The
AEC Routemaster is a model of
double-decker busA double-decker bus is a bus that has two levels. While double-decker long-distance coaches are in widespread use around the world, double-decker city buses are less common. Double-decker buses are popular in some cities of Europe and in parts of Asia, usually in former British colonies...
that was built by Associated Equipment Company (AEC) in 1954 (in production from 1958) and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances. Introduced by
London TransportThe London Transport Executive was the organisation responsible for public transport in the Greater London area, UK, between 1948-1963. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-Creation:The...
in 1956, the Routemaster saw continuous service in London until 2005, and currently remains on two
heritage routesLondon Buses heritage routes may refer to:* London Buses route 9 * London Buses route 15...
in central London.
The Routemaster was developed by AEC in partnership with London Transport, the customer for nearly all new Routemasters, delivered in traditional red or green "country" colours, although small numbers were also delivered to
British European AirwaysBritish European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
and the
Northern General Transport CompanyThe Northern General Transport Company was the original founding company of what is now Go-Ahead Group.Its origins began when in the early part of the 1900s Gateshead and District Tramways asked parliament's permission to extend their Tramway which finished at Low Fell to be extended to...
. In all, 2,876 Routemasters were built, with approximately 1,000 still in existence.
A pioneering design, the Routemaster outlasted several of its replacement types in London, survived the privatisation of the former London Transport bus operators, and was used by other operators around the UK. In modern UK
public transportPublic transport comprises passenger transportation services which are available for use by the general public, as opposed to modes for private use such as automobiles or vehicles for hire.Public transport services are usually funded by fares charged to each passenger, with varying levels of subsidy...
bus operationA transit bus is a bus used for short-distance public transport purposes...
, the unique features of the standard Routemaster were both praised and criticised. The open platform, while exposed to the elements, allowed boarding and alighting away from stops; and the presence of a
conductor-Train conductor :The conductor is the railway employee charged with the management of a freight, passenger, or various other types of train, and is also the direct supervisor of the train's "Train Crew" . All train crew members on board the train work under his or her direction...
allowed minimal boarding time and optimal security, although the presence of conductors produced greater labour costs.
The traditional red Routemaster has become one of the famous features of London, with much tourist paraphernalia continuing to bear Routemaster imagery, and with examples still in existence around the world. Despite its fame, the previous London bus classes the Routemaster replaced (the
RT-type AEC RegentThe 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.-The prototype:...
and
Leyland TitanThe Leyland Titan was a chassis with a front-mounted engine designed to carry double-decker bus bodywork. It was built mainly for the UK market between 1927 and 1942, and then between 1945 and 1970 after World War II....
RTL and RTW counterparts) are often mistaken for Routemasters by the public and by the media.
Novel design
The Routemaster bus was developed during the years 1947–1956 by a team directed by A. A.M. Durrant and Colin Curtis, with vehicle styling by Douglas Scott. The design brief was to produce a vehicle that was lighter (hence more fuel efficient), easier to operate and to be maintained by the existing maintenance practices at the recently opened
Aldenham WorksThe Aldenham Works, or Aldenham Bus Overhaul Works, was the main London Transport Bus overhaul works. It was located on the edge of the Hertfordshire village of Elstree and not Aldenham despite being officially called Aldenham Works. In its heyday, 50 buses a week were overhauled there, and it was...
. The resulting vehicle could carry 64 seated passengers despite weighing three-quarters of a ton less than the previous RT which could carry 56 seated passengers. The first task on delivery to service was to replace London's
trolleybusA trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles...
es, which had themselves replaced
tramA tram, tramcar, trolley, trolleycar, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a conventional train, designed for the transport of passengers within, close to, or between villages, towns and/or cities, on tracks running primarily on streets...
s, in London and to commence replacement of the older types of diesel motor bus. The Routemaster was primarily intended for London use, being designed by
London TransportThe London Transport Executive was the organisation responsible for public transport in the Greater London area, UK, between 1948-1963. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-Creation:The...
and constructed at the AEC Works in
SouthallSouthall is a suburb in the London Borough of Ealing, West London. It is situated west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Yeading, Hayes, Hanwell, Heston, Hounslow, Greenford and Northolt...
,
MiddlesexMiddlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
with assembly at bodybuilder
Park Royal VehiclesDating its origins back to 1889, Park Royal Vehicles along with its Leeds-based subsidiary Charles H. Roe was one of Britain's leading coachbuilders and bus manufacturers based at Park Royal, West London, UK.-Associated Commercial Vehicles:...
, a subsidiary company of AEC.
It was an innovative design compared with previous buses, and used lightweight aluminium and techniques developed in aircraft production during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As well as a novel weight-saving integral design, the Routemaster also introduced (for the first time on a bus)
independent front suspensionIndependent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked - movement on one side affects...
,
power steeringPower steering , assists the driver of an automobile in steering by directing a portion of the vehicle's power to traverse the axis of one or more of the roadwheels. On road going vehicles there has to be a mechanical linkage as a fail safe...
, a fully automatic gearbox and
power-hydraulic brakingThe hydraulic brake is an arrangement of braking mechanism which uses brake fluid, typically containing ethylene glycol, to transfer pressure from the controlling unit, which is usually near the operator of the vehicle, to the actual brake mechanism, which is usually at or near the wheel of the...
. This surprised some early drivers who found the chassis unexpectedly light and nimble compared to older designs, especially as depicted on film on tests at the Chiswick Works "skid pan". Footage of Routemaster RM200 (
VLT 200) undergoing the skid test at Chiswick was included in the 1971 film
On the BusesOn the Buses is a 1971 British comedy film directed by Harry Booth and starring Reg Varney and Doris Hare. The film is the first spin-off film from the TV sitcom On the Buses and was followed by two further films Mutiny on the Buses and Holiday on the Buses...
.
The Routemaster design was a departure from the traditional chassis/body construction method. With London Transport being the primary customer, the option to use different bodybuilders was less important. The design was one of the first "integral" buses, with the bus being a combination of an "A" steel sub-frame (including engine, steering, front suspension), a rear "B" steel sub-frame (carrying rear axle and suspension), connected by the aluminium body. The gear box was mounted on the underside of the body structure with shafts linking the engine to the back axle.
Prototypes
London TransportThe London Transport Executive was the organisation responsible for public transport in the Greater London area, UK, between 1948-1963. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-Creation:The...
received four prototype Routemasters; these were placed in service between 1956 and 1958. The first two were built at the London Transport works at Chiswick, the third at Addlestone by Weymann, and the fourth, an experimental
Green Line-Geographic demarcations:*Green Line , a cease fire line between the Republic of South Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus*Green Line, a name for the Gothic Line of "Linea Gotica", a German defensive line in Italy during World War II, renamed the "Green Line" in June 1944*Green Line,...
coach, at
Eastern Coach WorksEastern Coach Works Ltd was a bus and railbus
at Lowestoft. The third and fourth had Leyland engines. The Routemaster was first exhibited at the Commercial Motor Show at Earl's Court in 1954.
In 1961 a small batch of 24 longer RMLs (30ft compared with the standard 27ft 6in) was built as a test, before eventually going into production from 1965.
In 1962 the front entrance RMF concept was trialed, with a single bus
RMF1254 produced based on the trial RMLs. This was exhibited and toured, leading to a small number of orders as the RMF and RMA class.
In 1964, just before mainstream production of the RML, the final front-engined Routemaster model, AEC started work on a front-entrance, rear-engined Routemaster, the FRM class. Completed in 1966, it was not produced beyond an initial prototype, FRM1. This saw regular London service, then on tour operations, before being withdrawn in 1983. This vehicle acquired the nickname "Fruitmaster".
Production
Production of mechanical components was undertaken chiefly at AEC's Southall site (though a significant number had Leyland engines) throughout the life of the Routemaster, with body construction and final assembly at Park Royal. AEC itself was taken over by Leyland Motors in 1962, Routemaster production ceased in 1968.
The majority of production examples were 27 feet 6 inches (8.4 metres) long to meet the then maximum length regulations. This was later relaxed, and reflected in later 30 feet (9.1 metres) "long" types, although this was delayed with union resistance to the extra work for conductors.
The production classes were designated as follows:
- RM - standard bus (27' 6")
- RML - (lengthened) bus (30')
- RMC - coach (27' 6")
- RCL - (lengthened) coach (30')
- RMF - front entrance bus (essentially a demonstrator to drive sales outside London)
- RMA - front entrance bus (designated by LT when purchased from British Airways
British Airways plc is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom. It is headquartered in Waterside near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport and is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations. Its second hub is London Gatwick...
)
RM and RML class
At 2120 RMs and 524 RMLs, these make up the majority of Routemasters ever made. The RML class was simply a standard RM with a distinctive and seemingly out of place half window section added in the middle giving 8 extra seats. This was not a dramatic change, as it took advantage of the modular design approach of the Routemaster that would be copied by later manufacturers. The RML was originally to be the "Routemaster Leyland" designation, with ER to signify "Extended Routemaster". The RM and RML featured a cubby hole beneath the rear staircase where the conductor could stand while not collecting fares without obstructing boarding/alighting passengers.
RMC and RCL class
The RMC was a coach version, produced for the "Green Line" routes. These had modified suspension and interiors to allow longer range and more comfortable running, along with an electrically operated door instead of an open platform. The RCL was a long version of the RMC with a larger engine and similar coach style features.
RMF and RMA class
The RMF and RMA class were production versions of a front entrance model Routemaster, primarily for non-London use. Like the coach class these featured an electrically operated door, although the staircase was moved to the front of the bus with the door. After being exhibited and demonstrated to other operators, the RMF attracted little interest, apart from an order from Northern General as the RMF, and in a short version, from
British European AirwaysBritish European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
(BEA) as the RMA class.
The
British Electric TractionBritish Electric Traction Company plc, renamed BET plc in 1985, was a large British industrial conglomerate. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but was acquired by Rentokil in 1996, and the merged company is now known as Rentokil Initial....
subsidiary the
Northern General Transport CompanyThe Northern General Transport Company was the original founding company of what is now Go-Ahead Group.Its origins began when in the early part of the 1900s Gateshead and District Tramways asked parliament's permission to extend their Tramway which finished at Low Fell to be extended to...
introduced the RMF class in 1964/1965, with an initial batch of 18, followed by another 32, and later joined by the prototype RMF1254. The fleet were fitted with Leyland engines and a higher ratio rear axle for operation on longer trunk routes. These buses operated in various
Northern red and cream liveries before surviving into the National Bus Company era receiving the poppy red corporate livery and
NBC Northern fleetnames. The RMF fleet wore long standing adverts, "Shop at
BinnsHouse of Fraser is a British department store group with 62 stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The flagship London store is House of Fraser on Oxford Street in London whilst the retailer has recently undertaken its largest new store opening in Belfast.Over the years House of Fraser has...
". Their service in the north also produced the odd sight of a Routemaster with a
rollsignA rollsign, roll sign, destination blind or indicator blind is a mechanical display used to indicate a transport vehicle's route number and destination. Still-other alternative names include "curtain sign", "bus blind" and "destination film"...
for service "X1 to Scandinavia", by virtue of the connection to the
ferry lineDFDS A/S, an abbreviation of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. DFDS was formed in 1866 as a merger of various minor shipping companies under the leadership of industrialist Carl Frederik Tietgen...
from
North ShieldsNorth Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England. It is located eight miles east of Newcastle upon Tyne...
to
ScandinaviaScandinavia is a geographical region in northern Europe that includes, and is named after, the Scanian Province. It consists of the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark...
. These were used until 1977, when they were disposed of in a variety of ways, some finding use in London, although none were deemed suitable for regular London service.
BEA introduced the RMA class buses built to the shorter length (with trailers) in various liveries in 1966/1967 for use on
airport busAn Airport bus, or airport shuttle bus or airport shuttle is a bus used to transport people to/from or within airports. These vehicles will usually be equipped with larger luggage space, and incorporate special branding....
service to and from Heathrow Airport. These were all eventually sold to London Transport after being withdrawn in stages in the 1970s, finding various roles.
London Transport Routemaster heyday
The heyday of Routemaster operation was its first 25 years of operation, until September 1982, when the type started to be withdrawn and transferred to training fleets, due to service reductions.
The RM class was placed in service from 1959 to replace
trolleybusA trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles...
es, completed in May 1962. Subsequent Routemasters, the last 500 of which were the RML types, began replacing the previous generation of buses, the
RT-type AEC RegentThe 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.-The prototype:...
and
Leyland TitanThe Leyland Titan was a chassis with a front-mounted engine designed to carry double-decker bus bodywork. It was built mainly for the UK market between 1927 and 1942, and then between 1945 and 1970 after World War II....
RTL and RTW. RMLs also displaced RMs on central routes to cope with higher loadings. The last Routemaster, RML 2760, entered service in March 1968.
The original London Transport concept for the Routemaster included the intentional routine overhaul and refurbishment of the Routemaster fleet at London Transport's
Aldenham WorksThe Aldenham Works, or Aldenham Bus Overhaul Works, was the main London Transport Bus overhaul works. It was located on the edge of the Hertfordshire village of Elstree and not Aldenham despite being officially called Aldenham Works. In its heyday, 50 buses a week were overhauled there, and it was...
, usually every 5 years. Here the buses were completely stripped down and rebuilt, leaving practically as new. As the number of Routemasters in London reduced, however, and newer bus designs not suited to this practice were introduced, the overhaul routine was abandoned and
Aldenham WorksThe Aldenham Works, or Aldenham Bus Overhaul Works, was the main London Transport Bus overhaul works. It was located on the edge of the Hertfordshire village of Elstree and not Aldenham despite being officially called Aldenham Works. In its heyday, 50 buses a week were overhauled there, and it was...
closed in the mid-1980s.
Green liveried Routemasters
The "green Routemasters" originally worked for LT's "country division", which took coach type RMC and RCL buses, for
Green LineGreen Line is a commuter coach brand in the Home Counties of England. It is owned by the Arriva group.Green Line has its origin in the network of coach services established by the London General Omnibus Company in the 1920s and 1930s...
services, and later standard bus RMLs. The RMC class were initially used on Green Line routes in outlying towns. Similarly, the RCL entered service in areas where the RMC was not introduced.
These vehicles passed to the nationalised National Bus Company's subsidiary
London Country Bus ServicesLondon Country Bus Services was a former bus company that operated in South East England from 1969 until split up and sold in 1986 under Margaret Thatcher's government's bus deregulation scheme.-Creation:...
(known simply as London Country) in 1969, which took over outlying areas of LT bus operation resulting from the 1968 Transport Act. The transfer comprised 69 RMCs, 43 RCLs and 97 RMLs.
By the latter half of the 1970s, most of these vehicles were re-acquired by London Transport, as London Country modernised and standardised its fleet, and increased car usage and improved commuter railways reduced suburban bus demand. Most of the RMLs found use on red London bus routes, and the RMC and RCL class were cascaded into the training fleet. As the RCL class was relatively new (in Routemaster terms), and LT was suffering from lack of parts, between 1980 and 1984 several of the RCLs were converted to standard bus use.
Decline in London
Many of London's bus routes were converted to one person operation (then known as one man operation or OMO) in the 1970s, out of a desire to reduce operating costs and address staff shortages. There was also for a time a parts shortage for Routemasters, aggravated by the closure of AEC. With the introduction of single-deck Red Arrow services in London, and successful conversion to modern rear engined OMO buses around the country, LT was considering replacing Routemasters with modern practices and buses. The operation of the Routemaster (very) gradually became contracted to central areas, with RMLs replacing RMs, where LT felt that the Routemaster still provided an efficient means of transporting larger numbers of people in busy central routes, justifying the economics of two man operation. The rapid acceleration and rugged construction of the Routemasters also proved to be more suited to such urban conditions than some more modern designs.
The Routemaster fleet remained largely intact for around 15 years after production ended in 1968, with withdrawals mainly due to fires. Following the defeat of the
GLCGLC may refer to:* GLC , an American rapper signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music record label.* "GLC: The Carnage Continues...", an episode of The Comic Strip Presents...* GLC...
in the
House of LordsThe House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". Parliament comprises the Sovereign, the House of Commons , and the Lords...
regarding their subsidised fare scheme, major service reductions followed in September 1982. Consequently the first withdrawals commenced, with many of these early disposals being for scrap. The continued practice of route conversion to one person operation resulted in a steady trickle of withdrawals. This practice had largely halted by 1988, with comparatively few withdrawn up to 1992.
In the 1980s, several of the returned Routemasters purchased from Northern General, BEA and London Country, which had doors rather than an open platform, were put to use on London Transport's revived sightseeing operation
The Original London Sightseeing Tour, alongside the RCL class (some converted to
open top busAn open top bus is a bus, usually but not exclusively a double decker bus, where all or part of the roof has been removed to enable enjoyment of fresh air and uninterrupted views.-Usage:...
es), the RMF class, and the RMA class.
Privatisation of London Buses
In 1984 the process of
privatisation of London bus servicesThe privatisation of London bus services was the progressive process of the transfer of operation of bus services for public transport in London from public bodies to private companies....
began, and the Routemasters were transferred from London Transport operation to several different arms-length business units based on different garages, leading to minor additions to the standard red livery. Nine of the twelve new operating units inherited Routemasters,
Centrewest,
Leaside,
London Central,
London General,
London United,
Metroline,
London Northern,
South London and
East London. During this time, following the failure and premature withdrawal of heralded replacement vehicle classes such as the DM/DMS class
Daimler FleetlineThe Daimler Fleetline was 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 1982...
, the Routemasters that had not yet been disposed of saw their lives extended for use until privatisation. Where new route tenders called for Routemaster operation, these were leased from London Buses.
By 1994, all the operating units had been sold and this produced some colour livery variations and additions to some Routemasters from their previous all-over red liveries. In the new London route tendering process, all but one of the Routemaster operated routes were allowed to keep their now privately owned Routemasters for the 5 year contract period, and further refurbishments resulted.
Life extensions
Since the ending of production at Southall and later closure of the Aldenham works, new options for extending the life of the Routemaster became necessary if they were to continue to run. This made sense as even by 1987, when some buses looked decidedly worn out, inspections by London Buses revealed the basic structure of the buses was still sound, requiring only replacement of engines and interior/exterior renewal.
From 1992-1994, all but 2 of the RML type were refurbished for ten years' further service. This work, which included updating the interior to modern tastes and substituting
IvecoIveco is an Italian truck, bus, and diesel engine manufacturer, based in Turin, Italy. It is a subsidiary of the Fiat Group, and produces around 200,000 commercial vehicles and 460,000 diesel engines annually, and for the year ended 2007 the company had €11,196 million in sales .The name is an...
or
CumminsCummins Inc. is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service diesel and natural gas engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems...
engines, was carried out by
MainlineFirst South Yorkshire is the largest bus operator in South Yorkshire, England. As a division of FirstGroup the company's legal name was, for a time, Mainline which operated it between 1993 and 1998, following the sale South Yorkshire Transport to its employees.-History:SYT was eventually sold to...
, TB Precision, Nottingham truck & Bus, and by one of the new London Buses business units, Leaside Buses. 100 RM class vehicles were also re-engined. Post-privatisation, in 1996, the Routemasters on London Central's RMs on route 36, Stagecoach London's RMLs for routes 8 and 15, and Arriva's RMs for route 159, all received new Scania engines. Between 2001 and 2004, under new mayor Ken Livingstone and
Transport for LondonTransport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England...
, the replacement authority for London Buses, further refurbishment saw TfL buy back 49 RMs from a variety of sources. Initially started by
Marshall BusMarshall Bus was a British bus manufacturer between 1992 and 2002. The company's most popular product was the Marshall Capital, which was a single-decker bus body built between 1997 and 2003...
, this was continued by
Arriva LondonArriva London is a division of Arriva which operates bus services in London, UK. It is made up of many previous bus operators, the main operator being Grey Green from North-West London...
when Marshall ceased trading in 2002.
Colourful Routemasters
With the Routemaster's longevity, there have been Routemaster buses painted to celebrate both the Queen's silver and golden jubilee, in 1977 and 2002, i.e. 25 and 50 years on the throne respectively. 25 buses were painted Silver to celebrate the Silver Jubilee, and out of 50 buses painted gold in London in 2002, 15 (12 RML, 3 RM) were Routemasters.
During privatisation in London, from 1986 several private operators won contracts to operate London bus services, some of which including Routemaster operated routes. Before an 80% red rule for liveries was reintroduced in 1997 by LT, the contract tendering authority, some of these new entrants proceeded to run Routemasters in their own non-red liveries, most notably Kentish Bus on Route 19 and Borehamwood Travel Services (BTS) (now part of
Transdev LondonTransdev London is one of many operators of London Buses and is owned by the Transdev Group of France, an international transport group, who operate urban bus, tram and light railway networks worldwide.-Company history:...
) on Route 13.
The iconic nature of the Routemaster also appealed to the many new operators outside of London that appeared post-1986 in the UK following
bus deregulationBus deregulation in Great Britain came into force on 26 October 1986, as part of the Transport Act 1985.The 'Buses' White Paper was the basis of the Transport Act 1985, which provided for the deregulation of local bus services in the whole of the United Kingdom except for Northern Ireland and...
. Several operators took second hand Routemasters from London as a cheap way of expanding their fleets to stave off competition from new operators emerging after deregulation. Likewise, start up operators also chose the Routemaster as an eye-catching bus for their own start up operations. Subsequently, Routemasters were seen around the country painted in a variety of proprietary colours, and were used in regular service in Southampton, Blackpool, Glasgow, Perth, Dundee, Hull, Carlisle, Bedford, Kettering, Manchester (Stagecoach), Southend and Burnley. During this era, several Routemasters found their way through more than one company, and were also often loaned between operators.
One of the earliest, if not the earliest, examples of deregulated use of Routemasters was early in the history of the
Stagecoach GroupStagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
. Now one of the largest post-deregulation operators in the UK, Stagecoach combined the vintage Routemaster with their new and striking corporate livery of all-over white with red, orange and blue stripes, to start one of their first operations, Magic Bus, in
GlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland, in the late 1980s. This contrasted with the traditional identities still in use at the time.
Towards the end of this period, in 1994 in
ReadingReading is a large town in England, located at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London...
, new operator Reading Mainline built up a 45 strong Routemaster fleet to compete with the established operator Reading Buses, in the process becoming the largest operator of Routemasters outside London. They used conductors to compete on speed in the town centre, and in the outskirts took advantage of the rear platform to operate
hail and rideHail and Ride, sometimes shortened to Hail & Ride, is a concept in public transport in the United Kingdom. Generally, it refers to boarding or alighting a mode of public transport by signalling the driver or conductor that you wish to board/alight, rather than the moreconventional system of using a...
sections of route. After building up a network covering nearly the whole town, Reading Buses posted their first ever
financial lossIn business and finance accounting, net profit is equal to the gross profit minus overheads minus interest payable plus/minus one off items for a given time period ....
to purchase the company in 1998, with Reading Buses continuing Routemaster operation for another two years albeit reduced in number, until 2000.
With the costs involved in running elderly two-man buses, and with a general reduction in the number of operators, buses and services in the years following in the deregulated industry as competitors merged or sold out, these examples of use outside London declined through the 1990s. Many of these buses found their way back to London to assist with the refurbishment program or as basic spares donors, or to increase the fleet size generally.
The final withdrawal from mainstream London service saw another resurgence in the use of Routemasters outside of London, but this time on a smaller scale than the post deregulation public transport fleets. Post 2000, usage was characterised by small novelty or seasonal routes.
Withdrawal from London
In his first election campaign to become
Mayor of LondonThe 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 . Since 4 May 2008, Conservative Boris Johnson holds the position...
,
Ken LivingstoneKenneth Robert Livingstone is an English politician; he has twice held the leading political role in London local government, firstly as Leader of the Greater London Council from 1981 until the council was abolished in 1986 by the government of Margaret Thatcher, and secondly as the first Mayor of...
made a commitment that he would not be withdrawing the Routemaster from service, stating:
During the new millennium, debates surrounded the issue of whether to replace or retain the Routemaster in London service. Supporters citing its continued mechanical fitness, speed of boarding and tourist potential, while opponents pointed to the economics of running increasingly elderly buses when newer, larger and more modern designs were now on the market following a resurgence in the
bus manufacturingBus manufacturing is the manufacturing of buses and coaches.-History:Bus manufacturing had its earliest origins in carriage building. Other bus manufacturers had their origins in truck manufacturing...
industry after recession in the 1990s. Opponents also pointed specifically to the lack of
accessibilityAccessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product is accessible by as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" the functionality, and possible benefit, of some system or entity...
of the Routemaster in light of impending relevant legislation, which meant all new buses now entering service in London were of a low-floor design. The emergence of off-bus ticketing technology also reduced the argument for better dwell times, whereby the
Oyster cardThe Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems including London Underground, buses, the Docklands Light Railway ,...
and off-bus ticket machines would reduce the time it took to board the bus.
In 2004, following his second election campaign, Livingstone announced the phasing out of the type in order to provide a bus service in the capital fully accessible to wheelchair users. Government legislation requires full accessibility by 2017 under the
Disability Discrimination ActThe Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which makes it unlawful to discriminate against people in respect of their disabilities in relation to employment, the provision of goods and services, education and transport. It is a civil rights law...
. As a consequence the Routemaster was officially withdrawn from general service on 9 December 2005, although it remains in regular service on two "heritage" routes (see below).
Withdrawals began on the dates below as the routes' five-year contracts expired.
- Route 15
London Buses route 15 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The regular service on route 15 is currently contracted to East London and operated with modern double-decker buses...
: 29 August 2003
- Route 11
London Buses route 11 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:...
: 31 October 2003
- Route 23
London Buses route 23 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest....
: 14 November 2003
- Route 94
London Buses route 94 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Transdev London.-History:...
: 23 January 2004
- Route 6
London Buses route 6 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.- History :...
: 26 March 2004
- Route 98
London Buses route 98 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
: 26 March 2004
- Route 8
London Buses route 8 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to East London.-History:...
: 4 June 2004
- Route 7
London Buses route 7 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
: 2 July 2004
- Route 137
London Buses route 137 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
: 9 July 2004
- Route 9
London Buses route 9 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The regular service on route 9 is currently contracted to Transdev London and operated with modern double-decker buses...
: 3 September 2004
- Route 390
London Buses route 390 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
: 3 September 2004
- Route 73
London Buses route 73 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London. The service has particularly heavy usage as it serves areas not covered by the Tube system.-History:...
: 3 September 2004; replaced by bendy busesArticulated buses , are articulated single-decker buses comprising two rigid parts linked together by a pivoting joint. This arrangement allows a longer legal length and thus a higher passenger capacity than rigid single decker buses, while still allowing the bus to be turned within the limitations...
- Route 12
London Buses route 12 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:The route was re-structured at the time the new articulated bus contract began...
: 5 November 2004; replaced by bendy busesArticulated buses , are articulated single-decker buses comprising two rigid parts linked together by a pivoting joint. This arrangement allows a longer legal length and thus a higher passenger capacity than rigid single decker buses, while still allowing the bus to be turned within the limitations...
- Route 36
London Buses route 36 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-The Beginning:...
: 28 January 2005
- Route 19
London Buses route 19 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.- History :...
: 1 April 2005
- Route 14
London Buses route 14 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:...
: 22 July 2005
- Route 22
London Buses route 22 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London General.-History:...
: 22 July 2005
- Route 13
London Buses route 13 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London. The service is currently contracted to Transdev London.-History:The 13 was one of the last routes to lose Routemaster operation from 22 October 2005...
: 21 October 2005
- Route 38
London Buses route 38 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London....
: 28 October 2005; replaced by bendy busesArticulated buses , are articulated single-decker buses comprising two rigid parts linked together by a pivoting joint. This arrangement allows a longer legal length and thus a higher passenger capacity than rigid single decker buses, while still allowing the bus to be turned within the limitations...
- Route 159
London Buses route 159 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:The 159 is a long-standing route, dating back more than 60 years...
: 9 December 2005; departed Marble Arch at 12:25, 20 minutes late
The Routemaster was gradually phased out of service by the end of 2005. By December 2005 only one route was left, the 159 (Marble Arch — Streatham). Friday 9 December 2005 would be the last official running day. On Thursday 8th, 24 special buses, including preserved RMs and RMLs, plus a number of their predecessors from the "RT" bus family, made guest appearances on the 159 route.
On Friday, instead of doing a normal shift, with crews ending normally at around 11pm, on police advice, the day was split into two duty shifts, a Routemaster shift, and a VLA class shift (
Volvo B7TLVolvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of Volvo Olympian...
/
Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
), the replacement bus for route 159, with the Routemasters due to be replaced in the middle of the day.
Towards the last runs to the garage, crowds blocked the four-lane road, bringing all traffic to a standstill. RM2217 was set to be the last official running bus, as per the timetable. Heavily delayed, RM2217 even took 10 minutes to turn the final corner into Brixton Garage.
The bus left the public highway at 14:07, accompanied by duplicates provided by preserved buses RM5 and RM6. Due to the delays, it is possible that RM54 was actually the last in service, running into Streatham Station stand a few minutes later, before
running deadDead mileage, dead running or dead heading, in public transport, describes a practice of non-revenue running, especially in bus transport....
to Norwood Garage.
Later, RM5 and RM6, followed by RM2217 were moved to the old LCC Tramways depot at Brixton for press photographs in the quieter surroundings of the old tramways depot, complete with still visible tramlines.
London heritage routes
Two heritage routes were immediately introduced in London, recognising the nostalgia for the type among ordinary Londoners, and their appeal to tourists. Although these buses are operated under contract to TfL, and accept standard Travelcards, Oystercards or cash fares, they only operate for a limited time during the day duplicating short sections of two regular London bus routes. The Heritage routes operate around 10 buses each, with 5 each in reserve.
- Heritage route 9
London Buses route 9 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.It is a short working of the regular route 9...
: Royal Albert Hall — Hyde Park Corner — Piccadilly Circus — Trafalgar Square — Strand — Aldwych.
- Heritage route 15
London Buses route 15 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to East London and is a short working of the regular route 15.-History:...
: Trafalgar Square — Strand — Aldwych — Fleet Street — Cannon Street — Monument — Tower Hill.
The buses used were specially restored from remaining examples for this service, and have clean environmental engines and modern electrics and sealed windows.
Other public transport uses
Most of the post-privatisation use of Routemasters in UK public transport service has now ceased.
On 7 April 2008 Routemasters were also introduced on a regular bus route in
NottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire, England and is one of only eight members of the English Core Cities Group....
, England. They were operated by Bellamy's Coaches Ltd with red Routemasters branded as the
Nottingham & District Omnibus, on route 20 on a 20 minute frequency from 7am to 7pm, six days a week. Bellamy's positioned the conductor and open platform features of the Routemaster as being able to compete with the incumbent operator's
Nottingham City TransportNottingham City Transport is the major bus operator of the English city of Nottingham, running a comprehensive network of services in the Nottingham City area and a handful of services beyond the boundaries of the conurbation to Southwell, Loughborough, and East Midlands Airport.Until recently,...
(NCT) services, on increased speed of travel through the city centre
bus stopA bus stop is a designated place where a public transport bus stops for the purpose of allowing passengers to board or leave a bus.- Type :There are three main kinds of stops:* Scheduled stop: The bus uses the stop irrespective of demand...
s, and through
hail and rideHail and Ride, sometimes shortened to Hail & Ride, is a concept in public transport in the United Kingdom. Generally, it refers to boarding or alighting a mode of public transport by signalling the driver or conductor that you wish to board/alight, rather than the moreconventional system of using a...
operation in the
suburbSuburbs are defined in various different ways around the world. They can be the residential areas of a large city, or separate residential communities within commuting distance of a city. Some suburbs have a degree of political autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city...
s. The Routemasters were withdrawn on 28 June 2008 with the company citing low passenger demand, although to satisfy bus service registration requirements, the service continued using
single-decker busA single-decker bus or single-decker is a bus that has a single level. Normally the use of the term single-decker refers to a standard 2 axled rigid bus, in direct contrast to the use of the term double-decker bus, which is essentially a single decked bus with an extra deck and staircase...
es into August. The council, which has an 82% stake in NCT, was criticised for not doing enough to provide information about the service in public facilities, and for increasing the competition selectively on the Routemaster route.
The London and South East of England operator Metrobus has retained a green liveried Routemaster, RML 2317 (
CUV 317C), obtained from sister company
London GeneralLondon General is a modern bus operating company. It is now owned by the Go-Ahead Group and operates buses under contract to London Buses. The company was named in honour of the London General Omnibus Company, the principal operator of buses in London between 1855 and 1933.-History:The modern-day...
, which is sometimes used on regular routes as well as private and preservation appearances.
Cavendish Motor ServicesCavendish Motor Services is a bus operator running within the Borough of Eastbourne and the surrounding area such as Polegate and Hailsham. It was the sister company of Renown Coaches of Bexhill....
operate RML 2324 in a light green and green livery, for special journeys as well as a relief bus for a number of their routes in the
EastbourneEastbourne is a large town and borough of East Sussex, on the south coast of England, with an estimated population of 106,652 as of 2009. The area has seen human activity since the stone age and it remained one of small settlements until the 19th century when its four hamlets gradually merged to...
area.
Non-public service use
Aside from the London heritage routes, the last major operator of Routemasters in service in the UK, is in Edinburgh, Scotland. Local operator
Lothian BusesLothian Buses Plc is the largest municipal bus company in Scotland and the largest provider of bus services in Edinburgh, Scotland. It also serves parts of East Lothian and Midlothian...
tour operation
Mac Tours uses a variety of closed and open top Routemasters on regular tour bus duties.
Several operators in the UK maintain Routemasters for private hire usage, with the majority held by the successors to the former London Bus units,
EnsignbusEnsignbus is a Purfleet-based bus and coach dealer, open top bus tour operator and bus service operator. Ensignbus has amassed 20 ex-London vehicles of various ages and conditions in a ....
, London Bus Company Ltd (formerly
Blue TriangleBlue Triangle is one of many operators of London Buses, it is based in Rainham, Essex and is now part of the Go-Ahead Group.-History:Blue Triangle have existed since at least the late 80s/early 90s operating Essex route 500 on evenings on Sundays in the early days of deregulation.Blue Triangle have...
) and
Timebus TravelTimebus Travel is a bus operator based north of London, United Kingdom specializing only in heritage ex-London buses for private hire.- History :...
.
Many cities around the world have a Routemaster, or an older RT variant somewhere, often privately owned and used for many different purposes (from Preservation to Hot Dog stands, tour bus to shop). Routemasters can be found far from home in places such as
Sri LankaSri Lanka , officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka , is an island country in South Asia, located about off the southern coast of India...
,
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
,
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
,
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
,
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
,
Southern CaliforniaSouthern California, or SoCal, is defined as the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population centers around three major metropolitan areas, each of which have over 3 million people; the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area with over 12 million inhabitants, the San Bernardino-Riverside...
,
MalaysiaMalaysia is a country in Southeast Asia that consists of thirteen states and three Federal Territories, with a total landmass of . The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population stands at over 28 million inhabitants...
, even
FairbanksFairbanks may refer to:Places in the United States*Fairbanks, Alaska, city*Fairbanks, California, unincorporated community in El Dorado County*Fairbanks, Mendocino County, California, former settlement*Fairbanks, Indiana, unincorporated community...
,
AlaskaAlaska is the largest state of the United States of America by area; it is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.
A number of Stagecoach-owned Routemasters have been exported to
MontrealMontreal is the second-largest city in Canada and the largest city in the province of Quebec. Originally called Ville-Marie , the city takes its present name from Mont-Royal, the triple-peaked hill located in the heart of the city, whose name was also initially given to the island on which the...
in
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where Stagecoach now provide a tourist service around the city. This is a unique case of London Routemasters being operated on a daily service in a foreign country by a former London Routemaster operator.
Future Routemaster
Such is the popularity of the Routemaster that many calls continue to be made for a new version of the vehicle to be produced. Conservative Mayoral candidate for London,
Boris JohnsonAlexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British politician and journalist. The current Mayor of London, he previously served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Henley-on-Thames and as editor of The Spectator magazine....
, on 3 September 2007, announced that he was contemplating introducing a modern-day version of the Routemaster bus (and scrapping
bendy busArticulated buses , are articulated single-decker buses comprising two rigid parts linked together by a pivoting joint. This arrangement allows a longer legal length and thus a higher passenger capacity than rigid single decker buses, while still allowing the bus to be turned within the limitations...
operation). In December 2007 UK magazine
AutocarAutocar is a weekly British automobile magazine published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. It is the oldest surviving car magazine in the world.-History:...
commissioned leading bus designer Capoco, designer of the innovative
Optare SoloThe Optare Solo is a low floor midibus manufactured by Optare in Leeds, UK since 1997. The name "Solo" is a play on the low-floor status of the bus, the manufacturer believing its vehicle having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm with kneeling suspension...
, to come up with detailed proposals for a new-generation Routemaster. Mayoral candidate Boris Johnson backed the Capoco design in principle and suggested that he would hold a formal design competition to develop a new Routemaster if he became London mayor in 2008. After being successfully elected, this competition was set up, and held open for general ideas and detailed designs to be submitted by companies and members of the public, with cash prizes for the winning entries. The results of the competition were published on 19 December 2008, with the winning and otherwise good proposals being passed to bus manufacturers to draw up a final design. The winners included two joint 'whole bus' designs, one submitted by Capoco, and one submitted by
Aston MartinAston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in BuckinghamshireFrom 1994 until 2007...
and
Foster and PartnersFoster + Partners is an architectural firm based in the United Kingdom. The practice is led by its founder and Chairman, Norman Foster, and has constructed many high-profile glass-and-steel buildings...
. Transport for London expects a prototype to be on London streets by 2011.
Ensign
Several disposed of Routemasters were sold to preservation groups.
EnsignbusEnsignbus is a Purfleet-based bus and coach dealer, open top bus tour operator and bus service operator. Ensignbus has amassed 20 ex-London vehicles of various ages and conditions in a ....
, the bus dealer, handled disposals by the hundreds, as they also did for other London types. In December 2004 Ensignbus held a raffle for 32 Routemasters, available for £2,000 to those who could prove they had the finances to store and care for them. Ensignbus has since opened a transport museum which contains several preserved examples.
50th Anniversary
On 25 July 2004, in Finsbury Park, London, over 100 preserved Routemasters with various operators and museums were lined up, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of the Routemaster.
Jeremy Clarkson
In October 2008, British television presenter and motoring enthusiast
Jeremy ClarksonJeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster and journalist who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
caused controversy when he destroyed a Routemaster in a stunt to promote his new DVD The chairman of the Routemaster Association compared the selection of a Routemaster when other old buses could have been used with choosing to explode an
E-Type JaguarThe Jaguar E-Type or XK-E was a British automobile manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1974. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing resulted in a great success for Jaguar, who sold more than 70,000 E-Types over its lifespan, and the E-Type became an icon of...
. In response, a spokesman for Clarkson's production company stated, "What [Clarkson] wants to blow up for his own, and the viewers' entertainment, is up to him...it's a well-known fact that he isn't fond of buses."
Notable preserved Routemasters
- Cobham Bus Museum has the third prototype RML3 (L in this case stood for Leyland
Leyland Motors Limited was a British vehicle manufacturer of lorries and buses. It gave its name to the British Leyland Motor Corporation formed when it merged with British Motor Holdings, later to become British Leyland after effectively becoming nationalised...
). This vehicle has had a replica of its original front fitted.
- The prototype coach RMC4 (originally CRL4) is preserved by Roger Wright of the London Bus Company and is being fitted with a replica of its original front.
- The first production Routemaster RM8 is preserved by the RM8 Club. This vehicle was displayed at the 1958 Commercial Vehicle Exhibition as the new bus for London. It was employed at LT Chiswick as an experimental vehicle upon which many routemaster modifications were tested. The bus finally entered public service at Sidcup (SP) garage in March 1976, being the last Routemaster to enter service and the last open-platform bus to be introduced into service in the UK. It served LT at Sidcup garage until the garage went "one-man" in 1985. It then entered preservation with the RM8 Group which subsequently became the RM8 Club. It is currently (July 2008) preserved as in her 1958 Commercial Vehicle Exhibition appearance, complete with replica posters and blinds.
- The 1000th Routemaster produced, RM1000, was handed over to London Transport with a ceremony at Southall Works on 16 October 1961, and adopted as a showbus by staff at Croydon Garage. This bus passed to the RM1000 Preservation Group for preservation in May 1987.
- The unique rear-engined, front entrance Routemaster, FRM1, was transferred to London Transport Museum for preservation in 1983. Also in the collection are prototypes RM1 and RM2. RM2 is undergoing work at the Acton Depot to fit a replica of its original front end.
- One of the last running Routemasters, RM54, was purchased from TfL in April 2006 for preservation by Ensignbus
Ensignbus is a Purfleet-based bus and coach dealer, open top bus tour operator and bus service operator. Ensignbus has amassed 20 ex-London vehicles of various ages and conditions in a ....
.
- RM1737 was the show bus of Ash Grove Garage in the early 1980s. It eventually passed into TfL ownership and is displayed at the London Transport Museum
- RM737 was the show bus at Harrow Weald garage and, despite being in daily service on route 140, was regularly seen at preservation rallies. Purchased by the show bus team when route 140 was converted, it was the first standard example in preservation.
- RM2217, the last departure on the 159 has been retained by Arriva
Arriva plc is a British-based international public transport operator, headquartered in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear. It has bus and/or rail operations in Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the United Kingdom...
in its Heritage Fleet, along with early Routemasters RM5 and RM6, and the first production RMC coach RMC1453 among others.
- The last Routemaster built for London, RML2760 is retained by East London Bus Group (formerly Stagecoach
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
London).
- The first RCL Routemaster to be built, CUV 218C/RCL2218 is now preserved in excellent condition at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre
The Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre is a museum of local transport history based at Ruddington in Nottinghamshire on the same site as Rushcliffe Country Park. It houses a collection of steam and diesel locomotives, and is currently the northern terminus of the Great Central Railway heritage...
.
See also
- London Buses route 9 (Heritage)
London Buses route 9 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.It is a short working of the regular route 9...
- London Buses route 15 (Heritage)
London Buses route 15 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to East London and is a short working of the regular route 15.-History:...
:Category:Bus transport in London
:Category:Bus routes in London
External links