London Buses route 277

277

Overview
Operator Stagecoach London
Garage Bow (BW)
Vehicle Dennis Trident 2 10.5m / Alexander ALX400
Peak vehicle requirement 21
Night-time 24-hour service
Route
Start Leamouth
Via Canary Wharf
Mile End
Hackney Central
Dalston
End Highbury & Islington
Length 8 miles (13 km)
Service
Level Daily
Frequency 7-10 minutes
Journey time 31-63 minutes
Operates 24-hour service

London Buses route 277 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Leamouth and Highbury & Islington, it is operated by Stagecoach London.

History

Route 277 commenced operating on April 1959 between Cubitt Town and Smithfield via Limehouse, Mile End, Hackney Central, Angel and Goswell Road, replacing trolleybus route 677 with Leyland Titan RTLs.

On 11 October 1961 the Sunday service was extended from Cubitt Town to Poplar replacing withdrawn route 56. On 18 November 1964 Saturday journeys were also extended, and this was followed on 25 October 1969 by a weekday extension.[1]

On 16 January 1971, the Sunday service between Angel and Smithfield was withdrawn, but continued a normal service to Poplar Blackwall Tunnel. Also in 1971, there was then the withdrawal of route 277 going any further than Mildmay Park, but there was an extension to the Poplar Baths at the same time.[1]

On 5 January 1974, route 277 was converted to one man operation with Daimler Fleetlines and withdrawn between Cubitt Town an Poplar, this section passing to new route 277A.

On 4 March 1989, the route was withdrawn between Poplar and Limehouse and replaced by new route D7. From 24 February 1990, route 277 ceased to service Smithfield, being diverted at Canonbury via St Pauls Road to Highbury & Islington station.[1] On 1 July 1991 the service was extended from Limehouse to Canary Wharf and on 15 January 1994 to Leamouth.[1]

Upon being re-tendered, the route was retained by Stagecoach London with a new contract commencing on 28 February 1998, it was converted to low floor operation on 10 October 1999 with Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2s.

When next re-tendered, Stagecoach London were successful in retaining with a new contract commencing on 1 February 2003 with a parallel night route numbered N277 introduced. The 'N' prefix was dropped from 27 March 2004, with route 277 becoming a 24-hour service.[2] Stagecoach London commenced a new contract in February 2010.[3]

In February 2009, drivers on the route were criticised by local residents for causing unnecessarily high noise and air pollution at the Highbury Corner terminus.[4]

Cultural significance

The route is notable for passing through areas of London with strong cultural importance. A feature in Time Out magazine in March 2009 highlighted notable points along the route as the Vortex Jazz Club and Café Oto in Dalston, the Hackney Empire theatre, Broadway Market in London Fields and One Canada Square in Canary Wharf.[5]

Current route

Route 277 operates via these primary locations:[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 London Transport Central Area routes 277-279
  2. ↑ Route 277 busesatwork.co.uk
  3. ↑ Bus tender results Route 277/N277 Transport for London 6 August 2009
  4. ↑ Selfish bus drivers bring fumes misery Islington Tribune 20 February 2009
  5. ↑ Bus Route 277: Highbury to Canary Wharf - Time Out London
  6. ↑ Route 277 Map Transport for London

External links