London Buses route 171
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 171 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London
.
's post-war "Tram to Buses" conversion scheme to replace Kingsway Subway
Tram route 33. It ran as a daily service between Tottenham (Bruce Grove)
and West Norwood
via Harringay
, Manor House
, Green Lanes
, Newington Green
, Angel, Rosebery Avenue, Kingsway
, Aldwych
, Victoria Embankment
, Westminster Bridge
, Kennington
, Brixton
, West Norwood (Thurlow Arms)
extended Sunday to West Norwood (Bus Garage).
The section between Harringay and Tottenham was new territory, not previously served by London buses.
The route stayed quite stable for a few years until the 16 October 1957, when it swapped its Southern End with its sister route 172 at Victoria Embankment to run to Forest Hill
via Elephant & Castle, Walworth
, Camberwell
, Peckham
, New Cross
and Brockley
. This had the effect of leveling out the passenger loads on the Northern and Southern sections of both routes.
Less than a year later on 20 August 1958, in the aftermath of the London Busmen's Strike of 1958, the 171 was diverted between Holborn Hall and County Hall
via Gray's Inn Road
, Chancery Lane, Fleet Street
, Aldwych, Waterloo Bridge
, replacing route 67 which was withdrawn as an economy measure.
The next changes occurred on 23 January 1966, when the 171 was withdrawn on Sundays, to be replaced on that day by a Sunday only route 171A between Tottenham(Bruce Grove) and Abbey Wood
via the 171 to New Cross and the 163A to Abbey Wood via Greenwich
, Woolwich
and Plumstead
. This situation remained until 9 January 1972 when the 171 was re-introduced on Sundays, albeit only between Tottenham Garage and Forest Hill with the section to Bruce Grove
being withdrawn on Sundays.
This complicated set of routes were quickly altered and as from 21 June 1986 the 171 was withdrawn north of the Angel, Islington to be covered by the 171A which was introduced on Sundays. The 171 was still crew-operated on Mondays to Saturdays and ran daily from Forest Hill to Aldwych with a Monday to Friday extension to Islington Green
. The 171A now ran daily between Waterloo and Tottenham, terminating at Bruce Grove on Mondays to Saturdays, but with a new extension to Northumberland Park Station
via Lansdowne Road on Sundays.
On 21 October 1986 the 171 was converted to one-person operation on Mondays to Saturdays using T-type Titan vehicles that had been in position on the route since September. At the same time the 171A received a small diversion, running Northbound via Fleet Street
and New Fetter Lane instead of Chancery Lane.
A short extension to the 171A was added on 21 April 1990, when the route was extended from Waterloo to terminate at County Hall. The next year on 16 November 1991 the Monday to Saturday 171A service to Tottenham (Bruce Grove) was re-routed to Northumberland Park Station to bring it in line with the Sunday service.
The next couple of years saw the 171 and 171A settle down to how they are today, with the 171 being withdrawn between Holborn Station
and Islington (and extended on Saturdays and Sundays from Aldwych to Holborn Station
) on 18 July 1992. At the other end of the route the 171 was diverted at Stanstead Road from Forest Hill to Catford Garage
as from 12 March 1994. Since which time the 171 has remained unchanged.
On 18 February 1996, Edward O'Brien
, an IRA
operative, was killed when an improvised high-explosive device detonated prematurely on a Number 171 bus travelling along Aldwych towards King's Cross. It also injured eight other passengers.
The 171A continued on for a few more years without change, except for an extension to Northumberland Park (Tescos) as from 28 March 1998, replacing journeys on the 76 and just over six months later, the two 171 services were separated for good when the 171A was re-numbered 341 as from 18 October 1998.
There were also in London:
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...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London
Go-Ahead London
Go-Ahead London is the trading name used collectively for the London bus operations of the Go-Ahead Group. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands...
.
1952-1972
Today's 171 was introduced on 6 April 1952 at Stage 7 of London TransportLondon Transport Executive
The London Transport Executive was the organisation responsible for public transport in the Greater London area, UK, between 1948-1962. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-Creation:On 1...
's post-war "Tram to Buses" conversion scheme to replace Kingsway Subway
Kingsway tramway subway
The Kingsway Tramway Subway is a cut-and-cover Grade II Listed tunnel in central London, built by the London County Council, the only one of its kind in Britain...
Tram route 33. It ran as a daily service between Tottenham (Bruce Grove)
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
and West Norwood
West Norwood
West Norwood is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is primarily a residential suburb of south London but with some light industry near Knights Hill in the south....
via Harringay
Harringay
Harringay is a residential area of North London, part of the London Borough of Haringey, United Kingdom. It is centred on the section of Green Lanes running between the northern boundary of Finsbury Park up to the southern boundary of Duckett's Common, not far from Turnpike Lane.-Location:The...
, Manor House
Manor House, London
Manor House is a district of North London.-Location:Built up in the mid 19th century as part of an area called Brownswood Park, today, like other areas of London, it is a district without a formal town centre, but distant enough from other town centres that it has come to be recognised as an area...
, Green Lanes
Green Lanes
Green Lanes, London, is a main road in North London and forms part of the A105. At approximately 7.5 miles from end to end, it is one of the longest streets in the capital....
, Newington Green
Newington Green
Newington Green is an open space in north London which straddles the border between Islington and Hackney. It gives its name to the surrounding area, roughly bounded by Ball's Pond Road to the south, Petherton Road to the west, the southern section of Stoke Newington with Green Lanes-Matthias Road...
, Angel, Rosebery Avenue, Kingsway
Kingsway
-Canada:*Burnaby—Kingsway, a federal electoral district in British Columbia between 1988 and 1997*Kingsway , a road in Edmonton, Alberta *Kingsway , a road in Vancouver, British Columbia...
, 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...
, Victoria Embankment
Victoria Embankment
The Victoria Embankment is part of the Thames Embankment, a road and river walk along the north bank of the River Thames in London. Victoria Embankment extends from the City of Westminster into the City of London.-Construction:...
, Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster on the north side and Lambeth on the south side, in London, England....
, Kennington
Kennington
Kennington is a district of South London, England, mainly within the London Borough of Lambeth, although part of the area is within the London Borough of Southwark....
, Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, West Norwood (Thurlow Arms)
West Norwood
West Norwood is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is primarily a residential suburb of south London but with some light industry near Knights Hill in the south....
extended Sunday to West Norwood (Bus Garage).
The section between Harringay and Tottenham was new territory, not previously served by London buses.
The route stayed quite stable for a few years until the 16 October 1957, when it swapped its Southern End with its sister route 172 at Victoria Embankment to run to Forest Hill
Forest Hill, London
Forest Hill is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It situated between Dulwich and Sydenham. The area has enjoyed extensive investment since plans to extend the East London Line to Forest Hill were unveiled in 2004....
via Elephant & Castle, Walworth
Walworth, London
Walworth is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Southwark. Walworth probably derives its name from the Old English "Wealhworth" which meant Welsh farm. It is located south east of Charing Cross and near to Camberwell and Elephant and Castle.The major streets in Walworth are the Old...
, Camberwell
Camberwell
Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
, Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, New Cross
New Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
and Brockley
Brockley
Brockley is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross.It is covered by the London postcode districts SE4 and SE14.-History:...
. This had the effect of leveling out the passenger loads on the Northern and Southern sections of both routes.
Less than a year later on 20 August 1958, in the aftermath of the London Busmen's Strike of 1958, the 171 was diverted between Holborn Hall and County Hall
County Hall, London
County Hall is a building in Lambeth, London, which was the headquarters of London County Council and later the Greater London Council . The building is on the bank of the River Thames, just north of Westminster Bridge, facing west toward the City of Westminster, and close to the Palace of...
via Gray's Inn Road
Gray's Inn Road
Gray's Inn Road, formerly Gray's Inn Lane, is a major road in central London, in the London Borough of Camden. It is named after Gray's Inn, one of the main Inns of Court. The road starts in Holborn, near Chancery Lane tube station and the boundaries of the City of London and the London Borough...
, Chancery Lane, Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
, Aldwych, Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, England between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The name of the bridge is in memory of the British victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815...
, replacing route 67 which was withdrawn as an economy measure.
The next changes occurred on 23 January 1966, when the 171 was withdrawn on Sundays, to be replaced on that day by a Sunday only route 171A between Tottenham(Bruce Grove) and Abbey Wood
Abbey Wood
Abbey Wood is a district of South-East London, England, located mostly in the London Borough of Greenwich, and partly within the London Borough of Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross.-Development:...
via the 171 to New Cross and the 163A to Abbey Wood via Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
and Plumstead
Plumstead
Plumstead is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. Plumstead is a multi cultural area with large Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities, in similarity to local areas such as Woolwich and Thamesmead...
. This situation remained until 9 January 1972 when the 171 was re-introduced on Sundays, albeit only between Tottenham Garage and Forest Hill with the section to Bruce Grove
Bruce Grove
Bruce Grove is a ward in Tottenham, enclosed by Lordship Recreation Ground, Lordship Lane, Philip Lane, and the High Road.The Bruce Grove area of the Tottenham High Road has received a £1m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the historic Victorian and Edwardian buildings to their...
being withdrawn on Sundays.
1973--present
The Sunday service was converted to one-person operation as from 4 August 1985 and six months later on 1 February 1986, in order to counter reliability problems, the route was cut into two overlapping services. The 171 became a complicated service, running with crew operated buses on Mondays to Saturdays and one-person vehicles on Sundays, Daily from Forest Hill to Aldwych with a Sunday extension to Tottenham Garage. On Mondays to Fridays it was also extended from Aldwych to Rosebery Avenue. A new one-person operated 171A was introduced on Mondays to Saturdays over the Northern section between Tottenham (Bruce Grove) and Waterloo.This complicated set of routes were quickly altered and as from 21 June 1986 the 171 was withdrawn north of the Angel, Islington to be covered by the 171A which was introduced on Sundays. The 171 was still crew-operated on Mondays to Saturdays and ran daily from Forest Hill to Aldwych with a Monday to Friday extension to Islington Green
Islington Green
Islington Green is a small triangle of open land at the convergence of Upper Street and Essex Road in the London Borough of Islington...
. The 171A now ran daily between Waterloo and Tottenham, terminating at Bruce Grove on Mondays to Saturdays, but with a new extension to Northumberland Park Station
Northumberland Park railway station
Northumberland Park railway station is located in Northumberland Park, London, United Kingdom. The stations and all trains servicing it are operated by National Express East Anglia.-Overview:...
via Lansdowne Road on Sundays.
On 21 October 1986 the 171 was converted to one-person operation on Mondays to Saturdays using T-type Titan vehicles that had been in position on the route since September. At the same time the 171A received a small diversion, running Northbound via Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
and New Fetter Lane instead of Chancery Lane.
A short extension to the 171A was added on 21 April 1990, when the route was extended from Waterloo to terminate at County Hall. The next year on 16 November 1991 the Monday to Saturday 171A service to Tottenham (Bruce Grove) was re-routed to Northumberland Park Station to bring it in line with the Sunday service.
The next couple of years saw the 171 and 171A settle down to how they are today, with the 171 being withdrawn between Holborn Station
Holborn tube station
Holborn is a station of the London Underground in Holborn in London, located at the junction of High Holborn and Kingsway. Situated on the Piccadilly Line and on the Central Line , it is the only station common to the two lines, although the two lines cross each other three times elsewhere...
and Islington (and extended on Saturdays and Sundays from Aldwych to Holborn Station
Holborn tube station
Holborn is a station of the London Underground in Holborn in London, located at the junction of High Holborn and Kingsway. Situated on the Piccadilly Line and on the Central Line , it is the only station common to the two lines, although the two lines cross each other three times elsewhere...
) on 18 July 1992. At the other end of the route the 171 was diverted at Stanstead Road from Forest Hill to Catford Garage
Catford
Catford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
as from 12 March 1994. Since which time the 171 has remained unchanged.
On 18 February 1996, Edward O'Brien
Edward O'Brien (Irish republican)
Edward O'Brien, more commonly known as Ed O'Brien or Eddie O'Brien, was a Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer from Gorey in Co Wexford, Ireland.-Background:...
, an IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
operative, was killed when an improvised high-explosive device detonated prematurely on a Number 171 bus travelling along Aldwych towards King's Cross. It also injured eight other passengers.
The 171A continued on for a few more years without change, except for an extension to Northumberland Park (Tescos) as from 28 March 1998, replacing journeys on the 76 and just over six months later, the two 171 services were separated for good when the 171A was re-numbered 341 as from 18 October 1998.
Current route
- Bloomsbury Way Museum Street
- Holborn StationHolborn tube stationHolborn is a station of the London Underground in Holborn in London, located at the junction of High Holborn and Kingsway. Situated on the Piccadilly Line and on the Central Line , it is the only station common to the two lines, although the two lines cross each other three times elsewhere...
- 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...
- Waterloo StationWaterloo stationWaterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
- Elephant & Castle StationElephant & Castle stationElephant & Castle station may refer to one of two stations located in Elephant and Castle, London:* Elephant & Castle railway station - a National Rail station* Elephant & Castle tube station - a London Underground station...
- Camberwell GreenCamberwell GreenCamberwell Green is a small area of common land in Camberwell, South London. It lies at the intersection of Camberwell Road and Camberwell New Road/Camberwell Church Street. At the North-East of the green is Camberwell Magistrate's Court, and at the North West is a home for the elderly...
- PeckhamPeckhamPeckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
High Street - Queens Road Station
- New Cross Gate stationNew Cross Gate stationNew Cross Gate station is a railway station in New Cross, London, on the Brighton Main Line. It is about 600 metres west of station. It is in Travelcard Zone 2, on the East London Line. The station is operated by London Overground.-History:...
- New Cross StationNew Cross stationNew Cross railway station is a railway station in New Cross, London. It is in Zone 2, on the East London Line. Closed in late 2007, the station was refurbished and re-opened as part of the London Overground network on 27 April 2010 for preview services...
- Brockley CrossBrockleyBrockley is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross.It is covered by the London postcode districts SE4 and SE14.-History:...
(for Brockley StationBrockley railway stationBrockley railway station is on the main railway line between and .The station is operated by London Overground, with London Overground and Southern trains serving the station. First Capital Connect and some Southern services pass through the station. It is in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:The line...
) - Crofton Park StationCrofton Park railway stationCrofton Park railway station is in Crofton Park, near Brockley, in the London Borough of Lewisham 10 km south east of London Blackfriars....
- Brockley RiseBrockleyBrockley is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross.It is covered by the London postcode districts SE4 and SE14.-History:...
- Catford StationCatford railway stationCatford railway station serves the London suburb of Catford. Mainly used by commuters, it is on the line from mostly Kentish Town to Sevenoaks, between and in Travelcard Zone 3. Connections to London Victoria and are available at Peckham Rye....
- Catford Bridge StationCatford Bridge railway stationCatford Bridge railway station is on the Mid-Kent Line, serving Hayes line trains from Charing Cross to Hayes. It lies between Ladywell and Lower Sydenham stations, in Travelcard Zone 3. It is next to, and on a lower level than, Catford railway station on the Catford Loop line...
- CatfordCatfordCatford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
Bus Garage
Previous route 171s in London
The route number 171 had been used twice prior to its current use.- From 11 April 1925 until 5 July 1925 for a Saturday and Sunday Wimbledon (Prince of Wales)
Epsom (Market Place) EpsomEpsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
via Morden route 171. - From 1928 until 2 October 1934 for a daily KingstonKingston upon ThamesKingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
Chertsey ChertseyChertsey is a town in Surrey, England, on the River Thames and its tributary rivers such as the River Bourne. It can be accessed by road from junction 11 of the M25 London orbital motorway. It shares borders with Staines, Laleham, Shepperton, Addlestone, Woking, Thorpe and Egham...
via West Molesey and WeybridgeWeybridgeWeybridge is a town in the Elmbridge district of Surrey in South East England. It is bounded to the north by the River Thames at the mouth of the River Wey, from which it gets its name...
route 171.
There were also in London:
- Between 8 April 1925 and 7 July 1925 for a Monday to Friday Wimbledon (Prince of Wales
North Cheam (Queen Victoria) via Morden route 171A.