London Buses route 2

London Buses route 2 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Norwood garage and Marylebone station, it is operated by Arriva London.

2
Arriva London Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LH in March 2017
Overview
Operator	Arriva London
Garage	Norwood (N)
Vehicle	Volvo B5LH/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3[1][2]
Peak vehicle requirement	24 [1]
Night-time	Night Bus N2
Route
Start	Norwood Garage
Via	Brixton Victoria Marble Arch
End	Marylebone Station
Service
Level	Daily

History

AEC Routemaster in Crystal Palace in April 1971

Arriva London Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL in September 2007

Route 2 was the last West End bus route that was operated by step-entrance buses other than AEC Routemasters. Ironically, it was also the first London bus route to use the Routemaster.[3]

In the 1950s, the route was run using AEC Regent IIIs.[4] On 8 February 1956, the first prototype AEC Routemaster ran on route 2 between Golders Green and Crystal Palace and after undergoing modifications the following year, it passed to route 260.[5][6] On 29 January 1994, route 2 was converted to one man operation with the AEC Routemasters replaced by Leyland Olympians and MCW Metrobuses.[7]

In 2003, brand new Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TLs were introduced. Conversion to the type took place a few months before the contract was renewed.

In 2015, the route received a part allocation of Enviro 400's from route 341. Some of its longer 10.6 metre Volvo B7TL's were transferred to Edmonton Garage for use on route 123.[8]

It is operated out of Norwood garage with a peak vehicle requirement of 24 buses.[9]

Current route

Route 2 operates via these primary locations:[10]

• Norwood Garage
• West Norwood station
• Tulse Hill station
• Brixton station
• Stockwell station
• Vauxhall bus station
• Vauxhall Bridge
• Bessborough Gardens for Pimlico station
• Victoria station
• Hyde Park Corner station
• Marble Arch station
• Baker Street station
• Marylebone station

References

1. Ken Carr (2015). The London Bus Guide. Visions International.
2. David Maxey (2016). Red all Over- The London Bus Review of 2015. Visions International.
3. Marshall, Prince (1972). Wheels of London. The Sunday Times Magazine. ISBN 0-7230-0068-9.
4. Reed, John (2000). London Buses: A Brief History. Capital Transport Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 9781854142337.
5. Graeme Bruce, J; Curtis, Colin (1977). The London Motor Bus: Its Origins and Development. London Transport. p. 99. ISBN 0853290830.
6. Reed, John (2000). London Buses: A Brief History. Capital Transport Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 9781854142337.
7. Blacker, Ken (2007). Routemaster: 1970–2005. 2 (2nd ed.). Harrow Weald: Capital Transport. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-85414-303-7.
8. Carr, Ken (May 2015). The London Bus Guide (5 ed.). Boreham: Visions International Entertainment. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-9931735-3-0.
9. Maxey, David (2016). Red All Over- The London Bus Review of 2015. Visions International.
10. Route 2 Map Transport for London

External links

• Media related to London Buses route 2 at Wikimedia Commons
• Timetable