London Buses route 603

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**603**

Management
Operated by	Metroline
Garage	Holloway (HT)
Vehicle	Volvo B7TL 9.9m/Plaxton President (TP)
Peak vehicle requirement	2
Route
Start	Muswell Hill Broadway
Via	East Finchley Highgate Village Kenwood Whitestone Pond Hampstead Village
End	Swiss Cottage
Length	6 miles (10 km)
Service
Level	Peak Hours only (7:30am until 9.30am and 2.40pm until 4:50pm)
Frequency	4 Journeys each way
Journey time	36-44 minutes
Night	none
Adult single fares
Oyster	£1.00
Cash	£2.00
Transport for London • Performance (PDF)

London Buses route 603 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Metroline.

1 History
2 Current route
- 2.1 Route departing Muswell Hill
- 2.2 Route departing Swiss Cottage
3 Gallery
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

The route was introduced in 2004 mainly as a route to link the main residential area of Muswell Hill and Highgate and Hampstead where there are many schools which children from that area go. The 603 provides a main link between Highgate Village and Muswell Hill which is not available directly without a bus change or a 10 minute walk.

To travel on this route would require you to take route 102/234 to East Finchley then to take a 143 to Highgate Village, then a 210 to Whitestone Pond (top of Hampstead) then a 268 to Swiss Cottage. This route has been earmarked before for full time operation, not just a peak hour route.

The timetable (Monday to Friday) goes as follows:

7:30 (HT#285) to Swiss Cottage
7:50 (HT#284) to Swiss Cottage

8:30 (HT#285) to Muswell Hill
8:50 (HT#284) to Muswell Hill

14:40 (HT#285) to Swiss Cottage
15:10 (HT#284) to Swiss Cottage

15:40 (HT#285) to Muswell Hill
16:10 (HT#284) to Muswell Hill

There is no service on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.

The service is not renowned for its reliability as the buses run empty from Holloway to Muswell Hill and this stretch usually has congestion and then the route runs over roads that are variable for traffic in peak hours because of school run cars. The problem with it being so unreliable is that people use the bus as their only method of transport to school and being late is usually out of the question.

The second bus is usually used to get to Highgate Village where most passengers alight, because it is the only link from Muswell Hill to there, the first bus is used mainly for travel to Hampstead though.

The double deck service also provides relief for the 143 over the route to Highgate Village which is heavily used, especially as school children.

The bus is a crucial link for school children and commuters the level of usage justifies its existence.