List of bus garages in London

Last updated

Every garage operating services that form part of the London bus network has a one or two letter garage code. Such codes are not only for garages operating Transport for London contracts, but also to those operating commercial bus services under London bus agreements. There is also a code for Tramlink. The codes are used internally by London Buses, for administrative purposes.

Contents

History

Many of the codes are long-established, going back to London Buses Limited (LBL) (and in many cases earlier) days, and are well known among staff and enthusiasts. There is usually some sort of logic to the code allocated. In the early part of the 20th century, the London General Omnibus Company allocated its garages codes by going through the alphabet — initially A, B, C, etc.; and then AA, AB, AC, etc. Codes allocated since often reflect the geographical name of the garage (e.g. Fulwell , Alperton), New Cross (NX).) although some have since been renamed (HT, Holloway, was called Highgate). [1] [2]

Since the start of tendering in 1985, some codes have also reflected the name of the owning company, examples being AH (Armchair, Brentford), EL (Eastern National, Chelmsford), WI (Wings, Uxbridge), BE (Blue Triangle, Rainham). Such company names may not still be in use today: DX (Arriva London North East, Barking) originates from Dix Travel, which was absorbed into Grey-Green, becoming its Dagenham operation, and subsequently relocated to Barking, and now absorbed by Arriva London. Similarly BT (Sovereign, Edgware) comes from BTS, which was subsequently bought out by Sovereign, and Hounslow Heath code WK originates from Westlink. The official code FR for Metrobus's Crayford base is especially obscure, referring to the original owner, one Chris Freeman of Freeman's Coaches, which was absorbed into Crystals, which subsequently sold out to Tellings-Golden Miller in 2003, who then sold it on to Metrobus in 2005. [3]

In several cases (TB/TC/TL and QB) the code reflects both the location (Bromley/Croydon/Lewisham (Catford), Battersea) and the original owning company (Tilling, Q-Drive). For example TB is Tilling Bromley, QB is Q-Drive Battersea. [3]

Some garage codes have been used for more than one garage over the years, sometimes when an entire garage has moved such as at Peckham (PM), and sometimes when a code has been dormant for some years and then been reused. Some premises have had different codes at different times in their life. Three garages (Ash Grove, Edgware and Fulwell) have two codes, one for each operator. [2] [3]

During the period of operation by London Transport and its predecessors, indeed back to the earliest motor buses in the early 20th century, the garage code was clearly carried on both sides of the vehicle. The code was usually in the form of a metal (later plastic) stencil plate carried in a holder beside the running duty number plate. Latterly, the garage codes took the form of painted stencils or adhesive characters. In the post London Transport/ London Buses period, the display of garage codes is no longer universal and many vehicles carry no visible identification. [3]

There are a number of historical anomalies with the allocation of codes. When Ash Grove garage opened in 1981, it was coded AG by London Transport. As an operational garage that has opened and closed several times over the years, it now carries the code AE, formerly the code of the long closed Hendon garage and the AG code is currently unused.[ citation needed ]

Current codes

A

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
A Sutton London General A1924 A garage.jpg [4]
AC Willesden Metroline AC1912 Willesden - Bus garage seen from Pound Lane.jpg
AD Palmers Green Arriva London AD1912
AE Ash Grove Kentish Bus (1994-98)

East Thames Buses (2000-05)

HCT Group (2001-2022)

Arriva London (2005-2024)

East London (from 2022)

AE1981 Arriva London North buses LT180 (LTZ 1180) & LT181 (LTZ 1181), Ash Grove garage, 12 April 2014 (1).jpg [5]
AF Putney London General AF1888 (horsebus)

1912 (motorbus)

AF garage.jpg
AH Brentford Armchair (1999-2006)

Metroline (from 2006)

AH1999
AL Merton London GeneralAL1913 Merton bus garage - geograph.org.uk - 1904372.jpg
AR Tottenham Arriva LondonAR1913 Tottenham Bus Garage Entrance.jpg
AV Hounslow London United AV1913 Hounslow Garage - geograph.org.uk - 2765760.jpg
AW Walthamstow Avenue East London AW2016 [6]

B

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
BC Beddington Transport UK London Bus BC1999 Entrance to Beddington bus garage - geograph.org.uk - 2872991.jpg [7]
BK Barking East London BK1924 Barking Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 2993121.jpg
BN Brixton Arriva London BN1892 (cable trams)

1906 (trams) 1951 (buses)

Bus leaving Brixton Garage - geograph.org.uk - 2699846.jpg
BT Edgware London Sovereign BT1925 London Sovereign VLP19, Edgware Garage (15293625800).jpg
BW Bow East London BW1908 (trams)

1939 (trolley buses) 1959 (buses)

Bow Bus Garage (3354028501).jpg
BX Bexleyheath London Central BX1935 Bexleyheath Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 148959.jpg [4]

C

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
C Croydon London General C2005
CT Clapton Arriva London CT Clapton garage (15295336484).jpg

D

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
DT Dartford Arriva London DT1933 (original)

19 January 1986

18 January 1986 (original) Arriva bus depot, Dartford - geograph.org.uk - 2277983.jpg [8]
DS Henley Road Blue Triangle DS2021 [9]
DX Ripple Road, Barking Grey-Green (1991-98)

Arriva London (from 1998)

DX1991 Barking Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 998308.jpg [10]

E

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
E Enfield Arriva London E1927
EC Edmonton Arriva LondonEC1997 Edmonton strike day (16245620396).jpg
EW Edgware Metroline EW1925 Metroline - TE716 (ex-N98), TE838 (ex-N5), TE878 (ex-N98), Edgware Garage (15477995631).jpg

F

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
FW Fulwell London United FW1904 (tram)

1931 (trolleybus)

1962 (bus)

Fulwell garage.jpg [11] [4]

G

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
G Greenford First London (1997-2013)

Ealing Community Transport (2003-09)

Metroline (from 2013)

G1993
GM Goat Road London General GM2023
GW Armstrong Way Transport UK London Bus GW2019

H

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
HD Harrow Weald Metroline HD1930 Harrow Weald garage.jpg
HK Ash Grove East London HK1981 Arriva London North buses LT180 (LTZ 1180) & LT181 (LTZ 1181), Ash Grove garage, 12 April 2014 (1).jpg
HTHollowayMetrolineHT1907 (trams)

1938 (trolleybuses) 1961 (buses)

Holloway Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 548062.jpg [4]
HZ Hayes MetrolineHZ20052017

K

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
KC King's Cross MetrolineKC2010May 2023

L

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
LI Lea Interchange Stagecoach London HO2007 FirstBus garage at Lea Interchange 2009.jpg

M

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
MG Morden Wharf London Central MG2017

N

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
N Norwood Arriva London N1909 Outside Norwood bus garage - geograph.org.uk - 2518840.jpg
NP Northumberland Park Capital Citybus (1991-7)

First London (1997-2012)

London General (from 2012)

NP1991
NS Romford East London NS1953 Stagecoach London 36266 (LX11 AVW), 36262 (LX11 AVR), North Street (Romford) Garage (15512762272).jpg [4]
NX New Cross London Central NX1906 (trams)

1962 (buses)

New Cross bus garage - geograph.org.uk - 1839122.jpg

P

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
PA Perivale West Metroline PA2022 Metroline bus LT98 (LTZ 1098), Perivale CELF, 23 August 2014.jpg
PB Potters Bar MetrolinePB1930 Potters Bar Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 1744081.jpg [12]
PD Plumstead Selkent PD1981 Plumstead Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 1848493.jpg [13]
RP Park Royal London United RP2007
PL Waterside Way London General PL20032023 [14]
PM Peckham London Central PM1905 Peckham Bus Garage (3074825153).jpg [15]
PV Perivale MetrolinePV [16]

Q

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
Q Camberwell London Central 1919 Camberwell Bus Garage (3380218698).jpg [4]
QB Battersea Transport UK London Bus 1990s

R

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
RA Waterloo London General RA1951 Waterloo Bus Garage Red Arrows.jpg [4] [17]
RM Rainham Thameside RM2007
RR River Road Blue Triangle RR2016 [18] [19]

S

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
S Shepherd's Bush London United S1906 Shepherd's Bush Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 2464193.jpg
SF Stamford Hill Arriva London SF2024
SI Silvertown Docklands Buses SI
SMSouth Mimms Sullivan Buses SN1998 Sullivan Buses buses ELV2 to ELV10 & AE1, 2014 open day.jpg
SO Harrow London Sovereign SO1994 114 Destination Line Up (15479518732).jpg
SW Stockwell London General SW1952 Stockwell Bus Garage 1, London, UK - Diliff.jpg [4]

T

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
T Leyton East London T1912 Leyton bus garage, interior - geograph.org.uk - 3143821.jpg [4]
TB Bromley Selkent TB1924 208 leaving Bromley Garage - geograph.org.uk - 351159.jpg
TC Croydon Arriva London TC1916 South Croydon Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 1410993.jpg
TF Twickenham Transport UK London Bus TF1904 (tram)

1931 (trolleybus)

1962 (bus)

Routemaster Heritage Trust open day, Twickenham bus garage, 1993.jpg
TH Thornton Heath Arriva LondonTH1879 (horse tramway)

1901 (tram) 1951 (bus)

Thornton Heath Bus Garage (3380241490).jpg
TK Tramlink TramlinkTK2000 Entrance to Tramlink depot at Beddington (geograph 4935419).jpg
TL Catford Selkent TL1914 Buses at the rear of Catford bus garage, Bromley Road, SE6 - geograph.org.uk - 2254608.jpg
TPThorpe Park Sullivan Buses TP
TV Tolworth London United TV1990s Tired of Life^ - geograph.org.uk - 304883.jpg

U

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
UX Uxbridge Metroline UX1929 (original)

1983

1983 (original)

V

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
V Stamford Brook London United V1980 London United bus LT156 (LTZ 1156), Stamford Brook garage, 23 October 2014.jpg

W

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
W Cricklewood Metroline W Cricklewood Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 1958372.jpg
WD Wandsworth Tootbus London WD1902 (tram)

1937 (trolleybus) 1950 (bus)

Wandsworth bus garage (11033145644).jpg [4]
WH West Ham East London WH2009 Early morning, West Ham bus garage, London E16 - Flickr - sludgegulper.jpg
WJ Willesden Junction Metroline WJ
WK Hounslow Heath London United WK
WL Walworth Transport UK London Bus WL1905 (tram)

1951 (bus)

Au Morandarte Flickr IMG 9140 (14760861885).jpg [20]
WN Wood Green Arriva London WN1900s (tram)

1930s (trolleybus) 1960 (bus)

Wood Green bus garage, 15 July 2011.jpg
WS Hayes Abellio LondonWS2021

X

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
X Westbourne Park First London (1997-2013)

Tower Transit (2013-2021)

London Transit (from 2021)

X1981 Westbourne Park Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 362479.jpg [4]

Country Area

CodeGarageOperatorLondon Buses CodeOpenedClosedPictureReference
BFByfleet Travel Surrey (2006-9)

Abellio Surrey (2009-18)

Falcon Buses (from 2018)

TG Travel Surrey Byfleet depot.JPG [21]
CYCrawley Metrobus MY
GY Grays Arriva London 1935 (original)

1993

1993 (original)
UBHatfield Uno UB2003
HHHemel HempsteadArriva Shires & Essex1935 (original)

1995

1995 (original) Hemel Bus Metrorider E991 DNK.jpg
HWHigh WycombeArriva Shires & Essex1929 (original)1977 (original) Arriva The Shires High Wycombe depot.JPG
MB Orpington MetrobusMB Green Street Green Bus Garage - geograph.org.uk - 1607442.jpg
TWTunbridge WellsArriva Southern CountiesTS1937 (original)

27 May 2018

2018 (original) Demolition Diary Tunbridge Wells Bus Garage.jpg [22] [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrobus (South East England)</span> Bus operator in South-East England

Metrobus Limited, trading as Metrobus, is a bus operator with routes in parts of Surrey, Kent, Sussex, and Greater London. Formed through a management buyout in 1983, Metrobus was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in September 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London General</span> Bus operator in London

London General Transport Services Limited, trading as Go-Ahead London, is a bus company operating in Greater London. The London General brand is a subsidiary of Go-Ahead London and operates services under contract to Transport for London. The company is named after the London General Omnibus Company, the principal operator of buses in London between 1855 and 1933.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MCW Metrobus</span> Two and three-axle double-decker bus

The MCW Metrobus is a two and three-axle double-decker bus manufactured by Metro Cammell Weymann (MCW) between 1977 and 1989, with over 4,000 built. The original MkI was superseded by the MkII which had a symmetrical windscreen with an arched top in 1981, although production of the original MkI continued for the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and London Regional Transport until 1983 and 1985 respectively. The Metrobus was conceived as an integral product manufactured completely by MCW, but Alexander and Northern Counties also bodied some examples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arriva London</span> Bus company operating services in Greater London

Arriva London is a major bus company operating services in Greater London. It is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Bus and operates services under contract to Transport for London. It was formed in 1998 from a fusion of previously separate Arriva subsidiaries Grey-Green, Leaside Buses, Kentish Bus, London & Country and South London Transport. Operations are split between two registered companies, Arriva London North Limited and Arriva London South Limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arriva Southern Counties</span> Bus operator in East Sussex, Kent and Essex

Arriva Southern Counties Limited, trading as Arriva Southern Counties, is a bus operator in Kent, Essex, Hemel Hempstead, and Watford in England. It is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First London</span> Bus company operating services in east and west London

First London was a bus company operating services in east, west and south-east London, England. It was a subsidiary of FirstGroup and operated buses under contract to Transport for London. It was formed in the late 1990s through the acquisition of three London bus operators. First London's garages were sold off between December 2007 and June 2013 with the last closing in September 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 19</span> London bus route

London Buses route 19 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Battersea Bridge and Finsbury Park bus station, it is operated by Arriva London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fulwell bus garage</span> Public transport depot in west London

Fulwell Bus Garage is a Transport for London bus garage located in Twickenham in west London. It is north of Fulwell railway station and operates as two halves, with entrances on the A311 Wellington Road and B358 Stanley Road. It is currently operated by Transport UK London Bus and London United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East London (bus company)</span> Bus operator in London, United Kingdom

East London Bus & Coach Company Limited, trading as Stagecoach London, is a bus company operating in East London. The East London brand is a subsidiary of Stagecoach London and operates services under contract to Transport for London. Branding was changed from East London to Stagecoach in 2010. The company operates seven garages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London United Busways</span> Bus company operating in west and south-west London

London United Busways Limited, trading as London United, is a bus company operating mostly in west and south-west Greater London. It is a subsidiary of RATP Dev Transit London and operates services under contract to Transport for London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Country South West</span>

London Country South West (LCSW) was a bus operator in South East England and London. It was formed from the split of London Country Bus Services in 1986 and operated a fleet of around 415 buses from 10 garages, with its headquarters in Reigate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 465</span> London bus route

London Buses route 465 is a joint Transport for London and Surrey County Council contracted bus route in London and Surrey, England. Running between Kingston upon Thames and Dorking, it is operated by London United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-Green</span> Former bus and coach operator

Grey-Green was a bus and coach operator in England. It was based in Stamford Hill and operated in London and the East of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go-Ahead London</span> London bus operator

Go-Ahead London is a major bus operator in Greater London. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands. It is currently the largest bus operator in Greater London, operating a total of 153 bus routes mainly in South and Central London as well as some services into North and East London with a fleet size of over 3,200 vehicles under contract to Transport for London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 281</span> London bus route

London Buses route 281 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Hounslow bus station and Tolworth, it is operated by London United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night buses in London</span> Series of night bus routes that serve Greater London

The London Night Bus network is a series of night bus routes that serve Greater London. Services broadly operate between the hours of 23:00 and 06:00.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Country South East</span> Former bus operator in South East England and London

London Country South East (LCSE) was a bus operator in South East England and London. It was formed from the split of London Country Bus Services in 1986 and operated a fleet of around 170 buses from four garages, with its headquarters located in Northfleet. It was rebranded as Kentish Bus in 1987 and used this name for most of its existence. Its former garages and operations now form part of Arriva Southern Counties and Arriva London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tillingbourne Bus Company</span> Former Surrey bus operator

Tillingbourne Bus Company was a bus company based in Cranleigh, Surrey. The company operated bus and coach services in Surrey, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire from 1924 until 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Coaches</span> Former British bus and coach operator

London Coaches was a former bus and coach operator operating open top tourist services in London and commuter services from Kent to London.

References

  1. Joyce, James (1988). London Transport Bus Garages Since 1948. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN   0711018022.
  2. 1 2 London Bus Garages and Allocations. Crecy Publishing. 2014. pp. 3/4. ISBN   978-1908347220.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Carr, Ken (September 2014). The London Bus Guide (4 ed.). Boreham: Visions International Entertainment. p. 111. ISBN   978-0-9570058-6-0.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Research Guide No 34: London Transport Bus Garages and Depots" (PDF). Transport for London. TfL Corporate Archives. May 2015.
  5. Lyons, Mark (2019). "Ash Grove". London Bus (BUSES). Key Publishing.
  6. "CT Plus opens new Walthamstow garage". Coach & Bus Week . 2 December 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  7. "Beddington Cross Garage [BC]". The Circle of London. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  8. "Last bus garage open day - Dartford". Transport for London . 21 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  9. "Henley Road garage opens". Buses. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  10. Cooke, Phoebe (18 October 2016). "Barking bus driver shortlisted for UK Bus Awards". Barking & Dagenham Post . Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  11. Woodriff, Bryan (2003). Fulwell: Home to Trams, Trolleys and Buses. Middleton Press. ISBN   1-904474-11-X.
  12. "Welcome to Potters Bar garage". Bus & Coach Buyer. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  13. "Plumstead bus garage open day is just the ticket for cancer charity". 853 London. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  14. "Waterside Way Bus Garage (PL)". LS Photography. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  15. "Bull Yard and Peckham Bus Garage". The Peckham Society. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  16. "Grand Opening Night at Perivale (PV)". London Connected. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  17. Dalrymple, Will (8 May 2018). "London's low-carbon electric bus garage". Transport Engineer. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  18. "Go Ahead's 7m new Barking garage". Buses. Key Publishing. July 2016. p. 25.
  19. "Short Hops". Buses. Key Publishing. August 2016. p. 27.
  20. "Green light for new energy efficient bus infrastructure". Transport for London. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  21. "Goodbye to Abellio Surrey, hello to Falcon Flagship". Hants & Surrey Bus Blog. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  22. "Arriva's Tunbridge Wells garage closes its doors". Coach & Bus Week. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  23. "Opening date confirmed for Arriva's new Tunbridge Wells bus hub". Tunbridge Wells Times. 14 February 2018. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.