London Buses route K2
Encyclopedia
London Buses route K2 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to London United.
, introduced in 1987. At the time, route K2 ran only between Hook
and Kingston
.
The route remained in much the same format from its introduction until 2001, which saw a route change. At the time, route K4
was suffering from capacity problems from an extension, and when the K-prefix route came up for re-tender it was proposed that the K4 would be withdrawn, a replacement provided by extending route K2 at both ends. Part of the plan was dropped, because journey times would be extended and the larger buses used on route K2 wouldn't fit round the Mansfield Estate section of route K4, which used 8.8m buses (which wouldn't be able to cope with demand on route K2).
However, the proposal for route K2 to be extended to Kingston Hospital
went ahead, replacing route K4
over that part of the route. Incidentally, route K4 was later extended to the hospital again after passenger demand.
There was an earlier K2 shopper service using Routemaster
s, but 1987 saw MCW Metroriders take to the streets of Kingston. Later, Dennis Dart
s were running on the service. The types of these varied, with no particular allocation, although Plaxton Pointer
bodied examples mainly ran. 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 K2 has been operated solely by London United and now by its direct successor, Transdev 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...
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 K2 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. At the time, route K2 ran only between 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 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...
.
The route remained in much the same format from its introduction until 2001, which saw a route change. At the time, 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:...
was suffering from capacity problems from an extension, and when the K-prefix route came up for re-tender it was proposed that the K4 would be withdrawn, a replacement provided by extending route K2 at both ends. Part of the plan was dropped, because journey times would be extended and the larger buses used on route K2 wouldn't fit round the Mansfield Estate section of route K4, which used 8.8m buses (which wouldn't be able to cope with demand on route K2).
However, the proposal for route K2 to be extended to Kingston Hospital
Kingston Hospital
Kingston Hospital is an acute NHS hospital in Kingston upon Thames, South West London. It has an Accident & Emergency Unit, a popular midwife-led Maternity unit, and an STD clinic known as the Wolverton Centre...
went ahead, replacing 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:...
over that part of the route. Incidentally, route K4 was later extended to the hospital again after passenger demand.
There was an earlier K2 shopper service using 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, but 1987 saw MCW Metroriders take to the streets of Kingston. Later, 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 these varied, with no particular allocation, although 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...
bodied examples mainly ran. 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 K2 has been operated solely by London United and now by its direct successor, 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...
.
Current route
- 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....
Library - Chessington Industrial Estate Cox Lane
- Tolworth StationTolworth railway stationTolworth railway station in the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames in South London, is a station on the Chessington branch south west of London Waterloo...
- BerrylandsBerrylandsBerrylands is a residential neighbourhood in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames only 24 minutes from Waterloo by train in south west London, that before 1965 formed part of the Municipal Borough of Surbiton. It is a suburban development situated south west of Charing...
Surbiton LagoonSurbiton LagoonSurbiton Lagoon is a defunct and demolished open air swimming pool that was located in Berrylands, in London, United Kingdom.It opened in May 1934 though had been open for business since April, and was situated in Raeburn Avenue in what was then the Surbiton Urban District of Surrey... - Berrylands StationBerrylands railway stationBerrylands railway station is a national rail train station in the borough of Kingston upon Thames, London.-Location:Berrylands railway station, operated by South West Trains, is on the South Western Main Line. Normally only Hampton Court Branch trains serve it, but in service disruptions Guildford...
- 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 - Kingston HospitalKingston HospitalKingston Hospital is an acute NHS hospital in Kingston upon Thames, South West London. It has an Accident & Emergency Unit, a popular midwife-led Maternity unit, and an STD clinic known as the Wolverton Centre...
See also
- List of bus routes in London
- London United
- London Buses route K1London Buses route K1London Buses route K1 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:...