406 | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Operator | RATP Dev Transit London [1] |
Garage | Tolworth |
Vehicle | Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 Volvo B5LH Wright Gemini 3 |
Peak vehicle requirement | 7 |
Predecessors | Route S6 |
Night-time | No night service |
Route | |
Start | Kingston upon Thames |
Via | Surbiton Tolworth Ewell |
End | Epsom Epsom Hospital (schoolday journeys) [2] |
Length | 8 miles (13 km) |
Service | |
Level | Daily |
Frequency | About every 20-30 minutes |
Journey time | 35-53 minutes |
Operates | 05:45 until 00:15 |
London Buses route 406 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London and Surrey, England. Running between Kingston upon Thames and Epsom, it is operated by RATP Dev Transit London.
A bus route was established in 1920 between Epsom and Redhill by the East Surrey Traction Company (ESTC), extending to Kingston in 1922. [3] This initially ran without a route number, before gaining the S6 number in 1921. Following the introduction of the Bassom Scheme, which aimed to introduce consistent route numbering, the S6 was renumbered as the 406 in 1924. [3] [4]
In 1929, the ESTC was taken over by the London General Omnibus Company, which in turn was taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933. [3]
By the winter of 1949/50, the AEC Regent III RTs began running on the 406, which at its peak required 22 RTs to operate the service. [3] [4] In 1957, the second prototype AEC Routemaster ran on route 406 between Redhill and Kingston. [5]
Following the privatisation of London bus services the 406 became part of London Country South West as a commercial route, the company later rebranding as Arriva Guildford & West Surrey by 1998, operating from their garages at Crawley and Merstham. [3]
In 1991, the 406 was diverted at Surbiton Hill Road via Surbiton railway station to Kingston. [6] It was also shortened to operate mainly between Kingston and Epsom, with a handful of peak journeys continuing to Redhill. The 406 ran at four buses an hour at this time, with two continuing to Walton-on-the-Hill. [3]
On 27 January 2001 it became a tendered Transport for London route with London United's Hounslow garage taking over operation.[ citation needed ] A proposal to extend the 406 to Teddington in 2001 was not received favourably by residents and did not proceed. [7]
Upon being re-tendered, on 30 June 2007 it passed to Quality Line with new Alexander Dennis Enviro400s. It was the first double deck contract won by Quality Line. [8] The route was diverted via Surbiton Hill Road instead of Surbiton station at the same time, thus the route was restored to its original routing. [8]
In 2016 a petition was launched calling for the route to run overnight. [9]
On 24 April 2020, route 406 along with routes 418 and 465 were transferred to London United operating from their Tolworth bus garage. [10]
Route 406 operates via these primary locations: [11]
Chessington is an area in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames within Greater London, which was historically part of Surrey. At the 2011 census it had a population of 18,973. The Bonesgate Stream, a tributary of the Hogsmill River, runs through it. The popular theme park resort Chessington World of Adventures, which incorporates Chessington Zoo, is located in the south-west of the area.
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is a borough in southwest London. The main town is Kingston upon Thames and it includes Chessington, Malden Rushett, New Malden, Surbiton and Tolworth. It is the oldest of the four royal boroughs in England. The others are Windsor and Maidenhead, the site of Windsor Castle, and the London boroughs of Greenwich, and Kensington and Chelsea. The local authority is Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council.
Surbiton is a suburban neighbourhood in South West London, within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (RBK). It is next to the River Thames, 11 miles (18 km) southwest of Charing Cross. Surbiton was in the historic county of Surrey and since 1965 it has been in Greater London. Surbiton comprises four of the RBK's wards: Alexandra, Berrylands, St. Mark's, and Surbiton Hill.
Tolworth is a suburban area in the Surbiton district, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Greater London. It is 11 miles (17.7 km) southwest of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Berrylands, Chessington, Epsom, Ewell, Hinchley Wood, Kingston, Long Ditton, New Malden, Surbiton and Worcester Park. Surbiton is the nearest, about a mile to the northwest. Tolworth is divided in two by the A3 Kingston Bypass and is situated slightly north of the Greater London-Surrey border.
Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company 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 and is now under the control of Brighton & Hove, part of the Go-Ahead Group.
The Hogsmill River in Surrey and Greater London, England, is a small chalk stream tributary of the River Thames. It rises in Ewell and flows into the Thames at Kingston upon Thames on the lowest non-tidal reach, that above Teddington Lock.
Epsom Coaches was an English bus and coach operator based in the town of Epsom, Surrey. Formed in 1920, it closed in June 2017 after a corporate restructure.
Quality Line was a bus company based in Epsom, England. A subsidiary of the RATP Group, Quality Line operated bus services throughout the South West London and Surrey area, with many under contract to Transport for London. It ceased operations on 2 July 2021, with all remaining routes transferring to RATP's London United subsidiary.
Hook is a suburban area in south west London, England. It forms part of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and is located 12 miles (19.3 km) south west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring settlements include Hinchley Wood, Long Ditton, Surbiton, Tolworth and Chessington.
RATP Dev Transit London Limited, trading as RATP Dev Transit London, is a bus company operating mostly in west and south-west Greater London. The London United brand is a subsidiary of RATP Dev Transit London and operates services under contract to Transport for London.
The A240 is a partially primary status A road in Surrey and Greater London that connects the A217 with the A3 and continues beyond through Surbiton to Kingston upon Thames. The road is 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long and is dualled as the Ewell bypass and thereafter to Tolworth Broadway. In conjunction with the A3 it provides an alternative to the congested A24 corridor through Morden and Merton.
London Buses route 109 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Croydon and Brixton station, it is operated by Transport UK London Bus.
London Buses route 65 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Ealing Broadway station and Kingston upon Thames, it is operated by RATP Dev Transit London.
The Ashley Centre is a shopping centre, in Epsom, Surrey.
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 Transport UK London Bus.
London Buses route 293 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London and Surrey, England. Running between Morden station and Epsom Hospital, it is operated by RATP Dev Transit London.
London Buses route 152 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between New Malden and Pollards Hill, it is operated by Go-Ahead London.
London Buses route 281 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Hounslow bus station and Tolworth station, it is operated by RATP Dev Transit London.
London Buses route 467 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London and Surrey, England. Running between Hook and Epsom, it is operated by RATP Dev Transit London.
London Buses route K5 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Morden station and Ham, it is operated by RATP Dev Transit London.