London Buses route 271

271

Metroline Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident 2 at Moorgate, Finsbury Square.
Overview
Operator Metroline
Garage Holloway (HT)
Vehicle Alexander Dennis Enviro400 10.1m
Volvo B9TL 10.4m / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2
Peak vehicle requirement 12
Night-time 24-hour service
Route
Start Highgate Village
Via Archway
Holloway
Islington
Hoxton
End Finsbury Square
Length 5 miles (8.0 km)
Service
Level Daily
Frequency 8-15 minutes
Journey time 23-43 minutes
Operates 24-hour service

London Buses route 271 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Highgate Village and Finsbury Square, it is operated by Metroline.

History

Route 271 commenced operating on 20 July 1960 running between Highgate Village and Finsbury Square to replace trolleybus route 611 with AEC Routemasters. The route was initially operated out of Holloway garage and has changed little since its introduction.

On 7 November 1965, new Leyland Atlanteans commenced a six-month trial on route 271.[1][2] On 17 April 1966, eight XF-class Daimler Fleetlines were transferred from London Country Bus Services's East Grinstead garage to Holloway and replaced by XA-class Leyland Atlanteans. After the fuel consumption of the two vehicles was compared, the eight XF-class buses returned to East Grinstead.[3]

On 10 July 1966, route 271 returned to AEC Routemaster operation. On 16 January 1971, it was converted to one-man operation with Daimler Fleetlines.

On 6 June 1987 the route was extended on Sundays from Highgate Village to Hendon Central station to cover the withdrawn part of route 143, although this extension only lasted until 2 February 1991.

For an eight-month period from September 1990, the route was based at Chalk Farm garage, before returning to Holloway.

On 16 May 1992 the route received a weekend extension to Liverpool Street station.

Upon tendering in September 1993, the route transferred to London Suburban Bus, operated from a garage in Edmonton, using red, brown and cream livered Northern Counties Palatine bodied Volvo Olympians.

Route 271 was included in the April 1996 sale of London Suburban Bus to MTL London and transferred back to Holloway, with the existing buses repainted in MTL's red livery. MTL London in turn was sold in August 1998 to Metroline.[4] The route received low-floor buses in 1999.

Upon being re-tendered, the route was retained by Metroline with a new contract commencing on 30 September 2005.[5]

On 18 June 2011, route 271 was withdrawn between Finsbury Square and Liverpool Street station due to Crossrail works. When re-tendered, it was retained by Metroline with a new contract commencing on 29 September 2012 with existing double deckers.[6][7]

Current route

Route 271 operates via these primary locations:[8]

References

  1. ↑ Graeme Bruce, J; Curtis, Colin (1977). The London Motor Bus: Its Origins and Development. London Transport. p. 109. ISBN 0853290830.
  2. ↑ Day, John (1973). The Story of the London Bus. London Regional Transport. ISBN 9780853290377.
  3. ↑ Graeme Bruce, J; Curtis, Colin (1977). The London Motor Bus: Its Origins and Development. London Transport. p. 112. ISBN 0853290830.
  4. ↑ History Metroline
  5. ↑ Bus tender results Route 271/N271 Transport for London 20 December 2004
  6. ↑ Bus tender results Route 271 Transport for London 28 October 2011
  7. ↑ Tender News BusTalk (Go-Ahead London) issue 13 December 2011
  8. ↑ Route 271 Map Transport for London

External links

Media related to London Buses route 271 at Wikimedia Commons