London Buses route 27

27
London United Alexander Dennis Enviro400H at Hammersmith bus station in April 2014
Overview
Operator	London United
Route
Start	Chiswick Business Park
Via	Hammersmith Kensington Paddington Camden Town
End	Chalk Farm

London Buses route 27 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Chiswick Business Park and Chalk Farm, it is operated by London United.

History

Route 27 was introduced between Hounslow and Muswell Hill via current route 281 until Twickenham, Richmond, Kew and Turnham Green. At Camden Town, the route operated to Archway and Muswell Hill. The route was extended from Turnham Green to Hounslow in 1911.^[1] The route operated through World War II, when it was used by famous passengers including Peter Cushing to reach the Q Theatre near Kew Bridge.^[2][3]

In the 1950s route 27 became the main route and route 27A withdrawn. In 1950, the route took part in trials to reassure the police that eight-foot buses presented no danger to other traffic. The route operated from Holloway garage at the time.^[4]

Upon being re-tendered, the route was awarded to First CentreWest's Westbourne Park garage on 11 November 2000. When next re-tendered the route returned to London United's Stamford Brook garage from 12 November 2005.^[5]

London United commenced a further contract on 10 November 2012 with the route extended from Turnham Green to Chiswick Business Park.^[6] The extension is funded by the London Borough of Hounslow through developer contributions from Chiswick Business Park.^[7] New Alexander Dennis Enviro 400H Hybrids were introduced. ^[8]

Current route

MCW Metrobus at Richmond in March 1988

Route 27 operates via these primary locations:^[9]

• Chiswick Business Park
• Turnham Green
• King Street for Ravenscourt Park tube station
• Hammersmith bus station for Hammersmith tube stations
• Brook Green
• Kensington Olympia station
• High Street Kensington station
• Notting Hill Gate station
• Paddington station
• Baker Street station
• Regent's Park station
• Great Portland Street
• Warren Street station
• Mornington Crescent station
• Camden Town station
• Chalk Farm Morrisons

Notable drivers

Singer Matt Monro was a driver on route 27 prior to beginning his musical career.^[10] In January 2011, bus driver Kenny MacKay published a book titled The Road Ahead: Observations of a London Bus Driver about his experiences as a driver on route 27.^[11]

References

1. Klapper, Charles (1961). The golden age of tramways. Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 114.
2. Barry Morse; Anthony Wynn; Robert E. Wood (1 January 2006). Remember with Advantages: Chasing The Fugitive and Other Stories from an Actor's Life. McFarland. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-7864-2771-0.
3. Barry Morse (1 June 2004). Pulling Faces, Making Noises: A Life on Stage, Screen & Radio. iUniverse. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-595-32169-8.
4. Reed, John (2000). London Buses: A Brief History. Capital Transport Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 9781854142337.
5. Bus tender results Route 27/N27 Transport for London 11 April 2005
6. Tender News Bus Talk (Go-Ahead London) issue 15 April 2012
7. "Route 27 Comes To Chiswick Business Park". Chiswick Herald. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
8. Maxey, David (2014). Red All Over 3 - The London Bus Review of 2013. Visions International. pp. 6–7. ISBN 978-0-9570058-7-7.
9. Route 27 Map Transport for London
10. Matt Monro - the singer's singer - biography
11. Carrier, Dan (3 March 2011). "Books: Review - The Road Ahead: Observations of a London Bus Driver. By Kenny Mackay". West End Extra. Retrieved 25 December 2013.

External links

• Media related to London Buses route 27 at Wikimedia Commons