London Buses route 281
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 281 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to London United.
route 601, operating from Fulwell garage.
In 1965 part of the Monday – Saturday service was extended from Twickenham to Hounslow Bus Station via Whitton. From 1970, a Monday – Friday peak hour extension from Tolworth to Chessington Industrial Estate was introduced. By 1971 the Sunday service was operated by one man single deck SMS class AEC Swift
s, and from 1975 by DMS
double deckers. These in turn were replaced by MCW Metrobus
es from April 1979. Throughout this time, the weekday service remained crew operated with Routemaster
s. In September 1978 the Sunday service was extended from Twickenham to Hounslow in line with the weekday service, replacing the 73
over this section.
As part of a three way switch involving routes 18
, 109
and the 281, the Routemasters were replaced by crew operated MCW Metrobus
es from August 1981. The same type of bus now operated the route everyday for the first time since 1971, but with conductors on Monday to Saturday, and driver only on Sunday. However as most of the Metrobuses bought in for the conversion were not fitted with ticket machines, it was not the same buses. Over the following months ticket machines were fitted, and on 4 September 1982, the 281 was converted to daily one person operation. At the same time the whole Monday – Saturday service was extended beyond Twickenham to Hounslow.
In 1987 the Chessington peak hour service was withdrawn as part of the Kingston Area changes, and replaced by new route K2
. For the summer of 1990 the day time Sunday service was extended from Tolworth to Chessington World of Adventures
via the Kingston By Pass. From 1991 to 1997 Hounslow garage provided part of the service alongside Fulwell.
New Volvo Olympian
s, with dual door Alexander bodywork replaced the Metrobuses during the summer of 1998, and the current Dennis Tridents
replaced these in 2003.
The 281 became the 100th night bus service in London on 3 June 2006, when a 24 hour service introduced.
In December 2008 it was announced the Transdev had retained the contract for a further 5 years from summer 2009, using the existing buses.
, the route was the subject of a hoax bomb threat.
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 London United.
History
Route 281 was introduced between Tolworth and Twickenham on 9 May 1962 to replace 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...
route 601, operating from Fulwell garage.
In 1965 part of the Monday – Saturday service was extended from Twickenham to Hounslow Bus Station via Whitton. From 1970, a Monday – Friday peak hour extension from Tolworth to Chessington Industrial Estate was introduced. By 1971 the Sunday service was operated by one man single deck SMS class AEC Swift
AEC Swift
The AEC Swift was a rear-engined single-deck bus chassis built by AEC between 1964 and 1974. The chassis design was closely related to the Leyland Panther...
s, and from 1975 by DMS
Daimler Fleetline
The Daimler Fleetline is a rear-engined double-decker bus chassis built between 1960 and 1973 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, and from 1973 until 1980 in Farington, Lancashire, England. However, the last complete vehicle did not enter service until 1983...
double deckers. These in turn were replaced by MCW Metrobus
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...
es from April 1979. Throughout this time, the weekday service remained crew operated with 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 September 1978 the Sunday service was extended from Twickenham to Hounslow in line with the weekday service, replacing the 73
London Buses route 73
London Buses route 73 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London...
over this section.
As part of a three way switch involving routes 18
London Buses route 18
London Buses route 18 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest.-History:...
, 109
London Buses route 109
London Buses route 109 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-1950s:...
and the 281, the Routemasters were replaced by crew operated MCW Metrobus
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...
es from August 1981. The same type of bus now operated the route everyday for the first time since 1971, but with conductors on Monday to Saturday, and driver only on Sunday. However as most of the Metrobuses bought in for the conversion were not fitted with ticket machines, it was not the same buses. Over the following months ticket machines were fitted, and on 4 September 1982, the 281 was converted to daily one person operation. At the same time the whole Monday – Saturday service was extended beyond Twickenham to Hounslow.
In 1987 the Chessington peak hour service was withdrawn as part of the Kingston Area changes, and replaced by new route K2
London Buses route K2
London Buses route K2 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to London United.-History:...
. For the summer of 1990 the day time Sunday service was extended from Tolworth to Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park and zoo in South West London, England. It lies south of Central London. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a theme park was developed alongside it, opening in 1987...
via the Kingston By Pass. From 1991 to 1997 Hounslow garage provided part of the service alongside Fulwell.
New 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, with dual door Alexander bodywork replaced the Metrobuses during the summer of 1998, and the current Dennis Tridents
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...
replaced these in 2003.
The 281 became the 100th night bus service in London on 3 June 2006, when a 24 hour service introduced.
In December 2008 it was announced the Transdev had retained the contract for a further 5 years from summer 2009, using the existing buses.
Route
Because it serves Teddington, the route takes 30 minutes to travel between Twickenham and Kingston, a distance of three miles direct. A more direct route was investigated by Transport for London in 2009 but rejected as it would have required a reduction in frequency.Current route
- 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 StationHounslow railway stationHounslow railway station, on the Hounslow Loop Line, is in the London Borough of Hounslow, in west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway on 1 February 1850 on completion of...
- WhittonWhitton-People:* Charlotte Whitton , Canadian feminist and Mayor of Ottawa* David Whitton, Scottish politician* Donald Whitton , Canadian cellist, and teacher* Evan Whitton, Australian journalist...
- Twickenham Rugby StadiumTwickenham StadiumTwickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
- Twickenham StationTwickenham railway stationTwickenham railway station is in Twickenham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains.-History:...
- FulwellFulwellFulwell is an affluent suburb of northern Sunderland. It borders Seaburn, Southwick, Monkwearmouth, and Roker. Fulwell is located near the district border between Sunderland and South Tyneside. Statistically, it is the most affluent of the City of Sunderland's 25 wards.Housing in the area is varied...
- TeddingtonTeddingtonTeddington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, on the north bank of the River Thames, between Hampton Wick and Twickenham. It stretches inland from the River Thames to Bushy Park...
High Street - Hampton Wick StationHampton Wick railway stationHampton Wick railway station is in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 6. The suburb of Hampton Wick is on the opposite bank of the River Thames from Kingston upon Thames and lies at the eastern end of Hampton Court Park...
- Kingston StationKingston railway stationKingston railway station is in Kingston upon Thames in Greater London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains. It is in Travelcard Zone 6.-History:...
- 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...
Cromwell Road Bus Station - Surbiton StationSurbiton railway stationSurbiton railway station is a National Rail station in Surbiton, south west London, in the Kingston upon Thames. The station is managed and served by South West Trains, and is in Travelcard Zone 6...
- TolworthTolworthTolworth is a mostly residential area of outer South London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, located south west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include: New Malden, Kingston, Surbiton, Berrylands, Chessington, Ewell and Worcester Park....
Ewell Road
Incidents
In July 2005, shortly after the 7 July 2005 London bombings7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
, the route was the subject of a hoax bomb threat.