London Buses route 207
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 207 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest
.
replacement program stage 8, replacing trolleybus route 607 between Uxbridge
and Shepherd's Bush Green
, using Routemaster
s. The route was twice converted to one person operation: in the 1970s it was operated with DMS Daimler Fleetlines, but reverted to Routemasters due to unreliability, finally in 1987 using MCW Metrobuses. An express bus route 607
began in 1990.
The route, which runs along the entire length of the Uxbridge Road
, was operated as two overlapping sections in the late 1990s, with a peak vehicle requirement of 35 double-deckers. The proposed West London Tram
paralleled much of the 207 route.
Low floor buses replaced the MCW Metrobuses
in 2001, along with six articulated buses which were on trial on the route for six months, running between Hayes By Pass and Shepherd's Bush Green, from Greenford Garage. The trial was a success and on 9 April 2005 the route was split into two sections; Shepherd's Bush Green to Hayes-by-pass section retained the number 207 and was converted to single deck bendy bus operation. The section between Uxbridge and Acton was renumbered 427
using double deck Tridents. A new base opened at Hayes for the 207; the Uxbridge and Acton allocations were withdrawn.
In October and November 2004 the route was found to have the highest level of police callouts of any service in London. Fare evasion following the conversion to bendy bus operation hasis also perceived to be a problem by local transport user group EPTUG.
Route 207 was extended from Shepherd's Bush Green to White City bus station to serve the new Westfield London
Complex in November 2008. A month earlier, passengers' organisation London TravelWatch
had claimed that the route carried more passengers than any other route in Europe, although this was disputed by some commentators. In 2009 it was announced by new Mayor of London Boris Johnson
that articulated buses would be replaced by the end of 2011; it was initially expected that the 207 would be converted to rigid single-deck operation.
In February 2011 Transport for London confirmed that the route would be converted to double-deck vehicles in December 2011, and that the frequency of the route would be increased. Similar changes were planned for night bus variant N207. The proposals were criticised by local Liberal Democrat
politicians for failing to increase the seating capacity of the route while increasing the number of vehicles on the Uxbridge Road.
Scania OmniCitys will be introduced on route 207 from 10 December 2011.
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 First Centrewest
First London
.First London is one of many operators of London Buses and owned by First Group. They did also run the Tramlink network, in a partnership with Tramtrack Croydon before June 2008. Their registered office is at Paddington station in London...
.
History
Route 207 originates from London United Tramways route 7 which ran between Uxbridge to Shepherd’s Bush. In 1936 this route was replaced by a trolleybus route 607 which ran until 1960. Route 207 was introduced on 9 November 1960 as part of the TrolleybusTrolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
replacement program stage 8, replacing trolleybus route 607 between Uxbridge
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
and Shepherd's Bush Green
Shepherd's Bush
-Commerce:Commercial activity in Shepherd's Bush is now focused on the Westfield shopping centre next to Shepherd's Bush Central line station and on the many small shops which run along the northern side of the Green....
, using 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. The route was twice converted to one person operation: in the 1970s it was operated with DMS Daimler Fleetlines, but reverted to Routemasters due to unreliability, finally in 1987 using MCW Metrobuses. An express bus route 607
London Buses route 607
London Buses route 607 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
began in 1990.
The route, which runs along the entire length of the Uxbridge Road
Uxbridge Road
Uxbridge Road is the name of the A4020 road in London. It starts at Shepherd's Bush Green and goes west towards Uxbridge. It passes through Acton, Ealing Broadway and Hanwell....
, was operated as two overlapping sections in the late 1990s, with a peak vehicle requirement of 35 double-deckers. The proposed West London Tram
West London Tram
The West London Tram was a proposed on-street light rail line which was to run along the Uxbridge Road corridor in west London, England. The scheme was promoted by Transport for London but opposed by the councils of all three London Boroughs through which it would run...
paralleled much of the 207 route.
Low floor buses replaced the MCW Metrobuses
MCW Metrobus
The MCW Metrobus is a double decker bus model manufactured by MCW from 1977 until 1989, with over 4,000 examples built. The original MkI model was superseded by the MkII model in 1981/1982, although production of the original MkI continued for London Transport until 1985...
in 2001, along with six articulated buses which were on trial on the route for six months, running between Hayes By Pass and Shepherd's Bush Green, from Greenford Garage. The trial was a success and on 9 April 2005 the route was split into two sections; Shepherd's Bush Green to Hayes-by-pass section retained the number 207 and was converted to single deck bendy bus operation. The section between Uxbridge and Acton was renumbered 427
London Buses route 427
London Buses route 427 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
using double deck Tridents. A new base opened at Hayes for the 207; the Uxbridge and Acton allocations were withdrawn.
In October and November 2004 the route was found to have the highest level of police callouts of any service in London. Fare evasion following the conversion to bendy bus operation hasis also perceived to be a problem by local transport user group EPTUG.
Route 207 was extended from Shepherd's Bush Green to White City bus station to serve the new Westfield London
Westfield London
Westfield London is a shopping centre in White City in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The centre was developed by the Westfield Group at a cost of £1.6bn,...
Complex in November 2008. A month earlier, passengers' organisation London TravelWatch
London TravelWatch
London TravelWatch is a British consumer organization that campaigns for improvements to transport in London. It is the transport watchdog for services provided by Transport for London, which includes facilities for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. It is also the watchdog for National Rail...
had claimed that the route carried more passengers than any other route in Europe, although this was disputed by some commentators. In 2009 it was announced by new Mayor of London Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
that articulated buses would be replaced by the end of 2011; it was initially expected that the 207 would be converted to rigid single-deck operation.
In February 2011 Transport for London confirmed that the route would be converted to double-deck vehicles in December 2011, and that the frequency of the route would be increased. Similar changes were planned for night bus variant N207. The proposals were criticised by local Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
politicians for failing to increase the seating capacity of the route while increasing the number of vehicles on the Uxbridge Road.
Scania OmniCitys will be introduced on route 207 from 10 December 2011.
See also
- List of bus routes in London
- First CentrewestFirst London.First London is one of many operators of London Buses and owned by First Group. They did also run the Tramlink network, in a partnership with Tramtrack Croydon before June 2008. Their registered office is at Paddington station in London...
- London Buses route 607London Buses route 607London Buses route 607 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
- London Buses route 427London Buses route 427London Buses route 427 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...