London Buses route H22

London Buses route H22 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Hounslow and Richmond, it is operated by London United.

History

Route H22 was introduced on 28 April 1990, as a replacement for the western end of route 202. Running Monday to Saturday between Richmond (Lower Mortlake Road) and Hounslow West Station, with a Monday to Friday peak hours, and an early Saturday morning extension to Hatton Cross Station. The route was operated from Hounslow garage. The initial daytime frequency of every 20 mins, was a vast improvement over the 30-35 mins offered on the 202. The frequancy has been improved a number of times since, and is now 12 mins during the daytime, and 20 mins evenings and Sundays

The section between Hounslow West and Hatton Cross did not last long, being withdrawn in 1992 with the introduction of an improved service on Routes 201 & 203. A Sunday service was introduced for the first time in 1994. The route was further cut back from Hounslow West to Bell Corner at the time of tendering in 1999. The Richmond termini changed from the Dee Road stand (off Lower Mortlake Road) to Manor Circus in 2002.

Over the years the allocation has swapped between Hounslow (AV) and Hounslow Heath (HH). It has been at Hounslow Heath since 12 November 2005.

Vehicles

Initially the route was operated by 28 seat DT class Dennis Darts, with Carlyle bodies, under the brand name Harrier. From 1991 Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart's supplemented the Carlyle version at Hounslow and eventually replaced them

When the route was offered for tender in 1999, it was awarded to Transdev London and the buses where replaced by brand new low floor Dennis Dart SLFs. On 12 November 2005, these were replaced by shorter 10.2m vehicles, made surplus when Transdev lost route 33 to NCP Chalanger. In November 2010, the DPS's were replace with DPS's, again displaced from route 33. In the 1990s double deckers made occasional appearances on the route, but in more recent times, it has been solidly single deck, mainly Dennis Darts, but the odd Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart from the London Bus Route 285 has been used.

Current route

• Hounslow Bell
• Whitton High Street
• Twickenham
• Richmond station
• Richmond Lower Mortlake Road

See also

• List of bus routes in London

External links

• Media related to London Buses route H22 at Wikimedia Commons
• London Bus Routes gallery
• Timetable