art-Deco courts, more recent residential blocks and grand, spacious 19th century townhouses blending into a sea of semi-detached 20th century housing estates...
and Kingston. Route K1 swapped with the route of service 71 between Surbiton and Kingston. At the same time, two other K-prefix routes swapped, with route K4
London Buses route K4
London Buses route K4 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...
(a later introduction the K-prefix routes in 1990) switching with route K3
London Buses route K3
London Buses route K3 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...
. Since then, the route has remained in its current format.
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, but in 1987 MCW Metroriders were seen for the first time on the streets of Kingston. Within five years, Dennis Dart
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
s were running on the service. The types of theses varied, with no particular allocation, with both 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...
and Duple
Duple Coachbuilders
Duple was best known as a British manufacturer of coach and bus bodywork from 1919 until 1989.-History:Duple Bodies & Motors Ltd was formed in 1919 by Herbert White in Hornsey, London...
/Carlyle
Carlyle Works Limited
Carlyle Works Limited was a manufacturer of bodywork for minibuses and later midibuses, located in Egbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.Carlyle Works was the central engineering works for Midland Red, once one of the largest bus operators in the United Kingdom. The company was famous for building...
bodied examples running. Low floor vehicles were introduced following the new contract in 2001, with a batch of Dennis Dart SLF
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
/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 . introduced to the service.
Since its introduction, route K1 has been operated solely by London United (through its Westlink subsidiary) and its successor. The contract came up for renewal in October 2007, which was again won by Transdev London
Transdev London
London United is one of many operators of London Buses and is owned by the RATP Group, an international public transport operator owned by the government of France...
, London United's new name. The contract specified new buses, and a batch of new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts were introduced in August 2008.
Current route
- New Malden StationNew Malden railway stationNew Malden railway station is in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in South London. The station is served by South West Trains, and is in Travelcard Zone 4.-History:...
- New MaldenNew MaldenNew Malden is a town and shopping centre in the south-western London suburbs, mostly within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and partly in the London Borough of Merton, and is situated from Charing Cross...
Police station - Malden Manor StationMalden Manor railway stationMalden Manor railway station, in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in South London is one of the stations on the Chessington branch, part of the London suburban network of South West Trains, and is in Travelcard Zone 4....
- TolworthTolworthTolworth 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....
Broadway - TolworthTolworthTolworth 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....
Red Lion - 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....
Thornhill Road - Surbiton StationSurbiton railway stationSurbiton railway station is a National Rail station in Surbiton, south west London, in the Kingston upon Thames. The station is managed and served by South West Trains, and is in Travelcard Zone 6...
Claremont Road - 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...
Eden Street - 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
See also
- List of bus routes in London
- London United
- London Buses route K2London Buses route K2London Buses route K2 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...
- London Buses route K3London Buses route K3London Buses route K3 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...
- London Buses route K4London Buses route K4London Buses route K4 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...