London Buses route 15

15
Overview
Operator Stagecoach London
Garage Bow (BW)
Vehicle New Routemaster
Peak vehicle requirement 22
Night-time Night Bus N15
Route
Start Blackwall station
Via Aldgate
Cannon Street
Aldwych
End Trafalgar Square
Length 6.14 miles (9.88 km)
Service
Level Daily
Frequency 8-10 minutes
Journey time 38-75 minutes
Operates 05:25 until 01:14
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London Buses route 15 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Blackwall station and Trafalgar Square, it is operated by Stagecoach London. Short workings of route 15 are provided by Heritage route 15 with traditional AEC Routemaster buses.

History

East London Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2 at Mansion House station in April 2007

Route 15 was introduced in November 1908 between Shepherd's Bush and East Ham. On 16 December 1909, LGOC X-type buses were introduced to the route, running between Putney and Plaistow.[1] In 1914 it was extended to Putney Common, with a Sunday extension eastwards to Plaistow. By 1921 route 15 had been cut back to Ladbroke Grove, extending in the east to Barking and North Woolwich on weekdays. A Sunday extension from Ladbroke Grove to Acton Vale was launched, and the North Woolwich journeys were diverted to Becontree Heath.[2]

In May 1949, Leyland Titan RTWs were introduced on route 15.[3] By November 1949, the route ran on from Ladbroke Grove to Poplar (Blackwall Tunnel), extending to East Ham during Monday to Friday peak hours and evenings, and all day on Saturdays and Sundays, with a further Sunday extension to Kew. From January 1967 journeys to Kensal Rise were introduced, and in October 1969 the route was suspended between Acton and Kew, being reinstated in 1970. In May 1975 the Sunday service was rerouted to Richmond bus station.[2]

In May 1985, the route was diverted between to serve Cannon Street and the Tower of London. In June 1987 the Sunday service was converted to one-man operation.

On 15 March 1989 an express commuter service named The Beckton Express and numbered X15 began operating between Beckton and Aldwych using former London Country AEC Routemasters. This ceased on 22 November 1991.[4]

On 18 July 1992, the Monday to Saturday service was withdrawn between Ladbroke Grove and Paddington, being replaced by new route 23. In May 1993 this section was withdrawn on Sundays, and in September 1999 route 15 was withdrawn between Poplar and Canning Town, with buses diverted to serve Blackwall station. In August 2003 the route was withdrawn between Blackwall and East Ham.[2][4]

Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2 double deckers were introduced on 30 August 2003 to replace the AEC Routemasters when the route was converted to one person operation.[4][5]

On 26 February 2006, it was announced that route 15 would be extended from Paddington to Paddington Basin over the reconstructed Bishop's Bridge; the previous bridge was not considered strong enough to take buses. Although the reconstructed bridge opened in June 2006, this extension was continuously deferred, with the extension eventually taking place on 13 October 2007, in order to free up stand space at Paddington for the newly introduced route 332.

Route 15 was transferred to West Ham garage on 27 June 2009. The route was withdrawn between Paddington Basin and Regent Street on 28 August 2010 as part of Transport for London's policy of reducing the number of buses using Oxford Street in order to ease congestion and pollution. Route 159 was extended along the withdrawn section of the route between Marble Arch and Paddington Basin.[6][7][8]

Alexander Dennis Enviro400H double deckers were introduced in January 2012.

New Routemasters were introduced on 28 February 2015. The rear platform remains closed at all times except for when the bus is at bus stops.[9]

Heritage route

In November 2005, route 15 was selected as one of two routes to operate short workings of their normal route using Routemasters.[10] Heritage route 15 operates daily between Trafalgar Square and Tower Hill.

Current route

Route 15 operates via these primary locations:[11]

References

  1. ↑ Graeme Bruce, J; Curtis, Colin (1977). The London Motor Bus: Its Origins and Development. London Transport. p. 12. ISBN 0853290830.
  2. 1 2 3 "London Transport Central Area Routes 13–16". eplates.info. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Graeme Bruce, J; Curtis, Colin (1977). The London Motor Bus: Its Origins and Development. London Transport. p. 93. ISBN 0853290830.
  4. 1 2 3 Blacker, Ken (2007). Routemaster: 1970–2005. 2 (2nd ed.). Harrow Weald: Capital Transport. pp. 73, 116, 118, 166. ISBN 978-1-85414-303-7.
  5. ↑ And So it Begins…Route 15 Loses it Routemasters London Bus Page 29 August 2003
  6. ↑ Press Release Transport For London
  7. ↑ "Streets ahead: Relieving congestion on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street" (PDF). London Assembly Transport Committee. 4 February 2010. Appendix 1 sets out TfL's plans to reduce the number of buses in Oxford Street by 10% in each of 2009 and 2010
  8. ↑ "All change for two bus routes". Westminster Chronicle. 25 August 2010.
  9. ↑ Press Release Transport For London
  10. ↑ BBC News Report BBC News - 8 November 2005
  11. ↑ Route Map Transport for London

External links

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