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London Buses route 9 (Heritage)
Encyclopedia
London Buses route 9 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London, England
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to First Centrewest
.
It is a short working of the standard route 9
. Buses run between Kensington High Street
and Trafalgar Square
, where they briefly overlap with the other Routemaster operation on route 15
.
To counter unfavourable media coverage of the withdrawal of London's classic Routemaster
fleet, Mayor of London
Ken Livingstone
promised to introduce a "heritage" Routemaster operation. After hopes that this would be operated commercially, it eventually materialised as tendered short workings on two existing routes, one of which is the 9. This approach ensured that passengers in wheelchair
s or with other mobility problems would be offered alternatives to the Routemaster buses, which are not accessible.
The contracts for the routes were announced in September 2005 and routes began operation on 14 November 2005—not the usual Saturday start date, so as to keep clear of the Remembrance Sunday
parades.
On 13 November 2010, route 9H was extended to operate between Kensington High Street (instead of the Royal Albert Hall) and Trafalgar Square. The extension was at the urging of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
, which wants to boost the number of visitors to the High Street.
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, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 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...
.
It is a short working of the standard route 9
London Buses route 9
London Buses route 9 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The regular service on route 9 is currently contracted to London United...
. Buses run between Kensington High Street
Kensington High Street
Kensington High Street is the main shopping street in Kensington, west London. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
and Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
, where they briefly overlap with the other Routemaster operation on route 15
London Buses route 15 (Heritage)
London Buses route 15 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London and is a short working of the standard route 15.-History:...
.
History
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...
fleet, Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
promised to introduce a "heritage" Routemaster operation. After hopes that this would be operated commercially, it eventually materialised as tendered short workings on two existing routes, one of which is the 9. This approach ensured that passengers in wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
s or with other mobility problems would be offered alternatives to the Routemaster buses, which are not accessible.
The contracts for the routes were announced in September 2005 and routes began operation on 14 November 2005—not the usual Saturday start date, so as to keep clear of the Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday
In the United Kingdom, 'Remembrance Sunday' is held on the second Sunday in November, which is the Sunday nearest to 11 November Armistice Day. It is the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War at 11 a.m...
parades.
On 13 November 2010, route 9H was extended to operate between Kensington High Street (instead of the Royal Albert Hall) and Trafalgar Square. The extension was at the urging of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough of Royal borough status. After the City of Westminster, it is the wealthiest borough in England....
, which wants to boost the number of visitors to the High Street.
Current route
- Kensington High StreetKensington High StreetKensington High Street is the main shopping street in Kensington, west London. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
Addison Road - High Street Kensington StationHigh Street Kensington tube stationHigh Street Kensington is a London Underground station at Kensington High Street.The station is on the Circle Line between Gloucester Road and Notting Hill Gate, and the District Line between Earl's Court and Notting Hill Gate. It is in Travelcard Zone 1....
- Royal Albert HallRoyal Albert HallThe Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
- Knightsbridge StationKnightsbridge tube stationKnightsbridge tube station is a London Underground station in Knightsbridge , The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is on the Piccadilly Line between South Kensington and Hyde Park Corner, and is in Travelcard Zone 1.-History:...
- Hyde Park Corner StationHyde Park Corner tube stationHyde Park Corner is a London Underground station near Hyde Park Corner in Hyde Park. It is in Travelcard Zone 1, between Knightsbridge and Green Park on the Piccadilly Line.-History:...
- Green Park StationGreen Park tube stationGreen Park tube station is a London Underground station located on the north side of Green Park, close to the intersection of Piccadilly and the pedestrian Queen's Walk...
- Piccadilly Circus StationPiccadilly Circus tube stationPiccadilly Circus tube station is the London Underground station located directly beneath Piccadilly Circus itself, with entrances at every corner...
- Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
See also
- London Buses route 9London Buses route 9London Buses route 9 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The regular service on route 9 is currently contracted to London United...
- London Buses route N9
- London Buses route 15 (Heritage)London Buses route 15 (Heritage)London Buses route 15 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Stagecoach London and is a short working of the standard route 15.-History:...
- 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...