London Buses route 13
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 13 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, England
. The service is currently contracted to London Sovereign
.
to London Bridge
. The allocation was split between Cricklewood and Hendon garages. Hendon-Golders Green was reduced to Monday to Friday peak hours and Saturday afternoons only during the war, then withdrawn completely by the 1950s. New Routemaster
buses were introduced to the route in 1963, by which time it was shared between Hendon and Rye Lane garages. In January 1970 the route acquired a Muswell Hill allocation and was cut back from London Bridge to Aldwych
, before being extended from Golders Green
to North Finchley in 1978, replacing the 2B.
A surprise occurred in 1993 when the route was awarded to Borehamwood Travel Services (BTS) as of 4 December that year, one of just two Routemaster
routes to pass to a private operator in advance of privatisation of London Buses Ltd. (the other being the 19
, which passed to Kentish Bus earlier the same year). This resulted in the closure of Finchley garage, as the 13 was by then its main route. The 13 was also cut back to Golders Green. This also re-introduced Sunday crew operation to the capital, as BTS did not have sufficient driver-only vehicles to cover the Sunday service. A fleet of RMLs
was leased from LT by BTS and painted into their poppy red livery.
Subsequently BTS sold out to Sovereign Bus & Coach, a Hertfordshire operator and formerly part of London Country Bus Services
(and later London Country North East
. Although other BTS buses gained Sovereign's blue and cream livery the RMLs remained in poppy red; the 13 was the last route in London to be operated using Routemasters in a colour other than London Transport red. The premises in Station Road, Borehamwood were required for re-development so BTS moved their base to the old LT garage at Edgware.
The route was not re-tendered until 2000 as no bids were received for the route. Sovereign was persuaded to put in a bid and when the new contract began on September 1, 2001 the route continued largely unchanged. However, the new mayor
Ken Livingstone
had been elected on a manifesto
that included increasing the number of Routemaster
s in service in the capital. The 13 was converted back to Routemaster operation on the change of tender.
However, a change of policy saw all Routemaster routes converted back to one-person operation; the date of changeover for route 13 was announced in June 2005. They were withdrawn from 22 October 2005, by which time the 13 was one of only three routes to still use the type. Some conductors on the final day reportedly allowed passengers to ride for free, although this was denied by a spokesman from the operator.
character Peggy Mitchell
in an episode of the series.
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
contracted bus route in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The service is currently contracted to London Sovereign
Transdev London Sovereign
London Sovereign is one of the many operators of London Buses, owned by Transdev. Since Transdev sold London United to RATP, it is Transdev's only remaining London bus company....
.
History
In the 1930s route 13 ran from Hendon (Bell)Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
to London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
. The allocation was split between Cricklewood and Hendon garages. Hendon-Golders Green was reduced to Monday to Friday peak hours and Saturday afternoons only during the war, then withdrawn completely by the 1950s. New Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
buses were introduced to the route in 1963, by which time it was shared between Hendon and Rye Lane garages. In January 1970 the route acquired a Muswell Hill allocation and was cut back from London Bridge to Aldwych
Aldwych
Aldwych is a place and road in the City of Westminster in London, England.-Description:Aldwych, the road, is a crescent, connected to the Strand at both ends. At its centre, it meets the Kingsway...
, before being extended from Golders Green
Golders Green
Golders Green is an area in the London Borough of Barnet in London, England. Although having some earlier history, it is essentially a 19th century suburban development situated about 5.3 miles north west of Charing Cross and centred on the crossroads of Golders Green Road and Finchley Road.In the...
to North Finchley in 1978, replacing the 2B.
A surprise occurred in 1993 when the route was awarded to Borehamwood Travel Services (BTS) as of 4 December that year, one of just two Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
routes to pass to a private operator in advance of privatisation of London Buses Ltd. (the other being the 19
London Buses route 19
London Buses route 19 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, which passed to Kentish Bus earlier the same year). This resulted in the closure of Finchley garage, as the 13 was by then its main route. The 13 was also cut back to Golders Green. This also re-introduced Sunday crew operation to the capital, as BTS did not have sufficient driver-only vehicles to cover the Sunday service. A fleet of RMLs
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
was leased from LT by BTS and painted into their poppy red livery.
Subsequently BTS sold out to Sovereign Bus & Coach, a Hertfordshire operator and formerly part of London Country Bus Services
London Country Bus Services
London Country Bus Services was a bus company that operated in South East England from 1969 until split up and sold in 1986 under Margaret Thatcher's government's bus deregulation scheme.-Creation:...
(and later London Country North East
London Country North East
London Country North East 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 350 buses from six garages, with its headquarters located in Hatfield....
. Although other BTS buses gained Sovereign's blue and cream livery the RMLs remained in poppy red; the 13 was the last route in London to be operated using Routemasters in a colour other than London Transport red. The premises in Station Road, Borehamwood were required for re-development so BTS moved their base to the old LT garage at Edgware.
The route was not re-tendered until 2000 as no bids were received for the route. Sovereign was persuaded to put in a bid and when the new contract began on September 1, 2001 the route continued largely unchanged. However, the new mayor
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
had been elected on a manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
that included increasing the number of Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
s in service in the capital. The 13 was converted back to Routemaster operation on the change of tender.
However, a change of policy saw all Routemaster routes converted back to one-person operation; the date of changeover for route 13 was announced in June 2005. They were withdrawn from 22 October 2005, by which time the 13 was one of only three routes to still use the type. Some conductors on the final day reportedly allowed passengers to ride for free, although this was denied by a spokesman from the operator.
Current route
- Golders Green StationGolders Green tube stationGolders Green tube station is a London Underground station in Golders Green, north London. The station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line between Hampstead and Brent Cross...
Forecourt - Finchley Road & Frognal StationFinchley Road & Frognal railway stationFinchley Road & Frognal railway station is on Finchley Road in the London Borough of Camden in North London. It is on the North London Line, and the station and all trains serving it are operated by London Overground. It is in Travelcard Zone 2...
- Finchley Road StationFinchley Road tube stationFinchley Road tube station is a London Underground station at the corner of Finchley Road and Canfield Gardens in the London Borough of Camden, North London. It is on the Jubilee Line, between West Hampstead and Swiss Cottage and on the Metropolitan Line between Baker Street and Wembley Park. It is...
- Swiss Cottage StationSwiss Cottage tube stationSwiss Cottage tube station is a London Underground station at Swiss Cottage. It is on the Jubilee Line, between and . It is in Travelcard Zone 2 and on the Finchley Road.-History:...
- St John's Wood StationSt John's Wood tube stationSt John's Wood tube station is a London Underground station at St John's Wood. It is on the Jubilee Line, between Swiss Cottage and Baker Street. It is in Travelcard Zone 2...
- Lord's Cricket GroundLord's Cricket GroundLord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
- Baker Street StationBaker Street tube stationBaker Street tube station is a station on the London Underground at the junction of Baker Street and the Marylebone Road. The station lies in Travelcard Zone 1 and is served by five different lines...
(for Marylebone StationMarylebone stationMarylebone station , also known as London Marylebone, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. It stands midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each...
) - Bond Street StationBond Street tube stationBond Street tube station is a London Underground station on Oxford Street, near the junction with New Bond Street. Note that the street-level entrances are approximately 200 metres west of New Bond Street itself...
- Oxford Circus StationOxford Circus tube station-External links:* ** ** * Plans of the station after the Victoria Line works , , *...
- Piccadilly Circus StationPiccadilly Circus tube stationPiccadilly Circus tube station is the London Underground station located directly beneath Piccadilly Circus itself, with entrances at every corner...
- Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
for Charing Cross StationCharing Cross stationCharing Cross station may refer to:In London, England:*Charing Cross railway station*Charing Cross tube station **Embankment tube station was previously named Charing CrossIn Glasgow, Scotland:... - AldwychAldwychAldwych is a place and road in the City of Westminster in London, England.-Description:Aldwych, the road, is a crescent, connected to the Strand at both ends. At its centre, it meets the Kingsway...
Appearances in media
Route 13 is referenced by EastendersEastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
character Peggy Mitchell
Peggy Mitchell
Margaret Ann "Peggy" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Peggy was initially played by Jo Warne when she first appeared on 30 April 1991, featuring in the series on a recurring basis over several weeks. Peggy was reintroduced in 1994, recast and was then played by...
in an episode of the series.