London Buses route 237
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 237 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. This route is currently contracted to Metroline
.
. This route was still in use in 1952 after World War II
and the withdrawal of tram
s. In 1965 the route was an early conversion to one man operated buses.
In 1978, the route was extended from Hounslow to replace the Shepherd's Bush Green section of route 117
and the section between Sunbury and Chertsey Station was withdrawn. It was converted to double-deck Routemaster
operation at the same time, a rare case of a route being converted from one person to crew operation (although at the same time, the 117 route was altered to single-deck operation from routemaster so the 237 change was more of a swap than a conversion).
From 7 February 1987 the route was converted back to one person operation using MCW Metrobuses. In the weeks leading up to the conversion the Routemasters had gradually been replaced by the Metrobuses, but still carrying a conductor.
Route 237 was offered for tender for the first time in 1989, and the contract was won by London Buses. The operation started on 6 January 1990, using brand new all Leyland
single door Olympians
from a low cost base at Stamford Brook garage under the Riverside Bus name. Operation continued until 31 July 1996, when the route was withdrawn beyond Hounslow Heath, and replaced by route route 235. Three months later Stamford Brook garage closed and the route was transferred to Hounslow Garage. Around the same time the 6 year old Olympians were replaced by Metrobuses up to 17 years old.
In 1998 London United
lost the contract for route 237 and the route was transferred to Armchair
, operated by Leyland Olympians and Northern Counties Palatine
-bodied Volvo Olympian
s. In 2002 the contract was renewed and the route was converted to low-floor double-deck operation using Dennis Trident 2
s. In early 2006 Armchair was taken over by Metroline and the existing vehicles painted into Metroline livery. More recently Plaxton President Dennis Tridents from the Metroline fleet have been introduced to the route, and the Armchair vehicles returned off lease.
From 29 November 2008, the route was diverted at Shepherd's Bush Green via the Westfield Complex to serve the new White City Bus Station.
From 9 January 2010 the route began to be operated with 22 new B9TL/Gemini 2 double deckers. In May 2011 Transport for London announced a proposal to divert the route via the Frampton Road estate in Hounslow.
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...
. This route is currently contracted to Metroline
Metroline
Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:...
.
History
Route 237 was introduced in the early 1930s. It started at Hounslow Garage and followed the current route 235 to finish at Chertsey stationChertsey railway station
Chertsey railway station serves the town of Chertsey in the Runnymede District of Surrey, England. It is located on the Chertsey Branch of the Waterloo to Reading Line and is operated by South West Trains....
. This route was still in use in 1952 after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the withdrawal of tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s. In 1965 the route was an early conversion to one man operated buses.
In 1978, the route was extended from Hounslow to replace the Shepherd's Bush Green section of route 117
London Buses route 117
London Buses route 117 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
and the section between Sunbury and Chertsey Station was withdrawn. It was converted to double-deck 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...
operation at the same time, a rare case of a route being converted from one person to crew operation (although at the same time, the 117 route was altered to single-deck operation from routemaster so the 237 change was more of a swap than a conversion).
From 7 February 1987 the route was converted back to one person operation using MCW Metrobuses. In the weeks leading up to the conversion the Routemasters had gradually been replaced by the Metrobuses, but still carrying a conductor.
Route 237 was offered for tender for the first time in 1989, and the contract was won by London Buses. The operation started on 6 January 1990, using brand new all Leyland
Leyland Bus
Leyland Bus was a British bus manufacturer. It emerged from the Rover Group as a management buyout of the bus business...
single door Olympians
Leyland Olympian
The Leyland Olympian was a double-decker bus built by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production before the demise of Leyland Bus.-Construction:...
from a low cost base at Stamford Brook garage under the Riverside Bus name. Operation continued until 31 July 1996, when the route was withdrawn beyond Hounslow Heath, and replaced by route route 235. Three months later Stamford Brook garage closed and the route was transferred to Hounslow Garage. Around the same time the 6 year old Olympians were replaced by Metrobuses up to 17 years old.
In 1998 London United
Transdev London
London United is one of many operators of London Buses and is owned by the RATP Group, an international public transport operator owned by the government of France...
lost the contract for route 237 and the route was transferred to Armchair
Metroline
Metroline, owned by ComfortDelGro Corporation of Singapore, is one of many companies operating bus services in London under the management of London Buses.-Company history:...
, operated by Leyland Olympians and Northern Counties Palatine
Northern Counties Palatine
The Northern Counties Palatine is a step-entrance double-decker bus body built by Northern Counties of Wigan, UK. It was built mainly on Leyland Olympian and Volvo Olympian chassis, although some were also built on DAF, Volvo B10M Citybus and Scania chassis...
-bodied Volvo Olympian
Volvo Olympian
The Volvo Olympian was a rear-engine double decker bus built by Volvo at Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It was first built in 1992 and entered production in March 1993, replacing the Leyland Olympian....
s. In 2002 the contract was renewed and the route was converted to low-floor double-deck operation using Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
s. In early 2006 Armchair was taken over by Metroline and the existing vehicles painted into Metroline livery. More recently Plaxton President Dennis Tridents from the Metroline fleet have been introduced to the route, and the Armchair vehicles returned off lease.
From 29 November 2008, the route was diverted at Shepherd's Bush Green via the Westfield Complex to serve the new White City Bus Station.
From 9 January 2010 the route began to be operated with 22 new B9TL/Gemini 2 double deckers. In May 2011 Transport for London announced a proposal to divert the route via the Frampton Road estate in Hounslow.
Current route
- White City Bus StationWestfield LondonWestfield 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,...
- Shepherd's Bush InterchangeShepherd's Bush stationsShepherd's Bush is an area of west London, United Kingdom, which has been served by a number of London Underground and commuter rail stations over past 150 years, many of which have had similar names...
London Underground and London Overground and SouthernShepherd's Bush railway stationShepherd's Bush station is a railway station located in the district of Shepherd's Bush in west London, England, UK. It opened in 2008 on the West London Line and is served by London Overground and Southern rail services... - Goldhawk Road
- Goldhawk Road StationGoldhawk Road tube stationGoldhawk Road station is a London Underground station located in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, on the south side of Goldhawk Road, about 250m west of Shepherd's Bush Green...
- Starch Green
- Stamford Brook StationStamford Brook tube stationStamford Brook is a London Underground station on the eastern edge of Chiswick in west London. The station is served by the District Line and is between Ravenscourt Park and Turnham Green stations. The main entrance is located on Goldhawk Road with a secondary entrance on Prebend Gardens. It is in...
- Chiswick High Road
- Stamford Brook Bus GarageTransdev LondonLondon United is one of many operators of London Buses and is owned by the RATP Group, an international public transport operator owned by the government of France...
- Turnham GreenTurnham GreenTurnham Green is a public park situated on Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London. It is separated in two by a small road. Christ Church stands on the eastern half of the green. A war memorial stands on the eastern corner...
Church - Gunnersbury StationGunnersbury stationthumb|right|District Line train for Richmond in 1955Gunnersbury station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Gunnersbury in west London. The station is served by the District Line and London Overground trains on the North London Line and is managed by London Underground. On the...
- Kew Bridge StationKew Bridge railway stationKew Bridge railway station is in the London Borough of Hounslow, in west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 3. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains....
- Kew Bridge Road
- Brentford High StreetBrentfordBrentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
- Syon Park
- London RoadLondon Road-England:There are countless London Roads in the UK. Only those significant outside their local area are listed here:* London Road, Brighton; for which a railway station is named* London Road, Guildford; for which a railway station is named...
- Isleworth StationIsleworth railway stationIsleworth railway station is in the London Borough of Hounslow, in west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 4. It is 19 km south west of London Waterloo...
- HounslowHounslowHounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
Bus Station - Hounslow High Street
- Douglas Road
- Hanworth Road
- Grove Road
- Staines Road
- Martindale Road
- Corporation Avenue
- Barrack Road
- Hounslow HeathHounslow HeathHounslow Heath is a public open space and local nature reserve to the west of Hounslow, a London borough. It now covers about , the residue of the historic Hounslow Heath that covered over .-History:...
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