London Buses route 285
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 285 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to London United.
(Mon-Sat), Wimbledon
and Heathrow Airport, and operated by new Routemaster
s from Fulwell Garage. The Wimbledon-Haydons Road section was transferred to Route 200 on 31 December 1966.
In 1971 the Routemasters were replaced by single-deck, driver-only SMS Class AEC Swift
s, and the route was cut back from Wimbledon to New Malden
.
From 1975 the weekend service was converted to DMS double-deckers, not because of passenger levels, but because the SMS's were unreliable and resting them for two days a week kept down the mileage. In 1976 double-deckers ran all week, and from 1979 MCW Metrobus
es replaced the DMS fleet.
From 12 April 1986 the service was rerouted between Hatton Cross and Heathrow Central via the Southern Perimeter Road and the Heathrow Cargo Tunnel
to serve the new Terminal 4. This routing lasted until 30 September 1989, when increased security at the airport closed the cargo tunnel to public bus services, and the 285 reverted to its former route.
In the intervening period the service between Kingston and New Malden was reduced to Mon-Fri peaks on 27 June 1987.
In 1990 single-deck Dennis Dart
s replaced the double-deckers, and various models of the Dart were used until summer 2008. From 29 September that year it was finally withdrawn between Kingston and New Malden, and services were diverted into Sainsbury's, at the north end of Uxbridge Road, Hampton, during Mon-Sat shopping hours. This diversion was extended to Sunday shopping hours from 28 August 1993.
From 29 October 1994 services were diverted via the British Airways Compass Centre at Heathrow North.
In 1996 London Buslines won a five-year contract and ran the route with yellow Dennis Darts. The Kingston terminus was moved from Wood Street to Cromwell Road Bus Station from the start of the contract on 29 June.
On 30 June 2001 London United regained the contract, and introduced new Darts to the route. An all-night service was also introduced as Route N285, but the N prefix was later dropped, and the 285 then became a 24-hour service.
Also on 30 June 2001, a rerouting took place in Hampton Hill, when buses were removed from Windmill Road, running via the southern halves of Hampton Hill High Street and Uxbridge Road instead. Although intended to be only temporary, the rerouting was made permanent in 2003. In another rerouting on 30 June, buses no longer deviated via the Compass Centre at Heathrow North.
On 1 December 2001, Route T123, the dedicated Feltham Station to Heathrow Central link operated by London United on behalf of South West Trains was withdrawn, and as a replacement the 285 was diverted off its main route via New Road to serve Feltham Station
. New Darts specially branded for the route were introduced, and the nearly new buses they replaced were transferred elsewhere.
In 2008 Transdev
, as London United had become, retained the 285, with a new batch of 10.2m Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts, this time in all-over red without route branding.
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
This route was introduced on 9 May 1962 as part of the trolleybus replacement programme, running between Haydons Road StationHaydons Road railway station
Haydons Road railway station is in north-east of the London Borough of Merton in South London. The station is served by First Capital Connect trains and by a limited number of Southern services during the morning and evening peak...
(Mon-Sat), Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
and Heathrow Airport, and operated by 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...
s from Fulwell Garage. The Wimbledon-Haydons Road section was transferred to Route 200 on 31 December 1966.
In 1971 the Routemasters were replaced by single-deck, driver-only 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 the route was cut back from Wimbledon to New Malden
New Malden
New Malden is a town and shopping centre in the south-western London suburbs, mostly within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and partly in the London Borough of Merton, and is situated from Charing Cross...
.
From 1975 the weekend service was converted to DMS double-deckers, not because of passenger levels, but because the SMS's were unreliable and resting them for two days a week kept down the mileage. In 1976 double-deckers ran all week, and from 1979 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 replaced the DMS fleet.
From 12 April 1986 the service was rerouted between Hatton Cross and Heathrow Central via the Southern Perimeter Road and the Heathrow Cargo Tunnel
Heathrow Cargo Tunnel
The Heathrow Cargo Tunnel is a road tunnel in the London Borough of Hillingdon, London, UK that serves London Heathrow Airport.-History:In December 1968, the tunnel first opened, to connect Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to the newly opened cargo terminal at Heathrow, and it cost £2 million to build...
to serve the new Terminal 4. This routing lasted until 30 September 1989, when increased security at the airport closed the cargo tunnel to public bus services, and the 285 reverted to its former route.
In the intervening period the service between Kingston and New Malden was reduced to Mon-Fri peaks on 27 June 1987.
In 1990 single-deck Dennis Dart
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
s replaced the double-deckers, and various models of the Dart were used until summer 2008. From 29 September that year it was finally withdrawn between Kingston and New Malden, and services were diverted into Sainsbury's, at the north end of Uxbridge Road, Hampton, during Mon-Sat shopping hours. This diversion was extended to Sunday shopping hours from 28 August 1993.
From 29 October 1994 services were diverted via the British Airways Compass Centre at Heathrow North.
On 30 June 2001 London United regained the contract, and introduced new Darts to the route. An all-night service was also introduced as Route N285, but the N prefix was later dropped, and the 285 then became a 24-hour service.
Also on 30 June 2001, a rerouting took place in Hampton Hill, when buses were removed from Windmill Road, running via the southern halves of Hampton Hill High Street and Uxbridge Road instead. Although intended to be only temporary, the rerouting was made permanent in 2003. In another rerouting on 30 June, buses no longer deviated via the Compass Centre at Heathrow North.
On 1 December 2001, Route T123, the dedicated Feltham Station to Heathrow Central link operated by London United on behalf of South West Trains was withdrawn, and as a replacement the 285 was diverted off its main route via New Road to serve Feltham Station
Feltham railway station
Feltham railway station is in Feltham, in the London Borough of Hounslow. It was opened in 1848 by the Windsor Staines and South Western Railway . It is in Travelcard Zone 6. A regular bus service runs from Feltham to Heathrow Airport.-Facilities:A footbridge in the station with lifts connects the...
. New Darts specially branded for the route were introduced, and the nearly new buses they replaced were transferred elsewhere.
In 2008 Transdev
Transdev
Transdev was a major international public transport group based in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris, France and operating in several countries. Originally created as Société centrale pour l'équipement du territoire in 1955 and developing transportation activities since 1973, Transdev was a subsidiary...
, as London United had become, retained the 285, with a new batch of 10.2m Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts, this time in all-over red without route branding.
Current route
- Heathrow Airport Central Bus StationHeathrow Airport Central bus stationHeathrow Airport Central bus station serves Heathrow Airport, Greater London, England.The bus station provides local bus and long distance coach services. It is located between Terminals 1 and 3 is open 24 hours...
- Heathrow Airport North
- Harlington CornerHarlington, LondonHarlington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Hillingdon, on the northern perimeter of London Heathrow Airport. It is situated west of Charing Cross.-Etymology:...
- Hatton Cross StationHatton Cross tube stationHatton Cross tube station is on the Heathrow branch of the London Underground Piccadilly line. It is in Travelcard Zones 5 and 6 and stands between the Great South West Road and the Heathrow Airport Southern Perimeter Road....
- Feltham StationFeltham railway stationFeltham railway station is in Feltham, in the London Borough of Hounslow. It was opened in 1848 by the Windsor Staines and South Western Railway . It is in Travelcard Zone 6. A regular bus service runs from Feltham to Heathrow Airport.-Facilities:A footbridge in the station with lifts connects the...
- HanworthHanworthHanworth lies to the south east of Feltham in the London Borough of Hounslow. The name is thought to come from the Anglo Saxon words “haen” and “worth”, meaning “small homestead”....
Sainsbury's - Hampton HillHampton HillHampton Hill is a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, bounded approximately by Fulwell Golf Course to the north, Bushy Park to the east and the Longford River to the south and west...
High Street - 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 Station
- 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
See also
- List of bus routes in London
- London United
- London Buses route X26London Buses route X26London Buses route X26 is a Transport for London contracted bus route from Heathrow Airport to West Croydon. The service is currently contracted to Metrobus.The route is the longest London Buses route in London.-History:...