Hertfordshire bus route 84
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Hertfordshire bus route 84 is a contracted bus service for Hertfordshire County Council, in London and Hertfordshire, England. It is currently contracted to Metroline.
The bus service's current route runs between New Barnet and St Albans, although Bus Passes, Travelcards, Freedom Passes, Saver tickets and Oyster card PAYG are accepted only between New Barnet Station and Potters Bar Cranborne Road . Although its route has changed several times in the past, it is possibly one of the longest running bus services in the London and the South East (even though Hertfordshire qualifies as being in the East of England).
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[edit] History
The 84 is itself a bit of an anomaly, being one of the furthest reaches of "red bus" territory. Traditionally London Transport's territory extended considerably further out than it does now, but operations were split between Central Buses, covering Greater London as we know it today, and Country Buses covering the more outlying areas. However, the boundaries were by no means precisely defined, and one Central Buses garage lay well in Country Buses territory. That was Potters Bar, and the result was that many routes in this part of Hertfordshire were operated by Central Buses, even though they would more logically have been Country operations.
However, the 84 used to reach further into London. In 1936 it ran from St Albans to Golders Green, albeit omitting Potters Bar itself by running via New Road. Meanwhile, new trolleybus route 645 started in August 1936, running between Edgware and North Finchley via Cricklewood, and in June 1938 was extended to Barnet, thus duplicating the 84 over this section. A wartime economy took place from May 1940, with the 84 withdrawn south of Whetstone, but retaining some dignity by running to Arnos Grove instead. Indeed, at weekends buses on the 84 could be seen as far away as Walthamstow (Crooked Billet).
The route was cut back to New Barnet in the 1960s, allowing it subsequently to explore some new territory which was later given over to new route 84A (now the 184). Buses were also diverted to operate through Potters Bar, and the route now provides the main service between there and Barnet where once there were quite a few different, but mostly irregular, services. But the anomaly of red buses running well out into Hertfordshire continues, now under the stewardship of Metroline. The route is not a Transport for London contract, but it enters London for a short section and London bus passes and Travelcards are valid out as far as Potters Bar station.
School Route 84X was introduced in September 2006, providing extra double-deck journeys between New Greens and New Barnet Station (running non stop between South Mimms and Barnet). This service was withdrawn on 9 June 2008, and replaced by an additional journey on route 84 to St Albans Girls' Grammar School.
In 2007 the double-deck step entrance Volvo Olympians were replaced by single-deck Dennis Dart SLFs to allow the route to become low floor (except on Sundays where the double-decker buses are used). In June 2008 the Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointers were replaced by brand new single door 10.8m long Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 Darts (DEL). These were unusual to London in having LED destination displays. The Sunday afternoon service was increased to every 45 minutes from 8 June 2008.
[edit] Current route
[edit] Route departing St Albans
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[edit] Route departing New Barnet
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