Abellio (London & Surrey)

Abellio London
Abellio Surrey


Parent Abellio
Founded May 2009
Headquarters Camberwell
Service area Greater London
Surrey
Service type Bus services
Routes 76 (March 2016)
Depots 7
Fleet 769 (March 2016)
Website www.abellio.co.uk

Abellio London and Abellio Surrey are bus companies operating services in south and west Greater London, and smaller parts in north London and Surrey. They are subsidiaries of Abellio and operate services under contract to Transport for London and Surrey County Council.

History

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart on route 407 in Purley
Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident 2 on route 211 on Whitehall
Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on route 452 on Kensington Road
Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 on route 343
A pair of Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Darts at Byfleet depot
East Lancashire bodied Dennis Dart outside Walton on Thames station

The origins of Abellio can be traced back to June 1998 when National Express commenced operating routes C1 and 211 under the Travel London brand. In August 2000, National Express sold the business to Limebourne Buses, who in July 2001 sold out to Connex. In February 2004, National Express repurchased the business.[1] Further expansion in 2005 saw the purchases of the London bus operations of Tellings-Golden Miller with a depot in Byfleet and various Surrey County Council contracts.[2]

Travel London operated contracts on behalf of Transport for London, Surrey County Council, and Kingston University. Operations were split between three registered companies; Travel London Limited,[3] Travel London (Middlesex) Limited,[4] and Travel London (West) Limited.[5] The Surrey routes were rebranded as Travel Surrey in September 2007.

In May 2009, National Express sold Travel London to Abellio.[6] with which it shares a logo. The sale included 66 routes, 36 Transport for London tendered services and 30 Surrey County Council and Kingston University routes. All vehicles, depots and staff were included.[7][8]

On 30 October 2009 the businesses were rebranded as Abellio London and Abellio Surrey.[9]

In November 2014 an Abellio bus caught fire in Wallington, with one of its rear wheels exploding. A casualty was treated by London Ambulance service.[10]

Garages

Abellio operates seven garages in London and Surrey. Beddington Cross, Battersea and Walworth are operated by Abellio London Limited[3] and Byfleet, Fulwell, Hayes and Southall by Abellio West London Limited.[5]

Beddington Cross (BC)

As of August 2017, Beddington garage operated routes 109, 201, 367, 407, 433, 464, K1, N109 and S4.[11]

Battersea (QB)

As at August 2017, Battersea garage operated routes 3, 49, 156, 159, 211, 344, 414, 452, C2, C3 and N3.[11]

History

This garage was established by Q-Drive in the late 1990s, hence the QB code.[12] Travel London's original bus garage was situated further north towards Stewarts Lane railway depot which was the home of the Gatwick Express, a rail franchise then operated by its parent National Express. Connex moved into these premises after purchasing the Limebourne business in July 2001.[13] In December 2015, Battersea garage started operating route 159.[14]

Walworth (WL)

As at August 2017, Walworth garage operated routes 172, 188, 343, 345, 381, 415, 484, N343 and N381.[11]

History

In 2005, Walworth garage reopened for Travel London, who needed more garage space after some contract wins.[15][16]

Byfleet (BF) - Abellio Surrey

This garage holds 50 buses and is the base for several Surrey County Council tendered routes as well as some commercial services.

History

This garage was operated by Tellings-Golden Miller and was sold to National Express in June 2005.[2] It was rebranded as Travel Surrey in September 2007 and ran buses in a livery of white with a red skirt. Renamed Travel London, in September 2007 it was rebranded as Travel Surrey. In October 2009 it was rebranded Abellio Surrey. In September 2017, all of the Surrey County Council tendered routes will pass to other operators.[17] The only remaining routes will be commercially operated routes 441 and 461.[18]

Twickenham (TF)

Fulwell bus garage operates London bus routes 290, 350, 481, 490, H20, H25, H26, H28, K3, R68 and R70.[11] The garage is split into two sections, with northern half used by London United and the southern half used by Abellio. A part of Abellio's section is used by London United as the terminus for its route 33.[19]

History

Until September 2009, Fulwell was also responsible for the Kingston University shuttle services. These are now run by RATP Dev.

On 28 May 2016, Fulwell took over the running of route H28 which moved from Hayes to make space for routes E5, E7 and E9.

On 25 March 2017, Fulwell took over the running of route 350 which moved from Hayes to make space for route 427.

Hayes (WS)

Hayes garage operates London bus routes 195, 427, U5, U7 and U9.[11]

History

On 28 May 2016, Abellio London started operating routes E5, E7 and E9 from Hayes.[20]

Southall (AB)

Southall garage operates London bus routes E1, E5, E7 and E9.[11]

History

On 29 July 2017, routes E1, E5, E7 and E9 were transferred to this garage from Hayes.[21]

Fleet

As at March 2016, the fleet consisted of 769 buses.[22]

References

  1. ↑ National Express buys 200 London buses The Daily Telegraph 27 February 2004
  2. 1 2 National Express Group purchases the London Bus Division of Tellings Golden Miller National Express corporate news 1 June 2005
  3. 1 2 Companies House extract company no 3786162 Abellio London Limited
  4. ↑ Companies House extract company no 3792590 Travel London (Middlesex) Limited
  5. 1 2 Companies House extract company no 689260 Abellio West London Limited
  6. ↑ Abellio Group Head Office, Group corporate website, Abellio, Utrecht, Netherlands, Undate.<Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  7. ↑ National Express Group plc agreement to sell Travel London National Express Group 21 May 2009
  8. ↑ NedRailways acquisition reinforces long term commitment to UK transport market NedRailways 9 June 2009
  9. ↑ NedRailways announces launch Abellio London and Abellio Surrey NedRailways 30 October 2009
  10. ↑ Burning bus explodes in South London street BBC News 5 November 2014
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Services in London Abellio
  12. ↑ Carr, Ken (September 2014). The London Bus Guide (4 ed.). Boreham: Visions International Entertainment. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-9570058-6-0.
  13. ↑ Optare Excels: Travel London, Limebourne, Connex Ian's Bus Stop
  14. ↑ Abellio London now operates route 159 Abellio 16 December 2015
  15. ↑ Green light for new energy efficient bus infrastructure Transport for London 24 February 2005
  16. ↑ Solar powered bus garages BBC News 24 February 2005
  17. ↑ Forthcoming bus timetable changes Surrey County Council
  18. ↑ 'Abellio Surrey maintain a commercial toehold in Surrey" Buses Magazine issue 749 August 2017 page 7
  19. ↑ "Fulwell Depot: Teddington". The Twickenham Museum. 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  20. ↑ Abellio London & Surrey wins three new routes in West London Abellio
  21. ↑ Abellio London & Surrey wins three new routes in West London Abellio
  22. ↑ Abellio facts & figures Abellio 29 March 2016
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