London Buses route 50
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 50 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London
.
. The route was operated from Brixton Garage (BN) and Clapham Garage (CA)
by AEC Regent III RT (RT)
and Leyland Titan (RTL) buses.
By October 1956, the Saturday Clapham allocation was withdrawn, and the Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR) was 3 RT from Brixton and 6 RTL from Clapham Mondays to Fridays, and 3 RT from Brixton on Saturdays.
By 16 October 1957 the entire Saturday service was withdrawn also with the allocation at Clapham. The route was also revised Monday to Friday to run between Addiscombe
Black Horse and Stockwell Station
. Monday to Friday peak services were extended to Embankment
.
By the end of November 1958 the Saturday service was running again, but only between Addiscombe
and Stockwell
. The PVR was increased Mondays to Fridays to 12 RT and 10 RT on Saturdays.
On 29 January 1964 the 50 was withdrawn between Victoria and Embankment
, the route ran from Addiscombe to Victoria Monday to Saturdays. Streatham Garage (AK)
took over the allocation from Brixton. The RT buses were now in action again on the 50. The current PVR Mondays to Fridays was 15 RT and Saturdays was 13 RT.
By the very end of 1966, the route was withdrawn between Stockwell
and Victoria except from Monday to Friday peak services. A new allocation was introduced from Thornton Heath Garage (TH). The current PVR was Monday to Friday 7RT from Thornton Heath and Streatham garages and on Saturdays 9RT from Brixton garage.
On 15 June 1968, there were more changes to the route of the 50. The Monday to Friday service between Streatham garage
and Addiscombe
was withdrawn due to a new route 289 which replaced part of the Croydon section of the 50. The current PVR was 11 RT Mondays to Fridays from Brixton garage and 9 RT from Streatham garage on Saturday.
On 19 July 1969, the Streatham garage allocation was withdrawn this was replaced by a full-time Brixton garage allocation.
and Monday to Friday peak services ran to Victoria.
On 24 July 1971, a full weekday service was introduced. The route was converted to one person operation, and was operated by Daimler Fleetline (DMS)
buses. The route was revised again, Monday to Saturday ran from Stockwell Station
to Croydon
and Sunday from Stockwell Station
to Thornton Heath
High Street. The current PVR Monday to Saturday was 9 DMS and Sunday was 3 DMS.
es (M).
On the 7 February 1987, the Brixton garage allocation was withdrawn and was replaced by Streatham garage. The current PVR was 9 M Mondays to Fridays.
On the 14 May 1988, the route was extended from Croydon
to Old Coulsdon
and withdrawn between Stockwell
and Streatham
. The route now ran from Streatham garage
to Old Coulsdon. A Monday to Saturday South Croydon allocation was introduced. There were more PVR changes in November. Monday to Friday 10D/L
from TC and Saturday 6D/L from TC and 5L/M from Streatham garage.
On the 28 October 1989, there were more PVR changes, Monday to Friday 10L
/M
from Streatham garage and 1D/L from South Croydon, and on Saturdays 10L/M from Streatham.
s and MCW Metrobus
es. On 21 July 1990 a Sunday service was reintroduced. The Streatham garage allocation was withdrawn and replaced by one at Thornton Heath. The route ran from Streatham
St Leonard’s Church to Old Coulsdon
daily. The current PVR was 10L Monday to Friday from Thornton Heath garage and 1D/L from South Croydon garage, 10L Saturday from Thornton Heath garage and 6L Sunday from Thornton Heath garage.
Later in June 1991, the route was withdrawn between Streatham
St Leonard’s Church and Streatham garage
.
On 9 October 1993, the Thornton Heath garage allocation was withdrawn and was replaced by South Croydon garage. The current PVR was 11L/M Monday to Friday, and 10L/M Saturday and Sunday.
On the 29 August 1998, the route was withdrawn between South Croydon
and Old Coulsdon
, this was replaced by route 60
.
The route was extended to Stockwell
station
via Clapham Park
, Clapham Common
and Clapham North on 30 August 2008 to replace the withdrawn section of route 255.
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 Arriva London
Arriva London
Arriva London is a division of Arriva which operates bus services in London, UK. It is made up of many previous bus operators including previously independent Grey Green...
.
History
Bus route 50 began on 7 January 1951, as a replacement for the former Tram route 24, providing a Monday to Saturday peak hour service between Streatham Hill and EmbankmentEmbankment tube station
Embankment is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster, known by various names during its history. It is served by the Circle, District, Northern and Bakerloo lines. On the Northern and Bakerloo lines, the station is between Waterloo and Charing Cross stations; on the Circle and...
. The route was operated from Brixton Garage (BN) and Clapham Garage (CA)
Bus garages in London
Every garage operating services that form part of the London Bus network is given an official London Bus garage code. Such codes are given not only to garages running London Bus contracts, but also to those running commercial bus services under London Bus agreements. There is also a code for Tramlink...
by AEC Regent III RT (RT)
AEC Regent III RT
The AEC Regent III RT was a variant of the AEC Regent III. It was a double-decker bus produced jointly between AEC and London Transport. It was the standard red London bus during the 1950s.-Prototype:...
and Leyland Titan (RTL) buses.
By October 1956, the Saturday Clapham allocation was withdrawn, and the Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR) was 3 RT from Brixton and 6 RTL from Clapham Mondays to Fridays, and 3 RT from Brixton on Saturdays.
By 16 October 1957 the entire Saturday service was withdrawn also with the allocation at Clapham. The route was also revised Monday to Friday to run between Addiscombe
Addiscombe
Addiscombe is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south of Charing Cross.It is situated just to the northeast of central Croydon, and is home to a high proportion of people who commute to Central London, owing to its proximity to the busy...
Black Horse and Stockwell Station
Stockwell tube station
Stockwell tube station is a London Underground station in Stockwell, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is located on the Northern Line between Oval and Clapham North, and on the Victoria Line between Brixton and Vauxhall. It is the southernmost station on the London Undergound that serves more...
. Monday to Friday peak services were extended to Embankment
Embankment tube station
Embankment is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster, known by various names during its history. It is served by the Circle, District, Northern and Bakerloo lines. On the Northern and Bakerloo lines, the station is between Waterloo and Charing Cross stations; on the Circle and...
.
By the end of November 1958 the Saturday service was running again, but only between Addiscombe
Addiscombe
Addiscombe is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south of Charing Cross.It is situated just to the northeast of central Croydon, and is home to a high proportion of people who commute to Central London, owing to its proximity to the busy...
and Stockwell
Stockwell
Stockwell is a district in inner south west London, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Brixton, Clapham, Vauxhall and Kennington all border Stockwell...
. The PVR was increased Mondays to Fridays to 12 RT and 10 RT on Saturdays.
1960s
During May 1963 the RT buses were withdrawn and replaced by RTLs. The Monday to Friday PVR was increased to 13 RTL and Saturday stayed the same.On 29 January 1964 the 50 was withdrawn between Victoria and Embankment
Embankment tube station
Embankment is a London Underground station in the City of Westminster, known by various names during its history. It is served by the Circle, District, Northern and Bakerloo lines. On the Northern and Bakerloo lines, the station is between Waterloo and Charing Cross stations; on the Circle and...
, the route ran from Addiscombe to Victoria Monday to Saturdays. Streatham Garage (AK)
Bus garages in London
Every garage operating services that form part of the London Bus network is given an official London Bus garage code. Such codes are given not only to garages running London Bus contracts, but also to those running commercial bus services under London Bus agreements. There is also a code for Tramlink...
took over the allocation from Brixton. The RT buses were now in action again on the 50. The current PVR Mondays to Fridays was 15 RT and Saturdays was 13 RT.
By the very end of 1966, the route was withdrawn between Stockwell
Stockwell
Stockwell is a district in inner south west London, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Brixton, Clapham, Vauxhall and Kennington all border Stockwell...
and Victoria except from Monday to Friday peak services. A new allocation was introduced from Thornton Heath Garage (TH). The current PVR was Monday to Friday 7RT from Thornton Heath and Streatham garages and on Saturdays 9RT from Brixton garage.
On 15 June 1968, there were more changes to the route of the 50. The Monday to Friday service between Streatham garage
Bus garages in London
Every garage operating services that form part of the London Bus network is given an official London Bus garage code. Such codes are given not only to garages running London Bus contracts, but also to those running commercial bus services under London Bus agreements. There is also a code for Tramlink...
and Addiscombe
Addiscombe
Addiscombe is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south of Charing Cross.It is situated just to the northeast of central Croydon, and is home to a high proportion of people who commute to Central London, owing to its proximity to the busy...
was withdrawn due to a new route 289 which replaced part of the Croydon section of the 50. The current PVR was 11 RT Mondays to Fridays from Brixton garage and 9 RT from Streatham garage on Saturday.
On 19 July 1969, the Streatham garage allocation was withdrawn this was replaced by a full-time Brixton garage allocation.
1970s
On 31 October 1970, the Saturday service was withdrawn. Monday to Friday services ran from Streatham garage to StockwellStockwell
Stockwell is a district in inner south west London, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Brixton, Clapham, Vauxhall and Kennington all border Stockwell...
and Monday to Friday peak services ran to Victoria.
On 24 July 1971, a full weekday service was introduced. The route was converted to one person operation, and was operated by Daimler Fleetline (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...
buses. The route was revised again, Monday to Saturday ran from Stockwell Station
Stockwell tube station
Stockwell tube station is a London Underground station in Stockwell, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is located on the Northern Line between Oval and Clapham North, and on the Victoria Line between Brixton and Vauxhall. It is the southernmost station on the London Undergound that serves more...
to Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
and Sunday from Stockwell Station
Stockwell tube station
Stockwell tube station is a London Underground station in Stockwell, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is located on the Northern Line between Oval and Clapham North, and on the Victoria Line between Brixton and Vauxhall. It is the southernmost station on the London Undergound that serves more...
to Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south-southeast of Charing Cross.-Geography:...
High Street. The current PVR Monday to Saturday was 9 DMS and Sunday was 3 DMS.
1980s
On 4 September 1982, the Sunday service was withdrawn. The PVR for Monday to Saturday remained the same. Later in October 1984 the DMS type buses were replaced by MCW MetrobusMCW 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 (M).
On the 7 February 1987, the Brixton garage allocation was withdrawn and was replaced by Streatham garage. The current PVR was 9 M Mondays to Fridays.
On the 14 May 1988, the route was extended from Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
to Old Coulsdon
Old Coulsdon
Old Coulsdon is a small village near Coulsdon in London, England and part of the London Borough of Croydon.The nearest station is Coulsdon South.-Schools:*****Oasis Academy Coulsdon was formerly Coulsdon High School...
and withdrawn between Stockwell
Stockwell
Stockwell is a district in inner south west London, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Brixton, Clapham, Vauxhall and Kennington all border Stockwell...
and Streatham
Streatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
. The route now ran from Streatham garage
Bus garages in London
Every garage operating services that form part of the London Bus network is given an official London Bus garage code. Such codes are given not only to garages running London Bus contracts, but also to those running commercial bus services under London Bus agreements. There is also a code for Tramlink...
to Old Coulsdon. A Monday to Saturday South Croydon allocation was introduced. There were more PVR changes in November. Monday to Friday 10D/L
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 TC and Saturday 6D/L from TC and 5L/M from Streatham garage.
On the 28 October 1989, there were more PVR changes, Monday to Friday 10L
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:...
/M
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...
from Streatham garage and 1D/L from South Croydon, and on Saturdays 10L/M from Streatham.
1990s
By now the route was only operated by Leyland OlympianLeyland 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:...
s and 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. On 21 July 1990 a Sunday service was reintroduced. The Streatham garage allocation was withdrawn and replaced by one at Thornton Heath. The route ran from Streatham
Streatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
St Leonard’s Church to Old Coulsdon
Old Coulsdon
Old Coulsdon is a small village near Coulsdon in London, England and part of the London Borough of Croydon.The nearest station is Coulsdon South.-Schools:*****Oasis Academy Coulsdon was formerly Coulsdon High School...
daily. The current PVR was 10L Monday to Friday from Thornton Heath garage and 1D/L from South Croydon garage, 10L Saturday from Thornton Heath garage and 6L Sunday from Thornton Heath garage.
Later in June 1991, the route was withdrawn between Streatham
Streatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
St Leonard’s Church and Streatham garage
Bus garages in London
Every garage operating services that form part of the London Bus network is given an official London Bus garage code. Such codes are given not only to garages running London Bus contracts, but also to those running commercial bus services under London Bus agreements. There is also a code for Tramlink...
.
On 9 October 1993, the Thornton Heath garage allocation was withdrawn and was replaced by South Croydon garage. The current PVR was 11L/M Monday to Friday, and 10L/M Saturday and Sunday.
On the 29 August 1998, the route was withdrawn between South Croydon
South Croydon
South Croydon is a locality in Greater London, the area surrounding the valley south of central Croydon about 1 km in radius, centred on the Red Deer public house on the Brighton Road. It is part of the South Croydon post town and in the London Borough of Croydon...
and Old Coulsdon
Old Coulsdon
Old Coulsdon is a small village near Coulsdon in London, England and part of the London Borough of Croydon.The nearest station is Coulsdon South.-Schools:*****Oasis Academy Coulsdon was formerly Coulsdon High School...
, this was replaced by route 60
London Buses route 60
London Buses route 60 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
.
2000s
On the 25 October 2003, the 50 was converted to low floor double deckers. The PVR was Monday to Saturday 10DW and Sunday 7DW.The route was extended to Stockwell
Stockwell
Stockwell is a district in inner south west London, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Brixton, Clapham, Vauxhall and Kennington all border Stockwell...
station
Stockwell tube station
Stockwell tube station is a London Underground station in Stockwell, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is located on the Northern Line between Oval and Clapham North, and on the Victoria Line between Brixton and Vauxhall. It is the southernmost station on the London Undergound that serves more...
via Clapham Park
Clapham Park
Clapham Park is an area in the Borough of Lambeth in London, to the south of central Clapham and west of Brixton.The original Clapham Park estate was a speculative development by Thomas Cubitt, who bought of Bleak Hall Farm in 1825, and marked out plots for building around the new broad,...
, Clapham Common
Clapham Common
Clapham Common is an 89 hectare triangular area of grassland situated in south London, England. It was historically common land for the parishes of Battersea and Clapham, but was converted to parkland under the terms of the Metropolitan Commons Act 1878.43 hectares of the common are within the...
and Clapham North on 30 August 2008 to replace the withdrawn section of route 255.
Current route
- CroydonCroydonCroydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
Katharine Street - Wellesley Road TramlinkWellesley Road tram stopWellesley Road tram stop is a halt on the Tramlink service in the London Borough of Croydon. It consists of a single platform on Wellesley Road at the diverge just before the Croydon Underpass and is served southbound only. All three Tramlink routes call at the stop.-External links:* on The Trams...
- Wellesley RoadCroydonCroydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
for West Croydon Bus Station and TramlinkWest Croydon stationWest Croydon station is a transport interchange for National Rail and Tramlink services, as well as London Buses. It is in the London Borough of Croydon and Travelcard Zone 5... - Thornton Heath StationThornton Heath railway stationThornton Heath railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London miles from Victoria. It is on the Brighton main line between East Croydon and London Victoria. The station is operated by Southern, who also provide the majority of services...
- Norbury StationNorbury railway stationNorbury railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London miles from Victoria. The station is operated by Southern, who also provide the majority of services and is in Travelcard Zone 3.Ticket barriers are in operation at this station.- Service :The typical off-peak train...
- Streatham StationStreatham railway stationStreatham railway station is a station in central Streatham in south London. It is off Streatham High Road, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.Services are provided by First Capital Connect and Southern. First Capital Connect services go north to Luton and Bedford via Blackfriars, the City and St Pancras,...
- Streatham Hill StationStreatham Hill railway stationStreatham Hill railway station is one of three stations serving the suburb of Streatham, in the London Borough of Lambeth. The wooden station building at street level faces the busy Streatham High Road at the junction with Leigham Court Road...
- Clapham South StationClapham South tube stationClapham South tube station is a station on London Underground's Northern Line between and Balham stations. The station is located at the corner of Balham Hill and Nightingale Lane...
- Clapham Common StationClapham Common tube stationClapham Common tube station is a station on London Underground's Northern Line. It lies between Clapham North and Clapham South stations and is in Travelcard Zone 2.-History:...
- Clapham North StationClapham North tube stationClapham North tube station is an Underground station in Clapham, London. It is on the Northern Line between Clapham Common and Stockwell. The station is in Travelcard Zone 2 and is close to Clapham High Street railway station, although there is no direct interchange link...
- Stockwell StationStockwell tube stationStockwell tube station is a London Underground station in Stockwell, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is located on the Northern Line between Oval and Clapham North, and on the Victoria Line between Brixton and Vauxhall. It is the southernmost station on the London Undergound that serves more...
Clapham Road