London Buses route S1
Encyclopedia
London Buses route S1 is a Transport for London
contracted bus route in London
, United Kingdom
. The service is currently contracted to Quality Line
.
through to Sutton
, using mainly previously unserved roads. At first, the Sutton end had a deviation incorporating Langley Park Road before buses got to Sutton, but this was altered to a loop working in 1995.
The next contract change was on 30 November 1996, when the route was tendered with the "Sutton network". The new tender was awarded to London General
, who used new Marshall
Minibuses running from Sutton garage. The service via the north of Langley Park Road was replaced by route S3, with the S1 rerouted to Banstead
to replace the 80. Between Sutton and Belmont
, the route was diverted via the south end of Langley Park road, replacing route S3.
In 1997, London General suffered a severe staff shortage, and as a result surrendered several of its services, one being the S1. This was when Quality Line
took over, but they did not want the now known to be unreliable Marshall Minibuses, and opted for Optare MetroRider
s instead. This was one of the rare cases where a route was converted from low floor to high floor buses.
In the summer of 1998, the route was improved, with an evening and Sunday service introduced. The vehicles were also replaced by low floor Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer Mini Pointer Dart, which entered service from late 1998 to early 1999.
The next contract started in December 2001, which incorporated a daytime frequency increase from every 30 to 20 minutes, and the route terminus in Beddington Corner was changed to Mitcham
. The vehicles were also upgraded again, now to Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander ALX200
s. The latest vehicles, introduced in 2006, are unusual in having the East Lancs Myllennium
bodywork, but with East Lancs Esteem front and rear ends. The chassis are the Dennis Dart's successor, the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart.
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 Quality Line
Quality Line
Quality Line is the trading name of the bus division of Epsom Coaches, and operates over sixty buses throughout the south London and Surrey area, with many under contract to London Buses or Surrey County Council.-History:...
.
History
Service S1 started in 1993, operated by London & Country, running between BeddingtonBeddington
Beddington is a settlement between the London Boroughs of Sutton and Croydon. The BedZED low energy housing scheme is located here. In Beddington was a static inverter plant of HVDC Kingsnorth....
through to Sutton
Sutton, London
Sutton is a large suburban town in southwest London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Sutton. It is located south-southwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. The town was connected to central London by...
, using mainly previously unserved roads. At first, the Sutton end had a deviation incorporating Langley Park Road before buses got to Sutton, but this was altered to a loop working in 1995.
The next contract change was on 30 November 1996, when the route was tendered with the "Sutton network". The new tender was awarded to London General
London General
London General is a bus company operating in Surrey ang Greater London. It is owned by the Go-Ahead Group and operates most buses under contract to London Buses...
, who used new Marshall
Marshall Bus
Marshall Bus was a British bus manufacturer between 1992 and 2002. The company's most popular product was the Marshall Capital, which was a single-decker bus body built between 1997 and 2003...
Minibuses running from Sutton garage. The service via the north of Langley Park Road was replaced by route S3, with the S1 rerouted to Banstead
Banstead
Banstead is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead in the county of Surrey, England, on the border with Greater London. It lies south of London, west of Croydon and of the county town of Kingston-Upon-Thames. Banstead is on the North Downs and is protected by the Metropolitan Green Belt;...
to replace the 80. Between Sutton and Belmont
Belmont, London
Belmont, London could refer to:*Belmont, Harrow, an area of the London Borough of Harrow, England*Belmont, Sutton, a village in the London Borough of Sutton, England...
, the route was diverted via the south end of Langley Park road, replacing route S3.
In 1997, London General suffered a severe staff shortage, and as a result surrendered several of its services, one being the S1. This was when Quality Line
Quality Line
Quality Line is the trading name of the bus division of Epsom Coaches, and operates over sixty buses throughout the south London and Surrey area, with many under contract to London Buses or Surrey County Council.-History:...
took over, but they did not want the now known to be unreliable Marshall Minibuses, and opted for Optare MetroRider
Optare MetroRider
The Optare MetroRider was a midibus built by Optare between 1989 and 2000. Optare based the original design on the MCW Metrorider after Optare bought the rights following a decision by MCW to end bus production. This model also replaced the less successful StarRider.The MetroRider was an integral...
s instead. This was one of the rare cases where a route was converted from low floor to high floor buses.
In the summer of 1998, the route was improved, with an evening and Sunday service introduced. The vehicles were also replaced by low floor Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer Mini Pointer Dart, which entered service from late 1998 to early 1999.
The next contract started in December 2001, which incorporated a daytime frequency increase from every 30 to 20 minutes, and the route terminus in Beddington Corner was changed to Mitcham
Mitcham
Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
. The vehicles were also upgraded again, now to Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander ALX200
Alexander ALX200
The Alexander ALX200 was a midibus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was one of the ALX-series, which accounted for 5 different models , built for new generation bus chassis produced since late 1990s.It was designed by John Worker, and was launched in summer...
s. The latest vehicles, introduced in 2006, are unusual in having the East Lancs Myllennium
East Lancs Myllennium
The East Lancs Myllennium is a type of bus body built on MAN, Volvo, DAF/VDL and Alexander Dennis chassis. It was built as a single and double deck body, with double deck bodies having slightly different names .-Single decker:...
bodywork, but with East Lancs Esteem front and rear ends. The chassis are the Dennis Dart's successor, the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart.
Current route
- MitchamMitchamMitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
The Cricketers - Mitcham Junction stationMitcham Junction stationMitcham Junction is a National Rail station served by First Capital Connect and Southern trains, and a Tramlink stop. It is in the London Borough of Merton and is in Travelcard Zone 4.The station opened on 1 October 1868...
- St. HelierSt. Helier, LondonSt. Helier is a residential estate in the London boroughs of Merton and Sutton. The portion of the estate north of Green Lane and Bishopsford Road is in Merton, the rest is in Sutton.-History:...
Middleton Circle - St. Helier HospitalSt. Helier, LondonSt. Helier is a residential estate in the London boroughs of Merton and Sutton. The portion of the estate north of Green Lane and Bishopsford Road is in Merton, the rest is in Sutton.-History:...
Wrythe Lance - BenhiltonBenhiltonBenhilton is the ward of the London Borough of Sutton east of Sutton High Street. The primary parish is All Saints Benhilton, on Angel Hill. Benhilton is generally residential including a low rise council estate and the Thomas Wall centre....
Butterchurn - Sutton GreenSutton, LondonSutton is a large suburban town in southwest London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Sutton. It is located south-southwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. The town was connected to central London by...
- SuttonSutton, LondonSutton is a large suburban town in southwest London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Sutton. It is located south-southwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. The town was connected to central London by...
Throwley Way/Carshalton Road - Sutton railway station
- Belmont railway station
- BansteadBansteadBanstead is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead in the county of Surrey, England, on the border with Greater London. It lies south of London, west of Croydon and of the county town of Kingston-Upon-Thames. Banstead is on the North Downs and is protected by the Metropolitan Green Belt;...
Marks & SpencerMarks & SpencerMarks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...